I, Kenneth, am going to get to the root of the problem today.

Page 75

"The game is very interesting, let's play a little longer."

The cast has been chosen as the 'Superpower Warriors Team'. Faced with Ms. Shiki's invitation, Kenneth decides to unleash his full power.

Fifty seconds later, Kenneth lost; forty seconds later, Kenneth lost; thirty seconds later, Kenneth lost... In the end, the character controlled by Kenneth didn't even have a chance to land. The fish-blaster was ultimately blasted like a fish. The increasingly skilled Miss Shi gave Kenneth a good demonstration of what a top player is.

"Let's play a different game, I think..."

“This is interesting, let’s continue.”

Seemingly to get revenge for Shiki and Ori, GM personally stepped in and Ms. Shiki unleashed her fury, delivering a resounding KO. Kenneth's feelings were extremely complicated as he watched the fat man leaning on an iron ball wiggling his butt at him.

"That's enough, let's try something else."

After putting down the controller, Ms. Shiki, who was also interested in other games, picked one that looked good and then looked at Kenneth. The ordeal was finally over, and Kenneth said it was fine.

“I can feel that those two children care about you.”

In an ethereal voice, the source affirmed Kenneth's actions during this period.

As someone born with innate knowledge, Shiki and Ori can be said to have grown up under the watchful eyes of Root Shiki. She will not interfere with or influence these two personalities. With a perspective that has seen through the illusions of the world, Root Shiki respects Shiki and Ori's choices. Even if it means self-destruction, Root Shiki will not intervene, because in Root Shiki's view, perhaps there is no difference between life and death, joy and sorrow.

She appears cold, but this is the curse of the omniscient; the world holds no secrets for her, and all existence is meaningless. Either be detached or twisted; Ryougi Shiki belongs to the former, and Ayaka Sajō to the latter.

If one were to describe the fundamental mindset, Kenneth would say it's the ruthlessness of the Great Way. This ruthlessness doesn't mean indifference, but rather the emptiness that comes from knowing all emotions. It's about treating all emotions equally, truly reaching the ultimate state of Buddhist detachment.

"I think I care more about what you think than the two of them."

"You're interesting, your choices are interesting, and your ideas are interesting."

Using a flat, monotone voice, Root expressed her interest in Kenneth. As an unknown in the known world, Root had done quite a bit of spying on Kenneth's experiences.

"Looks like you know why I'm here. So, how about giving me a tip? Top fan."

Kenneth made a joke that wasn't exactly a joke, teasing Root Form. In response to Kenneth's teasing, Root Form replied in her inorganic voice:

“She’s a bad child and needs to be punished. I will educate her properly, but now is not the time.”

With Gengen's words, Kenneth was relieved. Since Gengen was willing to take action, Sajou Ayaka's schemes were no problem; they could just let things take their course.

"She's a bad kid, so what do you think of me?"

Faced with Kenneth's question, Root Style turned to look at the smiling Kenneth, a thoughtful expression on his face. After a long while, Root Style spoke softly:

"You're a naughty boy."

"You naughty fellow, as expected, you can't hide my thoughts from you. If you are without desires, then I am a mortal full of desires."

Having received Root's evaluation, Kenneth's thoughts were quite complicated. If he could, Kenneth really wanted to see Root show a different expression.

"Desire? I don't dislike that emotion. I also want to know what it feels like, how it differs from what I know, and how it differs from expectation."

Under the gaze of the Roots, the bard Kenneth felt he could fool the Roots before him, who practically had 'I'm curious' written all over his face.

"Desire is the desire to achieve a certain goal. It originates from the body and mind. Desire is neither good nor evil. It is an emotion that is stronger than expectation. The world has no secrets to you. You will have expectations for the unknown. This can also be said to be a manifestation of desire."

Listening to Kenneth's nonsense, Gengenshiki analyzed it based on his own knowledge. After finding no problems, Gengenshiki nodded thoughtfully.

