"Don't bullshit me. What could a first-year med student possibly know? Fine, at least he's somewhat useful. Still better than that historian." Rich Brother shot White College Student a mocking glance, then instantly lost interest in Yuki.
The others turned away in disappointment and focused their attention on Li Dan, clearly treating him as their leader. Even the burly Black Brother looked at him expectantly.
"Brother Li, we'll all listen to you. Just tell us what to do."
Things were developing as expected.
Li Dan smiled faintly, pressing both hands down as he cleared his throat. "Everyone, don't panic. The walls outside should be able to hold back the Living Corpses. We'll be safe for a while, so we have time to make a proper plan."
The walls were tall and thick, and did provide a fair bit of reassurance. Most of them relaxed and listened as he went over the various hints.
"The Ancient Castle is temporarily a safe zone, but don't celebrate too soon. Hint three says the enemies will grow stronger over time. Sooner or later, those walls won't be able to hold them back. But we can't run around like headless flies either, because we can't stay outside for more than two hours. There's no way we can hide out there indefinitely."
"What happens if we stay out for more than two hours?" Rich Brother asked loudly.
"Heh. What do you think would happen if you didn't open the door when you entered the game? It's about the same."
Before Li Dan could explain, Thomas sneered, making several people shrink back.
If they hadn't opened the door, they'd be wandering the corridor with their heads blown apart by now. They'd be in for a gruesome death if they disobeyed the hints.
"Don't scare them. They've never been through anything this bizarre before. The first rule of surviving this game is not to take chances." Li Dan rubbed his face, looking as though he couldn't bear to recall something, then forced himself to perk up.
"But don't blindly trust the hints, either. It won't let us spend three days in comfort. Right now, we need to search the Ancient Castle. At the very least, we have to learn the layout. And according to hint six, we must never go anywhere alone."
Learning the layout meant finding places where they could hide and locating any safe rooms. It was a mature, sensible plan. As for hint six, its meaning was clear enough; it was just the second half that was puzzling.
The Ancient Castle was enormous. It would take at least half a day to search it all, and the walls didn't look like they could keep them safe for long. So Li Dan decided to split them into groups. After all, "don't go alone" could still mean going in pairs.
Most people didn't want to leave the hall and return to that terrifying corridor, but since they'd handed Li Dan the reins, they had to follow the veteran player's orders.
They looked at one another, none of them familiar enough to know how to form groups. And to make things worse, Band Brother was there stirring up trouble.
"Hey, want to join my team?" Thomas asked Mai Sakurajima and Hayasaka Ai, clicking his tongue playfully. "It'll be worth your while. Don't be so resistant. You never know who'll enjoy it more."
In terms of looks, figure, and presence, the two young women were clearly more striking. Mai Sakurajima looked disgusted, as if she valued something above her life. Hayasaka Ai, on the other hand, seemed hesitant, which suited her gyaru appearance rather well.
He's carrying a weapon that looks like a Chainsaw Sword, yet he's been corrupted by Slaanesh. So there's no intervention from the Emperor here.
Yuki watched coolly from the sidelines, throwing in a silent quip.
"Enough. If you take those two, our search will be much less efficient." Li Dan stepped in front of them and glared at Thomas. "There are only ten of us, and you're taking four. Are you trying to drag us all down with you?"
As the two veteran players faced off, everyone else held their breath. Only Yuki's eyes flickered with curiosity, as if he wanted to see how powerful humans became after undergoing that transformation.
A few seconds later, Band Guy was the one to back down.
"Mind your own business. We're all going to die sooner or later anyway. What's the point of surviving this round?" He didn't bother arguing with Li Dan. He hefted the greatsword that resembled a chainsaw and left. Rich Brother and the two women hesitated for a moment, then hurried after him.
Just like that, the troublemaker who lived for the moment was gone. Six people remained in the room, and the mood turned ominous.
When everyone wanted different things, talk of unity was a joke. But they still had to keep progressing through the round.
"It's fine. They have more people, so they can draw the enemies' fire. We'll follow the hint and search the Ancient Castle in pairs, as planned. Let's draw lots to decide the groups. That'll be fairer." Li Dan clapped to draw their attention, then took the slips of paper with their names written on them and clenched them in his fist.
He was still meticulous in everything he did. Everyone wanted to be paired with a veteran player, so drawing lots was the best way to keep the group together. Naturally, no one objected.
The remaining people stepped forward one by one. Seeing how excited Black Brother looked, Yuki knew he'd drawn the grand prize, and felt a vague sense of unease.
Splitting into groups to explore usually meant trouble was coming.
Yuki had planned to save his Reinforcement Points in case something more suitable came along, but he didn't dare hold back now.
[Player Yuki, spend a Reinforcement attempt to draw an item or skill.]
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, a faint playing card appeared before him. It kept spinning, as if delving into the depths of the unknown.
After the tutorial, Yuki had learned that the game's rewards were divided into Reinforcement Points and Specialization Points. The former improved items and skills, while the latter specialized physical attributes and that so-called Ego Trait.
Aside from those, both types of points could be put under the general category of "reinforcement." The second way to use them was to draw a reward.
