My Way of Opening It Was Wrong Again!?

I'm doing it wrong again!?

Chapter Ten: The Player's Paradise (5K)

Judging from the points consumed, it took less than 24 hours to reach the Borderlands, but the Outpost has completely changed.

The building that had been cut in half disappeared, and the ruins not far away have been transformed into a park, with lush trees and fountains spraying out dazzling jets of water to the Lightness sound of bells.

The gray world seemed to have been painted with color, and the dense high-rise buildings no longer felt oppressive. A gentle breeze brought a soft touch.

That Mushroom dares to trick me!?

This was Yuki's first thought; this Outpost was completely different from the previous ones, fundamentally different in every sense.

From oppressive to vibrant, from decay to beauty, even though there are still no people around, no one would think that the two are the same place.

"It really is the same place."

Yuki raised his head and saw the huge vortex in the sky. With color added, it looked even more dazzling, while the surrounding vortex clouds remained solidified, with only one spinning.

The location hasn't changed, but the color seems a bit more purple. Damn it, I've only been gone for less than a day, and the Outpost looks like it's been rebuilt.

By the way, where are the senior students?

Yuki looked around but didn't see anyone. Just as he took out his Spirit Particle Communicator, he suddenly slapped his forehead.

Duh, with such a big change, they'll definitely hide. Going back to their rooms is the safest option.

Without wasting a second, Yuki snapped his fingers and appeared in front of the room door before he came to his senses.

"I'm back."

Pushing open the door, her foot faltered as she stepped into the room. Mai Sakurajima and the others were indeed inside, but the pure white space had changed.

The previously empty space now contains a round table and several benches. Shiina Hiyori sits on the inside, reading a thick novel.

Mai Sakurajima and Kaguya Shinomiya sat on either side of a round table, talking quietly, while Hayasaka Ai, dressed in a maid outfit, elegantly poured water from a silver teapot.

The senior student crossed her long, black-stockinged legs, holding an exquisite ceramic cup. Upon hearing the voice, she immediately looked up, but before she could greet him, the man silently retreated.

"What's he up to?" Kaguya, sitting opposite her, Yoruichi completely bewildered.

"He's probably hallucinating. How come the whole world seems different after just one trip?" Mai Sakurajima rested her chin on her hand, gently swinging her legs so her little leather shoes wobbled slightly. "It's alright, he'll be back soon."

Click.

The door lock clicked, Yuki had just stepped outside, returned, confirming that it wasn't a hallucination.

"What exactly happened? And where did these tables and chairs come from?" Yuki was indeed puzzled, but judging from the attire of her senior and the others, there seemed to be no danger.

You guys seem pretty relaxed. I'm practically overwhelmed with information.

Knowing that no one was wrong, Yuki couldn't help but feel a little bitter, reflecting on whether he had been too busy.

After defeating Adam, they fought for survival, barely managing to carve out a path to life, only to find themselves trapped in an endless search.

Just as I was about to settle down and enjoy my coffee, my gaze drifted downwards, and I froze on the spot.

"And what's the deal with this knife?"

It's really bizarre. Ever since I arrived at this Outpost, I've been surrounded by doubts. I finally figured out the operating rules of the Borderlands, and now strange things are happening at home.

"Let me explain." Hayasaka Ai walked over with a cup of coffee, handed it to Yuki, and gave him the answer in the simplest and most concise way.

"You mean that once the door to the room was opened and this long sword was seen, the entire Outpost started acting strangely?" Yuki looked at the sword again; it was completely unfamiliar.

"Well, since no one was in the room, I don't know if it's related to you activating the portal, but I definitely heard the word 'activate'."

Unfortunately, this aspect wasn't considered.

Yuki was equally disappointed. Without crucial evidence, he could only guess. He circled the long sword a few times but didn't reach out to touch it.

Although the situation is somewhat strange, this is good news.

No one likes to stay in that oppressive black and white ruin, and Hayasaka and the others' decision was reasonable; they stayed in this absolutely safe room to wait for his return.

Where did those tables and chairs come from?

"We tried exchanging it for in-game currency, but it can't be taken out of this room."

Exchange?

Yuki concentrated and indeed saw a list that looked like a holographic projection in front of him.

From furniture and daily necessities to weapons and food, the items are densely packed, encompassing almost everything in reality, even dozens of flavors of soda.

This is equivalent to a giant supermarket; no, there couldn't be any supermarket on Earth with such a complete selection.

