Chapter 371: Team Anya — I'm the Leader!
"Well, this is surprising… but I can't deny it."
Even the ever-calm Kikyo couldn't help showing astonishment as she stared at her game interface.
"Because I'm already dead, and my body's a clay figure shaped from terracotta, my constitution stat is that low?"
Even being suddenly transported to an unfamiliar place hadn't fazed her.
She didn't panic, nor did she feel any curiosity—just instinctively began gathering information.
But she hadn't expected this so-called Reincarnation Game to be a world claiming to fulfill any wish.
Even after she learned the full truth about Naraku's schemes,
even after she knew everything,
she turned away without hesitation, without a trace of longing.
Inuyasha had someone new by his side—Kagome Higurashi.
No matter how much pain and reluctance he showed, Kikyo was unmoved.
That was the kind of person she was.
Born with immense spiritual power, destined to become a shrine maiden who protected humanity,
everything she did in life was about fulfilling the duty her spiritual power demanded—
not what she herself desired.
Only after meeting Inuyasha and their long entanglement
did she descend from the divine pedestal and step into the world of mortals.
It was then that she found not the duty of a priestess,
but the responsibility of Kikyo—the human being.
But now she was dead.
And in her eyes, the dead should return to the underworld, not cling to hopes for the future.
Her only remaining reason for existing was vengeance—
to find Naraku and destroy him.
"But… what if I still want to live?"
No one truly wishes to die.
Even someone as lonely as Kikyo longed for the meaning of life.
The Reincarnation Game was like a sudden ray of hope shining in a pitch-black world—
so bright she couldn't help but want to trust it, to try it.
And if it was a lie,
then she would simply fall back into the darkness.
Which was why Kikyo was the first among the four new players
to believe—and act—willingly taking on the newbie trial.
"The trial is about to begin. Does anyone want to quit?"
Kikyo looked up,
glancing at Esdeath, then Erza, and finally resting her gaze on Anya.
A seemingly ordinary girl with mind-reading powers—
clearly the weakest, and most likely to back out of the trial.
Anya timidly asked,
"Kikyo-nee, will you protect me?"
She loved adventure,
especially spy-themed TV shows.
But if things got too dangerous, she knew she'd have to walk away.
Because, even with telepathy, Anya was still just a child.
"I really want to go, but… I'm weak… and useless…"
Anya could hear everyone's thoughts.
And though she was young, her maturity surpassed that of many adults.
The most remarkable thing about her
was that despite hearing so much darkness in people's minds,
she still remained kind and full of energy.
She hadn't given in to despair, nor become a twisted "Dark Anya."
Anya didn't want to say goodbye to these people.
So she lifted her chin, eyes sparkling with stars, and said earnestly,
"I want to go on an adventure! You can give all the reward points to Kikyo-nee, Esdeath-nee, and Erza-nee!"
"You little fool! Adventure is dangerous!"
Erza lightly knocked her on the head—
but even that made Anya tumble dramatically.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
She craved adventure and excitement.
Part of it was childhood curiosity,
but a bigger part was her longing for a new world.
Anya had been created in a secret experiment, born with the ability to read minds.
The organization treated her as a test subject—a freak.
Even after escaping,
orphans and caregivers saw her as different.
She was adopted by family after family, only to be returned each time.
Mind reading was her shield,
but also the reason she was denied her humanity.
It wasn't until Twilight and Yor—
a spy and an assassin, both misfits like her—took her in
that Anya finally felt warmth.
But even then,
Twilight and Yor couldn't fully understand her.
Being dragged into the Reincarnation Game,
and meeting others with special abilities like her—Erza, Kikyo, Esdeath—
sparked something in her.
She didn't want to be separated from them.
"Such a cute little Anya… I bet she'd cry very loudly under the whip."
Esdeath looked down at Anya with burning eyes.
She wasn't a murderer.
She just had a battle maniac's mind.
Her cruel tactics and upbringing had shaped her into a proud sadist.
Looking at Anya, she just felt like lightly tormenting her—
nothing life-threatening, of course.
"Esdeath-nee, you're scary…"
Anya quickly hid behind the friendliest face she could find—Kikyo.
Just now, she'd accidentally read Esdeath's thoughts.
Whips? Smacking her cute little butt?
Too terrifying!
Kikyo asked softly,
"Anya, are you prepared to die for this adventure?"
In her era,
even children had to face crisis and bloodshed.
Everyone fought with death in their hearts.
"I'm ready!"
For once, Anya wore a serious expression.
"Even as a kid, I want to help my family!"
She could see it.
Twilight had enrolled her in the noble academy to get closer to political targets.
Once that mission was over,
the happy family would disappear.
She might end up in an orphanage again.
Even so,
Anya was grateful for the warmth they had given her.
If she could repay it—
she wanted to become strong like Yor,
and help them both.
That was her dream.
"What about you, Erza?"
Kikyo held the flustered Anya in her arms and turned to Erza.
Erza nodded.
"I want to learn more about the Reincarnation Game—then bring that knowledge back to Fairy Tail."
Being transported here silently—
even as an S-Class Mage—left her deeply uneasy.
If this was the doing of a dark force,
then it was more terrifying than all the dark guilds on the continent combined.
"And you, Esdeath?"
Kikyo finally turned to Esdeath.
She wasn't fond of battle maniacs.
In her warring era, such people were drenched in blood.
Still, they had been summoned together.
And with the unknowns ahead, staying united was safest.
"Of course I'll take the trial.
This hunt is far too exciting to miss!"
Esdeath licked her lips.
"I want to know who created this game.
If I get the chance to challenge them…
how exhilarating that would be."
"But I don't plan to work with you."
In her view,
only weaklings and tribes hunted in groups.
True apex predators always hunted alone.
Before Kikyo could respond,
Esdeath plunged her hands into the fire—
her figure vanished into light.
"Then let's go together, shall we?"
Erza didn't stop her. She simply nodded at Esdeath's retreating form.
Kikyo wasn't one to force others to change their minds either.
Anya, still thinking about that terrifying whip, kept her mouth tightly shut.
"Who'll be the team leader?"
Normally, Erza would be the obvious choice—an S-Class Mage.
But Kikyo was no slouch, and from another world.
Imposing her own tactics might lead to friction.
Likewise, Kikyo didn't understand magic.
Kikyo looked down at the pink-haired girl in her arms and asked,
"How about we let Anya be team leader?"
Before Erza could protest,
Kikyo added,
"Anya has a mind-reading ability.
That makes her the most qualified to lead."
Erza froze—
then realized she'd never said her name aloud.
Yet Anya knew it.
"Waku waku?"
Anya's eyes turned to stars.
Her head spun with excitement.
She was… the leader?
After thinking it over,
Erza nodded.
With mind-reading, coordination would be easier.
"Erza-nee! Kikyo-nee!"
Anya threw up her arms, beaming.
"Team Anya, ready to roll out!"
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