The Fat Monster and its gang marched up to the swamp in a huff.
Fresh human footprints were quickly spotted in the damp soil... though these were fakes that Luo Yu had planted.
Bending down, the Fat Monster studied them closely.
The tracks came from far away in a chaotic mess, running right up to the swamp's edge. Then they suddenly went haywire—and at the very end, the footprints vanished completely at the swamp's border.
Looked like someone had fled here in a panic, only to have the swamp block their escape. Must have bolted straight into the mud in desperation and drowned.
But was that really what happened?
The other monsters seemed fooled, but the Fat Monster was more suspicious.
Recalled the whistle it had heard earlier—steady, strong, not the kind of sound someone running for their life could make.
So either it had gone the wrong way and the whistler wasn't even here, or the whistler had sensed danger, set up these fake footprints ahead of time, and then hidden somewhere.
That Luo Yu was a tricky human...
Mulling it over for a moment, the Fat Monster kicked the monsters nearest to it. "You lot, go sniff around and see if you catch the scent of a human."
Worried the monsters' brains weren't sharp enough, it kindly added: "Focus on the swamp itself and the forest across from it. When you find them, don't bite to kill—subdue them and bring them to me!"
The monsters moved at its command, sniffing around the swamp.
Still wearing human skin—the outside was human, anyway. But their movements were all wrong, so strange and unsettling they'd make anyone's blood run cold. Like puppets being worked by a clumsy new hand, limbs flopping out of joint, bodies bending at impossible angles.
Luo Yu was tucked away in the fork of a big tree. From her angle, she could see everything happening by the swamp.
...Including how the Fat Monster had seen through her shoddy footprint trick and was now sending the others to search along the swamp's edge.
Things were worse than she'd feared.
Had imagined that players exploring the small forest might be ambushed and replaced by monsters hiding among them. But hadn't expected the monsters to act so fast—or the players to be this weak.
...Almost everyone was dead.
Counted the monsters one by one from her branch, matching their disguised faces to the familiar ones in her memory.
The result: aside from Sun Heng and Yang Tian, she saw every other player's face among them!
All dead.
A chill crept through Luo Yu's heart.
Partly for the players who'd died so horribly... just a day ago, they were still alive, still human. But mostly, Luo Yu was thinking about her own situation.
She, Sun Heng, and Yang Tian might be the only players left alive.
The game had only been running for three days. How could just the three of them possibly face a horde of monsters this huge?
And not just the ones here—there were hundreds more hidden in the school...
Silently gripped the Bone Whistle hanging from her neck.
To clear the game. To stay alive. Absolutely could not let go of the Bone Whistle's clues.
But how could she even move?
The Fat Monster's troops were already following the scent her way. If she made a sound—even the tiniest one—those monsters would tear into her like rabid dogs.
One or two of them, she could maybe handle.
But right now, dozens of those twisted things were right in front of her!
Couldn't help thinking back to when she'd been cornered in the Classroom Building by the Monster Female Teacher. That thing's fangs were razor-sharp, its smile pure nightmare fuel—and it had some kind of supernatural power.
If all those monsters down there had that same kind of power...
Lost in thought, one monster had already come within ten meters of Luo Yu's hiding spot. If it looked up just once, it would spot her behind those branches.
Kept following the scent, closing in.
Slowed her breathing and crept backward into denser foliage.
Honestly. If only those huge red floating eyes from the other night would flash across the sky again! Whether those red eyes were friend or foe, at least they'd spook the monsters and buy her a way out.
The monster kept coming—and worse, the Fat Monster seemed to notice something too, and was heading this way.
No choice but to keep retreating.
If it came down to it, she'd drop from the tree and race the monsters on foot. With a bit of luck, she might actually escape.
Reached backward, craning her neck to gauge the distance from the branch to the ground.
But the moment her hand touched something, she knew something was wrong. What she'd brushed against wasn't rough tree bark—felt more like cloth. And when she pressed down slightly, there was something warm and soft underneath...
Someone let out a muffled grunt.
So close. Their breath was practically right in her ear.
A monster!
Jolted in terror, nearly tumbling straight off the branch.
But this "monster" had quick reflexes—grabbed her, one hand on her waist, the other clamped over her mouth.
Trembled, tears instantly welling up in her eyes.
Had known this trip was dangerous. But if she didn't come, the school would lock down the small forest, and finding the Wolf Pack would become even harder.
Had already braced herself to die out here. But now that danger was right on top of her, that her life was hanging by a thread—she was still scared.
"Mmph..."
Opened her mouth to bite, but the "monster" behind her only tightened its grip, pulling her backward against it.
And the hand on her waist was getting way too familiar—slid down and grabbed her thigh, locking her legs in place so she couldn't kick or struggle.
Then... gave her thigh a squeeze. Not too hard, not too soft.
*Soft.*
The "monster" curled its lips at this novel discovery. Luo Yu was always putting her hands on It, so It had been curious for a while now.
Turns out, it was nice and squishy to the touch. Quite addictive, actually.
