Chapter 456. Arch-Nemesis Protecting Arch-Nemesis
"Some notebooks and fountain pens I bought before; I haven't finished using them yet."
After the two worlds established communication and trade, as members of the former top social strata, Crusch and the others certainly didn't lack Earth currency; they could afford anything no matter how expensive.
Thus, Hikigaya Hachiman didn't plan on wracking his brains to buy precious luxury items. After all, generally speaking, ultra-expensive things—aside from high-tech products like lithography machines or medical equipment—actually have little inherent value.
Over ninety percent of the price of such items comes from marketing, packaging, and the artificial "false value" bestowed upon them to satisfy human vanity.
None of the girls present possessed that kind of vanity. Although Anastasia carried a wallet every day, what she actually loved was the act of "counting gold coins"—that specific quirk of hers.
So, rather than being a sucker, Hikigaya preferred to give something of practical use.
Notebooks and pens have actual value, especially for candidates with busy official schedules; carrying a pen and notepad is often extremely convenient.
"Oh!"
Emilia and Rem were simply happy without thinking too much. Crusch, however, felt her body tense up, her soul directly struck by the fact that "Sir Hachiman is giving me a gift."
Yukinoshita's fair face flushed red, and her heart skipped a beat as she murmured: "Used by Hikigaya-kun... Hikigaya-kun's... Hikigaya-kun..."
If she carried Hikigaya-kun's notebook and pen with her at all times, wouldn't that be equivalent to her and Hikigaya-kun being together every second, or even... that?
Despite having already shared hugs and close moments with her Hikigaya-kun, the thought still made Yukinoshita shy and excited, as it represented another realm they had yet to fully step into.
Anastasia looked a bit subtle; she suddenly took on an inexplicably guilty appearance. Although she quickly covered it up with her expert merchant acting, she couldn't hide the sudden change in her aura.
She didn't dare say it...
...In fact, the things used by her "Prime Minister" weren't limited to notebooks and pens. There was much more... she had long ago contacted Komachi privately, and through their inside-outside cooperation, the vast majority of his belongings had been secretly shipped into her hands.
In the wallet she carried right now, the paper and pen she used belonged to the Lord Prime Minister.
If exposed, Crusch and Priscilla would definitely fight her to the death.
Super bad, ya know!
"Hmph!"
Priscilla snapped her fan open with a cold snort. She was reluctantly appeased, though she remained dissatisfied that her "clodhopper" would compromise with her just to protect an outsider.
In any case, for the clodhopper's sake, she tentatively lowered the intensity of the misfortune targeting Ayanokouji Kiyotaka; it would be enough to just beat that disgusting "perverted fanboy" into a state of disability.
"You've picked up a life, 'Hero of the Rod,' hmph."
"Rumble!!"
At the same time, the miserably fleeing Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was bleeding profusely. He was covered in blood and wounds, his stamina exhausted, and he was temporarily unable to move.
Suddenly, someone threw an object from a high-rise building, aiming straight for Ayanokouji's head. In his weakened state, he couldn't dodge.
The next second, a confused sparrow happened to collide with the falling object, slightly altering its trajectory so that it crashed a meter away from where Ayanokouji sat slumped.
"Even if not at full power, it's enough to kill me. This 'Great Fortune' is indeed formidable... You're the one helping me, aren't you, Hikigaya Hachiman?"
Bearing no hatred toward Priscilla, Ayanokouji simply wore a face of intoxication, enjoying his first indirect interaction with the enemy he acknowledged.
"I'll count this as my loss. As a reward, just watch, Hikigaya Hachiman—watch my performance, and prepare for our next confrontation. Hehe, I really love you, Hachiman~"
Before, it was him watching Hikigaya Hachiman's performance after his crossing.
Now, the roles were reversed. He looked forward to Hikigaya Hachiman praising him after seeing his performance.
Originally, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka possessed no such capacity for expectation.
Indulging in these feelings born because of Hikigaya Hachiman, Ayanokouji intoxicatedly enjoyed this sense of anticipation.
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「After that, Sword Saint Kureha went to take a bath.」
「After finishing, she and Setsuna still had "work" to do.」
「Early the next morning, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka immediately gave Kureha a task: go to Keyaru's village and bring back Keyaru's older sister, unharmed.」
「Normally, this should have been done immediately after killing the First Princess. Otherwise, after dragging it out for several days, the person should have been captured long ago.」
「That would be true, provided the King and the Second Princess were in charge at the Royal Capital.」
「Through First Princess Flare's memories, Ayanokouji easily analyzed that the generals currently in the capital were all worthless, one after another. They lacked the mobility for quick action. They probably only just thought of capturing Keyaru's sister.」
「Having calculated this as part of his strategy, Ayanokouji had the confidence to first subdue the Ice Wolf Clan and Kureha.」
「Before departing, the kind-hearted Kureha asked worriedly: 'Should we warn the other villagers to flee quickly? The Kingdom will definitely vent its rage on them.'」
「'No need. I have already calculated for those people; I have arrangements.'」
「In the face of Ayanokouji's flat refusal, Kureha still wanted to try and persuade him to change his mind. Seeing her lack of obedience, Ayanokouji narrowed his eyes and made her "complete her work" again on the spot, leaving her with no choice but to follow orders.」
「Having completed her work once more, Kureha could no longer voice any protest.」
「From then on, Kureha abandoned her integrity and kindness, actively placing those traits under Ayanokouji's command, not allowing herself to be anything less than perfectly obedient.」
"If it were Miss Crusch, she definitely wouldn't give up her integrity and coolness even if Hikigaya-kun did that to her. This other world is really pathetic, isn't it?"
Oumae Kumiko, holding her euphonium, shook her head. Her blunt and outspoken remark made Kousaka Reina beside her flush red with embarrassment; Reina quickly covered Kumiko's mouth, fearing she would blurt out more "wild and bold" words.
"..."
In the other world at the same time, Sword Saint Kureha turned bright red. She covered her face with one hand, feeling she had no place left to hide.
"What on earth am I doing? And I actually... I actually... With things like this, how can I ever show my face to the Second Princess!"
She had thought everything would be fine as long as the Second Princess launched an attack to purge the Kingdom's parasites—but before that could even happen, she had already surrendered herself to Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
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