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"It's Kaguya-chan!"
Fujiwara Chika happily shouted.
Amamiya Natsuki raised his flashlight and shined it towards the second floor. The Sheltered Ojou-sama clearly appeared in the light.
It's worth mentioning that this Sheltered Ojou-sama was wearing a bunny girl outfit. Looking up from below, her legs, wrapped in black fishnet stockings, appeared exceptionally long, but unfortunately, her chest was unremarkable, which was a pity.
Amamiya Natsuki looked calm, not hiding his fondness for the bunny girl outfit. "My life has no regrets now."
"Your life is too easily satisfied." Shinomiya Kaguya covered her chest, walked down from upstairs, her eyes filled with undisguised surprise. "Was that you just now?"
"That's right." Fujiwara Chika put her hands on her hips and proudly lifted her chin. "It was us."
Hayasaka Ai had also put on her clothes and tied her hair into a bun, waving with a smile, "Shinomiya-senpai, I found you."
"It was hard work."
Shinomiya Kaguya nodded slightly, acknowledging her.
The reunion of the two sides was naturally very happy, and then they each talked about what happened after they separated.
Only after asking did they realize that the Sheltered Ojou-sama had been quite unlucky today; although she hadn't landed in a box, she had landed directly in the ancient castle.
"The singing is the source of the curse," Shinomiya Kaguya said, "After I found out, I plugged my ears with something and tried to leave quietly, but I couldn't get out. Finally, I was about to turn into a cat to leave... and then you guys came."
"No wonder she fell for it so quickly," Fujiwara Chika suddenly realized, "So it was the sound... By the way, that singing was super good."
"It's a pity indeed," Amamiya Natsuki said from the side, "We should have recorded the sound. In the future, if anyone disobeys, we'll let him go play with the mermaid princess."
"How mean," Fujiwara Chika hugged her chest, "Such beautiful singing should be treasured and appreciated, not used as a weapon."
"Put on some clothes first," Amamiya Natsuki took off his jacket and handed it to Kaguya, "Don't catch a cold."
The moment their fingers touched, Sheltered Ojou-sama suddenly trembled slightly for some reason, her pretty face quickly flushed crimson, and she averted her gaze, her eyelashes trembling slightly as she said, "...I saw that there were other players in the ancient castle before."
Words of thanks were not needed.
Just remember it silently in your heart and repay it later.
"Eh, there are other players?"
Fujiwara Chika quickly said, "Then let's find them and act together."
Unlike Kaguya, the other two unlucky players were completely unprepared and were hypnotized by the singing, falling into an illusion. At this moment, they didn't know what was happening.
The curse had been lifted, so there was naturally no need to worry about their actions. The few of them quickly found the two unlucky players, a man and a woman. Because they had been immersed in the illusion for too long, their memories were severely affected, and when they were found, they were still dazed and disoriented.
After finding them, Fujiwara Chika briefly explained the situation. The two were naturally very grateful and actively requested to act together—huddling for warmth was not shameful, and lone wolf players were the minority.
"The mermaid princess's curse has been lifted; there should be no more trouble now," Amamiya Natsuki looked at Kaguya and said, "You light the fireplace, and I'll go call the senpais in."
Shinomiya Kaguya nodded slightly. She had already changed back into her clothes, her bunny girl uniform replaced by a regular jacket: "Leave it to me."
"..."
The door was locked, and it couldn't be opened from the inside either. Amamiya Natsuki returned the way he came, grabbing a rope from the broken window on the second floor and descending directly to the courtyard.
Snow was still falling.
Snowflakes fluttered down, seemingly endlessly.
Amamiya Natsuki held a flashlight, shining it on the ground. The previous footprints had been unknowingly covered by accumulated snow.
Climbing over the wall to leave the courtyard, Amamiya Natsuki, holding a flashlight, quickly arrived near the rockery where the senpais and others were sheltering from the wind and snow, and excited cheers immediately rang out.
"Natsuki-kun!"
"It's Brave Hero!"
"Brave Hero is back!"
"..."
Tsubame-senpai, passerby player, Little Red Riding Hood, and the seven dwarves all came forward.
"Natsuki-kun, why are you the only one back?"
Seeing Amamiya Natsuki walking over alone, the surprise on Tsubame-senpai's face disappeared, and her eyes became worried, "Where are Chika and Hanamori? Why didn't they come out with you?"
"Don't worry, Chika and the others are all inside, and Shinomiya has also been found."
Amamiya Natsuki reached out and brushed off the snow from the senpai's head, while narrating what had happened inside.
"It's good that nothing happened," Koyasu Tsubame immediately breathed a sigh of relief, lightly patting her chest, "You guys didn't come out, and there was no sound inside, which made me super worried... Now I'm finally relieved."
