Why is my journey to the world of anime a strange tale of rules?

"I...I'm not quite sure what to add either. Um, Ryo's observation skills have always been exceptionally sharp. Regarding the situation in the corridor, well, what Ryo said is pretty much what I wanted to say, so, in short..."

Unlike Yamada Ryo, who at least maintains a calm demeanor, Ijichi Nijika is very nervous. Whether facing those monsters or now facing Takami, this petite and cute girl appears very tense.

Perhaps it was because what happened tonight was too far beyond her common sense. Of course, even though she was very nervous and uneasy, at least Hongxia was able to calm down and communicate, which Gao Hai thought was very good. He was willing to be more patient with newcomers, as long as they weren't too bizarre.

[I can see you have something to add. Speak up, Miss Hongxia. Be brave and express yourself. Don't be like Ichiri.]

Gao Hai spoke with a hint of teasing, and Hong Xia's face flushed slightly upon hearing this, her expression becoming a little awkward.

"It's not like Pochi-chan... ah, I'm not saying Pochi-chan is bad. Anyway, what I really wanted to talk about was the problem with room 109. No matter how you look at it, the living room and kitchen are completely enclosed environments that don't receive any sunlight, which is really strange. Especially the kitchen, I specifically looked around room 109, but I couldn't find any ventilation openings at all. Especially the range hood, I even looked at it carefully and found that the pipes were actually disconnected. Then I also looked for pipes connecting the room to the outside in the hallway, but there were none. I think this room structure is just too strange."

As a virtuous young woman responsible for all the household chores and preparing three meals a day, Hongxia was quite sensitive to the layout of the kitchen. Therefore, she simply couldn't understand a kitchen without any ventilation openings, and even after leaving room 109 for quite some time, she was still thinking about the room's problems.

"Very good, so this is a discussion between players. Miss Hongxia, you have indeed discovered a problem. And I can tell you that this kind of abnormal architectural structure does exist in the dungeon world. It's possible that this place was originally like this when it was still in the real world, or it's possible that after becoming a dungeon, the space itself became distorted, causing the room to exhibit conditions that do not conform to the laws of reality, and may even not conform to normal physical construction. I can explain this point further, let's talk about it as we go..."

Gao Hai patiently explained, and Hong Xia and the others listened attentively like students.

After circling the corridor and returning to the lobby, the three entered the corridor again through the north door. This time, they planned to explore the inner plaza on the first floor, trying to observe the apartment building from there and gather clues. If no new information was found in the plaza, following Gao Hai's instructions, they would dig some soil and take it to room 201 to see what effect following the instructions on the note would have.

Come to think of it, am I considered a teacher now?

As he spoke, Gao Hai observed the reactions of Hong Xia and the other two, and this thought couldn't help but come to mind.

If such a sensible and obedient young girl were to be a teacher, it wouldn't be so bad. At least all three of them are obedient and well-behaved, unlike some of the rescued survivors who refuse to listen to any instructions and are even worse off than those who just sit on the ground crying and screaming while waiting for rescue. Some of them even run away from rescuers and try to hinder their actions. There are all sorts of oddballs among them.

Yes, for example, in the message that came back from Goto Ichiri just a few minutes ago, she, along with three Night-level players, more than ten rescuers from China, and several local Japanese firefighters who volunteered for the rescue, successfully broke through a building occupied by hospital monsters. Ichiri herself used her guitar ability to create more than thirty copies of herself, successfully suppressing the vast majority of the monsters inside the building. Subsequently, the three Night-level players were each responsible for monitoring several floors inside the building to see if any other monsters were hiding, while the rescuers and firefighters searched each room for survivors.

This procedure had been practiced many times and was fairly familiar to everyone. However, when the rescue team found several survivors inside the damaged elevator and attempted to rescue them, despite repeated warnings that the elevator cables were about to snap and not to move, the survivors either frantically rushed forward to be rescued or hid in a corner screaming incoherently. If it weren't for Ichiri using the guitar's time-rewinding mechanism to send an extra clone, the rescuer responsible for entering the elevator would have died along with them.

