the mattress next to me, along with several long, dark strands of hair that were definitely not mine.
For twenty years, I had religiously maintained a routine of early nights and long lie–ins, punishing myself with extra sleep if I ever got less than ten hours. And now… I… was losing hair?!
I scrambled out of bed, smoothed out the sheets, and swept away the offending hairs. Out of sight, out of mind.
[SYSTEM:…What exactly is your profession?]
“College student. Why?”
[SYSTEM: Are you sure you’re not a professional cleaner?]
Downstairs, the A–rank players were gathered in the main hall, all looking grim. As I got closer, I overheard them talking.
Two more players had died last night.
As expected of the final boss.
Luckily, he hadn’t come for me. Heh.
[SYSTEM: …]
{CHAT:…]
Chapter 2
“…Let the C–rank join us? Are you insane?”
06.20
My silent celebration was cut short by Eliot’s suggestion, which made the blond guy, Rick, slam his bowl on the table.
Rick looked me over, a slimy grin spreading across his face. “Well, maybe it’s not such a bad idea. I’m just now noticing
this C–rank is actually kind of a looker.”
“How about this,” he sneered. “You spend one night with me, just us, and I’ll guarantee you a spot in the final circle. How
about it?”
I hadn’t even had time to react before the chat exploded.
[CHAT: What a pig. Does this guy even know what deodorant is?]
[CHAT: She doesn’t need your protection, loser. Our Eva is a guaranteed finalist. You should worry about surviving the
night yourself.]
CHAT:
[CHAT: Is Eva still half–asleep? Why isn’t she angry?]
When did I get so popular with the viewers?
I turned to Eliot. “Can I have your porridge?”
Eliot wordlessly handed it to me.
Without a second thought, I upended the entire bowl over Rick’s head.
The hall fell into a stunned silence.
Rick just sat there, hot porridge steaming on his head, his face a mask of shock.
“If I’m going to ally with anyone, it’ll be with someone strong,” I said coldly.
“You don’t qualify.”
Rick flew into a rage, trying to lunge at me over the table, but Jax, who had been watching silently from the side, grabb-
ed him and held him back.
After the meal, I found an unexpected visitor waiting for me outside my room.
“I underestimated you,” Jax said. “I apologize.”
“Eliot and I genuinely want to form an alliance. If you join us, the three of us can definitely make it to the end.”
I paused. “The three of us?”
If I remembered correctly, Rick, Eliot, and Jax had been a team from day one.
“I’ll take care of the useless ones,” Jax said, his voice low.
The “useless one” he was referring to was Rick.
That night, not long after I’d fallen asleep, I was jolted awake by a bloodcurdling scream.
“Help me! Help!” Rick shrieked as he ran, a skittering, shuffling sound close behind him, like some multi–legged creature was in hot pursuit.
After a moment’s hesitation, I got up and threw back the covers.
CHAT: Is Eva insane? She’s actually going to save Rick? That’s a suicide mission!]
Chapter 2
[CHAT: There’s a time and a place for being a saint, and this ain’t it. I’m out.]
[CHAT: See you all in the next stream, folks.]
0621
Ignoring the chaos in the chat, I twisted the doorknob and bellowed into the hallway, my voice resonating with righteo- us fury, “SHUT UP! IT’S THREE IN THE MORNING! ARE YOU TRYING TO WAKE THE DEAD, OR JUST ME?!”
The entire mansion fell silent.
[CHAT: My apologies. I mistook her for a saint. Turns out she’s just a demon when woken up.]
[CHAT: Eva woken up at 3 AM is scarier than any ghost.]
[CHAT: I feel that. Wake me up in the middle of the night and even the devil is getting a piece of my mind.]
