But that was true only in the real world. In the Inner World, strength ruled supreme, and there was no such thing as monogamy.
"It's already getting late. Let's find somewhere to rest," Tsukikawa Shu said.
Goto Hitori nodded.
Just as the two of them looked around, planning to find a safe place like they had yesterday, several figures appeared ahead. A group of people was walking along while arguing, and they did not seem to be getting along particularly well.
"They seem to be from Seaside Comprehensive High School."
Goto Hitori watched them for a while before speaking.
Tsukikawa Shu searched his memories and found them somewhat familiar as well.
Seaside Comprehensive High School was a middle school from My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected, and the blue-haired boy leading the group was one of its Student Council members, though he was merely a background character.
Tsukikawa Shu had an extremely poor opinion of that Student Council, because quite a few of its members were arrogant, fond of giving orders from on high, unwilling to act personally, and unwilling to take responsibility.
"I'm from the Student Council. I'm far more capable than you lot. If you keep refusing to follow my orders, don't blame me for withholding the supplies!"
The blue-haired student at the front was arrogantly barking orders at the few students around him.
The three students around him were angry but dared not speak.
Seaside Comprehensive High School was also a prestigious school. Those who could make it into the Student Council generally surpassed the other students somewhat in leadership ability and intelligence, which established Koda Ken's position within this group.
Originally, he had only been a menial worker in Seaside Comprehensive High School's Student Council. But after arriving in this other world, he had transformed overnight, like a rooster turning into a phoenix, and he had thoroughly tasted the wonderful feeling of holding power.
Holding a bloodstained Steel Pipe, he looked at the blood that had yet to fully dry on it and revealed a delighted smile.
He had once been nothing more than a rule-abiding student, but in this unconstrained other world, all the ugliness of human nature had been unleashed.
Especially after discovering that killing other players could earn him Experience Points and all of their items, he completely cast off his disguise as an exemplary student.
Monsters were vicious, but people were much weaker, especially now that the Inner World had only opened for the first time and those who entered had little combat ability.
He would first approach them under the guise of being the exemplary student he used to be, then reveal his true colors and launch a sneak attack.
Players gave far more Experience Points than low-level monsters.
Not only that, he had recruited three students from his school and threatened them into working with him.
Working together meant sharing Experience Points. Refusing meant death.
By threatening them while also offering benefits, Koda Ken successfully formed a team dedicated to hunting players.
Aside from killing people to seize their Experience Points, they had also violated two female students.
"This other world is dangerous. If you aren't ruthless, you won't survive."
Koda Ken was still carrying out his manipulation. "Your conscience and morality are worthless."
"As for those women you played with, who would know? They're so weak that they only have death awaiting them in this world. They might as well contribute some Experience Points and let us have some fun while they're at it. You don't want such good Experience Packs going to those monsters, do you?"
The other three said nothing, tacitly accepting Koda Ken's words.
After all, when they encountered those two young female students, they had failed to resist temptation as well. Koda Ken had taken the lead, and they had followed afterward.
"As long as none of you speak, and I don't speak, no one will know what we did in this world. Once we return to the original world, we can still live normal lives," Koda Ken reminded them again.
At that moment, Koda Ken spotted Tsukikawa Shu and Goto Hitori standing in the distance.
Likewise, Tsukikawa Shu and Goto Hitori were watching them.
After leveling up, Tsukikawa Shu's body had improved as well. His eyesight was excellent, and from far away, he could already see the bloodstains on the weapons held by the four people ahead.
"Did you two also just arrive in this world?"
The moment Koda Ken saw living people, his expression immediately changed. He put on the gentle, exemplary-student appearance he once had and approached with his Steel Pipe in hand.
The other three silently followed behind him with their weapons.
Four against two, and one of them was a skinny, frail-looking girl. They were no match for them at all, so Koda Ken could not be bothered to keep up the act for long.
The Inner World had only begun less than two days ago. Everyone's levels should have been roughly similar, but Koda Ken's team had hunted several players, giving them a certain overwhelming advantage over others. They had nothing to fear.
They only needed to lower the other side's guard at first. Once they got close, they could take down these two Experience Packs.
Tsukikawa Shu did not answer him.
Whether based on his memories of this minor character or the current situation, Tsukikawa Shu was certain that this guy had completely revealed his true nature in the Inner World.
Koda Ken still looked convincing, appearing harmless to humans and animals alike, but the fact that all four of them were charging straight over with weapons already made the problem obvious.
"Hitori, prepare for battle."
Tsukikawa Shu spoke.
Goto Hitori nodded as well.
Perfect. Tsukikawa Shu had been planning to see what skills he could plunder by defeating players.
"This world is dangerous. It's rare to meet people who were transported here too. How about joining our team?"
As Koda Ken spoke, he moved closer to the two of them. At the same time, he quietly reached behind his back and gripped a dagger hidden there.
"Nice to meet you."
Tsukikawa Shu approached with a smile on his face as well.
