“Wait, Shirley, are you suggesting we follow the orders of that corpulent woman?”
“Precisely, Shirley. She’s merely a dorm supervisor, not an instructor. What gives her the right to dictate our actions? Furthermore, even a teacher lacks the authority to expose us minors to such peril!”
Ji Bingyao and Eileen were understandably bewildered by Shirley’s declaration, but Shirley simply shook her head.
“Girls, I understand your aversion to Miss Huang, but our departure from the dorm isn’t at her behest,” Shirley clarified. “Rather, our decision stems from our own assessment of the risks and benefits.”
“Precisely! The outside world is teeming with once-in-a-lifetime occult research material right now. To neglect observation and collection would be a betrayal of my blazing scholar’s soul! Moreover, we are now equipped with self-defense weapons and prepared for anything, so we won’t… Ugh-ow!” Xia Hua seized the opportunity to chime in, only to receive an immediate flick to the forehead, eliciting an adorable shriek.
“That’s merely your personal rationale,” Shirley stated. “However, Xia Hua did hit upon one crucial point: we are now indeed equipped with at least basic self-defense weapons, and we possess some level of preparedness for the external circumstances, rather than being utterly defenseless. In contrast to yesterday, the inherent danger of venturing out today should be somewhat diminished.” As she spoke, she meticulously inspected the pistol she had acquired from Salome just last night, and after ensuring the safety was engaged, she slipped the weapon into the pocket of her school uniform shirt.
“Yet, it remains exceedingly perilous,” Eileen observed.
“True, but a critical distinction exists between today and yesterday: yesterday, we at least clung to the hope of imminent rescue, yet as you’ve all witnessed, eighteen hours have elapsed without any sign of aid. The school remains completely cut off from the outside world—barring Miss Salome’s brief contact, of course.”
“Indeed…”
“Hmm… quite so…”
“While St. Lian Girls’ Academy is situated in a suburban district, somewhat distant from the city center, it beggars belief that rescue personnel or the police, no matter how sluggish or inept, would fail to even glance our way after such an extended period. Consequently, we are compelled to gravely consider a distinct possibility: perhaps, no rescue will materialize whatsoever.” Shirley drew a steadying breath before continuing.
“I knew it! I’ve been telling you all along, other worlds truly exist!” Xia Hua shrieked with renewed excitement, only to receive a second sharp tap on the back of her head.
“The existence of other worlds is, for the moment, beside the point. However, under these circumstances, remaining idle is unequivocally unwise; an external investigation is imperative,” Shirley declared, having forcefully quelled Xia Hua’s clamor. “Moreover, let us not forget, we remain ignorant of Alice’s and Shijō Yurizumi’s conditions. Are you not eager to ascertain their well-being?”
“Oh, that’s right…” Ji Bingyao and Eileen exchanged a look, only then belatedly recalling a crucial detail: the high school students at their academy resided in two distinct dormitory buildings, separated by a considerable distance. Consequently, the lead singer and saxophonist of “Pink FM Frequency” were not housed in the same building as them. Yesterday, immediately after regaining consciousness, they had intended to visit Alice and Shijō Yurizumi directly after checking on Shirley. However, a cascade of unforeseen events had utterly banished that intention from their minds.
“It seems, then, that we have no choice but to proceed,” Ji Bingyao concluded.
“Count me in!” Eileen affirmed with a nod.
“I must go as well! My scholar’s soul is currently burning incandescently at a scorching 114,514 degrees Celsius!” Xia Hua eagerly pressed closer, resuming her chuunibyou ramblings.
“Me too…” The young loli, Lu Ying, seeing their resolve, also wished to join, but Shirley halted her with a gentle hand gesture.
“My apologies. An elementary schooler’s primary task isn’t to embark on perilous adventures—in narratives, only high school girls are truly invincible. You must remain here and await our return; we shall ascertain the situation and be back promptly.”
Having settled Lu Ying and cautioned her against acting impulsively, Shirley and her companions swiftly descended the stairs, arriving at the front entrance lobby. It was an undeniable truth that, despite being an utter scoundrel in myriad respects, Miss Huang possessed surprisingly competent organizational abilities. Already, a hastily assembled exploration team had convened within the lobby, poised for departure.
Beyond Shirley and her three companions, the team comprised an additional eight individuals, including Miss Huang herself. The captain was Xiao Rong, the discipline committee member from the high school division. With the sole exception of one person, all other team members were physically robust high school students residing in this dormitory building.
“Hold on, isn’t that girl from the elementary school division?” Ji Bingyao inquired, her gaze falling upon a figure in the lobby’s corner. “Is she joining us?”
“Indeed,” Miss Huang affirmed. The dorm supervisor, her face still swathed like a zongzi, had now donned a women’s outdoor coat, a yellow construction hard hat of unknown origin, and clutched a feather duster, her voice brimming with self-assurance—presumably, in her estimation, these items alone sufficed to guarantee her safety. “Li Nini is intimately acquainted with the external environment, and thus she has volunteered to serve as our guide.”
“A guide? Is she truly capable?” Ji Bingyao’s expression betrayed her skepticism—a sentiment Shirley, of course, fully comprehended. After all, Li Nini appeared even younger than Lu Ying, the little loli left behind in the dorm, likely no older than a third-grader in elementary school. Assigning such a young child the role of a guide raised not only concerns about potential child labor exploitation but also serious doubts about a child’s ability to accurately and calmly navigate under duress.
