(Please add it to your Library! Please send Power Stones! Thank you!)
An old man, with a white beard and a crack on his head, rushed forward, clutching a model hamburger in his hand.
And then... he was promptly arrested.
The group of girls gathered around him.
"Looking for circulating coins."
"Check his pockets."
"Found one! It's hidden in his sock... do you think that could cause athlete's foot?"
"It's not human, so no chance of athlete's foot."
"…"
The old man, resembling the KFC mascot, rolled his eyes, looking bewildered.
For a moment, it was unclear who the real villain was.
If his memory served, wasn't he supposed to be the monster?
The search concluded with nothing more than a single coin from the old man.
Fortunately, even one was enough. Umi placed her hand on her waist and said confidently, "Leave the task of escorting it to the train to me."
Amamiya nodded. "As you wish, milady."
"…"
As the girls dragged the monster of an old man away, a sudden line of poetry came to Amamiya's mind:
"The vines of South Village exploited my frailty, carrying me shamelessly into the bamboo grove."
If any passerby had witnessed this scene, they might have mistaken Amamiya and his group for the true villains.
They ascended to the fourth floor.
After getting the old monster onto the train, everyone began discussing their next move.
"I found another circulating coin." Umi once again placed her hand on her waist. "Just two more, and the game is almost over."
"Only an hour has passed," Chika whispered. "This game has been so easy."
Upon hearing this, Amamiya turned to her and whispered back:
"Have you already forgotten the shark plush that almost perished by Daming Lake?"
Easy? Hardly.
For others, they might still be struggling just to survive in this treacherous game.
Thanks to a combination of dismantling gangs and the convenient ability of 'copy and paste', Amamiya had come to realize one fundamental truth—
Humans have limits.
To be a lone ranger in a horror game is nothing short of foolish. The smart choice is to form alliances.
Only evil forces can combat other evil forces.
"I suggest we don't finish the game just yet," Kaguya suddenly proposed.
Everyone turned toward her.
"The game is rife with danger. We have no idea what will come in the next stage, so we should strengthen ourselves as much as possible," Kaguya said calmly, her arms crossed over her chest. "It's obvious that the final rewards will be tied to our performance in the game."
"In other words, we need to aim for higher scores to earn better rewards."
"That makes sense."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
The game's scoring mechanism was still unclear, but it was undoubtedly tied to how well players performed. Those who did nothing from start to finish could only hope for the basic reward, even if they managed to clear the game.
At this point, most players would only earn the bare minimum for completing the game.
"There's one more thing," Amamiya said, drawing their attention. "Do you think there are other players in the mall besides us?"
Chika's eyes widened as she quickly grasped his point.
"There have to be other players!"
It wouldn't make sense for there to be so few in such a massive shopping mall spanning tens of thousands of square meters. Meeting only their small group would be far too coincidental.
According to common sense, there had to be some players hiding in the mall.
"Hmm?"
Kaguya's dark eyebrows lifted slightly as she glanced at Amamiya.
Their eyes met.
In that brief exchange, they instantly understood each other's thoughts.
"Amamiya-kun, do you think the other players don't know how to clear the game yet?" Umi looked up, curiosity in her eyes. "Should we help them?"
Having never experienced betrayal from their own kind, one naturally feels compassion for others struggling in similar circumstances.
There's nothing wrong with lending a hand to others, provided that one's own safety is secured.
Those who disregard the safety of their companions, stubbornly pursuing their own path, and even sacrificing their own to save strangers are foolish.
So...
"Of course, we have to help." Amamiya responded with sincerity. "As humans, how could I stand by and watch others struggle in the dark?"
"If I were to just walk away, I'd definitely feel a pang of guilt."
"You're saying one thing but meaning another." Umi teased, poking Amamiya's waist playfully. "I can tell you don't truly believe what you're saying."
"Ah, you saw through me." Amamiya sighed in mock defeat. "Yes, I've lost my conscience."
"Stomp—"
"…"
Having decided to assist the other players, their first priority became communication.
The mall was vast, and with monsters roaming freely, the other players would surely be cautious, hiding their movements. Searching for them one by one would be like hunting for a needle in a haystack—an inefficient waste of time and energy.
"…The broadcasting room!"
Chika's eyes suddenly lit up, and she spoke quickly, "I remember seeing a story on Twitter once. A father took his child to a mall, and the child got lost. The child found a security guard and said his father was lost instead. They reunited through the mall's broadcast. We could use the same trick to notify other players!"
"That's a solid idea," Amamiya nodded in agreement.
"Well…" A bespectacled girl raised her hand hesitantly and suggested, "But won't the loud broadcast attract monsters?"
"Have you ever heard the mall broadcast? Do you even know where the broadcast room is?"
"No idea."
"What a coincidence. The monsters probably don't either."
"…"
With the plan set, the group moved quickly.
When Kaguya had scouted the mall earlier that evening, she'd memorized its layout. Now, she led the way, and they soon arrived at the broadcasting room.
"Hey, the door's locked." Chika pointed out, trying the handle. "Nope, it won't budge."
Hayasaka's lips twitched slightly.
As a spy, it would take her no more than ten seconds to open such a simple lock. But, maintaining her cover, she couldn't step forward to do anything about it.
"Tug—"
The silver-haired loli tugged at Amamiya's sleeve.
Amamiya glanced down at her.
"…"
The loli raised her little face and looked pointedly at the locked door.
Understanding her silent request, Amamiya stepped aside.
Without a word, the silver-haired girl walked up to the door, spreading her right hand. In her palm was a black hairpin. She inserted it into the lock, fiddled for a few moments, and with a soft click, the door swung open.
"Amazing, Aharen-san!" Chika exclaimed.
The pin vanished as quickly as it had appeared—a lock-picking tool clearly produced within the game. It was nothing short of impressive.
Regardless, the broadcasting room was now open.
"No need for all of us to enter. Some of you should stay outside and keep watch."
Amamiya stepped into the room, switched on the broadcasting equipment, and leaned toward the microphone.
The next moment, Amamiya's voice echoed throughout the quiet, midnight mall.
"Good evening, fellow players."
"The nozamA power-leveling service you've been waiting for is officially open. For assistance, press 1. Our meeting point is the east exit of the mall."
"We've mastered the correct strategy for clearing the game and can help you pass without worry."
"Please note that this is a paid service. Payment is accepted in game items."
"nozamA's pick-up and drop-off service is also available. If you're unable to move or in danger, press 2, and we'll provide a hassle-free, one-stop service."
"For details, locate the nearest surveillance camera, identify yourself as a player, and then wait for us to arrive."
"And lastly, we wish you a pleasant game."
"…"