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The journey was uneventful.
They quickly arrived at the agreed-upon cinema.
"Senpai, you're here."
A girl wearing large black-rimmed glasses, a wig, and fake bangs waved by the roadside.
It was Hayasaka Ai.
Amamiya Natsuki looked over and said:
"Why are you dressed like this?"
Of course, it's to avoid being recognized by the Young Lady!
As a Spy Maid, she should naturally operate in the shadows.
Coming clean with the Young Lady is something for later; there's no need to reveal her identity now.
Seeing everyone looking over, Hayasaka Ai looked down at her toes, pressed her finger to her throat, and disguised her voice: "For certain reasons... I'm dressed like this at school."
"Hanamori-chan, is someone bullying you?" Kitagawa Marin clenched her pink fists, indignant, "After we clear the dungeon, Natsuki-kun and I will go to your school."
As a teammate who cleared 'Ghost Ship Hide-and-Seek' together, Marin had the highest favorability towards the Spy Maid.
"Thank you, Marin-senpai, that's in the past," Hayasaka Ai shook her head, subtly changing the subject, "...Marin-senpai's clothes look super good."
"How about it, don't they look good?" The Blonde Hot Girl put her hands on her hips, smiling triumphantly, "This is my super favorite Succubus-chan."
"I messaged you before, but you always said you didn't have time."
"Whenever you're free, come over and play with us. I'll have Natsuki-kun copy the ability to you."
"..."
This Blonde Hot Girl was open and never hid anything.
"It's almost time."
Shinomiya Kaguya glanced at her phone, reminding them softly.
"Let's go," When the traffic light turned green, Amamiya Natsuki led the way across the road, saying, "Please don't let me meet the Landlady from Kung Fu Hustle."
"Eh?"
Fujiwara Chika paused, tilting her head, "At a time like this, shouldn't you say..."
Amamiya Natsuki glanced over, blinking.
"Oh, oh," Secretary Fujiwara nodded quickly, "I understand."
This is reverse flag-setting.
[You have entered the game area, matching other players, please wait...]
[Friendly reminder, the game is about to begin, please choose a position to fix your body]
Shinomiya Kaguya said:
"Choose a movie with few viewers, and we'll go sit in the theater."
"There are quite a few movies showing today," Fujiwara Chika said, "Which movie should we watch?"
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"Whichever movie has fewer viewers, we'll watch that one. Since we're here, let's contribute to the director's attendance. Maybe there's a director wearing a hat, disguised, secretly coming to watch his own movie. It would be too pathetic if no one was there."
Kitagawa Marin put her right hand on her hip and exposed him:
"Pretending to pity others is false; the real reason is that fewer people means you won't be disturbed, right?"
Without wasting time, they quickly chose a small, artistic, fresh film that was about to be screened, bought tickets, entered the theater, and sat down in an empty corner, as if they were truly there to watch a movie.
Seats were randomly assigned.
Juju happened to be sitting to Amamiya Natsuki's left.
The pink-haired girl pursed her pink lips, hesitated for a moment, then extended a slender finger and gently poked Amamiya Natsuki beside her.
"Juju?"
Amamiya Natsuki turned to look.
"Um, what if we disappear into thin air in the cinema and someone finds out?" Juju leaned closer, whispering into his ear.
Although so far, nothing has happened that would cause them to be invited for a 'talk' by relevant departments.
But it's better to be safe than sorry.
Amamiya Natsuki looked at the pink-haired girl and said in a low voice:
"Have you not read the game's terms and conditions?"
"Eh?" Juju paused, "What's that?"
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"Have you played mobile games?"
"Yes."
"Every game signs terms and conditions with players, and they include matters regarding identity exposure," Amamiya Natsuki said in a low voice, "Although ninety-nine percent of players just scroll to the bottom and click agree."
Juju's eyes widened in surprise: "You mean horror games also have terms and conditions?"
"Of course they do," Amamiya Natsuki said as a matter of course, "Since it's a game, it's normal for it to have terms and conditions. The terms explicitly state that due to an irresistible force called 'harmony,' players are currently protected and will not be detected by 'relevant departments.'"
"Hmm..." Juju blinked, "Although I don't quite understand, it sounds very impressive."
Amamiya Natsuki concluded:
In short, players only need to clear the game and temporarily don't need to worry about exposure. Of course, this clause is limited to relevant departments; players are not protected from each other.
At the same time.
The game prompt sounded again.
[All players confirmed, game starting soon]
"Here it comes."
Everyone became serious, perked up, and stood ready.
[Game loading...]
[Loading complete]
Amamiya Natsuki only felt a slight dizziness for a moment.
The next second.
The scene in front of him had already changed from the cinema to a dim, unfamiliar room.
"Natsuki-kun?"
A nervous low cry sounded in his ear.
Amamiya Natsuki turned to look; a petite girl was kneeling beside him, vaguely visible in a Magical Girl uniform, seemingly wanting to get closer due to nervousness.
"Don't move yet," Amamiya Natsuki said in a deep voice.
"Eh?"
"Let's do the code first."
