This Humble One, Reincarnation Stream Player

"Pah, just lucky, that's all. You just happened to stumble into the basement." Thomas spat, walking away with a look of annoyance.

Yuki let out a long breath, looking as if he were quite wary of the band-member type, and tilted his neck with some difficulty. "Brother Li, I've had excellent observation skills since I was a kid."

"Your swordsmanship is no simple matter either, and your physique is quite robust. No need to explain; everyone keeps a few secrets when they come to this game, but don't hide things from your true teammates."

Compared to Thomas, Li Dan certainly seemed more like a teammate. Yuki nodded heavily, feeling a bit embarrassed instead.

"Brother Li, actually, I'm a semi-professional athlete, second-dan in Kendo. Sorry, I didn't tell you before."

"Second-dan? No wonder that blade was so fast and accurate. Having a weapon that suits you really can exponentially increase your combat effectiveness." Li Dan wore an 'I see' expression, carefully observing Yuki's chapped lips before pulling a few Snickers bars and a bottle of mineral water out as if performing a magic trick.

Oh?

Yuki sat up straight instantly; this time, his surprise wasn't faked.

"After becoming a veteran player, you get a storage space, but it's very small. You'll understand once you clear this dungeon." Li Dan handed over the food and water, thought for a moment, and then produced a roll of bandages.

"Huh? Then why don't you carry some weapons? Like a rocket launcher or something?"

"That's a long story. Anyway, just remember: don't do anything extra. The Reincarnation Game is very clever. Consider this intel a free gift."

You weren't this kind just a moment ago. You must have realized my value.

Yuki accepted the items with profuse thanks. He wasn't stupid, but he only blurted out a question while handing some to Mai Sakurajima: "Were you worried we were veteran players before?"

"Smart. But don't say it out loud next time. In this game, the human heart is the most terrifying thing." Li Dan offered another piece of advice, a flicker of fear appearing on his face. "In a previous dungeon, a veteran player was hiding among the newcomers, and I was almost killed by him. Sorry, I was testing you all, too."

This goodwill wasn't free; it served to flesh out his persona, making his 'good guy' image more believable. Even Yuki felt a sense of affinity toward him.

You are indeed a big shot, but I am no greenhorn either.

Affinity aside, Yuki wasn't foolish enough to reveal all his trump cards. He just nodded heavily. "Mm, I'll remember that."

"Get some rest. Things have only just begun. We'll meet up to discuss in five minutes, then you should hurry and treat your wounds. To be honest, this dungeon is a bit too tricky. It's really strange." Li Dan wore a troubled expression, and Yuki inadvertently pricked up his ears.

"Doesn't the game have difficulty limits?"

"There should be a range, at least. Thomas and I can barely handle it, but it's far too unfriendly for you newcomers. It's very strange."

Friendly? Is anything friendly in this hellhole?

Yuki initially found it ironic, but then he realized Li Dan was right. If this game existed solely to kill people, veteran players shouldn't exist. Since they did, there must be a range—perhaps the limit of these two veterans' abilities—allowing them to bring a portion of the newcomers out alive.

But as long as the Crimson Moon didn't set, these two veterans had no path to survival either.

"Don't let your imagination run wild. Relax. We can still hold on. The Reincarnation Game has a trait: once you grasp the patterns, everything becomes clear."

Li Dan reached out and patted Yuki on the shoulder, looking at him with deep, thoughtful eyes. A scene from moments ago flashed through his mind.

In the hallway, he had aimed his gun at the incoming newcomer, and for some reason, he had felt a sudden urge to execute him.

That makes no sense. A genius is an asset to me.

He masked the oddity in his eyes and turned to go bicker with Thomas.

Watching his back, Yuki felt pensive until the 'crunch-crunch' sound of chewing reached his ears. He turned his head to see Hayasaka Ai and Mai Sakurajima devouring the food, downing half a bottle of mineral water in one go.

All etiquette and elegance had been thrown to the winds; he guessed neither of them had ever been this disheveled in their lives.

And how am I any different?

Yuki looked at the Crimson Moon in the sky, listened to the wailing of the Living Corpses, and glanced at the water bottle in his hand.

Damn, I can't even twist the cap off.

Chapter 16: I'll Gamble With You (Revised)

The rooftop was thirty meters above the ground, higher than the city walls.

The night wind whipped by, combined with the incessant wailing, making one feel bone-chillingly cold both physically and mentally.

Yuki wrapped his tattered, rag-like clothes tighter around himself. A bottle of cold water and a few chocolate bars finally allowed his body to regain some sensation, though the pain followed shortly after.

