Why is my journey to the world of anime a strange tale of rules?

He was just saying he liked me, even pouncing on me and trying to do all sorts of things to me, but after meeting that fat woman, he's all fired up. That's just how men are, you perverted sea monster!

As her anger surged, Maki couldn't help but recall the ancient parasite from Takahashi that she had seen on the surveillance footage, and her face flushed red.

That size... it still doesn't seem quite right.

If I hadn't kicked him that day, and had just let things take their course...

No, no, why am I thinking about this kind of thing? The important issue now is how to solve the current situation. The information she and Kaguya have obtained so far seems to be very one-sided, while Kai-kun obviously came from another place. He should have more information. We need to find a way to exchange information.

However, even if they wanted to exchange intelligence, now was not the time; they would have to wait until the next expedition team set off.

Before that, we need to find a way to gather more intelligence, at least to increase our understanding of this research base.

Finally calming down, Princess Maki breathed a sigh of relief and forced herself to shift her attention to the important matter at hand.

Although her inner thoughts were swirling, the process of adjusting herself actually only took a few seconds. While Maki was calming herself down, Kaguya maintained a calm expression, and couldn't help but recall... well, recall the scene she had witnessed in the shower earlier.

Wow, boys can have such exaggerated forms! It feels like I've gained a lot of knowledge.

Hmm, to get emotional over something like this, that's really not calm of me. I can't take it too seriously, I can't take it too seriously. I need to focus on the task at hand and concentrate on conquering the current dungeon.

Although her facial expression remained unchanged, Kaguya, who couldn't erase the image of the colossal ancient parasite from her mind, was actually starting to lose her composure.

"What are your plans for the next steps?"

Kaguya, who appeared to be unaffected, turned to look at Maki and asked.

“During the off-duty period, our activity area is limited to the dormitory area on the second floor and the entertainment area on the third floor. We can no longer go to the research area on the first floor, and we must return to the dormitory area at bedtime. So I suggest we investigate the entertainment area on the third floor to see if we can find any clues there.”

With a calm expression, Maki gazed at Kaguya and slowly answered.

The two turned around and walked together to the third floor.

Behind them, the office door, which should have been closed, quietly opened a crack. Follen's slightly aged face, with a receding hairline and stubble, appeared behind the door, watching the two leave expressionlessly.

Under the office desk, a blood-red rag doll lay silently, quietly lurking without moving.

As for Gao Hai's situation at the time when the two girls went to gather information, well, it's hard to say.

I don't know when it started, but my side-sleeping position changed to sleeping on my back.

Gao Hai stared wide-eyed at the unfamiliar ceiling, trying to loop the song "Young man, become a legend!" in his mind. But for some reason, the loop kept turning into "Come on, have fun, we have plenty of time anyway," and even into songs like "Fish and water rejoice together at Wushan."

As for why this is the case, it's simple: a very cute pink-haired girl is lying on top of him.

"Woo..."

Perhaps because she had a nightmare, she even clung to him and hugged him tightly.

Gao Hai remained motionless.

The fresh scent of shampoo in the girl's hair, the warmth of her body, the smooth touch of her skin, and of course, that indescribable softness, all stimulated Gao Hai's nerves at this moment, making it impossible for him to fall asleep.

Is this a pleasure or a torment?

This question made Gao Hai fall into deep thought.

The lyrics in my head have been looping to the majestic opening, which is the kind of socially repulsive sound that should never be played out in public.

Even so, Gao Hai did nothing, suppressing all his thoughts and maintaining a calm state of mind.

The reason is simple: there was a corpse lying on the ground next to Gao Hai.

A man dressed in yellow and white striped clothes, his body looked as if he had been completely crushed by a road roller, his body torn to pieces.

Just before Gao Hai's thoughts completely strayed into other directions, she suddenly appeared beside him, completely suppressing all his little thoughts.

He smelled blood coming from the crack in the door of the room.

crunch - crunch -

The sound of something being dragged on the ground could be heard.

Faintly, the desperate screams and wails of someone could be heard from afar.

Gunfire roared.

