Chapter 50: Sneaking into the Haunted House to Capture Yan Huan! |
"In exchange for her returning the photo, I agreed to one of her conditions."
Hearing Yan Huan''s words, Sakuramiya Hitomi''s mind went blank for a split second.
It was as if some highly inappropriate thoughts had uncontrollably burrowed into her mind.
"President, what do you mean you agreed to one of her conditions?"
Yan Huan blinked, pausing for a few seconds before finally saying,
"Sakuramiya, you should know that her grades are exceptionally poor, right?"
"I know, sixty-six points. It is hard to imagine a human achieving such a score... but if it is her, it makes sense."
That was a conservative statement, entirely thanks to Eldest Miss Sakuramiya Hitomi''s refined upbringing.
Someone like Yan Huan would only say: "Absolutely unbelievable."
Yan Huan spread his hands, explaining the situation.
"..."
But Sakuramiya Hitomi was slightly taken aback upon hearing this and questioned,
"But President, she took the photo on Monday, and the grades were released on Tuesday. Could she have predicted back then that she would be placed in the Study Group?"
"Her family background is quite complex. You must have noticed that by now, right, Sakuramiya?"
In the end, Yan Huan still did not want to drag Sakuramiya Hitomi into this mess.
Logically speaking, this reasoning was very difficult to refute.
Because that idiot Spencer genuinely intended to use the condition that way, so it could not even be considered a lie on Yan Huan''s part.
The problem, however, was that Yan Huan did not know Sakuramiya Hitomi had been wearing a mask all along.
The information she possessed and the deductive reasoning she commanded were entirely unknown to him.
Indeed, just as the President said, the surname "Spencer" immediately indicated countless ties to the Jinshi Group, making it possible for her to know the Principal''s arrangements in advance.
But that could not explain the strange expression the President had when he saw her name in the Principal''s Office on Tuesday.
And on Thursday as well—after returning from Spencer, both the President''s expression and his actions were highly unusual.
She had simply overlooked it at the time because her attention was completely captivated by his words.
Just as Nara had said, whenever it came to matters involving Yan Huan, her intelligence took a nosedive.
But right now, locked in a fierce rivalry on the battlefield of romance, Sakuramiya Hitomi was at her absolute peak. Looking back, she quickly spotted the discrepancies.
In other words, the situation between the President and Spencer was not as simple as he made it out to be...
But why would the President lie?
He had been so incredibly gentle with her before, taking photos with her and taking care of her feelings.
Could all of this just be some sort of twisted flirtation between him and Spencer?
Was she just a pawn in their little romantic game?!
No, that was impossible.
Because Sakuramiya Hitomi could sense it—the disgust in Yan Huan''s eyes when he looked at Spencer was entirely genuine.
Then, the current situation was highly intriguing.
But Sakuramiya Hitomi truly was a genius. Almost effortlessly, she arrived at a flawless conclusion.
''The President''s mind has already been affected by Spencer''s Ability!!''
''I remember having inexplicable thoughts a few times recently...''
''My guard against Spencer dropped, and I felt that whatever she did was reasonable.''
''This is probably related to her Ability, and it also explains why she could shatter my Barrier with a single kick.''
''That strange thought I had was very faint and faded quickly.''
Therefore, Sakuramiya Hitomi guessed that perhaps individuals who possessed these bizarre Abilities had a natural resistance to each other''s powers, dampening their effects.
The fact that her Barrier could be shattered by Spencer proved this to some extent.
However, comparatively, the effect her Barrier had on Spencer was far weaker than the effect Spencer''s Ability had on her.
''Could it be because of our so-called Level?''
''My Barrier Level is currently at two. Is it possible that Spencer''s Ability Level is higher, resulting in this situation?''
''Isn''t there a way to make my Level even higher?''
''To make it so that even she cannot break my Barrier...''
"Crackle, crackle..."
But as this thought emerged, it was as if some viscous darkness surrounding Sakuramiya Hitomi had been nourished and began to writhe.
''Moreover, the President doesn''t have an Ability!''
''He has likely taken the full brunt of Spencer''s Ability...''
''Even inside my Barrier, I couldn''t bear to alter his common sense or rewrite the rules affecting him.''
''I''ve been so incredibly careful with the President, yet that girl...''
Thinking of this while looking at Yan Huan before her, Sakuramiya Hitomi suddenly felt a wave of terror.
If this continued, heaven knows how deeply the President''s mind would be corrupted by that woman!
