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Inside the bus.
A gloomy atmosphere prevailed.
Skipping class to clear the game had proven to be a failure, and the monsters in the fog were all the deepest nightmares in their hearts. Several passerby players were all dejected and silent.
During this time, players returned to the bus one after another, but more players were still lost.
The mist was so thick that once you deviated from the road, you might never find your way back.
As for the fate of those players… one could only wish them good luck.
"We know what Kaguya-chan and Sayu-chan are most afraid of." Fujiwara Chika asked curiously, "What is Natsuki-kun most afraid of?"
Amamiya Natsuki chewed his gum:
"My heart is as still as water now; I fear nothing."
Amamiya Natsuki was very curious if, by continuously chewing gum to maintain a state of forced calmness, his deepest fear might not appear.
"What is Rikka-chan most afraid of?" Fujiwara Chika asked curiously.
Takanashi Rikka pressed on her eye patch: "What I fear most are demonic parasites from outer space."
"Eh? Eh? Eh?" Fujiwara Chika's eyes widened, and she immediately became curious, "What is that?"
Rikka continued:
"Once they're cut open, yellowish-green seeds will flow out of their bellies…"
"How disgusting!"
Yukinoshita Yukino pressed her fingers to her temples, saying helplessly from the side:
"Rikka is talking about tomatoes."
Fujiwara Chika: "…"
"Tomatoes are the scariest." Rikka argued, "Especially since my sister forces me to eat them every day. The thing I fear most in my heart must be the tomato demon!"
"I think tomatoes are delicious…" Fujiwara Chika coughed twice, then looked at Yukinoshita, "Yukino-chan, what about your greatest fear?"
"Me…?"
Yukinoshita Yukino bit her lower lip, her expression cool and serene, as she silently looked out the window at the thick mist. "I don't know either."
"It's okay." Fujiwara Chika comforted her, "You'll definitely encounter it later."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "…"
After an unknown amount of time, Shinomiya Kaguya suddenly said, "The mist outside the window is thinning."
Amamiya Natsuki looked out the window upon hearing this. The mist, which had been so thick that he couldn't see his hand in front of his face, was rapidly dissipating, and the mountains, rocks, and trees quickly became clear.
"Is the mist clearing?" Takanashi Rikka curiously looked outside. "It feels like the sky has brightened."
Yukinoshita Yukino softly said, "Only two hours have passed… less than a night."
"Clearly, this is another time-confused dungeon." Amamiya Natsuki stood up and said, "Let's go, prepare to get off the bus."
With the mist gone, it was time to move. They couldn't stay on the bus forever.
As Amamiya Natsuki and the others got off the bus, the other passerby players, understanding this logic, also followed them off the bus.
In just that short time, all the mist had dissipated. The sky remained overcast, with no sunlight visible.
Amamiya Natsuki led the way, walking down the dilapidated road.
The journey was silent.
Everyone arrived safely at the abandoned Village at the foot of the mountain.
One could see that all the houses in the Village were wooden structures, with low eaves, many of which had fallen into disrepair over the years. Weeds grew rampant in the Village, almost engulfing the paths.
"It's so quiet."
A passerby player lowered his voice, vigilantly observing his surroundings.
Several passerby players huddled together for warmth: "An abandoned Village deep in the mountains, it's normal for it to be quiet… it's just a bit creepy."
Shinomiya Kaguya suddenly raised her delicate eyebrows, pointed, and said, "President, there's a person there."
"A person?"
Amamiya Natsuki raised an eyebrow and looked over, quickly seeing a figure wearing a straw hat standing quietly with his back to everyone at the entrance of a wooden house.
Everyone exchanged glances and stopped in their tracks.
"Is that thing really human?"
"Definitely not."
"There can't be any other humans in the dungeon besides us."
"…"
These passerby players muttered, no one daring to step forward and risk an investigation.
Only Amamiya Natsuki walked over with a normal expression, glanced at the straw-hat man's profile, and then said, "It's a scarecrow."
Everyone stepped forward and discovered it was indeed a scarecrow dressed in clothes. From behind, it was impossible to tell the difference.
"There's one over there too." A passerby player suddenly shouted.