"An interesting explanation, but I would find it more convincing without that last sentence. You're quite the naughty fellow."

"Haha, after all, I'm a guy full of desires. Isn't it normal to sneak in my own agenda? How about it? Now you should be able to feel what desire is."

Without any awareness of being exposed, Kenneth revealed his primal desires without reservation, and by truly observing the manifestation of those desires, primalism captured the changes in Kenneth's emotions.

"Is that so? It's not too far from the record, but this desire is definitely much stronger than expected. You're quite interesting."

"So, what do you think of my desires, Miss Shiki?"

Having understood Kenneth's blasphemous act, Root didn't answer immediately. After thinking for a few seconds, Root spoke calmly:

"I don't object to this idea."

"Don't you mind? Looks like I need to step up my game. I really want to see you show other expressions."

Picking up the controller, Kenneth, suddenly filled with fighting spirit, clashed with Root Shiki. During their casual, idyllic conversation, Kenneth's understanding of this laid-back Shiki became clearer. As noon approached, Root Shiki, who hadn't surfaced in a while, once again utterly defeated Kenneth before diving back into the depths. A few seconds later, Ryougi Shiki, her vacant eyes regaining focus and her consciousness returning, looked at Kenneth somewhat dazedly.

"I fell asleep? Didn't he come out?"

"Hmm, it didn't come out. Should we continue?"

As someone who holds grudges, after being thoroughly defeated by Root Style, Kenneth decided to get revenge on Ryougi Shiki. Seeing that Kenneth had changed the cartridge, Ryougi Shiki immediately picked up the controller in front of her.

"Keep going, I will definitely beat you today!"

By now, Ryougi Shiki has lost track of her motivations when facing Kenneth. Initially, it was to learn about Ori's actions, but as the intensity of the bet increased, the nature of the wager changed. Without Ryougi Shiki's awareness, defeating Kenneth in the game has become her goal.

"Come again!"

After being thoroughly thrashed by Kenneth, watching the fat man writhing on the screen, Ryougi Shiki's blood pressure soared once again. Kenneth, feeling triumphant, began to admire Ryougi Shiki's spectacular expressions.

Chapter 192 Entering the Dream

Without a substitute to take the hits, Ryougi Shiki once again entered a vicious cycle of being utterly defeated by Kenneth. After dinner, under the unwilling gaze of Asagami Fujino, Ryougi Shiki left Garan no Dou after leaving behind the harsh words that she would come back again. It was still early, and Kenneth, who was in no hurry to go out, lay on the rocking chair on the roof like a retired old man.

As Kenneth swayed, his consciousness gradually relaxed and drifted into a daze. When Kenneth regained consciousness, the sky above him was filled with stars. Just then, a knock sounded on the door, and Fujino's voice came through the wooden door on the top floor to Kenneth's ears.

"Sir Kenneth, I've made some snacks. Would you mind trying them for me?"

"No problem, I'm actually a little hungry anyway."

The door opened, and Fujino, dressed in a red yukata, placed the teapot and snacks on the small table. She took a bite of the tea and snacks and raised an eyebrow. Kenneth looked at Asagami Fujino with some surprise.

"Lord Kenneth, is it not to your liking?"

"No, it's very good, I like it very much."

Shaking his head, Kenneth swallowed the rest of the pastry in one gulp and savored it carefully. To his surprise, Kenneth tasted the flavor from his memory in the pastry in front of him.

"How do you do it?"

"It's just a regular cooking method. I thought adults might like this flavor, so I tried making some."

With her usual respect, Asagami Fujino's face lit up with joy as she realized Kenneth liked it. After some hesitation, Asagami Fujino stood in front of Kenneth. Realizing that Fujino had something to say, Kenneth patted the empty seat next to him, indicating that she should sit down first.

