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"Good evening, Doctor Sato."
"Doctor, are you here to play?"
"The Head nurse was just talking about you, Doctor."
"…"
Walking into the Heavy Care Area, both Nurses and security guards greeted Amamiya Natsuki warmly—during the previous viral marketing, these Nurses and security guards had almost all gone to the restaurant to eat, and it was free, so their attitude was naturally very enthusiastic.
Amamiya Natsuki's expression was normal as he responded to each one.
Only Chizuru was exceptionally speechless.
What about the promised stealth operation?
They were completely walking in broad daylight, and they even received an enthusiastic welcome. The art style had become strange!
As they spoke, the three had already arrived at the door of the first patient room.
Although there was an observation window on the door, Chizuru was only 1.2 meters tall, and even standing on her tiptoes, she couldn't see inside. She could only reach out her right hand and quietly tug on Amamiya Natsuki's clothes.
"Mieko, what's wrong?"
The nurse, who had been paying attention to her, shifted her gaze, looked down, and though her voice was gentle, her bloodshot eyes clearly indicated her identity as a resentful spirit.
Chizuru whispered, "Um… I can't see inside…"
The nurse opened her arms and said gently, "Shall I hold you?"
One hundred percent rejection.
Being held by a resentful spirit was too dangerous, no matter how you thought about it.
Chizuru gritted her teeth, raised her small face, and opened her arms to Amamiya Natsuki, saying:
"I want Daddy to hold me."
Being shy or whatever… it was only a little bit.
Her future goal was to become an actress, so just calling him 'Dad' was nothing; she'd treat it as practice for her acting!
"You…"
Amamiya Natsuki was startled, looking down at Loli Chizuru, a slight tug at the corner of his mouth.
"Dad, hurry and hold me."
Loli Chizuru looked up, her small face pitiful.
She even called him again, and without showing any unusual expression—was this the spirit of a female university student?
Shinomiya and the others really should learn from her acting!
"I understand."
Amamiya Natsuki half-squatted and picked Loli Chizuru up into his arms.
Unlike the Sheltered Young Lady, Loli Chizuru acted exceptionally naturally, showing no resistance at all, and even actively extended her arms to wrap around Amamiya Natsuki's neck.
…This female university student was truly too skilled.
Amamiya Natsuki silently turned around, letting her see the situation inside the Hospital Ward.
"Bang!"
A woman dressed in a white wedding kimono crashed against the door, her voice cold and sharp: "Men, all must die!"
"This nurse was abandoned by her husband at her wedding, so she currently harbors deep malice towards male creatures." Amamiya Natsuki introduced matter-of-factly, "Mieko, don't get close to her."
Loli Chizuru nodded: "Understood."
The bride had just gotten married, so she was clearly not the target of the character quest.
Amamiya Natsuki carried Loli Chizuru and continued walking, arriving at the entrance of the second Hospital Ward.
"No one inside?"
Mizuhara Chizuru whispered in confusion; the Hospital Ward was empty, and indeed no patient could be seen.
The next second.
An old woman with a cat-like face suddenly appeared silently behind the observation window, her face pressed tightly against the glass, her green eyes staring straight out.
"Ah…"
Loli Chizuru couldn't help but let out a soft gasp, instinctively hugging Amamiya Natsuki's neck tighter.
Even an experienced player was startled by the cat-faced old woman's sudden appearance.
"This granny is reclusive, lives alone, enjoys abusing cats, and was eventually cursed by a cat spirit, turning her into her current appearance." Amamiya Natsuki subtly raised an eyebrow and said, "Mieko, don't abuse small animals like her in the future."
Mizuhara Chizuru: "…Of course I won't abuse them."
But then again, cats are all cute, but the cat-faced old woman in front of them couldn't be cute no matter what.
Continuing forward, they arrived at the entrance of the third Hospital Ward.
Mizuhara Chizuru looked inside and found a man in a suit, holding an umbrella even though it wasn't raining, with a slender body and no facial features on the face beneath the umbrella.
Facing Amamiya Natsuki and the other's visit, the man in the suit remained standing in the center of the room, motionless.
"This patient's life is quite tragic. The mortgage for a middle-aged office worker is suffocating, plus tuition for his children, living expenses for his wife, and support for his elders. Let alone rest, he doesn't even dare to get sick." Amamiya Natsuki continued describing the condition, "As a result, one night on his way home from work, he had just stepped off the train when his Boss called him back, saying he needed to deliver a document. On the way, it rained, the document got wet, the project fell through, he was fired, and his life completely plunged into despair."
