The all-encompassing darkness gradually dissipated.
Takakai's consciousness returned as he opened his eyes and lifted his head.
"An unfamiliar ceiling..." he murmured reflexively.
Disorientation.
An overwhelming sense of unreality gripped him. The time spent in Nutty Putty Cave—especially that endless torture during the second run when the core obsession executed him—had stretched his psyche to near-breaking point. The bustling real world now felt alien.
This is bad...
Takakai exhaled deeply.
Really bad...
The full realization of their escape finally hit as he slumped completely into his seat. This relief—like discovering you're still alive—was indescribably sweet.
His thoughts churning, Takakai looked down at his clothes—the same casual outfit he'd worn before entering the dungeon. Though he'd discarded it inside, returning to reality seemed to have restored his initial appearance, albeit with heavy damage from the dungeon's collapse.
Turning, he saw Maki beside him—just awakening, her expression weary.
"Just woke up?" Takakai asked.
"Mmm..."
Maki nodded vaguely, scanning their surroundings before fully regaining focus.
"We... survived that place."
Her voice carried unspoken depths.
"Indeed. We've conquered our second game."
Kaguya's voice came from across the table as she opened her eyes.
They'd truly made it.
The three survivors sat in silent comprehension within the private booth.
"Exhausting... Even though the game heals physical damage, mental fatigue lingers."
Maki sprawled unceremoniously like Takakai.
"And zero rewards! We cleared what was essentially a top-tier Midnight dungeon, but the [Sacrifice Game] still treats it as Twilight-level! Just granting Midnight access is useless!"
Takakai shook his head bitterly.
The dungeon had been a trap—advertised as beginner-friendly only to become nightmare difficulty. Worse, their S-rank and dual A-rank evaluations matched their Shirakawa Apartments performance, granting no additional bonuses.
What a scam.
Takakai wanted to scream protests, but the [Sacrifice Game] cared nothing for player complaints.
"While we gained no enhancements, we did acquire new blessings."
Kaguya's calm voice cut through the frustration. Her eyes suddenly glowed dark crimson, the air around her turning unnaturally cold—as if something sinister had manifested.
Seeing this, Takakai and Maki blinked in surprise before their own eyes changed color. Within moments, all three sported glowing red eyes while the booth's temperature plummeted toward freezing.
"Is this... the legendary [Berserk Rampage]?"
Takakai muttered, sensing the strange power.
Heldar's blessing revealed itself—a brutally straightforward enhancement:
Combat Surge: Drastically increases strength, speed, and reflexes while reducing all damage (physical and supernatural) to minimal levels. Bullets that would normally penetrate might only leave faint marks.
Abnormality Detection: Passively senses severely disturbed individuals (cannibals, necrophiliacs, psychopaths)—similar to Li Zhaodi's善恶 perception but narrower in scope.
The catch? Maintaining the blessing drains stamina and mental energy recklessly. Maki could sustain it for ~3 minutes, Takakai ~5, while Kaguya's congenital physical limitations capped her at ~1.5-2 minutes before collapse.
"Not bad at all."
Maki's lips curled slightly after testing the blessing's limits.
"Agreed. Though it seems only Takakai-kun received Andres' second blessing?"
Kaguya's gaze turned inquisitive.
"Ah, about that—"
Takakai's explanation died as warmth blossomed in his chest—a connection forming between himself and Maki.
Andres' blessing had one function: Spatial Translocation.
Cooldown: ~24 hours
Effect: Instantly teleport to each other's location (barring separate dungeons)
The trigger? Mutual genuine affection.
It felt like... a confession.
Maki's face turned tomato-red. Through the blessing's link, her carefully guarded feelings flowed to Takakai as clearly as his did to her.
This connection...
Just between us...
Trembling slightly, Maki looked up—
—only to sense a second bond forming through Takakai.
...Eh?
Maki froze.
Takakai stayed silent.
Even the blessing seemed to pause in confusion before dutifully establishing the new link—this time between Takakai and another girl who wasn't present.
"What's wrong with you two?"
Kaguya frowned at their abrupt mood shifts—from joy to flustered embarrassment to stunned silence.
Then Maki turned mechanically toward Takakai.
"Nee, Takakai-san... care to explain?"
Her aura burned like wildfire.
"W-well, you see—"
Takakai backed against the wall, mind racing.
What kind of harem-blessing is this?! It's too early for this trope! I haven't even secured one route yet!
Bzzt—
Before he could devise an escape, white light flashed as a girl materialized in his arms.
"Ehehe~ Found you, Takakai~"
Fujiwara Chika—equally disheveled—wrapped her arms around his neck, nuzzling his chest with a delighted giggle.
The blessing had activated from her side.
Takakai hadn't anticipated that recipients could initiate the teleport with strong enough intent.
"Y-you—get off him right now!"
After two seconds of paralysis, Maki lunged forward grabbing Chika's shoulders.
"Wah! Don't tear my clothes!"
"I don't care! Let go!"
"But Maki-san said you two weren't dating!"
"T-that's—ughhh just STOP TOUCHING HIM!"
Chaos.
Two girls and one boy tangled together in escalating mayhem.
Takakai wore a complicated expression—equal parts euphoria and impending doom.
Maki tugged desperately, tears welling as she accidentally tumbled into Takakai's lap in the struggle.
As for Kaguya...
Kaguya did nothing.
She sat perfectly still.
Her brain had blue-screened.
Who am I?
Why am I witnessing this shameless scene?
Between my distant cousin and my only school friend no less...
This narrative trajectory must contain errors...