Arc 1: Nursery Rhyme Requiem Town
Chapter 7: Shocked
Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5039729
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com
Before this, Luo Shu had already cleared several levels, but due to a group conspiring against her, she lost all her points and was forced back to the beginner level.
If this were on the third level or above, almost everyone would know the infamous “Killing God Lolita.” However, as a newcomer, the man had naturally never heard of her. Unfortunately, in Luo Shu’s eyes, ignorance was no excuse for mercy.
“What’s there that two bitches can whisper about that I can't hear? They sure know how to scream on the bed…”
The lewd grin on the man’s face was abruptly cut short. The girl swung her foot up, kicking his chin, and the clash of teeth and bones instantly choked back his scream. He had just risen from the bushes, only to find himself back among the green branches and leaves in the next moment, snapping quite a few twigs along the way.
The commotion attracted the curious gazes of a few onlookers. Qin Dongwan instinctively stepped forward, shielding Luo Shu behind her, blocking out all suspicion and caution from the outside.
She felt no sympathy for this man who had spoken so disrespectfully, but she also did not want Luo Shu to start a massacre in the beginner level. She strode over and gave him a heavy kick, then immediately glared and yelled:
“Aren’t you going to get lost?”
The sting of branches cutting his skin still lingered, but the man no longer dared to tangle with this freakishly strong girl. Covering his mouth, from which a tooth mixed with blood had fallen out, he scrambled to his feet and ran off into the distance.
Not exactly foolish to the extreme, Qin Dongwan snorted softly. Turning around, she saw Tang Zihang, who was also clutching an injured arm, slowly making his way over.
“Did any of you see a girl? She’s quite pretty, wearing a white dress, about this tall—”
He gestured in front of himself, a hint of worry showing between his brows. In the original plot of the story, Tang Zihang was a lovesick fool, tagging along throughout the entire romance between the male and female leads. Although he wasn’t particularly popular, his eventual sacrifice for the female lead earned him plenty of tears.
Seeing his "seed of affection" beginning to sprout at this moment, Qin Dongwan loyally decided to nip it in the bud. After all, she preferred this somewhat foolish friend over the ever-lucky female lead.
“Yes, I saw her. She should be off completing a mission. You don’t need to stand around here either. Let’s talk with the maid over there and see if we can go inside to grab some breakfast, then we’ll get your wound bandaged.”
The mission needed to be completed within three days, so the time wasn’t particularly pressing. However, Qin Dongwan had a feeling that this task wouldn’t be easily accomplished.
Luo Shu was slightly taken aback and was just about to explain something when Tang Zihang boldly pushed the door open and walked inside. The maid inside had disappeared without a trace, likely having retreated after issuing the mission.
There weren’t many taboos in the beginner level. Luo Shu could tell from her experience that the maid was just an ordinary NPC, not a ghost. She even overheard her mentioning that there were tools in the warehouse.
Tang Zihang entered first, and after a few of them roughly checked the castle, they split up for tasks. Qin Dongwan went into the kitchen to work, Tang Zihang needed to treat his wound, and Luo Shu casually wandered around the hall.
To avoid any accidents, Tang Zihang took the medicine he had rummaged from the room downstairs. His constant sighing made one wonder if he was already gravely ill.
Qin Dongwan’s cooking skills were decent, but the kitchen was lavishly decorated yet lacked ingredients. After rummaging through, she could only stick to a few choices for breakfast.
After hesitating for a moment, she stepped out to ask whether they wanted fried eggs or blueberry jam in their sandwiches. Just as she poked her head out, she saw a figure silently descending the stairs.
Her breath instinctively stopped, and her blood nearly reversed its flow.
The grand staircase split the spacious hall into two sides, with the kitchen positioned behind, obscured by the side of the staircase. Shadows blocked out the sunlight, casting a cold, gloomy atmosphere.
The delinquent girl, who had been lying scattered on the ground just yesterday, was now descending the stairs with a smile that didn’t match her personality. She wore high-heeled Martin boots, yet walked in complete silence. Rather than “walking,” it was more like she drifted down gently, like a soft feather floating from above.
Qin Dongwan held her breath and pulled a dagger from her pocket. Her palm was sticky with sweat, making her grip feel slightly unstable. After taking a few deep breaths, she managed to calm herself.
No ordinary person could remain completely composed when faced with someone they thought was dead, standing right before them. She didn’t dare move a muscle, her eyes fixed intently on the delinquent girl’s position.
Suddenly.
Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5039729
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com
A chilling aura slithered up her spine like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, moving freely across her already damp back. The delinquent girl’s neck twisted at an angle nearly impossible for a human, her resentful gaze holding not a shred of warmth even under the sunlight, locking Qin Dongwan in place.
She felt as if every joint in her body was bolted down with rusted screws, making even the slightest movement feel difficult. The delinquent girl descended the stairs step by step, her crimson tongue licking her lips as though sizing up her prey.