She was genuinely terrified that one day, the President would turn into the version she had just imagined in her head—
"I''m sorry, Sakuramiya... I can''t go back anymore."
''No, I have to protect the President from her clutches!''
''I absolutely cannot let him come into contact with her again!''
Even though terrifying Desires were surging violently within her heart, on the surface, Sakuramiya Hitomi merely blinked and said to Yan Huan,
"I see. I understand, President."
Once again syncing up with Yan Huan''s thought process, she also chose to feign belief in front of him, while her true intention was to keep him as far away from Spencer as possible.
Turning her head to look around, Sakuramiya Hitomi continued,
"Then let''s head to the infirmary right now."
"Alright, let me see which way we need to go."
"It looks like it''s over there."
Sakuramiya Hitomi was already intimately familiar with this place; after all, she had spent a long time setting things up before arriving.
Her original plan had been to enter, pretend to know absolutely nothing, follow the President, and then use the NPCs'' jump scares as an excuse to get closer to him and build up a romantic atmosphere.
But now, thanks to that terrifying rival Spencer, her objective had completely changed.
"Is that so?"
Yan Huan looked in the direction Sakuramiya Hitomi pointed and sure enough, he spotted a scratched and artificially aged directional sign on the wall.
They needed to go upstairs from there; the infirmary was on the second floor.
"Ahhhh! It hurts... It hurts so much!!"
Right at that moment, an NPC with messy black hair and a face full of blood slammed against the glass of a closed Classroom nearby, roaring with a hideous expression.
Yan Huan took a step back, unafraid, and simply glanced back at Sakuramiya Hitomi.
He saw her pupils shrink slightly; clearly, she had been startled by the sudden jump scare.
"Are you alright, Sakuramiya?"
"I''m... I''m fine."
Even though she knew the NPCs inside were all played by her own employees, she still did not dare to look.
Wanting to hurry past, she closely followed Yan Huan as he continued to lead the way.
Just as they were about to walk past, a freezing cold hand tugged at her clothes from behind.
"!!"
''Pre... Pre... President!''
Sakuramiya Hitomi instinctively opened her mouth to call for help, but that pale hand merely offered up a Bluetooth Earbud, bringing it right before her eyes.
Sakuramiya Hitomi froze.
Turning to look at the Female Ghost, she saw the blood-covered woman blink playfully at her.
"..."
Sakuramiya Hitomi glanced at Yan Huan up ahead. Taking advantage of his inattention, she silently took the Bluetooth Earbud and slipped it into her ear.
"Eldest Miss, can you hear me?"
It was Nara''s voice.
Sakuramiya Hitomi looked up at a hidden camera positioned above the corridor. Without speaking, she simply nodded.
"Good. Eldest Miss, those two girls have also entered the Haunted House. Are we proceeding with the original plan, or..."
Sakuramiya Hitomi immediately shook her head. While trailing behind Yan Huan, she mouthed a silent command to the camera.
Nara fell silent for a moment before saying,
"Blonde idiot... You must be referring to the blonde girl, right, Eldest Miss?"
Sakuramiya Hitomi nodded. She first pointed at Yan Huan, then pushed her hands far apart, and finally made a swift, slashing motion like a knife.
Nara understood instantly. "Understood, Eldest Miss. The current priority is to keep her as far away from Yan Huan as possible, right?"
Sakuramiya Hitomi gave a thumbs-up.
"Hmm, Eldest Miss, you can head to the infirmary on the second floor. There is a hidden room there that leads directly to the exit.
"If you don''t enter the hidden room, you''ll have to detour from the second floor to the third floor, and then take Exit C on the other side all the way down to the first-floor exit.
"The infirmary has two entrances, A and B. You can reach it from either staircase on the first floor.
"You are currently in Corridor A. After going upstairs, you''ll have to walk a fair distance to reach the infirmary. They are in Corridor B, which is very close to the infirmary once they go upstairs.
"Our personnel inside the venue will do everything they can to block that blonde idiot. Eldest Miss, take Yan Huan and hurry to the infirmary on the second floor. Get out of there as quickly as possible."
Sakuramiya Hitomi nodded and stopped looking at the camera. Instead, she closely trailed Yan Huan and reminded him,
"President, let''s hurry up. I''m worried we might run into that girl..."
Yan Huan, walking ahead, clearly felt the exact same way, so he quickened his pace.
