Chapter 91: The Ghostly Letter and an Unwise Question
"An upgrade for your Yin-Yang Eyes?"
Hearing the reward Yotsuya Miko had received, Haruto's eyebrows rose in mild surprise. He remembered that Miko already possessed the highest grade of Yin-Yang Eyes, a rare ability that allowed her to see every last spirit in her world. The catch, however, was that aside from seeing them, the eyes offered a grand total of zero offensive power.
Yotsuya Miko nodded, her voice bright with a joy she couldn't contain. "It's described as a 'Yin-Yang Eyes ability enhancement.' I can't just see them anymore. I can now gauge the strength of spiritual entities, pinpoint their weaknesses, and it even comes with an intimidation effect. Low-level spirits are now too scared to even get close."
She was clearly more than satisfied with this development. Although the trials of three different worlds had tempered her fear of the spirits from her own, being able to make them keep their distance voluntarily would save her a world of trouble.
"What else did you get?" Haruto prompted.
"There's also an ability called 'Instinctive Evasion'."
"No specific description for that one?" Haruto frowned.
Yotsuya Miko shook her head.
Just as she did, her head snapped to the left, a completely involuntary motion. In the next instant, a whisper of wind brushed past her cheek. Before she could even turn to see what had caused it, her body was already retreating, a reflexive step backward that created a sliver of distance.
In that very same moment, a fist materialized where her face had been, halting just millimeters from her nose. The fist relaxed, and a single knuckle gently flicked her on the forehead.
"Oww..." Yotsuya Miko clutched her head, a pained whimper escaping her lips.
Haruto withdrew his hand, a flicker of genuine excitement in his eyes. "Well now, isn't this just a budget version of Ultra Instinct?"
After that little demonstration, Miko fully understood the ability's utility. Rubbing her still-throbbing forehead, she added weakly, "The last ability is the same as before—a ten percent increase in physical strength."
"Not bad at all. The functions are even better than I imagined," Haruto said, nodding with satisfaction. "And haven't you noticed? These three abilities perfectly complement your role."
"Role?" Miko blinked, stunned for a moment. Then, as if a memory clicked into place, she asked tentatively, "Haruto, do you mean... a blade-wielding assassin?"
"Bingo! You got it!" Haruto exclaimed. "Yin-Yang Eyes for scouting enemy movements, Instinctive Evasion for close-quarters combat, and a physical strength boost on top of it all. Go back and start working out, and while you're at it, study the basics of swordsmanship. When you're ready, I'll bring my Youmu over to teach you how to properly use a sword."
"Okay," Yotsuya Miko agreed, her expression one of obedient determination.
Haruto casually tore open a Gap in space, connecting with Kaguya to exchange information on their respective situations.
Both Kaguya and Lin Xuelao had earned impressive scores. The former received an SS-rank evaluation, and the latter an S-rank.
Kaguya's rewards consisted of three items:
1. Treasury: As the name implied, it was a pocket dimension capable of storing a vast arsenal, but it was limited to holding only weapons.
2. Blood-Stained Ghost Letter: Kaguya hadn't yet had the chance to thoroughly investigate her second reward. All she knew was that it could answer questions, and the Death Game's only hint was an ominous warning: 'It drains life upon use.'
3. Physical Strength +10%
Lin Xuelao's rewards, on the other hand, were just two:
1. Perception Enhancement: This allowed her to keenly sense the subtle shifts in surrounding air currents, forming a detailed image of her environment in her mind. It also granted her the ability to sense malice and distinguish between good and evil intentions. If pushed to its absolute limit, she could even glimpse fragmented visions of the future.
2. Physical Strength +10%
After they had all shared their reward information, Haruto gave a few more instructions before finally returning to Gensokyo.
This time, he didn't appear in Eientei, but in the Yakumo Residence—specifically, on his own bed. He had been sound asleep when Kaguya had come looking for him, which just so happened to be right when the countdown for the third instance began.
