"Don't start that."
Faced with Iwanaga Kotoko's words that sounded like a confession, Asagiri was unmoved.
"Forget love at first sight. Even if you put on a Reverse Bunny Girl outfit and pole-danced in front of me right now, I wouldn't easily trust you and agree to any so-called partnership."
"How ruthless."
Iwanaga Kotoko pursed her lips, then supported her cheek with one hand and smiled cutely.
"But I also rather like that ruthless, slightly S-leaning, condescending attitude of yours~"
Hearing this, Yuuki Asuna's expression became even more complex.
She never expected that among the five Players in this Instance, they first got two self-destructive idiots, and now they had two eccentric prodigies.
This Iwanaga Kotoko, who looked like a proper young lady, was speaking with an abstract style on par with Asagiri's the moment she opened her mouth?
"Um... Iwanaga-san."
Yuuki Asuna cleared her throat, pulling the conversation back on track.
"I'll be honest with you: neither he nor I can trust you completely. Conversely, you can't fully trust the two of us, can you? To put it bluntly, even if we were to form some kind of partnership right now, it would just be an empty promise when there's no absolute trust. It might even be better to act separately, to avoid having to constantly guard against each other."
"Is that so... Well then, I won't hide it anymore."
Iwanaga Kotoko smiled, then looked at Asagiri and slowly said,
"I want to team up with you... oh, and the one next to you. Not just for this Instance, but to establish a long-term teammate relationship. How about it?"
Feeling somewhat displeased that Iwanaga Kotoko made her sound like a disposable add-on, Yuuki Asuna frowned, skeptically questioning.
"You're not... trying to team up with us just because of some childish reason like 'liking him,' are you?"
"How could that be? While that factor is present, it's not the decisive reason."
Iwanaga Kotoko said this first, then patiently explained.
"You two were able to solve the Instance's most important mystery within an hour. And those two Players in the room just said that the Instance hint they received was 'absolutely do not attempt to fight the Evil Spirits.' Yet, you two not only can fight Evil Spirits but even had the capacity to capture and interrogate one. This is sufficient proof that your strength far exceeds that of ordinary Players."
"More importantly, when I proposed killing the two anomaly-infected Players, you didn't object and even suggested using them as scouting cannon fodder. This shows that you are not indecisive, soft-hearted saviors. If you were that kind of person, I would never have considered teaming up with you."
"Of course, you might think a Player like me, who dares to enter the Instance alone, is acting suspiciously by being so eager to team up. But actually, I have my own difficulties. If you look at this, you should understand."
At this, Iwanaga Kotoko suddenly took out her phone, opened the eye-icon APP, and placed the phone openly on the table without any attempt to hide it.
"This..."
Yuuki Asuna was slightly bewildered. After all, the personal panel in the APP was arguably the most secret thing for every Player. It displayed their real name, age, current skills, equipment, items, talents, class, and all other information.
Iwanaga Kotoko just willingly exposed her Player Panel?
Yuuki Asuna thought this as she looked toward the phone screen.
[Player Name: Iwanaga Kotoko][Physical Fitness Level: Frail (Physical fitness is above average, but the left leg is a prosthetic, preventing normal performance)][Player Level: Formal][Exclusive Talent: Goddess of Anomalous Wisdom][Goddess of Anomalous Wisdom: All anomalous enemies with rational thinking ability (Evil Spirits, Ghosts, Vengeful Spirits, Yōkai, Specters) will not actively attack this Player (with few special exceptions). Can observe the aura and traces of 'Anomalies.' Immune to all mental attack effects originating from Anomalies. Effect is enhanced when activating 'Anomalous' type skills.][Negative Effects: Cannot acquire any skills or passive skills outside of the 'Anomalous' type. Cannot activate any skills when Stamina is critically low. Cannot equip most weapons and armor. Cannot unlock any class outside of the 'Anomalous' type.][Class: Unlocked][Equipment: Masquerade Mask, Princess's Cane][Masquerade Mask: Ordinary material, but with an extremely ornate appearance.][Princess's Cane: A cane specially crafted for their Princess Iwanaga Kotoko by Anomalies. Material is unknown, abnormally tough, and highly resistant to damage. Mental Power regeneration rate is increased when equipped.]
"This..."
Noticing Yuuki Asuna's surprised expression after seeing her Player Panel, Iwanaga Kotoko smiled gently.
"Now you should understand, right? Without an unlocked Class, I essentially possess no combat capability and cannot even acquire skills outside of the Anomalous type."
"Even if I could acquire them, due to the negative effect of my exclusive talent—being unable to equip most weapons and armor—and my physical disability, I am not suited for frontline combat."
"In this Instance, my exclusive talent is certainly powerful, but if the next Instance I am matched with doesn't involve so-called Anomalies, then my talent's advantage will be useless, leaving only the disadvantages."
"Therefore, I need teammates."
At this point, Iwanaga Kotoko looked toward Asagiri, who was sitting there, clearly recognizing that he was the one who held the decisive power, more so than Yuuki Asuna.
"What do you say? What is your opinion? A Player like me, with a major flaw in my talent, who must rely on teammates, but possesses strong personal abilities, a similar style of action to yours, can be extremely useful in Anomalous-type Instances, and has no reason to betray you—am I not the best choice for a teammate?"
"That's quite true."
Asagiri first nodded, then looked at Yuuki Asuna and said with a smile.
"I observe this Iwanaga Kotoko and find her to be a worthy companion. Should we recruit her into the Capture Group, and together conquer Instances and plan our great endeavor? What say you, my beloved concubine?"
"Who... who is your beloved concubine! Don't call me that!"
Yuuki Asuna first refuted him with a flushed face, then sighed with slight helplessness.
"Although your speech sounds like something out of Water Margin (All Men Are Brothers), I'll refrain from complaining this time. Since you've already made your decision, I won't object. After all, you are the Leader."