Chapter 88

But was she, in the mission instance world, a truly existing person?

Lin Ye pondered.

However, what did she say at the very end?

As he recalled, a familiar voice reached Lin Ye’s ears.

……

“Lin, Lin Jun……”

From behind to the right came the timid voice of Fujibayashi Ryou.

She had just returned and her brain was still a little fuzzy, but the passage, which was completely different from the dim style of the school building, immediately made her realize something.

“We…… are back?”

Just as she had at Private Eisei High School, Fujibayashi Ryou searched for Lin Ye first and hurried to his side.

She felt a sense of security by Lin Ye’s side.

“Yes, we are back. Miss Fujibayashi, you can rest easy now; there won’t be any more terrifying things.”

“That’s great, it’s finally over.”

Fujibayashi Ryou wiped her forehead and let out a long sigh, her long-tensed nerves finally able to relax. Although she had realized at the very end that the eerie Kuroshima Miyuki would no longer harm them, she was always afraid when in dangerous places, worried that some new, terrifying, eerie entity might appear.

But fortunately, no new eerie entity had appeared until the moment they left.

“Thank you. This time, it was all thanks to you. If it weren’t for you, I don’t think I could have left alive.”

Fujibayashi Ryou knew her own strength well; if she had to go through it again, her only end would be death.

“Don’t underestimate yourself, Miss Fujibayashi. You are one of the very few girls I’ve met who possesses such courage and grit.”

“Th-that’s not true…… I was very scared.”

Fujibayashi Ryou felt embarrassed by the compliment, her face flushing red.

“I, I’ve actually always been very timid. I don’t even talk to strangers very fluently…… back in middle school and high school, I couldn’t talk to boys at all.”

“May I assume that Miss Fujibayashi has never been in a relationship?”

“Eh!”

She averted her gaze, her slender fingers unconsciously tugging at the corner of her clothes.

“N-no……”

“Is there anyone you like?”

Although he had already received an answer from Fujibayashi Kyou before, Lin Ye couldn’t help but want to ask Fujibayashi Ryou herself.

Fujibayashi Ryou’s face turned even redder.

Someone I like…… I don’t think so!

She couldn’t help but steal a glance at Lin Ye.

“Lin-ge……”

Suddenly, an excited voice rang out from afar.

“Wuwuwu, that’s great, we’re back! Thank you so much, Lin-ge.”

The excited Otaku hurried toward Lin Ye, but upon getting closer, he noticed the blush on Fujibayashi Ryou’s face and realized something.

“Um…… did I interrupt Lin-ge and Miss Fujibayashi being intimate?”

“Honda-san, please don’t say such things. Lin Jun and I are just friends.”

Fujibayashi Ryou waved her hands, hurriedly denying it, terrified of being misunderstood.

“Eh, sorry, sorry, I was just joking.”

The Otaku laughed.

He had realized just now that after returning, he had immediately dialed his friend Sawano’s number, but the call wouldn’t go through.

Although he couldn’t be entirely certain, he knew Sawano had truly died in that world.

He didn’t want to die; he wanted to keep living well. This world was so beautiful, and he didn’t want his life to end here.

And all of this was because he had made the decisive choice to cling to Lin Ye’s leg that he had survived until now. That blonde girl, Chiharu, just hadn’t been firm enough in her resolve; otherwise, she surely could have returned alive.

“Keep it a secret. Do not tell others about your experience, especially those close to you.”

Lin Ye said seriously.

“The more you say, the more he knows, and the easier it is for him to encounter eerie entities and face life-threatening danger.”

This sentence immediately dispelled Fujibayashi Ryou’s idea of telling her sister about her terrifying experience in the school building.

She absolutely did not want her sister to go to such a dangerous place.

The same went for the Otaku.

He had thought about bragging a bit, but now, silence was the best choice.

“Furthermore, it is for your own safety. If such things get out, it will inevitably reach the ears of those with ulterior motives.”

“Understood, understood.”

The Otaku nodded vigorously.

Lin Ye gestured with his hand.

“What?”

“Your identification.”

“What is Lin-ge doing?”

“If I am ever approached by some mysterious department or faction, it will be because you leaked it.”

“No, no, no, Lin Ye, you are my savior. How could I ever betray you? I swear to heaven, I will never betray you.”

But the Otaku still honestly fumbled around for a moment, took out his student ID, and handed it to Lin Ye.

“Sigh, honestly, I think it’s a bit of a pity for Lin-ge. Miss Kuroshima was quite beautiful and moving. If Lin-ge had chosen to stay, life over there would have been very ‘happy’!”

He gave Lin Ye a ‘men understand’ look.

“I can send you to that world.”

“No, no, no, no need, no need.”

The Otaku shook his head vigorously and waved his hands repeatedly. He didn’t know if Lin Ye could really send him to that world, but he absolutely never wanted to go there again.

His courage was too small, his strength too weak; going again would really be too much to bear.

“Lin-ge has Miss Fujibayashi, why would he need Kuroshima! Miss Fujibayashi is even better than Miss Kuroshima—pretty, gentle natured. A girl like this is the most suitable to be a girlfriend, a wife. Absolutely the one and only choice, hehehe.”

He revealed a fawning smile.

He was safe now, but maintaining a good relationship with Lin Ye was never a mistake.

If, just in case, he were to be dragged into such a dangerous, eerie event again in the future, and Lin Ye happened to be there, wouldn’t he be set? Just cling to the big shot.

“Honda-san, I’ve already said, Lin Jun and I are just friends. We really…… did not have an ambiguous relationship.”

“Sorry.”

The Otaku apologized again. His eyes darted, and he suddenly thought of something.

“Lin-ge, I don’t have anything good to offer as a thank-you gift for saving my life, so how about…… I find a way to introduce our school’s campus beauty to you? She’s absolutely pretty, a black-haired beauty just like Miss Kuroshima. If Lin-ge is interested, I will do my best to persuade her.”

Men, after all, all like beauties!

Since Fujibayashi Ryou and Lin Ye had no ambiguous relationship, there was no problem with him saying this, right?

The Otaku had gone all in.

Upon hearing this, Fujibayashi Ryou pursed her lips and said nothing. Her gaze fell unconsciously on Lin Ye’s profile, and her heart beat a little faster.

“Who? You don’t mean Yukinoshita Haruno, do you!”

University student, Chiba.

The first person Lin Ye thought of was Yukinoshita Haruno, who was attending Chiba University.

“Ah! Who? Yukinoshita…… th-that’s a prestigious family in Chiba. I, how could I have that kind of connection? I don’t attend university in Chiba.”

The Otaku pointed to his student ID.

“I’m a sophomore at Nerima University. A girl in our school’s literature department is very pretty; she’s already been privately rated by us men as the campus beauty of Nerima University. If Lin-ge thinks it’s okay, I’ll find a way to contact her when I get back to school.”

A university with little fame, but Lin Ye had a feeling he had heard of it before.

At this moment, Fujibayashi Ryou prayed internally that Lin Ye would not agree, absolutely not agree.

“Her name.”