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"Senpai, in the instance, you must tell the truth and not be insincere."
Amamiya Natsuki said seriously, "Incorrect information can lead to wrong judgments."
"I… I understand."
Koyasu Tsubame's pretty face flushed slightly, and she nodded earnestly.
Being lectured by a boy a year younger than her was indeed embarrassing.
But surprisingly, it made her feel at ease.
If she were alone in the snowy forest before her, she would still be at a loss, not even knowing where to go.
"So cold," Tsubame-senpai hugged her arms, exhaled a soft white mist, and muttered, "I thought a fairy tale world would be a place of beautiful scenery, but who knew there would be so much snow."
Her main quest was to survive for forty-eight hours. It seemed simple—just find a place to hide—but in practice, it was fraught with difficulties.
Watching a few episodes of 'Man vs. Wild' doesn't make one Bear Grylls; ordinary people are still ordinary people.
Especially since it was summer in the real world and their clothes were thin, while the instance was a world of ice and snow, body heat was lost even faster. Forget forty-eight hours; an ordinary person couldn't last a day.
"Then there's no problem," Amamiya Natsuki said, taking clothes out of his game space. "If Senpai said she wasn't cold, I'd be too embarrassed to take out clothes to wear."
Koyasu Tsubame: "…"
You actually have clothes? Why didn't you take them out sooner!
"Wait a moment," Koyasu Tsubame couldn't help but ask, "Why does Natsuki-kun have clothes? Didn't you say the game backpack can't store things from the real world?"
"Senpai, here."
Amamiya Natsuki handed over the clothes.
Koyasu Tsubame reached out and took them.
"Try putting them into your game backpack," Amamiya Natsuki said from the side.
"Hmm…"
Koyasu Tsubame pursed her pink lips and silently willed the clothes to be stored. The clothes in her hand instantly vanished.
"Those clothes were actually items?"
Koyasu Tsubame instantly understood, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Even toilet paper can come out of a Blind Box, so it's normal to occasionally get a piece of clothing, right?" Amamiya Natsuki urged, "Senpai, hurry and put on your clothes. If you get sick in the instance, there's no Hospital to treat you."
Koyasu Tsubame nodded, then hesitated:
"What about Natsuki-kun?"
"Of course, we'll both wear clothes," Amamiya Natsuki said, taking out two more pieces of clothing from his game backpack.
Tsubame-senpai couldn't help but say:
"Wait, you have too many clothes!"
"I encountered a Blizzard Mountain Villa instance before, and the experience of being frozen then is still fresh in my memory," Amamiya Natsuki recalled while putting on his clothes. "Naturally, I need to be fully prepared. As a player, I certainly can't be defeated by the same trick twice."
"Blizzard Mountain Villa, huh…"
Koyasu Tsubame had already seen the Blizzard Mountain Villa guide in the Player Mutual Aid Group. Although she hadn't experienced it, she could fully imagine the dangers within.
"What about Chika and the others?" Koyasu Tsubame asked worriedly while putting on her clothes. "They won't get frostbite, will they?" "Don't worry," Amamiya Natsuki said, "Chika and Yandere Kaguya, each of them has prepared clothes."
Once bitten, twice shy.
Newbies like Tsubame-senpai were one thing, but Yandere Kaguya and the others, who had experienced extreme cold environments like Blizzard Mountain Villa, would naturally prepare in advance for unforeseen circumstances.
There were over a hundred players in the Player Mutual Aid Group. If each player opened a Blind Box once a day, there would be dozens to over a hundred items daily. It was certainly not a problem to acquire a few pieces of clothing for backup.
It's worth mentioning that the Sheltered Ojou-sama's bunny girl card was a costume-changing transformation card. After transforming into a bunny girl, she could also gain attribute bonuses, making it an item.
The clothes Amamiya Natsuki had taken out now were just ordinary clothes. They couldn't be instantly changed into, and their only function was to provide warmth.
"Phew…"
Putting on the clothes, Koyasu Tsubame felt her limbs gradually warm up and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, she wasn't alone in the instance; otherwise, she would only be able to hug herself and shiver for warmth now.
"Senpai, can you ski?"
Amamiya Natsuki looked at Koyasu Tsubame.
"Eh?"
Tsubame-senpai was startled by the question and couldn't help but widen her eyes. "Are you saying you…?"
"That's right."
As his voice fell, a pair of snowboards suddenly appeared in Amamiya Natsuki's hand.
Koyasu Tsubame: "…"
Is this what a veteran is like?
He even has snowboards! He's too well-prepared!
Unfortunately, there was only one pair of snowboards, and with numerous trees and uneven terrain in the forest, skiing was impossible.
"Senpai, here's a rope," Amamiya Natsuki handed over the rope. "Tie your feet to the snowboard; it'll be easier to walk."