So It squeezed again.
Luo Yu froze.
Wait a second...
Had the strangest feeling that this "monster" behind her was copping a feel.
Could it be... Sun Heng?
When she thought of a pervy guy, Sun Heng was always the first to come to mind. But in a crisis this serious, still thinking about that was a bit too...
"Mmph, mmph—let me go..." Couldn't form words with her mouth covered, just muffled little squeaks.
But "Sun Heng" didn't listen. Pulled her even tighter against his chest.
"Little liar."
"Sun Heng" spoke, but what he said only confused Luo Yu more.
"You lied to me. I'm mad."
What's this about lying and being mad? The guy led his team into a wipeout and lost everyone—if anyone should be mad, it was her!
Swung her arm back to throw a "Brain-Cell Restoration Punch" at the man behind her. But halfway through, something struck her as off.
"Sun Heng's" voice... it didn't sound quite right.
Since when did Sun Heng sound like that?
But if it wasn't Sun Heng behind her, then who was it?
In her moment of confusion, the hand covering her mouth suddenly released, shifting to grab her fist still frozen in midair.
The person continued from where he'd left off: "...So, if there's a next time, I'll throw you down there and feed you to the monsters."
Her neck creaked as she turned to look behind her...
Well, well.
Summary:
Luo Yu hides in a tree, watching the Fat Monster's troops search the swamp after discovering her fake footprints. She realizes almost all players are dead, leaving only herself, Sun Heng, and Yang Tian alive. As a monster closes in on her position, someone grabs her from behind, and she initially assumes it's Sun Heng - but the voice and behavior don't match.
Trivia:
- The Fat Monster recognized that the whistle it heard earlier was too steady to come from someone fleeing in panic.
- Luo Yu planted fake footprints leading into the swamp to mislead the monsters.
- All players except Luo Yu, Sun Heng, and Yang Tian have been transformed into monsters.
- The game is only on its third day.
- The Monster Female Teacher from the Classroom Building had supernatural powers and sharp fangs.
- The red floating eyes from a previous night might intimidate monsters if they reappear.
- Luo Yu is holding the Bone Whistle for clues to clear the game.
- The figure behind Luo Yu calls her "Little liar" and says she lied to him.
Translation Notes:
1 ↩ Literally "eating tofu." A Chinese idiom meaning to grope or take physical advantage of someone, often in a sneaky or inappropriate way. Localized as "copping a feel" to preserve the casual, slightly playful tone while remaining natural in US English.
Notes:
• M - A first-year student at District 13 High School and the childhood friend of Anonymous Student 0006, described as an atavistic strong-female who looks plain but possesses significant power.
• T - A first-year student at District 13 High School who has recruited K and N from East Middle into his group.
• Luo Yu - A female player inserted into the game world. Tasked with uncovering the school's mysteries. Possesses keen observational skills and analytical thinking. Shows empathy but remains pragmatic about survival. At the time of this chapter, she has already encountered a teacher-monster and survived an attack, leading her to understand the game's true threat. A female player trapped in the Escape Game at Qinggang High. Has lost her memory of events prior to her arrival. Must either uncover the school's secret or survive seven days. Physically slender and not particularly strong. A hopeless sucker for beautiful faces, she cannot bring herself to hate someone attractive even when they're trying to kill her. Maintains a self-deprecating, wry sense of humor even in mortal danger. A player who observes rather than leads. She notices the subtleties in group dynamics and feels mildly disgusted by Yang Tian's showy behavior. Quiet and perceptive. Female protagonist trapped in the Escape Game. A high school student with a bold, flirtatious streak, she is drawn to the handsome cashier without understanding why. Currently suffering from memory loss regarding the previous night's events. Appears carefree but is observant of the school's oppressive atmosphere.
• B - A student originally from North Middle School who was added to S's group.
• R - A first-year student at District 13 High School who has successfully built a squad and added multiple girls, including M and A, into his group.
• S - A first-year student at District 13 High School who has taken B from North Middle into his squad.
• A - A student from South Middle School described as an idol who has been recruited into R's high school squad.
• Yang Tian - A beautiful woman who survived two Escape Games by leveraging her looks to attach to powerful players. Aligned with Sun Heng, she shares a class with him and acts as his vocal supporter. Calculating and possessive, she views Luo Yu as a threat, displaying hostility and jealousy. Flirtatious and sharp-tongued, she taunts others to assert her position.
• Sun Heng - Scar-faced veteran leader of the main player faction. Pragmatic and calculating, uses other players as disposable assets. Previously had Yang Tian attached, his interest in Luo Yu fuels her jealousy. Subtly predatory toward female players, gave Luo Yu a rules handbook, warns rule-breaking = death. Luo Yu trusts his warning.
• K - A student from East Middle who followed N to National High School out of care, successfully remaining pure through N's protection until a misunderstanding involving Anonymous Student 0008 led to her capitulation.
• N - A student from East Middle with an eccentric personality who entered National High School due to complex family circumstances and used herself as leverage to negotiate a protective agreement for K.