With Kenneth's permission, Asagami Fujino sat down somewhat uneasily, her hands folded on her lap. The side-opening yukata exposed the curves of the girl's legs to Kenneth's eyes. Kenneth's eyelids twitched a few times, and he suddenly realized that it seemed like she was going commando under the yukata.

"Lord Kenneth, what is your opinion of Miss Ryougi?"

Just as Kenneth was pondering, seemingly having made up his mind, Asagami Fujino asked Kenneth a question with some trepidation. Considering what had happened today and Kenneth's understanding of Asagami Fujino, he suddenly realized that even though she acted crazy, Asagami Fujino was still a person who lacked a sense of security. This was a personality trait formed by her childhood experiences, something that was difficult to change through external means.

Ryougi Shiki's appearance made Asagami Fujino feel uneasy. As an anomaly, her strengths were being overwhelmed by the other party, and her hidden anxiety began to surface. Fearing that she would be replaced by the other party, Asagami Fujino began to think that she would be abandoned by Kenneth.

"Ryougi Shiki? She's an interesting person. I'm very interested in her."

Kenneth did not change his story to accommodate Asagami Fujino's feelings, because Kenneth's concern for Ryougi Shiki was a fact. It was precisely because Asagami Fujino realized this that she became uneasy. Lies would only lead the other party into a greater misunderstanding. What Asagami Fujino wanted was to be needed, not Kenneth's denial of Ryougi Shiki. As a male lecturer who was well-versed in human nature, Kenneth was good at this.

"You seem quite interested, Lord Kenneth? I..."

"Yes, I'm very interested. I'm also very interested in you, Fujino. You are you, and she is she. You are different individuals. I care a lot about you, Fujino."

In short, Kenneth got the client to spend... oops! It made Asagami Fujino's depression vanish instantly.

"Really? Lord Kenneth, do you really care about me?"

"Yes, I had someone snatch you away. Although I'm a pretty incompetent teacher, I've always been keeping an eye on you."

Overjoyed and feeling needed, Asagami Fujino put aside her unease and, under Kenneth's watchful gaze, reached for her belt and walked towards him with anticipation.

"Lord Kenneth, Fujino wants to become closer to you..."

Looking at Asagami Fujino's eyes, which were shimmering with iridescent light, Kenneth felt that something was wrong. Meanwhile, out of Kenneth's sight, the scumbag Meryl, holding a watermelon, was watching Asagami Fujino bewitching Kenneth.

Life goes on, and so does the recklessness. Having learned from her previous mistake, Meryl's dream this time is much more subtle. To achieve the most realistic effect, Meryl even created a similar dream for Asagami Fujino. By constantly switching the interactions between Asagami Fujino and Kenneth, professional director Meryl declares: "The advantage is mine! To get revenge for last time, Meryl is determined to scatter Kenneth's dream recordings all over the clock tower!"

"Hurry up! I've already taken my pants off and this is what you show me! Give Hongru a piece of your mind! You and that blond guy aren't like this at all!"

Holding a camera, Ms. Avalon was already itching to push her buttocks away, and she was getting restless. Just then, Kenneth moved, picked up Fujino from his body, and walked towards the rooftop railing.

Wow! Is it that exciting?

Miss Meryl, having thought of some special way to play, nodded and moved closer to the railing. Miss Meryl felt that she had hit the jackpot this time. Her Nightmare (Succubus) bloodline was stirring. Suppressing her breathing, the professional photographer Meryl wanted to take a close-up shot.

At the railing, Kenneth, who had already noticed that scoundrel, pretended that nothing had happened and put 'Asagami Fujino' down. After doing all this, Mary, who was holding the camera, also squatted down next to Kenneth.

"How's this move? Do I need to adjust it, Mary?"

"Hmm, could you lift up your yukata? That way I can take a clearer picture."

The next second, Mary, who was engrossed in photography, realized that she had said the wrong thing. The space shifted, and the person leaning on the railing had become Ms. Avalon herself.