"I understand."
Koyasu Tsubame nodded in agreement.
Amamiya Natsuki, on the other hand, walked to a tree, broke off a snow-laden branch, and simply fashioned a pair of snowshoes.
To do a good job, one must first sharpen one's tools.
To move forward in the snow, one must not only stay warm but also conserve energy. Prior preparation was essential.
A few minutes later.
Amamiya Natsuki and Koyasu Tsubame resumed their journey.
"Thanks to Natsuki-kun," Koyasu Tsubame said sincerely. "Now it's not only much warmer, but walking isn't as difficult either."
The snow on the ground was deep. Before they had the snowboard, each step would often sink to their ankles, making it quite arduous to pull out.
Amamiya Natsuki shook his head and said:
"I suddenly miss Miss Werewolf."
If Miss Werewolf were by their side, moving around would definitely be much easier.
Speaking of which, earlier in the Player Mutual Aid Group, a player mentioned encountering monsters from other instances in an instance, and even being able to recognize that player. In other words, the vengeful spirits and monsters in instances seem to "visit" each other, so it's indeed possible to encounter Miss Werewolf again in the future.
Amamiya Natsuki suddenly remembered Yandere Kaguya, whom he met at the Hospital, and immediately shook his head:
"If it's that Yandere Miss, then forget it."
"…"
The two trudged forward, one after the other. After walking for a short while, Koyasu Tsubame suddenly stopped and whispered:
"Natsuki-kun, look quickly."
"I see it."
Amamiya Natsuki narrowed his eyes and looked at a pine tree not far away.
Under the pine tree stood a little girl wearing worn-out burlap clothes and a hat.
The little girl had a bamboo basket slung over her arm and was standing on tiptoe, reaching for something growing on the tree, looking quite strenuous.
"Natsuki-kun, should we go help?"
Koyasu Tsubame asked in a low voice, her mindset not yet fully changed. When she encountered someone in difficulty, she instinctively wanted to help.
"Don't go over there," Amamiya Natsuki shook his head. Instead, he took the Senpai's hand, took half a step back, and whispered, "There are no footprints on the ground."
"Eh?"
Koyasu Tsubame looked down at the ground upon hearing this and instantly reacted.
The snow in the forest was thick. A normal person walking through it would definitely leave footprints, and they wouldn't disappear quickly.
But at this moment, behind the little girl picking mushrooms under the tree, there wasn't a single footprint.
Upon discovering this, the Senpai suddenly felt a chill surge through her heart.
Thankfully, she hadn't foolishly gone over to help; otherwise, she would be in danger now.
"Let's take a detour."
Amamiya Natsuki said in a low voice.
The most urgent task was to first rendezvous with Fujiwara Chika and activate the Seize and Eliminate Evil combined skill.
"Okay."
Koyasu Tsubame quickly nodded, stepping closely behind Amamiya Natsuki, carefully circling around the thing under the pine tree.
The two quietly walked away. Koyasu Tsubame couldn't help but turn her head to look behind her. Seeing that the little girl was still picking mushrooms under the tree, seemingly unaware of them, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
However, after a short while, Amamiya Natsuki suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong?"
Koyasu Tsubame asked curiously.
Amamiya Natsuki didn't speak; he just pointed forward.
Tsubame-senpai looked over curiously, and couldn't help but widen her eyes, saying incredulously:
"Eh, eh, eh? How did she appear in front of us?"
"No!"
Koyasu Tsubame quickly shook her head. "Maybe we're lost?"
"We've only walked for a few minutes, basically maintaining one direction. Even if we got lost, we wouldn't walk back," Amamiya Natsuki shook his head and said, "It's more likely that that thing has already discovered us and is affecting our senses."
"Let's go," Amamiya Natsuki said calmly, stepping towards the tree. "Let's go see what tricks she's playing."
Since they couldn't avoid it, they would go directly and let her know what it meant to ask for trouble.
The two quickly walked to the tree.
Coming closer, Amamiya Natsuki heard the little girl softly muttering a phrase.
"Two, two, two..."
The ceaseless repetition of counting inexplicably made him feel a little mushrooms.
"I say, do you know I once made several little girl cry?"
Amamiya Natsuki got straight to the point.
"You're lying, aren't you?" Koyasu Tsubame looked over in shock, thinking, "What on earth happened? Why would he make an little girl cry!"
...
The little girl, who was on tiptoe trying to pick a mushroom from the tree, suddenly paused, then slowly turned around.
Koyasu Tsubame nervously held her breath, glancing out of the corner of her eye, and was surprised to find that under the hat was not the face of an evil spirit covered in mouths, but a cute little girl with golden hair and blue eyes.
