It didn't take long for Takakai to find a floor map of the dormitory building in the hallway.
Unlike the Fujika Academy's main building, where the internal structure had clearly warped, the dormitory's layout still appeared normal. The third floor, where he and Yo tsuya(Miko) now stood, had 15 dorm rooms, a washroom, a toilet, a dorm supervisor's room, and two staircases—a straightforward design.
The Riddles and the Rules
Alice's riddle hadn't been too difficult for Takakai—the answer was obviously "toothbrush," so he made sure not to touch the ones on the shelf. As for miko's riddle, the rules prevented him from asking directly, so he simply warned her: "Do not touch the item linked to your riddle under any circumstances."
Who knew where Alice's so-called [correct location] was? If they picked up the item and the game suddenly declared their current spot as the right one, they'd be in deep trouble.
The Missing kumami
"I don't see kumami-san anywhere…"
Miko, sticking close to Takakai, scanned the dim hallway as she whispered.
"She was probably teleported to another room. Don't worry—she's a Crimson Moon-level player. She can handle herself. Let's head to the first floor. That's where we agreed to regroup."
With that, Takakai led miko toward the left staircase, the one facing Room 304, descending toward the second floor.
He deliberately avoided the right staircase, which required passing the toilet. Since Alice's rules had specifically mentioned it, Takakai wasn't taking any chances.
But sometimes, the more you try to avoid something, the more it finds you.
When they reached the next floor, the marker didn't say [2F].
It said [-1F].
Something was very wrong.
Even though the hallway looked identical to the third floor under the flickering candlelight, an instinctive dread gripped Takakai. A voice in his mind screamed at him to leave immediately.
Some of the dorm room doors creaked open slightly, as if something inside was peering out.
This time, even the sheep mask didn't feel safe. If whatever lurked behind those doors stepped out, death would be the only outcome.
"We're going back."
He pulled miko back up to the third floor, staring into the abyss-like staircase with growing unease.
The third floor looked the same—crumbling ceilings, dangling light fixtures, cracked walls smeared with dried black stains.
Near the toilet, beside Room 308, Takakai spotted a faded poster still legible enough to read:
[Fujika Academy Student Conduct Rules]
1. Listen attentively to teachers and superior students. Memorize their words. Failure to recite them perfectly will result in a warning.
2. Obey all orders from teachers and superior students. Your student rank dictates your obedience. This is non-negotiable.
3. If a superior student's order conflicts with a teacher's, prioritize the teacher's command. If two teachers contradict each other, follow the first order given until they resolve the conflict.
4. Never lie to a teacher. Honesty is absolute.
5. Maintain cleanliness. Any garbage within 10 meters is your responsibility. Negligence earns a warning.
6. Wasting resources (food, water, etc.) is forbidden. Violations within 10 meters result in a warning.
7. Students cannot befriend teachers. Teachers are superiors. Any such thoughts degrade you to "Delinquent" rank.
8. Never show hostility toward teachers. Respect is mandatory. Disobedience degrades you to "Delinquent" rank.
9. Harming a teacher is unforgivable. Only teachers may punish students. Only superior students may punish inferiors. Hierarchy is absolute. Questioning it degrades you to "Delinquent" rank.
10. ■■教学楼■%s■d**f■■￥v＃er■g..[CORRUPTED]
11. ■■操场fd■■%s■■ s■d[CORRUPTED]
12. ■■游泳馆■■■■■■...[CORRUPTED]
*14. Dormitory Rules:
No staying in rooms during the day.
Lights out means sleep. No exceptions.
No entering the rooftop.
Mandatory daily baths.
Floors must be spotless.
Bedding must be neatly arranged before leaving.
No wasting water.
Greet the dorm supervisor upon sight.
Violations earn a warning.*
15. ■■■■■[BLACKED OUT]
Takakai didn't need long to grasp the malicious intent behind these rules.
"This school is a fucking masterpiece of dehumanization."
Forcing students to memorize every word from teachers and superiors? That wasn't discipline—it was psychological warfare, designed to rapidly eliminate the Average and Good ranks, leaving only Superiors and Delinquents.
"Takakai-san, these rules…"
Since this was miko's third loop, she hadn't seen the [Student Ranking Manual] before and was understandably confused.
"Don't worry about it. Stick with me, and you'll be fine."
As they passed the toilet, Takakai's nerves were at their limit. But this time, no sounds came from within.
They made it past without incident—until multiple dorm doors suddenly swung open.
Twisted, malformed figures stepped into the hallway.
And unlike the entities in the main building, these students showed no fear of Takakai's sheep mask.
"Stay behind me."
His bloodstained cleaver flashed out.
Despite the unexpected aggression, Takakai carved through the charging students with brutal efficiency.
Then—
A half-headed student sprinted toward them.
Takakai raised his blade—but the student skidded to a halt and raised its hands in surrender.
Then it spoke—in kumami's voice.
"Don't attack. It's me. I'm kumami."
Takakai: "???"
"One of my Blessings lets me copy my consciousness into anything with a 'human-like structure.' I've hijacked this student, but I can only control it for about 15 minutes. My real body's busy—two Alices are hunting me right now."
The student's lazy, smoke-tinged tone was uncannily kumami-like.
Takakai couldn't help but feel a little jealous.
His own Blessings were mostly support-based, while Kumami could literally possess ghosts.
"Listen—only one staircase per floor leads down. The other goes up. If you pick wrong, you'll end up somewhere bad. We need to cross the hallway on each floor to switch staircases."
"Don't worry about me. I got caught earlier protecting someone. Now that I'm alone and prepared, I won't be easy prey. You two are in more danger."
"Let's move. This isn't a safe chit-chat zone. Ugh… I could really go for some booze and yakitori right now…"
The possessed student trudged ahead like a disgruntled office worker.
Miko blinked.
In her vision, the student had Kumami's face grafted onto its body—a surreal sight.
Then—
Footsteps.
Miko whirled around.
"Takakai-san… I think someone's following us."
Takakai listened carefully but heard nothing.
"Probably nothing. Just stay close."
But the possessed student had already relayed the real warning directly into Takakai's mind:
"There's an Alice tailing you. About 3 meters back. It's hiding—I can't pin its location. It might've been with you since you entered the dorm. Hell, it might've spawned in the same room as one of you. When I woke up, there were two Alices in my room. Nearly gave me a heart attack."
Takakai's eye twitched.
If Kumami had woken up to two Alices… then the one following them had likely been in Miko's room from the start.
This was going to be a problem.