"Hai-kun, how come you have so many injuries on you? Are you really okay?"
Maki Shijo's gaze was fixed tightly on Gao Hai, her voice soft with concern as she asked.
"I'm really fine, I told you. Alright, alright, now's not the time to worry about that. Let's get out first and talk."
Gao Hai just waved his hand casually and continued walking forward.
Kaguya Shinomiya silently watched the interaction between Gao Hai and Maki Shijo, then turned her gaze ahead, proceeding onward.
As for Chika Fujiwara, she stayed close to Gao Hai's side, with Maki Shijo on his left and her on his right, sandwiching him between them. Though she didn't say anything, the girl's eyes kept darting back and forth between Gao Hai and Maki Shijo, as if quietly assessing them.
It was clear that the relationship between these two was truly close.
That genuine care and affection was obvious at a glance. The girl named Maki Shijo truly liked Gao Hai from the bottom of her heart, and Gao Hai responded to her with natural familiarity—he obviously liked her too.
She had just started feeling those romantic sparks, only to realize it was unrequited.
It must hurt, right?
Chika Fujiwara couldn't help but think this to herself, sighing softly.
What she didn't notice was that although Maki Shijo appeared to be chatting with Gao Hai, her attention was actually fixed on Chika, observing her every move with 1,000% focus.
Pink long hair.
Cheeks with a slight plumpness—highly lethal to men.
A somewhat airheaded expression on her face, following step by step like a little animal. No matter how you look at it, Hai-kun has no resistance to this type.
And that butt is pretty big too. Hmm, though her chest isn't much different from mine—just a bit larger. At least in terms of figure, there's not a huge gap. Shouldn't be a big problem.
As Maki pondered, her small hand unconsciously clenched into a fist, then slowly relaxed.
At least for now, Hai-kun doesn't seem to have any interest in this girl. But she looks completely smitten with him. How did this lewd, perverted guy win over a Shuchiin girl so quickly? From what Kaguya said, this Chika Fujiwara is a politician's daughter—shouldn't she be more cautious about relationships? How could she fall for a guy so easily?
Maki Shijo had completely forgotten how easily Gao Hai had won her over in the Shirakawa Apartments. Even if she remembered, she definitely wouldn't admit it—that was beyond doubt.
"To be honest, I still think we didn't have to choose this method. Maki and I have already found a lot of useful clues. Continuing the investigation should yield even more gains, maybe even allowing a perfect clear, claiming the core Obsession Item or breaking the obsession to destroy the instance. I think that's possible."
Kaguya Shinomiya wasn't caught up in such distractions. She frowned at Gao Hai and asked.
Having successfully conquered the Shirakawa Apartments, and smoothly gathering much intelligence in the research base, giving up now felt regrettable to her.
"Yeah, it's possible, but to find that opportunity, how many more loops do you think we'd need? Don't forget, the one paying the price for mistakes is me. And this instance is way too complex—just piecing together the rough timeline of its formation took a ton of time and effort. Not to mention it has two different core obsessions. You don't think we'd crack it in one go, do you?"
Gao Hai just glanced at Kaguya Shinomiya and replied bluntly.
"Claiming core Obsession Items or breaking instances for Blessings can be done in those fixed Twilight-level instances. But this one? Its difficulty isn't something 'a bit of effort' can overcome. My rewind chances are finite. If we loop five or six times here—or use them all up—what then? Even if we clear this, what about the next?"
Despite having the black watch like a cheat, Gao Hai never thought he'd become invincible. He knew this eerie watch was pulling him toward death's abyss with each rewind. Most powers it granted also consumed rewinds.
Far from ready to confidently tackle high-difficulty instances even veterans avoided.
The smart move: pick easier, less complex fixed Twilight instances, break their core obsessions for powerful, side-effect-free Blessings, absorb obsession remnants to boost watch recovery, build a virtuous cycle of fuel. Accumulate steadily until godlike, then challenge higher.
Rushing max difficulty with extra tries was irrational. The watch wasn't some infinite-rez system turning him into an emperor; once Gao Hai confirmed a normal clear path, he ditched perfect clear without hesitation.