At the same time, he wasn''t idle; he mentally called out,
''Myau-chan.''
"Meow~"
An illusory Black Cat appeared on his shoulder like a phantom, its long tail wrapping around his neck.
"What''s wrong, meow?"
''Can you run out and check where Spencer is for me? I don''t want to bump into her while I''m with Sakuramiya. Today isn''t the right time to deal with her Modifier.''
But Myau-chan shook his head and said,
"Yan Huan, I can''t leave you and wander too far."
Yan Huan raised an eyebrow and looked at Myau-chan.
''Why?''
"I manifest in this world as an avatar of the Modifier, meow. Since the Modifier is on you, I can only appear by your side."
With that said, he leaped from Yan Huan''s shoulder and sprinted forward.
The silhouette of the Black Cat wearing a yellow scarf darted forward. Once he was about fifteen meters away from Yan Huan, he seemed to shatter, dissipating into countless motes of light.
"Based on the Modifier''s current Level, my range has a radius of about fifteen meters, meow."
Shortly after, Myau-chan''s form slowly recondensed on Yan Huan''s shoulder.
"If I could, I''d also love to help you monitor those confirmed Modifier Hosts every day and track their progress using the Modifiers, but..."
"..."
It was fine. Yan Huan was already used to Myau-chan being utterly useless.
Just as Yan Huan disappointedly averted his gaze, Myau-chan let out a cry, pulling his attention back.
"But I can smell her scent! They are currently on the other side of the corridor."
''Right, I almost forgot. You are a cute little kitten, Myau-chan.''
"Meow?"
Myau-chan reached out a paw and swatted this guy who could change his tune so rapidly, though he still didn''t forget to remind him:
"Yan Huan, you need to go upstairs quickly, or they''ll loop around and catch up to you soon."
Yan Huan gave an imperceptible nod. They had already reached a staircase spattered with fake blood.
Looking back at Sakuramiya Hitomi, Yan Huan said,
"Sakuramiya, this way."
"Okay, President."
Sakuramiya Hitomi stepped onto the stairs, but Yan Huan stared at the first floor''s incredibly complex corridor layout, feeling a bit puzzled.
The terrain here was complicated. Knowing that the infirmary was on the second floor required passing through several Classrooms to discover the subtle environmental clues.
With Spencer''s lack of brains, how was she catching up so quickly?
"Um... Classmate Spencer, I think we''re supposed to go to the infirmary. That should be the exit, so Xiao Huan and the others will definitely head there too..."
"Huh?"
Inside an abandoned Classroom, Spencer was squatting on the floor, playing with shattered pieces of desks and chairs.
Hearing An Le''s voice from behind, she finally turned her head.
She saw a trembling, terrified An Le staring at the environmental clues written on the wall in what looked like fresh blood, murmuring those words.
Spencer tilted her head, clapped the dust off her hands, and stood up, asking,
"Where''s the infirmary?"
"It should be upstairs. This is Corridor B, so if we go this way, there''s a staircase... Eek!! A ghost!!"
Just as An Le glanced outside the Classroom, a ghostly figure slowly drifted past, draining all the color from her face.
On her shoulder, Little Finger slapped her cheek with its tail, scolding,
"What ghost?! If you really want to talk about ghosts, don''t you think I''m more of a ghost since no one else can see me?! What are you afraid of? Hurry up and charge!! Yan Huan is waiting for you!"
She was still somewhat agitated from their previous argument, and for a coward like her, that was the best medicine possible.
It was necessary to provoke her into doing things she wouldn''t even dare imagine in her normal state:
Confessing to Yan Huan that she was his childhood friend!
"R-Right..."
An Le patted her small face, which was covered by a Face Mask, forcing herself to summon some courage.
"Hah, what ghost? Let me have a look!"
Spencer was absurdly bold. She charged straight out into the hall, only to find an entirely empty corridor.
"Tch, there''s nothing here. Even if it was a ghost, it was a cowardly one."
"Uu..."
An Le couldn''t help but feel like Spencer was talking about her.
She quickly hurried after Spencer. Having a companion by her side slightly eased the intense terror welling up inside her.
"Classmate Spencer... the stairs are over there. Xiao Huan and Vice President Sakuramiya should be heading to the infirmary too. If we hurry..."
Just as she was about to step forward, a chilling breeze seemed to blow from behind.
"I''m so filled with hate... I''m so filled with hate... I HATE EVERYTHING AHHHH!!!"