Furthermore, given the unseen horrors that might lurk within the mist, should their guide falter at a critical juncture, the repercussions could well be catastrophic.
To compound matters, Li Nini’s physical and mental state appeared far from optimal: her complexion was pallid, she bore pronounced dark circles beneath her eyes, and she maintained an awkward, perpetual crouch. While the others meticulously inspected their makeshift gear and performed warm-up exercises, she merely swayed her head, drooled, and her eyes, unfocused, drifted aimlessly. Adding to this unsettling sight, her elementary school uniform was utterly ragged, her body barely concealed by a flimsy, yellow plastic raincoat.
“Miss Huang, do you not believe our ‘guide’ is in dire need of rest?” Shirley inquired. “Her complexion is truly dreadful; she ought at least to bathe, change her attire, and then…”
“What could you possibly know?! Li Nini is perfectly well,” the corpulent figure, her face still swathed like a zongzi, strode over to Li Nini. “Nini, you know the path, where the bugs aren’t, don’t you?”
“Mm… ah…” Li Nini managed to force a few guttural syllables, a meager attempt at an answer.
“I knew it; this is precisely what I call a good child,” Miss Huang declared, patting Li Nini’s shoulder. “Students, our destination is the broadcast room situated in the southwest corner of the school. Yesterday, when the ominous fog descended and communications ceased, Li Nini was within that very room, poised to broadcast a birthday song to a classmate across the entire school. Following the incident, she exited the broadcast room, traversed the dense mist, and arrived at our dormitory building at two in the morning. According to her account, the outside world is indeed infested with numerous large, aggressive insects of unknown origin. However, these creatures predominantly congregate in fixed locations and do not roam freely. Therefore, by knowing their precise whereabouts, we can largely guarantee our safety.”
“I have a question, Dorm Supervisor,” a hand rose into the air. “Why did Li Nini come here instead of returning to her own elementary school dormitory?”
“Because a cluster of insects lurks within the woods adjacent to the path leading to Elementary School Dormitory Building Two. A classmate accompanying Li Nini was attacked there and subsequently separated from her,” Miss Huang elucidated. “In essence, no one can currently access the elementary school dormitories. However, this detail is secondary, as our primary destination remains the broadcast room.”
“Excuse me, is our purpose to retrieve the radio housed within the broadcast room?” another girl inquired, raising her hand. “I recall the amateur radio club’s equipment being stored in the adjoining supply room.”
“Precisely. Our mobile phones are without signal, and internet connectivity has been severed. We must attempt to use the radio, hoping to summon those indolent public servants who draw salaries without performing their duties…” Miss Huang’s current reasoning, surprisingly, possessed a striking clarity. “Furthermore, the small observatory situated above the broadcast room represents the school’s highest vantage point. Should the fog dissipate somewhat after daybreak, we might be able to survey the school’s internal situation from there.”
“Very well,” Shirley murmured. As a rationalist habitually inclined to pragmatism, she found herself compelled to concede that the plan proposed by the haughty, odious mass of fat was, in fact, sound. “Incidentally, beyond the radio equipment, the broadcast room also houses a considerable amount of valuable emergency supplies. Moreover, our route will take us past Dormitory Building No. 8, where Alice and Shijō Yurizumi reside, offering a convenient opportunity to check on them.”
“Then we truly have no alternative but to proceed,” Ji Bingyao and Eileen affirmed with a synchronous nod. Subsequently, perhaps still acutely recalling her previous “deep-throated kiss” encounter with that monstrous insect, Miss Huang produced an N95 mask and secured it over her face, then cast a pointed, sidelong glance at Shirley, who was observing her.
“What are you staring at? This is the only mask available! If you desire one, procure it yourself.”
Shirley disregarded her, instead merely caressing the pistol concealed within her pocket, simultaneously replaying the weapon’s instructions in her mind. Following this, Miss Huang cautiously unlatched the dormitory door, then promptly recoiled several paces.
On this occasion, only swirling white mist billowed inward; no monsters appeared.
“Ho… ho… mm…” Li Nini, having finally managed to stand, gestured towards the doorway and then waved her hand. Miss Huang immediately drew near, engaging her in a hushed conversation. “Nini assures us that the insects outside are quite timid; they flee immediately after attacking. Therefore, the entrance is now secure… This is the safety I personally guaranteed for you, do you understand?”
“As if we’re so desperate for it,” Ji Bingyao muttered under her breath. Regrettably, her remark was overheard by Xiao Rong, the discipline committee member standing nearby. “Ji Bingyao, please show respect to your elders!”
“Ah, yes, I shall extend to her precisely the same measure of respect she affords us,” Ji Bingyao retorted with a shrug.
“This marks a small step for Xia Hua, yet a monumental stride for the annals of human occult research!” Even as the occupants of the lobby continued their bickering, Xia Hua had already surged ahead, darting through the dormitory entrance. “Historically, the inaugural occult researcher valiantly ventured forth into the uncharted realms of enigmatic existence! The anthem of humanity resonates with the anthem of courage! The grandeur of humanity lies in the grandeur of courage—”
Regrettably, Xia Hua’s “courage” proved fleeting, enduring for only a scant few seconds. Then, as a colossal shadow “whooshed” directly over her head, the self-proclaimed “occult researcher” instantly shrieked, then, much like a startled grasshopper, sprang directly into the arms of Shirley, who was on the verge of stepping outside.