Mizuhara Chizuru couldn't help but whisper, "That's too tragic, isn't it?"
However, upon closer thought, there were many middle-aged office workers with similarly tragic experiences.
Otherwise, Japan's marriage and birth rates wouldn't hit new lows every year.
"In any case, don't get close." Amamiya Natsuki whispered, "You'll be infected by despair."
They soon arrived at the entrance of the fourth Hospital Ward.
Although it was empty inside, Mizuhara Chizuru tensed up, worried about a monster suddenly appearing.
"The patient in this Hospital Ward was originally Hachishakusama." The nurse frowned and said, "I don't know how she escaped. Mieko, you need to be careful if you encounter her… Never mind, girls aren't really in danger."
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"Because the ones in danger are little boys."
Mizuhara Chizuru blinked, understanding in her heart that the one who escaped was Juju, but she still didn't know how the other party managed to escape successfully under everyone's watchful eyes.
Continuing forward, they saw patients in other Hospital Wards, and finally, when they came to a Hospital Ward, Mizuhara Chizuru's eyes suddenly lit up, and she quietly pinched Amamiya Natsuki's shoulder.
"Is it her?"
Amamiya Natsuki's eyes questioned.
"That's right." Mizuhara Chizuru nodded slightly, "The target of the character quest is her."
Amamiya Natsuki looked into the Hospital Ward; inside was a very beautiful woman, with a sweet and alluring smile.
"Sato, be careful."
The nurse flashed, blocking Amamiya Natsuki's path.
"What is this patient's symptom?"
Amamiya Natsuki asked curiously.
The nurse's expression was serious: "She is a widow-maker."
Hey, hey, what's with that title?
This delicate-looking woman didn't seem to have any connection to a leader of evil forces!
"She had visited the Hospital before, but all the doctors who attended to her disappeared." The nurse explained in a low voice, "Only later, at a certain scene, was this patient brought under control… She has two personalities, one of which is very dangerous, like a spider, she will first drain and then devour the men she fancies."
Amamiya Natsuki said silently: "Literally?"
"That's right." The nurse nodded, "Before this Hospital, there had been quite a few cases of missing patients and doctors, all of whom were male, and it's very likely they were all related to her."
In other words, this beautiful lady often came to the Hospital to hunt for food?
Specifically preying on pitiful, weak, and helpless men, first toying with them then devouring them—what a terrible late-night Hospital Ward plot!
Amamiya Natsuki lowered his head and said:
"That's all for today, Mieko, shall we go back first?"
"Understood, Dad."
Loli Chizuru nodded obediently.
It was indeed impossible to take someone out in front of so many people.
It was better to leave first and then strategize; at least the target's location was already clear.
Amamiya Natsuki carried Loli Chizuru out, arrived at the exit, waved goodbye to the reluctant nurse, and then left.
The two arrived at a corner.
Amamiya Natsuki released Loli Chizuru's small hand and whispered:
"I used a substitution tactic to bring Juju out before…"
After hearing the previous plan of action, Loli Chizuru quickly furrowed her brows, thinking seriously.
The mother that the character quest required them to find should not be a player, so she couldn't cooperate with the players to escape the Hospital Ward.
Were they supposed to force their way in?
It wouldn't work.
Mizuhara Chizuru quickly shook her head, banishing the thought from her mind.
There were many ways to clear the dungeon, and forcing their way in with brute force was actually the most foolish choice. Although players were stronger than ordinary people, they had no advantage whatsoever against vengeful spirits.
Once their identities were exposed, it would be even worse.
"Let's not think too much for now…" Mizuhara Chizuru exhaled softly, "Natsuki, you've worked hard. Shall we go back to the restaurant first?"
Amamiya Natsuki nodded and said:
"Let's go back."
Without a word, the two left the Hospital Ward and soon returned to the restaurant.
"Natsuki-kun, you're back?" Fujiwara Chika, who was currently serving guests, her eyes lit up, happily greeted them, and whispered, "How was it?"
Amamiya Natsuki whispered:
"One good news, one bad news. Which do you want to hear first?"
Fujiwara Chika raised her hand and said: "Of course, the good news."
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"Miss Chizuru's quest target has been found."
"Then what's the bad news?"
"The security is too tight; we can't get her out."
"…"
A moment later.
