"In fact, we could let 'Mom' explore the way first," Kaguya suggested in a low voice.
"I thought of that, but unfortunately, it's not possible," Amamiya shook her head. "I tried calling your 'Mom' in Andy's room earlier, but there was no response."
Shimizu, who could normally be summoned on the Midnight Subway, couldn't be called here, and the game offered no explanation for it.
This is strange.
"...Andy?" Kaguya tilted her head, looking puzzled.
"It's from 'The Shawshank Redemption', one of the top 100 must-see classic films," Amamiya explained. "You can watch it when we're done with the game."
"Also, the protagonist's name is Andy, not Shawshank," Amamiya added.
Kaguya frowned slightly. "Why did you emphasize that so much?"
Of course, because some people watch the whole movie and still don't remember the main character's name!
"..."
As Amamiya spoke, he cautiously pushed the door open. After a few seconds with no sign of danger, he whispered, "Let's go in."
But as soon as he stepped inside, something landed on Amamiya's shoulder. His body suddenly felt heavy, as if controlled by some unseen force.
"Don't come in..." Amamiya's heart sank, and he quickly tried to warn her.
"It's too late," Kaguya's voice carried a note of frustration. "I'm already inside."
"What landed on me?" Amamiya calmed himself and asked.
Kaguya pursed her lips before replying, "It seems to be... spider silk?"
Before they could process that, an unknown force moved their bodies deeper into the room.
Still holding the puppet Billy, Amamiya said as they walked, "Mr. Butler, this doesn't feel like proper hospitality, does it?"
Billy's puppet eyes gleamed as he responded slowly, "There are other guests in this room. Your current actions amount to trespassing. What do you think?"
After a few more steps, a small stage came into view.
Three chairs made of bones stood on the stage, occupied by three girls: Chika, Yukino, and the Chunibyo girl Rikka.
"Amamiya-kun! Kaguya-chan!" Chika's voice lit up with surprise and joy upon seeing them.
"Stop shouting," Amamiya grumbled. "We're in the same situation as you."
Under the invisible force, Amamiya and Kaguya were guided onto the stage. Suddenly, bones rattled and rolled out from the darkness, assembling into two benches beside Rikka with eerie efficiency.
Amamiya and Kaguya were forced to sit down. The bones of the strange benches wrapped around them like ribs, locking them in place.
Once seated, Amamiya felt his body regain movement, but the grip of the chair held him firmly in place, preventing him from standing.
"Welcome. Today's quiz game has two new participants," a hoarse, sharp voice echoed from the shadows.
Amamiya looked toward the source of the voice and saw a massive spider web hanging from the ceiling. A large, gray spider, about the size of a wagon wheel, crouched in the center of the web. Even those who weren't typically afraid of spiders would have felt a chill seeing this one.
"Ah, Mr. Butler is here too?" The giant spider's scarlet compound eyes shifted, focusing on the puppet Billy in Amamiya's arms.
"I am currently under this player's control," Billy responded, his tone calm and composed. "Miss Spider, please enjoy your game. You needn't worry about me."
"Isn't calling yourself 'Spider-Girl' a bit much?" Amamiya couldn't resist commenting, glancing at the enormous creature above. "The difference is too big."
"The name is just a code," the spider—Miss Spider—snorted. "But if you prefer, you can call me Spider-Girl."
I see no connection between you and the term "girl" whatsoever!
After a brief pause, Amamiya suggested, "How about calling you 'Kumoko'?"
Chika poked her head toward him. "Don't tease her just because she hasn't read the comics."
"What exactly is this quiz game?" Kaguya asked boldly. Despite the massive spider looming over her, she only frowned slightly, showing no trace of fear.
"Good question…" Miss Spider crawled gracefully across her web.
Rikka tilted her head curiously, her hair drooping as she spoke, "It's like the quiz shows on TV where if you get a question wrong, the chair will keep tightening."
Miss Spider rolled her eyes, casting an irritated glance at Rikka. "Human, don't interrupt me."
"S-Sorry."
Miss Spider, her tone hoarse and commanding, addressed the group, "Since our two new guests aren't familiar with the rules of the game, I'll explain them again." She continued, "I'll ask the questions, and you must answer them. There are two types of questions: quick answer and full answer. For quick answers, the first person to answer correctly will score points, which can be used to offset a penalty."
"Everyone has to answer the full-answer questions."
"And during this time, no one in the room is allowed to lie."
"If anyone lies, everyone will be treated as a liar, and the chairs will tighten, punishing everyone. Does anyone have any questions?"
"I got it," Amamiya replied, nodding. The rules seemed straightforward.
"Then let's continue the game," Miss Spider's voice grew louder with anticipation. "We'll start with a warm-up question... Now, listen carefully."
"Suppose there's a rope that's just one centimeter longer than the circumference of the Earth. You wrap it around the equator, and now you want to lift it just a bit. How high can you raise the rope? Can a person pass through that gap?"
"The countdown begins—first to answer!"
"Eh? How is this a simple question?" Chika cried in disbelief.
"Meow? What kind of question is that?" Rikka was equally confused. "I don't get it at all."
Kaguya furrowed her brows slightly. "It sounds illogical, but…"
"I know the answer," Amamiya interjected confidently.
"Very good," Spider-Girl pointed a long spider leg toward him. "Player, please answer."
"It's a straightforward physics problem…" After a brief calculation, Amamiya said, "You can lift it high enough for a person to pass through."
"Correct!" Applause echoed from the shadows as Miss Spider gleefully announced, "Absolutely correct."
She continued, clearly pleased, "See? That was an easy question, wasn't it?"
"Is it really that simple?" Chika's eyes widened in disbelief, her faith in herself shaken. "Why didn't I get it?"
"Me neither, meow…" Rikka added, looking equally lost.
"Now... time for the punishment."
Amamiya glanced at the others, noticing that the bones of their chairs were slowly tightening inward. While Kaguya, Yukino, and Rikka didn't seem too bothered, being relatively slender, Chika looked distressed.
This is the downside of being blessed with more... European proportions, Amamiya mused.
"Well then, let's move on to the next question," Miss Spider said briskly, wasting no time. "This is a full-answer question. Everyone must respond, and remember—if anyone lies, everyone will be punished."
"Here's the question."
"Have you ever read... adult comics?"