"You have entered the Game Club."
"Complete and win any game match."
Amamiya Natsuki calmly surveyed his surroundings.
The Game Club wasn't very big, but it had everything you could want. There were claw machines, pachinko machines, and even a mahjong table. It was quite well-equipped.
The air was thick with a foul stench of blood. Besides Amamiya Natsuki and his two companions, who had just come in, there were several Unlucky Players. They were all pale and grim-faced, huddling in a corner and trembling as if they were helpless girls about to be violated at any moment.
In the middle of the Game Club stood a blonde girl in a school uniform, which was splattered with blood. The corners of her mouth had been cut open like the Slit-Mouthed Woman's, leaving two wounds with flesh turned outward. Needless to say, she was clearly the Vengeful Spirit haunting the Game Club.
"You three humans actually dared to walk in here on your own?"
The Vengeful Spirit Girl tilted her head and looked at them in puzzlement.
Amamiya Natsuki stepped forward half a pace and replied nonchalantly:
"I was bored, so I came to play a game."
At his words, the Unlucky Players huddled in the corner all stared at him in shock.
"Is that guy an idiot?"
"Definitely."
"He has no idea how terrifying the game is."
"What a waste. He's so good-looking, but he's a moron."
"..."
"Very well. I admire your courage." The Vengeful Spirit Girl licked her lips, excitement flashing in her eyes, and began explaining the Game Rules. "Cards, dice, Ludo, Mahjong... You can choose any game in the Game Club and play it with me. If you win, you can leave. If you lose, you'll leave behind your most precious heart."
"Wait a second," Amamiya Natsuki said.
"What, are you backing out?"
The Vengeful Spirit Girl frowned.
"Who told you my heart was the most precious thing to me?"
"Then what is?"
Amamiya Natsuki turned to the cat-eared girl beside him, her expression blank. "The most precious thing to me... is, of course, Kaguya-classmate."
Chapter 19: I Stand Against Gambling and Drugs
"...Human, what did you say?"
The Vengeful Spirit Girl tilted her head and stared at him in surprise.
Amamiya Natsuki turned to the cat-eared girl at his side, his tone sincere and his gaze earnest.
"From the very first moment I saw Kaguya-classmate, I was already hopelessly smitten."
"Right now, I want to say it out loud—"
"Kaguya-classmate is the most precious and important thing to me, far more important than my heart."
"..."
Everyone in the Game Club, from the Unlucky Players to the Vengeful Spirit club member, turned to look at Shinomiya Kaguya.
The long-haired, cat-eared beauty remained cool and composed, her expression unchanged.
"Kaguya-chan, Amamiya-classmate just confessed to you!"
Fujiwara Chika's eyes widened as she exclaimed.
The cat ears atop Shinomiya Kaguya's head twitched slightly. She couldn't help glancing at her friend.
Use the damn fat on your chest to think for a second. How could this possibly be a confession? He obviously just wants to use me as a prop!
Still... In all these years, not only had no one ever confessed to her in person, she hadn't even received a single Locker Love Letter.
At that very moment, a boy had suddenly 'confessed' to her face. Even knowing it was all an act, Shinomiya Kaguya still felt a little conflicted.
The first time someone had confessed to her, and he only wanted to use her as a prop.
My heart is breaking!
"Heh."
The Vengeful Spirit Girl let out a low laugh. Her cut-open mouth looked all the more sinister and terrifying as she fixed her gaze on Kaguya and rasped, "You heard what he said just now, didn't you? Are you willing to become this boy's wager?"
As a Genius Girl, Shinomiya Kaguya was quite calm. She replied evenly:
"I am."
The Vengeful Spirit Girl paused, then raised her right hand. Her nails were sharp, and blood still clung to them. With a sinister expression, she said, "If he loses the game, I'll take out your heart."
Shinomiya Kaguya folded her arms across her chest. "I believe in Amamiya-classmate."
"Tch~"
The Vengeful Spirit Girl snorted, clearly displeased. A malicious smile appeared on her face. "Fine, then. You two had better not regret it later."
The several Unlucky Players in the corner gaped in astonishment.
"Hey, hey, you can actually do that?"
"Using a girl as a shield? Shameless!"
"Damn it, we're in a Horror Game, and I still have to watch them be lovey-dovey!"
"They have no idea how terrifying the game is. They'll be crying before long."
"..."
