Chapitre 135: Chapter 135: Of course I want them all!
"Please go out with me!!"
With her arms wrapped around Amamiya's neck, Hayasaka looked both shy and hopeful as she made her sudden confession.
Was it embarrassing to offer herself up like this?
Absolutely. But compared to the deadly spirit looming behind her, the embarrassment seemed trivial.
That terrifying woman seemed consumed by jealousy. If jealousy was the driving force, then appearing as a couple might just neutralize the threat. It was a sound plan. In the face of danger, even if it meant embarrassment in front of others, her life came first.
"…Let me go first."
Despite the intimate gesture and the confession, Amamiya felt nothing. It was easy to tell—this was all just an act.
They had only met an hour ago. No one would fall in love that quickly, and Amamiya knew this wasn't genuine.
Earlier, while paying at the checkout, Amamiya had noticed the sinister presence of an evil spirit clinging to Hayasaka. He stepped outside before her, allowing Umi to finish paying, thinking he could help. But as soon as he walked out, Hayasaka threw herself into his arms and confessed at lightning speed.
He quickly grasped her motives. Hayasaka was sharp and quick-thinking, but her plan wasn't necessary.
"Don't panic," Amamiya said softly, patting her shoulder. "I'll take care of the evil spirit."
"…"
Still uncertain, Hayasaka took a small step back, stealing a glance over her shoulder. The terrifying woman had paused, seemingly fooled by the act.
But then, to Hayasaka's shock, Amamiya casually raised his right hand and pointed at the horrifying figure.
"Come here."
Hayasaka: "!!??"
"You can see me!"
The female spirit shrieked, her face contorting grotesquely as she flew straight toward Amamiya.
But as her body collided with the faint glow surrounding him, transparent flames engulfed her, burning her to ashes before she dissipated entirely.
Watching the scene unfold, Hayasaka finally exhaled in relief. Still, she couldn't help but ask, "What 'was' that woman? And why couldn't anyone else see her?"
"I forgot you're new to this," Amamiya replied. "Once a player completes a game, they're rewarded with the ability to see the 'real world.'"
Hayasaka's eyes widened. "So, that woman was… part of reality?"
"Maybe," Amamiya shrugged. "It could be real, or it could be some kind of curse. No one really knows for sure. But as long as you're a player in this game, you'll be able to see the evil spirits roaming the world."
"No one understands why they exist," he continued, "but there's one rule you must remember: never let an evil spirit know you can see them. If they realize it, they'll kill you."
"…I understand," Hayasaka murmured, biting her lower lip, struggling to fully grasp this new reality.
It suddenly made sense—why her young lady had been staring into corners, often lost in thought, or why she sometimes had dark circles under her eyes for no reason. Occasionally, she would even come to her room, insisting on sleeping together. Now, Hayasaka understood: she was too terrified to sleep alone.
"Wait," Hayasaka asked, a thought occurring to her. "Why did that spirit burst into flames?"
Amamiya grinned. "Do you ever play mobile games?"
Hayasaka blinked, momentarily confused. "I play sometimes."
"How's your luck with gacha pulls?"
"Not bad."
"Perfect." He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "You can access the game in your mind. Open the in-game store, and there'll be daily blind boxes with random items. If you're lucky, you might even unlock abilities like mine."
"Let me try."
Intrigued, Hayasaka silently recited the game in her mind. A virtual interface appeared before her eyes. Under her mental control, she navigated quickly, found the daily blind box, carefully read through the description, and without hesitation, made her purchase: the daily surprise blind box.
In the next second, a pack of tissues appeared in Hayasaka's hand.
Amamiya shrugged casually. "Looks like your luck isn't great today."
"…"
The spy maid stared blankly at the tissues, squeezing them so hard they crumpled in her grasp.
'Putting tissues in a blind box? That's blatant consumer fraud! This deserves a complaint!'
Moments later, Umi came trotting out of the supermarket with a shopping bag in hand. "Hanamori-chan, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Hayasaka replied, shaking her head.
"That's good." Umi sighed in relief, whispering, "I forgot you're new to this and didn't explain about the evil spirits. Anyway, just remember—you must always pretend you can't see them."
Hayasaka pressed her lips together, her expression thoughtful. "Did you manage to get an ability to drive the spirits away?"
"No." Umi shook her head. "In the whole mutual aid group, only Amamiya-kun has drawn that skill so far."
'Of course.' Hayasaka pouted slightly. 'Turns out he's the annoying 'chosen one.''
After chatting for a bit longer, the three went their separate ways.
Amamiya and Umi headed home together, carrying their bags.
"I'm back!"
Umi stretched her arms high above her head, fists clenched, causing her shirt to ride up slightly, revealing her smooth, slender waist. She made a little sound of contentment. "First, let's eat, then I'm taking a long, relaxing bath."
Amamiya, closing the door behind them, summoned Shimizu.
"Huh?" Umi blinked, eyes wide in surprise. "Why is Sister Shimizu wearing a hamster cloak?"
"When I left the treasure room, I had her stay behind," Amamiya explained, turning to Shimizu. "Did you manage to grab the items?"
"Hmm~" Shimizu smiled, flashing a scissors gesture playfully. "Mission accomplished! I succeeded~"
With a flourish, she pulled several items out from beneath her cloak:
An antique silver coin.
A few ordinary oranges.
And a crystal-clear mermaid's tear.
These were treasures they could take out of the game.
'Only one thing allowed?'
'That's a choice for kids. Adults want everything!'
"Ah, now I get it," Umi said with sudden realization. "When we left the treasure room, Sister Shimizu stayed behind."
Shimizu, disguised in her hamster cloak, had hidden behind the treasure chest, motionless. She remained in the treasure room until the game's completion, only springing into action in the final moments to grab the 'treasures' she could take with her.
As Amamiya's guardian spirit, Shimizu was bound to him. If Amamiya left the game, she would naturally follow. However, they hadn't been sure at the time if the items she captured could also be taken out of the game.
Now, it was clear—there were no issues.
"Amamiya-kun, I need to recharge my energy~" Shimizu raised her right hand with a dramatic flair. "The game took a lot out of me. I won't even be able to play with my phone until dawn."
"Leave the recharging to me!" Umi struck a playful pose, one hand on her waist and the other with a thumbs-up. "First, we'll eat, then take that bath, and afterward, I'll help you recharge."
Amamiya, feeling a bit hungry himself, sat down at the table. He picked up one of the discounted lunch boxes and began eating while simultaneously checking the game's final results.
[Congratulations, you have been awarded MVP in the hide-and-seek game.]
[Please choose one of the following items as your extra reward —]
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État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone