There were no words.
The paper contained no discernible text—only what could barely be considered a drawing, a scribble so haphazard it resembled a child's doodle.
...Was this thing even supposed to be a person?
Kaguya stared at the paper for a long time but still couldn't make sense of the chaotic lines.
Yet, despite its crude, almost childish appearance, the scribble inexplicably filled her with unease.
It was just a messy sketch. So why did it feel like something was watching her through it?
Could Hayasaka Have Left This Behind?
If so, why?
Was this something she had seen? But if she had been in a hurry, wouldn't she have at least tried to make it clearer?
Still, one thing was certain: Hayasaka Ai was still alive.
At first, anxiety had clouded Kaguya's judgment. The fact that Hayasaka had disappeared from Takakai's home—right when he was dragged into the Sacrifice Game—had sent her spiraling.
But her servants, the people she had sent to investigate… they all still remembered Hayasaka.
That meant she hadn't been erased. Even if the worst had happened—even if she had been pulled into a Nightmare Scenario—she was still breathing. Otherwise, no one would recall her existence.
...That didn't mean Kaguya could relax, though.
Takakai's accounts of his "failed loops" included victims who had been stitched into living dolls, condemned to an eternity of suffering without release. Hayasaka's willpower wasn't as unshakable as his. If she had endured something like that…
"Calm down. Stay calm."
Kaguya took a slow breath, forcing herself to focus.
She set the drawing aside.
First, she ran a mental diagnostic—solving equations in her head, reciting memorized facts—anything to confirm her mind hadn't been compromised.
Next, she inspected the drawing again, searching for hidden details.
Finally, she skimmed through the other documents in the hiding spot, ensuring nothing else was amiss.
Only then did she stand, preparing to leave.
This was beyond her.
She needed help. From Takakai. From other players.
"Hayasaka… please be safe."
A silent prayer—one last glance at the drawing—
And then, unseen by anyone…
The scribbled lines twitched.
The weather had shifted from clear skies to a thunderstorm in under half an hour.
Takakai sat by a café window, sipping coffee as he spoke to Kumami over the phone.
"Yeah, same as Miko. I got a blessing too."
On the other end, Kumami's voice was loud—almost drowned out by the raucous noise of what sounded like a drinking party.
"Then you'd better make good use of it. A Red Moon-tier blessing means even Dark Night games shouldn't be a problem for you now. Hey—stop chugging, you lightweight!"
Takakai chuckled.
"I know, I know. 'Fortune favors the bold,' right? I've been testing the limits."
He didn't mention the gun—not to Kumami, not even to Kaguya, Miko, or Chika. Only Maki, linked to him mentally, knew of its existence.
After initial tests (including sniping a pencil from 10 kilometers away), he had pushed further:
Infinite Ammo Mode: Fired 300+ rounds per second, pinning a hostile Remnant against a wall.
Limited Ammo Mode (10 rounds): A single shot completely immobilized the same Remnant.
Recovery Rate: Once the 10 "sealing bullets" were expended, a 24-hour cooldown began.
He had even tried stockpiling bullets—only to find they vanished if removed from the gun.
And when the 10 sealing bullets were depleted, the Infinite Mode's firepower dropped from "mini-rocket" levels to standard submachine gun rounds.
Still, at 300+ rounds per second, even weakened, it was overkill.
"This thing's broken. I could level a city with it. Thank god it's in my hands and not some maniac's."
"By the way—after you got back, did you go home? And Miko—she was taken from school, right? Has she been back?"
Kumami's tone turned serious.
Takakai straightened. "I went back once. Miko's been resting at home. Why?"
"Listen carefully. If you see something… out of place—especially children's doodles—don't touch them. Don't erase them. Don't take them. Just leave them alone, and they'll vanish in a few days."
A pause. Then, with clear reluctance:
"Fujika Academy's real-world manifestations sometimes coincide with abnormalities tied to Shirasawa Elementary. Most survivors from there trigger the 'Friend Rule'—like that one guy who got dumped there because Alice thought he was ugly."
A dry laugh.
"Sounds harmless, right? But trust me—no one who's been there wants to go back. Including me."
Her voice carried raw dread.
"It's not the deadliest place. But it's the cruelest."