"I'm looking for mushrooms." The little girl hugged the bamboo basket with both hands, timidly stepped back half a step, leaned against the pine tree, and said nervously, "My grandma is sick, and I want to pick some safe mushrooms to take back and make soup for her, but the snow is so deep, I can't find any mushrooms... Can I trouble you to help me find mushrooms?"
"Sick grandma..." Koyasu Tsubame blurted out, "Are you Little Red Riding Hood?"
"How do you know my name?"
The little girl tilted her head, and the snow on her hat shook off, revealing a vibrant red.
At the same time.
Amamiya Natsuki and Koyasu Tsubame's ears simultaneously heard a game prompt.
[Side Quest: The Mushroom Girl]
[Quest Description: Grandma is sick, and Little Red Riding Hood needs to find enough food to supplement her grandma's nutrition]
[Quest Requirements: Please find the hidden mushrooms within ten minutes]
[Reward: Unknown]
[Note: This quest is mandatory and cannot be refused]
"Mushrooms?"
Koyasu Tsubame pursed her pink lips, her expression hesitant.
Mushrooms are usually very common in late spring and early summer; after rain, the mountains are covered with mushrooms.
But now, with the white snow and freezing cold, where would she find mushrooms?
"We agree." Amamiya Natsuki pointed a finger and sighed, "Who told Tsubame-senpai to be super kind and unable to bear seeing others in trouble?"
Koyasu Tsubame: "..."
It's true that she likes helping people, but this is clearly a strange Little Red Riding Hood; she doesn't want to help at all!
"Tsubame-senpai, you'll help, won't you?"
Amamiya Natsuki looked at Koyasu Tsubame.
"I... of course I will."
Seeing Little Red Riding Hood look up, Tsubame-senpai forced a smile.
"Since we're in agreement, next is finding mushrooms." Amamiya Natsuki walked to the tree, reached out, and picked the mushrooms from the tree trunk, handing it to Little Red Riding Hood, "Is this mushrooms okay?"
"No."
Little Red Riding Hood shook her head, and began to softly chant again, "Two, two, two..."
Koyasu Tsubame half-squatted down and asked curiously:
"Two what?"
Little Red Riding Hood calmly replied: "Two mushrooms."
Upon hearing this, Koyasu Tsubame curiously looked at Little Red Riding Hood's bamboo basket, "Strange, there are clearly no mushrooms."
Amamiya Natsuki looked down; the bamboo basket was empty, indeed without a single mushrooms.
At the same time.
Text prompts appeared in Amamiya Natsuki's eyes:
[You have carefully observed and successfully obtained a clue: In the fairy tale world where nightmares come true, mushrooms are sometimes not the mushrooms you imagine.]
"So, ordinary mushrooms don't count?"
Amamiya Natsuki looked down at the mushrooms he had just picked.
The game gave no notification; undoubtedly, this type of mushrooms did not meet the quest requirements.
[You noticed the abnormality of the Little Red Riding Hood in front of you. You decide to strip her clothes to verify her identity.]
Hey, hey, just stripping the little girl's clothes right off, that's going to lead to jail time, and it's an aggravated offense!
[You stripped Little Red Riding Hood's clothes and nodded in satisfaction. The little girl of the fairy tale world is quite capable of fighting, but you still haven't found mushrooms.]
"How capable of fighting?"
Amamiya Natsuki immediately became interested.
She looks so small; it's impossible for her to beat two Kaguyas, right?
Amamiya Natsuki took a deep breath and suddenly said:
"Tsubame-senpai, you actually stole my stuff!"
"Eh?"
Koyasu Tsubame looked over blankly, instinctively about to deny it.
This is only the first time I've visited your house today, and I haven't even left, how could I steal your stuff!
Amamiya Natsuki continued:
"We'll look for mushrooms later; let me search your body first."
Fortunately, this Tsubame-senpai was quite clever; after blinking, she quickly cooperated:
"I won't, I don't have it."
Amamiya Natsuki then said: "You must be inspected today; don't even think about hiding behind Little Red Riding Hood."
Tsubame-senpai understood and stepped to hide beside Little Red Riding Hood: "I won't let you inspect me."
"Don't think about hiding."
Amamiya Natsuki stepped to follow.
Little Red Riding Hood stood still, her expression hesitant, seemingly debating whether to dodge, but ultimately she did not move.
As they spoke, Amamiya Natsuki finally approached Little Red Riding Hood, then without hesitation, grabbed the hat on Little Red Riding Hood's head, lifted it up, and shook off the accumulated snow.
Amamiya Natsuki's movements were too fast; Little Red Riding Hood couldn't react at all.
The next second.
A plume of golden hair came into view.
"Eh, eh, eh?"
Tsubame-senpai's eyes widened in shock, seeing that on the little girl's head, there was actually a purple mushrooms growing.
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