Mature Fantasy Power Invasion

Chapter 49

Chapter 49

"In exchange for making her give the photos back, I promised her one condition."

The instant Sakuramiya Hitomi heard Yan Huan say that, her mind went blank for a second.

Unbidden, all sorts of unspeakable scenes flooded her thoughts.

"President, you agreed to a condition—what does that mean?"

Yan Huan blinked, hesitated a few seconds, then finally said,

"Sakuramiya, you know her grades are terrible, right?"

"I do. A sixty-six. Hard to believe any human could score that, but for her it's... plausible."

That was the polite version; she could thank Sakuramiya Hitomi's upbringing for the restraint.

Yan Huan would just call it "poetry in motion."

"That girl must've known she'd be forced into the study group. She didn't want to study, so she blackmailed me with the photos to get her out of it."

He spread his hands, as if that settled everything.

"......"

But Sakuramiya only stared, doubtful.

"Yet, President, she took the photos on Monday, and the scores came out on Tuesday. How could she already predict she'd be placed in the study group?"

"Her family's background isn't simple—you must have sensed that, Sakuramiya."

In the end, Yan Huan still didn't want to drag her into the mess.

By normal logic, the excuse was hard to refute.

After all, the idiot Spencer really did intend to use the condition exactly that way; Yan Huan wasn't technically lying.

The problem was, he didn't know Sakuramiya Hitomi always wore a mask.

The information she possessed, the deductions she could make, were far beyond what he realized.

True, as the president said, the surname "Spencer" alone hinted at deep ties to Golden Lion Group—she might indeed have advance notice of the principal's arrangements.

But that couldn't explain the strange expression on the president's face when he first saw her name in the principal's office on Tuesday.

Nor Thursday—after returning from Spencer, his expression and movements had been odd.

At the time, Sakuramiya had been distracted by his words and overlooked it.

As Nara had once teased, whenever Yan Huan was involved, her IQ dropped off a cliff.

Yet now she was dueling Mister Niu-niu on the "opposing team"; at full mental capacity, the anomalies snapped into focus.

In other words, whatever had transpired between the president and Spencer was far more complicated than he admitted.

So why was he lying?

He'd been so gentle, so considerate—taking photos with her, minding her feelings.

Was all of that merely foreplay between him and Spencer?

Was she just an extra in their flirtation game?!

No—impossible.

Sakuramiya could tell: the revulsion in Yan Huan's eyes whenever he looked at Spencer was genuine.

Which made the situation... intriguing.

And because Sakuramiya was a prodigy, she almost effortlessly arrived at a seamless explanation.

The president had already been affected by Spencer's super-ability—his thoughts were being twisted!

She remembered the inexplicable ideas that had flitted through her own mind:

Her wariness of Spencer had inexplicably softened; anything Spencer did seemed reasonable.

That might indeed be tied to Spencer's power, and it would also explain how a single kick had shattered her Barrier.

The notion was faint and soon faded.

Sakuramiya suspected that wielders of strange powers dampened one another's effects.

Her level-2 Barrier had offered little resistance—perhaps because Spencer's power was simply higher-level.

Couldn't she raise her level further?

Make it so that woman could never break through again—

Crack-crack-crack.

The instant the thought formed, the viscous darkness around her seemed to feed on it and squirm.

And the president had no power of his own!

He would take the full brunt of Spencer's ability.

Inside her Barrier, Sakuramiya had been so careful she hadn't dared alter common sense or rewrite rules where he was concerned.

She treated him with such delicacy—while that woman—

The thought froze her.

Gazing at Yan Huan, Sakuramiya felt a sudden surge of terror.

If this continued, who knew how far Spencer might corrupt his mind?

She was genuinely afraid that one day he might turn into the very thing she'd just imagined,

"Sorry, Sakuramiya... I can't go back."

She had to protect the president—from that woman.

He must not be allowed anywhere near Spencer again!

