Chapter 175: The Tripartite Standoff of the Afterlife

"What! I knew it; you're a total lech! Setting your sights on Yui like that!" Although my comment was made in jest, it immediately drew the ire of certain individuals, such as Fujimaki, who harbored a strong affection for Yui. The idea that I joined the warfront solely because Yui was attractive was more than he could bear.

"Let's not escalate this with threats. It wouldn't end well for you," I cautioned, not keen on starting my tenure with conflict, yet not willing to be vocally maligned without protest.

"You think you, a mere newcomer, could harm me?" Fujimaki scoffed at my warning, underestimating me – a mistake swiftly corrected as a sudden force sent him flying, mirroring Noda's earlier fate.

"As I said, don't point that toy at me," I adjusted my glasses as the others finally understood it was my intervention that dispatched Fujimaki with ease. The revelation that Fujimaki, a respectable force within our ranks, was so easily bested left everyone stunned.

"Calm down, everyone. Zhang Fan, a word in private, if you please," Yui, ever the leader, diffused the tension and led me away to the rooftop for a more personal discussion.

Once there, Yui offered a can of coffee before getting to the heart of the matter, expressing trust in my genuine intentions to join their ranks and encouraging me to take my time getting acquainted with everyone.

My interest, however, lay in understanding the dynamics between the Afterlife Warfront, the student council president, and the mysterious third party mentioned earlier.

Yui obliged with an overview of the world we inhabited – the Afterlife, and the two other forces at play. The student council president, known to me as the Angel, wielded immense power and sought to maintain order without human emotion. Aligning with the Angel meant potentially disappearing from this world, prompting the Afterlife Warfront's resistance.

The Guild faction, unknown to me, operated from the shadows, blending in with regular students to cause us trouble. Although there had been no major confrontations, the delicate balance suggested an uneasy truce among the three powers.

"Essentially, that's the situation," Yui concluded, turning to gauge my reaction to this complex web of alliances and rivalries.

"Interesting. When did this Guild faction appear?" I inquired, piecing together the scant information available about this elusive group.

"About 172 days ago," Yui estimated, revealing the timelessness of our existence in this realm, marked only by the days since arrival.

Reflecting on this, I considered the possibility of other intruders, like myself, disrupting the delicate balance of power. Could they be players from another world, or part of the game I was unwittingly drawn into?

"Zhang Fan?" Yui's voice pulled me from my musings, her curiosity about my thoughts evident.

"Let's head back," I suggested, deciding to first approach the Angel, or Tachibana Kanade, and clarify the misunderstandings that fueled our conflict.

Returning to the warfront's headquarters, the atmosphere was a mix of relief and tension, with some members visibly uneasy about my presence. Yet, my encounter with Yui had solidified my resolve to bridge the gap between the factions, starting with dispelling the myths surrounding the Angel's intentions.

This task would require patience and a careful approach to alter deeply entrenched beliefs and heal the rifts within our afterlife community.