"Eek!"
An Le turned pale. She didn''t dare turn her head, but from the reflection on a nearby window, she spotted a door swinging open behind them.
"S-S-Spencer!!"
"Huh?"
Spencer, her arms crossed, turned around to look behind her.
But over there, aside from the open door, there was absolutely nothing.
"What is it?"
Had she seen wrong?
An Le gasped for breath and pulled her gaze back, looking forward again.
But right at that moment, she saw a hideous Female Ghost with disheveled hair and a face caked in blood appearing silently behind Spencer.
"Yikes!!"
An Le''s legs turned to jelly from sheer terror. She collapsed onto the floor, burying her face in her hands and ducking her head like an ostrich.
"Spencer, b-behind you... Wuu-wuu!"
Watching An Le''s pathetic display, the hideous Female Ghost curled her lips into a sinister grin.
Even though it was just a part-time job, and this was her first time playing a Female Ghost...
Personally scaring a guest so badly that they shrieked and collapsed to the floor still filled her heart with an undeniable sense of accomplishment.
This was probably what they meant by "loving the job you do," right?
And now, for the remaining one...
The Female Ghost chuckled internally and raised her head, only to be met with the sight of the blonde girl whipping her head around so fast that her face became a blur.
Eh?
A blur?
Why was she a blur?
In that split second, the Female Ghost''s brain briefly short-circuited. But very quickly, she realized what was happening.
Because at that exact moment, she felt a ferocious gust of wind violently rushing toward her right cheek.
"Whoosh!!"
As it turned out, when Spencer spun around, she brought a flying punch right along with her.
The Female Ghost''s mind went entirely blank. Her body''s natural hazard-avoidance instincts kicked in, forcing her to instinctively lurch backward, and she lost her balance, landing flat on her behind.
As a result, the fist wrapped in gale-force winds missed its target completely, slamming directly into the adjacent wall.
"BOOM!!"
With a muffled explosion of sound, Spencer''s punch literally smashed a gaping hole right through the Haunted House''s cheap, hollow wall!
"Crash..."
Dust and debris showered down from the corridor ceiling, shaken loose by the sheer terror of Spencer''s punch.
Sitting on the floor in the exact same posture as An Le, the Female Ghost stared blankly at the dark aura practically radiating from Spencer, swallowing hard.
Spencer took a deep breath and looked at the Female Ghost sitting before her.
Carefully studying the employee''s stunned gaze, Spencer let out the breath she was holding.
"Scared me to death. I thought it was a real ghost, but it''s just someone in a costume."
"..."
But since the option of a "real ghost" had been ruled out, a wildly excited smile bloomed on Spencer''s face.
"Hehehe, setting that aside, your costume is pretty interesting. Let me have a look!"
The way she stared at the Female Ghost on the floor was like looking at a shiny new toy, causing the poor girl to shiver violently.
"N-No way!"
Watching Spencer yank her fist out of the drywall, the Female Ghost let out a bloodcurdling scream, turned tail, and sprinted for her life.
Spencer roared with delight and instantly took off after her.
"Don''t run!!"
"Classmate Spencer! W-Wait for me!"
An Le scrambled to her feet and forced herself to chase after Spencer.
The Female Ghost sprinted blindly in one direction. The heavy thumping of the girl''s running shoes smacking against the floor behind her hammered into her chest like drumbeats, making her panic even more.
In her sheer panic, she accidentally ran straight toward the second floor.
In her Bluetooth Earbuds, Nara''s voice instantly cursed at her:
"What the hell are you doing?! Why are you leading them to the second floor?!"
"I''m sorry, wuu-wuu! Sister Nara, that girl is terrifying! H-Hurry up and save me!"
"Tch! Fine, just keep letting her chase you. You lead the way, but do not let her get near the infirmary!"
"Eh?! N-No way, Sister Nara!"
At the same time, Nara barked orders to the rest of the crew:
"All NPCs on standby on the second floor, you absolutely must stop that blonde girl! Do not let her anywhere near the infirmary!"
"Yes, ma''am!"
Upon reaching the second floor, An Le was gasping for air. Lacking the physical stamina to keep running, she could only stare helplessly ahead at Spencer, who was disappearing into the distance as she chased the NPC, and shouted,
"Classmate Spencer! Down this fork... is the infirmary... Stop chasing her..."
But Spencer completely missed An Le''s Small Animal-like cries, dashing forward without even glancing back.
An Le struggled, wanting to catch up, but Little Finger lightly slapped her cheek.
"You idiot! Don''t you remember what she said before you came in? She said she would help you lure Sakuramiya Hitomi away! Just head straight to the infirmary and see if you can find Yan Huan!"
"O-Oh, right."
"Hurry, go! Let Spencer and Sakuramiya Hitomi fight it out. We''ll sneak past right here and go straight for Yan Huan!"
"Capture Yan Huan? M-marry him? Even if there''s any marrying to do, Xiao Huan has to ask me first..."
"Oh, my fucking god!! Stop talking and just go!!"
"Mm-hmm."
An Le glanced one more time in the direction Spencer had disappeared, finally pursed her lips, and walked alone toward the infirmary.
The surrounding environment was eerie and grim. Separated from her companion, she cautiously hugged those black bags tightly to her chest, trying to bolster her own sense of security.
"Eldest Miss, we can''t stop that blonde girl! She''s going to be there soon."
"Tch..."
Sakuramiya Hitomi, who had nearly reached the infirmary door, furrowed her brow.
She did not blame Nara; if the opponent truly possessed that kind of Ability, it was only natural that mundane staff could not stop her.
Furthermore, wasn''t that girl''s stamina a bit too absurd?
Did all the nutrients meant for her brain go straight to her muscles instead?
No wonder her figure was so impressive and her constitution so strong, while her brain seemed entirely atrophied.
"Sakuramiya, we''re here."
Yan Huan had also arrived at the infirmary door, inspecting the bloodstained white curtains that partitioned the beds inside.
The air carried a faint stench of blood, likely a crime scene fabricated using animal plasma.
The interior was scrawled with the name "Manako" in blood—the name of the NPC mentioned in the background lore.
The names all pointed toward a specific corner of the infirmary, but Yan Huan glanced over and didn''t spot any visible pathways.
''Do we need to solve a puzzle?''
"Sakuramiya, is there really an exit in here?"
Yan Huan turned back to the door and saw Sakuramiya Hitomi standing outside, covering her nose, seemingly unaccustomed to the stench of blood inside.
"Ah, there should be. After all, the clues point here."
"Mm... but we haven''t seen any NPCs along the way. Playing through this Haunted House..."
''Exactly!!''
''It''s all Spencer''s fault!''
''All the preparations I meticulously set up had to be diverted just to stall her!''
"Eldest Miss, she''s practically there!"
Nara''s voice echoed in her earpiece, and Sakuramiya Hitomi''s expression turned completely glacial.
''This girl keeps pushing her luck. Does she really think I''m a pushover?''
''How dare she use that kind of Ability to taint and influence the President...''
''I haven''t even gone that far myself! How dare you?!''
Thinking of this, she turned her head to look at Yan Huan inside the room, and an idea sprang into her mind.
''Last time, that girl shattered my Barrier from the outside, so she wasn''t affected by it in the slightest.''
''But this time, what if I pull her inside the Barrier?''
''However, the range isn''t large enough to encompass the entire Haunted House. My Barrier only spans seventy-five square meters—just enough to cover this floor''s corridor.''
''Perfect timing. The President is inside the room, and Spencer is just about to enter the corridor...''
"Sakuramiya, get in here quickly and close the infirmary door. I think I''ve found a clue."
In truth, Yan Huan hadn''t found anything, but he still turned around and said this to Sakuramiya Hitomi.
Because at that moment, he heard the warning from Myau-chan on his shoulder:
"Spencer''s scent has become very strong, meow! She''s about to reach the corridor right outside!"
He intended to have Sakuramiya come inside first. If worse came to worst, he would find an opportunity to slip out and face Spencer 1-on-1.
''At the very least, I can''t let Sakuramiya Hitomi be affected by the Modifier...''
But Yan Huan didn''t realize that Sakuramiya Hitomi, standing at the door, shared the exact same thought.
''At the very least, I can''t let the President be affected by her Ability...''
''That damned Spencer...''
The viscous darkness surrounding her was driven by Sakuramiya Hitomi''s internal fury and Desire. While the smile she cast toward Yan Huan grew ever more radiant, some hidden power burst forth, like a dam suddenly unleashing a flood.
