Chapter 231: Overwhelmed

It wasn't hard to imagine that if this went on, the girls would eventually find themselves in the same state as those poor boys who had been captivated by Kawakami Tomie.

Crazy. Obsessed.

And dangerously unhinged.

"Tsk."

When you think about it like that, the word "charisma" really doesn't seem like a good thing.

Although Ryuji wasn't afraid of losing control over himself, he wasn't exactly eager to have someone swing a hatchet at him, either.

Thinking about this, Ryuji decided it was better to handle the matter early. Since charisma was, after all, an ability, there had to be a way to restrain it.

While the girls around him chatted happily, Ryuji silently gathered his cursed energy and began experimenting with controlling this strange, newfound power.

"Huh?"

The moment he tried, he was caught off guard, not because it was difficult, but because it was absurdly easy.

It was as if the ability was designed to respond to his will, like flipping a switch.

And at its peak intensity, this charisma could drive people to obsession and madness, to the point where the "hatchet scenario" wasn't just a hypothetical.

If he wanted to, Ryuji could amplify the ability to make himself irresistibly captivating but he didn't need to take it that far.

"Huh… then why doesn't Tomie dial it down herself?"

After a moment's thought, it became clear to him that Tomie likely chose to maximize her power deliberately.

"Well… I guess she enjoys the chaos."

When he thought about it, it made sense in its own twisted way.

Urban legends like Tomie didn't adhere to normal logic. For someone like her, deliberately making people obsessed, then watching them unravel, was probably a source of delight.

Perhaps the chaos and madness of others were the only things that truly satisfied her.

"Well, whatever," Ryuji thought. There was no use dwelling on it.

He quickly adjusted the ability, scaling it back to a manageable level.

---

Meanwhile, the girls in the Service Club were still immersed in their lively conversation, planning for their upcoming hot spring trip.

They were discussing everything, from what clothes to bring to the activities they could do while there.

"How about an outdoor barbecue?"

"Great idea! If we're going to the effort of a trip, we might as well have some fun with a barbecue too."

"I'll handle the ingredients!"

"What about camping outdoors?"

"Hmm… if we do that, we might run out of time!"

After all, the weekend trip only gave them two days. Trying to cram in hot springs, barbecuing, and camping sounded like a tight schedule.

"…"

At this point, the girls' discussion suddenly grew quieter, and their eyes all turned toward Shizuka.

After all, planning these things ultimately required her approval.

"…"

Caught under the weight of their expectant gazes, Shizuka seemed momentarily at a loss.

She could already tell what they wanted, to ask for an extension on the trip.

As a teacher, her first instinct was to refuse.

But…

"Do whatever you want," she finally said, waving a hand in surrender.

The words they expected to hear never came.

Shizuka sighed inwardly. Honestly, she wanted to enjoy herself too, so who was she to deny them? And besides, with sorcerers involved, it wasn't like they truly needed her permission anymore. The fact they even bothered to ask was good enough for her.

"Awesome!"

"Thank you, Hiratsuka-sensei!"

"This makes things so much easier!"

The girls cheered in unison, thrilled by her response.

For many of them, this was the first time they were planning such a large trip with so many people. Naturally, they wanted everything to be perfect.

"…"

Shizuka could only shake her head helplessly. If they were so excited about it, why stop them? After all, it wasn't like it would interfere with her responsibilities.

"By the way, should we prepare some sake?" she asked, almost as an afterthought.

"Not a bad idea! Just a little bit, though!"

"Right, even if we don't drink, it's nice to have some on hand."

"But what about transportation? How are we supposed to carry everything?"

"Don't worry about that."

Ryuji finally spoke up, cutting through the conversation.

"You can leave the transportation to me," he said confidently.

With access to Third Dimension, carrying supplies was a non-issue for him. No matter how much they prepared, he could handle it all with ease.

Hearing this, the girls quickly shifted their attention back to planning the finer details, like whether they'd need mosquito repellent or what kind of snacks to bring.

Ryuji didn't involve himself further.

If they wanted to discuss the details, he was happy to let them. After all, the trip was for fun—why overthink it?

There were still two or three days until the weekend, giving them plenty of time to prepare.

---

Meanwhile, in the Land of Death, time flowed differently.

Tomie had been trapped there for over twenty days, though it had only been two days in the outside world.

Compared to the radiant and elegant Tomie from before, her current state was pitiful.

Her hair was disheveled, her eyes bloodshot, and her entire demeanor screamed exhaustion and despair.

She stared blankly at a tree in the void, her voice hoarse as she muttered, "I want to die… please, just let me die…"

Tomie couldn't even remember how she'd endured these past days.

At first, it had seemed bearable.

But as time stretched on, an unbearable loneliness settled deep in her heart.

The feeling of being utterly isolated from the rest of the world slowly consumed her.

And as more time passed, that crushing loneliness intensified.

Now, it was no longer something she could handle.

It had overwhelmed her completely.