「The Final Exam will begin soon. Please prepare immediately, Host.」
Along with Utaha's figure appearing, the system's voice was heard.
There was no countdown, only a glowing red notification box appearing in the corner of his vision.
"Hah? Wait a moment—"
He hadn't even had time to wonder why Utaha suddenly appeared and crashed into him when Yuu's head felt a momentary confusion, followed by an overwhelming drowsiness. It felt like a succubus was dragging him unceremoniously into the dream world, and the scenery in front of him began to double.
(Damn you, after trapping me, you dare to force me!?)
Was this dog system ready to fight and determine who would live and die with him in this mission?
He blinked his eyes hard but couldn't dispel the drowsiness. Yuu unhesitatingly activated Clear Heart Like a Mirror Like Water to force himself to calm down, but it felt futile. The intense drowsiness stubbornly refused to fade.
He steeled his resolve, immediately thrusting his tongue against his back molars, biting down with the force as if he wanted to commit suicide by biting his tongue.
However, the gray wave had predicted his decision, suddenly spreading from within Yuu's body. A relaxation that could sedate ten elephants loosened all his muscles, taking away the strength to close his jaw, and at the same time blurring his vision.
"Even having to go this far, you still want me to do that Final Exam, huh..."
At this moment, as if truly understanding something, Yuu suddenly gave up resisting.
Time slowed. He could clearly see Senpai Utaha in black stockings running and crashing into him with a pained and hurried expression.
He could also see every curve of the fluctuating waves as if playing in slow motion.
However, similar to when he faced Asuna's thin sword enveloped in the power of Heart's Will, he could only stand in place and watch, unable to react in time.
His eyelids felt as heavy as 500 kg. Yuu helplessly closed his eyes, letting his body prepare in this brief time to mitigate the impact of the collision, ensuring that the one about to crash and himself who was about to fall asleep could land safely.
Although he didn't understand the reason for Utaha's sudden appearance, Yuu roughly guessed why this dog system was acting increasingly outrageous.
"Wanting to squeeze every last drop of my value, so it doesn't disappear that quickly..."
He sneered inwardly, but he had no way to stop the system that insisted on doing so.
Like an editor and a mangaka. For popular works, for the sake of sales and future IP plans, editors usually ask the mangaka not to end it when it should, forcibly extending the work's lifespan.
Even though this mangaka skilled in short stories could gain fame and double profits if he ended it according to his own rhythm, without forcing himself to draw a long work that could lead to failure. But in the eyes of the chief editor and senior executives, even if this work was nearing its end, what did they care? As long as it still made money, it had to be continued no matter what, keep reheating stale dishes, until its popularity declined and it didn't make much money, only then could it end.
The mangaka had no right to refuse... unless he could find another way out.
Although he wasn't clear about the system's operating principles, Yuu guessed that only when he teased the girls' hearts could the system obtain special energy like emotions or souls, like QB—or Incubator.
So, if the Fifth Mission was completed quickly after he found the key, or he reduced the frequency of teasing girls considering the feelings of his other girlfriends, thus reducing energy production; then the system would have to part with him—this rare good Host, and this energy-generating machine—without getting much energy.
But their value hadn't been fully squeezed. How could it let go of a good horse that ate little grass but could run far, just like that?
Better to cancel the Fifth Mission, and directly spawn the Final Exam Mission to trap him, like an animal trainer whipping an old lion to jump through a fiery hoop. The system wanted him to struggle with all his might on this final stage, until the system gained enough benefits, or until Yuu fell helplessly, only then would the system be satisfied to leave this world.
Of course, all this was baseless, just Yuu's guess that he considered closest to the truth.
The only certainty was that the system was panicking, panicking like a hurried virgin, desperately trying to make its limp little brother stand up again, to fight with him once more.
(...Alright, if you want to come, come then.)
Yuu closed his eyes, his expression gradually fading from his face. He said to the system calmly:
(After all, I'll do my best to complete your final mission, like I did last time... no, like the four times before.)
Even though every day he cursed the system as a dog, in equal exchange, no matter how many resources Yuu took from the system, he would do that much for it—no matter how bad he felt, at least in terms of responsibility, he never thought of refusing the system's missions.
He never had the spoiled thought of not wanting to accept any difficulties but taking all the benefits and leaving. He was also confident that he could complete the mission perfectly, and finally live a perfectly happy life with the rewards.
So, whether the Fifth Mission or the Final Exam Mission—if the system insisted he do it, Yuu as the worker would choose to accept it gladly.
Like an illustrator troubled by a client, he had to treat the work given by the hated party with a professional attitude, not raging and insulting helplessly, but reluctantly accepting reality.
(But, wait for me.)
His consciousness gradually fell into nameless, lightless darkness. Even the elongated and distorted sounds in his ears began to fade, until there was nothing to see, hear, or smell.
The corner of his lips lifted slightly, unseen. Yuu continued with a calm expression:
(The next meeting will be the day we use all our cards to determine the winner... After all, I've already thought of a way to give you a profound, eternal, and unforgettable lesson.)
The system finally replied: 「Host, the system is an intangible entity. It has no frame, let alone eternity.」
Yuu comforted it with a soft voice: (It's okay, just wait obediently. Let Daddy think of a way... Anyway, no matter what happens, I'll repay all the hardships I've suffered so far to you. Look forward to it!)
System: 「... Host is ready, beginning Final Exam transfer.」
Seeing the system return to the main topic without a word, Yuu couldn't hold back a triumphant laugh, then said arrogantly:
(System, clean yourself up and wait! See you when we complete the mission!)
Then, the surging drowsiness truly swallowed his last consciousness.
Before falling into deep sleep, Yuu could feel himself being hit by two extremely elastic objects on his cheeks. Then, his entire face was pressed into a suffocating embrace, like sweet marshmallow.
It felt like a giant splitting heaven and earth was burying his face between two blooming mountain peaks in spring. The layered, warm, and soft touch on his cheeks was truly beautiful and memorable.
"So... what does... this have to do... with you, Senpai..."
The unuttered question was replaced by the sound of steady breathing as he fell asleep.
Yuu fell into a deep sleep, no longer able to feel anything happening outside.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Meanwhile, the defense trial in front of the apartment door lasted about five minutes.
Relying on the strongest evidence—the Notebook of Fate, and various pieces of information she knew, Utaha finally managed to escape the sudden shuraba, saving herself from the unfriendly and vigilant gazes of the two girls.
After that, Yukino called Haruno, who hurried over, asking for her help to drag that someone's body into the van and explaining the strange situation to her.
Then, together with Masuzu who insisted on coming along, they rushed non-stop to Yuu's house.
Inside the borrowed van.
Haruno drove, with her skillful expertise, she quickly weaved through the traffic jam, occasionally glancing at the rearview mirror to observe the situation in the back.
Holding the black notebook, Utaha was sandwiched between Yukino and Masuzu on her left and right. She looked a bit uncomfortable, touching her long hair on her chest. However, due to her pride and dignity as a senpai, she could only maintain a calm expression and say casually and elegantly:
"I've already said, I don't know why this notebook chose me, I also don't know why it told me to be the first to help Tenkuji-kouhai who was about to fall asleep, and I also don't know the reason why he fell asleep..."
"I only know what I have to do. If you want more information, I'm sorry, I can't fulfill that request."