SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
All in all, before I could even properly connect the call to Ameno Yotsuba, somehow—
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I had already dealt with the physiological issue.
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The shame from the sound of flowing water and the instinctive pressure from my body hit me at the same time.
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Under that double interference, I somehow managed to barely hold onto my sanity and sort out the current situation.
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…In a certain sense, this probably counts as growth.
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I was still sitting properly upright. One hand held the phone, while the other carefully adjusted my clothes.
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At the very least, until the call with Ameno Yotsuba ended, I had to make sure no further “extra situations” would occur.
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“Yoruichi.”
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The first voice to come through the receiver was his.
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Unlike before, it carried a slightly hurried edge, yet it remained restrained—without the slightest hint of panic.
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The feeling was more like the situation had exceeded expectations, but was still firmly within his grasp.
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“Hey, don’t call me so familiarly.”
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I reflexively shot back, “We’ve only just met, haven’t we? And we’re only in an alliance.”
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“Sorry.”
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Ameno Yotsuba apologized immediately. His tone was calm and direct, without any trace of perfunctory courtesy.
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“It’s just that this matter really is important.”
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…This guy is strangely overly polite in places like this.
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“Important?”
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I answered while simultaneously wrestling with the black stockings.
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Honestly, handling something like this with just one hand was far too difficult for someone with zero experience.
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“About the contest for the territorial division point.”
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Ameno Yotsuba cut straight to the point.
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“Territory?”
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I subconsciously repeated, “Ameno Yotsuba, you don’t even have KING status right now, do you? How are you planning to divide territory?”
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“It’s not only KINGs who can possess territory.”
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His reply was very calm, showing no sign of being offended by the question. Instead, it felt like he was patiently correcting a misunderstanding.
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“Even without KING-level authority, ordinary players can apply for territory. The scope of authority is simply different.”
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Even though I couldn’t see his expression, I could imagine it—
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A composed and rational look, not one of smugness or showing off.
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“Go on.”
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On the surface I responded calmly, but inside I was already starting to break down.
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Damn these black stockings… why are they so hard to deal with!
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“You should understand one thing first.”
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Ameno Yotsuba’s tone lowered slightly, growing more serious.
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“The identities of KING and lord are not completely equivalent.”
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He paused deliberately, as if confirming whether I was following.
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“It’s not that only a KING can become a lord. But once someone becomes a KING, they are necessarily a lord.”
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“In other words—”
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I followed his logic and continued.
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“There isn’t only one way to defeat a KING—direct combat isn’t the only method.”
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“Correct.”
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A trace of affirmation entered Ameno Yotsuba’s voice.
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“Causing a KING to lose their territory is also equivalent to defeating them.”
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I see.
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My understanding of the territory system in THE NIGHT THE DAWN had always been superficial at best.
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Let alone something like “becoming a KING”—that had never been among the options available to a player labeled “trash” like me.
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For me, just being able to help Ameno Yotsuba reclaim the position of KING already felt like a dream.
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“But the specific tactics and application process would be clearer if discussed inside ENDLESS WORLD.”
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For the first time, a faint, almost imperceptible note of request colored his voice.
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“…Right now?”
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“Please.”
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It wasn’t coercion, nor was it an order.
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It was a request made with complete respect for my will.
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That kind of attitude actually made it harder to refuse.
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“But I still have class.”
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“I understand.”
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Ameno Yotsuba’s tone remained calm. “That’s exactly why I’m asking instead of ordering you.”
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…This guy really is cunning.
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And the content of classes at Blue Sea Academy—
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Honestly, just thinking about it made me feel drowsy.
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Ever since the academy fully transformed into a BHAO-oriented institution, the meaning of “attending class” had become quite ambiguous.
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“…I’ll have Heita help me ask for the morning off.”
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The time ratio between reality and ENDLESS WORLD was roughly 10:1.
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Even so, a single morning might not be enough to handle an entire territorial plan.
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“Alright.”
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I finally gave in. “I agree.”
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“That’s a huge help.”
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On the other end of the line, Ameno Yotsuba clearly breathed a sigh of relief, but he quickly returned to his usual steady tone.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Next time we meet in reality, I’ll treat you to dessert.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
He paused, then added, “Of course, I’ll respect your choice.”
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“Hey—!”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I instantly bristled. “Don’t just treat me like a kid to brush off!”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Beep.
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The call was decisively ended.
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“…”
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I stared at the phone screen, my temple twitching faintly.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Ameno Yotsuba, this guy… is still rude after all!
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
The moment my emotions surged, I vented all my resentment onto the black stockings.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Haa—!”
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The next second.
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Riiip.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“…Huh?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I looked down at the glaring tear and froze completely.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“It… tore?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Sure enough… stockings are still way too advanced for me.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Fortunately, I could still force them on somehow, preventing an even greater disaster.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Whatever. I’ll head out and have Heita help me ask for leave first.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Even as I said that out loud, a complicated, indescribable feeling swirled in my chest.
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The moment I reached the bathroom door—
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An inexplicable sense of unease rose up.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“…Did I forget something?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Before I could figure it out, a calm, ice-cold voice suddenly spoke from behind me.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Oh? I never would have guessed the Night Witch was Yae Yoruichi.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
My heart stopped in an instant.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
It felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over me; cold sweat slid down my spine.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
I finally remembered the thing I had completely overlooked.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
The AR plugin.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Ah, no need to mind me.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
The other person leisurely added, “Mm, indeed, no need at all.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
The tone was cold, yet it carried an almost amused self-mockery.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Ahaha… Yae Yoruichi? Who’s that? Night Witch? I don’t know anyone like that at all, nope?”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Objection overruled.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
The girl behind me mercilessly cut me off. “Forced reasoning. Completely ineffective.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
…It’s over.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“Spare me!”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
Almost instinctively, I spun around and bolted without even daring to look at her face.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“You won’t escape, Yae Yoruichi.”
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
That voice followed from behind—calm and utterly certain.
SpecialCharactersAndSymbols!@#$%^&*()_-+=[]{}|;:\"'<>,.?/
“I absolutely will not let you get away.”
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