Chapter 69: Who Came, Who Left…

Seeing the sharp blade falling toward her, Yue Yiyue tensed up—not because of the little monster in front of her, but because she seemed to hear a squelching sound by her ear, like something boiling in a pot or rushing toward them.

‘There won’t be something strange again, will there…..’

But the current situation left Yue Yiyue with no time to worry about that.

She tilted her head aside, letting the sharp blade graze past her cheek and land behind her. Smoothly, Yue Yiyue knocked the weapon from her opponent’s grasp, caught it midair with her other hand, and thrust it back into the Computer Head’s body.

Blood dripped from her cheek onto her white high-necked sweater.

Yue Yiyue looked down at the bloodstained sweater, touched her wound, and annoyance flashed in her eyes. “Tch…… I’m telling you guys, how long are you going to keep this up?”

The Computer Head by the door tilted its head in confusion. Afraid Yue Yiyue wouldn’t see it clearly, it enlarged the question mark on its screen.

A crackle of electricity preceded its emotionless voice. “If you’re willing to come with us, it can end right now.”

“After all, you’re just—”

“Gu Nanqiu handles all the laundry at home.” Yue Yiyue grabbed the soiled corner and interrupted the other’s annoying words. “If it gets too dirty, it’ll be a hassle for her too.”

She picked up the sword at her feet and hurled it at the Computer Head by the door, which looked exceptionally bewildered.

A crisp sound of the screen shattering rang out. Yue Yiyue looked at the Computer Head in front of her, now shattered into pieces. “Reincarnating is easier than wiping you out.”

“Go on in peace. Next life, live one with weekends off.”

With the Core Monster defeated, the remaining monsters lost control. Their screens flickered blue for a moment before going black, and they slumped to the ground.

The Red Door flickered twice in front of Yue Yiyue before disappearing.

The current crisis resolved, Yue Yiyue watched as the Sculptures returned to their original positions, silently standing guard once more.

She did not miss the smirk on that Computer Head’s face before it vanished, as if it was mocking her.

Seeing that smug expression, Yue Yiyue realized it was mocking her—since this was just a clone—for not having destroyed more than that.

Having figured it out, Yue Yiyue irritably touched her face. Hmm, how was she supposed to explain this to Gu Nanqiu later?

Should she ask the Sculpture Museum for compensation?

No, not the Sculpture Museum—it was that building across the way.

Annoying……

————

Yue Yiyue stayed in place a bit longer. Hearing no more of that previous squelching sound, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She took out her phone and checked. Gu Nanqiu had not replied.

She dialed……

No one picked up……

Even more annoying.

At that moment, Yue Yiyue suddenly realized what the mockery had meant!

It was a “lure the tiger from the mountain” tactic—their real target was Gu Nanqiu. Yue Yiyue instinctively pressed her tongue against her teeth and stood there, frowning as she pondered.

Was the master of this place so weak? They didn’t even react when someone burst in to kidnap someone. Yue Yiyue felt like she was about to laugh from anger. She glanced around, drew the sharp sword from the War God’s hand, and took it with her.

“Clack—clack—clack—clack.” The sound of high heels on the floor echoed in the not-so-large exhibition hall.

At the corner, the shadow arrived before the person. Yue Yiyue watched the swaying figure and rolled up her sleeves, taking the initiative to walk forward. “Hello, my friend is missing. Can you take me to find her?”

The staff member in a long skirt and high heels, walking with a sway, paused for a moment before changing direction. That face—powdered deathly pale, with scarlet lips—gave off an unmistakable fake vibe.

Yue Yiyue sighed inwardly. This job was really tough.

She followed the other deeper into the corridor, growing calmer and calmer.

The staff member leading the way ahead felt a chill creeping up their back.

This shouldn’t be…… the person behind…… no……

Another corner, and a thick carpet appeared before them. Yue Yiyue stopped.

Not long after, a pair of sneakers landed at the staff member’s feet. “I can’t do anything about the clothes, but wear these shoes.”

Staring at the other’s somewhat swollen, sprained ankle, she said, “Put them on.”

The commanding tone made the staff member instinctively stop as well.

It blankly kicked off the high heels at its feet. “……Thanks.”

……

“C-can you wait to kill me?” It stared at the slightly small shoes. Those turbid eyes slowly regained clarity, as if It had just woken from a nightmare.

“I accepted some things because of Greed, but I failed in the Game in the end. I can’t go back to the past. The moment I kicked off those shoes, I finally remembered—I used to be human?”

“Right?” It tugged helplessly at its clothes. They weren’t comfortable to wear. At first, It had actually liked them quite a bit, but in this situation, they were a total burden.

The skirt was unreasonably designed, with fabric so tight It couldn’t take big steps. It had clearly been told there’d be no chases, but in the end, monsters swarmed from all directions.

Plus these extra ankle-spraining shoes—It had really been stupid.

The one who gave It this outfit at the start of the instance had never intended for It to escape alive. Back then, It had even felt smug about getting a little intel.

Then afterward, It was brainwashed, refusing to discard the shoes or tear off the ill-fitting skirt……

No…… in its memories, someone had reminded her.

