Chapter 05: Suddenly Increased Favorability
Hearing this, Asuna cautiously prepared to leave the ward.
Her entire body was turned sideways, her back pressed against the doorframe, her eyes fixed on the blood-faced monster. She moved carefully, afraid it might suddenly lunge forward.
But the "Caregiver" just stood there quietly, unmoving.
Seeing this, Asuna let out a faint sigh of relief.
It seemed their deduction was correct—the Caregiver wasn't hostile toward Players, nor did it intend to stop them from leaving the sanatorium. In fact, it appeared to be urging them to go. The confusion came from its terrifying appearance and the vague phrasing in the earlier hints like "safe area" and "not allowed to enter." It was easy to assume the Caregiver was an enemy rather than an ally.
Once she had steadied her nerves, Asuna looked at Asagiri with a slightly conflicted expression.
"Didn't we agree... that I'd open the door?"
"Don't misunderstand," Asagiri interrupted calmly.
"I didn't take on danger to play the hero or protect a girl I just met. I'm not gentle, merciful, or a fool who loses all reason because of a pretty face. I opened the door because I didn't want you to panic under stress and accidentally provoke a Caregiver that wasn't hostile. And because I trusted my own deduction. That's all."
Asuna nodded slowly, though confusion lingered.
"Then why didn't you just open the door earlier? Why wait until I was about to do it before stopping me?"
"Obviously—to test you."
Asagiri's tone remained calm. "In that situation, you offered to open the door yourself, and you really meant it. That proved you're not the kind of person who expects others to take all the risks for her. It also showed you have the courage to face danger. And when you introduced yourself earlier, you didn't use a fake name. You passed my test."
"Test...?" Asuna frowned, puzzled.
"Let's talk as we walk."
As Asagiri started to move, he suddenly stopped again and turned toward the blood-faced Caregiver. Looking up at it with a relaxed smile, he spoke in a polite, almost casual tone.
"Sorry, Old Man. I misunderstood earlier. I didn't realize you were trying to warn us it was dangerous here and urging us to leave. I even cursed at you. My bad."
Asuna blinked, momentarily stunned.
He was... apologizing to the monster?
But what truly shocked her was what came next.
The blood-faced Caregiver actually nodded. A faint, hoarse sound escaped its throat, as though acknowledging his apology.
Ding dong~
The faint vibration of a phone broke the eerie silence.
Asagiri took out his phone and opened the app with the eye icon. A new message appeared on the screen.
[Unknown Sanatorium Caregiver Hodell Franklin — favorability towards you has slightly increased]
"Oh? There's even a favorability system? Interesting."
He slipped his phone back into his pocket and waved casually at the Caregiver—no, at Hodell Franklin.
"Alright, we're off. See you next time, Old Hodell."
"Old Hodell..."
Asuna repeated softly, glancing at the towering figure. The idea of "seeing him again" was the last thing she wanted.
But Asagiri clearly thought differently. He was certain he'd be back here someday. Otherwise, what was the point of gaining favorability with the Caregiver?
As they continued down the corridor, Asuna kept alert, observing their surroundings.
The place resembled an old hospital: narrow halls lined with patient rooms identical to theirs, each containing only one bed. That single detail reinforced her belief—this was a mental institution for dangerous or violent patients, maybe even criminals deemed too unstable for execution.
The environment looked long abandoned. Rusted railings, yellowing moss-covered walls, stained floors, and an ancient elevator with heavy metal doors that groaned faintly.
Though the elevator still seemed functional, both of them chose the stairs.
After all, who would trust the safety of an elevator in a haunted asylum? Getting trapped inside after coming so close to escaping would be the most ridiculous way to die.
When they finally reached the first-floor lobby, Asuna glanced out the entrance. The sky beyond was dim and overcast, casting everything in a lifeless gray. Beyond the door seemed to be a courtyard, barely visible through the gloom.
She turned to Asagiri, who still carried the chainsaw and power drill, and asked quietly,
"So, Naruto... if I'm not mistaken, you know me, right?"
Asagiri didn't hesitate. "I wouldn't say I know you, but I do know your name—and your face."
"I see..."
Her earlier suspicion made sense now. When they'd met, he'd said she hadn't used a fake name. But how could he have known that unless he already recognized her?
"You... who exactly are you?" she asked, her tone wary.
Asagiri let out a small laugh.
"Though I know your name and what you look like, this really is the first time we've met. As for how I know..."
He smiled faintly.
"It's simple. Just like you, I'm a new student in the high school division of Shuchiin Academy."
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