"Natsuki, you're back?"
Seeing Natsuki return, Miko's eyes lit up, and she quickly got up to greet him.
"I'm back."
Natsuki nodded, revealing Mrs. Ozawa behind him.
The office worker Madam bowed to Miko, then quickly lowered her head and left.
"Huh, I think her name was Ozawa, right?" Miko tilted her head, puzzled, "Why is she coming back from outside? And it looks like she just cried."
"Because she just snuck out…"
Natsuki lowered his voice and briefly explained the situation just now.
Miko frowned slightly upon hearing this:
"We clearly set three rules yesterday… Why is she still like this?"
"There are always many people in the world who don't listen to advice." Natsuki shrugged and said casually, "You'll get used to it."
He left Hachishakusama here, not to protect the passersby. If danger arose, Hachishakusama's only task was to take Miko and flee.
Natsuki sat on the sofa: "Have you had breakfast?"
"I have." Miko nodded, "There's a lot of food in the internet cafe. A simple breakfast is fine."
After a pause, Miko looked over worriedly and whispered:
"You didn't even call me to stand guard last night… You didn't stay up all night, did you?"
Natsuki stroked Miko's head and said casually:
"With my current physical condition, not sleeping for three days and three nights is fine. Since you could sleep, I let you sleep a little longer."
Miko pursed her lips and whispered:
"I was bored just now, so I read some manga, and it felt a little strange…"
Natsuki said softly:
"What's wrong?"
Miko raised her hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear and whispered:
"I feel like the manga plot is different from what I remember. For example, Gojo Satoru, after being defeated, actually said such things… It felt like he became a different person."
"And there are many places that don't match up… In short, it looks exactly like reality, but there are many differences in the details."
Natsuki raised his eyebrows slightly at her words, suddenly remembering the office worker last night who said he was very familiar with Shibuya, but then misremembered the location of the internet cafe… Various clues and details intertwined, and a thought quietly emerged in his mind.
Natsuki said softly:
"I'll be going out again later. You stay in the internet cafe and continue reading. Also, call others to help, mainly to find information that doesn't match the real world, especially historical aspects."
"I understand."
Miko nodded seriously, accepting the task.
After talking for a while, Natsuki stood up and clapped his hands, attracting the attention of all the passersby and office workers.
"I just walked around outside and didn't encounter any other survivors, but I did record some interesting things…"
Natsuki spoke as he took out his phone, opening the video he had just recorded to show everyone.
A headless sailor-suited girl.
A suited evil spirit holding an umbrella.
A ghost floating in mid-air.
A half-human, half-dog beast.
Looking at the various terrifying monsters in the video, every passerby's face turned pale, and they no longer had any desire to go out and explore.
"These monsters are of different types, but they have one thing in common: once they discover you, they will pounce like a pack of rabid dogs." Natsuki looked around and told a cold joke, "Of course, they're not pouncing because they want to play a frisbee game with us."
Unfortunately, the joke was too cold, and no one could laugh.
Only Hachishakusama was very obliging, letting out a lazy chuckle.
Natsuki continued:
"Remember yesterday's three rules. If you absolutely must go out, it's fine, completely at your own discretion, but if you encounter danger, please do not bring the danger back. Do you all understand?"
Soon someone spoke up in agreement:
"Understood."
"Natsuki-kun, please rest assured, we definitely won't cause you any trouble."
"…"
Natsuki didn't expect these people to be of much help in the short term. To put it bluntly, these office workers were completely a disorganized mob. If an anomaly appeared and killed one of them, all the remaining people would scatter in panic like startled birds.
Therefore, Natsuki's request for them was simple: stay put in the internet cafe and don't cause him any trouble.
If they couldn't return to the real world for a year or half a year… then they would deal with it then.
After reinforcing the impression of 'it's dangerous outside, just hide obediently,' Natsuki quickly assigned a few of the office workers whose names he remembered. One group was responsible for inventorying all food, while others were responsible for collecting survival supplies in the internet cafe.
