Chapter 340: Kaguya's Inner Turmoil
A little later, at Kaguya Shinomiya's residence.
"No shops opened today..."
Fujiwara Chika sat on the edge of the soft bed, scrolling through messages on her phone. Then she looked up at Kaguya Shinomiya, who sat upright while sipping black tea, and Hayasaka Ai, who was also browsing her phone while gently twirling a strand of golden hair with her other hand.
"The official news says a danger similar to a natural disaster has arrived. They're reassuring the public that they have already mastered a way to predict these disasters in advance. As long as everyone follows the official alerts and evacuates before danger arrives, there won't be any major problems. They haven't mentioned anything about the Game or Players."
"That's only natural."
Kaguya Shinomiya placed her porcelain cup back onto the silver tray, her tone flat.
"Ordinary people would find it difficult to accept the existence of supernatural powers. In the end, whether ordinary people survive a disaster like this depends entirely on the strength of the Players in their city. That is different from trusting the power of the authorities. Entrusting one's life to a small group of people with supernatural powers will inevitably create a powerful sense of insecurity."
She paused for a moment, then continued calmly.
"Moreover, if the public learned about the Game, even if they rationally understood that the disaster they suffered was not the Players' responsibility, they would still develop strong dissatisfaction, perhaps even hatred, toward the Player community. Calling the disaster caused by the Game a natural disaster, like an earthquake, tsunami, or typhoon, something no one can be blamed for, is indeed the most appropriate way to handle it."
After saying that, Kaguya looked at Fujiwara Chika.
Seeing that she was still smiling foolishly, seemingly guileless, with only an innocent and pure cuteness on her face, Kaguya could not help but recall what had happened that morning.
Back then, Chika had been utterly heartbroken, believing Asagiri had died.
"Chika."
"Hmm? What is it, Kaguya-chan?"
"You..."
Kaguya paused, then shook her head.
"Never mind. It's nothing."
"Nothing...?"
Seeing Kaguya's hesitant expression, Fujiwara Chika's smile gradually faded. A complex look tinged with loneliness appeared in her eyes.
"Kaguya-chan, actually... you're a very timid person."
"Timid?"
Kaguya Shinomiya narrowed her beautiful red eyes slightly and looked straight into Fujiwara Chika's face.
"What do you know? My identity..."
"Only the weak make excuses. Didn't you say that yourself?"
Fujiwara Chika, abandoning her usual innocent and sweet demeanor, met Kaguya Shinomiya's gaze without flinching and spoke each word distinctly.
"All your reasons are only meant to cover up the insecurity and cowardice buried deep in your heart."
Feeling the atmosphere instantly grow tense, Hayasaka Ai froze. She watched Kaguya Shinomiya and Fujiwara Chika confront each other, neither willing to back down even half a step.
Weren't they talking about the Game?
How did this suddenly turn into an argument?
What were these two even arguing about?
Weak. Cowardly. Insecure.
As Kaguya Shinomiya's personal maid and childhood friend, Hayasaka Ai knew very well that Kaguya was not as strong as she appeared. Because of her childhood experiences and her family background, she had always carried a stubborn desire to prove her own excellence, as if doing so could erase the inferiority complex buried in her heart from being an illegitimate child.
But Fujiwara Chika had not met Kaguya yesterday.
Even so, to suddenly start arguing over this issue was far too ridiculous. These two had never argued since they met, so why had it suddenly happened today?
"Um... you two..."
In this three person team, Hayasaka Ai's personality meant she rarely voiced opinions or made decisions. But with the situation becoming like this, she could only brace herself and try to mediate.
"Don't argue. Aren't we teammates? Why don't we just talk things through and..."
Before Hayasaka Ai could finish, a sudden knock came from the door.
Kaguya Shinomiya frowned slightly, adjusted her sitting posture, and spoke toward the door.
"Come in."
A maid in uniform pushed the door open, bowed slightly, and reported to Kaguya Shinomiya.
"Kaguya-sama, Shinomiya Unyo-san has arrived and wishes to see you. He is currently waiting in the reception room on the first floor."
"He's here?"
Kaguya Shinomiya frowned slightly, then said indifferently,
"Hm. I see. I'll go down immediately."
Shinomiya Unyo was Kaguya Shinomiya's third brother. Unlike her nominal brother, Oko Shinomiya, Kaguya's father had entrusted her to Shinomiya Unyo to raise when she was young. Kaguya Shinomiya's philosophy of imperial rule had been inherited from him.
Hayasaka Ai did not have a very good impression of Shinomiya Unyo.
After all, in her view, whether it was Shinomiya Unyo, Oko Shinomiya, or even the head of the Shinomiya Family, Shinomiya Yanan, everyone in the Shinomiya Family was one of the culprits responsible for Kaguya Shinomiya living in such a painful environment.
But this time, she felt a sense of relief.
Shinomiya Unyo's sudden visit had forcibly interrupted the argument between Fujiwara Chika and Kaguya Shinomiya.
