Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Skill: Current Severance
"Hey, you bastard! What are we supposed to do if you ate everything!"Arai Hirokazu was emotional, looking like she was about to fight Power. Hayakawa Aki and Himeno saw this and quickly stepped forward, tightly holding the two apart, one on each side.
Renji Kuroda reached up to rub his forehead, feeling inexplicably exhausted by such a scene. Power's carefree and thoughtless personality didn't seem like much when watching the anime, and it even added a bit of fun.But encountering it in reality and getting involved with her was too easy to feel mentally exhausted.But looking at it now, it wasn't Power. Otherwise, given her personality, she would have definitely rushed into the bathroom at that time and questioned Renji Kuroda and Denji about what they were doing, and why.
Renji Kuroda looked at Kobeni again. She was standing at the edge of the crowd, wanting to go forward and mediate but not knowing where to start, hesitating."Hey, Kobeni Senior.""Ding~ Detected Kobeni's nervous emotion. System rewards 2 points."
Hearing Renji Kuroda's call, Kobeni's body trembled violently, as if struck by something. Her gaze darted away, not daring to look up or make eye contact with him."I... I was in the room... 10 minutes ago, and then Himeno Senior came in and comforted me. That's all."Kobeni's voice was very weak."Really?"
Noticing the doubt in Renji Kuroda's tone, Kobeni nodded repeatedly. She started to feel scared, tears welled up in her eyes, rolled down her cheeks, and dripped onto the floor, making a faint sound."Really... If you don't believe me, then the only thing left is the dancing..."
Kobeni's voice trembled, unconsciously remembering how Renji Kuroda made her strip and dance on the dancing machine.Bullying.That was definitely Renji Kuroda deliberately bullying her! That was definitely workplace bullying!Kobeni thought so.
"Oh, oh, I get it, I get it. Kobeni Senior, please don't cry. Didn't I already say that dancing isn't meaningless? It's useful. I was just teasing you when I said it was useless to go out because you're too cute. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Look, now we can go out."Renji Kuroda quickly explained, but Kobeni stopped talking.She just sat silently on the big bed in the corner, sobbing softly.
On the other side, Hayakawa Aki and Himeno finally managed to pull Arai Hirokazu and Power apart.Arai Hirokazu was pressed onto a chair by Hayakawa Aki. Her face was unusually pained, experiencing a great internal struggle.
"I'll go first."She gritted her teeth, her voice low."For the past ten minutes, I... I've been holed up in my room, not coming out. Hayakawa Aki Senior, Himeno Senior, Kobeni, everyone, I'm sorry. I didn't do anything, I couldn't help at all..."
Arai Hirokazu also cried. She hated her inner weakness, hated herself for being a coward who only retreated and was defeated by fear.
Himeno saw this and immediately stepped in to mediate."Well, well~ It's normal for a rookie's first mission~ It's normal to encounter such things, Arai. Don't blame yourself. Now that you have experience, it won't be like this next time."
Then, Himeno turned her gaze to Renji Kuroda."As for me, I was patrolling separately from Aki. At that time, I was on the other side of the corridor, and then I passed by Kobeni's room. Through the window, I saw that she wasn't in good shape and wasn't wearing clothes, so I thought she was going to commit suicide and went to comfort her. But luckily, I was just overthinking."
Renji Kuroda noticed the subtle changes in Himeno's facial expression, which seemed normal.But just in case, he decided to try to bait her."Really? Himeno Senior, did you forget what I just said? The Devil I contracted with has the ability to discern lies?""Ding~ Detected Himeno's nervous emotion. System rewards 2 points."
Hearing the system's prompt, Renji Kuroda's heart tightened. Could it really be Himeno?Himeno's expression changed slightly, then quickly returned to normal. She gave an awkward laugh."Eh... eh? Ah... is that so... Ahahaha... cough... cough... Alright..."
