"As expected."
Looking at the charred window before him, Fang Zheng smirked. He had already realized that all external windows in this "instance" wouldn’t open, but did that pose a problem for Fang Zheng?
Of course not—he just set fire to it directly.
Then......inevitably received another system warning.
"Tch... this is really troublesome..."
Scratching his head, Fang Zheng was speechless. He wasn’t particularly interested in "clearing" this instance. After all, it was a horror instance, and who knew how long one could survive here? However, if he had to choose, he would certainly opt to flip the table. After all, it wasn’t like he chose to play this instance voluntarily, right?
The problem, however, was that Fang Zheng could sense that the school he was currently in was a multi-layered sealed space complex. It was like a Rubik’s Cube made up of several cubes, and with Fang Zheng’s ability, breaking this Rubik’s Cube into pieces posed no challenge. The trouble was, the other girls were scattered across different "cubes." If Fang Zheng smashed the entire Rubik’s Cube, and the spatial balance was disrupted, there was no telling who might be swallowed into a spatial rift.
Therefore, even if Fang Zheng wanted to make a scene, he had to wait until everyone was found and gathered before doing so.
In short, finding people comes first...
With this thought, Fang Zheng left the classroom and started walking down the corridor.
The corridor was broken and shabby, and many places were locked. Fang Zheng watched as he walked, quickly making his way from the first floor to the second. However, just as he ascended, he heard footsteps coming from the corridor. Subsequently, he saw a short-haired woman in her twenties approaching from the other side.
The woman visibly displayed surprise upon seeing Fang Zheng.
"Who... who are you?"
"Seems like you’re trapped here too?"
Fang Zheng curiously sized up the woman, who nodded in response.
"That’s right, my name is Shishido Yui, I’m a teacher at Kisaragi Academy. And you are...?"
"I’m Haruno from Sakanoue Academy. I’m looking for my companions... Have you seen a few girls? They’re about the same age as me..."
As he spoke, Fang Zheng detailed the characteristics of Sora and others to her. After hearing his description, Shishido Yui apologetically shook her head.
"I’m sorry, I haven’t seen the girls you described, but my two students are taking refuge in the classroom over there. If you want, you can join us. If I encounter the girls you mentioned, I’ll bring them over too."
"And what about you, teacher?"
Hearing this, Fang Zheng looked at the woman up and down. In response to Fang Zheng’s inquiry, Shishido Yui smiled gently.
"I need to find my students... They’re trapped here too. Though we don’t know yet how to leave, I believe if we all work together, we might find a way."
"In that case, shall we travel together?"
Fang Zheng quickly responded.
"After all, you’re just one person, and it’s always good to have someone to rely on, right?"
However, Shishido Yui shook her head at Fang Zheng’s suggestion.
"No, Haruno-kun, you’re a student. And I’m a teacher, I can’t let students face danger!"
Tsk tsk tsk...
Looking at the dignified female teacher in front of him, Fang Zheng couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Given the situation and her words, this teacher would undoubtedly qualify as one of Japan’s top ten inspirational figures; however...
"In ordinary circumstances, that might be true, but this is no ordinary situation, Teacher Shishido."
Fang Zheng gestured around.
"You should also realize this isn’t a typical disaster scenario. There might be some grudge spirits or creatures lurking here, and they won’t care if you’re a teacher or a president if they attack. Moreover, given that you have students here, you ought to ensure your own safety. Otherwise, if something happens to you, what will become of your students?"
"........."
This time, Shishido Yui didn’t answer. She furrowed her brows, appearing as though she was contemplating or hesitating. Finally, as if making a decision, she looked at Fang Zheng.
"Then... I’ll leave it to you, Haruno-kun."
"It’s nothing—we should help each other in times of need."
Fang Zheng waved off her concern and then continued to walk deeper into the corridor with Shishido Yui.
While walking, the two began exchanging information. Fang Zheng learned from Shishido Yui that they had come to this mysterious place through a reckless ritual...
Hmm... So these reckless students and teachers are the "protagonists" of this instance, and we were just incidental participants?
The two continued to survey the situation along the way, coming across accounts of past events at this Tenjin Elementary School. The newspaper clippings on the wall narrated gruesome incidents—teachers cutting off the tongues of missing children with scissors. Although the incomplete articles didn’t provide the full story, what they revealed was shocking enough.
"That’s terrible..."
Seeing the torn newspaper on the wall, Shishido Yui couldn’t help but express her dismay.
"Although I’d heard about this before, I never imagined it was so brutal..."
However, Fang Zheng’s attention was elsewhere.
"So thirty years ago, Tenjin Elementary had cases of children disappearing consecutively, and then it was discovered they were murdered. Tenjin Elementary was subsequently closed and demolished... So the Tenjin Elementary we’re in must be connected to that event thirty years ago..."
"Haruno-kun, you seem quite calm about this."
"I’ve been through similar situations more than once or twice."
Fang Zheng shrugged wryly.
"Yet, getting others involved is a first for me. Right now, I just want to find them and make a quick exit... As for this school... It’s pitiful, but what’s done is done, and the living must move on with their lives. The suffering they endured doesn’t justify forcing others into this ghost-hunting game."
"......sigh......"
Hearing Fang Zheng’s response, Shishido Yui didn’t know what to say and could only let out a helpless sigh. She, too, had to admit that Fang Zheng was right. Yet, as a teacher and a woman, she still found it emotionally hard to accept.
However, just then, a voice suddenly came from the distance. Upon hearing it, Shishido Yui perked up immediately.
"That’s... Suzumoto’s voice!!"
Saying this, Shishido Yui dashed towards a nearby infirmary and pushed the door open.
"Suzumoto!!"
Upon seeing the scene inside the infirmary, Shishido Yui’s face quickly turned to one of terror and stiffness.
In the infirmary, her student, Suzumoto Mayu, was seated on a chair, chatting with two children. In any other setting, this might be considered a warm scene. But things were different here—before her sat two children; one missing an eye, while the other was missing the upper half of their head, leaving only the jaw and tongue.
Clearly, they were not among the living.
Any normal person would be horrified by this scene, and Shishido Yui was no exception. Yet, despite this, she rushed into the infirmary.
"Suzumoto!!"
"Ah, Teacher Yui."
Seeing the figure of Shishido Yui, Suzumoto Mayu showed a very happy smile, then she turned her head again to look at the two children.
"Look, this is my favorite Teacher Yui. Just like you, I also love my teacher the most..."
"Suzumoto, get away from those two children immediately!"
By now, Shishido Yui had also arrived beside Suzumoto Mayu, but the latter seemingly ignored her words.
"It’s alright, teacher, these two children are good kids... they are so pitiful..."
"I know that, but..."
Hearing Suzumoto Mayu’s response, Shishido Yui found herself momentarily speechless, but at this moment, Fang Zheng reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Let me handle this for now."
"Haruno?"
Seeing Fang Zheng suddenly appear, Shishido Yui was a bit stunned. Fang Zheng nodded at her and then looked towards the two ghosts.
"I think you should understand my power. In light of your tragic experiences during your lives, I can offer you a chance. We can make a trade; I can help you fulfill your wishes and attain enlightenment, but I hope you can help me release everyone trapped here."
"......."
Hearing Fang Zheng’s words, the two ghosts did not respond, but surprisingly, Suzumoto Mayu stood up at this moment.
"No, I won’t go back. I want to stay here..."
"Suzumoto?"
Facing Suzumoto Mayu’s response, Shishido Yui was also taken aback.
"No, we must leave here and return to everyone else. Morishige is certainly worried about you..."
"Morishige?"
