Locker Room

Going out.

The Mute Academy.

As usual, Ye Chuan followed his younger sister to the academy. Boarding the bus, his gaze swept across the seats, only to find no one else on board.

The absence of people was the biggest problem. No matter how bright the sunlight outside was, the interior of the bus still felt eerily cold. Ye Chuan glanced toward the driver’s seat.

The driver’s back was turned, but his arms were a sickly grayish-white.

"Brother?" The white-haired girl beside him leaned closer.

"Ah, it’s nothing." Ye Chuan sat down with his sister, who immediately snuggled up to him, pressing herself against his side—he even shifted slightly to make it easier for her to cling to him.

"Brother~"

"Hmm?"

"Can you… not go looking for the basement?" Her voice carried a pleading tone.

"Why?"

"It’s not safe there. You just need to stay with me. We can be together forever…" Her words seemed to carry an obvious implication.

If he stayed with her, he’d be safe.

"No." Ye Chuan refused.

"Ah…"

Ye Chuan wasn’t worried about danger—after all, if he died, he’d just return to the real world.

But who would compensate him for losing a legendary-tier item?

Right now, his goal was to tear this dungeon world apart, dig three feet into the ground if he had to, just to get his hands on that red question mark.

He didn’t know what its effects were, but since it was mentioned alongside the Chaos Undying Body and the Holy Grail, how weak could it be?

"……" Hearing his refusal, his sister’s eyes dimmed with disappointment. She glanced around before finally tugging at his sleeve in silence.

Arriving at the academy gates, students filed inside one after another.

Their faces remained expressionless, their movements stiff and uniform as they entered the school.

[Growth]

The stone plaque above the entrance still hung there. Though Ye Chuan didn’t understand what the word had to do with the Mute Academy, the red characters looked as if they had been painted in blood.

"Brother, I’m going to class." His sister’s mood was low, and she seemed reluctant to let go. "Brother… can we still go home together this afternoon?"

"Sure."

"Okay, it’s a promise then." She smiled. "Brother, don’t wander off."

"Mm." Ye Chuan nodded as she skipped away happily.

This scene, however, sent chills down the spines of the players entering the school behind him—they watched in horror as Ye Chuan chatted and laughed with what appeared to be an unidentified mass of flesh.

"That guy… really is a monster." Even Tian Xiaotian had to admit it. Despite the daylight, the sight made her skin crawl.

But why did he look so much like that legendary player she remembered?

Could it just be a coincidence?

"……" If not for the fact that her items were restricted, Tian Xiaotian would’ve tossed a gold bar at him to test the waters.

But experience told her it was better to avoid trouble than invite it. If she caught his attention, her life could be over.

"Let’s go. We shouldn’t be late."

"Right." Tian Xiaotian and her companion exchanged a glance before heading to their classroom.

After parting with his sister, Ye Chuan also returned to class.

……

Lunch break.

Ye Chuan immediately made his way to the school field. Now that he knew the basement was here, he was determined to find out what was inside.

Even if he couldn’t enter, his Magic Glasses would let him see something.

But as he walked toward the field, his actions drew the attention of many.

Even the live chat began scrolling—

[What’s he doing at the field? Does he know where the basement is?]

[Probably. This player’s going for the basement clues.]

[Hehehe, what lies ahead is hell. If he dares to go in, he’ll trigger the Mute Academy’s second phase.]

[The earlier insta-kill traps could be dodged, but the basement is a guaranteed death.]

[And here I thought this guy had potential. Turns out he’s just another idiot who doesn’t understand the rules.]

[Last time someone triggered the second phase, didn’t it wipe out all the players?]

[Yeah. Better to just survive till day seven.]

To the observers, Ye Chuan’s trip to the field was no different from a death sentence. But unaware of this, he arrived at the field without hesitation.

It was lunchtime. Ye Chuan circled around to the back of the bleachers and finally spotted the locker room.

"Interesting. Found it at last."

The locker room door was locked, an ominous, rotting stench seeping from within.

"Click." With a flick of his wrist, Ye Chuan summoned his revolver.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!" A rapid series of shots shattered the lock into pieces.

"Crrk!"

He yanked the door open.

Inside was pitch black—no lights, no windows, just a few rusted lockers that looked like they’d spew out monsters if opened.

Ye Chuan silently put on his Magic Glasses. When he looked again, several of the lockers glowed red.

"An ambush?" A smirk curled his lips as he raised his gun and fired.

After the gunfire subsided, the locker doors swung open, and several deflated skins slumped out—monsters that had been lying in wait.

"Hmm." After confirming the area was clear, he was about to step inside when a voice froze him in place.

"Student, what are you doing?"

Ye Chuan turned to see a familiar old man glaring at him.

The principal!

"Lunch break is for resting. What are you doing here?" The principal took a step forward. Despite his short stature, his presence was overwhelming.

"I wanted to jog during lunch, so I came to change clothes." Ye Chuan forced a smile.

"Do you know what’s inside?" The principal stepped closer, his skin straining as if it couldn’t contain his body, tearing sounds faintly audible.

Ye Chuan could tell—this monster was nothing like the ones he’d faced yesterday.

Silently, he prepared to blast the principal with his Air Cannon.

"Brother!"

A voice interrupted his thoughts. He turned to see a gray-haired girl sprinting toward him, frantic enough that she hadn’t even noticed one of her shoes had fallen off.

"Principal, my brother just got lost! He didn’t mean to wander off!" She stepped between Ye Chuan and the principal.

"……" The principal’s swollen body shrank back to normal.

He stared at the girl for a long moment before slowly turning away.

"Rest during lunch. Don’t wander around."