After a thorough check, it was found that there were many scarecrows and dolls in this abandoned Village, standing or sitting, just like real people, making one feel afraid.
"These are just ordinary dolls, not living things." A passerby player suggested, "Everyone, let's split up to find clues, and then share them together."
Amamiya Natsuki naturally moved with Kaguya and the others, while Sayu eagerly followed along.
The group entered a nearby wooden house and began to investigate.
Shinomiya Kaguya crossed her arms over her chest, her gaze falling on a low table, and said, "The bowls and chopsticks are still on the table. It seems they didn't move out; it's more like they suddenly disappeared."
Amamiya Natsuki nodded in agreement and said, "There's even money in the drawer. When moving, you might leave bowls and chopsticks, but you wouldn't leave money."
Fujiwara Chika asked curiously, "So where did everyone go?"
Rikka raised her hand and said, "The dungeon's name is Ghost Marriage, so it must be related to the bride, right?"
With questions in mind, the group continued to explore the house.
One wooden house was quickly explored, but aside from confirming that the people inside had suddenly disappeared, there was no other information.
Amamiya Natsuki turned and said, "Let's go check the other houses."
The subsequent searches were largely similar, yielding no valuable clues.
"The mist has appeared again." Shinomiya Kaguya reminded them.
Amamiya Natsuki looked outside upon hearing this. The mist had reappeared at some point, and he said, "Everyone stay inside the house and wait for the mist to clear before going out."
"It's a good time to rest for a bit." Fujiwara Chika cleaned the table, took out food and drinks, "Everyone, eat something to replenish your energy."
Looking at the table full of food, Sayu hesitated to speak, feeling only disbelief.
It was clearly a survival dungeon, so why did it feel as leisurely as a vacation?
It should be more urgent, right!
Amamiya Natsuki sat down at the table, saw Sayu still standing behind, looking lost, and beckoned, "Come eat something."
Sayu bit her lower lip, unaccustomed to others' kindness, and shook her head, "I'm not hungry…"
No sooner had she finished speaking than the cooing sound of a small pigeon suddenly rang out.
Sayu's pretty face flushed, and she quickly covered her lower abdomen with her hands, taking half a step back.
"Sayu-chan, come here quickly," Fujiwara Chika heard the sound, turned her head and looked over, "Food is always more delicious when shared with friends."
Sayu was stunned: "Fri-friends...?"
"Of course, we are friends," Rikka chimed in, "Come and eat quickly."
...
Sayu took a deep breath, suppressing the soreness in her nose, and walked to the table to sit down.
After eating the food.
Everyone rested.
"Um..." Fujiwara Chika covered her stomach, leaned closer to Amamiya Natsuki, and stammered, "I drank too much water and need to go to the bathroom. Natsuki-kun, will you come with me?"
"I suggest you just resolve it in the house," Amamiya Natsuki complained, "In horror movies, people who say they're going to the bathroom are basically about to die."
"No way!" Fujiwara Chika couldn't help but shout, "Doing that in front of everyone would be mortifying, wouldn't it?"
"As long as you're thick-skinned enough, no one can make you feel ashamed."
"I don't have such a thick skin!"
Fujiwara Chika hugged Amamiya Natsuki's arm, shaking it pitifully: "Natsuki, please hurry and come with me to the bathroom."
Facing the pouting Chika secretary, Amamiya Natsuki was defenseless.
After greeting the others, Amamiya Natsuki accompanied Chika and left the living room together.
When they checked the house earlier, they had already determined the location of the bathroom; it was through a creaking corridor.
Amamiya Natsuki held Chika's hand, and the two walked through the hallway together, arriving outside the bathroom.
"Natsuki-kun, wait for me outside," Fujiwara Chika whispered, "Don't leave."
Amamiya Natsuki said solemnly:
"Generally speaking, once the door is closed, a confined space is formed, and accidents often occur. My suggestion is not to close the door."
Fujiwara Chika covered her skirt with both hands: "Not closing the door is too embarrassing!"
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"Which is more important, shame or safety?"
"Stop talking, I refuse!"
...
No accident occurred. Chika secretary safely finished using the bathroom, and after coming out, she walked back with Amamiya Natsuki.