Five abrasions, one bite mark, a torn forearm muscle, and a few shards of glass embedded in his back. Fortunately, he hadn't lost too much blood.

He assessed his physical state and winced instantly.

Hiss.

"Does it hurt?" Mai Sakurajima poked her head out from behind him, holding the tweezers she had requested from Li Dan.

"A little, but considering a beauty is helping me bandage up, this level of pain is still within the range of tolerance." Yuki smiled and continued looking down at the map.

This item had been found by Li Dan in the garden's woodshop, and he had kept it on him. When everyone gathered to discuss and consolidate the useful items they had found, Yuki had immediately asked for it.

The blueprint was too tattered, and the markings were unlike anything modern, so no one could understand it. Considering Yuki had explored the entire Ancient Castle and was slightly more familiar with the terrain, they had given it to him.

"Believe it or not, I'll shove the glass back in." The young girl narrowed her eyes, looking dangerous.

"If Miss Mai treats her savior like this, I can only lament that I was blind."

"Hmph, you keep bringing that up. Do you want me to repay you that badly?" Mai Sakurajima gave a light huff and tossed the glass shards to the side.

"Of course. I never do things for free. I'll keep waiting for your repayment. Don't look at me like that—I know you sell your talent, not your body. I'll tell you when I've thought of something."

"You..."

Mai Sakurajima's breathing grew heavy. Yuki was truly incorrigible, yet unlike the frivolous men she had met before, she couldn't bring herself to hate him. This was certainly related to him saving her life, but that wasn't the whole story.

That blood-stained back was firmly etched into his mind; the boy held his blade with one hand, fighting for his life through the crimson corridor, never once abandoning her no matter how dire the situation became.

Just a moment ago, he had worn the look of an expert, as skilled as a seasoned killer, yet now he was perfectly normal, even carrying a hint of playfulness that made her feel at ease as well.

A strange game, and a strange person.

Mai considered herself well-traveled and experienced, yet she had never seen someone with so many faces; she reckoned only that Hayasaka was similar to him, and as she thought this, her slender fingers gently brushed over the man's back.

"Mmph—"

"Don't make weird noises!"

The hand wiping with alcohol suddenly pressed down harder, causing Yuki to gasp in pain; he calmed his mind and did a brief summary.

The difficulty of this Reincarnation Game was high, but the rewards were equally generous; in just a few hours, he had already gained an Alienated (Level 2) item and a Transcendent skill.

It was a very standard setting; if he hadn't fought for rewards and instead clung to the legs of people like the fat guy, he would probably still be an ordinary person by now; or, like Mai Sakurajima, who had spent the whole time just running, he would have gained nothing either.

"Stay still and lie down. Your body is actually quite sturdy; an ordinary person would have to spend days in bed with these injuries." Mai didn't know what Yuki was thinking, she just felt that the person before her was quite tough.

"I'm used to it. By the way, Senpai..."

Before Yuki could finish his sentence, his lips were pressed shut by an index finger, and the black-haired girl's expression turned peculiar: "You're a university student, how did I become your Senpai?"

"No reason, it just rolls off the tongue." Yuki didn't bother explaining.

"I keep feeling like you seem to know me." Mai Sakurajima scrutinized Yuki carefully, confirming she had never seen him before.

Know you? I even know many of your secrets.

"Miss Mai, actually, I'm your die-hard fan. I've secretly collected a lot of information, and meeting in the Reincarnation Game is a form of fate."

"That just makes you a stalker!"

"True, but I'm a righteous stalker. Don't you have a sudden urge to get to know me better?"

Mai Sakurajima actually did; from the moment she first saw him, she felt this person was mysterious, though she wouldn't admit it, and she lightly tilted her chin.

"Not interested. But are you really my fan? Is that why you protected me?"

"No, I was just spouting nonsense."

The girl, who had just been feeling a little proud, immediately gritted her teeth, thinking this person's mouth was truly annoying—even she couldn't get the upper hand.

But before she could counterattack, a head poked out from the corner. After Hayasaka Ai had recovered, she had wandered around and returned, just in time to see her sulking.

"Oh? Did I come back at a bad time?" The blonde girl was no longer as cold as before; she covered her mouth slightly, looking quite surprised, and added a strange verbal tic: "But it's my lucky day to run into something so interesting~"

"Hayasaka-san, please don't look at me like you're watching school gossip!"

"Isn't it? Yes, yes, yes, this should count as a celebrity scandal. Don't worry, I've seen plenty of things in the entertainment industry; I won't make a fuss."

"May I ask where you saw those?"