Moreover, after finally managing to rescue the people, those survivors completely ignored the rescue team's instructions and refused to leave through the safety passage, insisting on running around and shouting all over the building. As a result, someone interfered with the strange creature that Ichiri was suppressing on that floor, causing the power of the supernatural tale to leak out and directly injuring more than a dozen people. At this point, Ichiri himself was almost driven to a nervous breakdown by these unruly survivors.

Ugh, wait a minute, there's another problem in the northern commercial district. It's an elementary school that Maki was in charge of evacuating. Three children disobeyed instructions and escaped through the windows, and another child was bullied and locked in a toilet that's been confirmed to have haunted activity. In addition, twelve rescue workers have been exposed to cognitive hazard information and now need to return to the shelter for treatment, but the nearest dispatched vehicle is about two kilometers away. Looks like I'll have to coordinate and find a solution...

No, it's not just over there that's happening. A strong signal of monster activity has been confirmed in an office building near Kaguya. It's very likely the survivors in that building have already been completely sacrificed and entered the next stage. I need to contact a Red Moon-level response team. The closest one is Xiong Mi's team, but she still has three targets to deal with… Wait, Xiong Mi has a fourth target, suspected to be a [Doctor]? No, I have to deal with this situation quickly… Wait, a vehicle transporting survivors in the central area has a flat tire, and a Dark Night-level player team is trapped in the collapse zone, and there's more…

In just a few seconds, various problems arising from multiple directions forced Gao Hai to temporarily shift his attention away from the doll.

The constant mental strain and physical pain were simultaneously eroding his consciousness, but fortunately, Gao Hai could maintain this intensity for a very long time. He was confident that he could hold on until he truly recaptured the city and completely defeated the enemy.

However, we can't keep an eye on the situation here for the time being.

The investigation of the inner plaza is up to you; I need to attend to other matters temporarily. Remember the player rules I explained to you before—what you can touch and what you can't. I expect to be back in about 10 minutes, so please be careful during that time.

After leaving those words, Gao Hai severed the connection of consciousness without giving Hongxia and the others a chance to speak. The doll hanging around Liang's neck then slumped to the side, motionless as if it had just been hanged.

"Oh, are they leaving already?"

Xingge blinked, momentarily unable to process what was happening.

"That looks like it, so we'll have to rely on ourselves for the next 10 minutes."

Liang's face was expressionless. She simply nodded calmly and then gestured for Hongxia to take out the key and open the door leading to the inner plaza.

It's worth mentioning that, to avoid any dangerous objects rushing out and endangering others as soon as they opened the door, the three of them deliberately went around to the plaza door on the north side. This way, even if they encountered danger, Shizuko Ogiyama and the others on the 109 side wouldn't be caught in the crossfire.

Click——

Hongxia inserted the key into the lock, turned it gently, and then opened the door.

The next moment, a silent, cold wind, accompanied by dim light, blew into the corridor, causing the three people present to instinctively shiver.

"...let's go."

Liang was the first to speak, and reached out to grab the doll hanging around her neck before taking the first step.

Chapter Twelve: The Moment of Probing in the Room and the Investigation in the Small Square

21:28

In the dimly lit, old living room, Shizuko Ogiyama looked up at the clock and checked the time once again.

At this moment, Shizuko Ogiyama was sitting on the sofa in the living room, having been there for some time. Mami Torio and Haruka Hondou were also in the living room; one was casually sitting at a small table on one side of the room, looking quite arrogant, while the other was sitting on the floor next to the television, silently hugging her knees in a withdrawn state.

The three people inside remained silent, just as silent as the eerie, gloomy room itself.

This feeling was unsettling, reminding Shizuko Ogiyama that she was in a bizarre, unreal world, not that she had accidentally wandered into someone's house. But she couldn't bring herself to say anything to break the tension. After all, Shizuko wasn't exactly a social butterfly, and besides, one of the other two people present was someone she didn't get along with, while the other was a complete stranger she'd only recently met—she had no idea what to talk about.

The curfew is getting closer and closer.

Shizuko Ogiyama stared silently at the clock on the wall, mentally calculating the remaining time, and for a moment she felt it was going to be incredibly difficult.

However, I don't know if it's just my imagination, but I always feel that this clock is running much faster than a normal clock.