Juju paused, then quickly remembered what they had agreed upon earlier, and sat up straight, saying: "Come, come on."
Amamiya Natsuki mused:
"Odd change, even no change?"
The girl's eyes lit up, and she quickly said: "Symbol depends on quadrant!"
"Tsk, it's actually the real Juju," Amamiya Natsuki sighed in disappointment, "If it were fake..."
"What would you want to do to me if it were fake?!"
Juju clenched her pink fists, unable to help but exclaim.
After a round of complaining, the tension was immediately diluted by more than half.
Juju wiggled her small bottom, snuggling close to Amamiya Natsuki, and whispered: "It seems like it's just the two of us. Marin and Chika are gone."
Amamiya Natsuki said calmly:
"Clearly, it's another random scene drop."
They had encountered similar situations many times before, and the corresponding solution had already been discussed in the strategy meeting—to gather as quickly as possible.
The more members a "Seize and Eliminate Evil" squad has, the higher its safety.
Amamiya Natsuki whispered, "First, let's check our main quests."
Juju quickly nodded, "Okay."
He opened the game panel.
The main quest finally appeared before Amamiya Natsuki's eyes.
"Welcome to the Horror Cinema."
"You are an occult enthusiast by hobby, invited by the cinema to film a documentary about folk kaitai, preparing to participate in the cinema's evaluation…"
An enthusiast by hobby—translated equivalently—is probably a 'death-seeking expert,' right?
"The better the work's rating, the higher the reward. After entering the Haunted Town, you decide to act separately, preparing to complete your respective kaitai filming."
Hey, hey, acting separately in a horror game is clearly walking further and further down the path of seeking death!
"Aging, low birth rates, negative population growth… This is a declining, desolate Haunted Town, about to vanish into time. Its former glory ultimately couldn't withstand the erosion of years. Many kaitai rumors seem to be hidden within the Haunted Town."
"Tsk, the atmosphere suddenly became serious."
Amamiya Natsuki continued to read.
"Main Quest: Complete a kaitai documentary. This documentary will be judged by the Horror Cinema organizing committee. The highest-rated work will receive generous rewards."
"Total quest duration: forty-eight hours."
"Note: You can complete multiple kaitai documentaries. The highest-rated work among them will be your representative piece for evaluation."
"To increase viewership, the cinema will provide live commentary in the form of narration."
"Finally, the ultimate right of interpretation for this filming activity belongs to 'Horror Cinema.' If you have any questions, please call 4444444 for consultation."
Amamiya Natsuki quickly finished reading all the content.
The beginning was easy to understand, but he hadn't yet figured out what the final narration meant.
"Juju," Amamiya Natsuki turned his head and said, "Tell me your quest content."
"Mm."
Juju nodded and quickly described her quest content.
"Exactly the same," Amamiya Natsuki mused. "If we were supposed to split up, why are we together?"
Juju tilted her small face up, her expression bewildered.
"I don't know."
Amamiya Natsuki said, "Could the production team have assigned us as a couple?"
"Of course not!"
Juju's small face flushed, and she couldn't help but exclaim.
Saying something about a couple… If you have the guts, say it in front of Marin!
"Right," Amamiya Natsuki nodded. "A sibling squad is more suitable than a couple."
Juju's rosy cheeks quickly puffed up, and she lightly ground her teeth, wanting to bite him: "I'm one year older than you, okay?!"
"…"
Amamiya Natsuki said, "Let's complete the kaitai filming in front of us first, then talk about it when we get out."
They didn't need to painstakingly search for kaitai; after entering the game, Amamiya Natsuki and Juju were randomly spawned directly within a kaitai.
"Current kaitai: 'Haunted House'."
"This is an ordinary apartment that became a Haunted House for unknown reasons. You heard that many people once entered the Haunted House, then disappeared and were never able to leave. You decide to film a Haunted House documentary."
Without a doubt.
The dilapidated, eerie, and dim room before them was the 'Haunted House' the game spoke of.
"A Haunted House that people enter but never leave, according to rumors…" Amamiya Natsuki rubbed his chin. "I wonder if it applies to trash. If so, it would definitely be one of the most valuable discoveries of this century."
"Eh, eh, eh?!"
Juju suddenly widened her eyes, her small face turning pale, and nervously pointed at Amamiya Natsuki's shoulder.
Amamiya Natsuki glanced with his peripheral vision and found a pitch-black hand on his shoulder, appearing out of nowhere. Its color was charred, its nails sharp, and it looked sinister and terrifying.
"Th-th-there's a hand!"
Juju's voice stammered, and she frantically tried to stand up and run away.
"I see it," Amamiya Natsuki raised an eyebrow. "Don't move."
Although she didn't know why Amamiya Natsuki wouldn't let her move, Juju bit her lower lip, suppressed her fear, and remained still.
Amamiya Natsuki, without changing his expression, raised his hand and carefully toyed with the pitch-black ghost hand extended in front of him, pinching it here and there, observing it closely, and finally concluded:
"From its size, shape, and feel, this is the hand of a girl, or rather, a Female Ghost."
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