Amamiya Natsuki's gaze moved downwards, sweeping over Tsubame-senpai's graceful neck, and involuntarily slid down. The slightly thin clothes could not block the tall and beautiful curves.
He usually didn't pay attention, but at this moment, Amamiya Natsuki only felt that the curves were super alluring, wanting to...
"Senpai, let me touch it."
Amamiya Natsuki suddenly said.
"Eh? Eh? Eh?"
Koyasu Tsubame's eyes widened in disbelief, looking at Amamiya Natsuki in surprise, her pretty face quickly reddening, and she said shyly, "Natsuki-kun, what are you saying!"
He actually wanted to touch it! The weather was so cold, and there were other people around, how could she agree to him!
She was indeed very grateful for him carrying her all the way, but one thing was one thing, she would never repay him in that way!
Amamiya Natsuki was startled, and quickly said, "No, I mean let me touch your..."
"You're still talking!"
Tsubame-senpai quickly interrupted, "Even if there's a mushroom growing on your head, it's not a reason for you to do whatever you want!"
The junior was indeed a pervert, no wonder a lust mushroom grew on his head.
"I said you misunderstood," Amamiya Natsuki raised both hands helplessly and turned to look at the passerby player next to him, "Yamashita-san, you let me..."
"You even want to bully Yamashita-san?"
Tsubame-senpai's cheeks involuntarily puffed up like a pufferfish that had been played with.
If I don't let you touch me, you turn around and find someone else, and in front of me no less! How dare you!
Too much!
Even a clay figure would get angry!
"Eh?"
The passerby player blinked upon hearing this, but she wasn't angry at all—she wasn't a pure high school girl, she had already dated several boyfriends. As long as they could clear the level, let alone just a touch, even if Amamiya Natsuki made a more excessive request, she would agree.
Making certain sacrifices to fit in with the atmosphere was a compulsory course in both campus and the workplace.
Besides, with Amamiya Natsuki's current charm, it was hard to say who would be at a disadvantage.
However, with a glance at the angry Tsubame-senpai, the passerby player knew what to do.
"Please don't hurt Tsubame," the passerby player's voice was soft, "I am willing to take Tsubame's place..."
According to her observations along the way, Koyasu Tsubame was gentle and kind, willing to help others, a truly good and lawful alignment. As for the girl named Chika... she always felt a bit unreliable.
Such a gentle and kind girl would definitely not let someone else sacrifice for her, so as long as she said this...
"I'll agree to it!"
Koyasu Tsubame's pretty face was crimson, her pearly teeth biting her lower lip, and she said in a voice only three people could hear, "Don't bully Yamashita-san."
"Both of you, stop talking," Amamiya Natsuki's expression was serious, "Let me finish first."
The two girls finally quieted down.
Amamiya Natsuki said seriously:
"I mean, let me touch the mushroom on your head and see if it can be picked now."
"..."
Tsubame-senpai's pretty face flushed, her pink lips slightly parted, and finally, she blurted out, "Why didn't you say so earlier?!"
"Senpai, touch your conscience," Amamiya Natsuki said faintly, "Was it me who didn't say it earlier, or was it you who kept me from saying it?"
Koyasu Tsubame: "..."
"Come here, let me touch it."
Amamiya Natsuki reached out and touched the mushroom on Koyasu Tsubame's head, shaking his head and saying, "It still doesn't meet the standard for mushroom picking."
After saying that, Amamiya Natsuki touched the passerby player again, with the same result.
"Brave Hero, me too."
The guide loli came closer, tilting her small head up, and even actively took off her Little Red Riding Hood, her eyes full of anticipation.
Amamiya Natsuki smiled, reached out and rubbed the guide loli's head, then said:
"Let's go back to the ancient castle first. We've already reunited with Shinomiya. That's all for today, let's rest for now. We'll continue the mission tomorrow during the day..."
At this point, Amamiya Natsuki suddenly frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over the seven dwarves: "Where is Snow White?"
Upon hearing this, Koyasu Tsubame quickly turned to look behind her, her expression instantly changing.
Behind her were only the seven dwarves; there was no sign of Snow White.
The passerby player quickly said,
"She was just by our side."
Because Amamiya Natsuki returned, the two of them, in their excitement, forgot to look after Snow White.
"So she ran away?"
Amamiya Natsuki quickly guessed the truth.
The dog-licker curse was too terrifying, so all along the way, they had never taken off Snow White's hood, and at the same time restricted her personal freedom, so it was reasonable for her to run away.
"I'm sorry."
Koyasu Tsubame bit her lower lip in self-reproach. She had promised to look after Snow White, and now that she had escaped, it was undoubtedly her responsibility.
