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

Click! Click! Click!

The hands of the black watch kept turning, one tick after another, from where it had already reached three-quarters of the way, back to the second tick, then the first tick, until the hands finally reached zero.

After the final chapter of "Campus Ghost Stories" came to an end, all the residue absorbed by the black watch was used to replenish all the energy, restoring Gao Hai to the state he was in when he first obtained the watch.

However, considering that the 3 extra slots sponsored by the writers have also been used up, Gao Hai's actual number of slots should now be counted as 12/15. Of course, this is not a big problem, since he also has a self-recharge function.

"In this way, all the problems will be completely and satisfactorily resolved."

Covered in blood, Gao Hai carried the blood-stained saw and slowly walked through the gradually shaking palace, speaking softly with a sense of relief.

"Um……"

Because Gao Hai had just signaled her to close her eyes, Goto Ichiri kept her eyes closed and focused her breath the whole time while the black watch was absorbing the residue. She didn't see, hear, or feel anything at all. She nodded slightly, and then froze on the spot.

This feeling……

Gao Hai frowned.

This wasn't the first time he'd had this feeling—a feeling that time had stopped and everything around him had come to a standstill.

This is a power belonging to the KP that the writer once used!

Realizing the problem, Gao Hai suddenly turned his head and looked in a certain direction not far away.

As he expected, the figure with clown makeup was standing there, clapping gently at him, as if applauding him.

Chapter 149: Another Meeting and Conversation with KP [The Clown]

【clown】

For Gao Hai, who didn't know what this KP was actually called, this was the name he personally felt was the most appropriate and best matched the thing's appearance.

Yes, at least for Gao Hai, he called this KP a clown simply because the other person's appearance was indeed very similar to that of a "clown" in human civilization, not because the other person's behavior was an insulting term.

After finally clearing Nightfall Mountain Middle School and the Bydos Research Institute, and having personally experienced the utterly ridiculous "Writer" scenario, and realizing just how much convenience the "Clown" provided to them as players, Gao Hai felt that, putting aside other Key Players, this one was at least worthy of his respect. For one thing, without the special identity of "Overseer" connecting the Bydos Research Institute and Nightfall Mountain Middle School, he probably wouldn't have been able to resolve the situation on Bydos's side even if he were to rewind time and die completely.

Therefore, although he still harbored considerable prejudice against the KP group, Gao Hai still nodded slightly to the clown when he saw him appear, as a polite greeting.

【Hello, esteemed Mr. Gao Hai, thank you for performing such a wonderful play for me.】

Then, Gao Hai heard the clown sigh and saw it bow deeply to him, speaking in a voice that sounded like singing.

[Comrades with shared ideals and aspirations were not afraid of hardship and darkness. Even with doubts and suspicions, and even with repeated failures in the face of malicious traps, they ultimately overcame all difficulties and obstacles and ushered in the final victory.]

[The helpless person in despair ultimately chose to believe in hope. Even in death, they left behind all the information they could, hoping that someone would take up their hopes and complete the salvation.]

Thank you so much, and thank you to your colleagues. You are all great actors.

With a singing voice, the clown twirled and danced past Gao Hai like a ballerina.

This is truly a terrible story, hopeless, meaningless, and aside from sheer ugliness, I see nothing redeeming in the original. To be honest, it's garbage that should be thrown in the trash, but I can't do that. I even have to find a way to make the story readable. Oh my god…

Then, it sighed again, and this time Gao Hai could hear a genuine weariness in its voice. It was clear that this KB had put in an immense amount of effort to revise the copy left by the [writer].

However, it seems its complaints are not over yet.

The "writers" never considered what a story, once told, could offer to the audience, the actors, or anyone else who came into contact with it. If it's a tragedy, then that tragedy should possess power, should evoke a profound emotional response; if it's a comedy, then that comedy should soothe wounds, should offer temporary relief from the anxieties of reality; if it's a serious drama, then its narrative structure and pacing must be rigorous enough; if it's a contemporary popular story, then it should possess basic enjoyment, allowing the audience to empathize with a particular character and experience a sense of comfort.

Every story, no matter its form, has its meaning. Even the simplest, most mindless online novel offers viewers a chance to let go of all thought and completely relax. But what's in this story? Despair, despair, and more despair. Nothing but utter despair, pure despair that doesn't even attempt to explain a single basic principle.