Her face flushed slightly, she cleared her throat, looked at Hayakawa Aki, clasped her hands together, and looked apologetic."Actually, when I was patrolling, I was a bit lazy. I didn't get enough sleep during the previous break, so I found a room and secretly slept for a while. That's all. Aki, I'm sorry~ for making you busy by yourself~"
Hayakawa Aki sighed helplessly."Himeno Senior, if you're tired, there's no need to force yourself. You can just go to sleep. Patrolling was just my voluntary action, not compulsory."Himeno nodded quickly upon hearing this. "Sorry, sorry, it won't happen again next time."
Finally, Himeno turned her gaze back to Renji Kuroda."So, Renji, how is it now? What did the Devil you contracted with say? You're not saying I'm lying now, are you?"Renji Kuroda hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded.
"Hm?... Hmm, what about you, Hayakawa Aki?"
Hayakawa Aki lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and then slowly exhaled the smoke.This was her last cigarette. Himeno had asked her for one before, but she hadn't been willing to give it up."As for me..." Hayakawa Aki paused, organizing her thoughts, "For the past ten minutes, I've just been patrolling normally, constantly looking for a way out."
"Beep beep beep, my lie detector alarm is flashing again, Hayakawa Aki. You didn't tell the truth just now."Renji Kuroda spoke half-jokingly, trying to bait her. If what Hayakawa Aki said was the truth, he could then smoothly say he was joking to cover it up.
To be honest, Renji Kuroda didn't think Hayakawa Aki would be the one. Someone with her personality would find it very difficult to hide something if it was on her mind.
However—"Ding~ Detected Hayakawa Aki's nervous emotion. System rewards 2 points."
This system prompt was completely unexpected by Renji Kuroda.Hayakawa Aki's expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure, deliberately turning her head to look away, trying to hide her nervousness.But she could also feel that everyone's eyes were on her at this moment.
"Alright," Hayakawa Aki began."Actually, for the past 10 minutes, roughly... roughly 10 minutes, it might be off by a minute or two, I... I secretly, secretly looked at Renji Kuroda's sleeping face."
As she spoke, Hayakawa Aki's beautiful profile gradually turned red, and a hint of shyness and embarrassment flashed in her eyes.Renji Kuroda was stunned. "And then?"Hayakawa Aki wiped her nose."Then... then I heard the sound of the door opening and quickly hid behind the door. It was Denji, she came in. Then I took the opportunity to run out."
Himeno listened with great interest, a mischievous smile on her face."Eh~ What, what? So, Aki, you're interested in the rookie, huh? What is this? Bullying? Secretly watching her because you're a senior?" she teased.
Kobeni looked at Renji Kuroda.Hayakawa Aki quickly waved her hand. "Please don't say that, Himeno Senior, this has nothing to do with bullying, okay? Cough... cough..."
Renji Kuroda watched Hayakawa Aki and Himeno's banter, but his thoughts were not on them.So far, everyone who had been questioned showed signs of nervousness, and each of them also had a plausible reason.Someone was lying.
Renji Kuroda was undecided for a moment. If he probed everyone thoroughly, it would seem too strange and would arouse suspicion from others. After thinking for a while, he sighed."That's enough. Come with me now. Let's go to the lobby. I'll take everyone out."
Everyone looked at each other.Arriving at the lobby, Renji Kuroda activated his role-play transformation. His clothes gradually dissipated, and his flesh and blood also began to fade, until they completely disappeared.
Finally, he transformed into a white skeleton, without any skin, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, or internal organs; he was a skeleton person made only of white bones.The eye sockets of the skeleton were pitch black and profoundly dark, with only a single red light point flickering within, like a pupil.
"I'm fine, everyone, don't be nervous."
Renji Kuroda extended his five bony fingers, and magic gradually gathered above them, forming a scimitar shape. He fiercely swung it out, and the scimitar slashed toward the hotel's main door, cutting open a gap in the air.
Outside was the street, and the sky looked almost exactly the same as when they had entered.
P@treon Rene_chan