Time passed quickly. This night, some people, after enduring countless hardships, finally returned, while others got lost in the abyss and became a part of it.
When the sun's rays fell on Bai Yuze's face, Yuze opened his eyes. He stretched and climbed out of bed.
His phone had an anonymous message.
["Students who have completed the trial, please gather in the classroom after 8:30."]
Bai Yuze glanced at the time, 7:30 AM. He still had time to fill his stomach.
He opened his door and walked out. After making sure his room was locked, he began to head towards the elevator.
Along the way, he could hear some people crying out in joy, celebrating their return.
The elevator stopped on his floor.
"Is anyone there?"
The elevator was coming down from above. Although it was daytime and they were in the dormitory, it was always right to remain vigilant.
A Necklace suddenly appeared in Bai Yuze's hand. If the occupant of the elevator was a Strange Object, he could immediately enslave it.
The door opened, and a person more annoying to Bai Yuze than a Strange Object stood inside the elevator—Horikita Suzune.
Bai Yuze noticed that one of her hands was hidden behind her back. Yuze guessed that she had also acquired a Town-Suppression Strange Object, and he remained wary of everything around him.
"Are you coming in or not?"
Horikita Suzune had initially thought she had encountered a Strange Object again in broad daylight, but it turned out to be the trickster from before. This annoyed her a bit, but anyone who could survive The Strange World was not to be trifled with, so she had no intention of falling out with him.
"Sorry, I zoned out."
Bai Yuze entered the elevator, and the elevator doors slowly closed, quickly reaching the first floor.
The two remained silent; no conversation took place.
Horikita Suzune felt it was completely unnecessary, while Bai Yuze wondered how someone with Horikita Suzune's temperament had survived The Strange World. Logically speaking, no one would like Horikita Suzune's bad temper. How could such an arrogant and ungracious person possibly receive help from others?
Unless she was very strong... This idea was quickly dismissed by Bai Yuze. From the moment he first entered the elevator, he knew Horikita Suzune had let her guard down.
He had zoned out precisely because he had tried to use the Necklace on Horikita Suzune from outside the elevator. Only after realizing it couldn't be used did he feel safe enough to enter.
And what Horikita Suzune held was merely a sharp weapon. Could she really think that with just one weapon, she could kill a Strange Object in a confined space?
Then there was only one other answer: Horikita Suzune's teammates were very strong. Could it be that the dungeon she experienced was simpler than his, and the dungeon matched her with a 'big daddy'? Why didn't he get such good benefits?
But now was not the time to think about such things. The elevator stopped on the first floor, and Bai Yuze stepped out after confirming there were no abnormalities ahead.
Of course, he was constantly using the Necklace in his mind. If a Strange Object suddenly burst out, he could control it.
At this moment, someone Bai Yuze hadn't expected appeared.
Yamauchi Haruki!
Bai Yuze was somewhat surprised. Hadn't he died? He had personally sent him on his way. What was this? Edo Tensei?
However, Bai Yuze observed Yamauchi Haruki carefully for a while and noticed something was off. Yamauchi Haruki's eyes were lifeless, his skin dull, making him look exactly like a zombie.
Bai Yuze kept a safe distance from Yamauchi Haruki, but he showed no intention of approaching, instead walking slowly forward.
"Can you move? You're blocking the way."
Horikita Suzune's voice sounded behind Bai Yuze, and then she bumped into his shoulder, walking straight out.
"This guy is truly bold. Which great god brought her out of the dungeon? Isn't this just a pure menace to society!"
Bai Yuze once again affirmed his thought: if Horikita Suzune truly survived the dungeon by her own abilities, he would immediately go and become sworn brothers with a Strange Object.
Bai Yuze tried one last time, attempting to control Yamauchi Haruki with the Necklace, but something he hadn't expected happened.
["Control Target: Yamauchi Haruki. Status: Strange Object Revival."]
["Control conditions met. You will gain the control target's sight and hearing. During this period, the Necklace will enter cooldown. The cooldown period is 24 hours, calculated from the moment control is released."]
The Necklace in Bai Yuze's hand instantly disappeared, and Bai Yuze suddenly felt a connection with Yamauchi Haruki.
"Strange Object Revival? Do all those who failed the Strange Object trial end up like Yamauchi Haruki?"
Bai Yuze gave up thinking. Since Yamauchi Haruki was under his control, he could now gather information about Class D. The only people in Class D that made him wary were the beautiful guy and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
Bai Yuze quickly left, first running to the convenience store to buy some food to fill his stomach, then quickly returning to Class A.
As soon as he sat down, Sakayanagi Arisu in front of him turned around and smiled at him.
"Welcome back. I'm glad to see you returned safe and sound."
Sakayanagi Arisu's smile was like that of a little fox in Bai Yuze's eyes, and Bai Yuze responded politely.
"Mm, thank you for your concern. I missed you too!"
"Oh? Is Student Bai so bold?"
Bai Yuze's answer surprised Sakayanagi Arisu. Had he become unrestrained and ready to give up after experiencing life-and-death trials? If so, Sakayanagi Arisu would be a bit troubled; she had thought she had found an interesting person.
"You're still so beautiful, making my heart restless."
Bai Yuze couldn't endure the flutter in his heart, so he extended his wicked hand, reaching for Sakayanagi Arisu's... cane beside her!
Sakayanagi Arisu: ...?
Sakayanagi Arisu looked at Bai Yuze, who was gazing at her cane with deep affection, and fell silent. She once again doubted her own attractiveness...
"Student Bai... didn't you miss me?"
"Ah? Oh, oh, oh! Congratulations on returning safely too."
Bai Yuze didn't even look Sakayanagi Arisu in the eye when he said this.
Sakayanagi Arisu: ...
Her fists clenched. Sakayanagi Arisu's fists clenched. She had thought Bai Yuze's earlier infatuation with the cane was an act, but now she was sure!
In Bai Yuze's eyes, she really wasn't as good as a broken cane!
What kind of person was this! She was almost angered to a heart attack by Bai Yuze. They were both survivors who had barely made it out of the dungeon, so they should be comforting each other, damn it! What did he mean by being so affectionate towards a broken cane???
Sakayanagi Arisu huffily turned away from Bai Yuze, but after a moment of thought, she turned back and snatched the cane from Bai Yuze's hand.
"Class is about to start. Student Bai should pay attention."
Bai Yuze looked at his empty hands, then at Sakayanagi Arisu's cold back, and asked in a low voice.
"Then, after class, can I borrow the cane to play with again?"
Sakayanagi Arisu didn't answer, only almost fainted onto her desk...
PS: Everyone, just read for now, there are at least two more chapters.