Except for the senpai who was still outside organizing a fake fishing competition, everyone else gathered in the back kitchen to discuss countermeasures.
"Two heads are better than one." Amamiya Natsuki leaned against the door, "You've all heard the situation just now. What ideas do you all have?"
Kitagawa Marin put her right hand on her hip and suggested:
"Can we rescue her from the window like in the movies?"
Juju shook her head: "Can't do it. The intensive care Hospital Ward has no windows; it's a sealed room."
Fujiwara Chika raised her hand and said:
"How about using the Seize and Eliminate Evil combo skill to lock them up one by one?"
"There are six Nurses and eight security guards in the security area." Amamiya Natsuki said, "And I asked Miss Sasaki; if there's any abnormality, the security guards can call for backup at any time."
Missing one or two people might not matter, but if too many companions were missing, it would definitely arouse suspicion, and calling for backup at that point would put them in danger.
Hayasaka Ai extended a finger: "How about using a life cheat?"
"Eh, what's that?"
"It's a ladder." Hayasaka said seriously, "An experiment was done abroad: as long as you carry a ladder and wear a staff uniform, whether it's a high-end hotel or a museum, you can easily enter and exit."
"This method might allow us to get in." Amamiya Natsuki said, "But how do we get out?"
Hayasaka Ai whistled: "Senpai is so smart, he'll definitely be able to think of a solution, right?"
"Sorry, I can't think of anything at all."
"…"
Mizuhara Chizuru bit her lower lip with her pearly teeth, her heart sinking further as time passed.
On the way back, she had been thinking about how to complete the quest, but she couldn't think of a suitable method no matter what.
At this moment, the Sheltered Young Lady, who had been silent, suddenly spoke and said:
"I've thought of a method that might work."
"Eh, what method?"
Everyone looked over.
Shinomiya Kaguya held her left arm across her chest, her right hand propped under her chin, her beautiful eyes scanning everyone, her voice echoing with the tone of night, and said:
"We can jump out of the current perspective and pursue a higher existence… In this private Hospital, whose orders do those Nurses and security guards obey?"
A flash of inspiration struck Amamiya Natsuki's mind, and he said:
"The Hospital Director?"
Hearing this, the others quickly reacted.
"That's right, those Nurses and security guards are just following orders. As long as we get the Director to order them to release Chizuru-nee's mother, they wouldn't dare to refuse."
"Highly feasible; a lone Director is much easier to catch."
"If you can't solve the problem, then solve the person who created the problem."
"..."
Amamiya Natsuki looked at the Sheltered Young Lady and gave a thumbs up in praise:
"Kaguya-san is truly intelligent."
Shinomiya Kaguya's rosy lips curved slightly upwards: "It was just a momentary inspiration."
Amamiya Natsuki continued: "No wonder she got such a good score, ranking second in the grade."
The Sheltered Young Lady puffed out her rosy cheeks and couldn't help but retort: "You don't need to say the second half of that sentence, do you! In the next final exam, I will definitely reclaim the top position in the grade!"
Among everyone, the happiest person was none other than Mizuhara Chizuru.
"Thank you, everyone!"
Mizuhara Chizuru bowed in thanks, filled with gratitude.
Catching the Hospital director and then "holding the director hostage to command the feudal lords" was indeed a path she had not considered.
Once successful, rescuing her mother, who was playing a role, would become effortless and easy.
Amamiya Natsuki rubbed his temples and sighed:
"I always feel like my life is getting more and more complicated."
Running a shady business, getting something for nothing, Hextech cuisine, kidnapping and coercing female doctors, playing with the feelings of nurse-san, and now preparing to target the director… If the truth were exposed, he would definitely be beaten up immediately.
"Everyone, calm down first." Kitagawa Marin said, "The most urgent task is to find out where the director is. Could he be outside the Hospital?"
Juju shook her head: "It's unlikely. Even if he's the director, he can't just leave his post, right?"
Hayasaka Ai clasped her hands behind her back: "We don't know where the director works or his name, but someone must know, right?"
Fujiwara Chika clenched her pink fists and said:
"The next goal is to find the director and hold him hostage to command the feudal lords."
"Um…" The unlucky Yui came over from outside and said cautiously, "The guests are already impatient and keep urging us."
"Coming." Chika secretary said reflexively, "I'll go attend to the guests right away."
Amamiya Natsuki followed: "Let's do our work first. We can talk about other things after we're done."
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr