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

This guy actually left me behind and went out to play, and he was with Fujiwara no less. Could it be that those two are doing something naughty?

Princess Zhenfei's little radar started working at high speed at this moment.

Without the slightest hesitation, she immediately activated the mental communication system that was currently only available between her and Gao Hai.

{Shijo Maki: Kai-kun, what are you doing right now?}

{Takahashi: Oh, Maki, you're awake! Are you feeling better now? We should be back in a little while.}

{Shijo Maki: Who are "we"?}

{Takami: Shinomiya and Chika, the three of us are in the library right now. So, how are you feeling? Can you walk now?}

{Shijo Maki: I...I'm fine now. Wait, are all three of you in the library?}

It seems like there won't be any major problems if the three of them are together. The main issue is that Aunt Kaguya and Kai-kun currently seem to have absolutely no romantic feelings for each other, so Maki can feel a little more at ease.

But why the library? These three people clearly said they were going to play at the bamboo forest and hills, right?

{Gao Hai: Well, it was kind of a whim of Qianhua's. We discovered a dungeon ruin that looked like it had been destroyed, and she insisted on coming to investigate. She actually found a few things, though they're probably all pretty much meaningless now.}

{Shijo Maki: Have you found something out?}

{Takahashi: Yeah, there used to be a large family that ran a shrine in this old neighborhood. The shrine was called the "Yomi Shrine." Every few years, this family would hold a ritual where they would put a demon mask with spikes inside on a "pure girl" and pierce her eyes. Then they would tear her limbs off with ropes. After the girl died naturally, she would become a human nail or something to suppress the evil path to the underworld. Speaking of which, this ritual really does feel very familiar…}

{Shijou Maki: Wait, what kind of weird stuff are you guys investigating?!}

Gao Hai: I don't know the answer to that either.

In conclusion, based on the results of the investigation into Gao Hai's whereabouts, there should be no problem; Fujiwara hasn't made any underhanded moves yet.

I just don't understand why we need to investigate such an ancient and barbaric custom. Even Zhenfei lost her appetite after hearing about it.

The girl, lost in thought, got out of bed, her smooth little feet gently touching the floor.

“Ouch…it hurts…”

For the next few days, I probably won't be able to do that kind of thing anymore.

Hai Jun is far too terrifying. Is this the growth brought about by the S-class body? I wonder what kind of changes he will undergo after he receives the Dark Night-class enhancement.

Lost in thought, Zhenfei picked up the clothes scattered on the ground, put them on, and left the room.

Meanwhile, the three who had wasted a lot of time in the library, only to confirm that the descendants of that ancient family had all died out several years ago, had also embarked on their journey back to the hotel.

"After searching through so many things, I didn't get any useful information."

Kaguya Shinomiya felt utterly helpless, realizing that her life had been wasted.

"Hehe, that's how detectives are. Sometimes they solve amazing cases, and sometimes they do useless work. And even so, at least we've confirmed that there's something wrong with that place, right? We can always come back and check it again when we have time."

Not feeling like she was wasting any time, Fujiwara Chika simply smiled and said to Kaguya.

“I refuse. Even if I knew there was a problem, it wouldn't make a difference. All that's left there are ruins now…”

Of course, Kaguya herself doesn't buy into that.

As for Gao Hai, who was walking at the back of the group, he only recalled the incident that morning when Goto Ichiri was sitting in the ruins playing the piano. Then he realized that since that place was a forgotten and remote place, there was only one reason why Goto Ichiri would know about it.

Was she the player who broke free from the obsession and destroyed that instance?

Interlude 2-28: The Mysterious Incident in the Shower Separator of the Hot Spring Hotel

After enjoying the upscale Western cuisine at the hotel at noon, Kaguya suggested going to the hot springs in the afternoon.

However, Maki herself said she wasn't feeling well, so she didn't join in. Chika said she had something to do, so she didn't join in either. In the end, only Kaguya and Takami went to the hot spring.

"In that case, it feels like it's better to soak in the private hot spring in the hotel room."

In fact, even Gao Hai himself was a bit unmotivated. He yawned and said he was going to the room to soak in the hot spring, but what he was really thinking about was going to the e-sports room to see what fun things were inside.

To be honest, I've always been a game enthusiast, but I haven't touched the computer or game console at all since I arrived at the hotel a day ago.

Hmm... but playing adult games should also be considered playing games, right?

"That's true. Gao Jun, would you like to review the intelligence we investigated earlier, especially the information about Fujika Middle School?"

Seeing that everyone was reluctant, Kaguya didn't force them, but instead tried to make a second suggestion.

The girl's goal was very simple: to create opportunities for herself and Gao Hai to spend time together.

She understood perfectly well that during the first month, because she was restricted by the Shinomiya family and had spent too little time with Takami, his relationship with Maki had rapidly warmed up. Therefore, if she wanted to make up for it now, she had to make up for the time they spent together.

As for Hayasaka's plans, which were practically nothing short of seduction, she'd better just forget about them for now... At least she couldn't accept the mixed-bathing option at all.

"No, no, no, so since we're out having fun, please don't make things difficult for me with this kind of thing. I've already spent a lot of time looking at information that I don't want to know at all. Now that we're resting and having fun, let's think about how to make ourselves more relaxed."