"And it's very cheap."

Ordinary tables, chairs, beds, and building materials don't require points; a single point can be exchanged for hundreds of bottles of soda or a game console. As for items like Remy Martin and '82 Lafite, they're dirt cheap, and a dazzling array of luxury goods are available.

However, there are no living creatures here, not even cats or dogs, let alone humans.

Utopia materialized?

Yuki looked up abruptly. Of course, he wasn't stupid enough to think this was some kind of supply chain; rather, it was simply a manifestation of what the players needed.

It's like giving away a huge piece of land, allowing players to build their own paradise.

"Now it finally feels like a player's city," Hayasaka exclaimed, satisfied with the Reincarnation Game for the first time.

The room is absolutely safe, and with just a few points, you can enjoy the life of the elite. Is this paradise?

"How can you expect people to risk their lives without giving them some benefits?" Yuki snorted, glancing at the catalog of hundreds of thousands of supplies, and had to admit she was right.

He could stay in this room forever if he exchanged his money for a game console and a hundred bottles of soda.

"My senior is planning to build a house so that everyone has a place to rest."

"Building rooms within rooms, are you playing with nesting dolls?" Yuki, a schemer, speculated about the Reincarnation Game with the most malicious thoughts. "Playing with things leads to the loss of ambition. This is using material things to corrupt us. If we get used to enjoying ourselves now, we won't be able to adapt to the dungeons. That's why I chose a life of poverty like an ascetic."

"You're just poor. You've said so many times that if you had more money, you'd want a bigger room." Mai Sakurajima walked over and mercilessly exposed her. "Besides, you and Hiyori can handle the preparations. I have plenty of time, and this is all within the scope of logistics."

Okay, I am indeed poor. I've been eyeing that PX6 for so long but haven't been able to afford it. Who would have thought I'd stumble upon it in Reincarnation Game?

Yuki had just wanted to switch, and then use the excuse of 'experimenting with electricity' to have some fun. Seeing everyone's expectant eyes, he coughed lightly:

"Enriching one's leisure time is a good thing, as long as it doesn't interfere with important matters."

"That's more like it." Mai Sakurajima wrinkled her nose and held out her hand.

"What?"

"You get points; you can redeem appliances and such with points."

"I want one too. A top-of-the-line computer only costs 2 points, and I'd need to exchange them for some coffee powder."

"Mr. Yuki, I can redeem all the books here. Could you give me 10 points?"

"Ahem, I don't have high requirements, just a replica of the Shinomiya Residence will do, it should be able to be done with about 50 points."

Looking at the expectant faces, Yuki his spine.

Please, I'm very poor, okay? And Kaguya, what do you mean "that's enough"? You really want to replicate a mansion in this place?

This damned Reincarnation Game just wants to take back the players' rewards.

Yuki hated this open conspiracy. Seeing that everyone was having a great time and determined to drain him dry, he decisively broke through the encirclement and sat down at the round table.

"The important matter is at hand; you must not fall into the trap of the Reincarnation Game."

Seeing his heartbroken expression, Mai Sakurajima and the others exchanged glances, having already figured out the answer.

It seems this guy has used up all his points; we need to readjust our plans.

"Alright, let's have a meeting. Anyway, we won't forget about this." Kaguya clapped her hands lightly, and even emphasized the second half of her sentence. After spending almost two days in this barren place, she missed her comfortable life from before.

Okay, you just wait.

Yuki glared at her fiercely, then, seeing everyone approach and sit down around the round table, he looked around and seemed to be in a good mood.

Apart from Hayasaka, who was dressed as a maid, the other three had changed into their respective school uniforms, complete with black stockings, gray stockings, white stockings, and over-the-knee socks. Coupled with their pretty faces staring intently at them, they were truly a feast for the eyes.

The coffee on the table exuded a rich aroma, mixed with different body odors. Upon closer inspection, the landscape was undulating, with areas resembling airports and even people sitting directly on the table.

"Stop looking around, just say it." Mai Sakurajima kicked Yuki under the table, knowing that this idiot was daydreaming.

The delicate feel of stockings against his feet Yuki back to reality. He cleared his throat and said, "Alright, let's start by explaining what Outpost, a faction, and Borderlands are."

"We already know that," Kaguya said, raising her hand as if to give a lesson, explaining to the bewildered Yuki, "Just a few hours ago, we received a game hint."

