Why don't we turn a cold enemy into a warm reward?

Himeko took a deep breath, her expression more solemn than ever.

"Everyone, things have gone somewhat beyond our expectations. For safety's sake, I hope you'll leave first."

"Leave? What about our rewards?" Inukai protested when he heard Himeko's words.

The rewards for completing the hidden quest were extremely generous. Inukai had even given up another quest for them.

Since entering the Amusement Park, apart from killing one person in a defensive counterattack, he had gone nowhere and done nothing. He had spent all his time here.

If he listened to Himeko and left the Amusement Park outright, he really would lose his shirt.

"We need a reason."

Duncan felt the same way and was unwilling to leave just like that.

"If you stay, you'll most likely die."

Himeko offered no further explanation, merely stating the outcome.

"So even you really can't deal with that monster in the park?"

Duncan understood. His earlier speculation had been correct: Himeko really was wary of whatever lurked on the Amusement Park's other side.

Without Huaxia's intervention, Himeko would surely have fallen into the trap and become monster poop.

After hearing Himeko's answer, Duncan immediately chose to leave.

Unlike Inukai, Duncan had killed several contestants since entering the Amusement Park, so his gains were hardly meager. Being able to walk away after offending Himeko made this an enormous profit, as profitable as it could possibly get!

"Everyone, our paths may cross again. Farewell."

With that, Duncan abandoned the quest and beat a hasty retreat. Taco, who had never objected to Himeko's decisions, also left decisively after she spoke.

Only Inukai, who had gained absolutely nothing, refused to leave no matter what.

"Mr. Inukai, I must remind you that the monster we'll face next is certain to far exceed anything either of us can imagine. Even I may not be a match for it."

"Isn't there a way that doesn't involve facing the monster directly? The quest only asked us to investigate, not defeat the monster outright!"

The thought of losing even the shirt off his back made Inukai seethe.

His face flushed crimson, and he panted like an ox.

"Or are you just trying to keep the hidden quest's rewards all to yourself?"

Himeko knew he was obsessed, the sort who couldn't be persuaded no matter how much one tried.

This was a choice he had firmly made himself, even after someone tried to stop him. Himeko could only respect his fate.

"I've already told you about the potential dangers. If you insist on staying, I won't stop you. But I may not be able to look after you during what comes next."

Himeko had made herself perfectly clear, but after hearing her, Inukai began to hesitate again.

If Himeko wasn't trying to monopolize the rewards and truly couldn't handle the Amusement Park Monster, wouldn't staying be no different from throwing his life away?

But if he really left just like this...

He thought about how, after entering the instance, he had first rushed madly along, then gone without food or drink after entering the Amusement Park, and even had to search for clues about the hidden quest while being hunted in the Wax Museum. Now he would have to leave empty-handed.

The more Inukai thought about it, the angrier he became, until he steeled himself.

I'll risk it! The worst that can happen is death! How could I throw away money just to stay alive?

Besides, Himeko is so kind. Surely she won't actually leave me to die?

Since the monster is so strong, I might even get a chance to stab Himeko in the back while she's fighting it.

Given Himeko's strength, who knows how great the rewards would be if I killed her?

Having made up his mind, Inukai's gaze turned resolute.

Himechi Cat glanced at him, tugged on Himeko's skirt, and began whispering to her.

"Himeko, look. This guy clearly has bad intentions. Why don't we turn a cold enemy into a warm reward?"

"No, Himechi Cat. I have another use for Inukai."

The train's navigator was well traveled and knowledgeable. How could Himeko fail to see what Inukai was thinking?

Out of one last shred of goodwill, Himeko had chosen to warn him. But he refused to listen and even intended to exploit the Nameless, so he could hardly blame the Nameless for turning his scheme against him.

After all, the duties of the Trailblaze had never included the word "save." Helping wherever they went was purely a matter of the Nameless's own noble character.

Once the Nameless set aside their lofty virtues and started playing dirty, their enemies would be in for a world of suffering.

"Good, then."

Since Himeko knew what she was doing, Himechi Cat relaxed as well, abandoning the plan to simply hack Inukai and the Nine-Tailed Fox beside him to death.

"What do we do next?"

"We haven't found a path to the other side, so time is the key. All I can think of is waiting."

Though she said all they could do was wait, Himeko couldn't even be sure what time it was. Heaven knew how long they would have to wait.

"We need to find something that tells the time. In an amusement park this big, there has to be something we can check, right?"

Himeko recalled the places she had passed along the way that displayed the time.

There seemed to be quite a few.

The automatic ticket gate at the entrance had shown the time on its interface, but she hadn't looked closely before smashing it with a wrench.

The Restaurant and Haunted House also seemed to have things that displayed the time, but Himeko hadn't examined them closely either.

Perhaps the Wax Museum had one too? Himeko remembered seeing an electronic display.

As she pondered this, Himeko arrived at the largest exhibition hall.

There was indeed an electronic display here with scrolling content, and the current time appeared at the bottom of the screen.

[11:53]

"Only seven minutes until twelve. I wonder how many contestants still haven't left the Amusement Park."

When twelve arrived and the Amusement Park turned itself over, bringing its other side to the surface, the already perilous surroundings were certain to become even more terrifying.

Time ticked away. Himeko stood guard outside the Wax Museum's Darkroom, watching the heart beat again and again.

Each beat was more powerful than the last. Toward the end, Himeko could even hear the sound of its beating.

At last, the time changed once more from 11:59.

[00:00]

The instant the time changed, an immense and peculiar surge of energy rippled outward from the heart, enveloping the entire Amusement Park.

The heart abruptly vanished, and with that immensely powerful beat, the surroundings took on an entirely new appearance.

The brightly decorated exhibition hall of the Wax Museum instantly became dilapidated.

Cracks covered the walls. Thick red liquid seeped out of the fissures and fell to the floor, taking root and sprouting into blood-red plants.

A strange, nauseating stench filled the air.

Six-Phased Ice was embedded in the walls, floor, ceiling, and elsewhere. On closer inspection, this Six-Phased Ice was not as crystal clear, pure, and flawless as what March 7th created. Instead, it contained numerous impurities.

In this monster's hands, the colorful Six-Phased Ice had become riddled with flaws. If March 7th were here, she would only toss it far away in disgust and refuse to acknowledge it as Six-Phased Ice.

The surrounding environment was equally bizarre.

The entire building seemed like a living thing. From time to time, Himeko could feel the floor beneath her feet tremble faintly.