Arc 1: Nursery Rhyme Requiem Town

Chapter 12: Exit Dungeon

Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5039729
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com

[Congratulations on clearing the beginner-level "Nursery Rhyme Requiem Town," survivors: 5]

[Player Qin Dongwan's current score: 80]

Thick darkness enveloped the surroundings as if the space was collapsing little by little, with nothing visible in front of her hand and no objects to touch.

After the emptiness reached its extreme, a bone-chilling cold set in. Touch, smell, hearing, and sight were all lost. Qin Dongwan helplessly waved her arms, trying to break free from the strange situation, but only sank deeper. Every cell in her body screamed to escape until an unknown hand reached out and grabbed her arm.

"Hiss—"

The pain was clear and sharp, causing her to suddenly open her eyes.

The shelves in front were filled with a dazzling array of items, though she couldn't recognize the brands. Various flavors of chips and snacks were all there, making Qin Dongwan, who hadn’t been able to eat properly on the last day, instinctively swallow. It was a small-scale supermarket with a good variety of products. She could even see sanitary napkins on a nearby shelf.

Having just emerged from the deadly dungeon, the tension still lingered in her memory, making it hard for her to adjust right away. On the other hand, Luo Shu seemed accustomed to it, yawning daintily with her mouth open. Tilting her head, she looked at Qin Dongwan:

"We’ll gather soon for a system explanation of the rules. You can take anything here, but there's no need to grab too much. We'll be going back in soon anyway."

If it were someone else, they’d probably be half-understanding, but Qin Dongwan glanced around. When her eyes landed on the group of people gathered in one spot, she nodded knowingly. She still felt a bit dizzy from just coming out of the instance, but she had already recalled the rules.  

The Wheel Of Death Game divided players by their points. The first level usually had two stages, and earning 200 points would allow players to move up to the next level. Each level had a designated rest area. As players climbed higher, the rest areas became more luxurious, like a high-class prisoner’s accommodations.

She remembered that on the first level, a simple rule board had been placed somewhere. When she came out, she had fainted briefly, and during her unconsciousness, the others had already gone over to check it out. However, with Luo Shu’s explanation just now, she didn’t feel the need to squeeze in with them. Besides, the game system would definitely explain everything again after they finished “shopping” and returned.  

Suddenly, she reached out and touched Luo Shu’s face. The texture was smooth and delicate like it could burst at a touch.  

“What are you doing?”  

Luo Shu, seemingly unaccustomed to being touched, reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She instinctively shifted away from the offending hand, her gaze now carrying a hint of anger. The culprit forced a smile that looked worse than crying, trying her best to curve a smile:

"Sorry, I just wanted to confirm if I’m still in the human world. After all, suddenly encountering something like this..." She paused, then added, "By the way, do you remember how you got here?"  

"I don’t know. I lost my memory when I arrived. You all must be the same, right?"  

The girl’s voice was crisp and slightly sweet. Her gaze still held a trace of hostility, but it had softened quite a bit compared to when they first met.  

"I’m warning you, don’t go around touching people randomly. Even though you can’t fight outside the levels, once we’re inside—" She made a slicing gesture across her neck. "Also, don’t think about prying information out of me."  

Qin Dongwan: "..."

Didn’t you just say it yourself?

The grievances and frustration in her heart were temporarily suppressed by this brief interlude. After all, she had read plenty of survival game novels and had enough knowledge to handle the situation. She didn’t lose control or break down over suddenly being transported here.  

Compared to those players who immediately asked if this was a movie set or only knew how to cling to others for survival, Qin Dongwan’s composure already made her one of the better newcomers. At least, when it came time to act, she reacted quickly and could be of some help. This was also why Luo Shu was willing to stick with her.  

When Luo Shu mentioned that meals at this rest stop had to be prepared by themselves, Qin Dongwan found some bread and jam on the shelves, along with some relatively fresh vegetables. However, when her gaze landed on the meat section, she quickly looked away, as if she’d been scalded.

****

As soon as they left the supermarket, they could only see a few houses with lights on in the pitch-black surroundings. Seeking light was a human instinct, especially after experiencing the first bloody instance. The pressure brought by the darkness made their nerves feel on the verge of breaking.

She didn’t see Tang Zihang, probably because he was mixed in with that group of people. Since there was no danger, she didn’t bother to check. The two of them quickly walked to the house with lights on. After finding the sign that read "Nursery Rhyme Requiem Town Rest Stop," they immediately went inside. The house’s outline was swallowed by the warm yet oppressive darkness, making it barely visible.

The interior was no different from an ordinary small inn. It wasn’t exquisite, but it was clean and comfortable. Ji Yun and Zuo Chu, who had arrived earlier, had already found chairs to sit on in the not-so-spacious front hall. When Qin Dongwan entered, Ji Yun greeted her, while Zuo Chu had a cold, indifferent expression.

Faced with the two people she had no liking for, she merely nodded. After all, she had no intention of teaming up again after clearing this level.

Moments later, Tang Zihang stumbled in, carrying a large bag of items. The door slammed shut with a loud bang, startling everyone and making their nerves tense up.

[Congratulations to all players for successfully passing the beginner level. Next, we will explain the specific rules of this game to all the lucky ones.]  

