After finishing another day of training, Shinji Akagi decided that after dinner he would go soak in a hot spring.
Don't let the Jashin Cult's members fool you. Every one of them looked fierce, killed without hesitation, and treated life as if it were worthless.
But when it came to enjoying themselves, these executioners and lunatics never mistreated themselves.
Behind the massive base was a large open-air hot spring.
However, Shinji Akagi didn't particularly enjoy soaking together with that group of people. So he took a detour and headed to a smaller, more secluded hot spring pool hidden further away.
But when he arrived there, the person he saw made him pause in surprise.
"Idiot Hidan?"
"Bastard Shinji?!"
Truly, enemies were bound to cross paths on a narrow road.
Shinji clicked his tongue a couple of times. Looking at Hidan, who sat in the hot spring wearing a ghost-like expression of shock, Shinji felt somewhat irritated—but he didn't immediately turn around and leave.
If he left now, there was no doubt Hidan would see it as "Shinji's scared, so he ran away."
And that would only inflate Hidan's arrogance.
That would violate the basic principles of psychological manipulation.
First, he needed Hidan to fall into self-doubt, to start overthinking things.
Then he could occasionally throw him a small bone.
Repeat that process several times, and results would eventually appear.
So, adopting the philosophy of "since I'm already here," Shinji simply ignored Hidan. He quickly removed his clothes and stepped into the water at the spot farthest away from Hidan.
Then he let out a comfortable sigh.
Meanwhile, Hidan watched Shinji enter the water and gradually close his eyes.
Strangely enough, Hidan seemed to relax a little too.
At first, he had thought Shinji had come here specifically to pick a fight with him. After all, Hidan had personally experienced just how "terrifying" this guy could be.
But now it seemed it was just a coincidence.
He had been jumping at shadows.
"This guy really just came to soak in the hot spring?"
"Tch. What bad luck."
"Of all places to run into that bastard…"
Hidan grumbled inwardly.
Especially since he had deliberately come to such a remote place at this time—only to still run into Shinji, the one person he least wanted to see.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
Endure for a moment and the anger grows. Take a step back and the loss feels even worse.
Fight again?
There wasn't much point. They fought practically every day anyway. One more fight wouldn't make much difference.
Besides, even if he barely won, he probably wouldn't be able to chase Shinji away.
More importantly, his plan to relax and enjoy a nice hot spring soak would be completely ruined!
Was there some other way to recover his pride?
Hidan thought for a moment, and suddenly an idea appeared in his mind.
If he lasted longer than that bastard in the hot spring right now… wouldn't that prove that Lord Hidan was the tougher one?!
Hidan's eyes immediately lit up.
Without informing Shinji at all, he quietly decided on this ridiculous competition.
Whoever gave up first would be the loser!
Hidan chuckled to himself. Even his previously tense body completely relaxed, as if he had achieved some kind of psychological victory.
Shinji suddenly opened his eyes, sensing something strange. His expression was full of confusion.
"Why is this guy staring at me like that…?"
Shinji frowned slightly.
"This idiot isn't some kind of creep, is he?"
A chill ran down his spine, and goosebumps almost appeared.
"Sigh… why bother competing with an idiot. Forget it, I'll just leave."
Just as Shinji was about to get out of the hot spring, unable to endure Hidan's overly intense gaze, the bizarre system suddenly triggered another mission!
He froze for a few seconds before checking the task.
[Ding — Bond-Bound Character Hidan Has Issued You a Challenge!]
Mission: Hot Spring Champion
Objective: Stay in the hot spring longer than Hidan.
Rewards:
Cursed Treasure Map ×1
Curse Soul Value ×500
Bond Value +20
PS: This fishing pond has been contracted by me—wait, wrong line! Only one "Standing Champion" can exist in this hot spring! Since ancient times, the brave prevail when enemies meet on narrow roads! So draw your sword, young man!
Accept Mission?
"…."
Damn it!
Even though he had already experienced the system's nonsense before, Shinji still had an endless stream of complaints building up inside him!
Draw your damn sword?
What sword are we drawing here?
This is starting to sound suspiciously like fencing practice!
Believe it or not, the censorship gods might devour you at any moment!
And what exactly was that idiot Hidan thinking about anyway?
Did he think this was some kind of bathhouse competition? Or a sauna challenge?
Just because of a man's ridiculous pride, he'd rather get steamed alive than step out first?
Wasn't that childish?!
[Accept Mission?]
[ACCEPT.]
Shinji accepted the mission without hesitation, perfectly demonstrating the universal law of "true fragrance."
Complaining was one thing, but a mission was a mission.
No matter how small the reward was, he certainly wouldn't turn it down.
"Ah, Hidan… you really are daddy's good son."
Shinji couldn't help but sigh internally.
This wasn't the first time he had farmed rewards off Hidan.
Aside from him, this useless system had never triggered a mission involving anyone else.
Wasn't that infuriating?
So even though Shinji knew it wasn't right to keep shearing the same sheep over and over again, he had no choice.
For now, Hidan would just have to experience the pain of the world a little earlier.
Shinji took a deep breath and closed his eyes again.
He had already made up his mind.
He would stay in this hot spring until the end of time.
No one could persuade him to leave.
Meanwhile, Hidan was secretly competing with him, trying to outlast him.
Thus, the two of them somehow began an absurd battle of willpower.
Time slowly passed…
Until the next morning.
When High Priest Takihata arrived at the training room, he strangely discovered that both Hidan and Shinji were missing.
"Where are Hidan and Shinji? Why haven't they arrived yet?" High Priest Takihata asked expressionlessly.
One of the nearby cult members hesitated awkwardly.
"They… are soaking in the hot spring."
"…What? At this hour? Why are they bathing early in the morning? Go call them here immediately!"
"That's not exactly it, High Priest. Actually… they've been soaking there since last night. I already sent people to get them, but from the looks of things, they've started competing again. Neither of them is willing to come out first."
"Nonsense! This is absolute nonsense!"
High Priest Takihata seemed slightly angry.
He immediately turned and walked outside to see what exactly these two troublemakers were doing.
By the time he reached the hot spring area, he discovered that quite a few cult members had already gathered nearby.
Most of them had probably heard the rumor that the two of them had been soaking in the hot spring for an entire night and still refused to come out.
Naturally, they had come to watch the spectacle.
"What are you two doing? Why aren't you in the training room?"
High Priest Takihata stepped through the crowd and looked toward the pool as he asked.
Honestly, being surrounded and watched by so many people would crush most people without extremely strong mental fortitude—or extremely thick skin.
But clearly, Shinji and Hidan were not the type to care about others' opinions.
One of them was determined to win the mission reward.
The other simply refused to lose.
So even though the High Priest himself had spoken, neither of them left the hot spring.
After all, they both had immortality.
If that was the case—
Then they might as well keep soaking.