A Reality With Nowhere Left to Retreat

"I'm not asking for much, how about one million points? Surely, for the student council president, such an amount is nothing."

"In your dreams! I'd rather drop out than let you get your way!"

Horikita Suzune glared at Bai Yuze with fury. To her, her own situation didn't matter; as long as it didn't negatively impact Horikita Manabu, she was fine.

Bai Yuze shrugged, mocking her.

"You're still too naive. Even if you drop out, what would that accomplish? What could you possibly salvage for your beloved brother?"

Bai Yuze was right. Regardless of whether Horikita Suzune dropped out or not, Horikita Manabu's reputation would be damaged. If she did drop out, it would undoubtedly reinforce the fact that Horikita Manabu bullied students, even if that student was his own younger sister.

"You bastard..."

"Enough, Suzune!"

Horikita Manabu cut Horikita Suzune off. He adjusted his glasses, his eyes scrutinizing Bai Yuze.

"I can give you one million points, but are you interested in having your doubts answered?"

"You have a lead?"

Bai Yuze slapped his forehead. He had been so focused on the points that he had overlooked the intelligence Horikita Manabu possessed as the student council president!

"Heh! You certainly wouldn't give them to me for free. Could it be that you want to trade information for the evidence I have in my hands?"

Bai Yuze stepped back a few paces because he noticed Horikita Suzune trying to sneak closer to him. He had checked the surroundings before taking the photos; there were no cameras here.

It would be tragic if he accidentally got beaten up by both of them.

"The points don't matter. I want you to do me a favor."

"Speak your mind, though I can't guarantee I'll agree."

"I need you to be responsible for Suzune's safety."

Horikita Manabu's words were shocking, leaving even Horikita Suzune stunned in place.

"You... are you in such a rush to marry off your sister? Allow me to refuse. Your sister's personality is too terrible; I can't handle it."

Bai Yuze's expression of refusal successfully made Horikita Suzune bristle.

"You shameless scum, as if I'd ever be interested in you!"

In all fairness, Horikita Suzune's looks were top-tier. Her innate coldness served as a portable air conditioner during the summer. She had the figure, the looks, and... well, her personality was what it was.

"That's not what I meant. I mean you need to protect Suzune's safety."

Horikita Manabu clenched his fists, then loosened them. After all, teasing a sister-complex's sister in front of him was like an old man hanging himself—he was just asking for death.

"Your sister's personality is a dealbreaker. If I stay with her for too long, I'm afraid I'll have a short life."

Bai Yuze continued to decline. Everyone had their own life to live, and he didn't want his future to be spent constantly watching over a foul-mouthed, brother-obsessed idiot.

"I'm not asking you to watch her every second. You don't need to worry while at school, but if she leaves the school grounds, I need you to keep an eye on her."

"Are you saying we have a chance to leave the school? And that it's not just the school that's unsafe, but the outside world as well?"

"I will answer that question in a moment. What do you think of the proposal?"

Horikita Manabu didn't want to discuss that aspect further and instead began pressing Bai Yuze for an answer.

"Tsk... fine. But if your sister goes looking for death, I can't guarantee anything."

"That is fine." Horikita Manabu glared at Horikita Suzune. "If Suzune is truly eliminated, then it is her own fault."

"Is that so? Then why ask me to be responsible for her safety?"

Bai Yuze laughed wildly in his heart. That's how a classic tsundere was—all bark and no bite.

"Heh, I just think it would be embarrassing if my useless sister were eliminated too early."

Horikita Manabu glared at Horikita Suzune again, while she remained dejected, head bowed, her expression hidden.

"Fine, I agree."

Bai Yuze nodded, then put his phone away and walked toward Horikita Manabu.

"So? Should we exchange numbers? Or add each other..."

Bang!

Bai Yuze's body reacted automatically, his foot blocking the fist Horikita Manabu had swung at him.

"A sneak attack?"

"Just testing the situation."

"How inexplicable."

Bai Yuze muttered, then looked at the self-isolating Horikita Suzune.

"Can she leave for a moment?"

Horikita Manabu didn't speak, only glancing at Horikita Suzune. What made Bai Yuze curious was that even though Horikita Suzune had her head bowed, she somehow understood Horikita Manabu's intent.

As the irrelevant party exited, the two began their conversation.

"Ask away. I will answer your questions to the best of my ability."

"First question, why choose me? I am nothing more than an ordinary student."

Bai Yuze was deeply puzzled; he had only just enrolled, yet Horikita Manabu dared to entrust Horikita Suzune to him with such confidence. It was truly inconceivable.

"If it were the you from this morning, I would never have chosen you, but things are different now."

"The me from this morning?! Could it be that you also...?"

"That's right." Horikita Manabu nodded. "I once absorbed the power of the Gui Dan, which is why I can sense the same power within you."

"What exactly is this Gui Dan?"

The questions in Bai Yuze's mind were piling up—first the bizarre rules, and now this inexplicable power.

"It is complicated to explain. I will compile a separate document and send it to you. Is there anything else you wish to ask?"

Horikita Manabu glanced at his watch, his tone carrying a hint of urgency.

Bai Yuze understood that Horikita Manabu could not stay here for too long, and as for the reason, he suspected it might have something to do with Nagumo Miyabi.

"What do you mean by danger outside the school?"

"I mean the dormitories." Horikita Manabu sighed. "Because so many students have died or been injured there, the eerie atmosphere has grown increasingly dense. For those freshmen, it is lethal."

"The dormitories? But you said danger outside the school; what is the connection between the two?"

"There is one. On their first night, freshmen are randomly teleported by eerie energy into a strange world we call the Rules Horror World.

Freshmen must do everything in their power to find a way to survive within the Rules Horror World; only then can they gain the recognition of the dormitories."

"Then can I avoid this 'lucky' selection? For example, by not returning to the dorms?"

Bai Yuze suddenly realized the truth; no wonder he felt like he was being watched by something the moment he stepped into the dormitory.

He hadn't expected that he had walked straight into a "wolf's den"!

"You're overthinking it." Horikita Manabu shook his head. "Others have tried such measures, but the results proved it was all in vain."

Bai Yuze fell silent. He wanted to ask something else, but Horikita Manabu answered his question before he could speak.

"You must be wondering if dropping out would solve this, but I'm sorry to say, you only had that chance this morning."

Boom!

Horikita Manabu's words struck Bai Yuze like a bolt of lightning.

"Because of... the Gui Dan?"

Faced with Bai Yuze's inquiry, Horikita Manabu remained silent, but Bai Yuze already understood one thing in his heart.

From this moment on, he... had no way out.