It was like suddenly being transported to a snowy plain where a frigid wind howled.
The chill instantly enveloped them from all directions.
The two riders had been sitting side-by-side, with some unavoidable gaps between them. But when the chill descended, they both felt the immediate threat of death... Throwing caution to the wind, the two grown men instantly huddled together, hastily pulling the layered clothes on their bodies even tighter.
As for Fumiya Jin and Kei, since they were already holding each other and the quilt was wrapped tightly, they weren't in such a sorry state. However, as the overwhelming cold enveloped them, the two couldn't help but hold each other tighter... as if trying to meld their bodies into one.
"Crack... crack..." Frost began to form on the windowpanes.
White frost also started to spread across the floor and walls.
The chill was simply too terrifying, and it seeped in from everywhere. If this had continued for a few more minutes, it was likely that even Fumiya Jin and the others, as bundled up as they were, would have frozen to death here.
But... Fortunately, after just a dozen seconds or so... the cold began to weaken.
Another half a minute passed... The frost started to melt. The air gradually warmed up. The threat of death seemed to have temporarily receded...
"Hah..." Fumiya Jin poked his head out from under the covers.
A trace of cold still lingered in the air. But the temperature had clearly risen back to around the mid-teens, and the white mist from their breath was no longer as obvious.
"Hah... hah..." Kei Shirogane, in his arms, also cautiously peeked her head out and began to catch her breath.
To prevent any gaps just now, the two had held each other so tightly that it had become a little difficult for her to breathe. Thankfully, it hadn't lasted too long.
"Are you okay, Kei-chan?" Fumiya Jin asked, looking at the girl in his arms.
"I'm... I'm okay..."
The girl's cheeks were slightly red from the cold.
"Your arms... they're... they're pretty warm..."
"That's good," Fumiya Jin said, raising a hand to pat her head. "Your body is warm too, Kei-chan. And soft. You're very comfortable to hold. You'd make a great pillow to hug while sleeping."
"Eh?" The girl froze for a moment, looking at Fumiya Jin with a dazed expression. "Wh-What are you suddenly saying...?"
"Nothing, just a random thought," Fumiya Jin said with a smile. Then he turned his head toward the other side of the bedroom. "Hey, you two, are you alright?"
The two riders' heads emerged one after another from the gaps in their down jackets, their faces somewhat pale.
"A little stiff from the cold... but thankfully, we're still alive."
Fumiya Jin nodded.
Then, he began to unwrap the quilt from his body.
Seeing this, the two riders were instantly alarmed.
"Don't be in a rush to undo it, Boss... What if another wave comes?"
Fumiya Jin didn't have time to explain properly. As he continued to unwrap the quilt, he said, "That's exactly why we need to hurry. If you want to get out of here alive, follow me. Otherwise, you might never leave."
With that, the quilt was off. Fumiya Jin released the girl from his embrace, then got up, pulling her up with him.
The girl's legs were a little numb, and she stumbled slightly as she stood up.
Fumiya Jin quickly caught her and helped her regain her balance.
"Can you walk?"
"No problem."
Fumiya Jin nodded and took the girl's hand. "Be careful, there's still some frost on the ground, so it might be a bit slippery."
"Okay."
Holding hands, the two walked out of the bedroom, and then out of the suite.
The two riders sat where they were, still a bit dazed.
But after hesitating for a few seconds, they glanced at each other, then got to their feet. One supported the other as they followed.
The group returned to the stairwell.
He shone the light from his phone downward.
The two riders were startled.
"Hey... the ice... it seems to be melting?"
On the ground and walls, white mist was beginning to rise, and their surfaces were slick with liquid... it was melting.
"It'll be even more slippery now, so be careful," Fumiya Jin warned, leading Kei Shirogane down the stairs.
Soon, the two of them reached the frost-covered area.
The two riders' hearts jumped, and their eyes widened, terrified that Fumiya Jin and Kei would be frozen into popsicles the next second, joining the ranks of the others below.
But Fumiya Jin and Kei stepped directly onto the landing between the first and second floors without any sign of being frozen. Instead, after steadying themselves, they quickly continued downward.
"So it's really over?" the Uber Eats rider exclaimed in surprise. Then, supporting the DoorDash rider, he also started to head down cautiously...
They reached the first floor.
Walking out of the dim stairwell, they arrived at the elevator lobby.
Ahead, the main hall was brightly lit—the crystal chandelier in the center of the hall was emitting a brilliant light. As far as the eye could see, aside from the frost-covered floor, walls, and tables, there were no figures, nor any terrifying threats.
The only thing to be wary of was probably the slippery ground.
Fumiya Jin led Kei Shirogane carefully across the hall to the main entrance...
The main door of this apartment building was a common electronically controlled sliding glass door. Through the glass, they could see an eerie, pitch-black darkness outside where nothing was visible.
Fumiya Jin and Kei approached the automatic door.
"Ding—" The indicator light flashed.
The door slowly opened.
Unexpectedly... what appeared in the newly opened gap was a dazzling white light. And as the door opened further, more white light flooded into the hall, enveloping Fumiya Jin and the other three near the entrance...
[ Congratulations on fulfilling the instance conditions. Clearance successful. You will now enter the settlement space. ]
Evidently, all four of them heard this voice, and expressions of relief and joy appeared on their faces.
"Does this mean... we survived?" Kei Shirogane asked, looking at Fumiya Jin.
"Yeah. We'll enter a special settlement space in a moment to collect our rewards. After that, we can return to the real world," Fumiya Jin explained.
"That's wonderful..." Kei Shirogane patted her ample chest and let out a long sigh of relief. Then she looked at Fumiya Jin with gratitude. "It's really... a good thing you were here. Otherwise, I don't know what I would have done..."
Fumiya Jin gently patted her head. "You getting dragged into this game might have been my fault to begin with. Of course, I had to take care of you."
"Thud..." At that moment, a sound came from behind them.
"Thud..." It was followed by another.
Slightly stunned, Fumiya Jin turned around to look.
He saw that both riders were kneeling on the ground.
"Boss, thank you for getting us through this! We'll kowtow to you!"
As they spoke, both men actually kowtowed to Fumiya Jin, without a hint of hesitation.
Then the Uber Eats rider said, "Boss, if it's convenient, could you leave us your contact information? You saved our lives. After we get out, we'll treat you to a great meal even if we have to go bankrupt."
Fumiya Jin waved his hand. "No need. If fate allows, we'll meet again. Just take care of yourselves."
[ ...Entering settlement space. ]
_____
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