Ding-dong— Ding-dong—
The crisp school bell reverberated through the sun-dappled pathways flanked by vibrant foliage.
Takakai experienced that peculiar sensation again—the illusion of nostalgia, as if he'd truly returned to his schooldays. He knew rationally this was the dungeon's cognitive interference (he'd never attended Yoruyama Academy in reality), yet the fabricated memories persisted stubbornly, like ink seeping into paper.
At present, eleven of the twelve players had assembled on the dormitory's front lawn. Only Gotou Hitori remained unaccounted for, still conducting her independent reconnaissance mission.
Team Assignments
Team 1 (Class 2-08):
Shijou Maki
Shinomiya Kaguya
Aoyama Nanami
Team 2 (Class 2-05):
Takakai
Hayasaka
Fujiwara Chika
Yotsuya Miko
Team 3 (Class 2-09):
Kumami
Katabuta
Hayashibe
Kenta
Maki produced a textbook from her bag, displaying the class number printed on its cover. "Our assigned class is 2-08. Nanami-san and I share this homeroom."
Takakai inspected his own textbook—a Japanese literature volume bearing handwriting that eerily resembled his own, as if he'd genuinely studied here for a year. The cognitive dissonance made his temples throb.
This cognitive interference... it worms into your thoughts the moment your guard drops.
Around them, spectral students drifted toward the academic buildings. Some appeared as translucent smudges, while others gradually solidified—like images developing on film.
Environmental Observations
Shinomiya Kaguya murmured, "This place... it hardly feels like a dungeon at all."
She wasn't wrong.
Bathed in golden sunlight, with crisp mountain air and perfectly temperate weather, Yoruyama Academy could pass for any prestigious boarding school—if one ignored the human-shaped glitches wandering its grounds.
Katabuta (nicknamed "Pancake" by Kumame) broke the momentary reverie: "We should split up. A group this large is just asking for a wipeout if we trigger area-of-effect contamination."
The veteran's words carried grim weight. In crimson Moon dungeons, concentrated forces often meant concentrated casualties.
Three teams formed naturally along class divisions:
Maki's squad would enter via the main building's front entrance.Takakai's team would infiltrate through a side door.Kumami's unit would scout the cafeteria—partly for intel, partly because the older woman joked about "grabbing breakfast."
Parting Preparations
Kumame distributed paper cup communicators—obsession artifacts resembling disposable drink containers with holes punctured in their bases. These Twilight-grade items allowed secure short-range communication with near-zero risk of corruption.
Maki avoided using names in her final exchange with Takakai, adhering to the Survival Rules' first commandment about vocal identifiers.
As the teams dispersed, Takakai's group of four proceeded toward the side entrance:
Takakai (frontline reconnaissance)
Hayasaka (rearguard vigilance)
Fujiwara Chika (enthusiastic novice)
Yotsuya Miko (silent observer)
Team 2's Advance
The five-story main building showed its age through ivy-choked walls that shimmered emerald in the light. Compared to Fujisaka Academy's overt horror, this structure felt almost welcoming.
"According to the old reconnaissance maps, key locations like the gymnasium and pool remain unchanged despite the dungeon's alterations," Hayasaka noted, her analytical tone belying her white-knuckled grip on her bag strap.
Chika pumped her fist. "Then let's see which team finds the first clue! Adventure awa—"
"Quiet." Takakai's sharp whisper cut her off. "We're not here to play games."
Miko said nothing.
Because Miko saw everything.
Where others perceived blurred silhouettes, her golden eyes discerned perfectly detailed students—laughing, chatting, complaining about morning fatigue.
And among them...
Seno Rika. Ogawa Kyoko. Kobayashi Chiharu...
Her dead classmates from Fujika Academy.
Their families had forgotten them. The world had erased them. Yet here they strolled, vibrant as living memories.
Is this an illusion? A trick? Or...
Miko pressed closer to Takakai as a group of giggling girls passed by.
Hayasaka stiffened. "I just heard laughter. No words, just... amusement."
Takakai's gaze tracked the empty space where Hayasaka pointed. Meanwhile, Miko watched the clearly visible students high-five each other before vanishing around a corner.
At 7:43 AM, Team 2 reached the second-floor landing without incident.
Too smooth. After Fujika and Shirasawa, this tranquility feels unnatural.
Takakai's instincts screamed warnings as he studied the hallway map. Then—
Familiar voices echoed from behind.