"Natsuki-kun," Fujiwara Chika suddenly hugged his arm, whispering nervously, "I think I hear strange footsteps behind us."
Amamiya Natsuki said calmly: "I hear them too."
Fujiwara Chika whispered:
"Should we turn our heads and look?"
"Don't turn your head," Amamiya Natsuki whispered, "The rules on the stone tablet said not to turn your head if you hear strange movements behind you, but..."
Amamiya Natsuki took out a small mirror and shone it backward. In the dim, eerie corridor, a doll had appeared at some point, following them step by step.
"Eh, eh, it's a doll!" Fujiwara Chika widened her eyes, "They're actually living things?"
"It should still be related to the appearance of the mist," Amamiya Natsuki pondered for two seconds, then quickly took out a rope, grabbed both ends, and threw it into the hallway behind them. "Keep walking forward, don't look back."
This thing was indeed the Demon Rope.
After being accidentally bound by the rope two days ago, Amamiya Natsuki and Marin specifically experimented and found that as long as they held both ends of the rope, they didn't have to worry about being accidentally injured.
Thump, thump, thump.
The footsteps were still faintly following behind them.
A moment later, a roar suddenly erupted, followed by the sound of something crashing to the ground.
Amamiya Natsuki quickly turned around and saw the Demon Rope, like a venomous snake, had already bound the doll.
The doll struggled on the ground, trying to escape.
Amamiya Natsuki certainly wouldn't give it a chance. He strode towards the doll, saying:
"Chika!"
Fujiwara Chika cooperated perfectly, pointing a finger: "Don, the Outlaw, you are under arrest!"
Amamiya Natsuki grabbed the doll and lifted the thing up:
"Got you."
At this moment, Shinomiya Kaguya and the others heard the commotion and rushed over.
"President?"
"What did you encounter?"
"Chika-chan, are you alright?"
Fujiwara Chika put her hands on her hips, proudly raised her chin, and said: "I'm fine, I just caught a stalker. Let me tell you..."
Amamiya Natsuki, meanwhile, carried the doll in one hand and returned to the main house.
"This doll feels a bit familiar..." Shinomiya Kaguya crossed her arms and squinted her eyes, "It looks like the doll that was in the house before."
Yukinoshita Yukino's expression became serious: "There are three dolls in the house. If all of them can move..."
"Let's go take a look."
The group quickly went to the room where the other two dolls were located. Pushing the door open, the room was empty, and the two dolls on the bed were gone.
"They really came to life," Yukinoshita Yukino said coolly, "From now on, no one should act alone."
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"There's a saying that a thief can only be a thief for a thousand days, but you can't guard against him for a thousand days. We can just catch those two dolls later."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "..."
She had only thought about raising her guard and passively defending, but the boy in front of her was already preparing to take the initiative!
Yukinoshita Yukino gently exhaled.
Although she was unwilling to admit it, there was no doubt that the novice companion she had cleared the game with had now grown into a true powerhouse.
"Before that," Amamiya Natsuki held up the doll in his hand, "Let's interrogate it first and see if we can get any information."
Back in the main house.
The group surrounded the doll and began to interrogate it.
"Name?"
...
"Gender?"
...
Fujiwara Chika slapped the table, using the interrogation techniques she learned at the Love Hotel: "Confess and be treated leniently, resist and be treated severely. Hurry up and confess the details of the case."
The doll remained silent, as if it had turned back into a lifeless object.
"Dolls should be afraid of fire, right?" Yukinoshita Yukino suggested.
"It's also possible they're not afraid," Amamiya Natsuki turned his head and looked at the Sheltered Young Lady, "Kaguya, it's up to you."
"Mm."
Shinomiya Kaguya nodded slightly, took out the Magical Girl's Reform Gun, and fired a shot. A colorful stream of light slowly floated out.
Before entering the dungeon, Hayasaka Ai had given the magic gun to Kaguya, and it just came in handy.
The doll had nowhere to hide and was hit by the shot.
And then... nothing happened.
"It should have triggered the effect of the Sage Mode," Amamiya Natsuki mused, "The doll's head just lowered for a moment."
A moment later.
Shinomiya Kaguya fired another shot.
The doll became even more listless, already lying on the ground.