The omen that materialized was a line of illusory text abruptly appearing before her eyes:
【Congratulations, your Barrier Level has increased!】
【Barrier Level: 2 → 3】
【Your weekly uses of Barrier have increased to 2 times, the maximum coverage area is now 100 square meters, and the maximum number of active Barriers is 2】
【You now possess the ability to further alter the rules within the Barrier. You can now enforce two rules of common sense】
When she saw this illusory text, Sakuramiya Hitomi''s pale hands had already gently settled onto the corridor doors.
She made a motion as if she were about to step inside, even replying to Yan Huan,
"Understood, President."
But in the next second, the doors uncontrollably slammed shut. Her expression froze slightly, as if she hadn''t anticipated this scene.
"Sakuramiya, watch out! Your hands!"
Yan Huan''s pupils shrank as he stared at her hands resting on the doorframe.
Hearing this, Sakuramiya Hitomi hurriedly let go, but she was inevitably locked outside.
"Bang!"
Yan Huan rushed to the doorway, attempting to pull the door open.
Yet no matter how hard he pulled, the door remained entirely unyielding, trapped in solidified space.
This nearly identical repetition of their last encounter quickly made Yan Huan realize what was happening...
''It''s the Modifier!''
''Spencer!!''
Yan Huan''s expression turned exceedingly grim, yet at the same time, he couldn''t help but sigh in relief.
Because Yan Huan assumed that Spencer''s maneuver was the same this time around.
''Since she''s coming after me, the Barrier must be located inside the room—meaning, the very room I''m standing in.''
''Which means Sakuramiya Hitomi is locked out, safely away from the Modifier''s influence...''
''But does that even make sense?''
''Spencer''s Ability is related to plundering. What''s the point of locking me up alone?''
''Last time she locked Sakuramiya and me in together, it triggered the classic "you don''t want this photo to get out" trope.''
''But what could she possibly do with just one person?''
''Or perhaps, the current situation has nothing to do with Spencer at all, and is actually the work of someone el—''
"Wuu~"
Just as Yan Huan was staring at the solidified door deep in thought, a faint, Small Animal-like whimper suddenly came from behind him.
He paused in surprise and turned around, only to see a girl with her head bowed standing near the enclosed room''s exit.
The girl wore a white Face Mask and a t-shirt remarkably similar to the ones Yabashi Ki wore, which inadvertently highlighted her unusually ample chest.
She kept her head down, her legs—hidden in black trousers—pressed tightly together. She looked as utterly adorable as a shivering fawn.
The girl tightly hugged several black bags. Through the gaps in her scattered black hair, Yan Huan caught sight of her flushed cheek and a pair of watery, expressive eyes sneaking covert glances at him...
It was An Le.
But in Yan Huan''s eyes, An Le was merely that strange girl inexplicably trailing behind Spencer.
"..."
Yan Huan opened his mouth, seeming to realize everything.
''I had previously doubted whether someone with Spencer''s awful personality could even have friends.''
''Or rather, that anyone would actually want to hang out with her.''
''But now, I finally understand why Spencer brought this girl to the convention.''
''It completely tracks!''
''Everything makes sense now!''
''The spatial manipulation Ability absolutely belongs to Spencer!''
''That damned female blonde bastard! She just loves orchestrating these sorts of tropes, doesn''t she?!''
Meanwhile, perched on the fidgeting girl''s shoulder, an illusory white snake—completely invisible to both Yan Huan and Myau-chan—reared its head, visibly vibrating with extreme excitement.
"See? I told you listening to me was the right move! Spencer and that Sakuramiya Hitomi are stranded outside together, meaning you''ve successfully snuck into the enemy base and secured the prize!"
An Le blushed furiously. Fidgeting, she cast a glance at Yan Huan—and similarly failed to see Myau-chan on his shoulder—before asking in her mind,
''But Little Finger, how did you know for sure that Vice President Sakuramiya would be lured away?''
"Ah? Well... because, of course! Because I am the most brilliant Little Finger, so I can calculate everything!!"
In reality, there was no way it could have known why Sakuramiya Hitomi wasn''t here.
After all, a person like Spencer hardly looked trustworthy.
Did you genuinely believe she could successfully lure Sakuramiya Hitomi away, or would you sooner believe that An Le could hit a home run with Yan Huan by tomorrow?
It could only be said that the heavens were truly looking out for Little Finger!
Today, fiercely reveal her identity; tomorrow, start being lovey-dovey; the day after tomorrow, use Pleasure manipulation to turn Yan Huan into her exclusive property!
Little Finger turned its nose up in pride, already fantasizing about the wonderful days ahead after finally securing a chicken dinner.