Hearing that name, Suzumoto Mayu seemed to regain a bit of clarity. However, at that moment, the two ghosts suddenly stood up, and a surge of strong spiritual energy erupted, blowing towards Fang Zheng and Shishido Yui!
To Fang Zheng, this amount of spiritual energy was nothing more than a breeze, but Shishido Yui clearly did not expect the ghosts to have such means. She screamed and was knocked back, falling heavily to the ground.
"Teacher!!"
Seeing this scene, Suzumoto Mayu also wanted to rush over. But at that moment, the two ghosts reached out, grabbing Suzumoto Mayu by the legs, and lifted her upside down.
"Wait, what are you going to do?!"
Suzumoto Mayu obviously did not expect the two ghosts to treat her this way, but in response to her inquiry, the ghosts said nothing, directly dragging her out of the infirmary!
And at this moment, Fang Zheng took action.
"I knew kids needed discipline every so often."
As he spoke, Fang Zheng snapped his fingers, and suddenly the blazing Primordial Fire appeared at Fang Zheng’s fingertip, transforming into a fire snake that lunged at the two ghosts. Seeing the incoming Primordial Fire, the two ghosts were quite terrified. Perhaps they didn’t know what it was, but they could sense it was a terrifying existence that could utterly destroy them!
"Ahhhhhhh!!"
With a scream, the two ghosts released Suzumoto Mayu and quickly fled the infirmary, disappearing into the corridor. Mayu, falling from the air, screamed as Fang Zheng caught her in his arms.
"Are you alright?"
"Ah... th-thank you..."
It wasn’t until the ghosts were completely gone that Suzumoto Mayu finally regained clarity. She blushed, looked at Fang Zheng, then shyly lowered her head. However, Fang Zheng didn’t say much, he simply placed Suzumoto Mayu on the ground, raised his right hand, and twirled his fingers. Soon, the fire snake retracted, becoming a small flame at Fang Zheng’s fingertips that disappeared once again.
"Haruno, what was that..."
By now, Shishido Yui had also gotten up, and looking at the scene before her, she could hardly believe her eyes. Although along the way, Fang Zheng had already given her many surprises, Shishido Yui never expected him to have such power!
"Are you... a Psionic User?"
"Haha, I only know some basic spells."
Fang Zheng chuckled at Shishido Yui and then looked at Suzumoto Mayu.
"So, Suzumoto, I would like to ask if you’ve seen anyone else. My companions should also be drawn into this space."
"Speaking of that..."
Without the interference of the ghosts, Suzumoto Mayu seemed to come to her senses.
"Yes, I did encounter a girl, with white hair, who looked kind of like you, wearing a white dress, and holding a black rabbit toy..."
"Sora?"
Hearing Suzumoto Mayu’s response, Fang Zheng was also invigorated.
"Where did she go?"
"I... I don’t know..."
Suzumoto Mayu recalled and then shook her head.
"It was not long after I had arrived here. At the time, I saw her on the other end of the corridor. I called out to her, but she didn’t respond. I wanted to catch up to her, but when I got here, I didn’t see her shadow anymore, then I met those two children in the infirmary..."
There’s no need to say more about what happened next.
"I see..."
Hearing Suzumoto Mayu’s reply, Fang Zheng frowned too.
He was sure that Sora was in this space, but... where on earth was she?
Meanwhile, in the pitch black corridor, a petite figure was slowly moving forward.
"Haa... haa..."
Sora leaned against the side of the corridor, panting heavily. If someone paid attention, they would notice that Sora’s face was slightly flushed, and her eyes even appeared somewhat dazed.
What exactly is happening?
Feeling a burst of heat emerging from within her body, Sora involuntarily squeezed her legs together. Ever since she came to this inexplicable world, she felt as if something was wrong with her body. There was a heat that was nearly impossible to suppress slowly welling up from inside her, almost burning her dry.
Brother... where are you...?
At this moment, Sora clutched the rabbit in her arms, continuing to stumble forward.

Comments

Loading...