A countdown echoed in their minds.
"Huh, I'm hearing a strange countdown." Chika covered her ears, tilting her head and tapping at them. Her chest bounced with each movement. "Do you hear it too?"
Unfortunately, no one was paying attention to her.
This wasn't a countdown—it was a death sentence!
Natsuki silently looked at Kaguya, his eye twitching.
What the hell!
Partying up was forced? You didn't even need to click confirm?!
"...I'm sorry." As a young lady of the Shinomiya family, when she made a mistake, she naturally had to own up to it. Only cowards chose to run away. She bit down hard on her lower lip. "I just received a notification. To enhance the player experience, the game has optimized the party system. Physical contact is all that's needed to trigger party formation."
This isn't an optimization—it's clearly designed to screw players over!
"I didn't touch either of you, did I?"
Natsuki couldn't help but point out.
Having Chika become Kaguya's teammate was one thing, but why had he been included?
Did eye contact count as well?
Kaguya continued:
"Any player within three meters is automatically designated as a teammate..."
It's too late to tell us that now!
Natsuki closed his eyes and let out a helpless sigh.
Deadweight teammate count: plus one.
"What are you two talking about?" Chika's eyes darted between them. "I don't understand any of this."
"Don't ask. You'll find out soon enough."
[Countdown: three, two...]
Natsuki felt a slight dizziness, and the next instant, he found himself standing on a school field. Around him were students in unfamiliar uniforms... or more accurately, vengeful spirits.
Their faces were deathly pale, completely bloodless. Where their eyes should have been, there were only empty black holes. Their bodies were covered in horrifying bloodstains. The ground of the decrepit field was caked with dried blood, and scratch marks from desperate fingers scarred the surface everywhere.
Sensing Natsuki's gaze, a "classmate" standing nearby turned to look at him, lips parting to reveal sharp, saw-like fangs.
[Location: Vengeful Spirit School]
[Game: The Seven School Mysteries]
[Victory Conditions: Complete at least three challenges, or survive until 4:44 AM]
[Current Challenge: Red Light, Green Light. Press the button on the back of the Daruma Doll within the time limit. Those who fail to complete it in time will be eliminated]
[The game will now begin. Wishing all players an enjoyable experience]
As the spine-chilling notification ended, Natsuki felt his throat relax, regaining his ability to speak and move.
"Huh?!" Chika's voice rang out in disbelief. "Wh-what is all this?!"
Her shout immediately drew the attention of all the players and spirits.
"Keep your voice down." Kaguya quickly covered her best friend's mouth, then leaned close to whisper an explanation. "Last night... I'm sorry. This is all my fault."
Though Secretary Fujiwara often did things that defied normal comprehension, she was truly Kaguya's only friend.
Having dragged her friend into such a dangerous game, Kaguya finally couldn't maintain her cool, unfazed expression. Her eyes were filled with guilt and self-blame.
"I see. This isn't your fault, Kaguya." Chika clenched her pink fists, her expression serious, radiating a dazzling aura. "You've been participating in such a dangerous game? As your friend, how could I just stand by... From now on, I'll protect you!"
I don't want to interrupt your little yuri moment, but could you please apologize to the innocent person you dragged into this?!
Chika gave a thumbs up. "I'm a gaming expert, you know. I'll definitely clear this easily."
Natsuki could smell the death flag from a mile away.
In horror movies, people who said things like that with bright smiles were usually the first to die.
"Hah."
A disdainful snort came from nearby.
"Thinking about protecting others in a game like this? You must be a newbie."
Besides the three who had entered as a party, there were other players on the field. These people were clearly not "newbie noobs"—they hadn't reacted with the same shock as Chika. But every single one of them looked grim.
"Huh, how did you know?" Chika looked over in surprise. "This really is my first time in a game. Please take care of me!"
"Impossible." The woman was shocked. "A newbie's first game would never be this difficult."
Kaguya hung her head in shame.
[Game start—]
As the cold, merciless voice rang out, the massive Daruma Doll standing at the field's exit slowly turned its body, facing away from everyone.
Natsuki felt his body loosen as the invisible binding force vanished, restoring his ability to move.
Eerie, otherworldly music began to play. Everyone on the field—players and ghost students alike—began to move.
No one knew when the Daruma Doll would turn around, so every player moved with extreme caution. Most of the ghost students did the same. Their bodies were stiff, and some even had expressions of obvious terror and helplessness on their faces.
"The distance is about two hundred meters—very far..."
Natsuki silently estimated the distance, his gaze fixed on the Daruma Doll as he tried to figure out how to clear this. "The doll is about three meters tall. The button is below its head..."
"Hm?!"
His gaze suddenly sharpened. In his field of vision, a line of text appeared on the Daruma Doll.
[La la la, I'm a happy Daruma Doll. My line of sight cannot penetrate objects. Current turn countdown: three, two...]
Natsuki quietly stopped in his tracks.
As the countdown ended, the swaying giant Daruma Doll whipped around with unimaginable speed. A ghost student who had reacted a split second too slow was caught off guard. A black shadow flashed through the air, and the student's head instantly exploded. Fortunately, there was no blood spray—only black mist surged forth as the body collapsed to the ground with a thud.
Even so, it was enough to make everyone's faces go pale and foreheads break out in sweat.
A deathly silence fell over the field.
A moment later, the Daruma Doll slowly turned back around, and the eerie song resumed.
"S-so scary." Chika clutched her chest, completely panicked. "Isn't the penalty for failing just being sent to the sidelines?!"
You thought you'd just be sent to the sidelines? Did you think this was a children's game?!
Natsuki continued watching the Daruma Doll.
A dozen or so seconds later, the same hint appeared again.
"Stop."
Natsuki timed it perfectly, coming to an abrupt halt one second before the turn.
The next instant, the Daruma Doll turned on cue. This time was even more tragic—a player accidentally moved their arm and received the exact same punishment as the ghost students.
Several seconds later, the doll turned back around, and the game continued.
One tall ghost student seemed to have decided to go out with a bang. It suddenly turned and reached its blood-stained hands toward Chika, apparently hoping to warm its heart with human contact before dying.
Slap.
Natsuki stepped forward and grabbed its wrist.
"Th-thank you, Amamiya-kun..."
Chika's face was pale as she hurriedly expressed her gratitude.
The ghost student turned to glare at Natsuki, opening its mouth to reveal rows of sharp fangs.
[Turn countdown...]
The hint appeared again.
One second before the turn, Natsuki suddenly bent down and crouched behind the ghost student.
As the Daruma Doll turned, two more unfortunate souls were eliminated. Deathly silence fell over the field once more.
"Now."
Natsuki took a light breath, pressed his hands together, and aimed at the ghost student's backside.
"Anti-vengeful-spirit ninjutsu: One Thousand Years of Death—"
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