"In magazines, of course. At my age, gossip magazines are my favorite thing to read."

You didn't look this cheerful when you were swinging an axe at people just a moment ago.

Mai Sakurajima was defeated, thinking to herself, what kind of dream acting camp have I joined? Why does everyone have so many faces?

"Cough, it's just the three of us here, can we be a bit more serious?" Yuki wasn't used to the gyaru persona either, so he simply suggested.

"OK~" Hayasaka Ai didn't object. She swept a hand over her head as if putting on an invisible hat, and in the blink of an eye, the playful and fiery smile on her face vanished. Her entire demeanor became rigid, and her serious gaze was somewhat intimidating.

"Mai-san, you haven't taken a first-aid course, have you?"

"Huh??"

"The bandage is tied too poorly; it will fall apart with the slightest movement. Yuki is a very important combat asset, you should be more careful."

Mai Sakurajima didn't react in time. One moment she was a fiery high schooler, and the next she was a professional teacher. Seeing her undo the bandage she had worked so hard to secure, she grew anxious.

"Wait a second, I can just tie it again more carefully."

"Without sufficient knowledge, reality will not shift according to human will."

"Are you... are you telling me what to do?"

"Yes. At the very least, regarding this, no—there are many things in this game I can teach you."

I suddenly feel that the high schooler persona was more likable.

Mai Sakurajima was speechless once again. She pressed her hand against the other's, looking completely serious: "You're tired too, let me handle this little task."

"As I said, Yuki is an important combat asset, so he needs a professional to handle him. Besides, I am just as grateful to him as you are, and I am more than willing."

"Let me do it."

"I'll do it. Being childish is useless."

"Who said I was being childish?"

Yuki sat cross-legged, looking down at the map, letting the two women pull him back and forth. Far from interrupting, he was clearly enjoying it.

To run into these two during the beginner phase—his luck was quite good. They were familiar, beautiful, and could actually be of use.

He felt that the noise wasn't so bad; at the very least, it drowned out those irritating whimpers. How to put it—it made him feel like he was still among the living.

Having truly been tested by life and death, the relationship between the three had grown closer, or at least, there was a unique sense of emotional reciprocity.

The final bandage was applied by Hayasaka Ai, as standard as a textbook, perfectly covering every inch of his wounds.

"Thanks. Well, it's better than how I would have tied it myself." Yuki stood up and rolled his shoulders, feeling his strength returning significantly.

"I did my best. We should move on to the next step, shouldn't we?" Hayasaka Ai glanced toward the other end of the rooftop, where the wealthy man, the housewife, and the office lady were huddled together, still as clueless as headless flies.

"I tested them earlier; those three are useless and yielded no information. They've only survived this long because of Thomas's protection."

"Entrusting one's fate to others is a way of living, too. What about that Thomas?"

"He's lecherous, but it's more than just that. All in all, he's a smart man." Hayasaka Ai offered a cold smirk. During her probing, she had keenly noticed that while he appeared interested in her on the surface, his eyes were filled with wariness.

As expected, Yuki had never considered this veteran player a mere nobody; misjudging him would lead to a miserable death.

"No need to test him further. From here on out, these two veteran players will have to take center stage."

"You have an idea?" Hayasaka Ai's eyes shifted to the floor plan; the thing was tattered and riddled with moth holes.

"Yeah, I've confirmed a theory." Yuki didn't explain, simply tapping a spot on the map with his finger before turning to look at Li Dan and Thomas as they returned. "I can't be entirely certain, and there's no time to verify it further, so we have to gamble."

Not far away, the expressions of the two veteran players were grim, both looking deeply troubled. Their group discussion had yielded no results, and they had just finished checking the surroundings again; there was simply nowhere to hide or escape on this rooftop.

That alone would have been fine—at worst, they would just spend two nights shivering in the wind—but the more fatal issue was that the Crimson Moon refused to set. In the short time they had been observing, they had noticed the Living Corpses growing stronger.

They were faster and more frenzied, and the shattered doorway was like a broken faucet, pouring out an endless tide of corpses. The garden was already packed, turning the beautiful flowers into a sea of swaying heads.

The Ancient Castle was like an isolated island, and if things continued this way, the 'tsunami' would wash over the players, leaving not even a scrap of flesh behind.

The expressions of the veteran players cast a shadow over everyone's hearts. Mai Sakurajima glanced at the blueprint in Yuki's hand; she couldn't understand it, of course, but she felt the man's confidence, which was as precious as a treasure in this long, endless night.

She pressed her lips together and replied in a voice that wasn't entirely rational:

"Fine, I'll gamble with you."