Having made the arrangements, Natsuki approached Hachishakusama and asked:
"Madam, how do you feel now?"
"I feel very good." Hachishakusama elegantly sipped her black tea, still sitting on the sofa, because standing up would cause her to hit the ceiling. "That maddening emptiness is only a tiny bit left, completely bearable. If it were this world, I wouldn't easily sign a contract with you, child."
"Too late." Natsuki said without changing his expression, "Madam is already mine now."
"Heh~"
Hachishakusama let out a light laugh, then said with regret, "It's a pity you're too old. Otherwise, I could let the child experience a boy's happiness."
Saying a high school student is old, doesn't your conscience hurt?
And your body is cold with no warmth at all, how can you make someone happy!
After a short rest.
Natsuki left the internet cafe to continue searching for clues.
Being suddenly caught in an anomaly without a word of explanation, the young ladies must be very worried, so he needed to return to the real world as soon as possible.
Arriving on the ground.
Natsuki walked into the alley where he had just eliminated the monster. In the empty and dead silent alley, there were only scattered clothes on the ground, making it particularly desolate.
Snap.
Natsuki raised his right hand and lightly snapped his fingers.
The next second.
A Human-Faced Dog, an anomaly with a dog's body and a human head, appeared out of thin air before him, its eyes still hazy with sleep.
"Go, Pikachu!"
Natsuki waved his hand.
"Who's Pikachu, you bastard!"
Yuuko, the Human-Faced Dog, who hadn't yet figured out what was going on, heard this and became furious.
"I accidentally got caught in an anomaly…" Natsuki briefly explained the current situation, "A monster escaped just now, help me track it."
The little kid in the yellow raincoat encountered last night was first discovered by Mrs. Ozawa, and today Mrs. Ozawa discovered it again. Natsuki didn't think it was a coincidence.
There aren't that many coincidences in the world.
Excluding the option of accident, Mrs. Ozawa was most likely targeted.
Natsuki was temporarily unclear about what was special about Mrs. Ozawa, but that didn't prevent him from taking the initiative.
What to do if people around you are in danger?
Of course, take the initiative and nip the danger in the bud.
Here, one must criticize a certain Gojo-sensei by name. He shouts about 'Throughout Heaven and Earth, I alone am the Honored One,' able to instantly defeat anything, yet his actions are more frustrating than the last.
He always steps into any trap others design, and even knowing people around him are in danger, he never acts preemptively, leading to his best friend's extreme path, his disciple's death, and even his own bisection.
He failed to protect anyone he wanted to protect, and he showed mercy to every cursed spirit he could have completely killed. In short, it's just speechless.
"Tch." Yuuko, the Human-Faced Dog, snorted disdainfully, "I was sleeping soundly and you suddenly summoned me. Don't you know girls have morning grumpiness? And you still want me to help, no way!"
Natsuki looked down, threatening:
"You don't want Sayu to be taken advantage of by me, do you?"
"Heh… Pfft!"
Yuuko, the Human-Faced Dog, couldn't help but spit, her eyes filled with disdain:
"Do you take me for a fool?"
"I already smelled it. Sayu's whole body smells of you. You've already filled her with [cream beep—] haven't you?"
Natsuki sighed:
"Alright, a dog's nose is indeed very sensitive."
Yuuko, the Human-Faced Dog, was furious: "You're the dog!"
The real Yuuko in the real world is shy and introverted, kind, and speaks softly. However, the Human-Faced Dog in front of him is not the real Yuuko; it's merely another existence with her memories and personality, hence its rather irritable and short-tempered nature.
"Since there's nothing to discuss, then let's not discuss it."
Natsuki said, while taking out a momotaro rice ball.
"Wait, wait a minute…"
Seeing Natsuki take out the rice ball, the Human-Faced Dog immediately panicked.
