<h4>Chapter 418: I only need the Princess’s smile.</h4>


    Trantor: imperfectluck Editor: Kurisu


    Chiaki and Mika returned back to the Uehara residence in order to give Yukari and Seiji some privacy for their discussion.


    "Breakfast was delicious. Thank you."


    "It''s good that you liked it. Actually, Shika-chan cooked it."


    After Yukari finished breakfast and Seiji finished washing the dishes, the two of them sat down by the kotatsu.


    "After you began your battle, my spirit forcibly took me out of that forest and I had to wait until I woke up," Seiji told her. "So, I didn''t see anything of your battle… how did it go?"


    "I was beaten quite badly." Yukari smiled wryly. "I find it quite fortunate that you weren''t there to see it."


    "Ah… so you must have failed your trial." Seiji looked towards her. "But, it''s fine as long as you''re safe… While you were sleeping, I took you to a hospital that has Spiritual Ability user doctors for a checkup. The doctors there said that you were basically fine, just a little fatigued."


    "No… I passed the trial."


    "Eh?"


    "Although I didn''t defeat the spider, it admitted my worthiness, just barely." Yukari sighed. "This trial isn''t one that required me to win. Instead, it was just testing me… no, I should say it was forcing me."


    "Forcing?"


    "Yes, forcing me to face it directly… If I only kept trying to escape it or was paralyzed with fear, not doing anything at all, that would have been the worst result. However, I disyed some courage and managed to resolutely face it head-on, which earned its recognition… the lowest level of recognition."


    "Oh…" Seiji blinked upon hearing this. "Then, that means you…"


    Yukari smiled faintly as she lifted her right hand, then quickly opened up, then closed up her palm again.


    Suddenly, a tea cup flew into her hand!


    "That was…" Seiji was astonished and immediately cast [Astral Vision] to see what was going on.


    "Spiderweb threads?" He saw that there was a white thread connecting Yukari''s palm to the tea cup.


    "That''s right." Yukari held the tea cup in her left hand while showing Seiji her right hand.


    She cast more white spiritual spiderweb thread, which was invisible to the naked eye, on the tea cup.


    Then, she faced her palm towards the ceiling, and shot out sticky threads that attached to the ceiling. Then, she tugged with her right hand, and let go of the tea cup with her left. This caused the tea cup to sessfully hang in midair.


    For those without the power of [Astral Vision], all they''d be able to see was the mystical scene of a tea cup floating in midair.


    "This… how did you cast this?" Seiji asked.


    "Just with my instinct… it feels just like using my hands or feet." Yukari paused for a moment. "After I woke up, I noticed that I had this additional new ability."


    An ability… not a spell of some sort.


    Something shed in Seiji''s eyes.


    Every single Spiritual Ability at his disposal, apart from the [Beginner-level punching techniques] and [Beginner-level sword techniques], which were ssified as [Martial arts techniques], were all [Spells].


    That was to say, all of his Spiritual Power relied on magic spells as the foundation.


    However, that wasn''t the same for Yukari. She didn''t need any methods at all and only needed to rely on her instincts to use her "ability" just like she could use her hands and feet!


    Or, perhaps there could be another term for it: "Mystical Ability."


    That red spider was termed a "mystical connection," while passing its trial would help the host obtain a Spiritual Ability. Calling it a "Mystical Ability" seemed quite appropriate.


    Mystical connections were fated connections between a human and a demon or spirit… what if it wasn''t limited to only demons and spirits? Seiji suddenly had a sh of inspiration.


    He thought of his [Character reward cards].


    [Hoshi Amami] and [Shika Kagura] cards. Both of these two cards had given him many abilities. If they were "mystical connections", then wouldn''t it also make sense to call those abilities on the cards as "Mystical Abilities"?


    No, this wasn''t limited to only his [Character reward cards]! If he took it one step further, the [Gifts], [Items], and… possibly even the entire dating sim system, could it all be a mega-powerful "Mystical Ability"!?


    Seiji faintly felt as if he was approaching the truth.


    As for whether or not he was on the mark, he had no idea. For now, it was just a guess.