The hall was spacious, and Luo Shu and Tang Zihang weren’t exactly close by. Qin Dongwan calculated her options, unsure if the delinquent girl might attack her directly before she could shout for help. She had no choice but to swallow back the shout that was already at the tip of her tongue.
She remembered a scene from the original story: someone called for help and angered a ghost, which then snapped his neck in a flash before anyone could arrive to save him. In horror games, one couldn’t rely on common sense.
The delinquent girl slowly reached the bottom of the stairs, and Qin Dongwan tensed, ready to react. Just then, the castle's grand doors thundered open, and a flood of sunlight streamed in, spreading like ripples across the floor until it covered the delinquent girl entirely. A piercing scream echoed through the entire castle, startling everyone who had just entered.
In full view, the girl's flesh began to melt away as if scorched, her body disintegrating bit by bit until her true form was exposed. She stood there in tattered red clothes, her skeleton loosely held together, and half of her rotting intestines slipped out with a squelch, landing in the pool of blood that spread on the floor.
Ji Yun, who had just entered through the main doors, was pale with fright but kept her lips tightly pressed together. Beside her, Zuo Chu couldn't stand to watch her discomfort any longer and positioned his tall frame in front of her, fully playing the role of a chivalrous protector.
"Hey, you're still here!"
Tang Zihang, also drawn by the commotion, turned his head and noticed Ji Yun peeking out from behind Zuo Chu. His attention immediately shifted, and he greeted her with a friendly smile.
"Mm…"
Ji Yun seemed like she wanted to thank him, but her attention quickly drifted to the delinquent girl who had just perished. She frowned, appearing deep in thought.
Though there had been quite a ruckus the previous night, the people in the rooms seemed to have slept like the dead, with no one coming out to witness the scene outside. Thus, only Qin Dongwan and Luo Shu knew that the delinquent girl was no longer a normal person.
The smell of disinfectant was less overpowering during the day, yet the stench spread throughout the space, making Qin Dongwan feel like the toast she had just prepared had lost its aroma.
Gathering her courage, Ji Yun stepped forward to glance at the tattered corpse. She looked pale as she turned toward Qin Dongwan, who was about to return to the kitchen to finish making breakfast.
"How… did she suddenly turn into this?"
You should probably ask her why she was dragged off by a wolf in the middle of the night. Qin Dongwan thought.
"Wait, could this be the ghost we were tasked to find at the beginning of the game?"
The noise from Zuo Chu opening the door caught the attention of several people outside. A girl with a high ponytail walked in calmly, unaffected by the corpse on the floor. Her face lit up, filled with anticipation that perhaps they were close to finally clearing this level.
Qin Dongwan recognized the girl as the one who had slapped the delinquent ghost in the basement. She had distinct features, with a noticeable mole on her face and an expression that gave off an unfriendly aura. Following her words, Tang Zihang also showed an excited look; the dark cloud hanging over them seemed to lift a bit as if the dawn of victory was now within reach.
Naturally, Qin Dongwan wasn’t naive enough to feel, like these true novices, that victory was so close. Even though this was a beginner level, no ghost would be foolish enough to simply kill itself, handing players an easy win.
Seeing Luo Shu’s mocking expression and lack of desire to say more, Qin Dongwan also didn’t want to stand out and become the group's "pillar." Instead, she pretended to be cautious and speculated, saying carefully:
"I think… the level might not be that simple. Be wary that it could be using some kind of illusion. Wasn’t the task to find the ghost? How could it reveal itself so quickly?"
In the end, it was Zuo Chu’s unintentional action of letting in sunlight that revealed the ghost’s true form.
The hint had been made clear enough, so Qin Dongwan refrained from saying more, leaving them ample room for endless speculation before heading back to continue with her work. Not long after, she brought breakfast out.
On the toast was a layer of glistening blueberry jam, with ham and fried eggs arranged on a large plate. The enticing aroma awakened the hunger in everyone’s stomachs, and it was only then that they belatedly remembered to eat.
Zuo Chu cast a cold glance at Qin Dongwan and Luo Shu, recalling how the two young girls had confronted him the previous night. The rare feeling of being defied left this towering CEO, who had fallen into the Infinite Realm, somewhat displeased.
But, as they say, “people are iron, and food is steel.” Even the lofty Mr. Zuo couldn’t resist his hunger after skipping a meal. Not knowing how to cook, he fixated on the blueberry jam toast in Luo Shu’s hand, watching as she elegantly nibbled at it like a small cat, when his stomach let out an embarrassing growl.
With quick understanding, Ji Yun observed the scene and went into the kitchen, attempting to mimic Qin Dongwan by starting the stove.
With the distractions finally gone, Qin Dongwan sat down to savor the rare meal she’d prepared herself. Just then, the girl beside her casually picked up another slice of fried egg, her calm expression betraying no hint of emotion.
“After breakfast, come with me to find some tools. We’ll head into the forest tonight.”
Author's Note:
Beginner Level Principle: Courting death appropriately may not lead to death~
