Chapter 36: The Rule We Need to Find
"No one’s here."
Top Chat: Nobody, yep
Top Chat: Ominous
The room was still lit. I was certain that a black silhouette had collapsed behind the sofa. But when I peeked over, there was only darkness—nothing else.
Maybe it slipped into the pitch-black next room through that shadow. But if that were the case, I should have at least caught sight of it.
"So that means, there’s a trapdoor in the floor."
"Why would there be!?"
"Then maybe a revolving wall?"
"What kind of ninja mansion is this!?"
Top Chat: Elf-san lol
Top Chat: Western mansion (ninja house)
Top Chat: Truly free-spirited imagination
『Gwah!?』
"Kya—what!?"
"I took damage!"
From the corner of my eye, it looked like a hand had reached out from the sofa’s shadow and grabbed me.
Top Chat: Took damage (calmly double-tap to suppress)
Top Chat: Why do you brush it off so easily with just one hit?
Top Chat: Please learn from Kirishi-tan, who at least screamed properly
"I did NOT scream!"
"What was that just now?"
The black hand stretching out from the sofa’s shadow crumbled away like sand. I must’ve defeated it—but what exactly was it?
"Elf, remember the cutscene. When the light shined in, the shadow appeared, and when it was blocked by the curtain, the shadow vanished, right?"
"Mm."
"That was teaching the player: ‘Shadows can only be seen under light.’"
"Hee, so that’s what it meant."
So that’s why most of the black shape hidden in the sofa’s shadow wasn’t visible, and only the hand that reached into the light could be seen.
Top Chat: He’s genuinely impressed
Top Chat: As hints go, that was one of the clearer ones, I think
Top Chat: Yeah
Top Chat: You can really tell Elf-san isn’t used to games
Top Chat: Well, yeah, invisible objects aren’t really a thing in real life
"Keep this in mind. Anything unnatural in a game usually has a meaning."
"Mm. So how do we fight it?"
"Today, further exploration isn’t possible. Let’s head back to the bedroom."
"Why the bedroom?"
"Most likely, sleeping in the bed will reset the situation."
"And what’s the meaning behind that unnaturalness?"
"...Probably none?"
Top Chat: It’s just the system
Top Chat: Only explanation is “because it’s a mechanic”
Top Chat: Now that you mention it, it is kinda unnatural lol
Top Chat: Shadow disappears in the dark → has meaning
Top Chat: Sleeping in bed resets everything → just the system
Top Chat: If you asked me how they’re different, I couldn’t answer
I didn’t really get it, but we went back to the bedroom. The lights were still on.
"We won’t get attacked while sleeping?"
"It’ll be fine. I’m sure."
Top Chat: As long as you’re tucked fully under the covers, you won’t get attacked
Top Chat: But in summer, with just a towel blanket, your arms and legs feel unsafe
Top Chat: Wait, did I type that out?
Top Chat: My thoughts are being wiretapped… scary
Top Chat: Whoa—being sucked into the futon
Top Chat: That’s a slightly different thing
『Hey, it’s already evening. Damn it, if we don’t hurry up and gather the tools, we won’t be able to leave until the day after tomorrow!』
Muttering a familiar line, the young man bit into a calorie bar as he climbed out of bed. The lights were still on.
"Reused dialogue counts as unnatural?"
"This one doesn’t."
"Oversleeping counts as unnatural?"
"Not that either."
"Eating nothing but calorie bars counts as unnatural?"
"Bad for your health, but no."
Top Chat: Elf-san has entered the “Why, why?” phase
Top Chat: Came here to watch a game stream and somehow ended up in early childhood education
Top Chat: Patiently answering anyway—Kirishi-tan Mama
Top Chat: Mother Kirishi-tan
"Why do I have to be saddled with a daughter taller than me…?"
Top Chat: Tall
Top Chat: Tall
Top Chat: Yeah, she’s tall
Top Chat: She’s definitely tall
Top Chat: The lamb will keep quiet…
"I meant her height! Her height!"
"Hey, Kirishi-tan. Can I ask you something?"
"I’m not so short that I need to have a complex about it!"
"What are you even talking about?"
Top Chat: lol
Top Chat: Couldn’t stay silent, now my monitor’s drenched
Top Chat: Overgrown
"So, Elf. What was it you wanted to ask?"
"Isn’t it strange that only the bedroom light is on?"
"That’s…"
Inside the mansion, growing darker by the minute, the bedroom alone was lit—the only place within sight that still held light.
Top Chat: Ohhh
Top Chat: So you noticed
Top Chat: Elf-san’s intuition really is sharp
"…Looks like that does have meaning."
"Forget exploring the mansion. Let’s sweep this area instead."
"Yeah, let’s do it!"
Top Chat: The lamb will tidy up around her monitor too
Top Chat: Cleaning time lol
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