"I'll go with you."
Seeing Kaguya Shinomiya stand up from the sofa, Fujiwara Chika also stood up. She put her phone back into her pocket and said with a serious expression,
"Although I don't know what that guy wants, if I'm there to support you, he should restrain himself a bit."
"Hm."
Kaguya Shinomiya nodded, revealed a faint smile, and said,
"Thank you, Chika."
"You're welcome."
Fujiwara Chika returned a sweet smile and said in a gentle tone,
"You are my best friend, so this is only natural~"
Hayasaka Ai was stunned.
You two were just arguing, so why are you suddenly united against an outsider?
What is going on here?
Outsider, Hayasaka Ai.
...
Five minutes later, in the reception room on the first floor of the mansion.
"Kaguya."
Seeing Kaguya Shinomiya and Fujiwara Chika walk in, Shinomiya Unyo, who sat on the sofa in a crisp suit, did not stand. He merely spoke indifferently.
"You seem to have grown since we last met."
Faced with Shinomiya Unyo's words, which seemed to carry some deeper meaning, Kaguya Shinomiya did not respond.
Instead, she sat down on the sofa opposite him with Fujiwara Chika. Her tone was calm, impeccable, and polite, yet it kept people at a distance.
"Mr. Unyo, is there something you need from me?"
"Mr. Unyo..."
Shinomiya Unyo smiled faintly, placed his teacup back on the table, and looked straight into Kaguya Shinomiya's eyes.
"What? Do you no longer consider yourself a member of the Shinomiya Family? I see. So that's how it is..."
At this point, Shinomiya Unyo paused slightly before slowly continuing,
"No wonder you became a traitor."
Hearing this, Kaguya Shinomiya said expressionlessly,
"I don't understand what you're talking about."
"Trying to play dumb? Too naive."
Although Shinomiya Unyo's tone was flat, it carried a clear sense of pressure.
"You are a Player. Judging from the situation, this Fujiwara-san, as well as Hayasaka Ai, the spy originally planted by my eldest brother to monitor you, are also Players. To be able to make Hayasaka Ai, a spy, join your camp is quite impressive. But..."
At this point, Shinomiya Unyo suddenly changed the subject. He abruptly stood up and looked down at Kaguya Shinomiya.
"You became a Player and did not join the Shinomiya Family's Player faction. That alone would not be a major problem. But when combined with my eldest brother's mysterious disappearance, it becomes highly suspicious."
As Shinomiya Unyo finished speaking, dozens of bodyguards in suits suddenly burst into the reception room. Behind them followed more than a dozen people dressed in various styles.
"Players, huh..."
Seeing this, Fujiwara Chika could not help but frown. She immediately stood up and glared at Shinomiya Unyo.
"What are you trying to do!?"
"It has nothing to do with you."
Shinomiya Unyo smiled.
"Kaguya, come back to the main house with me for investigation. It would be best if you had nothing to do with the incident. But if you were involved in my eldest brother's disappearance..."
His smile did not reach his eyes.
"You should know the fate of a traitor."
Kaguya Shinomiya slowly stood.
Looking at the dozens of bodyguards surrounding her, as well as the dozen or so people who were clearly Players, a chill appeared in her beautiful red eyes. She looked at Shinomiya Unyo and said in an icy tone,
"Do you think this many people are enough to deal with me?"
"Yes."
Shinomiya Unyo nodded without hesitation and smiled.
"Even if these professionally trained bodyguards carrying firearms cannot deal with you, I believe that a dozen or so Players, including myself, against you, Fujiwara-san, and Hayasaka Ai, should be more than enough..."
Kaguya Shinomiya bit her lower lip and was about to retort when footsteps sounded from outside the reception room door.
Then, a familiar voice rang out, one that instantly made her feel at ease.
"Is that so?"
Wearing a black mask and the Hunter's Windbreaker, Asagiri slowly entered the reception room. His gaze met Shinomiya Unyo's, and he spoke with a smile.
"Then what if you add me to the mix?"
Shinomiya Unyo looked at Asagiri, then swept his gaze over the long black coat he was wearing.
"Shadow... Even with you, that's only four people. We have..."
Before Shinomiya Unyo could finish speaking, he saw two shadows emerge behind Asagiri.
One was a tall, burly black shadow covered in strange dark red markings.
The other was a gray shadow floating in the air, shaped like a human body.
In that instant, everyone present felt an extreme sense of fear.
The dozens of bodyguards in black suits and the dozen Players brought by Shinomiya Unyo were unable to resist the sudden mental pressure. Their expressions froze in terror as they collapsed onto the ground, unable to move even a finger.
Asagiri looked at Shinomiya Unyo, who was barely managing to remain standing, covered in cold sweat with his pupils dilated, and spoke softly.
"After all, you're just a mob."
.....
[If you don't want to wait for the next update, read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon.]
[[email protected]/FanficLord03]