"Look, senpai."
Hayasaka held out the dungeon invitation, her smile radiant as she said, "I'm so lucky—I won it immediately."
Of course, this was a lie.
It wasn't extraordinary luck; it was extraordinary wealth.
"Hanamori-chan, give me the invitation," the succubus girl said eagerly. "Amamiya and I can challenge the dungeon together."
Hayasaka clasped her hands together in a mock apology and smiled sweetly. "I'm sorry, but I also want to participate in the dungeon with senpai."
"But dungeons are dangerous," Umi protested, unwilling to give up. "You don't have any skills yet—it's too risky for you to go in."
Hayasaka silently agreed with that sentiment. If her young miss hadn't insisted on entering the dungeon despite the risks, she wouldn't have gone out of her way to secure the invitation.
"It's precisely because I don't have any skills that I need to go," Hayasaka replied earnestly, clasping her hands in front of her chest with a pitiful expression. "I want to become stronger so I can help everyone. I don't want to keep hiding behind you all and being taken care of."
Umi hesitated, her argument faltering.
As someone with a strong sense of loyalty, she couldn't bring herself to refuse such a heartfelt plea.
With the discussion settled, Amamiya interjected, "Since Hanamori won the invitation, perhaps it's fate. Let's not waste time and go find Tsubame-senpai to complete the invitation process."
"Why am I the only one left behind?" Umi pouted, clearly disappointed. "I want to help too!"
Amamiya gave her a pointed look and said meaningfully, "I've already received the most useful help tonight."
Umi's face turned bright red as she instinctively tugged at her skirt, taking a step back. She glanced away quickly, pretending as though nothing had happened.
"Good evening, senpai. I'm Hanamori Ai. It's nice to meet you, and I appreciate your guidance," Hayasaka said, bowing politely before Tsubame-senpai.
"Good evening," Tsubame replied, smiling warmly. Yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that the girl before her looked somewhat familiar.
"Here, senpai," Hayasaka said, handing over the invitation.
"I'm sorry to trouble everyone," Tsubame said, shaking her head before accepting the invitation. She activated it and then handed it back. "Just write your name here, and you'll be all set."
"I'll do it right away."
Hayasaka picked up a pen and quickly wrote down her name. "Is it good now?"
"Huh?"
Tsubame-senpai looked surprised. She glanced at the invitation, then at Amamiya, her expression uncertain.
"Amamiya-kun, something's wrong with this invitation."
"What do you mean?" Hayasaka asked, her brow furrowing.
Amamiya sat down next to her, his voice calm as he explained, "Normally, once someone writes their name on an invitation, it burns away and disappears. But this one is still here."
Hayasaka's stomach dropped as she realized the issue.
The invitation lay motionless on the table, untouched by flames.
"Maybe it's a mistake?"
Tsubame examined the invitation again. Her expression shifted as something clicked. "Oh, The system reminded me about this. The name you write down—it has to be your real name."
Hayasaka froze.
The name! I used a fake name!
Who even uses their real name in games these days?
Recovering quickly, she snatched the invitation back and slapped her forehead with mock embarrassment. "I can't believe I messed that up. I was in such a rush I wrote the wrong name!"
"So that's what happened," Tsubame-senpai said, reassured.
Only Amamiya, sitting quietly nearby, raised an eyebrow, his gaze lingering on Hayasaka.
"Senpai," Hayasaka called out as she turned, her voice carrying a casual tone. "I'm thirsty. Could you grab me a drink?"
"Sure," Amamiya replied, nodding as he rose from his seat. "I'll get it; you can drink it later."
He made his way to the balcony, leaving the lively room behind.
It was late at night.
The world outside was calm, wrapped in silence. The rain had stopped at some point, leaving the streets empty, illuminated only by the faint, flickering glow of streetlights.
As he stood on the balcony, letting the cool night air brush against him, light footsteps approached from behind. Without a word, Hayasaka appeared beside him, her movements as quiet as a shadow.
"Senpai," her voice was low, almost conspiratorial. "Did you figure it out earlier?"
Amamiya turned to face her, his expression calm.
"Would it even matter if I denied it now?"
Unlike the others, he had been sitting close enough to see that Hayasaka hadn't mistakenly written the wrong name.
There was only one explanation: the name "Hanamori" was a pseudonym.
"It's too late," Hayasaka said softly, stepping closer until she stood directly in front of him. "Since you've realized the truth, I have no choice but to…ask you to keep it a secret for me."
Amamiya shut his eyes in mock resignation. "For a moment, I thought you were about to silence me permanently."
"If you dare reveal my secret, senpai, I might have to consider it."
"Thank you for your mercy, then."