"Enough chatter." The Vengeful Spirit Girl said impatiently, "You have one minute to choose a game. Then it'll be one round to decide the winner. If you win, you can leave. If you lose, I'll dig out that girl's heart."
"One minute isn't necessary." Amamiya Natsuki glanced around the Activity Room and said casually, "Let's play dice. Whoever rolls the higher number wins."
The few players in the corner were stunned.
"Is that guy an idiot?"
"He could at least play a fighting game. Then he'd have a chance to compete with skill and experience. What's with comparing numbers? That's just a game of luck."
"Trusting the wrong person!"
"Damn it, why did such a cute girl have to end up with a scumbag?"
"..."
"Very well. I admire your courage." The Vengeful Spirit Girl smiled, folding her arms across her chest as she gestured toward the Mahjong table. "The dice are here. You can go first."
"I'll go first."
Amamiya Natsuki didn't hesitate. He stepped forward twice to stand beside the Vengeful Spirit Girl, picked up two dice from the Mahjong table, then casually tossed them onto it while everyone watched.
"One landed on four, and the other is... five!"
"A total of nine. Not bad luck."
Amamiya Natsuki looked at the Vengeful Spirit Girl. "Your turn."
The Vengeful Spirit Girl picked up the dice and threw them onto the table. They rolled rapidly.
One of them stopped quickly. It had also landed on four.
Seeing this, the players all breathed a sigh of relief.
"Both rolled a four. For the Vengeful Spirit to win, the other die has to land on six. There's only a one-in-three chance she'll win."
Everyone's eyes fell on the second die, including Shinomiya Kaguya and Fujiwara Chika.
It gradually slowed.
The second die was about to stop. A three was clearly showing on top.
"Kaguya-chan, we won!"
Fujiwara Chika called out happily.
The next moment.
Bang!
The girl suddenly slammed her hand on the table. The die that was about to stop started rolling again, and its number changed straight to six.
"Oh? Looks like I win now."
The Vengeful Spirit Girl grinned, her smile sinister and terrifying.
"You cheated!" Fujiwara Chika cried furiously. "We'd already won!"
"I never said cheating was forbidden during a game." The Vengeful Spirit Girl licked her lips and looked at Kaguya, her eyes flickering red. "A bet is a bet. Now I'll take out her heart."
Amamiya Natsuki's expression remained blank.
"You even cheat at a game? Can't handle losing?"
"Human, what are you talking about?" The Vengeful Spirit Girl whipped her head around. "Do you want me to tear you apart?"
Amamiya Natsuki kicked the table over. "If you can't handle losing, then let's not play."
"Human, you're dead!"
The Vengeful Spirit Girl flew into a rage. Bloody tears welled at the corners of her eyes as she lunged straight at Amamiya Natsuki.
Amamiya Natsuki quickly retreated two steps and hid behind Kaguya. Then he turned and shouted:
"Dean, someone's bullying the kitty!"
"..."
Bang!
The door burst open.
The tall, taciturn Dean, shrouded in black mist, walked in.
The Vengeful Spirit Girl shuddered in fright and scrambled backward like a mouse that had seen a cat.
"Look here."
Amamiya Natsuki pointed at Kaguya's shoulder. "There's still blood on her. She's a cat abuser."
"You're lying! I didn't do that!"
The Vengeful Spirit Girl was so furious that bloody tears welled at the corners of her eyes.
You were the one who rubbed the blood on her just now, and now you're framing a Vengeful Spirit! Are you even human?
"Not only does she bully cats, she's also running an illegal gambling operation in the Activity Room," Amamiya Natsuki said righteously.
"I'll kill you!"
The Vengeful Spirit Girl instantly flew into a rage and charged at him.
The Dean silently reached out with his right hand, grabbed the Vengeful Spirit Girl's head, and crushed it. His voice was low as he said:
"Gambling is forbidden on school grounds. It must be severely punished."
"..."
At the same time.
A notification sounded in the minds of every player present.
[Important data lost. The scene has collapsed.] [Congratulations, player. You have successfully cleared this game scene.]
"We cleared it?"
The several players hiding in the corner were first bewildered, then overjoyed.
They hadn't done anything at all, and they'd cleared the game just by lying low. Nothing in the world could be more delightful.
"All done." Amamiya Natsuki kept his right hand in his pocket and looked at the cat-eared girl beside him. He praised her, "Kaguya-classmate, you're a god."
Fujiwara Chika nodded and echoed him: "Kaguya-classmate, you're a god."
Before you continue