The Mastermind Behind the Scenes, Starting with *The Fruit of Grisaia*

Gantz, S Points, mission objectives, hidden monsters...

Lines of text entered his field of vision, gradually aligning with the various speculations he had held in his mind.

"So that's how it is..."

After reading the data, Hirata Yosuke could not help but clench his fists, his face filled with irrepressible indignation:

"What kind of hellish trial is this... to actually turn the school building into a slaughterhouse? To disregard the lives of so many innocent students... could the school's upper management really have tacitly approved of this?!"

Tacitly approved, huh...

Recalling the ambiguous attitude of Chabashira Sae.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka already had the answer in his heart.

But he did not voice this speculation aloud.

He handed the phone back to Amikura Mako, then walked over to Hirata, helping him to a more concealed corner to sit and rest his eyes.

After finishing all this, Ayanokoji finally looked back toward the side window, his gaze seemingly piercing through the darkness.

"According to Ichinose, as long as we wait for the 'Qualified Ones' to clear out these monsters, the exam will end."

Amikura Mako looked at him somewhat nervously:

"So, are you planning to...?"

"Naturally, I am waiting."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka spoke as if it were a matter of course:

"Even if we need to find hemostatics and antibiotics for Hirata, we can only act once Horikita and the others have cleared a safe passage."

"Based on what Ichinose described, these monsters are likely not something we can handle empty-handed."

Even though Ayanokoji was confident that, even if he were to face the Dual-Blade Kabane that had easily severed Hirata's left arm, he would be able to subdue it as long as he had a suitable weapon.

However, the "hidden monsters" mentioned in Ichinose's data forced Ayanokoji to remain cautious.

There is a saying: when facing zombies, you don't need to run fast; you only need to run faster than your companions.

While not to be taken literally, in an environment filled with unknown variables, exposing one's trump cards too early was by no means a wise move.

Just as he was pondering this.

Amikura Mako, who should have been keeping watch on the corridor, suddenly let out a short, sharp cry of surprise.

"What is that?!"

Hearing this, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's muscles instantly tensed, and he looked up sharply.

But what he saw was a face equally filled with confusion.

Amikura Mako blinked, looking at Ayanokoji with some bewilderment:

"...What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"..."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's pupils constricted.

That exclamation just now was not an auditory hallucination.

Amikura Mako had definitely seen something, but in less than a second, it was as if she had suffered a memory lapse, completely forgetting what she had just seen?

A strong sense of dissonance crawled up his spine to his scalp.

Ayanokoji did not answer, instead quickly scanning his surroundings.

Finally, his gaze fixed on the corner of the laboratory, in the backlit shadow of a display cabinet.

Standing there.

A bizarre creature wearing a black suit, with skin as pale as paper and a face resembling a fusion of the famous painting The Scream and a Grey alien, stood silently.

It tilted its oversized head, as if observing them.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka blinked, pursing his lips and biting down until he left a mark.

He believed that Amikura Mako had indeed seen something just now.

And the reason she had a memory lapse now was likely the work of this monster.

Is this... some kind of cognitive-based rule-kill?

So, what should he do now?

Strike first? Or... pretend he didn't see it?

Meanwhile, at the other end of the third-floor corridor.

"Puchi—!"

The wind of the blade whistled, slicing a lunging Kabane in half.

Ryuen Kakeru shook the blood off his blade, his eyes gleaming with a fierce light.

"Not bad, this thing is way more useful than an iron pipe."

After sighing with emotion, he turned his head and asked Shiina Hiyori:

"What's the situation? How many survivors are left?"

Before Shiina Hiyori could open her mouth, Ichinose Honami already spoke up anxiously:

"It's no good, the situation is even worse than we anticipated."

"Except for three people who are gathered together and safe for the moment, the rest of the survivors are too scattered... Just a moment ago, two more light dots disappeared."

As she said this, she bit her lip, her eyes filled with unbearable distress.

Hearing this, Yamada Albert, who had been silently acting as a competent enforcer, pushed up his sunglasses and asked in confusion:

"How many people were there at the start?"