Yuki had already thought it over while they were exploring. He had no items or equipment, and even raising a skill by one rank wouldn't make a real difference. So the choice was simple.
Let's fucking gamble. Even if I lose now, I can make up for it later.
[One Reinforcement Point spent. Draw complete—]
[Player Yuki has acquired skill: Reinforcement Magecraft (Beginner)]
The whispering voice sounded again, and Yuki froze for a moment. The skill's name sounded oddly familiar.
Before he could look at it properly, Black Brother urged him on. "It's your turn. Why do you keep spacing out?"
"Sorry."
Yuki snapped out of it. He couldn't afford to space out with everyone watching, and he couldn't exactly use the skill in front of them, so he stepped forward.
He kept repeating "Hayasaka Ai, Hayasaka Ai" in his mind. He knew the maid was skilled in combat, and she'd greatly improve his chances of survival.
But after drawing a slip and glancing at it, he immediately looked toward the bunny girl beside the Round Table, her expression hard to read.
Mai Sakurajima.
Chapter 7: I Won't Be an Honest Man (Revised)
Was this a good draw or a bad one?
Yuki turned to look. Mai Sakurajima clearly knew her outfit was too strange, so she'd torn off a strip of curtain and wrapped it around herself. The translucent white fabric left her graceful figure faintly visible, revealing the swell of her chest and her long legs in black stockings. Somehow, it made her even more alluring.
Her tense little face was slightly furrowed, but she didn't seem particularly helpless. She was doing her best to adapt to the situation.
Mai Sakurajima wasn't especially physically strong, but she was calm, mature, and kind. At the very least, she wouldn't drag him down or suddenly Backstab him.
And there was another important point: his senpai had left a deep impression on Yuki in his previous life. She was the kind of character he couldn't bring himself to click on, even when browsing Bika. She was also one of the few female characters he'd paid the most attention to after being reborn.
People live for Mai Sakurajima. But why did I have to meet her for the first time in the Reincarnation Game? There's something wrong with this round.
Yuki turned his head and happened to meet Li Dan's apologetic gaze. At least, from Li Dan's perspective, Yuki hadn't drawn a very good lot.
The strongest player, a Black chef, had ended up with the veteran. The gyaru had drawn White College Student. Fortunately, Yuki looked fairly strong—at least more reliable than that soft, weak-looking history student.
"Jerry and I will go to the garden. Hayasaka and Oliver will search the main part of the castle. Yuki and Mai, head downstairs." He'd assigned himself the most dangerous area, then nodded toward the display cabinet beside the hall. "Whether you know how to use them or not, pick something that suits you."
The glass cabinet held all kinds of weapons: knives, swords, morning stars, axes, and spears. But few modern people trained with cold weapons.
"Motherfucker, I need a Glock, not this old crap." Black Brother muttered as expected, but still honestly picked up a broad-bladed greatsword and weighed it in his hand. Even swinging it around blindly was better than being empty-handed.
As everyone went to choose weapons, Yuki didn't rush. He casually asked, "Brother Li, are these weapons for beginners supplied by the game?"
"Of course not. They're just ordinary weapons. Items and weapons from the Reincarnation Game are rare. Take this revolver of mine, for instance. It has a Transcendental Grade effect, but it comes with a corresponding price." Li Dan patted the enormous revolver at his waist, then abruptly cut off his explanation. In the same casual tone, he asked, "Little Yuki, you've practiced swordsmanship or something, haven't you? I felt calluses when we shook hands earlier."
It was a perfectly normal, straightforward question, but Yuki instinctively grew wary and answered uneasily, "Yeah. I'm in the Kendo Club at school."
"I thought so. Why didn't you mention it when we introduced ourselves?"
"Uh, it's just an extracurricular activity at school. I wouldn't call it a special skill."
Li Dan nodded and didn't press him about hiding it. In this game, any new player with even a little cunning wouldn't completely trust the others. The boy in front of him, the gyaru, and the bunny girl hadn't even given their full names.
"All right. Go pick a weapon that suits you. Then we'll start the game."
Yuki wasn't embarrassed. Acting called for three parts truth and seven parts lies, so he put on a curious expression. "By the way, Brother Li, can we team up in the Reincarnation Game?"
"What do you call this, then? Teaming up across rounds is a pain. Don't ask. Go pick your weapon."
Yuki nodded and filed that away. He walked over to the display cabinet and didn't need to think twice. He reached out and gripped the brass hilt of a katana with a dark-red rayskin scabbard. He drew it slightly, and the blade reflected the scarlet moonlight. The intricate pattern on it made him nod in satisfaction.
Damascus Steel and a Clay-tempered Blade. It couldn't compare to modern heat treatment, but it wasn't some flimsy ornamental piece that would shatter at the slightest touch.
The balance is excellent, too. It'll be more than enough to cut through flesh. He drew the blade and swung it a few times before sheathing it again. When he looked up, he met Hayasaka Ai's gaze.
The gyaru was holding an axe and watching him with narrowed eyes. When she noticed he'd caught her looking, she waved at him with a grin, as if she were very curious.
Professionals really are different. If I didn't know what you were really like, I might actually have been fooled.
Yuki didn't call her out. He took the Walkie-talkie Li Dan tossed him and examined it. He didn't need to ask to know it had been brought from the real world, just like his Scalpel.
"The signal isn't jammed. Keep these Walkie-talkies with you, and contact each other if you run into danger. Don't try to be a hero." Li Dan warned them, tucking the Walkie-talkie into his belt. He took a deep breath.
"Let's go. The game starts now!"
Moonlight streamed in through the windows, staining the thick carpet and blue-green walls crimson. The light was so intense that it gave the illusion of walking through a sea of blood.
Yuki headed downstairs, hearing only the dull thud of his footsteps. His head turned from side to side as he scrutinized every detail.
The Ancient Castle was deathly still. Beyond the windows, the garden had been dyed bloodred. The walls rose beyond his field of vision, and all he could hear were mournful wails like ghostly cries. Though they sounded distant, they carried a distinct sense of hunger.
He'd already checked the floors above. Aside from there being more rooms and a few extra windows, there wasn't much difference. The monotonous scenery made it easy for his eyes to grow tired.
There was also a foyer directly across from the main entrance, with a huge crystal chandelier and an expensive carpet. It was obviously where the owner welcomed guests.
"D-Doesn't it scare you?"
A clear female voice suddenly rang out in the silence, making the atmosphere even more unsettling. Yuki didn't stop walking, and found it somewhat amusing.
You finally couldn't hold it in any longer, huh? But you managed to keep your composure for a long time. You're already much stronger than most people.
"Of course I'm scared. Can't you see me trembling? I'm even taking my time going downstairs."
Mai Sakurajima pressed her lips together and studied Yuki from behind. She didn't think much of him. He was rude and often seemed distracted, but there was nothing she could do about the draw.
The hint "Don't go alone" clearly wasn't a joke. After going through the tutorial, Mai wasn't about to risk her life just to test it.
So she'd gritted her teeth and explored the Ancient Castle with Yuki for nearly three hours. They'd searched every floor and checked every room. Not only had they avoided anything like "giving in to their beastly urges," Yuki hadn't even looked at her once.
The boy always seemed deep in thought. The more closely she observed him, the stranger he seemed.
His steps are steady, and his breathing is calm. If he's only pretending to be composed, he's been keeping it up for far too long.
As an actress who'd spent ten years making her way through the entertainment industry, observation and mimicry were basic skills.
"Hey, you're not pretending to be a veteran player, are you?"
"Why would you think that?" Yuki kept walking. The carpet here had turned bright red.
Whooo—
The night wind blew in through the main entrance, where Li Dan and the others had gone to the garden. It passed through the foyer, making Mai pull the curtain more tightly around herself and instinctively edge a little closer to Yuki.
"Just a feeling. You seem like you have everything under control."
"I'm just good at keeping my cool. If I were a veteran player, why would I have gotten a 'newbie tutorial'? Come on, let's take the other way."
The open door on the left led to marble steps and the fountain garden. Yuki promptly chose the right-hand door. Mai froze for a moment, realizing he was right. He'd even noticed that detail.
"Huh, you're pretty smart."
"Did you really think I was spacing out?" Yuki put his hand on the door and glanced back as he pushed it open. "And have you ever heard this saying?"
"What saying?"
"If you tell someone to study medicine, may heaven strike you down."
Huh???
Mai Sakurajima didn't understand at first. Then she realized it was probably saying that medical students weren't idiots, and her pursed lips relaxed a little.
He's kind of funny. At least he's not bad right now.
With his favorite female character behind him, Yuki kept his eyes straight ahead and focused all his attention on the round.
It had nothing to do with playing hard to get. He simply had a good habit: he was exceptionally sensitive to what mattered most and what could wait.
Creak—
Yuki pushed open the wooden door. Beyond it was another hall, much larger than the one where the group had gathered. A huge crystal chandelier gave off a dim glow. Boxes, tables, and chairs were scattered all around, covered in dust.
Red moonlight came in through the narrow windows overhead. At least it was a little less luridly red than outside.
Yuki had studied the layout upstairs. The Ancient Castle wasn't complicated: the walls formed its outer perimeter, a beautiful garden lay inside them, and the castle itself consisted of two main buildings. The front building had five floors, while the one behind it was a little shorter.
Hayasaka Ai's group had gone through upstairs. Searching from both sides would be far more efficient.
There was less moonlight downstairs. Did that mean it was safer here? And three hours had already passed without them facing any danger. Could it be that, as Li Dan had said, there was no way to judge the Reincarnation Game by common sense?
You think it'll be difficult, but it's actually easy?
Yuki was full of questions. He sat down beside a square table and took out a sheet of paper to sketch the layout. Mai casually searched the boxes and found nothing but glassware—not a single piece of clothing. Annoyed, she returned to Yuki and plopped herself down on the table.
She crossed her legs and swung her feet, clearly much more relaxed. Then she noticed Yuki drawing a map and marking a spot as the "Banquet Hall."
"Once we go through that door, we'll have finished exploring the main part of the castle. Looks like we haven't found anything."
Before you continue