"Ah! Retreat! Retreat! Lady Avalon has suffered a crushing defeat... Run for your lives!"

Kenneth naturally wouldn't give the scoundrel a chance to escape. The aura of the Third Law surged, and Meryl, who had half her body inside the passage, was pulled out by Kenneth. Once again caught by Kenneth, Miss Meryl tilted her head and stuck out her tongue, trying to get away with it.

"You've been very naughty, Miss Mary. It seems my last lesson wasn't enough. Are you ready to open the door to a new world?"

"No! Miss Mary is still a child. That kind of thing is..."

Trash should be taught a lesson. Kenneth wasn't about to let this troublemaker, Meryl, get away with it. He lifted Meryl's robe and slapped her hard. With a resounding thud, Kenneth remarked, "Not bad."

Returning to Asagami Fujino, in the dream created by Meryl, Asagami Fujino found peace of mind. When she suggested getting closer, Kenneth in the dream didn't refuse. He lifted her up and led her to the railing. Just as Asagami Fujino was shyly preparing to accept everything, the scene abruptly changed. A white-haired figure appeared out of nowhere and took his place. Amidst rhythmic slapping, Asagami Fujino suddenly found herself holding a camera.

"Ah—! What's going on? Why am I having such a strange dream? Do I want to see Lord Kenneth with someone else... Ugh!!"

At this moment, the awakened Asagami Fujino fell into doubt about her own sexual orientation. Meanwhile, during the time Kenneth's consciousness was dragged into the dream, the phantom in the soul cage became increasingly solid.

Chapter 193 The Leaked Malice

In Morgan's workshop, with a shudder, Ms. Avalon felt everything become utterly meaningless. Although it was just a projection, someone wouldn't give a scoundrel a good time. Just like in some time-frozen scenarios, as the dream shattered, the accumulated sensations from the projection flooded into Mary's mind. Under the dual impact of sight and touch, Miss Mary, who had been 'tortured' by Morgan for so long, ascended to heaven.

"Ugh—! Huff... Huff huff, damn it, that guy."

It felt pretty good, Meryl didn't deny that, but she wasn't going to be grateful for the help she received, nor was she going to repay a debt of grievance with a vengeance. She automatically ignored the fact that Meryl had started the trouble first, and Ms. Avalon was about to get serious.

As for the task of observing the beast, Miss Meryl felt that such a trivial matter was nothing compared to her important business. No matter how important the world was, revenge was the most important thing. She, Meryl, would make Kenneth realize the consequences of offending Nightmare!

With a creak, the door opened, and Morgan, who had come to exchange resources for Mary, glanced meaningfully at Mary, whose eyes were sparkling, after smelling the scent in the air.

"It seems you enjoyed my hospitality. Now, is there anything you'd like to say to me?"

After a few quick glances, Mary, who was firmly strapped to the projector by Morgan, felt like she could do it again.

"Little Morgan, you're interested in that man, aren't you? I can connect your dreams, as long as... mmm!!"

The "scumbag radar" was activated, the target was locked, and Morgan immediately found a rag and stuffed it into Merlin's mouth. Morgan had been deeply affected by Merlin's lies. Although it was not the same Merlin, they were the same kind of scumbags. Morgan had no intention of listening to Merlin's nonsense.

"My business with him is none of your concern. It seems I haven't treated you well enough. Now, enjoy yourself!"

It was only then that Merlin realized she had overestimated his reputation in this world, but it was too late for regrets. The empathy magic was super-amplified, and Miss Merlin, unable to adapt for a moment, saw heaven.

While Merlin was being persecuted because of his reputation, in Kanbu City, before Kenneth had even finished educating Ryougi-ori and returned to the Hall of Garan, a shock originating from his soul almost made him lose consciousness.

The corrosive aura spread, and Kenneth's body was instantly covered by scarlet patterns. The flesh forged by the Third Law turned to dust under the pervasive malice. Freed from the constraints of the physical body, the unleashed combination instantly distorted the alley in the dead of night.