Though the desire inside her roiled like a storm, Sakuramiya simply blinked and said,

"Is that so? Understood, President."

Aligning with Yan Huan's own tactic, she pretended to believe—while secretly plotting to keep him far from Spencer.

She glanced around, then added,

"Then let's head to the infirmary now."

"All right—let me see how to get there."

"I think it's that way."

She knew this area by heart; she'd spent ages setting it up beforehand.

The original plan had been to act clueless, follow the president, then have an NPC scare her close to him to ramp up the romantic tension.

But now, because of Spencer, everything had changed.

"Really?"

Yan Huan looked where Sakuramiya pointed and spotted a deliberately scuffed directional sign on the wall.

They needed to go upstairs; the infirmary was on the second floor.

"Aaaaah! It hurts! It hurts so much!!"

At that moment, a disheveled, blood-smeared NPC slammed against the glass of a nearby classroom, shrieking.

Yan Huan took a step back, unfazed, and glanced at Sakuramiya.

Her pupils had contracted—she'd clearly been startled.

"Are you okay, Sakuramiya?"

"I-I'm fine."

Even knowing the ghosts were staff in costume, she couldn't bear to look.

She hurried after Yan Huan, who had already started walking.

Just as she passed, a cold hand tugged at her sleeve from behind.

"!!"

P-President?!

Instinctively she opened her mouth to scream, but the pale hand lifted a Bluetooth earbud into view.

Sakuramiya froze.

The "ghost" gave her a wink through the blood.

Sakuramiya glanced at Yan Huan; while he wasn't looking, she slipped the earbud in.

"Young Lady, can you hear me?"

Nara's voice.

Sakuramiya looked up at the hidden camera in the corridor, said nothing, and nodded.

"Good. Young Lady, those two girls have also entered the haunted house. Do we proceed with the original plan or—"

Sakuramiya shook her head at once.

While following Yan Huan, she mouthed a single word to the camera.

Nara paused, then asked,

"The blonde dummy—meaning the golden-haired girl, Young Lady?"

Sakuramiya nodded, first pointed at Yan Huan and pushed her hand away, then slashed the air like a blade.

Nara understood instantly.

"Roger. The priority is to keep her away from Yan Huan, correct?"

Sakuramiya gave a big thumbs-up.

"Mm. Young Lady, you can go to the second-floor infirmary; there's a hidden passage that leads straight to the exit."

"If we don't take the hidden passage, we'll have to circle up to the third floor and then come down the C stairwell on the far side to reach the exit on the first."

"The infirmary has two entrances—A and B. No matter which staircase you use on the first floor, you can reach it.

"You two are in Corridor A; after you go up you'll have to walk a bit to reach the infirmary. They're in Corridor B, so once they're upstairs they'll be right next to it.

"Everyone inside will do their best to stall that dumb blonde. Young Lady, take Yan Huan and get to the infirmary on the second floor—get out early."

Sakuramiya Hitomi nodded, stopped looking at the security camera, and stepped a little closer to Yan Huan.

"President, let's move quickly—I keep worrying we'll run into that girl."

Yan Huan, already thinking the same, quickened his pace.

At the same time he wasn't idle; he called out in his mind,

"Meow-chan."

"Mew~"

A translucent black cat materialized like a ghost on his shoulder, its long tail curling around his neck.

"What's up, mew?"

"Can you scout ahead and tell me where Spencer is? I don't want to bump into her with Sakuramiya—today's not the day to deal with her Modifier."

But Meow-chan shook her head.

"Yan Huan, I can't go far from you."

Yan Huan raised an eyebrow.

"Why not?"

"I appear in the world as the avatar of your Modifier, and the Modifier is on you, so I can exist only within a certain radius."

With that she leapt from his shoulder and sprinted forward.

The yellow-scarfed silhouette of the black cat kept running until, about fifteen metres away, it dissolved into motes of light.

"At the current Modifier rank my range is roughly fifteen metres, mew."

