The first day of school arrived.
In the dim light of early dawn, a crisp bell began to ring.
Takakai opened his eyes and sat up.
The bedframe creaked under him. The musty stench of decay filled his nostrils—a sharp reminder.
This wasn't home anymore.
The ceiling of the aged dormitory was stained black and gray, a relic of years of leaks. Rumor had it the roof had been repaired years ago, so at least the dripping had stopped.
He yawned reflexively.
Footsteps and laughter echoed from the hallway outside.
Only now did it truly sink in:
He was at a new school. A new place. A new life.
The feeling was… unsettling.
Still, it was the first day. Time to get ready, to—
—
"..."
Takakai's breathing hitched for a fraction of a second before steadying.
His gaze swept the room—peeling walls, rusted bedframes, three other figures rising from their beds. The dim light obscured their faces, but his Blessing had already delivered its verdict:
He was the only living thing in this room.
The other three? Not human.
His memories flickered, fragmented.
Flashes of Shuchi'in Academy—a classroom, the others nearby, everyone preparing for class like it was just another day.
Then… shifts.
A place called Suimei Art University Affiliated High. Then Shuuka High. Then a 1980s Japanese schoolhouse. Then a 2010s Chinese campus.
Before blacking out, he'd realized the truth:
Every participant's memories had resonated with the dungeon, warping it.
Now, awake in this bed, two truths coexisted in his mind:
He was Takakai. He knew his origins, his purpose here.
He was a first-year student at Yoruyama Academy.
The second wasn't his own thought. It slithered into his consciousness like a parasite, clinging, spreading—rewriting him.
This wasn't in the intel.
The original plan was simple:
Slacker Alliance and Crimson Knot would use Obsession Artifacts to ensure everyone spawned together in a safe zone of Yoruyama Academy.
With two core artifacts already removed, the area should've been low-risk.
But now?
Of course it went off-script.
This had KP's fingerprints all over it.
After Takakai's interference in The Writer's dungeon, School Horror Tales had mutated. He'd warned the others (while blaming Takamagahara for good measure), but contingency plans only went so far.
Somewhere, the others were probably scrambling to regroup.
Before he could strategize further—
Bwoooong—
Time froze.
[Welcome to the Sacrifice Game.]
[Player: Takakai. Current Game: 3rd. Dungeon Rank: Twilight-Night.]
[Clear Condition: Alter the Inevitable Future.]
[Time Limit: None.]
[Hints:]
What you believe is real, becomes real.
The truth of the majority cannot be defied.
Everything has an origin—without exception.
The boundary between illusion and truth lies in the unseen.
[May you approach the throne of the end.]
The noise faded. Takakai exhaled, flexing his fingers as control returned.
Pathetic.
A fifth-timer like him, thrown off by a damn intro prompt?
Movement drew his eye.
The three non-human roommates were already dressing, making their beds. One, faster than the rest, grabbed a towel and toothbrush, heading for the washroom.
No words. No eye contact.
Takakai mirrored them—smoothing sheets, changing into the male uniform (a black gakuran-style suit).
No rule sheet. No overt threats.
Compared to Fujika Academy and Shirasawa Elementary, this seemed… manageable.
But carelessness would still kill him.
What had Yoruyama Academy become?
What did "alter the inevitable future" entail?
And that "no time limit" condition? Ominous.
"Whether tragedy or comedy, I crave the heat of human emotion."
KP's words echoed in his mind.
For a moment, Takakai almost envied the others—ignorant players who'd never met KP, never glimpsed the scriptwriters behind the dungeons. Their suffering ended at the dungeon's edges.
His didn't.
Priorities:
Survive.
Decipher the dungeon's new rules.
Regroup.
A quick survey of the room revealed surprising luxury: private sink, toilet, even a shower.
As he finished straightening his bed, a flicker of movement caught his eye.
Beneath the bedframe's shadows—
A pale face.
Wide, unblinking eyes stared up at him from the darkness.