Limited Quota

Yuigahama Yui rubbed her eyes specifically to ensure she wasn't seeing things, and this strange action of hers caught Yukinoshita Yukino's attention.

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

"I think I recognize the person helping behind the scenes!"

"So... how did you manage to pick out that person named 'Yang Peng' from so many people in the photo at a single glance?"

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

Yuigahama Yui couldn't quite say why she felt the young man standing in the center was Yang Peng; perhaps it was the unique aura belonging to the youth.

"Then are we currently in Yang Peng's temporary base? After all, Yang Peng once left a note saying he would do everything in his power to help those newcomers. I didn't expect he had even set foot here."

Yukinoshita Yukino was somewhat shocked. She had originally thought Yang Peng was a person with a strong sense of responsibility and a heart full of kindness, but now it seemed Yang Peng's strength was not to be underestimated. Just managing so many people required more than just a bit of brains and means to command respect.

"Let's search around then, to see if Yang Peng left any clues."

Yuigahama Yui darted her eyes left and right, almost resorting to using her nose to sniff for any strange odors in the room.

"Isn't that a bit exaggerated?"

Yukino felt a sense of amusement at Yuigahama Yui's dramatic behavior, but no matter how the two searched, there wasn't a single clue in the room.

"Could this just be a simple resting point?"

Yukino was somewhat unwilling to give up; she searched carefully once more, not even sparing the gaps in the bed.

"It seems there really are no clues here. Let's leave quickly."

Yukino pulled the bedsheet off the bed, preparing to cover her head with it again to move forward.

"Alright."

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

The corridor outside remained pitch black, and the dripping sound of water continued.

"Seems like it's fine."

After reporting the information to Yukino, Yuigahama Yui ducked under the shelter of the bedsheet.

The two set off on the path to find the way out once more, only they didn't notice... they were getting further and further away from that green door...

Perhaps due to the deterrent presence of the man, the two traveled smoothly along the way and were soon about to reach the path to survival.

By this time, the bedsheet had already been soaked through by more than half from the water droplets.

Both of them could feel the dampness of the sheet and the burning sensation on their hands.

Finally... the two reached the end of the path to survival. They took off the sheet; the burning sensation on their hands had not subsided, but their focus was not on their hands, but on the door.

They saw a string of glowing small characters written in front of the survival door.

"This path only accommodates one person."

The two girls looked at each other by the faint blue light. Although the light source was dim, both could clearly see the surprise and shock on each other's faces.

"What do we do? It didn't say it was limited to one person when we came..."

Yuigahama Yui panicked slightly. If only one person could pass, it meant one person had to make a sacrifice. Whether it was a friend or herself, this was an ending Yuigahama Yui did not want to see.

"We clearly have two people, why is it limited to one? Could it be..."

Tap, tap, tap.

Footsteps sounded in the dark corridor once again. It seemed the battle between the vicious dog and the male corpse had come to an end, and the victor naturally had to continue hunting its prey.

"He's chasing us again. Yuigahama-san, you go first."

"But..."

"There are no 'buts'." Yukino placed both hands on Yuigahama Yui's shoulders, her expression serious. "After you escape from here, go find Bai-kun and tell him everything that happened here.

The most important thing now is information; he doesn't understand the situation in the basement. These messages must be delivered to him, even if it costs a life."

"Then what about you?"

Yuigahama Yui was on the verge of tears. For the first time, she felt how weak she was; not only was her friend about to face danger, but her own chance of escape was being earned by her friend facing that danger head-on.

"I will try my best to stay alive. If possible, I believe you will come to save me."

Yukino wasn't certain about the second half of her sentence either. She just didn't want Yuigahama Yui to have too heavy a psychological burden. Furthermore, Yukino had a new hypothesis in her heart, and for that, she was willing to pay the price of her life to verify it.

"Alright, there isn't much time left. Go quickly, I need to hide first."

After Yukino finished speaking, she picked up the bedsheet and draped it over herself again. Since it was only Yukino this time, her movement speed was very fast.

It was also fortunate that the basement corridors were interconnected, unlike the upper floors which were linear.

Yuigahama Yui looked at Yukino's receding figure, gritted her teeth, and then pulled the door open and walked inside.

Following a flash of light, Yuigahama Yui found herself lying on a dilapidated bed.

She looked around, and upon seeing the bloodstains splattered on the wall, she knew she had returned to Room 102.

Before she could even catch her breath, she hurriedly pushed the door open and ran toward the corridor, calling out Bai Yuze's name as she ran.

But she forgot that it was nighttime, and thus her movements quickly attracted the attention of the monsters.

At this moment, the door to 104 opened, and Bai Yuze reached out to pull Yuigahama Yui inside.

"What are you screaming for? Do you have a death wish? And where is Yukino?"

Bai Yuze asked the disheveled Yuigahama Yui, while simultaneously noticing the wounds on her hands.

These wounds... did she come into contact with some kind of corrosive liquid?

"Li... Little Ze... you! Cough, cough, cough! Go save her! Cough, cough, cough."

Yuigahama Yui was too anxious and accidentally choked on her own throat.

"Don't rush, tell me slowly."

Bai Yuze patted Yuigahama Yui on the back, his tone soothing.

At this point, Bai Yuze realized that Yuigahama Yui and Yukino had run into trouble in the basement, and that Yukino's situation was likely dire.

Once she calmed down, Yuigahama Yui recounted everything she had seen and heard in the basement to Bai Yuze without missing a single detail, and she even pulled out that photograph to show him.

Bai Yuze's expression shifted from confusion to growing gravity.

"What should we do, Little Ze! Xiaoxue is still in there!"

Yuigahama Yui was extremely anxious; she didn't want to see anything happen to any of the three of them. Therefore, she was torn between wanting Bai Yuze to go with her to save Yukino and not wanting him to risk his own life.

"Don't worry yet. Since the basement is very spacious, it means Yukino won't be caught by the male corpse so easily."

"But the water dripping from the ceiling is corrosive; Xiaoxue won't be able to hold out for long in that dark environment."

Yuigahama Yui hurriedly reminded him.

"I know, but the more important problem right now is that the rules you saw are fake!"

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

"What? Fake!"