Episode 169: Intermission! A Mysterious Trap Approaching a Pure-Hearted Boy!
In the central city of Hinotuchi Academy City.
Among the bustling central district filled with tourists, one building stood out prominently—a luxury hotel made specifically for corporate individuals.
Many corporate personnel who stayed long-term to conduct inspections at support academies and other purposes often utilized this hotel.
Equipped with the finest technology from Academy City, it was modeled after the high-end hotels that once existed in Japan.
The leisure of accommodation, still out of reach for the average person, existed within these walls.
Jinguji Sougo was currently in one of the rooms of this very hotel.
“Are you really going to stay here alone? I can buy you something you like?”
In response to Hinami’s words, Sougo quietly shook his head sideways.
His expression appeared unusually solemn for some reason.
“I’m going to play games today.”
“Well, academy city games are certainly fun. But you need to study properly too, right? You want to become an explorer, don’t you?”
“Yeah, don’t worry about me.”
Looking into Sougo’s straightforward gaze, Hinami felt a sense of growth in him and smiled.
(He’s become so reliable since he went to Phectom.)
Perhaps influenced by witnessing the warriors fighting on the front lines, Sougo seemed slightly more mature compared to children his age.
Hinami had heard rumors that because of his mature demeanor towards girls of the same grade, he had started gaining popularity.
Regardless, Sougo had indeed grown. Whether he aimed to become an explorer or inherit the family business in the future, there would be no issues.
“Well, I’ll be going then.”
“Yeah, take care.”
While scheduling a purchase of Sougo’s favorite items, Hinami closed the door behind her.
Not long after…
“………………Alright!”
Sougo, the arrival of free time!
“With my sister gone and no maids around today… I can do it!”
Confirming through the peephole that his sister had moved far enough away, Sougo jumped onto the bed.
He then equipped headphones created jointly by Jilnius and Kroma. Incidentally, this was a product not yet released to the public, and Sougo had spent all three years’ worth of his allowance to purchase it. The price? Five million.
“Alright… I’m going to listen…!”
Without addressing anyone in particular, Sougo declared this as he activated the virtual window.
There lay the purchased audio data.
The title read ‘Your Healing Time with That Star Reader Girl ~Relaxation & Temptation Sleep Induction Audio~.’
This was an audio work crafted by the enigmatic author ‘Star Yomi @ Striving for New Releases,’ someone Sougo had followed from the start. This creator, known for satisfying Solciera fans through various media like illustrations, cryptic texts, and comics, had produced another must-buy masterpiece.
Moreover, Sougo had an absolute reason to listen to this.
“Campaign entry, limited audio…!”
Aside from the attached audio file upon purchase, there existed a mysterious entry page. Apparently, it was a campaign where one lucky winner would receive a special audio clip via lottery.
With pounding excitement late at night, Sougo entered the contest. Within five minutes, thanks to an ultra-fast draw, he received confirmation of his win along with the exclusive audio clip.
“This… this is mine alone. Mine alone…”
Unconsciously, his fists clenched tightly. Was this joy and excitement?
Or perhaps, was it the dream of encountering an unseen side of his idol?
Sougo, thrilled and trembling, did not know…
That such a campaign didn’t exist.
A certain Demons Gear could interfere with electronics given enough time.
“Alright, starting from part one…!”
Sougo closed the curtains, darkened the room, and began playing the audio.
“Good morning, dear explorer. You’ve woken up… oh, I startled you. I am—”
“…!”
“—going to lie beside you until you fall asleep again.”
“…Fwa!”
“It seems counting didn’t help you sleep. Hmm, naughty children deserve punishment—”
“!?!!?”
“Focus on your right ear… hmmm. …Hmm, your shoulder twitched, didn’t it? So cute.”
“…Feh?”
For Sougo, this was an unknown experience. Though it was just audio, he soon felt as if his entire body were under its control.
The full 120-minute audio track was more than sufficient to leave Sougo boneless and implant an unshakable preference.
“What… this is… ASMR?”
Sougo faintly thought amidst his daze.
(This could be amazing when I’m tired after becoming an explorer, right?)
It was a revelation, a potential solution to his quest for the ultimate ASMR experience.
(Maybe there’s even more enjoyment to be had. This ASMR isn’t just this…!)
The moment of birth for an ASMR monster.
Sougo didn’t know.
That later, he would be called “Phectom’s ASMR Obsessive.”
“I have to become an explorer…!”
Sougo renewed his determination. And then, at that moment…
The bonus track automatically began to play.
“—Hmm, buying audio like this makes you quite the pervert, doesn’t it?”
“Wha…!?”
Caught off guard by the whisper close to his ear, Sougo was shocked but quickly fell into a “receptive” state.
“If your family found out you bought audio like this, what would happen?”
“…Eh?”
“You might be looked down upon by the person you admire, poor thing ♥”
Sougo felt as if these words were directed at him, causing him to snap back to attention. Yet, he didn’t stop the audio.
“Pervert ♥ Pervert ♥ You enjoy having your ears teased, don’t you ♥”
“H-Hahh!”
To the audio, which should have been nothing more than recorded sound, Sougo found himself responding. His preferences had already been fully customized.
He was now a certified pervert, proud enough to show off anywhere.
Sougo didn’t know.
That later, he would win the grand prize at the Hinotuchi Cultural Festival with a single ASMR piece.
“Concentrate on your ears—”
Sougo obediently closed his eyes again.
Fully focused, he wouldn’t miss a single breath of her voice.
Coincidentally, this closely resembled the meditation practiced by newly minted explorer students. It was the fundamental technique of sensing the magic power circulating within oneself and shaping it into the desired ideal strength.
Through ASMR, Sougo had entered a state of hyper-concentration, diving deep into the highest level of meditation.
His body had previously been modified by a mysterious staff. Furthermore, having witnessed the pinnacle of magical power manipulation, excluding special abilities, through convergent artillery attacks, he unconsciously used it as a model, controlling the magic flowing within him with increasing precision.
In short.
Everything aligned perfectly, and at this moment, Sougo was evolving at an astonishing rate.
(Someday, I will be with Solciera-san…!)
Strong desires manifest as extraordinary powers.
In the not-so-distant future, he would surely obtain his strength.
The power slumbering within him was slowly but surely taking form.
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