The walls on both sides began to dissolve, and all sorts of beasts squeezed out as the ground writhed. The distortion gradually intensified, and under the erosion of Sajou Aika, the space where Kenneth was located was directly dragged into another dimension.

The deformed beasts surrounded Kenneth, who had lost his body. Their eyes, filled with red light, filled the darkness. In this bizarre and twisted world, a low growl penetrated his soul, causing Kenneth's consciousness to vibrate uncontrollably.

“Hmph… a beast specializing in souls? But that’s not enough, Ayaka Sajou.”

Beasts swarmed from the darkness, and Kenneth's soul was instantly engulfed by the surging black tide. Amidst the beastly howls, surging magic swept away the overwhelming horde of beasts, spewing forth shimmering white flames. These twisted beasts, born from the darkness, turned to ashes amidst the rising and falling wails of their wrath.

The veins that eroded the soul were blocked by the extinguishing flames. On the eve of the soul's distortion, Kenneth's five fingers, flashing with white light, pierced his heart and twisted sharply. The shimmering white circuit extended from his fingertips. Under Kenneth's suppression, the soul's tremors ceased, and the malice that eroded the world was also shut off at this moment.

Looking down, a forearm emerged from the materialized, locked seal. It was fair and delicate, and Kenneth could even see pale blue veins through the skin. Feeling disgusted by this creation that could only be used by Yoshikage Kira, Kenneth waved his hand and burned it before his eyes.

Without the support of malice, the sinking world floats up, and the surrounding space distorts like a distorted picture. Opening his eyes, the illusion is shattered, and Kenneth reappears in the eroded alleyway that is no longer what it used to be.

"Agent, are you alright?"

Kyoko appeared at the same time as Kenneth, watching him as he was entangled in malice. Kyoko was unable to determine Kenneth's current state for the time being.

"It's already resolved, no need to trouble the old man."

Kenneth hadn't forgotten King Hassan's question and answer. It was also King Hassan's order for Kyoko to stay by his side. If King Hassan were to be summoned because of Ayaka Sajou's unusual behavior, Kenneth would really be grateful.

“I understand, Agent.”

Driving the mist to block the crowd that came upon hearing the sound, the Mad Nosebleed merged into the mist after confirming that Kenneth was indeed the right person. Seeing that the Mad Nosebleed had taken the initiative to finish up, Kenneth's magic surged and burned away all the beastly aura. The pure white magic gathered, and Kenneth, enjoying the pleasure of being human, reprinted a body for himself.

The abnormality of his soul was blocked by his body. He exhaled and Kenneth's consciousness sank into the space constructed by law. The first layer of the barrier shattered, and the surging malice had filled the center of the space. As the main body, Sajou Aika had already modified the area in front of her based on the Sajou family. It was at this moment that Kenneth realized that he had lost control of the area in front of him.

"You've arrived. Would you like a cup of tea?"

Standing at the dividing line of the second barrier, Kenneth gazed at Ayaka Sajou, who resembled a girl next door. Having already burned Ayaka Sajou once, Kenneth knew clearly about her twisted nature. Faced with someone who was unpredictable and could laugh and confide in him, Kenneth couldn't understand what Ayaka Sajou was thinking, let alone fathom her purpose.

"Forget about tea. You've succeeded in eroding this place and taking its place. I must say, you've succeeded."

Kenneth sensed that the corruption wasn't limited to this area; his own soul had also been tainted by Ayaka Sajou's aura. Although the process was slow, his soul had indeed gained elements belonging to Ayaka Sajou. Ayaka Sajou wanted to absorb his soul, turning him into nourishment for her. This corruption was something even Kenneth couldn't eradicate. As a woman set by Kinoko Nasu to possess power beyond that of a mage, Kenneth had to admit that Ayaka Sajou's methods exceeded his expectations.