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[Please set today's rules —]
After opening the Midnight Theater, a prompt quickly appeared in Amamiya Natsuki's mind.
Of course, he could also choose to forgo setting new rules and continue using yesterday's rules.
Amamiya Natsuki narrowed his eyes slightly and said softly:
"Set rule: Everyone in the Theater today can have a photographic memory."
The next moment.
A prompt appeared in his mind.
[Setting failed, not a complete rule, please reset]
"Natsuki, how's the situation?"
The three girls looked over with anticipation.
The most excited one was Mrs. Shimizu. This ghost lady clenched her fists, her eyes sparkling:
"Milk, bread, ice cream, I want them all!"
"I've disappointed you." Amamiya Natsuki shook his head, "The rule setting failed."
"Eh? Why did it fail?" Kitagawa Marin was greatly disappointed, "Is it not allowed?"
Miko crossed her arms over her chest, pursing her pink lips, and said:
"It succeeded last night."
"The rule content is different." Amamiya Natsuki said, "Just now it reminded me that the rule wasn't complete, and to reset."
Hayasaka Ai blinked her beautiful eyes slightly and mused:
"So setting rules isn't arbitrary, there are certain restrictions?"
Amamiya Natsuki nodded and said:
"It should be."
Kitagawa Marin extended a finger and suggested: "Since that's the case, we can analyze the elements of rule setting based on yesterday's rules. Natsuki, what were the specific contents of the rule you set yesterday?"
"Ah..."
Taking off clothes is paid content, can it be casually told to others?
Of course not.
So Amamiya Natsuki spoke vaguely this morning, glossing over it, but he didn't expect to have to say it again now.
Amamiya Natsuki turned to look at his childhood friend and said:
"You can ask Miko..."
"Stare —"
Miko's pretty face flushed slightly, her eyes wide, glaring fiercely.
You did something excessive yourself, and you're making me say it?
Take responsibility yourself!
"Forget it, I'll say it myself."
Amamiya Natsuki cleared his throat twice and carefully recounted yesterday's rule.
"What, a 'Red Light, Green Light' game where you have to take off clothes if you move, that's too awful, isn't it?"
Kitagawa Marin couldn't help but complain: "It feels like a super lewd sesshou game."
Miko looked over with disdain, clearly still "holding a grudge" from last night, and snorted:
"That's right, it's already a criminal act."
"I protest, Lawyer Miko has made a fundamental error." Amamiya Natsuki raised his right hand and retorted, "The law prohibits retroactivity. Last night was the first time, and I didn't know everyone would be involved. Negligence is not a crime."
"Protest denied."
"I want to appeal."
"Final judgment, you no longer have the right to appeal."
...
"Um, everyone, let's talk about serious matters first?"
Hayasaka Ai clasped her hands together, guiding the conversation back.
This topic is too dangerous, I always feel a pair of eyes gazing from somewhere, must skip!
Spy Maid crossed her left arm over her chest, resting her chin on her right hand, and analyzed:
"Breaking down this rule, it can be seen as one judgment condition and two judgment results... It's somewhat similar to the most common programming languages."
"Eh, Hanamori-chan knows programming languages?" Kitagawa Marin looked over in surprise, "That's amazing."
"Just a little." Hayasaka Ai clasped her hands together, "It's theoretical, I can't write code myself."
Amamiya Natsuki looked at Hayasaka and said faintly:
"If you know programming languages, assembling a computer must be easy, right?"
Hayasaka Ai smiled back: "Sorry, I don't know at all."
"Let's simply analyze yesterday's 'Red Light, Green Light' game rule." Amamiya Natsuki quickly returned to the main topic, "The 'Red Light, Green Light' game is a judgment rule. If the judgment is successful, safety is guaranteed. If the judgment fails, there will be a punishment. To set a new rule, it should also meet three condition mods, none of which can be missing."
He paused, then Amamiya Natsuki continued:
"Just now it reminded me that it wasn't a complete rule, so that must be it. To successfully achieve a photographic memory, the remaining two conditions need to be completed."
"I've got it." Kitagawa Marin put her hands on her hips, her voice clear, "Still the 'Red Light, Green Light' game. Those who stand still can have a photographic memory, and those who don't follow the rules have to laugh for a minute, how's that?"
"We can try it."
Amamiya Natsuki nodded, trying to set the rule again.
