The night was deep.
A few people took turns on guard, using the clean water from the kitchen to wash themselves briefly.
It wasn't for cleanliness, mainly to eliminate odors.
A dark and windy night, a night for murder, how could an odor ruin the plan?
Chloe had just finished washing, placed the towel into his space backpack, and sat down. The chair hadn't even warmed up when something hard poked his back.
Without turning his head, Chloe said:
"Miss Rephya, if you use kitchen utensils to dirty the robe I've just managed to clean, you'll have to wash it yourself."
The movement behind him stopped, and a burst of girlish laughter came.
Then the girl behind him poked him again with something hard.
"Rephya, you little... "
He turned his head, and his chin bumped into a forehead, almost biting his tongue.
A muffled cry came from behind.
He looked at the girl clutching her head in pain, her somewhat disheveled long hair spread across the chair, looking like she was quite hurt.
Perhaps due to the loss of the Holy Bone, her body seemed a bit frail, her upper body leaning on the chair's back for a long time before raising her head, giving a silly smile:
"Did you skip breakfast this morning?"
Chloe sighed helplessly.
He knew this was her ploy to start a conversation with him.
Childish like a school child, yet mature like a college student.
He feigned seriousness and said, "What did you use to poke me?"
Rephya shook her slender fingers saying:
"Just my finger. Stop drinking Ceylon milk tea and have a snack with me."
She carefully took out a piece of bread from her bag, broke it in half, and handed it over:
"Half for you, half for me."
Chloe didn't refuse and gulped it down.
Rephya finally burst into laughter:
"You're deliberately using that ritual, aren't you?"
"Hmm?"
"The sacrifice ritual of the Lord of the Hunt."
"What sacrifice ritual?"
Chloe looked puzzled.
Upon hearing this, Rephya pouted:
"You had many ways to explain the truth to us, yet you chose the sacrifice ritual most likely to make people suspect you as an Evil God's follower."
The infamous Evil God's followers perform sacrifices for benefits.
Why sacrifice if you gain nothing?
Her teammates call her foolish, but she's not fooling around, she's mostly extremely clever.
She's seen Chloe's actions in simulations.
When the avatar of the Desire Mother Tree went wild in front of her and Chloe, there was a moment that caught her attention.
[Traces of them were everywhere in the room, the woman pinched your chin, blushing, and said, "Do you enjoy her body?"]
"Even though she didn't understand the intentions of the Desire Mother Tree's avatar, in this context, Chloe might not have been the passive one."
It's an Evil God, and he dared to act this way!
So Rephya firmly believed that Chloe's actions must have a twist.
Teresa's character didn't seem to fit the dark, moist Voodoo Sequence, probably resisting sacrifice rituals.
Fratiss likely hadn't seen many dead people, would be confused and scared.
Except for him...
"Senior, are you using the sacrifice ritual to give everyone a hunting blessing to increase survival chances?"
Chloe froze for a moment, a hint of struggle flickering in his eyes. Moments later, his eyes blurred, and he smiled:
"Yes, you've figured it out."
Rephya's ponytail lightly swayed in delight:
"Hehe, I guessed right!"
They were conducting an experiment to verify the suspicion of the Crimson Church possibly infiltrating the maze, not seeking power through sacrifice.
It just happened that the verification could grant a blessing!
After receiving satisfactory answers from Chloe, Rephya displayed a radiant smile, her short sword scabbard poking him softly, saying:
"Are you guys ready?"
"Ready for what?"
Chloe asked, confused.
He felt like he had forgotten something, and his head started aching.
Rephya gave him a look as if he were a fool, helplessly said:
"The night attack! Didn't you mention it during the day? How could you forget again?"
"I'm very good at remembering things!"
Chloe emphasized, paused, then said thoughtfully:
"Hmm, did this happen?"
Rephya tilted her head, her face a puzzle.
She reached out to touch Chloe's forehead, then her own.
"No fever, did you wash away the clarity?"
Chloe felt sluggish, yet his brain instinctively began functioning.
"Yes, we're planning a night raid."
Why did he forget such an important matter?
A dense wave of unease and inconsistency filled his heart, as if the entire world around him had drained of color, appearing unreal.
He decisively prepared to go out.
Rephya smiled with her back to him, cheekily saying:
"Chloe, you guys better give it your all!"
Chloe frowned: "It's almost time for the hunt, why are you sitting over there?"
"Isn't it you who asked me to stay in the house?"
"Huh?"
"You forgot? You told me it's inconvenient to look after me during the battle, allowing me to hide myself as much as possible?"
"Then why are you staying here?"
Chloe finally sensed something amiss.
How could he leave Rephya alone?
He was here specifically to prevent any accidents for her.
He squeezed his forehead, said quietly:
"No, it was me who asked you to sit here, but why..."
A terrifying sense spread throughout his body.
Yes.
He remembered.
They were supposed to act as soon as it got dark; why wait until deep night?
"I see, no wonder something felt off, this is... a dream."
"I recall it now, indeed, we weren't supposed to be here."
The straw house gradually faded and disintegrated.
The dream was about to dissipate.
His awareness swiftly cleared, approached the Heroic Maiden, gently lifted her hair and said:
"Well done, Rephya, you've been very obedient."
Rephya tilted her head, puzzled, and the next moment, she was swept away by the crumbling dream's fissure.
Meanwhile, a middle-aged man with glasses pushed open the straw house's door.
The man's gaze scanned the room, finally landing on Chloe with a kind smile.
Chloe recognized him.
Professor Anderson from the Disciplinary Department, a Sequence Seven psychiatrist, a seasoned investigator.
A psychiatrist first to induce Sixth Sense, weaving illusions of reality-dream.
Apparently, he was the Dream Maker.
He approached Chloe and said in a deep voice:
"Student Chloe, I'm Professor Anderson from the Disciplinary Department, tasked with investigating the Crimson Church. Now the artificial labyrinth has become a Demon Cave; we need your cooperation, communicate with Master Nini."
"What are you going to do?"
In the simulation, he didn't have this memory.
It's as if someone deliberately cast a mist over his memory.
But afterward, Chloe heard about the malicious event occurring in their artificial labyrinth.
Before he could understand the situation, he got caught in a failed treatment whirlpool.
Since then, he hadn't focused on this matter.
However, he knew there must be a red piece that jumped the board and ignored the memory correction in this maze conflict.
That was the Simulated Hero, Rephya.
Even his future SSR level [Recovery] couldn't adjust her memory.
—If it could, Rephya would have had ten by now!
Who is Desire Mother Tree?
Not familiar!
So the hero was the best breakthrough point.
Thanks to her reminder, Chloe unrooted the memory correction and met Professor Anderson.
"Don't be afraid, I only need to induce a crisis vision in your subconscious to startle Master Nini."
But Chloe glanced at him and said:
"Why make it so complicated?"
He placed his hand on his own body.
"Recovery."
At once, recovery incorrectly corrected his body, the intense pain causing him to make a leaking sound.
"Professor, let's meet in reality."
The dream shattered, leaving only the dumbfounded professor.
...
Inside the Ethereal Emblem.
Eyes shed tears suddenly immersed in sweet dreams.
"Chloe... my student."
The Treasure Elf opened her eyes:
"The child is in danger."