So, it patted An Le''s shoulder and offered words of encouragement:
"Quick, this is a golden opportunity, now or never! It''s the chance of a lifetime, so go say something to the Xiao Huan you''ve been pining for day and night~"
"..."
An Le pursed her lips and balled her fists, as if cementing a resolute decision.
In the next second, she raised her head to look at Yan Huan standing right in front of her.
Outside the infirmary, Spencer had relentlessly chased the Female Ghost, only to lose sight of her entirely after turning a corner.
She skidded to a halt, opened her mouth, and glanced behind her, only to discover that An Le had vanished long ago.
"..."
Spencer smacked her own forehead, muttering in delayed realization,
"Crap, did I leave An Le behind?"
Little Finger had guessed the wrong answer.
In truth, not long after entering the Haunted House, Spencer had completely forgotten her promise at the entrance: "I''ll help you lure Sakuramiya Hitomi away."
She saw that the Female Ghost''s costume looked fun, grew completely addicted to the chase, and by the time she finally looked back, An Le was nowhere to be seen.
And the main issue was...
Spencer was incredibly bad with directions.
Earlier, with An Le guiding the way, they quickly caught up to Sakuramiya Hitomi and Yan Huan, who had entered before them.
But now...
Spencer crossed her arms, glancing around with intense guilt as she muttered,
"I think we were supposed to go to the infirmary... but it''s so dark in here. How am I supposed to know what''s what?"
She turned back, attempting to inspect an abandoned Classroom nearby, but the door felt locked in solidified space, completely unable to budge.
Refusing to give up, Spencer exerted every ounce of strength she had, yet she still could not force the door open.
"..."
Spencer pouted, released the doorknob, and scratched the back of her head.
Sakuramiya Hitomi, on the other hand, hid in the shadows, using the power of her Barrier to shadow and monitor Spencer, who was currently trapped inside it.
She didn''t plan on exposing herself, nor did she even intend to attack the girl directly right here. Her only goal was to ensure she never got close to Yan Huan.
There were two reasons for this.
First, she could not maintain the Barrier for too long.
Nara had cameras monitoring this place from top to bottom, and there were plenty of NPCs scurrying about. Although she used the Barrier to temporarily knock out the second-floor surveillance, if this dragged on, Nara and the others would inevitably sense that something was wrong.
Second, she did not know what the opponent''s specific Ability actually was.
Currently, it was known that her Ability was related to tampering with thoughts, but her physical prowess—which had allowed her to effortlessly bypass a team of bodyguards—also kept Sakuramiya highly concerned...
Given that her own Ability was so complex, she couldn''t help but feel that the opponent''s power wouldn''t be simple either.
Therefore, her operational strategy moving forward was: Protect the President, and figure out the exact nature of Spencer''s Ability.
Sakuramiya Hitomi''s icy gaze carefully sized up Spencer''s back. Bringing her hands together, she attempted to use her common sense-altering power for the very first time.
【The inability to use violence is common sense.】
From Sakuramiya Hitomi''s perspective, Spencer''s figure paused slightly, and then she scratched her head.
Afterward, she delivered a vicious flying kick to the door beside her, producing an explosive "BOOM!"
Sakuramiya Hitomi blinked, standing absolutely dumbfounded on the spot.
''It didn''t...''
''It didn''t work?''
In reality, after delivering that kick out in the hallway, an immensely satisfied expression bloomed across Spencer''s face.
"Going against common sense feels so awesome~"
"..."
Outside the corridor, the meticulous and cunning Sakuramiya Hitomi, hiding in the dark, and the utterly oblivious Spencer, standing out in the open, commenced a silent tug-of-war.
It was as if two phantom entities, both brimming with terrifying power, were grappling with each other in midair.
Sakuramiya Hitomi wasn''t discouraged. Instead, she swiftly shifted her mindset, pondering alternative methods to deal with Spencer.
At the same time, she couldn''t help but think:
''With the President waiting all alone in the infirmary, he must be incredibly worried about me, right?''
''After all, the last time we were alone, the President took exceptionally good care of me~''
Sakuramiya Hitomi knew very clearly exactly what she was doing.
All of this was to protect the President.
She absolutely had to keep that Spencer away from the President. Therefore, she viewed the adjacent infirmary with greater reverence than a MOBA player defending their base crystal.
She would absolutely not let Spencer take a single step near her crystal!