Huh? You can play it like that?

Yuki immediately looked at Hiyori, and without him saying anything, the girl slid her laptop across the table.

"That's true." Yuki a quick comparison, Yuuki understood. "No wonder Frieren said this information was worthless; it turns out that every player who arrives at the Outpost receives a hint."

The hints were even more detailed than what he had found, including special terms such as 'linking to the heavens' and 'veteran'.

So, there will be more players coming later, which is good, saves me the trouble of explaining to each one individually.

Yuki tried to think positively, but as for when he would come and whether he would be a visitor from his hometown, that would have to be verified over time.

"I think it's related to that knife, otherwise it would be too much of a coincidence." Hayasaka Ai pointed to the Black Blade again and said in a low voice, "Shortly after the upheaval at the Outpost, the whispering notification sounded."

It's not a coincidence; it's simply the order of events. I guess the word 'activate' was developed sequentially.

Without even needing to guess, Yuki looked at Mai Sakurajima, who was also deep in thought, and asked, "Senpai, what are your thoughts?"

"No, I was just wondering who this 'Frieren' is. It sounds like a girl's name." Mai Sakurajima raised her head, her eyes slightly sharp.

"A player from another faction, a guide I hired with points." Yuki's expression stiffened as he answered honestly.

"She's a very pretty girl, isn't she?" Mai Sakurajima squinted and smiled.

"She is quite pretty... wait, that's not the point!" Yuki suddenly snapped back to reality, feeling the sharp gazes from all around him, seeing Kaguya Shinomiya's gloating smile, and Hiyori hiding her face with a book.

Da da da.

He slapped the table, his face hardening, and said, "Be serious, everyone. We have a lot to summarize. Take a look at your notes first."

Yuki tossed the notebook over, and the trick worked; the group was immediately drawn to it.

The Miracle Land, which requires 100 points to reach, features inverted buildings and countless players; for players in this closed world, this is true 'ascension'.

Shiina Hiyori looked longingly at the place. She wished she had pestered Mr. Yuki to go with her; the Borderlands could have provided so much material and inspiration.

Hayasaka Ai frowned more and more as she looked at the game. She sensed that there were always higher mountains beyond mountains, and that there were countless powerful and dangerous players in the game, all of whom posed a threat.

Kaguya is very interested in the economic cycle of the Borderlands and fantasizes about following the path of "pay-to-win" in the game.

Mai Sakurajima would rather taste the fruit tea and touch the legendary elf's pointed ears.

After half an hour of quiet discussion, they looked up, still wanting more, and finally understood why Yuki was so confused.

Why is our faction empty? Why is only one passage still functioning in the Outpost? Why are we the only ones with special abilities and the threshold for the Transcendental Grade level?

Too many questions await answers, too many unknowns need to be explored.

"Looks like we've gotten there first, that's good news." Mai Sakurajima took a sip of coffee, crossed her legs, and said, "It's rather deserted to have only a few of us at such a large Outpost."

They reached a consensus: other players would arrive sooner or later, but they would all be one step behind them.

"Mr. Yuki, if it's a faction war, we're at a disadvantage, since we skipped an entire stage." Hiyori said worriedly. Their faction was indeed quite powerful in terms of rank, but in terms of combat strength, there were only a few of them.

"Furthermore, we can't coordinate our forces, Shinomiya Oko and the others will be coming too." Hayasaka Ai glanced at her mistress and said coldly, "This will require a massive internal conflict, but we lack the strength."

"It's not just about strength; our faction is inherently flawed because it leads directly to the Borderlands, where there's a much larger area where players will inevitably roam around, making it incredibly difficult to unite them."

These are all troublesome matters. Yuki has neither the time nor the desire to unify his own faction; the expectations of Mai Sakurajima and the others are heavy enough for him to bear.

To become a king, one must know the weight of the crown. Since I'm a socially awkward person, I'd better find someone more capable.

"Don't worry, we'll do our own thing. Other players are none of our business. Anyway, not many players can enter each instance." Yuki simply changed the subject and got up to pace around.

"Regardless of which side you're on, treat friends with sincerity and eliminate enemies. I never intended to become a regional overlord."

It's a very simple logic: no matter where you are or what stage you're at, your attitude has never changed.

I agree.

"Yes, backstabbing and intrigue are too troublesome."

"Even though it was just a few of us sticking together and supporting each other, we still managed to seize the opportunity, right?"