Seeing the other party walk toward him, Koda Ken was overjoyed.
"Brothers, take out the guy first. As for the girl... well, she's a little plain, but she'll do. Have fun with her however you want."
Koda Ken slightly turned his head and spoke to the three male students behind him.
Both sides drew closer step by step.
Just as they were about to enter attack range, the corners of Koda Ken's mouth split into a smile.
"Die!"
He suddenly drew his dagger and made a stabbing motion.
After leveling up, Koda Ken had gained reaction speed greater than that of an ordinary person, and his attack was extremely fast.
But the next second, he looked up and saw an iron hammer smashing down toward his head!
It was Tsukikawa Shu's newly acquired Green Gear Weapon, the Skull Crusher Hammer.
Tsukikawa Shu no longer bothered pretending. His smile was completely gone, replaced only by absolute indifference.
In terms of speed, Tsukikawa Shu was faster than Koda Ken!
Koda Ken's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly switched from offense to defense and used his dagger to block Tsukikawa Shu's hammer.
Clang!
Koda Ken's dagger was smashed apart, and his entire arm went numb with pain.
Only then did Koda Ken realize that the person before him was at an even higher level than he was, and the quality of his weapon was utterly overwhelming.
His own dagger was only white gear, while the other party's hammer was at least one grade higher.
"What are you standing around for?! Get him!"
Koda Ken shouted at the others around him.
The other three male students had also been stirred into action.
Although they did not know Tsukikawa Shu's level, they should still have a chance with several against one.
But at that moment, an incredibly despondent voice drifted over.
"Do you really think you're that impressive?"
Goto Hitori had once again taken on that lifeless-eyed appearance.
"We're all the same. We're nothing but expendable materials for society."
"Even after coming to the Inner World, we're still pathetic losers. When we return to the real world, we'll still be exploited by countless people standing high above us..."
"What meaning is there in fighting?"
Her voice was like a basin of icy water poured over the hearts of Koda Ken and the other four. Negative emotions crashed over them like a tidal wave.
"Yeah... what's the point of fighting?"
"Maybe I should just let myself be killed now. Going back to the real world to work myself to death would be worse than dying anyway."
"We'll all die in this hopeless world, right? Rather than dying at the hands of monsters, it would be better to die at the hands of fellow humans. At least it wouldn't hurt..."
The eyes of the three male students who had originally charged forward so fiercely all became hollow and lost. They lost their will to fight, and even breathing became difficult.
Koda Ken also felt an intense aversion to battle, to the point that he wanted to find a rock and smash himself to death.
"No... this must be some kind of sinister skill. Don't let it affect you!"
Koda Ken, whose level was relatively high, still had some resistance. He shouted with the last of his rationality.
However, the three male students in front of him remained motionless and dropped their weapons one after another.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Tsukikawa Shu would not let such an opportunity slip by. He raised his hammer and mercilessly smashed open the heads of the three male students.
Blood and white brain matter splattered everywhere.
Tsukikawa Shu did not care whether they had been good people in the real world. As long as they wanted to threaten him in the Inner World, they all had to be eliminated completely.
Koda Ken's face turned deathly pale.
Run! I have to run! These two have no idea what kind of sinister skills they're using. If this continues, I'll definitely die!
But at that moment, his brain and body had completely lost coordination.
Negative emotions devoured the last of his reason. His entire body was unable to move, and he had already entered the most comfortable state possible for facing death.
Koda Ken could only raise his vacant, despairing eyes and watch the hammer fall mercilessly, rapidly growing larger in his vision.
After dealing with the four male students, Tsukikawa Shu put away his hammer.
"What the hell? Their levels were way too low." Tsukikawa Shu was somewhat disappointed.
At first, he had been planning to go all out. But after killing them all, he discovered that their levels were actually nothing special.
That somewhat familiar Seaside Comprehensive High School Student Council member was only level 8. The others were level 5 or 6. Tsukikawa Shu, whose level was two or three times higher than theirs, could have subdued them barehanded.
And although these four looked rather impressive, not a single one of them had awakened a class.
Without a class, they would not drop a Class Card.
The only skill had been dropped by Koda Ken.
[Power Amplification (Beginner)] [After activation, increases strength and speed by 10% for thirty seconds]
It was something with little practical use.
"Still better than nothing."
Once a certain order had been established in the Inner World, this Skill Card should be exchangeable with other players for something else. Skills were hard to come by. The only known methods of obtaining them were receiving one as a possible random system reward after reaching a certain level, or finding one while exploring the map.
Those truly unlucky people who had not triggered system rewards or found Skill Cards through exploration could only grudgingly trade other things with people for Skill Cards.
At that moment, Goto Hitori ran over. Looking at the corpses on the ground, she felt somewhat nauseated.
It was her first time seeing people die, and the scene was extremely bloody.
And this was also her first time killing someone... even if she had not killed them directly.
Could she die like this someday too?
But at that moment, that warm, solid chest moved close once more and embraced her restless emotions.
Before you continue