Chapter 2: Fujiwara Chika, the Obedient and Understanding Newbie

Chapter 2: Fujiwara Chika, the Obedient and Understanding Newbie

"So... are we in some kind of real-life Battle Royale game now?"

Chika spoke softly while zipping up a skintight protective suit—cut-resistant and slip-resistant—that could shield her from scratches while climbing. She fastened the suit, put on a helmet with a mounted light, and tied back her long hair to avoid hindrance during action.

Next to her, a supply box had already been opened. The exploration outfit she was wearing had been taken from that box. Other items, such as energy bars, portable food, and signal sticks, were packed into the large backpack Takakai had left on the ground.

"Something like that, but the situation is worse than a Battle Royale. At least in that game, people usually have a chance to fight back. But in horror story rules, aside from trying to run, we don't have any other choice. Those horror stories and the bizarre things tied to them have countless ways to kill us. Sometimes, just saying the wrong thing might get you torn apart the next second. Or maybe a group of adorable children stops you, asks why you haven't gone home, then locks you in a small box and pours boiling water on you."

Takakai, expressionless, finished putting on his own protective suit, turned on the light on his helmet, and swept his gaze around the dark cave.

This place was definitely not the Nutty Dutty Cave they once knew.

Takakai remembered very clearly: everyone who had ever made it through Nutty Dutty Cave mentioned that the map inside had almost no branching paths, essentially just a straight line. Even those who dared to venture into the danger zone and were lucky enough to survive didn't report seeing many splits in the path.

But right here, next to the supply box, Takakai could already see three different passageways. Each path was narrow, requiring him—standing at 1.8 meters tall—to stoop to get through. If he and Fujiwara Chika walked side by side, they could completely block one path. The surrounding space was truly dark and suffocating.

Where the hell am I?

Takakai desperately wanted to clarify this question.

"I... I understand now. Kaguya-san and Shijo-san are really here too, aren't they?"

Fujiwara Chika took a deep breath, trying to process the shocking reality she had just encountered, while Takakai decided he wouldn't stay idle any longer and began to act.

This place gave him an overwhelmingly bad feeling.

Forget about the eerie thing that had appeared earlier with the back of its head smashed open—currently, although nothing was visible around them, the blessing Takakai possessed—the ability to discern intent, human and non-human—was issuing relentless warnings. And those warnings were coming from every direction.

It was as though someone—or something—was staring at him from all sides, watching his every move, waiting for something to happen.

Takakai didn't know why his blessing was reacting so intensely, but he was certain that in horror story rules, every anomaly had a cause and an explanation. The strange sensations he felt now were definitely because something real was there, always watching him.

Kaguya and Maki also had blessings that allowed them to distinguish things like this. He wondered if they felt the same. Were they... doing okay now? Were they able to act smoothly? If the changes in this dungeon were indeed his fault, he feared he had dragged them into this mess...

Regret briefly surfaced in his heart, but it quickly subsided.

Without hesitation, Takakai stepped forward and gestured for the pink-haired girl behind him to follow.

"Don't expect me to protect you, Fujiwara-san. Here, everyone can only fend for themselves. Unless you prove yourself worthy of being protected, I won't hesitate to abandon you when danger comes."

Takakai spoke to Chika seriously, his tone carrying a warning, concerned that she still hadn't grasped the severity of their situation.

"I know, I know. So basically, we need to figure out where we are first, right? Since this is an action game based on horror story rules, we need to determine which location we're in—like the Big Slide, Big Cliff, Blood Vessel, Turning Point, Stone Pillar Square, Great Space, Artery, or Heart. After reading the rule sheet, I think these places might be connected in a certain order. The rules require us to reach the deepest part of this cave, which would be the Heart. So, our first task is to figure out where we are and then find a way to get to the Heart, right?"

Takakai was surprised to see the bright-haired girl analyzing things so methodically.

"You've memorized all 19 rules and started summarizing them already?"

Chika's response caught Takakai off guard.

"Umu, well, basically we can think of this as a tabletop RPG, right? I've memorized rulebooks for CoC and DnD from cover to cover before, so this isn't a big deal. Oh, and another thing—I'm starting to feel like this rule sheet emphasizes our identity. It seems that our roles as explorers are even more important than ourselves. For example, that scary creature earlier—it left right after we explained that we were explorers. Could it be that only those who stick firmly to their roles can survive in this game?"

Chika took a deep breath, unabashedly continuing to share her thoughts with Takakai.

After her initial confusion and fear, this girl named Fujiwara Chika had quickly adjusted to the situation, even showing enthusiasm and readiness to face challenges. Her eyes seemed to ignite with determination, much like a pro gamer ready to tackle a hardcore challenge with a single life.

Hopefully, this positivity would increase her chances of survival.

"What you're saying makes sense. Looks like I can raise my evaluation of you a little. But still, you're a newbie who's never played this kind of game before. Your physical ability and reflexes are inferior to seasoned players. So, if anything happens, don't act on your own, understand? And every 10 minutes, we'll confirm with each other. I'll say: 'I am an explorer. My name is Takakai. I want to reach the Heart and leave Nutty Putty Cave.' You'll repeat the same, but with your name. Got it?"

With a slight hint of approval for her, Takakai carefully explained further.

"I know, I know. There are things here that can mess with people's sanity, right? Things that can corrupt the mind without anyone noticing. So, we have to keep reaffirming our roles, names, and goals so we don't lose our way. I'll remember this."

Chika nodded enthusiastically, quickly grasping the meaning behind Takakai's instructions.

How does this girl understand so quickly?

Once again, Takakai found himself startled by Chika.

Compared to Shijo Maki and Shinomiya Kaguya—who had taken quite some time to establish trust (mostly Kaguya)—Fujiwara Chika's adaptability was astonishing.

From initial confusion and cluelessness to understanding the situation, Chika had almost immediately accepted the worldview of a supernatural survival horror game. What's more, she quickly understood Takakai's way of thinking, making him feel like he was guiding a sweet, obedient "newbie."

Even so, if they encountered an unavoidable danger, he wouldn't hesitate to leave her behind and run.

...

Ahead of them, the cave system twisted and stretched on endlessly.

The stench of blood wafted through the darkness.

Takakai and Chika cautiously navigated through a low tunnel. Soon, they came across a supply crate under dim light. However, the crate had been pried open, the rule sheet taken, and all the exploration equipment and convenient food inside were gone.

"It seems we're not the only players in this area. Perhaps some veteran players were quick enough to know what they needed to do."

Takakai whispered, his mind on high alert.

The dungeon's sudden fixation was completely unpredictable. Veteran players who had entered this map likely assumed it would be easy to clear, but now that the situation had changed, who knew what they would do. It was best to view them with caution, as if they were Old Guo or that traitorous girl.

Ahead of them were numerous cave entrances, each narrow and shrouded in darkness, leading to unknown destinations.

Takakai chose the path with the faintest smell of blood, but it wasn't long before he came across a corpse.

It was a young man wearing a plain T-shirt and glasses. His hand still clutched half a keyboard—perhaps he'd been arguing with someone online just before entering the dungeon.

His body was completely shattered, as if he had fallen from a great height and slammed into jagged rocks repeatedly, leaving his limbs twisted beyond recognition. His chest was slightly sunken, and one side of his head had been struck hard, forming a large hole that still oozed fresh blood.

Chika, who had just regained some courage, was once again terrified by the gruesome sight. This time, however, she covered her mouth herself to stifle a scream, sparing Takakai from having to intervene.

"The time of death isn't long. Looks like he just fell from somewhere."

Takakai muttered softly, glancing upward. He saw a rock ledge just low enough to touch with his hand.

Could this be the work of some strange force?

The man they saw earlier had his brain seemingly destroyed, and now this one appeared to have fallen from a cliff. Could it be that the dead here turned into some kind of twisted creatures, imposing their manner of death onto players?

On second thought, dying from a fall seemed less agonizing than being boiled alive. Oddly, the thought didn't feel as dreadful as it should have.

"Let's go. We're not detectives."

"Ah... yes, okay."

Despite the chaotic thoughts swirling in his mind, Takakai remained calm. He whispered a short reply and led Chika away from the area as quickly as possible.

The place felt like a labyrinth.

Countless caves intertwined, forming an endless loop with no apparent exit.

As they continued, they came across more supply crates, though most had been pried open.

A few intact crates remained, but blood stains and scraps of clothing scattered around them hinted at horrifying events that had taken place not long ago.

Takakai inspected the crates and noticed that the rule sheets left behind were all labeled "Explorer's Guide." Inside, he found mostly exploration equipment and food supplies.

So, in this area, was the identity of an explorer the central theme?

Drip… drip…

The sound of dripping water echoed faintly.

Although most of the cave was dry, some sections had water dripping, making the air damp and heavy.

If he remembered correctly, some players had mentioned a lake in the Nutty Putty Cave area.

With that thought in mind, Takakai pressed forward.

The winding cave system was disorienting, but thanks to the blessing from Xu Sheng after completing the first mission, Takakai had gained the ability to navigate caves. He could now sense that he was nearing a more open area, as the faint breeze brushing against his face indicated a larger space ahead.

Without that ability—along with the rescue team captain's knowledge Xu Sheng had imparted—just escaping the first cave would likely have been an impossible task.

"Be careful. If things look bad, retreat into the tunnel immediately," Takakai said seriously, turning to warn Chika before stepping into the larger area.

"Understood! I promise to run as fast as I can and not hold you back."

Chika straightened her posture, bowing with an earnest expression.

In the next moment, Takakai passed through the tunnel, switched off his headlamp, and cautiously stepped into the unexpectedly vast space.

Instantly, he noticed four beams of light moving and flickering within the empty expanse.