"It's okay, it's okay," Fujiwara Chika comforted, "Kaguya-chan's luck is always like this."
Shinomiya Kaguya bit her silver teeth lightly: "I'm really sorry for having such bad luck!"
When she fired the third shot, it finally triggered the confession effect of 'Reform'.
"I'm sorry... I actually wanted to turn you all into my kind, to make you suffer day and night..."
A low, hoarse voice sounded, proving that the doll could actually speak.
"Sneaking around behind us, it really had ill intentions," Fujiwara Chika said with her hands on her hips, huffing.
Amamiya Natsuki asked directly:
"What does 'ghost marriage' mean?"
The doll's body trembled and continued to confess: "I'm sorry, Ayaka-nee, I didn't stand up for you back then..."
Hearing this, everyone perked up.
The doll's confessions and apologies were sometimes rambling, but they were enough for everyone to piece together the truth.
The mountain Village was isolated from the world, originally living in hardship but self-sufficient, until one day, a plague suddenly broke out in the Village, and everyone was in danger.
At this time, someone suggested sacrificing women to the mountain god in a special way to gain the mountain god's protection.
The ignorant sacrifice eventually fell upon a young girl named Ayaka.
Ayaka was not from the Village but was tricked from outside the Village. She thought sweet love awaited her, but on her wedding day, it was a cruel sacrifice...
In a state of confession, the doll spilled its guilty secrets like beans from a bamboo tube.
At the same time.
Everyone received a game notification.
[Main Quest Updated, please click to view]
Amamiya Natsuki clicked to view.
[The Ghost Bride's body has been dismembered and sealed in five places in the mountains. Please help break the seals and retrieve her body to dispel the resentful mist covering the Village.]
"Very good," Fujiwara Chika raised her chin, "A new main quest has been unlocked."
Yukinoshita Yukino was rather speechless, gently pressing her fingers to her temples: "I always feel that such an important secret should be something we uncover bit by bit by solving puzzles and exploring to know the truth..."
At the same time.
The confession effect had passed, and the doll immediately roared: "Damn it! What did you do to me?!"
"We're helping you," Amamiya Natsuki said seriously, "Doesn't it feel much lighter to speak out the sins buried deep in your heart for so many years?"
"Indeed..." The doll answered subconsciously.
Amamiya Natsuki patiently coaxed:
"Since that's the case, tell me where the other two dolls are hiding. Wouldn't it be better for them to atone together?"
Yukinoshita Yukino: "..."
This is already trying to get something for nothing; it definitely won't agree!
As expected, the doll directly refused: "You wish!"
Looking at the doll that had shut up, Amamiya Natsuki sighed helplessly and said:
"A family should always be together. Your parents will be sad if you're like this, right?"
The doll couldn't help but shout: "If I tell you, my mom and dad will be sad!"
"Tsk."
Amamiya Natsuki clapped his hands, took out the Talisman in front of Kaguya, and held it in his hand, saying, "We can't ask it, so it seems we can only find the other two dolls ourselves."
"What should we do?" Fujiwara Chika asked.
Shinomiya Kaguya silently took out the Talisman and pondered, "From the situation just now, the dolls seem to like to create pressure with footsteps, probably to trick people into looking back… We can try walking through again."
"That's right." Amamiya Natsuki nodded in agreement, "Kaguya is right."
Shinomiya Kaguya continued, "Everyone go together, don't get separated. Getting separated is too dangerous."
Fujiwara Chika nodded and said, "Only an idiot would get separated."
"…"
The discussion concluded.
Everyone quickly took action, walking towards the backyard, preparing to repeat the trick.
"Um…" Rikka whispered, "With so many of us together, will the dolls really come out?"
"They will definitely come out." Amamiya Natsuki said meaningfully, "After all, they are a family, so of course they have to be all together."
Yukinoshita Yukino's delicate brows furrowed slightly, deep in thought. She had a feeling that Amamiya Natsuki and Kaguya were hiding something.
The few of them walked back and forth in the hallway.
A moment later.
A thudding sound of something falling suddenly came from the main house.
Amamiya Natsuki led the girls and rushed over, only to see the other two dolls tied up with magic ropes. He smiled and said, "A family really should be all together."
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr