No words were exchanged along the way.
The group walked through the eerie and bloody park, preparing to return to the dormitory.
On the way, they encountered several teams of fierce-looking thugs. The patrol density was significantly higher than yesterday.
Unfortunately, the one who performed the God of Gamblers legend in the casino was a Lawless Outlaw, and neither his height nor his appearance had anything to do with Natsuki and the others.
Aside from two the passerby player players who were a bit flustered, Natsuki and the others were very calm, and they eventually returned to the dormitory safely.
"Phew… finally back." The female player clutched her chest and let out a soft sigh. "There are suddenly so many evil spirit thugs. Is it because they are looking for us?"
Chika put her right hand on her hip and said:
"Most likely."
"Don't worry, nothing has happened yet." Natsuki said casually, "If the theft of the warehouse gets out, there will definitely be many more patrolling evil spirit thugs than just now."
"…"
Entering the dormitory, the girls simultaneously stopped talking. After all, walls have ears, and confidentiality was very necessary.
They went all the way to the second-floor dormitory.
Natsuki reached out and pushed the door open, then his steps paused slightly.
"Those two evil spirits are back…"
The female player secretly peeked inside and saw two evil spirits occupying the dormitory, who were precisely the two evil spirit roommates from yesterday.
However, the female player was not flustered at all. Her gaze fell on Natsuki's back, and she felt an extraordinary sense of security.
Damn it!
Why didn't I meet him first!
"Good evening, ladies." Natsuki stepped into the dormitory, took out his wallet, and prepared to use money to drive out the evil spirits again. "I plan to rent the dormitory again today… please make it convenient."
"…"
The evil spirit combing her hair with an iron brush stopped, but she did not take the sin coins from Natsuki's hand. A faint voice came from under her black hair:
"Not enough…"
Natsuki said without changing his expression:
"How much does Miss Comb want?"
"Ten coins…" The evil spirit combing her hair said hoarsely, "Otherwise… don't even think about me leaving…"
"Tsk~"
Natsuki clicked his tongue lightly and directly put away the sin coins. "I do have ten sin coins, but now I don't want to give you even one."
Acting according to whom you're dealing with and raising prices on the spot is extremely excessive. Constantly compromising will not satisfy the other party; it will only make others think you are weak and easily taken advantage of, and they will take advantage of you even more tomorrow.
More importantly…
Natsuki looked at the evil spirit roommate biting her finger not far away.
There was more than one evil spirit in the dormitory. If one of them raised the price on the spot, the other evil spirit would definitely follow suit.
"You… you dare… refuse me?!"
The evil spirit combing her hair suddenly spoke in a gloomy voice. Her black hair instantly danced, twisting in the air like poisonous snakes, about to attack Natsuki.
"Auntie, you're going too far." Natsuki took half a step back, avoided the attack, then came before the finger-biting evil spirit who was watching the show, and took out his wallet, saying, "Miss, there are fifty sin coins in here. If you just drive her away and ensure she doesn't enter the dormitory, all the sin coins will be yours."
The finger-biting evil spirit was originally watching the show. Hearing this, her eyes immediately lit up:
"Are you… serious?"
Natsuki turned his head, looked at Kaguya, and blinked.
Kaguya naturally understood and said softly:
"Let's go out first."
"Eh, I still wanted to see what happens next."
Chika said regretfully, turning to walk out.
Hayasaka complained:
"Watching a spectacle is not a good habit."
"But that's human nature, isn't it?" Chika sought support, "Yukino-chan, what do you say?"
Yukino pursed her lips and said softly:
"…I agree with Hanamori."
Chika and the others were quite relaxed, only the two passerby girls were on tenterhooks.
The atmosphere was tense, and a fight was about to break out. Why are you still in the mood to chat!
"Here."
As the girls walked out of the dormitory, Natsuki threw the wallet directly to the finger-eating evil spirit without a word.
The iron comb evil spirit suddenly pounced:
"That's… my money!"
Slap.
The finger-biting evil spirit snatched the wallet first, then grabbed the iron comb evil spirit's hair, her eyes fierce:
"It's clearly my money!"
A battle was imminent.
The world bustles for gain, and the world rushes for profit.
This saying applies equally well to evil spirits.
The two evil spirits, who could have formed an alliance to jointly raise prices, tore off their masks over a bag of sin coins and began to fight fiercely.