That was a young man just like the one in front of it, only more high-spirited, more frenzied.

The other had once tried to help It, but by then It had already heterized 90%.

Past memories slowly awakened. It spun in place circle after circle. “At the start, I actually felt pretty happy about it, accepting Their Rules and muddling through here in a daze.”

“I can’t go back……”

It suddenly stopped its actions and froze in place. The person before its eyes overlapped with the one in its memories. Shattered memories pieced together in that instant. Its pale face twisted into a somewhat terrifying smile as it stood there. “What have I…… done?”

“What have I done?”

With each self-questioning shout from her, Yue Yiyue sensed something approaching from nearby.

Sensing the other’s intent, a rule flashed in Yue Yiyue’s mind—only by being killed by someone could one reincarnate as human; otherwise, they’d become waste, discarded to the lowest level……

The monster blinked. Its mouth opened and closed, then something hooked it away—

Yue Yiyue dashed forward in a single step, severing the thin line with her sharp dagger and shielding the monster behind her.

Remembering that twisted expression just now, the ferocious shout: “I’m not dead yet!!! I don’t want to become waste!!! ”

……Yue Yiyue looked down at the monster’s shocked expression.

————

A Red Door and differently dressed staff appeared. Yue Yiyue figured the next one would be a Sculpture with damaged eyes.

She coiled up the rope as she ventured deeper, in a bad mood.

She could even call it anxious.

Every corner of her mind was occupied by Gu Nanqiu. She wanted to find her quickly, touch her quickly, hug her quickly, feel her body heat—only then could she stop feeling so irritable.

But the monster beside her seemed poor at reading the mood.

It chattered on endlessly about how it had fallen to this point and how Yue Yiyue’s strike just now had given it a chance to live.

Yue Yiyue listened and listened until her attention was drawn to the bathroom nearby.

She shoved the monster inside and found a set of clothes from the storage room. “Go change.”

The monster looked down at the bindings on its body. “Can’t take it off. This is a debuff. That dead guy gave it to me without any intention of letting me leave alive.”

“But guess what? After I heterized, I tore him apart. There was another one beside him that he’d tricked too. My last memory was pushing her out—I wonder if she’s still alive?”

“But it feels kinda tricky.”

Yue Yiyue handed over the dagger. “Try?”

It froze for a moment. How similar to before, only back then It had been utterly despondent.

“Try—just try,” she stammered, adding, “If it doesn’t work, don’t say I told you so.”

Taking the nimble dagger from Yue Yiyue, it asked, “You’re not worried I’ll turn around and stab you?”

It muttered as it walked inside. “Hey, if you hear anything off, remember to come save me. I can guide you, got it? I’ve survived here for many years.”

“To give me some value, let me tell you—this Museum actually connects here to that building over there. The Curator arranged many Sculptures to guard this place, but they’re almost completely destroyed now.”

“As long as they fully devour this area, the lunatics in that building will go capture the Muse Goddess They saw once and can’t forget.”

“Don’t mind my chattiness. It’s been too long since I talked to anyone. After taking off those shoes, I found I could speak again and remembered I was human.”

Rip—

The moment the fabric tore, a joyful voice rang out. “It works!!! ”

“I can do it!!! ”

“Yiyue! I succeeded!!! ”

Yue Yiyue, who had been patiently waiting outside while counting the squares on the tissue paper, froze upon suddenly hearing her name.

“Oh, sorry, I got too excited. Calling you like that might upset your friend. Let me try again—Yue Yiyue, you’re amazing! Seeing you really is a miracle! No wonder I often heard your name in the Safety Zone! Waaah, I wonder if I can become human again?”

“If there’s another chance this time, I swear I’ll train properly.”

Yue Yiyue calmly pieced together her words. It seemed she’d helped in something like this before.

The monster, now changed, rushed out joyfully. “Yue Yiyue!!! Look, it fits perfectly!”

The clothes she found were a skirt with a very wide hem. As soon as It came out, Yue Yiyue saw those strong, powerful legs—perfect for long-distance running.

Just one glance, and Yue Yiyue knew why that person had tricked her into wearing the previous mobility-hindering outfit.

“Congratulations, the brainwashing is lifted,” Yue Yiyue said vaguely, not letting on that she didn’t know her at all. “What are your plans after this? Stay here to help others, or?”

“Mm-hmm. If I can get back to the Safety Zone, I want to see if the Coroner can treat me.”

At that, It patted its head. “But you probably don’t recognize me at all anymore. After all, I’ve been trapped here for decades.”

“I’m Yu An. We met in the gated community of the slaughter Dungeon when Gluttony started. You and your close friend took us and fought our way out. We met again later, but by then my heterization was at 90%, and in the end I became a monster wandering the treasure chests of the Dungeon started by Greed. After four swaps, I ended up in this world.”

Yue Yiyue calmly took mental note of the information. “Then do you know where Gu Nanqiu is now? Is she safe?”

After saying that, Yue Yiyue paused. Why did she so naturally assume the person in Yu An’s mouth was Gu Nanqiu?