"I didn't keep an eye on Snow White," Tsubame-senpai took a deep breath, "I'll go find her."
Amamiya Natsuki turned on his flashlight: "Let's go find her together."
"I'll go too."
The passerby player quickly stepped forward to follow.
And the seven dwarves all followed suit.
"When you guys came over just now, it seemed like you hadn't seen Snow White."
Amamiya Natsuki recalled as he shone the flashlight on the ground, only to see that the footprints on the ground were quite messy, and among them, there was a lone footprint leading towards the street not far away.
"It must be Snow White's footprints, let's follow them."
The few of them followed the footprints, but after walking for a short while, the footprints on the ground suddenly disappeared into thin air.
"Eh, the footprints are gone," the passerby player exclaimed in surprise, "Did Snow White disappear?"
"People don't disappear out of thin air," Amamiya Natsuki shook his head, "She might have used some kind of item, or she might have been moving backward, sweeping away her footprints as she went."
Amamiya Natsuki held up his flashlight, looking around, only to see snowflakes fluttering, the long street cold and desolate, and the surroundings completely dark. There was no sign of Snow White, so he could only give up helplessly and say,
"She ran, so she ran. Let's go back to the ancient castle first."
"You guys go back first," Tsubame-senpai bit her lower lip, "I'll look for a little longer."
"Senpai, don't be impulsive. It's just a little Snow White; if she runs, she runs. It's not like a child got lost," Amamiya Natsuki said calmly, holding the senpai's cold right hand, "Come back with me."
There was no point in regretting what had already happened.
Koyasu Tsubame still refused to leave, shaking her head and saying,
"I'll look for a little longer."
"I didn't realize, Senpai, that you're so stubborn," Amamiya Natsuki lowered his voice and threatened, "Senpai, have you forgotten the mushroom on my head?"
"If you don't go back, I'll bully you in front of everyone."
Koyasu Tsubame: "..."
Amamiya Natsuki led Koyasu Tsubame, held the guide loli in his other arm, and then, leading the seven dwarves, walked grandly towards the ancient castle.
Climbing over the wall into the uninhabited ancient castle, Amamiya Natsuki led the people to the broken window, grabbed the rope, and was the first to climb up.
Next were the guide loli and the dwarves. Amamiya Natsuki didn't let them climb; he directly lifted them up with the rope. Anyway, he was a physical expert now and didn't mind this small consumption of stamina.
After everyone was up, Amamiya Natsuki led the group out of the room, through the hallway, and towards the hall.
At this moment, a fire was already burning in the fireplace in the hall. The flickering firelight dispelled the darkness and brought warmth.
"Senpai, why did you come so late?"
Fujiwara Chika asked curiously.
Tsubame-senpai forced a smile: "I'm sorry, I..."
"We just went to look for Snow White."
Amamiya Natsuki took over the conversation, "Snow White actually escaped when I wasn't paying attention. Damn it, if I had known she would dare to escape, I should have locked her up with a collar."
"She's Snow White! Locking her up with a collar is too awful!"
Fujiwara Chika couldn't help but exclaim.
"Did she run away?"
Hayasaka Ai frowned slightly: "Will she bring a large group of guards?"
"It would be best if she dares to come back and walk into a trap."
Amamiya Natsuki said casually, "It doesn't matter how many guards there are; as long as we control Snow White first, the rest are just sycophants."
"..."
All the team members gathered, naturally, they were exceptionally happy.
With the fireplace, the blazing fire not only dispelled the darkness but also brought warmth, making it quite suitable as a stronghold.
Shinomiya Kaguya crossed her arms over her chest and said in a clear, cold voice:
"There isn't much fuel in the old castle, not enough to last until tomorrow, so we need to collect fuel."
"That's right."
Fujiwara Chika nodded, "The old castle is empty, and there's no library, so we can't burn books for warmth like last time."
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"There are quite a few trees in the courtyard; we can go cut a few for warmth... I'll go out for a bit."
"I'll go too."
Tsubame-senpai was the first to step forward, still feeling very guilty for accidentally letting Snow White escape.
"Let me go instead; I've been in the castle all this time and haven't been out yet."
Shinomiya Kaguya looked at Senpai, saying nonchalantly, "Senpai, you have a sloth mushroom on your head, so you should rest well."
Amamiya Natsuki heard this and looked at this Sheltered Ojou-sama, asking curiously:
"By the way, what kind of mushroom is on your head?"
"..."
tHE Sheltered Ojou-sama's pretty face flushed, and she quickly turned her head away, pretending not to hear.
Hey, hey, why are you suddenly blushing?
What kind of mushroom is it? Just say it!
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