Chapter 30: Taking Action

"Oh, so the avatar collects True Spirit Points here." The eyes of the Pure Avatar, previously as flat and vacant as if they held nothing, suddenly flickered with vitality; the main consciousness of Ruoye had descended.

It was now the time after school at Sakai First High School.

The avatar had nothing to do at this hour, as assassination contracts were fulfilled at night, and the Fog Realm was also accessible only after dark. Thus, it had come here to collect True Spirit Points. According to the system's data, True Spirit Points appeared only when a life ceased to exist. Fish, too, had lives, however insignificant. Based on the experience of the past few days, Ruoye knew that at the fish-slaughtering station, one could gather about two or more True Spirit Points in an afternoon. Though meager, it was better than nothing.

"True Spirit Points can wait. I should go get something good to eat, then head to the amusement park..." Having spent the entire day in etiquette classes—either standing or arranging flowers—she felt as though she were losing her mind.

"Shiratori-kun, you're always so mysterious after school. Is it just to watch fish being slaughtered?" Just as Ruoye turned, she heard a familiar voice behind her.

She turned to see a beautifully dressed girl of fifteen or sixteen walking toward her with a smile. It was Rie Hanada.

She wore a beige off-the-shoulder T-shirt and a high-waisted, pure white pleated skirt. The short hemline barely covered the tops of her thighs, revealing a pair of snow-white, heart-throbbing legs. Her entire being radiated the youth and vitality of a teenage girl. Seeing her, Ruoye recalled that this girl had been tirelessly pursuing her for days. Breakfasts, lunches, constant inquiries about her well-being—except for the nights, she was stuck to her like glue.

"Yes, just watching the fish," Ruoye replied. Given the girl's sincerity, her tone softened. She believed that if the girl persisted, she might eventually come to like her.

"Oh~~" Rie Hanada murmured, noncommittal. Then, she shifted the topic to the main point: "Shiratori-kun, I like you. You've seen everything I've done for you these past few days. What is your decision?"

"Are you confessing to me?" Ruoye frowned.

"Yes, I am!" Rie Hanada stared at her with affection. "Last time I confessed in public, you rejected me. I went home and thought it over carefully; I realized what you said had merit. So, for the past two weeks, I've been changing—changing myself for you! I even feel like I'm no longer myself..." Her emotions grew intense as she spoke. Finally, she looked up and locked eyes with Ruoye. "...So, Shiratori-kun, I love you! Do you love me?"

Ruoye shook her head earnestly. "I only have a tiny bit of feeling for you, so I can't accept you yet." She added, with great seriousness, "Perhaps I'm just a slow starter. If you work a bit harder, I think I might come to like you."

*Slap!*

The sound of a palm striking flesh rang out. Rie Hanada’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Ruoye; one side of her cheek was visibly swelling.

Earlier, upon hearing Ruoye’s disgusting excuse about being a "slow starter," the gentleness and affection on her face vanished. Furious, she had raised her hand to slap her. But unexpectedly, Ruoye was faster. Seeing the swing, she didn't think twice and retaliated with a slap of her own, striking first and landing a heavy blow on Rie Hanada's face.

Rie Hanada's fair cheek flushed a burning red, her own hand left hanging frozen in mid-air.

"What do you think you're doing?" Ruoye shouted at her. "You actually tried to hit me? Hmph, the tiny bit of favor I had for you is gone. There is no future for us. Goodbye, and don't bother me again!"

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving a stunned Rie Hanada trembling in the wind. Passersby who witnessed the scene assumed Rie must have done something to betray her boyfriend, provoking such fury.

"Come here." A moment later, a domineering male voice whispered through the micro-earpiece in Rie Hanada's ear. At the sound, a look of tenderness and attachment flashed in her eyes. She turned and hurried away from the district she considered a slum.

Ten minutes later, she reached a roadside and walked straight toward a sapphire-blue luxury sedan. Seeing the envious gazes of passersby, she felt a sense of pride: her boyfriend was very wealthy, and he drove a different luxury car every day.

Once inside the car, she was embraced by a pair of strong arms and pinned beneath the seat... The car windows automatically adjusted to an opaque mode.

The country paths at dawn were covered in dew, the fresh air mixed with the fragrance of earth, damp and hazy. A mere sweep of one's pant leg would leave them soaked.

*Rumble!*

The ground shook as a carriage sped by, its wheels crushing the path, tearing through the mist and scattering the lush weeds on both sides as it hurtled toward the depths of the forest.

"So, you're saying he comes here every day to watch fish being slaughtered for three or four hours?" The handsome young man lit a cigarette and asked Rie Hanada. The car was stuffy, and a thin layer of sweat covered his forehead.

"Yes," Rie Hanada nodded.

"And he said he's a slow starter?"

"Yes." She nodded again.

*Hiss!*

The handsome man crushed the half-smoked cigarette in his hand and gritted his teeth. "That kid is playing me!" He already knew his plan had failed completely. His original vision was for Rie Hanada to confess to the poor kid, who would surely accept with flattered delight. He would then enjoy a dream-like romance—limited to talking and holding hands, of course; kissing or going to bed was a fantasy. He believed the boy would feel like he was living in a dream, unable to sleep from excitement! Once the boy was thoroughly ensnared, the man would appear and "love his girlfriend" right in front of him, ultimately telling him the truth: his goddess was nothing but a pawn in his master's game. He had wanted to savor the most beautiful expression of despair in the world.

Unfortunately, his perfect plan had died at the first step. The boy had refused to accept Rie Hanada as his girlfriend. He pondered the cause, then a realization struck him: "Of course. When we were by the roadside, the car window wasn't fully closed. The boy must have seen what was happening inside... That explains it. Otherwise, why would a poor kid ignore a confession from a school goddess?"

"That's impossible, the window was closed," Rie Hanada frowned, though she was uncertain. Her boyfriend liked things wild and刺激, and at the time, she had felt as though she were being watched. She just didn't want to admit that a loser had seen her body.

"So... should we continue the plan?" she asked.

"Continue what? The kid has already seen through it. Do you want him to keep disgusting me?" The handsome man spoke sharply, his face darkening. "Damn it, a lowly peasant dared to intentionally disgust me? Does he think he's worthy?" A cold sneer flashed in his eyes. "It's time to teach him the cruelty of this world."

"Kenshi, are you going to send someone to finish him?" Rie Hanada asked, surprised, but not objecting.

"Send someone?" The young man felt insulted. "Do I need to send people to deal with a backgroundless peasant? Are you looking down on me?"

"No, that's not it," she quickly changed the subject. "Then what is your plan, Kenshi?"

"Hmph." Kenshi Yanagimura glanced at her and laid out his scheme.

"This..." Rie Hanada frowned slightly. If this succeeded, Shiratori Kiyo would be ruined—ruined in every sense of the word. But...

"What, have you actually fallen for that little peasant during this charade?"

"No!" Rie Hanada shook her head vigorously. "How could I be moved by such a person? I was just wondering what if it gets exposed..."

"If it's exposed, so be it. Nothing will happen to you," Kenshi Yanagimura replied. Seeing her lingering doubt, he added, "Would I lie to you? Rest assured, even if this were exposed, you wouldn't even be prosecuted. If you don't believe me, search online yourself."

Rie Hanada nodded, half-convinced.