[Setting failed]
[This rule violates balance, please reset]
"No, it reminded me that the setting failed."
Amamiya Natsuki's gaze focused, looking at the three girls, and repeated the prompt.
"The content is different, so that means the so-called rules are indeed similar to programming languages, but they also have other restrictions." Hayasaka Ai pondered, analyzing, "Violates balance... Laughing for a minute doesn't feel like a punishment."
"It should be that the benefit and risk don't match, right?" Miko pursed her pink lips and offered her opinion, "If it were laughing for ten minutes, maybe it would work."
"I support Miko." Amamiya Natsuki said, "Benefit and risk must be balanced. There's no such thing as a free lunch in the world; you can't just gain benefits without taking risks."
"Senpai has no right to say that." Hayasaka Ai complained, "He can get stronger by just lying down, clearly only gaining benefits without any effort."
"Who says I haven't?"
Amamiya Natsuki's tone was faint, "You think I haven't paid, but in fact, I've paid something even more valuable, it's just something you can't see or touch."
"What is that?"
Kitagawa Marin looked over curiously.
Amamiya Natsuki said seriously: "A man's dignity."
"Tsk."
"You're clearly happy."
"Just now you even wanted everyone to wear white stockings and cat ears."
...
"I'll try again."
Amamiya Natsuki half-closed his eyes and softly set the rule Miko mentioned.
"It succeeded." Amamiya Natsuki quickly said, "This rule can be set, do you want to confirm it?"
"No, change it." Hayasaka Ai quickly said, "Laughing for ten minutes straight, my throat will definitely be sore and hoarse tomorrow."
"Too greedy." Amamiya Natsuki sighed, "Trading a hoarse throat for a photographic memory, and you're still not satisfied."
Hayasaka Ai puffed out her pink cheeks, her eyes threatening: "Pervert senpai, just you wait."
After mastering the basic rule setting method, the rest became much simpler.
"I've got it." Kitagawa Marin extended a finger, her smile bright, "Those who violate the rule drink water while standing on their hands?"
Miko's mouth twitched slightly, and she couldn't help but say: "Drinking water while standing on your hands is too difficult."
Kitagawa Marin then said:
"Then how about washing your hair while standing on your hands?"
"The difficulty is too low." Amamiya Natsuki said from the side, "I suggest doing handstand push-ups, you can also get fit."
Miko gave him an annoyed glare: "Don't you say anything."
...
At Mrs. Shimizu's suggestion, the three girls finally reached a consensus: after violating the rule, one of their five senses would be randomly stripped away.
If he were alone, the cost would be quite severe. For example, suddenly being deprived of sight would surely cause him to panic and be at a loss. However, inside the Theater, it was exceptionally safe, and everyone was by his side, so even if his sight was temporarily taken, there would be no danger.
"Rule setting… 'Red Light, Green Light' game. Remain still during the game. You will gain a photographic memory for a short period. If you break the rules, one of your five senses will be randomly taken away…"
[Rule setting accepted. Please select a scene to activate.]
Three scenes appeared before Amamiya Natsuki: the Theater itself, his own residence, and the campus scene unlocked today.
"The school," Amamiya Natsuki mused for two seconds before making his choice.
The next moment, solidified, ethereal blue flames suddenly swept out. The few people only felt everything before their eyes ripple like water. When their vision returned to clarity, they had already arrived on campus.
"Eh, it's the school?" Kitagawa Marin looked around curiously, lowering her voice. "It feels a bit eerie at night."
Miko nodded, speaking softly, "It is a bit scary."
During the day, the school was bustling, but at night, with no one around, it was silent, empty, and indeed unsettling.
"Senpai, is this a real school, or is it in another dimension?" Hayasaka Ai asked curiously.
"I'm not sure," Amamiya Natsuki shook his head. "We can leave a mark and go to the school tomorrow morning to verify."
Kitagawa Marin gently tugged on Amamiya Natsuki's sleeve, pointing to the gate not far behind them, and asked curiously, "Natsuki, can we leave the school?"
"Most likely not," Amamiya Natsuki said. "We can go try it."
"You all can take your time verifying," Mrs. Shimizu was already impatient, extending her slender hand in front of Amamiya Natsuki, her eyes full of expectation. "Natsuki-kun, you must feed me until I'm full today, okay?"
