As a master of witty comebacks, Jia Xiu rarely found himself at a loss for words.
But now, facing a classmate who, during the previous trial, had been unable to take any more and chosen to become a human cannonball—thanks to his hometown's distinctive educational methods and the Demonfolk's mental magic experiments—
He truly didn't know what to say.
Although everything Jia Xiu had done had been within the rules, as the culprit who had probably left someone with a lasting trauma, it seemed like anything he said would make him sound like a villain.
Mostly, he'd never imagined that even though the Phantom World had lasted only a few days, and participants could quit whenever they wanted, someone would get so deeply immersed that she'd jump without a second thought.
After racking his brains for something appropriate to say and coming up empty, Jia Xiu stopped thinking.
Whatever.
She didn't look like she'd come for revenge.
"Hello."
He decided to greet her.
Mia shrank behind Ram, praying that Florence hadn't recognized her as an "accomplice."
But after Jia Xiu greeted her, Florence didn't respond, and the atmosphere grew a little awkward.
Just as the three of them were wondering what was going on—
Smack!
Florence stepped back with her left foot, spread her knees, and lowered herself until her right knee nearly touched the ground. Holding up her skirt, she bowed her head.
She gave an exceptionally formal curtsy.
"I'm so grateful to you, Jia Xiu."
"Huh?"
Jia Xiu, Mia, and Ram all wore identical expressions of confusion.
As the member of their little group who'd read the most research papers, Mia spoke up quietly. "I recently read a new study that said victims can become dependent on their abusers under extreme circumstances. I thought they'd made the whole