"Hmph, it's good that you understand, stupid senpai."
Under the dim light, Hayasaka tilted her head slightly, her delicate face caught somewhere between exasperation and amusement. She removed her wig in one fluid motion and said, "Well, the jig is up. Take a good look, senpai. Do you recognize me now?"
Golden hair cascaded down her shoulders like a shining waterfall, instantly transforming her appearance.
Amamiya blinked. "You actually revealed your true self… Hayasaka?"
"Correct." Hayasaka nodded, meeting his gaze directly. "You already know that the young lady isn't an ordinary person. If she were ever alone and ran into a dangerous situation, like a kidnapping, it would be disastrous. That's why someone has to stay close to her, protecting her at all times."
Amamiya considered her words and replied, "I understand, but how exactly do you plan to protect Kaguya? You might know martial arts, but if you're up against professional kidnappers, your chances are slim."
"I'd swap places with her and create a chance for her to escape," Hayasaka stated matter-of-factly.
Her conviction was startling. She wasn't just a maid—she was more like a loyal bodyguard willing to risk everything.
"Of course, that's only a last resort," she added quickly. "The young lady dislikes being watched over too closely. That's why my identity can't be revealed to her. So, senpai, I'm counting on you to keep this between us."
Amamiya raised an eyebrow. "That's it? Nothing more to confess?"
Hayasaka tilted her head, feigning confusion. "What else do you want to hear, senpai?"
Amamiya sighed, clearly unimpressed. "So, all those times you said you liked me—those were just lies, right?"
Hayasaka froze for a moment, her eyes narrowing. Then, with a small huff, she crossed her arms and muttered, "You've got some nerve bringing that up, senpai. You had me help you chase after other girls. Do you even realize how shameless that is?"
"At least I was honest," Amamiya replied calmly. "I didn't lie."
"Not lying isn't something to brag about, you know!" Hayasaka exhaled sharply, her face tinged with embarrassment. "For the record, I wasn't lying about liking you, senpai."
"I don't believe you," he said, shaking his head.
Her hands clenched into fists as she stepped closer. "Then I'll prove it to you."
Startled, Amamiya asked, "How exactly are you planning to—"
Before he could finish, Hayasaka closed the distance, wrapping her arms around his neck. She pressed her lips against his in a fleeting, delicate kiss, her cheeks burning red when she finally pulled back.
"Would I kiss someone I didn't like?" she asked softly, her voice laced with defiance and embarrassment.
Amamiya opened his mouth to respond but hesitated.
Of course, he thought, never underestimate a man's lack of moral boundaries. There are men who would kiss strangers, figurines, or even pillows.
Amamiya touched his lips, a teasing smile playing on his face. "I still doubt it. Maybe you should prove it to me a few more times."
"Senpai, don't push your luck," Hayasaka replied sharply, stepping closer to tuck her hair behind her ear. Her tone softened slightly as she added, "Anyway, when we enter the next dungeon, I'll be counting on you to protect the young lady."
Amamiya crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. "Before worrying about Kaguya, maybe you should worry about yourself."
"…"
Without responding, Hayasaka flipped open an identity card and led the way back to the living room.
By now, it was 11:40 p.m. The girls who had been resting upstairs earlier had come down, gathering in the spacious room.
"It's almost time," Amamiya announced as he walked over to the sofa and took a seat. "Let's confirm who's going into the dungeon."
Chika raised her hand energetically. "Me! Me! I'm going!"
Kaguya, seated elegantly with a cup of black tea in hand, nodded. "I'll participate as well."
"I'm in too," Hayasaka added confidently.
Umi pouted, her voice full of disappointment. "Ahhh, I'm the only one who can't go!"
Rikka, who hadn't gone to bed yet, was also present. She whispered from the corner, "I can't go either."
Amamiya glanced at them and then looked at the others. "Alright, let's go over the basics one more time. Once we're in the dungeon, we could face a variety of situations, so here's how we'll deal with them."
While the exact nature of the dungeon remained unknown until entry, that didn't mean they couldn't prepare.
In the mutual aid group, experienced players often shared their dungeon experiences to help newcomers. These guides summarized common scenarios, strategies, and mistakes, ensuring others were better prepared for survival.
Most dungeons started in one of two ways: either all players began in the same location or they were scattered and had to regroup on their own. While it was impossible to predict every possibility, reviewing established strategies and lessons could make all the difference.
Amamiya leaned forward, his expression serious. "There's one minute left. It's almost midnight."
"Everyone, get ready!" Chika straightened up, her usual cheerfulness now replaced with determination.
Tsubame took a deep breath, her fists clenched nervously.
Kaguya set down her teacup with deliberate care, waiting quietly.