Don't joke around! You're a ghost, your stomach is like a bottomless pit, how can I feed you until you're full?!
Amamiya Natsuki took off the backpack from his shoulder, opened it, and raised an eyebrow slightly, saying, "The food was brought in."
"It's my backpack now," Mrs. Shimizu's face instantly lit up with joy. "I, your big sister, like Natsuki-kun the most."
"Can you really bring things in?" Hayasaka Ai's eyes suddenly brightened.
The inability to carry items from the real world into the game's dungeons had always been Hayasaka Ai's biggest grievance.
As a professional spy, she had the channels and ability to acquire appropriate weapons.
What if the environment is unknown and dangerous everywhere?
A drone to unlock the map.
What if you encounter a monster with a physical body?
A Gatling gun to sort it out.
As the saying goes, truth is only within range of fire. As long as the firepower is strong enough, monsters will kneel and surrender.
Of course, the premise is not encountering ghosts immune to physical attacks.
"Don't get too happy too soon," Amamiya Natsuki saw through Hayasaka Ai's thoughts. "You can bring it in, but you probably can't take it out."
"Indeed," Hayasaka Ai let out a soft breath, calming down. "This needs to be verified slowly."
As they talked, they walked to the school gate. An invisible force prevented them from going outside.
"As expected, the scene is limited to the campus; we can't leave."
"Should we go to the classroom first?"
"…"
"Master!" A ghostly loli in a maid outfit ran over, then timidly hid behind Amamiya Natsuki.
Since Alice's matter had already been discussed during the day, Marin and Hayasaka Ai were not surprised, waving their hands to greet the ghostly loli.
"Alice, have some food," Kitagawa Marin smiled gently, half-crouching down and taking a small cake from Amamiya Natsuki's hand. "Cream cake is super delicious."
The ghostly loli shook her head, timidly looking towards Amamiya Natsuki.
"Take it and eat," Amamiya Natsuki reached out and rubbed the ghostly loli's head. "From now on, what Marin says is what I say."
"Heh heh heh."
Kitagawa Marin put her hands on her hips, proudly raising her chin. "Little Alice, I'll protect you from now on. Tell me whatever you want to eat or drink."
"…"
The ghostly loli's favorability increased quickly; even a lollipop could make her happy for a long time. However, she was still shy and didn't talk much, just eating the cake in small bites like a little hamster, her eyes occasionally curving into crescents.
"Alice, where did you just come from?" Amamiya Natsuki asked, looking down.
The ghostly loli quickly swallowed the food in her mouth, looked up, and quietly replied, "Alice felt Master's presence, so she came out of her room."
After some explanation, they understood that the current scene was essentially the Midnight Theater, and the staff rest area naturally existed, but ordinary people couldn't find the entrance.
At this moment, an eerie laugh suddenly echoed throughout the campus: "One, two, three… Red Light, Green Light!"
"Everyone, don't move," Miko was experienced and immediately stopped, reminding them, "You can talk, it's fine as long as you don't move."
Kitagawa Marin asked curiously, "It's no different from a normal game of Red Light, Green Light."
Amamiya Natsuki said, "You'll know the difference if you move."
"As a boy, Senpai, it's time for you to step forward," Hayasaka Ai said from the side. "Senpai, go ahead, we will always remember your sacrifice."
"…"
This time, everyone was prepared and remained still, so no one was affected.
When the Red Light, Green Light game ended, Amamiya Natsuki only felt a surge of energy, and his mind suddenly became clear.
"It feels so cool and comfortable…" Kitagawa Marin curiously covered her forehead, looking over expectantly. "Are we able to memorize things instantly now?"
"We'll know if we try it."
Amamiya Natsuki took out a vocabulary quick-memorization book from his pocket. His gaze swept over it, and he quickly found that the words were imprinted in his mind like a brand, the memory exceptionally clear.
Amamiya Natsuki even felt that he could rewrite a QR code from memory—not bragging, someone in "The Brain" had done it before.
"Take a look and see how it works." Amamiya Natsuki handed the vocabulary book to Marin.
The Succubus Girl curiously took it, her gaze falling on the vocabulary book, and soon her eyes widened as she exclaimed, "How amazing! I feel like I've completely memorized these words, and I'll never forget them again."
Miko was also happily reading beside her: "I'm destined to be an honor student!"