"Take it outside." Natsuki said from the side, "If the dormitory gets damaged, we won't be able to rest."
"…"
The two evil spirits were roughly equal in strength and soon fought from the dormitory to the hallway.
The girls seized the opportunity and quickly returned to the dormitory.
Bang.
The door closed.
"It was so lively just now." Chika's eyes were bright. She stretched out her hands and gestured, "The hallway, which was super eerie and desolate, had so many dormitory doors open just now. Everyone was watching those two evil spirits fight. Sure enough, evil spirits also like to watch a spectacle."
"Never mind them." Natsuki was not interested in evil spirit drama. He looked at the girls in the dormitory, "Who among you will help complete the side quest?"
"…"
The air quickly became quiet.
The girls looked at each other, and no one spoke again.
After a while, Chika coughed twice, breaking the silence:
"Um… how about we play rock-paper-scissors?"
If she were the only one in the dormitory, she would definitely help without a second thought, but since everyone was here, it was naturally awkward to volunteer.
After Chika finished speaking, the air fell silent again, and no one followed up.
Natsuki sighed helplessly and could only look at Hayasaka.
Unfortunately, the Maid-chan was casually biting a lollipop, completely ignoring him.
Chika blinked, blushing, and whispered:
"If everyone is unwilling, I can…"
"I, I'm willing!"
A voice suddenly rang out.
"Eh?!"
Everyone looked at the female player.
"That's right, I'm willing!" The female player clenched her fists, her face flushed. She had an expression of extreme shame, yet she was forcing herself to endure it. "Yesterday, I didn't earn a single sin coin and was almost whipped by an evil spirit. In the end, Natsuki saved me, provided food and lodging for free, and took me on a side quest despite the danger… This kindness must be repaid no matter what, otherwise, I would lose my right to be human, wouldn't I?"
As a qualified 'pick-me girl', reading the room is a mandatory course, and knowing how to speak is also a mandatory course.
The female player understood Natsuki's intention and naturally chose to assist from the side.
Of course, helping secretly was not an option.
The purpose of helping was to leave a good impression on Natsuki.
Natsuki coughed lightly, waved his hand, and said, "It's fate that everyone can meet in the dungeon, so don't worry too much about it."
"No!" The female player quickly shook her head, "Ignoring such a great kindness, it's too much no matter how you think about it!"
"..."
Then the other player, Sakurai, couldn't sit still.
Not repaying kindness would mean losing the qualification to be human; there's no way she could remain silent!
"Th-that..." Sakurai's face was flushed, clearly very shy, and she stammered softly, "I can help too..."
Chika said softly, "Mika, don't force yourself."
"I'm not forcing myself..." Sakurai shook her head, secretly glanced at Natsuki, and whispered, "Just helping...it's no problem..."
A drop of kindness repaid with a gushing spring.
Food, shelter, and even help in completing two side quests—this kindness must be repaid, she absolutely did not want to lose her qualification to be human!
Mitsui glanced at the female player and said casually, "I'm fine."
"Eh?" Chika turned to look, "Mitsui-san, don't force yourself."
"I'm not forcing myself."
Mitsui shook her head gently, her expression calm.
It was just a special service, and she wouldn't get pregnant. Mitsui didn't care at all... Even if it were more extreme, she could actually accept it.
The reason was simple.
She already knew about Shoko's newly acquired "Succubus" skill, which could steadily increase basic attributes. It was clearly a divine skill for new players, so of course, she had to learn and master it.
As for who to extract essence from... naturally, there was no need to say more.
In the world of the Door of Despair, when Natsuki wielded an axe, broke through the ghost bus, and rescued her from despair, his figure had already been deeply imprinted in the depths of Mitsui's mind, never to be forgotten or erased.
"Pop~"
Hayasaka pulled the lollipop from her mouth and said with a smile, "After all, I was the one who proposed it, so it would be rude to refuse... Count me in, then."
The situation reversed.
As the girls successively agreed, soon only Kaguya and Yukino were left unspoken.
What to do?
What should she do now?
Kaguya pursed her lips, unconsciously clenching her fists.
Agreeing directly was too shameful, but if she refused, she could only watch others help the president with the quest!
Also...
Kaguya couldn't help but turn her head slightly, looking at Yukino with the corner of her eye.
How would she choose?
Yukino was currently conflicted.
If it were anyone else, she would definitely refuse without hesitation.
Kindness was kindness; there was no reason to sacrifice one's purity, and it was completely different from a side quest.
However... if she refused now, Kaguya would definitely be very happy, wouldn't she?
Yukino turned her head to look at Kaguya.
Perhaps due to same-sex repulsion, it didn't matter with the other girls, but for some reason, she specifically didn't want to lose to Kaguya.
"Hmph..."
Yukino exhaled lightly, her gaze slightly lowered, and she said softly, "I agree."
"She actually agreed?"
Natsuki looked over in surprise; Yukino agreeing was unexpected.
"She actually agreed?!"
Kaguya unconsciously clenched her fists and turned to Chika, saying, "I'll participate too! Let's play rock-paper-scissors now!"
No matter what, she wouldn't lose to Yukino!
At this point, there was nothing left for Natsuki to do. The girls gathered together and started a game of rock-paper-scissors.
The winner didn't have to help, and the loser would enter the next round until the final unlucky person was determined to try to unlock the side quest with Natsuki.
A moment later.
Only Kaguya and Yukino remained on the field.
"Kaguya-chan, go!"
Chika cheered from the side, then turned and added, "Yukino-chan, you go too!"
"..."
Kaguya and Yukino stood facing each other across the cluttered table in the dorm.
"Let's start."
Kaguya crossed her arms over her chest, slightly raising her chin.
Yukino raised her right hand, her gaze sharp and unyielding.
Chika acted as the referee on the side:
"Three, two, one..."
The countdown ended.
Kaguya and Yukino threw their hands simultaneously.
Then.
A winner was decided.
"I announce," Chika's voice was clear, "Kaguya-chan wins."
"I won."
Kaguya's lips curved slightly upward.
Even if it was just ordinary rock-paper-scissors, as long as she could win against Yukino, she was happy.
However, her happiness didn't last long before Hayasaka leaned into Kaguya's ear and slowly reminded her, "Milady, the person who ultimately loses is the one who has to help the president complete the quest, you know."
"..."
Kaguya's smile on her face gradually faded, until finally, even the highlights in her eyes disappeared.
Why...why did this happen...?
She had clearly won rock-paper-scissors, so why did it feel like she had lost her life?
"Should we go out first and leave the room for the president and Yukino-chan?"
Chika extended a finger and suggested.
Upon hearing this, Kaguya felt even more wronged.
It was her own dorm, and now she had to leave it and give the room to the president and another woman... Unfair! It was truly too unfair!
Natsuki coughed twice and said, "You don't need to leave..."
"What?" Hayasaka raised a hand to cover her mouth, her tone shocked, "Is the president going to unlock the side quest with Yukino in front of us?"
Hey, hey, don't talk nonsense!
If you keep talking, your Milady is going to turn dark!
"Of course not." Natsuki said righteously, "It's already dark, and it's not safe outside. You stay in the dorm, and I'll go ask the people in the next dorm to leave."
He left as he spoke.
Natsuki quickly pushed open the door and left the dorm, preparing to ask the people in the next dorm to leave.
There was no need to elaborate on the process of asking people to leave. With a handful of sin coins thrown down, the evil spirits in the dorm respectfully gave up the room. Before leaving, they even bowed in thanks, clearly Japan evil spirits.
A moment later.
Natsuki returned to the dorm where the girls were, standing at the doorway, and said earnestly, "The dorm next door has been cleared."
"...Mm."
Yukino softly responded, and under the varying gazes of the girls, she walked towards the door.
Looking at Kaguya, who was biting her lips so tightly she was almost breaking them, Natsuki said seriously, "We're just trying to see if we can unlock the side quest. I promise not to do anything else... It should be resolved in ten minutes at most."
Don't say ten minutes, she wouldn't even accept one minute!
Kaguya silently bit her lower lip and turned her head away.
"President, go ahead." Chika waved her hand, her voice clear, "Go quickly and come back. Let us know as soon as you have news."
Unlike Kaguya, Chika didn't think that much... It was only ten minutes, the president wouldn't be that fast!
"Definitely."
Natsuki nodded and left the dorm with Yukino.
Yukino walked behind him, not forgetting to close the door.
Bang.
The door gently closed, and the dorm immediately became quiet.
Kaguya looked at the closed door, with only one thought lingering in her mind:
"I personally pushed the president to my rival..."