"…You're right. Sorry, I didn't think it through."
Kaguya Shinomiya clearly understood too; she'd just regretted abandoning clues. After Gao Hai's explanation, she quickly grasped the situation and bowed her head in apology.
Her vision was still too narrow; not calm or thoughtful enough in action.
Kaguya sighed inwardly.
Look at Maki Shijo—she used to be so smart, now fixated on Gao Hai.
Chika Fujiwara's completely smitten too, but she's always romantic-obsessed. Though she says "love's too early for me," she's scarily enthusiastic about romance. Kaguya remembered her even playing matchmaker for Maki's friend and her boyfriend.
Now these two like the same guy.
This... well, maybe... no, normal romance views don't fit players' lives anymore.
As they walked the brightly lit, chilly Stone Forest Path, Kaguya suddenly realized: for ordinary folks, monogamy works, but not players.
They might have one month left, facing death monthly—high-risk group.
Uniting against danger makes sense; Gao Hai's rewind power demands unity. Even her, Maki, Chika sharing him wasn't impossible. Tight bonds let them face horror games united, benefiting from his power.
Kaguya grew restless.
This realization was awkward, especially pursuing him—unbearable.
Confessing, dating... no, better as comrades?
But comrades can't rewind memories together or link minds like Maki. In crises needing sacrifice, he'd likely ditch her...
Unless he confessed first...
Her mind chaotic.
Gao Hai, marching ahead, oblivious to the three girls behind, all lovestruck over him, cursed by romance gods.
But they could afford distraction: Blessings warned of danger; rescue member summoned by badge trailed, ensuring safety.
Gao Hai hadn't left the member in the sentry box.
Seeing the mangled security guard corpse inside, inspiration struck: all here for shift change, just early. Trouble opponent to keep working—they left smoothly.
Communicative anomalies were easy: rule-compliant words prevented attacks.
Rescue member out for two reasons: divert door-guarding core obsession via speech anywhere; even post-clear, verify things. As first fixed Red Nut Gray Hole clearers, his intel fetched high prices—Dim Night max-diff escape guide would sell anywhere.
Thus: member escorts to entrance, returns to [Gentle Slope] entrance, shouts [I'm human] to draw guard, rushes in.
Bloodstained white-dress anomaly post-base era; pre-that (operation, cover-up, disaster), [Gentle Slope] anomaly-free. Yet rules avoid it—suspicious. Core obsession retroactively altering timeline to ancient death trap? Unlikely for Dim Night boss.
"Ready?"
At Red Nut Gray Hole entrance stairs, gazing at soft crescent moon and stars above, Gao Hai turned seriously to the three beside him.
Girls affirmed; Gao Hai ordered member. Eager for sacrifice, it bolted toward Gentle Slope, shouting midway emotionlessly.
[Ah, I'm human]
[Ah, I'm human]
[Ah, human, human, human, human]
Rodent-like recitation spiked eerie aura; white skirt shadow flashed by member.
Even on fellow anomaly, Gao Hai felt intense chill via badge link.
"Go!"
No hesitation, Gao Hai sprinted out Red Nut Gray Hole bounds.
Kaguya, Maki, Chika followed; four entered moonlit surface, truly escaping dark cavern.
[Congratulations on clearing Twilight instance: Red Nut Gray Hole]
Cold voice rang in Kaguya Shinomiya's, Maki Shijo's, Chika Fujiwara's ears.
Bodies faded, teleporting from horror land.
Except one.
"Ah?"
Gao Hai collapsed, head throbbing intensely.
Seemed to hear Maki calling, Chika panicking, Kaguya murmuring disbelief.
What's... happening...
Like waking from dream.
Everything blurred.
Finally, two transparent, vanishing hands reached for him.
But grasping, his own hands invisible.
Splash—
Security uniform dropped empty.
Gao Hai opened eyes.
Awakening in darkness.
Smelled rot stench.
Felt intense malice, suffocating terror chill.
Heard drip from above: rusty, foul drop.
Drip—
Real touch on forehead.
Trance dream ended.
In immobile, jammed icy cavern, Gao Hai awoke from dream.
________________________________________
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