If it could glean something from the struggles of these desperate people, that would be fine. But it goes so far as to conceal this information, preventing readers from seeing the struggles these desperate individuals endured, and forbidding others from experiencing the emotions and experiences of the characters in the story. This is too selfish, too foolish, too ridiculous. It is truly just a "writer," utterly unworthy of the title of creator, and unworthy of any readers.

Fortunately, in the end, this story came to a complete conclusion thanks to your performance.

The clown finally stopped beside Gao Hai and bowed to him again to express his gratitude.

It was only then that Gao Hai realized that the clown was at least two meters tall. Although its body was so slender that it looked like it was pieced together from toys, Gao Hai had to look up to meet its gaze if it didn't bend over.

Was it this tall when it last appeared in my dream?

"May I ask you a question?"

Seeing that the other party didn't seem to intend to continue speaking for the time being, Gao Hai thought for a while and then asked.

[Of course! You have already completed a Red Moon-level instance, and it was a Red Moon-level instance containing the "Form of the Root." You now possess an opportunity that other actors do not have—an opportunity to access a deeper level of reality.]

In fact, even if you don't say it, I can tell you some news, some... news that might not make you happy.

As the clown spoke, he slightly increased the distance between himself and Gao Hai, so that Gao Hai wouldn't have to crane his neck to talk to him.

"...So, what does 'time is running out' mean?"

After a brief silence, Gao Hai decided to ask his question first.

"Oh, is that the problem?... If so, I'm sorry I can't tell you directly yet, but I can give you a hint. I believe this hint will be enough for you to understand what I'm talking about. Well, this hint is about your blessing. You possess a teleportation blessing, right? What are the limitations on the use of this blessing?"

The clown tapped his forehead with his slender, twig-like fingers and then whispered.

Are you referring to Andres's blessing? It seems the Keeper of the Priest (KP) knows the blessing I used.

"Only those who truly love me can use this blessing to teleport to each other, and it can only be used in dungeons."

Gao Hai didn't hesitate and said it directly.

Can this blessing be used in the real world?

The next moment, as the clown calmly uttered his words, Gao Hai's pupils suddenly contracted.

A blessing that can only be used within a dungeon...

But this blessing can be used in the real world...

Indeed, this hint was enough for Gao Hai to realize too many things. But why hadn't he ever doubted it before? He shouldn't have ignored this kind of problem. A teleportation blessing that can only be used in a dungeon… a dungeon… damn it, what on earth is going on in this world?

Rest assured, at least for now, you don't need to worry about this issue. Although time is running out, your current growth rate is more than enough. So all you need to do is survive, and that's enough.

The clown's voice rang out again, seemingly trying to comfort Gao Hai, though Gao Hai felt no comfort at all.

"Okay... that's quite a bombshell. Well then, I have another question. These strange creatures were originally perceptible to humans and were studied many times in the past. But now, ordinary people can no longer perceive any information related to these strange creatures, and their existence is basically confined to dungeons. I want to know, is this how things have developed, and is it the result of you KPs being in charge? What exactly is going on with these dungeons?"

Gao Hai rubbed his temples, barely managing to gather his somewhat chaotic thoughts, before asking again.

[Yes, I can answer this question. It's true that ensuring all monsters are confined to instances, and ensuring each instance has at least one "normal escape route" and one "path to completely breaking the core obsession," is our duty as Keepers. Even a "writer" has no right to violate this. Of course, it's practically the same as breaking the rules, and it deserved the consequences.]

Regarding this question, "The Faceless One" has already answered it to some extent, albeit subtly. I roughly understand your concerns, but please rest assured, all the stages have been set up. There will only be fewer opportunities, not more. However, it's true that since it's a stage, there will inevitably be an audience. But that's not something you can interact with right now. Personally, I really hope you can have moments of face-to-face interaction with the audience, but it's best if you don't consider that aspect for now.

The clown answered again, this time not only giving a more detailed answer but also earnestly warning Gao Hai. It seems that in this Keeper's eyes, the "audience" is a very dangerous entity, so dangerous that even it itself feels it cannot easily approach them.

It's true, the more you conquer a dungeon, the higher you go, the more mysteries you encounter.

However, this is quite normal, considering that even divine blood has now emerged. It's certain that if we continue upwards, all sorts of hidden entities will be revealed to us one after another.

All he can do is try his best to survive, become stronger, and finally, if possible, defeat them when facing these beings! Overcome their obstacles and continue to move forward in a farther and deeper direction.