Then Meow-chan re-formed, bit by bit, on Yan Huan's shoulder.

"If I could, I'd watch every confirmed host for you and track their Modifier progress, but..."

"..."

Yan Huan, long resigned to Meow-chan's uselessness, looked away—only for the cat to yelp and pull his attention back.

"But I can smell her. They're on the other side of the corridor right now."

"Oh right—almost forgot you're an adorable little cat."

"Mew?"

Meow-chan patted his cheek with a paw, reminding him,

"Yan Huan, you two need to hurry upstairs before they come around."

Yan Huan gave a tiny nod. They had reached the blood-spattered foot of the stairs.

He glanced back at Sakuramiya Hitomi.

"Sakuramiya, this way."

"Yes, President."

Sakuramiya started up the steps. Yan Huan, studying the labyrinthine first-floor corridors, felt a prickle of doubt.

The layout was so convoluted that the only reliable way to the second-floor infirmary was a trail of soft, blood-red arrows threading through several classrooms.

With Spencer's brainpower, how had she caught up so fast?

"Um... Spencer, I think we're supposed to go to the infirmary. That should be the exit; Xiao Huan and Vice-President Sakuramiya will head there too."

"Huh?"

In an abandoned classroom Spencer was crouched, idly stacking broken desk legs.

Hearing An Le's timid voice, she turned.

An Le, trembling, pointed at the crimson arrows on the wall.

Spencer tilted her head, dusted off her hands, and stood.

"Where's the infirmary, huh?"

"Should be upstairs. This is Corridor B; there's a stairwell right—EEK! A ghost!"

An Le's face went sheet-white as a shadow drifted past the doorway.

On her shoulder, Xiao Muzi flicked her tail against An Le's cheek.

"What ghost?! If anyone's a ghost here, it's me, the invisible one! Quit being a chicken and charge! Yan Huan's waiting!"

The little serpent was still riled from their earlier spat; for a scaredy-cat like An Le, nothing was better medicine than a good jolt.

She needed a push to do what she normally wouldn't dare:

tell Yan Huan she was his childhood sweetheart.

"R-right!"

An Le slapped her masked cheeks and forced courage into herself.

"Ha, a ghost? Let me see!"

Spencer's courage was off the charts; she bolted into the hallway—only to find it empty.

"Tch, nothing here. Even if it was a ghost, it's a cowardly one."

"Ugh..."

An Le was sure Spencer was talking about her.

She hurried after the blonde; having a companion made the fear more bearable.

"If we go up that way we'll reach the stairwell. Xiao Huan and Vice-President Sakuramiya should be heading to the infirmary too, so if we hurry—"

A chill wind seemed to blow at their backs.

"I hate... I hate... I HATE YOUUUU!"

"Eep!"

An Le's face drained of colour; she didn't dare look back, but a reflection in a side window showed the door behind them creaking open.

"S-Spencer!"

"Huh?"

Spencer folded her arms and turned.

Beyond the yawning door—nothing.

"What's up?"

Did I imagine it?

An Le caught her breath and looked ahead—then froze. A dishevelled woman, face streaked with blood, loomed right behind Spencer.

"Yiii!"

Her legs gave out; she dropped to the floor like an ostrich, hands over her face.

"S-Spencer, behind you—waaah!"

Seeing An Le's terror, the "ghost" grinned wickedly.

It was her first time playing a haunt, and hearing a guest scream and collapse filled her with pride.

Guess you really do love your job once you try it?

Then, still gloating, the actress lifted her gaze—only to see the blonde whip around, face already a blur.

Huh?

A blur?

Why a blur?

Her brain stalled for a heartbeat.

Then she understood. A sudden gust brushed her right cheek—

Whoosh!

Spencer's turn had come with a fist attached.

The actress's mind went white; instinct kicked in and she lurched backward, landing hard on her rear.

The punch sliced through empty air and slammed into the wall.

