A Limited Number of Spots

Yuigahama Yui rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't seeing things. Her strange action caught Yukino's attention.

"What's wrong? Is there something unbelievable in the photo?"

"I think I know what the mastermind's helper looks like!"

"So... how did you pick out the one called 'Yang Peng' from all those people in the photo?"

"Ehehe, I don't know either. Maybe this is what they call intuition."

Yuigahama Yui couldn't say why she thought the young man standing in the center was Yang Peng. Perhaps it was the unique aura that young people had.

"So are we in Yang Peng's temporary base now? He did leave a note saying he'd do everything he could to help the newcomers. I never expected he'd been here, too."

Yukinoshita Yukino was somewhat shocked. She'd thought Yang Peng was a kindhearted man with a strong sense of responsibility, but now it seemed his abilities were formidable as well. Managing so many people would take brains and skill if he wanted to earn their respect.

"Then let's look around and see if Yang Peng left any clues."

Yuigahama Yui looked this way and that, almost as if she were about to sniff around the room for strange odors.

"Isn't that a bit much?"

Yukino found Yuigahama Yui's exaggerated behavior amusing, but no matter how thoroughly they searched, there wasn't a single clue in the room.

"Could this just be a simple resting place?"

Yukino wasn't satisfied. She searched the room again, carefully and thoroughly, even checking the gaps in the bed.

"It looks like there really aren't any clues here. Let's hurry and leave."

Yukino pulled the bedsheet off the bed, preparing to cover her head with it again before moving on.

"All right."

Yuigahama Yui tucked the photo into her pocket, walked to the door, and opened it.

The corridor outside was still pitch-black, and the dripping sound continued.

"Seems fine."

After reporting what she'd found to Yukino, Yuigahama Yui crawled under the protection of the bedsheet.

The two set off again in search of a way out, unaware that they were getting farther and farther from that Green Gate...

Perhaps the man's presence was intimidating. The two encountered no obstacles along the way and soon reached the path to safety.

By then, more than half the bedsheet had been soaked by the dripping water.

They could both feel how damp the bedsheet was, as well as the burning sensation on their hands.

At last... the two reached the end of the path to safety. They took off the bedsheet. The burning sensation in their hands hadn't faded, but neither of them was thinking about that. Their attention was fixed on the door.

A string of glowing words was written in front of the door to safety.

"This passage admits only one person."

In the faint blue light, the two women looked at each other. Though the light source was dim, they could clearly see the surprise and shock on each other's faces.

"What should we do? It didn't say only one person could pass when we came here..."

Yuigahama Yui was starting to panic. If only one person could pass, that meant one of them would have to make a sacrifice. Whether it was her friend or herself, it was an ending Yuigahama Yui didn't want to see.

"We're clearly two people, so why does it only allow one? Could it be..."

Footsteps sounded again in the dark corridor.

It seemed the battle between the vicious dog and the Male Corpse had ended. The victor would naturally continue hunting its prey.

"He's coming after us again. Yuigahama, you go first."

"But..."

"There's no 'but.'" Yukino placed both hands on Yuigahama Yui's shoulders, her expression serious. "Once you get out, find Bai-kun and tell him everything that happened here.

"Information is what matters most right now. He doesn't know what the basement is like. We have to get this news to him, even if it costs us our lives."

"What about you?"

Yuigahama Yui was nearly in tears. For the first time, she felt so helpless. Not only was her friend about to face danger, but her own chance to escape had been won by her friend confronting that danger.

"I'll do my best to stay alive. If I can, I believe you'll come back to save me."

Yukino wasn't sure about the second half of what she'd said. She simply didn't want Yuigahama Yui to feel too guilty. Besides, she'd formed a new theory, and she was willing to risk her life to test it.

"All right, there's no time. Go quickly. I'll hide."

After speaking, Yukino picked up the bedsheet again and draped it over herself. Since she was alone this time, she could move much faster.

Fortunately, the basement corridors branched out in every direction, unlike the upper floors, which were laid out in a straight line.

Yuigahama Yui watched Yukino's retreating figure, gritted her teeth, then opened the door and went inside.

A flash of light passed, and Yuigahama Yui found herself lying on a shabby bed.

She looked around. When she saw the splattered bloodstains on the wall, she knew she was back in Room 102.

Before she could catch her breath, she pushed open the door and rushed into the corridor, calling Bai Yuze's name as she ran.

But she'd forgotten that it was nighttime. Her commotion quickly attracted the monsters' attention.

Just then, the door to Room 104 opened, and Bai Yuze reached out and pulled Yuigahama Yui inside.

"What are you shouting for? Do you want to die? And where's Yukino?"

Bai Yuze asked the disheveled Yuigahama Yui, noticing the wounds on her hands at the same time.

(Those wounds... Did she come into contact with some kind of corrosive liquid?)

"Xiaoxue... Xiaoxue! Cough, cough! Go save her! Cough, cough!"

Yuigahama Yui was so anxious that she accidentally choked.

"Don't panic. Take your time."

Bai Yuze patted Yuigahama Yui on the back and spoke soothingly.

By then, Bai Yuze had realized that Yuigahama Yui and Yukino had run into trouble in the basement, and that Yukino might already be in grave danger.

Once she'd calmed down, Yuigahama Yui told Bai Yuze everything she'd seen and heard in the basement, without leaving anything out. She also took out the photo and showed it to him.

Bai Yuze's expression grew more and more serious, replacing his initial confusion.

"What should we do, Bai-kun? Xiaoxue's still in there!"

Yuigahama Yui was extremely anxious. She didn't want anything to happen to any of them, so she wanted Bai Yuze to go with her to save Yukino, but didn't want him to risk his life.

"Don't panic. If the basement is as spacious as you say, then Yukino won't be caught by the Male Corpse so easily."

"But the water dripping from the ceiling is corrosive! Xiaoxue won't last long in the dark!"

Yuigahama Yui hurriedly reminded him.

"I know. But the more important problem is that the rule you saw is fake!"

Bai Yuze's words struck Yuigahama Yui like a bolt of lightning.

"What? Fake?!"