She considered herself to have a clear consciousness and to be a standard human, but she couldn't control her canine instincts.
Once Natsuki fed her the rice ball, she would immediately wag her tail happily and expose her belly like a dog… absolutely not such an embarrassing thing!
Natsuki lightly tossed the rice ball in his hand, smiling:
"Yuuko seems to have something to say?"
"Hmph." Yuuko, the Human-Faced Dog, snorted in exasperation, turning her head away, "Put away your rice ball. I'll help you track it."
Natsuki put away the rice ball and patted the Human-Faced Dog's head:
"Wouldn't it have been fine if you had agreed earlier?"
"Bastard, don't touch a girl's head with your hand!"
"…"
The Human-Faced Dog Strange Tale actually has an exceptionally keen sense of smell. How strong it is exactly is unknown, but it's undoubtedly far superior to ordinary humans.
"You don't need to smell these clothes." Natsuki pointed to the sailor uniform and suit scattered on the ground, "These monsters have already been eliminated by me. Focus on tracking the Strange Tale that escaped."
"Annoying. When I'm working, a mere human shouldn't be pointing fingers."
Yuuko, the Human-Faced Dog, sniffed around while moving. Before long, she suddenly leaped:
"Follow me."
Natsuki naturally followed without hesitation.
One person and one dog moved through the empty, silent city. If seen by ordinary people, the scene would probably be quite horrifying.
A moment later.
Yuuko, the Human-Faced Dog, stopped at the entrance of a park, and said in a low voice:
"The source of the scent is inside."
"You've worked hard." Natsuki nodded, "I'll remember this contribution. Tell me what reward you want later."
"Hmph…" Yuuko, the Human-Faced Dog, lightly snorted, "Since there's nothing else, hurry up and send me back. I'm not interested in your rewards."
Natsuki said:
"In that case, I won't give a reward then?"
"Bastard!" The Human-Faced Dog was furious, "You're deducting employee rewards, you black-hearted capitalist, go hang yourself on a lamppost!"
"…"
After recalling the Human-Faced Dog to the Theater, Natsuki quietly stepped into the park.
The park was exceptionally silent and desolate, with only scattered clothes on the ground and the mournful sound of the wind, like weeping. Besides that, there was no other living thing.
It didn't take long for Natsuki to spot the child in the yellow raincoat he was looking for on a children's slide.
"Found you."
Natsuki lightly raised an eyebrow and simply strode forward.
Sneak attack from behind?
No need at all.
The truly 'Honored One' doesn't need to resort to sneak attacks, because no matter what, they cannot escape his grasp.
The child in the yellow raincoat was sitting on the slide, staring blankly. Seeing Natsuki stride over, she seemed a little flustered, scrambling up with both hands and feet, then her body quickly became transparent, about to disappear into the air the next second.
"Invisibility, or some other special ability?"
Natsuki speculated in his mind, then lightly snapped his fingers.
Snap.
The entire world suddenly froze.
The yellow-clad child, whose body hadn't yet completely become transparent and ethereal, also solidified in place.
Three seconds of Time Stop was enough for Natsuki to cross dozens of meters of the park and reach the yellow-clad child's side.
"Squeak squeak squeak~"
Time resumed flowing.
The yellow-clad child was shocked to find herself in Natsuki's hand, immediately letting out anxious squeaking sounds, like a mouse caught in a trap, her body constantly struggling and twisting.
Natsuki lifted her yellow raincoat, finally seeing the child's appearance.
It wasn't a large mouse; it was indeed a child, but her face was bruised purple and covered in blood, clearly having been dead for a long time. However, her eyes were blood-red and her expression fierce.
After observing for a moment, a prompt quietly appeared before him:
[You have captured a Rain Child. This is a monster formed from a child who got lost in the rain. It is timid by nature and will blow a whistle to summon monsters when in danger. After careful observation, you found that its raincoat is quite special…]
"Hmm? What could be special about a raincoat?"
