Chapter 285: Enjoying It Thoroughly

"Cooool!! As expected of you, that was one hell of a show!!"

Inside the Anti-Gambling Club's classroom, Midari Ikishima had her arm slung over Rinji's shoulder, shaking him excitedly.

While the other students were frozen in fear at the sight of Kiwatari's heart being shot on the big screen, only Midari was in a state of pure exhilaration.

This was exactly the kind of life-or-death gamble she craved.

"By the way, I didn't see you pull the trigger at all. So where did that bullet come from?"

"Someone I arranged."

Rinji shoved Midari aside and loosened his collar.

"I asked a friend to be on standby on a rooftop one kilometer away from the school before the game started. The moment the gamble ended, they were to take the shot." Rinji smiled. "It was meant to send a message to the students and the student council—that someone is watching this school."

The person he had stationed outside was Kure Fusui.

Since her work involved assassination anyway, pulling her in for a job like this wasn't a big deal—she wouldn't refuse.

"President Rinji, this time you've struck a devastating blow to the student council's foundation. Their credibility is now facing a complete collapse," Manyuda said, pushing up his glasses.

"And to survive this crisis, Kirari will surely mobilize her forces to block any outsiders trying to intervene with Hyakkaou Academy. If we move while she's distracted, we can interfere and secure our victory."

"No need."

"Huh?"

"Judging by this game, she had no intention of stopping it. She even sent a fake to negotiate with me. I'd say she's already outside the school dealing with external matters herself."

"A fake?" Manyuda eyes widened. "Then that person just now wasn't Kirari?"

"Who knows who she is, but you'd better not underestimate that woman, Kirari."

Rinji rested his chin on his hand and stared forward. Though it was just a blank wall in front of him, he seemed to be seeing something beyond it.

"She's already figured out my plan. She knows exactly what I'm going to do. That woman is just enjoying it—enjoying the feeling of playing this game with me, and the thrill of the unknown."

As he spoke, Rinji let out a laugh.

——————————————————————————————————————

"Family head, all clan leaders have arrived."

"Mm."

Inside a massive Japanese-style mansion, Momobami Kirari, dressed in a kimono, slid open a shoji door and gracefully stepped in.

The room behind the door was very dim, lit only by faint candlelight, just enough to make out the vague outlines of furniture.

There was no one in the spacious room—only dozens of tape recorders placed atop display-pillar-like stands.

Kirari smiled and walked toward a chair at the center of the recorders before slowly sitting down.

The moment she sat, the tape recorders came to life.

She sat in silence, listening as the recorders emitted various elderly voices.

All of them were criticizing her—saying she was too young and reckless, that she should consider the clan more.

They were all clearly dissatisfied with Kirari as a junior.

"Momobami Kirari, you've gone too far these past years."

"Exactly. I said long ago she shouldn't have become the Momobami family head."

"The Hundred Devouring Families will be ruined by you."

Listening to all this, Kirari smiled calmly and said, "Are you all done, you old fossils?"

"Wha—"

"Is that how you speak to us!?"

"Know your place!"

Kirari chuckled. "How dull. Just thinking that you people are the so-called elders of the Hundred Devouring Families makes me want to cry. Recycled platitudes, selfish cowardice, endless greed."

She paused, then curled her lips into a grin.

"I don't even recognize you archaic relics as clan heads. You're disgusting."

"What did you say!?"

"Don't think being the Momobami clan head gives you the right to speak to us like that! We are—"

"We are elders of the clan? I've heard that line enough." Kirari sneered toward the recorders. "Utterly boring."

"You—"

"If you're so upset, come find me. Come to the castle I've built."

She kept smiling.

"Oh right, an interesting person showed up in my castle recently. His name is... Takamine Rinji."

The moment she uttered the name, the recorders erupted in static. Sounds of things crashing to the floor could even be heard.

Just by the noise, it was clear the heads of the clans were thrown into chaos.

"Takamine Rinji?"

"That man's son!?"

"Why is he at Hyakkaou Private Academy!?"

"Momobami Kirari!! Do you even understand what you're doing? Do you want to bring ruin to the Hundred Devouring Families? Can you bear that responsibility!?"

"Whether I can or not doesn't matter," Kirari said with a smile. "Because once it happens, we all go down together. Who's going to ask me to take responsibility in hell?"

"...You lunatic!!"

"Dragging IW into this—do you want our clan erased from history!?"

The room filled with complaints and accusations from the recorders.

They all believed Kirari had gone mad, intending to lead the entire clan to destruction.

"Your cowardice is truly repulsive."

After saying that, Kirari stood up.

"Same as always—if you're dissatisfied, come to my castle. All are welcome."

Making the game more interesting.

That was Kirari's only goal.

…

After leaving the room and entering the garden, Kirari's phone rang from her bag.

"Hello? President? As you expected, Takamine Rinji killed Kiwatari Jun."

Runa's voice came through the call.

"Also, Ikishima Midari and Manyuda Kaede have quit the student council. They've joined Rinji. Things are getting really interesting~"

"Yes, truly interesting."

"Yes, very interesting."

Kirari smiled.

"I believe Rinji is enjoying it as much as I am."

At that moment, in two different places—

Kirari in her garden, and Rinji at Hyakkaou Private Academy—

both wore the same chilling smile.

They were both enjoying the game.