Behind them, Shiina Hiyori, who was responsible for keeping watch, reminded them softly:

"There were ten people originally, now there are three left."

"What the...?"

Yamada Albert let out a rare curse, his face full of astonishment:

"Isn't that game over? Seven dead? Won't that deduct all our points directly?!"

"Tsk."

Ryuen Kakeru had a gloomy face.

"Even if we look at it optimistically, with one point deducted for each person, we are already carrying a debt of seven points..."

What the hell, why is it that whenever he finally has the advantage, these weird issues pop up? This dog-shit rule, is this even reasonable?

He gripped the hilt of his blade tightly and spat fiercely:

"No choice now."

"We go find those remaining three people first! Otherwise, even if we kill every single monster in this exam, it'll all be for nothing in the end!"

"Let's go!"

Ichinose Honami quickly followed.

But the reason for her anxiety was not for the sake of points.

Looking at the three green dots on the screen representing the survivors huddled together, she prayed silently in her heart.

I hope that's Mako...

Please, you must be okay!

Compared to Ichinose's deep worry, Shiranami Chihiro, who was following at the end of the team, had thoughts that were much simpler and more straightforward.

She gripped the Y-GUN in her hand tightly, her gaze constantly following Ichinose's back in front of her.

Although they were in a dangerous situation, she felt inexplicably fortunate in her heart.

It's a good thing I wasn't grouped with that man this time.

If I were in a group with Su Wei...

Whenever she thought of that man—the one who had saved Ichinose's life and with whom something clearly happened after she sought him out—Shiranami Chihiro felt a wave of awkwardness.

If that guy had happened to be grouped with Honami-chan...

In an environment where the suspension bridge effect was in full swing, if he were to show off a bit and perform some hero-saves-the-beauty... the scene was simply too terrifying to imagine!

Maybe by the time the exam ended, Honami-chan's heart would have been stolen away! At that point, I'd probably be reduced to the role of playing the flute on the sidelines to provide background music?!

Gah, why is my imagination so vivid!

No! Absolutely not!!!

Perhaps, the thoughts and desires of a young girl in love are just that simple and humble.

After all, for Shiranami Chihiro.

She only needed to empty her mind and unconditionally believe in Ichinose Honami.

And belief...

Belief needs no reason!

As long as she could guard by Honami-chan's side, even if it were hell, it would be heaven!

--End of Chapter--

py<Dead People Chat Group, Goal: Win the Resurrection Match>

Lin Yuan died, and after death, he joined a chat group.

However, he felt that something was wrong.

What does it mean, this is a chat group that only dead people can join?

Looking at his group members who were all without exception deceased, Lin Yuan let out a confused sound:

"So, is our top priority right now to win the resurrection tournament?"

"Wait, holy crap, you didn't tell me we could actually win the resurrection tournament!"

Years later, after everyone had been resurrected.

[Jonathan Joestar: DIO, don't think it's over just because you fled to Egypt. I've been resurrected to come collect you!]

[David Martinez: V-Megatron has already reached Night City, so when can I return from the dead?]

[Jie: Having been gone for so many years, I wonder how they are doing in Great Yan... Hm? What does it mean to be resurrected?]

[Himmel: The Himmel Era? It's already over!]

[Emiya Kiritsugu: What do you mean, it's already the Fifth War, and I have to start playing the resurrection tournament?]

[Carmen: The top priority is to micromanage the next stage so the Seed of Light can launch successfully.]

Watching the group members who had already been resurrected, Lin Yuan fussed over his own body.

"Year after year, I'm practically turning into a necromancer. When can I be resurrected?"

Chapter 25: Ayanokoji's Gambit

Following the guidance of the Black Gun radar, the group was surprised to discover that the marker representing the survivors was currently lingering not far behind them.

"Great, they're right ahead."

Shiranami Chihiro gripped her weapon tightly and looked at Ichinose Honami beside her.

"Perhaps Amikura-san is with them, having dodged the Kabane!"

"Mm... I hope so too."

Ichinose Honami bit her lip lightly and assessed the situation once more: