"...I see."
Kaguya immediately grasped the situation upon seeing the bodies of the players beneath the makeshift shelter.
It was a classic snowy mountain scenario.
In extreme cold, when a person falls asleep, they first experience an intense chill. If they don't wake up, their blood flow focuses on maintaining brain function, creating a false sense of warmth, sometimes even heat, before they ultimately die in their sleep, smiling as if in a peaceful dream.
This game started with a shared dream.
The main objective was simple: wake yourself up.
"Wait, why do those people look exactly like us?"
Some players were still confused.
One such player was Rikka. Her expression blank as the cold wind tugged at the ahoge on her head. She hadn't fully processed the situation when she suddenly heard the notification indicating the game's completion.
She had been declared the best player.
"Thank you, Amamiya-kun."
Gradually, the other players, now aware of what had transpired, approached Amamiya to express their gratitude.
If it weren't for Amamiya urging everyone to leave the castle together, they might still be trapped inside, and the outcome could have been much darker.
"You don't need to thank us. We should all help each other in difficult situations." Chika chimed in, her voice bright and cheerful. She even took the opportunity to promote the mutual aid group she had formed. "When we get back, feel free to join my group. See you all in real life!"
The wind howled, and snow continued to fall around them.
The snowy mountain wasn't exactly an ideal place for extended conversations, so after a few quick exchanges, everyone headed toward the shelter beneath the cliff, reaching out to check their bodies.
[Game Completed]
[You will exit the game in 10 seconds. Please be prepared.]
"No wonder everyone's timer was different…" Chika mumbled to herself. "It must have been based on everyone's physical endurance, right?"
Amamiya and Kaguya exchanged glances, understanding what the other was thinking.
"No, it's about body fat," they both concluded.
"..."
Ten seconds flew by in an instant.
Amamiya felt a brief wave of dizziness before hearing a soft voice nearby.
"Amamiya?"
He opened his eyes to find himself back on the sofa. Miko was leaning over, resting her hands on her knees, looking down at him with concern in her eyes.
"Long time no see," Amamiya muttered, pressing a hand to his forehead as he sat up.
"Huh?"
"I just spent hours inside the game, but now it feels like it all happened yesterday…"
Miko pouted and crossed her arms. "Take a look at the time."
"Hmm?"
Startled, Amamiya picked up his phone. It was already past two in the afternoon.
"You vanished earlier," Miko explained, her lips pursed in slight annoyance. "You disappeared into thin air, just like that. Poof! You've only just reappeared now. When Hana came back from walking the dog, she asked where you were. I had to say you went out for something... It didn't match what you said before at all."
"It must be part of the game's new update." Amamiya frowned slightly, trying to piece it together.
Before, only consciousness could enter the game, but now the body could as well... Had the game evolved?
As he pondered this, a translucent image of Shimizu suddenly appeared.
"Amamiya-kun, you're just too much," Shimizu said in a sulking tone, as if Amamiya had heartlessly abandoned her. "You didn't even ask me for help from start to finish."
"I did call for you," Amamiya replied with a shrug. "Unfortunately, you couldn't come out."
The snowy mountains and ancient castles within the game were manifestations of the collective subconscious of all the players. As Shimizu was a "pet," she naturally couldn't enter those spaces.
That's why Amamiya hadn't received any response when he tried to summon her.
"Is Kaguya-chan and Chika-chan alright?" Shimizu asked.
Amamiya nodded. "They're fine. We cleared the game together."
"That's a relief." Shimizu placed a hand over her chest and exhaled softly, despite being a ghost with no need to breathe. Then, with excitement in her voice, she asked, "What was the game like this time? I'm curious."
'Just like your daughter, always curious but never asking outright,' Amamiya thought.
"I'd like to know too," added Miko, her interest piqued.
"It was a wilderness survival game disguised as a snowy mountain villa..." Amamiya briefly summarized the game's events.
"That sounds so dangerous!" Shimizu gasped, covering her mouth in surprise. "Are all the games like this?"
Amamiya nodded. "They've always been this intense."
"Well, I'm just glad you're safe," Miko sighed with relief. "You haven't eaten anything yet, so I'll go make lunch."
"I definitely want to eat something warm," Amamiya said, standing up, though he still felt a lingering chill from the snow. "But first, I'm going to take a bath."
After spending so long in the ice and snow, what could be better than a hot bath upon returning to reality?
"Do you want me to help scrub your back?" Shimizu raised her hand eagerly. "I didn't get to help you in the game, but I can help you now!"
Amamiya paused for a moment, then turned to look at her.
"That won't be necessary," he replied expressionlessly. "Why don't you just play on your phone?"
'You want to help me scrub my back? Don't say that in front of me! Save that for your daughter!'
Entering the bathroom, Amamiya prepared the bathwater, rinsed off briefly, and then sank into the warm bath.
"Ahhh..."
He let out a soft sigh, opening the game's settlement interface.
[Congratulations, you have been awarded MVP for this game.]
[All your rewards will receive an additional boost.]
"MVP with bonus rewards? That's new. Must be part of the recent update," Amamiya thought, continuing to read.
[Due to your excellent performance, you can select one of the following five items as an additional reward.]
[Note: All rewards are drawn from the 'Wilderness Challenge' instance you just completed.]
[Would you like to select now?]
"Yes," Amamiya answered without hesitation. Choosing one from five options was a luxury he couldn't pass up.
In the next moment, five cards appeared before him, neatly floating in mid-air, glowing with a soft white light. Unlike previous times, where rewards came in blind boxes, the contents of these cards were clearly described—though not always easy to understand at first glance.
Amamiya examined the first card.
[Item: Durarara!]
[This is the diary of a headless knight who practiced invisibility so rigorously that only his head became invisible. It contains his experiences and training insights. You might gain something unexpected by reading it.]
'So the reason the knight has no head is because of invisibility practice? That's... bizarre. Anyone that focused on invisibility has to be some kind of creep!'
He moved on to the second card.
[Item: Maid Summoning Card]
[You can summon a ghost maid to serve you. The maximum service time is 24 hours. Please note that during her service, no inappropriate behavior is allowed. Violators will face consequences.]
'Seriously? As if I'd harass a ghost maid!'
Amamiya wasn't interested in ghost maids, so he skipped that option.
The third card was next.
[Item: Miss Werewolf's Stretchy Gym Pants]
[Note: Produced by the Transformation Enthusiasts Association, these pants aim to protect the dignity of all transformation enthusiasts.]
'Stretchy gym pants like the Hulk's? But what could I possibly use these for?'
He moved on to the fourth card.
[Item: Pet Collar]
[Note: It features an extended battery life, solar charging, six different modes, and an ergonomic design. This collar will bring you a unique and fun experience.]
After reviewing all the options, Amamiya finally understood the significance of the MVP system introduced in the game update.
The strong only get stronger, while the weak continue to fall behind.