I was Reincarnated as the Scum Older Brother of the Protagonist in a Romance Battle Game, But I don't want to Die, so I'll do my Best - Episode 24

I succeeded in synchronizing with Mashiro and the Divine Vision… The moment it worked, I sensed an overwhelming presence behind me. When I turned around—

The full moon visible through the window had transformed into two eerily glowing lights…

One of the Four Sacred Beasts, the White Tiger.

“Shouji… Shouji, you came too?”

While I was distracted by the White Tiger before me, Mashiro, still seated in her chair, called out to me.

“M-Mashiro?! Are you okay?!”

Mashiro’s Meteor Eyes were indeed shining silver, but otherwise, she seemed normal.

“You suddenly appeared right in front of me… I was surprised.”

“Suddenly? What are you talking about? I’ve been here the whole time… Huh? Wait, what is this room?!”

I had been so focused on Mashiro and the White Tiger that I hadn’t noticed—this wasn’t Mashiro’s room anymore. It was a stone-walled chamber with no windows or visible exits.

There was a stone altar-like platform with two braziers burning with white flames on either side.

A sight I’d seen many times before, a room I’d entered repeatedly—a world that should only exist beyond the Hidden Realm…

[Who dares trespass into my Divine Domain?]

As I faced Mashiro, a voice colder than ice and a pressure that made my entire body break out in a cold sweat surged from behind me.

Slowly, I turned around—

There sat an enormous white tiger, the White Tiger, easily three meters tall even while seated. It bared fangs thicker than my torso and glared at me with hostile eyes.

My body, my heart—everything shrank in fear. Words failed me… This was absolute terror.

This was a god dwelling in the Divine Domain… Though I had indirectly interacted with Watatsumi through Mashiro’s divine possession, I had been fortunate—or perhaps pitiful—that my Divine Vision level was too low to fully perceive Watatsumi, sparing me from this level of despair.

“He’s my best friend, Shouji.”

[I am speaking with the vessel. Do not interfere.]

“I refuse.”

[You do not desire my power?]

“That’s what I’m saying. Quit being annoying.”

(Wait… does this mean I’m inside Mashiro’s mind while she’s in a trance during the White Tiger event?! Was this the exchange happening in her head back then?! That’s… amazing!! No, wait—this is bad! I’m in mortal danger here!)

[…What are you saying, human?]

“Huh?! Can you hear my thoughts?!”

“? Shouji’s thoughts? What about them? I’m interested.”

(So Mashiro can’t hear my mental voice, but the White Tiger can… Well, maybe that’s a silver lining…)

(White Tiger, hear me out for a moment.)

[Why should I listen to the words of a mere human like you?]

“Shouji, what are you talking about with this big white cat?”

“N-no… ‘white cat’…? Well, whatever. Let me handle this, trust me.”

“Mm, I don’t get it, but I’ll leave it to you!”

(That settles it. I’m acting as Mashiro’s proxy.)

[Foolish… Step aside.]

(And what would the Black Tortoise say if it saw you here? Probably tell you to step aside, no?)

[…What do you know?]

(You’re trying to outmaneuver the Black Tortoise, one of the Four Sacred Beasts, by pulling Mashiro—its vessel—into your grasp. Am I wrong?)

[Who are you?]

(Talking to me directly is the right move. But I’m not telling you who I am. Though I get why you’d be nervous.)

This was pure bluffing. If the White Tiger got serious—no, even if it didn’t—a single swipe of its claws would end me… Who knew a death flag was hidden here of all places…

(Let me be clear—Mashiro has already formed a contract with the god Watatsumi. Even as one of the Four Sacred Beasts, you can’t just overwrite a contract with another god of the same rank.)

[You even know of the contracts between us gods?]

(That’s why I’m negotiating. Mashiro will eventually gain a special power that doesn’t require contracts. Until then, can’t you wait before claiming her as your vessel?)

[What is this ‘special power’ that doesn’t require contracts?]

(Summoning.)

[Summoning? I’ve never heard of such a thing… What kind of power is that?]

(Explaining it in detail now wouldn’t make sense to you. Whether you believe me or not is up to you, but as a god, you should be able to tell—Mashiro has already contracted with another god.)

[Indeed… It seems you speak the truth.]

(Once Mashiro gains the power of summoning, I promise she’ll form a summoning contract with you first. Until then, make a temporary contract with me and wait.)

[…What do you stake on this promise? You must understand—when demanding something from a god, the supplicant must offer collateral. What will you give?]

(How about my life? It might be cheap, but it’s all I have right now. Besides, if you make a temporary contract with me, you might even learn my true nature.)

[…Very well. Reluctantly, I shall form a temporary contract with you. Fortunately, you have an open slot… I shall occupy it and see whether your words are truth or folly.]

With that, the White Tiger gradually faded… until it vanished completely. Just before disappearing, a gust of wind swept through me, extinguishing the white-flamed torches on either side and plunging the room into darkness.

………………

…Huh?

I thought the stone room had gone dark, but it seemed I had closed my eyes. Slowly opening them, I found myself back in Mashiro’s room. Feeling a sensation in my right hand, I looked down to see Mashiro gripping it tightly.

“Shouji, hey… there was a big white cat here earlier…”

“O-oh, sorry, I didn’t see it. A stuffed animal?”

“Ah, no… never mind. More importantly, it’s dinnertime, right? Let’s go.”

For now, I brushed it off… There was no way I could let her know I’d risked my life negotiating with the White Tiger.

During dinner that night, Mashiro acted completely normal, happily eating seconds and thirds as usual.

(Well, maybe I was the one dreaming… For now, I’ll just focus on training hard for one more day.)

However, the next day during training in the Black Domain, I would learn that this was no dream…