High school exam content is all in textbooks. As long as all books are memorized, being the top in the grade might be difficult, but becoming an honor student is definitely not a problem.
However, after a short while, Kitagawa Marin felt her head sink, withdrawing from that mystical state of heightened senses.
"Eh, how come it's over so soon?" Kitagawa Marin was greatly disappointed.
Amamiya Natsuki said, "I just calculated the time; the photographic memory state lasts for about three minutes."
"So short," Miko couldn't help but complain. "I only got to the second page of the vocabulary, and it ended just as I was getting into it."
"I don't think it's short," Amamiya Natsuki shrugged. "Three minutes is enough for someone else to save the world."
Hayasaka Ai put her right hand on her hip: "The person Senpai is talking about, isn't he from the Land of Light?"
"Correct answer."
"…"
"I didn't expect the buff to only last for three minutes," Hayasaka Ai mused. "After all, this is just the exploration and experience stage. We can formulate new rules later, which should be able to extend the duration."
Kitagawa Marin's eyes suddenly lit up: "I have an idea!"
"Don't say it," Amamiya Natsuki looked at Marin. "I have a feeling it's unreliable just by hearing it."
"I haven't even said it yet, listen to me finish," Kitagawa Marin raised her chin, hands on her hips. "Didn't that 'quantum reading' topic become very popular before?"
"If it's quantum reading, three minutes should be enough for us to read a book, right?"
Not just one book, three books would be more than enough!
"It feels… very dangerous," Hayasaka Ai pressed her thumb against her lips. "If we set rules for quantum reading, to ensure balance, the punishment for violating the rules would definitely be super severe."
"Hanamori is right," Miko agreed, nodding. "Although three minutes is a bit short, it can be used to memorize key points. Everyone, let's not take risks."
Amamiya Natsuki quietly muttered, "Cowardly…"
"Hmm?!"
Miko tilted her head and looked over. "Natsuki, what did you just say? I didn't hear clearly. Say it again."
"I was wrong," Amamiya Natsuki quickly corrected. "It's prudent."
"…"
The timing of the Red Light, Green Light game was not fixed, and the few people didn't foolishly wait. They walked towards the teaching building while continuing to verify various matters.
"Natsuki, can skills be used here?" Kitagawa Marin asked curiously, her hands behind her back.
"They should be," Amamiya Natsuki said. "We'll know with a simple verification."
"Then let's grow Mushrooms?" Kitagawa Marin's eyes shifted, a joyful smile appearing on her pretty face as she looked at Miko. "We haven't grown Mushrooms on Miko yet, have we?"
"No, I refuse," Miko covered her chest, quickly shaking her head. "I'm just an ordinary person, not like you all. Why should I grow Mushrooms?"
Hayasaka Ai thought for a moment and said, "To collect skill data?"
Miko retorted, "There are so many players, you don't need me to provide data, do you?"
"Actually, I'm really curious what kind of mushroom Miko will grow," Kitagawa Marin's face showed great curiosity. "We've all tried it, only you, Miko, haven't."
Miko was helpless: "So I'm just an ordinary person…"
"Miko, you don't want to disappoint your senpai, do you?" Amamiya Natsuki finally spoke.
"Eh?"
"My senpai has a relative who suffers from anorexia," Amamiya Natsuki explained the situation, then said, "I just remembered that we haven't verified if Mushrooms can be grown on ordinary people. Now I can only ask for your help."
Miko: "…"
All this talk, and it's just about growing mushrooms on me, isn't it?
"I understand." Miko reluctantly agreed.
"Don't worry, Miko, I have experience," Kitagawa Marin stepped forward, speaking from her own experience. "It doesn't hurt at all, no need to be afraid."
"Speaking of which, the type of mushroom each person grows seems to be related to their personality. For example, Chika and I both grew Gluttony Mushrooms."
Hayasaka Ai said from the side, "As for Miko, she'll probably be like Senpai, an growing mushroom?"
"Growing mushrooms?"
Miko pursed her pink lips, feeling that it really suited her.
"It's done."
While the three girls were talking, Amamiya Natsuki easily planted a mushroom on Miko.
It was clear that ordinary people could also grow mushrooms.
"Let me see what kind of mushroom it is…" Kitagawa Marin curiously reached out and touched the small mushroom on Miko's head, and soon her eyes widened, "Eh, how could it be a lust mushroom?"
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