Unfortunately, Kaguya's proposal was exactly the kind of solution that Takahashi found unacceptable, so he decisively rejected it and turned to leave.

Kaguya stood there bewildered for a while before stamping her foot in annoyance and quickly leaving.

In the afternoon, Maki was still walking with a slight limp and seemed rather listless, so she stayed in bed to rest. Of course, she was resting in Takami's room.

The stained sheets had already been changed and washed by the housekeeper, and the stains that ran from the floor all the way into the bathroom had been cleaned up. To be honest, after realizing that the housekeeper had seen the traces she and Gao Hai had left last night, Maki panicked for a while, even having the extreme thought of "whether to kill the housekeeper who knew about it." However, she only had such thoughts for a moment and that was the limit; she couldn't possibly do anything about it.

"How's it going? Are you feeling better now?"

Back in his room, Gao Hai immediately saw Zhen Fei lying on the bed with her hair disheveled, and went over to ask her with concern.

"...still alive."

Knowing that Gao Hai had returned, Zhen Fei opened her eyes at this moment, glanced at Gao Hai, and then turned her head away, speaking slowly and indifferently.

"Do you need me to provide sexual companionship services?"

The next moment, Gao Hai lay down on the bed and reached out to hug Zhen Fei through the blanket.

"Oh no, it still hurts..."

Startled, Zhenfei instinctively tried to struggle, but then realized that Gao Hai was just holding her and didn't do anything to her, which made her feel a little relieved.

"Don't worry, I'm not that sexually frustrated."

Gao Hai lowered his head and gently kissed the girl's cheek.

"Who would believe you, you idiot..."

Although Maki was still subconsciously being stubborn, her body had already obediently pressed against Gao Hai, shrinking into his arms.

You can feel the warmth of the other person.

At this moment, such a real and powerful sense of peace washed over me.

With her eyes closed, the girl's breathing gradually calmed down, and she fell asleep in Gao Hai's arms.

Takahashi lay motionless on his side in bed, admiring the sleeping face of the girl in his arms, silently, silently, until his phone vibrated. He picked it up and glanced at it, seeing that Chika had finished her work and was inviting him and Kaguya to go to the hot springs again. After thinking for a moment, he looked down at the girl in his arms and saw that Maki was still sleeping peacefully. He then quietly got out of bed and left as silently as possible.

However, as soon as Gao Hai left the room, Zhen Fei immediately opened her eyes.

I only glanced at that text message just now, but it seemed to be from Fujiwara?

The message she sent to Haijun... what is that guy trying to do?

Zhenfei became a little nervous and subconsciously sat up, got off the bed, and walked to the door despite the pain. Then she heard Gao Hai and Qianhua's voices in the corridor outside.

"Ah Hai, Ah Hai, you go to the bar first. After you're done, I have a new, fun game coming up. Look forward to it, hehe~"

With an impatient voice, Chika's footsteps quickly faded into the distance.

Gao Hai simply grunted in response and continued walking, heading downstairs towards the hot springs.

Men's bath, women's bath, mixed bath.

The hotel's public hot spring area is divided into three categories.

Gao Hai had already visited the men's bathhouse yesterday, but when he came over today, he found that the signs for the men's and women's bathhouses had been switched.

Is it true that the men's and women's baths are switched here? Or was it a staff mistake? Or is there some other reason?

Gao Hai was puzzled by this, but since he had encountered this situation, he wasn't afraid and boldly entered the men's bath area, which was yesterday's women's bath area.

After changing my clothes, I went into the shower area first.

Gao Hai walked into a shower stall, turned on the shower head, and started washing himself.

Then he heard footsteps approaching from outside.

"Hehehe, surprised?"

A warm body embraced her from behind, accompanied by Chika's slightly playful voice.

"Although I have some suspicions, aren't you afraid of being found out?"

Gao Hai was not surprised by Qian Hua's appearance, but he felt that his will had been tested once again.

"I can't help it, because I want to soak in the hot spring with Ah Hai. So, just like last time, I'll help you scrub your back."

With a soft laugh, Chika's small hand landed on Gao Hai's back, gently sliding down the muscle lines of his spine.

"Shall I wipe it for you first?"

Gao Hai turned around and immediately hugged Qianhua in his arms.

The shower room, filled with steam, quieted down.

Amidst the rushing sound of rinsing, came the sound of hurried footsteps.

Chika let out a soft, happy laugh, and from time to time, words like "Hey, don't move around!" and "Don't tickle my arm!" could be heard from the cubicles, making it sound quite cheerful.

But this atmosphere was quickly broken by Kaguya's footsteps as she entered.

"Fujiwara-san?"

She noticed the sound of rinsing coming from a closed shower stall and asked what was wrong.

"Ah, ah! It's me. I'm already taking a shower. Did Kaguya just come in?"

The other party's reply came a little late, and for some reason, sounded somewhat flustered.

"Yeah, what's wrong? Your voice sounds a little strange."

As Kaguya spoke, she walked into the shower room next to Chika's, turned on the showerhead, and began to rinse herself.

"No...it's nothing, maybe I'm just a little dizzy from running around too much during the day? Hehe...uh-huh, hehehe..."

Along with the sound from the opposite cubicle, there was the sound of something hitting the partition between the cubicles.