As his back sank into the familiar softness of his large bed, Haruto finally felt the reality of being "alive" again. While the last four days in the ancient castle had been surprisingly leisurely, it was a universal truth that no matter how gilded another's nest might be, it could never compare to the comfort of one's own den.
Besides, the comfort level of that guest room couldn't hold a candle to his own.
Haruto turned his head, intending to ask Kaguya for more details about the strange letter, only to find that she had already rummaged through his cabinet and was happily sprawled out with a bag of potato chips and a can of cola.
"Hey! No eating on my bed!"
Having lived with Yakumo Ran for so long, Haruto had developed a slight obsession with cleanliness. His room was always kept perfectly tidy, and his bed, in particular, had to remain an immaculate sanctuary.
"I finally made it home. Can't you let this lady relax a little?" Without waiting for an answer, Kaguya shoved a handful of potato chips into Haruto's mouth and offered him the can.
After munching a few times, Haruto saw the crumbs already dusting his sheets and resigned himself to defeat. He didn't take the can, however, instead pointing a thumb toward the cabinet.
"Give me a Coke instead."
"Huh? Isn't Pepsi fine?"
"Who drinks Pepsi? That stuff is worse than drinking sugar water straight."
"Nonsense!" Kaguya immediately protested, sitting up. "Pepsi is the classic! Isn't Coke just more carbonated? What's the difference between that and drinking soda water!"
As the two devolved into a heated argument over cola supremacy, the sliding door was pushed open. Yakumo Ran stepped inside, her face instantly lighting up with delight upon seeing Haruto. Behind her, her nine fluffy tails began to sway uncontrollably.
"Haruto-sama, you—"
"Stop!" Haruto held up a hand, interrupting her. He pointed a finger at the two cans on the bed, his expression dead serious. "Ran, you're just in time! Coke or Pepsi, which one do you choose?"
Yakumo Ran froze, her gaze shifting from the two cans to the defiant expressions on Haruto and Kaguya's faces. She immediately understood the source of their ridiculous conflict, and a trace of fond helplessness crossed her peach-blossom eyes.
"Naturally, it's Coke." As a loyal member of the Yakumo family, she would, without a doubt, stand by her young master's side.
"See! Two votes to one!" Haruto declared triumphantly.
"Your Ran would obviously side with you!" Kaguya retorted indignantly.
As she spoke, she deftly tore the labels off both cans. Turning her back to them, she scrambled the order before grabbing two cups from the cabinet. She poured the Pepsi and Coke into their respective cups and then pushed them in front of Yakumo Ran.
"Go on. Do a blind test."
Yakumo Ran didn't hesitate. She picked up both cups, downed their contents in one go, and then offered her evaluation. "Ran thinks both cups of cola have their own unique flavors."
The two stared at her, their faces sinking into a shared gloom.
Suddenly, as if struck by an idea, Haruto suggested, "Didn't you get a ghost letter that can answer questions from the last mission? Let it decide. It's a good chance to test it out."
A spark ignited in Kaguya's eyes.
She pulled a letter from her long sleeve. The paper was blank save for a single bloodstain blooming on its edge, and it came with a thin, almost needle-like pen. She picked it up and wrote down her question.
[Between Coke and Pepsi, which one tastes better?]
If any other player were to witness this scene, they would likely be paralyzed with shock. While other cursed artifacts might cost money, a ghost letter cost life. Most people wouldn't dare use it even in the most desperate of situations, let alone waste it on such a trivial question.
Yakumo Ran leaned in, her curiosity piqued.
On the paper, crimson handwriting slowly bled into existence.
[Incomparable]
The moment the words appeared, a wave of deep exhaustion washed over Kaguya, as if she had just pulled an all-nighter for an entire week straight.
She was furious. "You drained that much of this lady's vitality just to give me these two words?"
With a cry of frustration, she moved to tear the letter to shreds.
"Wait!" Haruto stopped her, leaning in to whisper a few words in her ear. Kaguya's eyes slowly lit up with wicked glee. She picked up the pen again and, with a smirk, wrote a new sentence—
[Question: How old is Yakumo Yukari this year?]
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