Chapter 111: Cabin in the Woods
Once Kaguya and Yotsuya Miko's Ghost Phones were in hand, Haruto wasted no time pulling them into the team's chat group.
[Yotsuya Miko has joined the group chat.]
[Her Highness the Princess of Eientei has joined the group chat.]
Almost instantly, a flood of messages scrolled past.
"Welcome, new bosses!"
"All hail the boss team!"
"Hello, bosses!"
"Our group's average coolness just tanked."
Yotsuya Miko stared at the rapidly scrolling messages on her phone screen, a faint blush rising on her cheeks as she saw herself being addressed as a "boss." She quickly typed out a clarification.
"I'm not a boss. @The Most Handsome Realm Demon and @Her Highness the Princess of Eientei are the bosses."
Her message only served to trigger another wave of flattery, this time directed at Kaguya, though plenty was still reserved for Miko. After all, anyone who could associate with such powerhouses couldn't be ordinary. It was just like in the manga—when one person attains the Dao, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.
Amidst the lively cascade of compliments, the player "Scatter Money for Life" finally brought the conversation back on track.
"@The Most Handsome Realm Demon, Boss! Boss! If the team is ready, you can use the tracking scroll now. The instance starts in five minutes."
Seeing the message, Haruto saw no reason to procrastinate and activated the tracking scroll. Kaguya and Yotsuya Miko followed suit.
In an instant, a bright red five-minute countdown materialized in the air before them, the numbers ticking away second by second.
The wait wasn't long.
When the countdown finally struck zero, the scenery before them blurred into a chaotic smear of color. A moment later, their vision cleared, and they found themselves standing in a dark, dense forest.
Not far ahead stood an old cabin. Its exterior walls were mottled and overgrown with moss, the windows were pitch-black voids, and the air carried the rich, earthy smell of soil mingled with the fresh scent of recent rain.
The overall feeling was… surprisingly pleasant. It was the smell of nature.
Haruto glanced around. Clearly, the focal point of this instance was the cabin in the woods. There were eight participants in total.
"Boss! You must be Boss Haruto, right?"
A chubby young man hurried over, catching his breath as he arrived before them. "I'm the group member called Scatter Money for Life. My real name is Tao Shou, but you can just call me Shouzi or Little Fatty. You're even more handsome than in the videos! I took one look at you and could practically see the word 'awesome' written all over your face!"
Trailing beside him was a tall, upright man in a suit who looked every bit the professional bodyguard. Noticing Haruto's gaze drift to the man, the chubby youth quickly explained.
"Don't misunderstand, Boss. It's not that I don't trust you; it's just that my parents weren't comfortable with me coming alone and insisted on arranging some protection. You guys just do whatever you need to do, don't mind him."
"It's fine, I understand. That's only human," Haruto replied, not in the least bit bothered. The client had not only offered a generous reward but had also paid in advance and maintained a polite, almost reverent attitude. He wasn't about to quibble over such a minor detail.
The chubby young man breathed a long, audible sigh of relief. He nudged the bodyguard behind him with his elbow, signaling for him to speak up.
The bodyguard hesitated for a moment before speaking in a measured, polite tone. "As the young master said, I will follow your instructions and orders. As for my name, you can just call me Number Six."
On the way here, Tao Shou had repeatedly drilled into him just how unbelievably powerful the reinforcements he had hired were—they were the bosses among bosses—and that he must be absolutely, unfailingly polite. Since his young master was being so solemn, there was clearly a good reason for it. He would act according to his instructions.
Besides, as a normal person encountering the unknown, one had to approach it with the utmost caution. Careful, careful, and careful again.
"There's no need to follow my orders completely," Haruto said with a casual wave. "We're just here to slack off. Second-time instances generally aren't that difficult. Relax and just do what you think is right."
Number Six felt a wave of relief wash over him. Although he would follow arrangements, when it came to life-and-death decisions, he much preferred to make his own judgment after considering all opinions. Entrusting his life entirely to a stranger, no matter how capable, never sat right with him.
Tao Shou, however, was moved once again. 'He's giving us the chance to explore and gain experience ourselves,'he thought,'while he, the true master, takes on the most critical role: guarding our rear!'
"And these two must be the sisters-in-law, right?" Tao Shou turned his gaze toward Kaguya and Yotsuya Miko, his praise utterly sincere. "As expected, each one is as beautiful as a celestial fairy and radiates the aura of a powerhouse! I knew it—only another powerhouse could be a match for a big shot like you!"
"No, no, I'm not strong," Yotsuya Miko demurred, shaking her head quickly as she pointed at Haruto and Kaguya. "These two are the real powerhouses."
As Tao Shou chattered enthusiastically, the other four players cautiously gathered around. It was a group of two men and one woman, all appearing to be solo players who didn't know one another.
One of them, a young man with dyed-blond hair, spoke first, an obsequious smile plastered on his face. "Big brothers and sisters, are the five of you together? You look like a professional team!"
He rubbed his hands together, his gaze unconsciously lingering on Kaguya and Yotsuya Miko for a moment longer than necessary. They were simply too beautiful, especially the one in the elegant dress—she looked like a princess who had walked straight out of a painting.
As for any untoward thoughts? He wouldn't dare. In a place where life and death were decided in an instant, who had the mind for anything else? Just staying alive was hard enough.
"This instance looks pretty sinister," he requested with genuine sincerity. "Could you… carry us? We promise to be obedient and never, ever drag you down!"
The two other players beside him nodded quickly in agreement, their eyes filled with desperate hope. They had overheard the entire conversation. These people were the experts hired by that wealthy-looking little fatty; they were definitely the real deal. In an instance like this, latching onto a strong backer would undoubtedly increase their chances of survival.
Seeing this, Tao Shou subconsciously leaned a little closer to Haruto, a hint of pride on his chubby face as if to say, 'See? We're on the same team.' However, he didn't rashly join the conversation, instead looking to Haruto, clearly waiting for his lead.
"We're not exactly pro players, nor are we 'thighs' to cling to," Haruto said after a cursory glance at the three hopefuls. "We're just cooperating to clear the stage."
Kaguya didn't even spare them a look. Her attention was focused on their surroundings, her gaze fixed on the cabin in the woods, which was just a little too silent for comfort.
Bodyguard Number Six maintained his professional silence, his eyes alertly scanning the area, paying special attention to the three newcomers.
Seeing Haruto's cold reaction, the blond youth wanted to say something more, to try and get closer. But just then, the cabin, which had been deathly still, emitted a soft, drawn-out creak.
"The… the door opened."
The blond youth took two involuntary steps back, a flicker of fear finally appearing in his eyes.
Haruto took the first step forward. "Let's go."
Tao Shou followed immediately, with Number Six guarding his side vigilantly. Kaguya and Yotsuya Miko fell in line right behind them. The blond youth and the other two players exchanged a nervous glance before scurrying to catch up.
As soon as they stepped inside, their eyes were drawn to the words scrawled in what looked like blood on the wall. There were three short, chilling warnings.
[SURVIVE]
[STOP HER]
[UNTRUSTWORTHY]
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