This feeling is truly contradictory. One moment it feels like time is passing too slowly and unbearably, and the next it feels like time is passing too quickly and is somewhat abnormal. Come to think of it, from when I went out to the lobby with those three people, to when we returned to our room, and now... has really two hours passed in all that time?

That's strange. Why do I feel like it only took me less than ten minutes to complete all of this? Even if there is a difference between perceived time and actual time, it shouldn't be this drastic, right?

The more I thought about it, the more uneasy I felt, and the more acutely I became aware of what was wrong with this place.

It was as if the seemingly old house itself had become some kind of man-eating monster, with an eye hidden behind every piece of furniture, secretly observing her, emitting bloodthirsty laughter where she couldn't see, waiting for the moment when she would completely break down.

However, even knowing that this was not a normal place, Shizuko Ogiyama had no way to escape and could only continue to wait here like the other two.

This feeling is really unpleasant. I still have so much homework to review. When will rescue arrive so I can leave this awful place and go back to school?

Shizuko Ogiyama, who had always considered herself a good student, sighed silently.

No, the whole of Tokyo is full of monsters now. Maybe everyone will die in a little while. If that happens... haha, it seems I won't need to study anymore.

Reaching out, Shizuko Ogiyama gently tapped her head, suppressing her wandering thoughts.

That said, I wonder what's going on with those three people now.

I was just thinking of listening to what was happening outside the door, but then there was that guy who called himself Mr. Gao Hai… According to him, my teammate might already be… tsk, we can't be sure what's going on yet, I shouldn't scare myself. I need to calm down and observe first.

Recalling what had happened before, Shizuko Ogiyama shifted her gaze slightly to the side, looking at Haruka Hondo sitting at a small table on one side of the living room.

At this moment, Hondo Haruka, who had just been slapped several times, looked extremely pale, exuding a gloomy and twisted aura. But to be honest, Ogiyama Shizuko found it quite normal for the woman to look like this. After all, since coming to Tokyo from the countryside, Ogiyama Shizuko had personally witnessed Hondo Haruka transform from an honest, unassuming good student into the flamboyant young woman with brightly colored hair she was today.

At first, Shizuko Ogiyama would occasionally try to persuade Haruka Hondo not to wallow in her depravity, but later she discovered that Haruka was even frequenting various bars and parties, taking hallucinogenic drugs, and then going home to spend the night with men she didn't know. At that point, she realized that Haruka was no longer on her side, so she stopped paying attention to her. As long as Haruka didn't disturb Shizuko Ogiyama and her two other roommates' studies, they would pretend that she didn't exist, and they lived peacefully like this for a long time.

Speaking of which, Hondou Haruka hasn't slept in the dorm for quite some time now. Why did she suddenly come back tonight? And the exact time she came back... tsk, I can't quite remember. I can't be sure if she came back before or after the announcement. Anyway, we have to be careful when we interact with her now. If there's a problem, we'll have to figure something out.

Not long ago, in the lobby, Shizuko Ogiyama clearly heard a warning from Takami.

For Shizuko Ogiyama, who had already clearly encountered supernatural forces, understanding Takami's existence wasn't easy, but she could still somewhat grasp that this being was on the side of the survivors, acting to save those tormented by the supernatural beings. Later, through Takami's warning, Shizuko realized that Haruka Hondou's seemingly incoherent behavior, despite having also seen the supernatural beings, might have some dangerous underlying cause. Simply put, her roommate might have been influenced by some force and was gradually becoming someone else entirely.

To verify this, Takahiro subtly enhanced Ogiyama Shizuko's senses, temporarily boosting her hearing. To avoid harming Shizuko's consciousness, Takahiro used only a very small amount of enhancement power, enough for her to activate the auditory enhancement twice, each lasting only about half a minute. So, while waiting indoors, Shizuko frequently observed Hondou Haruka not far away, preparing to activate her enhancement to observe her if she noticed any abnormal reactions.

bang-

While he was thinking, Hondou Haruka jumped off the table, kicked the stool expressionlessly, and spat on Torio Mami, who was sitting against the wall in a daze and completely unaware of what was happening. The woman was so startled that she quickly dodged away. Then, he chuckled and walked into the hallway on one side of the living room and opened the bathroom door.

