Inside the small house, a strong aroma of coffee permeated the air.
Quite a few people had arrived; seven or eight were already seated at a long, rotting table, where deep green algae crawled up the corners, staining the cheap wooden boards green.
When Kasumigaoka Utaha entered, the room fell silent for a moment.
"Hehehehe..."
"Homa, you really did get involved with Heart."
It was unclear who spoke, but the tone was mostly teasing.
Koma Sha said nothing and led Kasumigaoka Utaha to a high-backed chair.
"What would you like to drink?"
"Nothing, thank you."
A few people huddled together in low conversation, some were focused on turning a Tesseract in their chairs; in a corner, a thin shadow held a golden phone horizontally, playing an anime.
There was even someone playing a mobile game with voice chat on... If not for her recent experience, Kasumigaoka Utaha might have thought this was some corporate workers' camping trip.
Ah, is it too normal?
After sitting down, Koma Sha also tilted his head, tapping the table with his finger as he cautioned emotionlessly: "You are very lucky."
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "What?"
"Although the mist ritual failed, the incomplete ritual still brought the Host many benefits. It should..."
"So, you can probably truly become a member of The Ball."
"Perhaps, for the sake of Hannya and me, the Host will even give you some rewards."
"Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded slightly.
"Most of the time, The Ball is held regularly for trading scarce items or money."
"On rare occasions, the Host will assign certain tasks."
"You are very close to me now. I don't want you to be like that idiot Hannya and take on tasks given by the Host without permission."
At this, Koma Sha turned his head, staring meaningfully at Kasumigaoka Utaha's mask, his voice gradually lowering: "Those tasks do offer generous rewards, but only if you survive."
"Right?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded coldly: "I understand."
Although his words were harsh, the man still briefly discussed some techniques on how to converse and gain benefits later.
Thank you once again for your dedicated contribution, Teacher Minagawa.
The Host remained hidden in the shadows at the end of the long table. A brass desk bell sat by his hand; only after the discussions died down did he slowly press it a few times.
Ding—
"The Ball begins."
A hoarse voice echoed through the quiet wooden house.
Kasumigaoka Utaha noticed that the other party seemed to glance at her.
"Among us, a friend has left forever."
"Although he did not fully complete that person's ritual, he still brought me many benefits."
More gazes gathered on Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"The only survivor, Heart."
The voice paused, a hint of a smile in the tone: "Or, Ms. Minagawa."
"Your identity has been exposed, which is not very good news."
Kasumigaoka Utaha tried to keep her expression taut, doing her best not to let the corners of her mouth curl up.
Even though she was wearing a mask.
"I will give Hannya's share of the reward to you."
"I suggest you ask me for information or protection that can hide your identity."
No one at the table interrupted. Kasumigaoka Utaha recalled Koma Sha's advice and shook her head gently.
"I have been infected by the mist."
Whoosh—
Visibly, the row of people beside the girl moved their chairs away from her.
"So, with my days numbered, I want to use all my rewards to trade for a hope of survival."
"Host, may I?"
Silence.
The shadow's head was like a vortex, black mist constantly contracting into it, a cold black hole twisting.
"A hope of survival..."
The Host pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded.
"You and Hannya deserve such a reward. Minagawa—Heart, I will give you a ritual object, but I must warn you..."
"On the path of adaptation and advancement, there are already mountains of corpses."
"You want to use advancement to dispel the infection of the mist... never mind."
The Host lost interest and didn't continue. People came and went in The Ball anyway; it seemed this Heart wouldn't live long.
Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't know what to ask for in the first place, so whatever was given didn't matter.
"Of course. Thank you, Host."
Satisfied with Kasumigaoka Utaha's answer, the Host tapped the table—
"Recently, an organization called the 'Equilibrium Sect' has appeared."
"From today onwards, I will indefinitely collect information regarding them."
Equilibrium Sect?
The participants present knew more or less the reason for the failure of the mist ritual, and no one asked further—none were fools; only those truly at their wit's end would try to find that terrifying Ritualist.
That was a ruthless person who had interrupted the descent of the mist and killed Hannya... Did they really think a Ritualist of the Chaos Faction would seriously risk their life for the so-called Chaos?
Even the Host was only in it for the benefits.
Seeing the lack of interest at the table, the Host made no further arrangements and rang the brass bell—
Ding.
"Free discussion."
Clatter.
The wooden house mini-market had begun!
"Buying ritual objects with gold, permanent offer."
"Selling three out-of-print Blue-Eyes White Dragons for two Living Heart Seaweeds."
"I need the contact information of that female Ritualist in the third team of the Official Field Team."
"Selling worn..."
Kasumigaoka Utaha: What kind of improper organization is this... The girl thought for a moment, cleared her throat, and picked a suggestion Koma Sha had just mentioned.
"Seeking ritual adaptation methods and all detailed information on the advancement from 'Contactee' to 'Origin Point'."
The whispering subsided.
"Wow~ Ms. Minagawa indeed has the grand ambition of entering the 'Origin Point'."
"Shouldn't you just let Homa handle this kind of thing?"
A series of teasing and suggestive remarks followed.
Kasumigaoka Utaha repeated herself in a cold voice.
"I have it."
A lady wearing a rabbit mask caught Kasumigaoka Utaha's attention. Her voice was somewhat sharp, and she didn't seem very old. On the mask, the rabbit's mouth was full of sharp teeth, with some bloodstains and scraps of meat painted on it.
"I am at the 'Origin Point' level. I can tell you all the precautions. So, what can you offer in exchange?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha tilted her head: "Gold?"
Rabbit sneered: "How much money do you think this secret information is worth?"
Unlike those Contactees, this lady who spoke seemed to be a true Origin Point level. When she spoke, the others quietly lowered their voices.
Before Kasumigaoka Utaha could reply, the other party added: "Let's talk after this is over. I don't think you'll refuse my terms."
Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded.
She planned to stay until the end anyway, waiting for the Host to give her the previous reward—the ritual object.
Koma Sha remained silent throughout, only making a suggestion to the Host at the very end.
"After the last incident, you have already recognized Heart as one of us."
"Then, I suggest that in the future, please do not call her by her real name."
"After all—"
The Host looked at Minagawa Akane, then at Koma Sha.
"Seconded."
The Rabbit lady was the first to speak.
"Seconded."
"Seconded."
Kasumigaoka Utaha narrowed her eyes.
This Rabbit seems to have an unusual status... "Strength is paramount." Koma Sha tilted his head imperceptibly: "There are small cliques everywhere."
"It's normal for several Contactees to attach themselves to a formal Ritualist."
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