A sense of curiosity arose in Natsuki's heart, and he immediately took off the raincoat.
The child, who had been struggling incessantly, ceased all movement as the raincoat was removed, her limbs dropping limply, as if she had directly lost her life.
Correction, this thing, being a monster, originally had no life.
As Natsuki held up the raincoat, he was surprised to find that the game, which had been dormant for a long time, actually gave a notification — the previous one was a hint from his eyes, this was a notification from the game.
[You have obtained the Rain Child's Raincoat. This item can be stored in the game backpack. When worn, you will be able to become invisible for a short period and mask your living aura.]
"The game is finally online."
Natsuki's eyes immediately lit up.
From leaving the subway station last night until now, this was the first time the game had come online, instantly bringing a sense of calm.
It wasn't easy.
It really wasn't easy at all.
In the real world, most players are afraid of receiving notifications from the game, because once a notification is received, it means a dungeon and death.
But after being caught in an anomaly, receiving a game notification now strangely brought a sense of reassurance.
Unfortunately, the game only gave the notification that the raincoat could be stored in the backpack, and there was no other movement. The Strange Tale hunting mission Natsuki was expecting did not appear.
"Never mind that." Natsuki looked at the raincoat in his hand with interest, "It can actually be stored in the game backpack, it's indeed very special… So, this is a drop?"
As is well known.
The game is not a monster-slaying and leveling-up type. Even if monsters are killed in a dungeon, no equipment that can be carried out of the dungeon will drop — weapons snatched from monsters can be used in the dungeon, but once the dungeon is cleared, anything that cannot be put into the game backpack will remain in the dungeon.
At this moment, looking at the yellow raincoat in his hand, Natsuki's thoughts rapidly diverged.
"It can both provide invisibility and eliminate human aura. This raincoat is quite good… Other raincoats should have the same effect, right?"
"Then… in such a large Tokyo, there certainly won't be just one vengeful child wearing a yellow raincoat, will there?"
Just as Natsuki was in high spirits, preparing to catch another Rain Child to verify his conjecture, he suddenly heard a strong gust of wind coming from behind him.
Natsuki dodged and rolled, then turned his head to see a trembling arrow embedded in the soil where he had just been standing.
"Human?"
Natsuki raised an eyebrow slightly.
Monsters don't use bows and arrows, so... the guy who ambushed him was a human?
Natsuki stood up, brushed the dirt from his hands, and turned to look behind him.
At the entrance of the park, on a large tree, stood a short-haired girl. She had hands and feet, all four limbs intact, and looked human, but strangely, half of a white bone mask had grown on her right cheek, and the eye under the mask was a eerie blood-red.
The girl's expression was cold. She held a long bow, with another arrow already nocked, ready to be fired at any moment.
"Why did you attack me?"
Natsuki raised his hands and asked curiously.
This girl's appearance was unfamiliar; she wasn't a passenger who had taken the subway with him. Could she be an ordinary person who had previously stumbled into an anomaly?
Or perhaps... a native of this world?
Regardless of the possibility, Natsuki's curiosity was piqued.
The short-haired girl's expression was cold, her bow pointed at Natsuki as she said coldly:
"Step back and leave that raincoat."
"Huh?"
Natsuki paused slightly, then quickly reacted.
The reason this girl ambushed him from behind was actually for the raincoat in his hand.
So, she also knew about the special properties of the raincoat?
Natsuki asked curiously:
"Are you also a [Player]?"
The short-haired girl's expression was cold, and she frowned slightly:
"What do you mean?"
"..."
Alright, it seemed the other party wasn't a Player.
Natsuki dropped the raincoat, raised his hands, and retreated, saying:
"You can have the raincoat, but can you answer a few questions for me?"
The short-haired girl cautiously stepped forward, quickly picked up the raincoat from the ground, and seeing Natsuki standing still without any unnecessary movements, the vigilance on her face slightly receded. She said coldly:
"What do you want to ask?"