Then it quickly disappeared without a sound.

crunch - crunch -

The dragging sound rang out again, this time seemingly a little closer. Gao Hai could vaguely discern that it was probably the sound of some kind of metallic object being dragged on the ground.

What's outside?

The temperature around us seemed to be gradually decreasing.

Chika, who was sleeping on him, continued to breathe evenly, seemingly unaware of the approaching danger.

crunch - crunch -

The sound of something being dragged was getting closer.

Gao Hai stretched out his left hand, and cracks appeared on the tattered watch. A black umbrella then emerged from it, and Gao Hai was about to open it.

crunch - crunch -

The ear-piercing friction sound was getting closer and closer.

Gao Hai stopped opening the parachute.

He noticed a small red shoe sticking out from inside the umbrella, and a pale little foot wearing the shoe.

This obsessive object, capable of concealing the user, is rapidly spiraling out of control.

How could this happen? It's only been used for a short time, how could it be out of control already? Shouldn't it only start to gradually become uncontrollable after it's been used for a while?

Not understanding what had happened, Gao Hai quickly put away his obsession object and then decided to try other obsession objects to see if they could help him deal with the current situation.

Then he saw a dark shadow suddenly rise from beside the bed, and felt something rise up next to him, staring at him without moving.

"..."

All movement stopped at that moment.

Gao Hai closed his eyes, lying motionless on the bed as if he were truly asleep.

Chika, seemingly lost in a dream, hugged him even tighter, making it hard for Gao Hai to breathe and causing him some pain.

But he still lay silently on the bed, pretending to be asleep with his eyes closed and not uttering a sound.

Until the gaze beside him disappeared.

The chill that enveloped the small room gradually dissipated.

Feeling reassured, Gao Hai suddenly realized something was wrong.

Why didn't my blessing work?

Whether it was the suddenly appearing corpse or the thing that was staring at me, I only became aware of their presence after my gaze spotted them. But Blessing showed no reaction, no sense of kindness or malice, no ability to distinguish between human and non-human. Nothing at all, nothing felt.

Even when Chika was sleeping in his arms, hugging him tighter and tighter as if she wanted to crush his chest, he couldn't feel it.

Gao Hai opened his eyes, slowly raised his head, and looked at his chest.

He met someone's gaze.

A pale, blood-red, fragmented vision.

And the intense hatred and resentment emanating from that gaze.

I... want... all of you...

The next moment, Gao Hai opened his eyes and sat up in a clean corridor.

Was I in someone's dream just now?

He slowly stood up.

Have I woken up from my dream yet?

Gao Hai turned his head and looked at one side of the corridor.

Two slightly blurry figures appeared in the corridor at this moment, walking and seemingly talking about something.

Chapter Twenty-Three: Fragments from the Past and a Three-Person Occasion

Gao Hai carefully took a step forward, slowly approaching the two blurry figures.

Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the two figures and making their contrasting heights stand out.

Gao Hai heard voices coming from the other side, which gradually became clearer and he could make out the content.

It was the voice of an old man and the voice of a young man, intertwined and rang out together.

The old man said:

From today onwards, the development and protection of the Red Nut Grottoes are in your hands, Pei Di. You must protect this park well.

The young man answered with great enthusiasm:

"Of course, Mr. Austin, I will do it. I will develop this park into a well-known tourist attraction in the state, until we obtain national certification, and make it a world-famous attraction that will thrive for a hundred years. This is my promise."

At that moment, Gao Hai's gaze passed over the two figures and looked out the window.

He saw the industrial park under construction outside the window.

The old, simple signboard was taken down, and a new one was erected.

The originally uneven opening has been carefully repaired, with plans to build a staircase.

The wall was built, and the planted flowers gradually opened their buds.

Finally, a very tall monument was lifted by machines, moved, and then slowly lowered.

We must work hard.

Of the two blurry figures beside him, the old man reached out and gently patted the young man's shoulder before slowly walking away with his cane, disappearing down the corridor.

I will, I promise.

The slightly shorter young man nodded solemnly in response, then turned and left, disappearing from sight.

Gao Hai, who had already reached the window, looked down at the monument and, with his superhuman eyesight, saw the statue on the monument and the inscription below it.

Austin v Brown