The room grew silent as the seconds ticked away.
At the stroke of midnight, Amamiya felt darkness envelop his vision. When he opened his eyes again, he was standing in the middle of a snowy forest. Snowflakes drifted down from the overcast sky, covering the ground in an endless white blanket. The air was cold, the dusk vast and eerie.
"Amamiya-kun?"
A voice called out nearby, filled with relief and surprise.
Turning, Amamiya found himself face-to-face with Tsubame, her expression mirroring his thoughts.
He quickly scanned the surroundings but found no trace of Hayasaka, Kaguya, or Chika.
"Well, I guess I'm lucky to be paired with you," Amamiya said, offering her a reassuring smile. "Let me take a look at your mission first."
"Okay," Tsubame replied, showing him her task panel. "The main mission is just to survive for forty-eight hours. The side quests aren't unlocked yet—I guess I'll need to explore to find them."
While she explained, Amamiya opened his own task panel.
[Dungeon Content Updated. Please Click to View.]
• Current Dungeon: "Bedtime Fairy Tale"
• Dungeon Description: The Fairy Tale Kingdom was once peaceful and harmonious. But one day, the seeds of nightmares arrived, twisting the kingdom into chaos.
• Main Mission: Find and destroy the seeds of nightmares.
• Side Mission: Explore and uncover secrets.
• Time Limit: 48 hours.
"Hey, why are our missions different?" Tsubame asked in surprise, glancing at him.
"It's probably tied to player abilities," Amamiya murmured, his brow furrowed in thought.
From their experiences so far, it was clear that while all players could level up, there was a significant gap between novices and veterans. Even mission objectives varied, reflecting a player's capabilities.
For instance, Tsubame, being a newcomer, only needed to survive for forty-eight hours. Her task seemed more forgiving, as survival-focused missions often allowed players to avoid direct danger and bide their time.
Amamiya smirked slightly. "Well, Senpai, it looks like you just need to stay alive, but leave the hard stuff to me."
Tsubame nodded, her face showing both relief and determination as the snow continued to fall silently around them.
Unfortunately, Amamiya's situation was far from simple. His main task was to locate and destroy something—inaction was not an option.
With this in mind, Amamiya raised his right hand, his pinky moving in a rhythmic, deliberate pattern.
Thanks to the existence of the red string, he could communicate with Chika through subtle vibrations. Initially, Amamiya had considered learning Morse code for this purpose, but coordinating precise signals with just one finger had proven too challenging, forcing him to abandon the idea.
Now, his method was simpler: a quick double tremble of his pinky meant "everything is fine." After a brief pause, a single tremble indicated "I'm alone."
As the vibrations ceased, it became clear—Chika was not with Kaguya or Hayasaka.
Lowering his hand, Amamiya turned to Tsubame, who was watching him nervously. His voice remained calm.
"Everyone seems to have scattered. Our priority is to regroup and find Chika first."
"I understand," Tsubame said with a firm nod.
Finding Chika was essential. Once reunited, they could unleash their combined skills to handle the dungeon's monsters with ease.
"But how do we locate everyone?" Tsubame asked, glancing anxiously at the dense forest around them.
The snow-covered landscape was disorienting. The trees stretched endlessly in every direction, their dark silhouettes stark against the snowy ground. There was no discernible path, and the snowfall made visibility poor.
Amamiya replied, "Senpai, have you ever watched Bear Grylls' wilderness survival videos?"
"A little," Tsubame admitted, her eyes lighting up. "Are you saying we should use survival techniques to figure out the direction and find our way through the forest?"
"Well, that's a nice thought," Amamiya said dryly, "but completely impractical for most people. Besides, our goal isn't to leave the forest—it's to find Chika and the others."
"So what's your plan?"
With a faint smirk, Amamiya pulled out a compass.
Tsubame blinked. "…"
The item in his hand wasn't an ordinary compass. In addition to pointing north, it functioned as a treasure-hunting tool. By using an object imbued with a player's unique scent, it could roughly indicate their direction.
This wasn't a random find from a blind box but a useful item he'd purchased. The mutual aid association was well-stocked, offering a variety of tools to make survival easier for its members.
"Let's move this way," Amamiya said, pointing ahead.
"Got it." Tsubame quickly fell into step behind him.
They had barely walked a few steps when Amamiya noticed a more immediate concern.
"Senpai, are you cold?" he asked, glancing at her.
"N-not really…" Tsubame stammered, hugging herself tightly. She forced a shaky smile. "I'm fine."
"Don't overdo it," Amamiya said, unimpressed. "If I'm cold, there's no way you're fine."
Tsubame bit her lip, unwilling to admit it, but the truth was clear in her trembling form.