Did you go to the restroom?

Shizuko Ogiyama silently watched Haruka Hondo's actions. After confirming that the other party had closed the door, she slowly walked forward and stopped about three or four meters away from the toilet door.

Without activating that enhanced power, Shizuko Ogiyama was currently at a distance with no way to hear anything coming from the bathroom. After all, she wasn't a player; she was just an ordinary high school student. However, she was hesitant about whether it was necessary to use that peculiar enhanced power. What if Haruka Hondou was truly just inherently malicious, a fool who couldn't distinguish right from wrong? If she wasted this power and encountered danger in the apartment again, wouldn't she be missing a crucial source of support?

As she pondered, Shizuko Ogiyama hesitated, but in the end, she took a deep breath, her expression hardening as she decided to use the power.

Regardless, there's still a problem with Hondou Haruka. If we can't rule out her suspicious behavior, it might be too late if something really goes wrong later. So we need to find out now whether she's just mentally unstable or if something's genuinely wrong with her.

Close your eyes.

Unable to use her supernatural powers skillfully, Shizuko Ogiyama tried several times before finally activating them. Her hearing was instantly enhanced, and the sounds around her became much clearer.

I can clearly hear my own breathing.

My heartbeat was exceptionally clear.

You can even faintly hear the sound of blood flowing.

That's truly... an amazing power. Is Mr. Gao Hai some kind of deity?

Shizuko Ogiyama gritted her teeth, trying hard to suppress her curiosity, and turned her attention towards the toilet.

I only have half a minute; I can't waste it. I can't squander my precious time just because I'm curious. I need to listen carefully and see if Haruka Hondou says anything in the bathroom. Hopefully not, because I still feel uneasy...

With enhanced hearing, and under Shizuko Ogiyama's own direction, the system began to shift its focus, providing her with a series of messages.

She heard the sound of the toilet seat being opened or closed, heard Hondou Haruka's low, seemingly suppressed breathing, and heard the sound of her footsteps rubbing against the floor.

"Heh, that was pretty hard."

Then, she heard Haruka Hondou muttering to herself.

“Everyone is the same. They all look down on me, don’t take me seriously, and think they are all very great.”

"Everyone thinks I'm easy to manipulate, that I'm just a country bumpkin. Haha, that's fine, whatever you want."

"Hit me, scold me, do whatever you want. The more you do to me, the more I'll take back in the end. That's what you deserve from me, hehehehehe—"

The woman's voice sounded off.

Shizuko Ogiyama had never heard Haruka Hondo laugh so sinisterly before; it was as if he were a completely different person.

That voice, filled with resentment and twisted meaning, overflowing with hatred, reached Shizuko Ogiyama's ears through the toilet door. It was as if Haruka Hondo was standing in front of her, speaking to her in that same way, and giving her that eerie smile that was enough to distort her face.

How could she laugh like that?

Something's wrong. There's definitely something off about this person. This is completely different from her usual cheeky and crazy self! Could it be that she really—

"How was it? Did you like it? My good roommate."

Before Shizuko Ogiyama herself could react to the situation, the toilet door had already been quietly opened.

Behind a completely dark door, Hondou Haruka's pale face peeked out, grinning at Ogiyama Shizuko with perfectly aligned white teeth and large drops of saliva dripping from his mouth.

Gazing at the other person's face, which seemed no different from before, Shizuko Ogiyama suddenly realized that the person she was facing, Haruka Hondo, was no longer the person she originally knew.

pat-

The living room lights were quietly turned off.

crunch--

With a heavy thud as the door was pushed open, Liang slowly stepped into the small courtyard before her, frowning as she observed her surroundings.

A cold wind blew up the fallen leaves, making the withered grass by the roadside rustle.

Hongxia cautiously peeked out from Liang's left side and looked at the inner plaza in front of her. She felt a little relieved after confirming that the place, at least on the surface, seemed to be fine and had decent landscaping.

"The grass is all withered and dead, and the tree looks like it's about to die too."

Xingge cautiously peeked out from Liang's right side, carefully observed the small square in front of her, and then spoke in a low voice.