    After thinking about this for a while, he finally returned to his senses. He saw that the purple-haired girl was patiently and quietly observing him.


    "I apologize, I was lost in my thoughts just now."


    "It''s fine. I enjoy watching you like that." Yukari smiled.


    Seiji suddenly received yet another direct attack!


    "Er… um… you have a Spiritual Ability now, so from now on, you can be considered a Spiritual Ability user." Seiji paused for a moment. "Although I feel like I should say something as your senpai in being a Spiritual Ability user, I''m actually just a newbie myself as well. By the way, do you have any ns for yourself? Such as wanting to do something with this ability of yours… or anything like that."


    Yukari blinked at this.


    "It told me that there would be danger."


    "Eh?"


    "The spider that gave me this ability told me that the intention behind this power is to protect myself against impending danger… something like this."


    "That sounds rather hazy."


    "It was indeed rather hazy in its description. You saw the way itmunicated with me as well. I could only piece together my best understanding of its intentions, which may not even be a correct interpretation." Yukari sighed. "I can only describe it like this… it feels like someone who doesn''t know how to speak is trying to transmit their intentions to me via hand signals and facial expressions while I can only guess at what they mean."


    "I see…" Seiji rubbed his chin in contemtion. "It talked about impending danger… was it referring to the night of one hundred demons?"


    Last night, the night of one hundred demons urred once again.


    Many new messages and topics about "demons" appeared once again on the most popr Channel 22 message forum. This topic became more popr and more people paid attention to it than yesterday.


    "If danger refers to the night of one hundred demons bing more and more severe, that would be quite bad."


    "Yeah…"


    The two of them fell silent.


    "Use that ability well to protect yourself, then. Of course, if there''s something you can''t deal with, you can stille to find me." Seiji smiled. "Although, I can''t guarantee that I can help. Perhaps I''ll even get in the way."


    Yukari smiled. "You definitely didn''t get in the way. If you hadn''te at that time, I definitely would have…" A gentle expression arose on her face as she looked towards Seiji. "Thank you so much, Mister Hero."


    "No need to be polite, my Princess." Seiji awkwardly scratched his face, feeling embarrassed from being looked at like this.


    "The hero that saved the princess should receive a thank-you present. Is there anything that you would like?"


    "About that… I only need the Princess''s smile."


    "Only a smile?" Yukari acted all disappointed while a flirtatious look appeared in her eyes. "I can give you much more than that~"


    Seiji received a direct hit from the main cannon! Sergeant Haruta, maintain yourposure!!


    "Cough… actually, I didn''t do that much at all." Seiji couldn''t help but recall the way she kissed him yesterday, which caused his face to redden. He then averted his gaze. "No need to stand on formality with me."


    "I want to thank you properly!" Something shed in Yukari''s eyes. "If you don''t have anything else that you want, then I shall give you what I want to give. You''re forbidden from not epting it."


    "Er…" Seiji averted his gaze yet again. He then thought of something to change the topic. "Right, I almost forgot to mention. Is it alright to tell Mika and the others about what happened to you?"


    "Hmm?"


    "That''s because they may meet with simr incidents, so I want to tell them at least something… if you don''t want to reveal the details, would it be alright for me to tell them a rough exnation?"


    Yukari was rendered speechless.


    ''Idiot Seigo, read the atmosphere!''


    She began to mentally pout.


    "If you want to tell them, tell them. Do whatever you want."


    "Er… are you angry with me?"


    "No." Yukari averted her gaze.


    "It seems like you really mind… how about I don''t mention anything about spiders and only say that you met arge demon… will that be alright?" Seiji tried asking once again.


    "I said, do whatever you like. I don''t care even if they start calling me Spider Girl."


    "Judging from your tone, it doesn''t sound like you don''t care…"


    "Hmph, at any rate, in your heart, those two are the most important to you. It doesn''t matter what I feel."


    "They are indeed quite important to me." Seiji smiled wryly. "But, you''re also very important to me. I can''t possibly ignore your feelings, Yukari."


    "Hmph…"


    The purple-haired girl still appeared somewhat angry on the surface. However, she was already feeling warm in her heart now.


    ''Such a big idiot…''