THUD!

The flimsy haunted-house panel shattered under Spencer's blow.

Bits of plaster rained from the ceiling.

The actress, now sitting beside a trembling An Le, stared at the seething aura around Spencer and swallowed.

Spencer exhaled slowly, inspected the dazed woman, then let the breath out.

"Scared me for a second—thought it was a real ghost. Turns out it's just a human in makeup."

"..."

But since the option "there really is a ghost" had been ruled out, Spencer's face lit up with pure excitement.

"Heh-heh, come to think of it, that costume of yours is pretty neat—let me get a better look."

The way she stared at the "ghost" on the floor was the way a kid eyes a brand-new toy. The actress shuddered.

"D-don't come any closer!"

Spencer yanked her fist out of the drywall and the actress shrieked, spinning on her heel and sprinting away.

"Don't run!!" Spencer yelled, bolting after her.

"Spencer! Wait—wait up!"

An Le scrambled to her feet and forced herself to follow.

The actress fled in blind panic. The sharp clack-clack of Spencer's sneakers on the floor pounded like war drums in her ears, driving her even faster. In her haste she bolted straight up the stairs to the second floor.

Through her Bluetooth earpiece Nara's voice exploded.

"What are you doing?! Why are you leading them upstairs?!"

"I'm sorry, waaah—Nara sis, that girl's terrifying! C-come save me!"

"Tch! Okay, keep her chasing you. Lead the way, but don't let her anywhere near the infirmary!"

"Huh?! D-don't come closer, Nara sis!"

Nara barked at the rest of the crew.

"All NPCs on standby, second floor—stop that blonde girl! Do NOT let her reach the infirmary!"

"Roger!"

By the time they reached the second floor, An Le was gasping, her legs burning. She watched helplessly as Spencer tore ahead, chasing NPC after NPC.

"Spencer! If you cut through that corridor it leads to the infirmary—stop chasing!"

Spencer didn't hear An Le's tiny, mouse-like plea; she never looked back.

An Le tried to keep up, but a flick to her cheek stopped her.

"You dummy! Don't you remember what she said before we came in? She's drawing Sakuramiya Hitomi away for you. Head to the infirmary—maybe you'll find Yan Huan!"

"Oh, right!"

"Go, go! Let Spencer and Sakuramiya fight it out. We'll slip past and grab Yan Huan!"

"Grab... and marry? If anyone's marrying, Xiao Huan's marrying me."

"Your mom!! Less talking, more running!!"

"Mm-hmm."

An Le glanced once more toward Spencer's disappearing figure, pressed her lips together, then set off alone toward the infirmary.

The corridors were gloomy. Without her companions, she clutched the black prop bags to her chest as though they were a shield.

"Young Lady, we can't hold the blonde girl back—she'll be on you any second."

"Tch."

Sakuramiya Hitomi, already outside the infirmary door, frowned.

She didn't blame Nara; if the opponent really had super-powers, the NPCs never stood a chance.

And the girl's stamina was insane.

Was all the blood meant for her brain rerouted to her muscles instead?

No wonder she had the figure of a model and the strength of an ox—and the IQ of a brick.

"We're here, Sakuramiya."

Yan Huan had also reached the infirmary. He studied the blood-splashed sheets hung between beds—fake animal plasma, no doubt—and the walls scrawled with the name "Manako," the NPC from the backstory.

Every clue pointed toward one corner, but he saw no hidden passage.

Puzzle, then?

"Sakuramiya, is there really an exit in here?"

He turned back. Sakuramiya stood just outside the doorway, pinching her nose at the metallic smell.

"Ah—there should be. All the clues converge here."

"Yeah, but we haven't seen a single NPC since we arrived. This haunted house is—"

It's all Spencer's fault!

All the preparations meant to stop her had been wasted on that rampaging blonde!

"Young Lady, she's almost here!"

Nara's voice crackled through Sakuramiya's earpiece, and her expression chilled.