The electronic voice of the System AC* echoed once again, but this time it clearly came from the broadcast hanging by the door. Having learned from the previous experience, everyone except Luo Shu sat in their original spots, listening intently to the explanation.

*I first thought AC meant All Clear, but it seems like AC is the name of the system (?) or Audio something or some techy term I don't know.

[1. This game adopts a team system. After passing the beginner level, two to five people can form a fixed team and enter future instances together (instances will be shared).]  

[2. When a team completes five levels together, they can choose a special level as a reward.]  

[3. Upon clearing the tenth level and completing the final challenge, players can exit the game and return to normal life. Aside from this, any questions can be raised within five minutes. If there are no questions, please register your choice of teammates in the notebook at the reception. Note that teams can be disbanded or changed, and forming a team is optional, but those who do not team up cannot enjoy the benefit mentioned in Rule 2. Teams must have at least two members and no more than five.]

"Wait, how many points are needed to reach the tenth level?"  

The one who asked was Tang Zihang. In the beginner level, he had barely survived thanks to the weapon Qin Dongwan handed to him. Now, he stood by the door, his face full of despair, not daring to move recklessly. The system paused for a moment before answering:  

[Additional rules for points: There are no restrictions on winning methods in the game, but attacking others during rest time is prohibited. Otherwise, points will be deducted accordingly.]  

Qin Dongwan could not help but glance at Luo Shu. The text described Luo Shu as having a volatile temperament. It was likely that she had been tricked, which led to her being sent to the beginner level. Most probably, she had been provoked and attacked someone during rest time, right?  

"What happens if all the points are deducted?"  

Tang Zihang continued to ask.  

[If points reach zero, death will occur.]

"When is our next game?"  

[Three days later.]  

"When we enter the instance, will it be just our team, or will we be randomly matched with others?"  

[Yes.]  

Seeing the system's responses getting shorter and shorter, Qin Dongwan hurriedly kicked Tang Zihang:  

"Are you done yet? Useless at everything except asking questions? The rulebook has all the answers. People are already forming teams."

The AC system did not continue speaking. Ji Yun tilted her head up to discuss with Zuo Chu for a moment. The two went to register as a team. Qin Dongwan could even see a fleeting trace of a smile pass across Zuo Chu's typically cold face, only to vanish in an instant.  

What he, as a character in the book, did not know was that the love of the girl before him was destined never to linger for him. Her dazzling exterior could not conceal the deep scars within her heart. After the male lead, Yi Changan got together with Ji Yun, the once-domineering CEO Zuo Chu could only end up in the role of a guardian. In the face of despair, he even pulled Luo Shu into the abyss alongside him.  

The male supporting character's tragic and moving devotion brought tears to the fans, while Luo Shu, controlled by fate, bore a notorious reputation. Even after her name was erased, it was repeatedly dragged out for condemnation, contrasting with the female lead's kindness and charm. The mere thought of this made Qin Dongwan unable to feel any affection for the two people before her.

"A'Shu, do you like to team up? Perhaps we can try cooperating. If you don’t like it, we can always dissolve the team later."

Having figured out that this person, who usually preferred soft over hard approaches, Qin Dongwan smoothly followed the girl's preferences. After a brief glance at her face, the young girl’s probing gaze shifted to Tang Zihang, clearly showing some disapproval. After a brief internal struggle, she nodded.

"Teaming up is fine. That person better get used to this environment quickly. The big fool shouldn't drag others down and need to be rescued everywhere. What are you staring at? I'm talking about you."

Tang Zihang, who had been looking back at Zuo Chu, turned his head in a mix of grievance as Qin Dongwan inexplicably slapped the back of his head.

"I’m 177 cm tall. That Zuo person is almost 190 cm, so who’s the big fool?"

Qin Dongwan ignored him and filled in her name on the blank notebook before handing it over to Luo Shu. After Tang Zihang added his, he followed the rules and marked a check in the blank space. Suddenly, three black wristbands with vivid skull illustrations appeared on the front desk.

The moment she put one on, Qin Dongwan felt something unusual, as if some invisible force was connecting the three of them. The sensation was intangible, not frightening, but extremely novel.

She turned around and noticed Luo Shu’s expression was a bit complicated. Just as she was about to ask, she was interrupted by a complaint from Tang Zihang.

"I'm starving to death. Dongwan, do you want to cook? If not, I'll just have instant noodles. Ah, I'm so hungry. Yesterday, I barely ate anything, just a piece of chocolate..."

"What about A'Shu? What does A'Shu want to eat?"

When facing the character she liked, Qin Dongwan always felt a sense of wanting to take care of them. Furthermore, Luo Shu hadn’t done anything that Qin Dongwan couldn’t accept. After going through a level, her fear was greatly reduced. The young girl seemed to have just snapped back to reality, leaving behind a "Do as you like" before clacking up the stairs in her small high heels. A moment later, the sound of a door slamming shut echoed.

Author's Note:

A'Shu was thinking about something unpleasant here.

Next dungeon preview: Internet Addiction Treatment Center~

[Note] 2020.10.9

This chapter fixed the bug in the rules, changing it so that the minimum number of people in a team is two.

_______