"Then, I have no further questions."

Gao Hai nodded gently and said calmly.

Then let's hurry up and go.

Then, the clown, whom Gao Hai thought would say goodbye and leave, suddenly took action and gestured for him to follow.

"Go? Where?"

Gao Hai, who hadn't expected this turn of events, was stunned for a moment and subconsciously asked a question.

As I mentioned before, this copy possesses the "Form of the Root." Although it hasn't truly taken shape yet, it undeniably exists. And having completely stripped away its four layers of disguise, you are now qualified to take it. So, please follow me, I will guide you to that place.

As the clown spoke, he gestured again for Gao Hai to follow him.

Although Gao Hai found this somewhat puzzling, since the other party had made such a statement, he simply followed along.

And so, in the completely still, collapsed Takamagahara, a strangely shaped clown and a man began to walk forward, step by step, until they reached the collapsed area of ​​Takamagahara, until they could see the endless darkness below.

In this place, Gao Hai could see traces of Nightfall Mountain Middle School, now reduced to faint specks of light, and even the last remaining glimmer of light at the exit was about to vanish. As for Baidos, it was utterly destroyed, leaving nothing behind.

dark.

In the moment when that glimmer of light was about to be extinguished, the world was now left with only pure darkness that was about to engulf everything.

The creators of "Takamagahara" believed that the foundation for its existence lay in three schools: Fujika Junior High, Hayate Elementary School, and Yoruyama Junior High. This idea was both correct and wrong. They failed to correctly understand the true source of "Takamagahara's" power and did not understand how their initial research had succeeded. In fact, the true source of this "Takamagahara," independent of the copy space, was established through a series of cognitive anchoring experiments conducted on students, thereby creating sufficient cognitive anchors to connect with the "Form of the Root."

As the tall clown spoke, he pointed to a dark area in a direction where nothing existed.

No, that's not right.

There is something there.

Gao Hai's eyes widened slowly.

That thing...that's...a school?

Gao Hai was slightly taken aback. He wasn't entirely sure if it was a school. But after seeing the object and getting a general idea of ​​its outline, he couldn't help but think of it as a school, and even suspected it might be a middle school.

"What it is?"

Gao Hai asked in a low voice, but in his mind he couldn't help but recall the various clues he had collected before, and quickly understood what this thing was all about.

In the "Campus Ghost Stories" instance, there are four areas that players have confirmed and investigated: Fujika Middle School, Hayate Elementary School, Yoruyama Middle School, and Baidos Academy. There are no other schools besides these.

With a total of seven core obsessions across the four campuses, this number is quite staggering for a Red Moon-level dungeon. However, many players who have investigated this dungeon report seeing a vague, inaccessible school. After multiple encounters with players, this school has been confirmed as the fifth campus of [Campus Mystery], and is believed to contain at least one core obsession. Therefore, all current information about [Campus Mystery] identifies it as having five campuses and eight core obsessions. Even though no player has actually reached this so-called fifth school so far, this information has been accepted as fact.

Yes, Gao Hai remembered. He had indeed seen the Fifth Academy before, and he had even spotted the school area from afar. But like other players, Gao Hai didn't know how to get there, so he didn't bother with it anymore.

But now, seeing that place again, he had a vague feeling that this time, he might be able to reach it.

That is where the "Form of the Root" resides.

The clown said softly, a hint of emotion in his voice.

The writer gained the qualification to cultivate this "Root Form," but instead produced a shallow and worthless script. Because they failed to find the correct method to cultivate the "Root Form," it remains incompletely developed. Therefore, Mr. Gao Hai, as the one who conquered all areas of this instance and destroyed its outer shell, you are the only one qualified to obtain this "Root Form" and advance towards a deeper level of "truth."

So now, please follow me. This is a truly precious treasure that belongs only to you and can only be obtained by you.

In the darkness, an invisible road forms a bridge, connecting Gao Hai's location with that ethereal "academy".

The "clown" then stepped onto the invisible bridge first, turned around, and bowed slightly to Gao Hai once again, signaling him to follow him toward the academy.

Is it a truly precious treasure that only I can obtain...?

Gao Hai did not hesitate and followed the other person, stepping into the empty darkness and landing steadily on something invisible.

Now that I've been qualified, let me take a good look at what this legendary Fifth Academy is all about.