So the girl thinks she can walk all over me?

Dares to use that ability to taint the President?

I've never even done that—how dare she!

Sakuramiya glanced at Yan Huan inside the room, and an idea sparked.

Last time, Spencer had shattered the Boundary from outside, never stepping into its range.

This time—what if she were inside?

But the radius couldn't cover the whole haunted house; at seventy-five square meters it only stretched down this hallway.

Perfect. The President is in the room; Spencer is about to enter this corridor.

"Sakuramiya, come in and close the door. I think I've found a clue."

Actually, Yan Huan had found nothing, but he turned and spoke anyway.

Meow-chan, perched on his shoulder, had just whispered,

"That Spencer scent just got super strong, meow—she's about to burst into the hallway!"

He wanted Sakuramiya safely inside; if push came to shove, he'd slip out and deal with Spencer solo.

At the very least, Sakuramiya Hitomi must not be exposed to the Modifier.

Yet unbeknownst to Yan Huan, Sakuramiya was thinking the exact same thing.

The President must not be exposed to that power.

Damn Spencer.

The cloying darkness around her seethed with Sakuramiya's anger and desire. The smile she aimed at Yan Huan grew brighter even as hidden power surged like a broken dam.

A phantom line of text flashed before her eyes:

[Congratulations! Your Boundary has leveled up!]

[Boundary Level: 2 → 3]

[You may now deploy the Boundary twice per week. Maximum area: 100 m². Maximum simultaneous Boundaries: 2.]

[You can now add two additional "common-sense" rules to any active Boundary.]

The moment the words faded, Sakuramiya's slender hand settled on the hallway door.

She made as if to enter, replying sweetly,

"All right, President."

But the door slammed shut of its own accord. Startled, she froze.

"Sakuramiya, watch your hand!"

Yan Huan's pupils shrank as he spotted her fingers still on the frame.

She jerked back, but not quickly enough—the heavy door sealed her outside with a bang.

Yan Huan rushed to the door and yanked the handle.

It refused to budge, as though the air itself had solidified.

The exact same thing had happened before; he knew at once.

A Modifier!

Spencer!!

Yan Huan's face darkened, yet relief flickered beneath the anger.

He assumed Spencer was targeting him again. If the Boundary formed inside this room, it would lock Sakuramiya outside—safe from the Modifier.

But did that make sense?

Spencer's power was theft; trapping him alone achieved nothing.

Last time she'd locked both him and Sakuramiya together and triggered the classic "You don't want this photo leaked" scenario.

What could she do with only him?

Or—was this not Spencer at all?

"Uu..."

As Yan Huan stared at the unmoving door, a soft, animal-like whimper sounded behind him.

He froze mid-step and turned, finding a girl with lowered head standing at the door of the sealed room.

A white mask hid her face, and the oversized T-shirt—cut from the same cloth as Hashimoto's favorite—advertised a surprisingly generous figure.

Her legs, tucked into black trousers, pressed together like those of a shy fawn.

She clutched several black plastic bags to her chest, and through the curtain of dark hair Yan Huan glimpsed the scarlet flush on half her face and the glistening eyes that kept sneaking glances at him.

It was An Le.

To Yan Huan, though, she was simply the unknown girl who had inexplicably tagged along behind Spencer.

"..."

His mouth opened slightly; understanding dawned.

He had wondered how Spencer—given her impossible personality—could have any friends at all.

Or why anyone would willingly hang out with that girl.

Now he knew exactly why Spencer had brought her to the con.

It all clicked.

The space-warping power had to be Spencer's!

That damned blonde was addicted to these ridiculous set-ups!

On An Le's shoulder, an ethereal white snake—visible only to itself and Meow-chan—lifted its head, quivering with excitement.

"See? I told you to trust me! With Spencer and Sakuramiya Hitomi alone outside, you just pulled off the perfect back-door play!"

An Le flushed an even deeper red and, still unable to see the cat on Yan Huan's shoulder, asked silently,

"But Xiao Muzi, how did you know the vice-president would be lured away?"

"Huh? Well—of course! Because I'm the smartest little pinky around, so I can predict everything!!"

In truth, it had no idea why Sakuramiya had failed to show up.

Spencer hardly inspired confidence.

Who would you trust more: Spencer to distract Sakuramiya, or An Le to reach home base with Yan Huan tomorrow?

Call it divine favor for Little Pinky!

Reveal your identity today, cuddle tomorrow, and the day after, use pleasure manipulation to make Yan Huan hers alone!

Xiao Muzi raised its snout, already savoring its coming victory.

It patted An Le's shoulder encouragingly.

"Quick—opportunity knocks only once. This is your once-in-a-lifetime chance. Say something to the Xiao Huan you've been dreaming about!"

"..."

An Le pressed her lips together, fists clenched, resolve hardening.

The next second, she lifted her head and met Yan Huan's eyes.

Outside the infirmary, Spencer chased the actress in the ghost costume, rounded a corner—and lost her completely.

She skidded to a stop, mouth agape, glanced back, and realized An Le was gone.

"..."

Spencer slapped her forehead.

"Oh no, did I leave An Le behind?"

Xiao Muzi had guessed the wrong answer.

After entering the haunted house, Spencer had promptly forgotten her promise to "divert Sakuramiya Hitomi."

The ghost's costume looked fun; Spencer had sprinted after it. When she finally looked back, An Le had vanished.

Key point: Spencer had no sense of direction.

With An Le leading, they had quickly caught up to Sakuramiya and Yan Huan. Now, alone, Spencer hugged herself and eyed the darkness guiltily.

"I think the infirmary's this way, but it's pitch-black—how am I supposed to know?"

She turned to check the abandoned classroom beside her, but the door refused to budge, as though space itself had solidified.

Spencer refused to believe it; she threw her weight against the handle—still nothing.

"..."

She pouted, released the knob, and scratched the back of her head.

Hidden in the shadows, Sakuramiya Hitomi watched through the Boundary she had cast, keeping Spencer in a pocket of distorted space.

She had no intention of revealing herself—nor of striking here. She simply could not allow Spencer near Yan Huan.

Two reasons.

First, her Boundary could not be sustained for long.

Nara's cameras covered every inch, and NPCs roamed the halls. She had disabled the second-floor feeds temporarily, but prolonged distortion would alert Nara and the others.

Second, she did not yet know the precise nature of Spencer's power.

Spencer's ability to rewrite minds was confirmed, yet the girl's physical prowess—enough to barrel past bodyguards—also worried her.

If Sakuramiya's own gift was so complex, Spencer's would hardly be simple.

Hence the plan: protect the president and learn what Spencer could truly do.

Sakuramiya's cool gaze traced Spencer's silhouette as she pressed her palms together and, for the first time, tried to rewrite common sense itself.

[It is common sense: violence is forbidden.]

From Sakuramiya's viewpoint, Spencer paused, scratched her head—then drove her foot into the door with a thunderous boom!

Sakuramiya blinked, momentarily stunned.

No effect?

Out in the corridor, Spencer wore a look of pure exhilaration.

"Breaking the rules feels amazing!"

"..."

Hidden in the dark, the meticulous Sakuramiya faced off against the oblivious Spencer—an invisible duel of terrifying powers.

Two phantom forces tangled in mid-air.

Sakuramiya was not discouraged; she simply shifted tactics, searching for another way to contain Spencer.

And, inevitably, she thought:

The president must be worried about me, all alone in the infirmary.

After all, the last time they were alone, he took such gentle care of me~

She knew exactly what she was doing.

Everything was for the president's sake.

Spencer had to be kept away—so the infirmary became more precious than the crystal in any MOBA game.

No one—absolutely no one—would be allowed near that crystal!