"Chika, you—Ugh~"
Time rewound, and it was the familiar opening again. Kaguya, having just entered the zoo, saw an acquaintance and was about to call out to them.
Suddenly, a dizzy spell came over her, making her let out a cry of pain.
'Why do I feel like... I experienced something terrifying?'
Kaguya covered her head, feeling a bit strange. Perhaps because her relationship with Hayashi was still ordinary, unlike Asuna, she didn't remember anything important.
This strange feeling made Kaguya secretly alarmed, and she vigilantly scanned her surroundings.
Happy children, normal tourists—besides the additional Chika and her companions, everything seemed normal.
However, she did not relax her guard. After all, unlike these tourists, she already knew this zoo was very dangerous; she just didn't know where the danger was coming from now.
'That feeling just now definitely wasn't an illusion. Has an [Anomaly] targeted me?'
Just as Kaguya was thinking this, Yukino's coughing sound beside her, as if choking on water, caught her attention.
"Cough cough..."
"Yukino?"
Kaguya called out to Yukino with some concern.
"I'm fine, it's just... I suddenly felt like I was just immersed in an ornamental pond, being watched under the lights..."
Her usually flat chest heaved violently, with a slight choking sound, Yukino said with lingering fear.
"Choking on water! Could the [Anomaly] in this zoo be related to water?"
Kaguya analyzed, frowning.
"I'm not sure yet... I just feel like I'm a bit like an..."
Hearing this, Yukino shook her head but vaguely felt that when she drowned, she didn't seem to be in human form?
Instead... in the form of an elephant?
'An elephant? How could I be an elephant?
Am I an elephant? Wait, what is an elephant...
It's a huge creature... with white...'
Thinking of this, Yukino suddenly realized with horror that she couldn't quite recall what an elephant looked like.
Just then, Hayashi's hand patted Yukino's shoulder, and his deep, reassuring voice reached her.
"An elephant is a huge creature with fan-like ears, a long trunk, and legs as thick as pillars, and it's not white!"
"Yes, elephants are not white!!"
Her cognition corrected, Yukino's face turned pale. She gave Hayashi a grateful look, then cautiously reminded Kaguya.
"Kaguya, be careful; this [Anomaly] seems to have a terrifying cognitive pollution ability. Hold firm to your common sense; don't waver!"
"Mm!"
Kaguya had seen Yukino's situation just now, but what made her even more curious was how Hayashi knew Yukino's cognition was polluted.
And how did he know to remind her to hold firm to 'common sense'?
If she remembered correctly, Yukino hadn't said the word 'elephant' just now!
Moreover, what Hayashi said was Article 3 of the Zoo Visitor Rules.
Elephants are... not white. Please ensure that what you see in the Elephant Park is and only is an elephant!
'Damn, when did I read these [Anomaly] visitor rules? Why do I remember them so clearly, as if these rules are very important?
Wait, there seem to be employee rules, aquarium internal and external notices... Damn it, why do I remember all these things so clearly?
Oh no! Visitor Rule 6 says there's no aquarium!
Is this really my first time entering this zoo?'
A trace of horror flashed in Kaguya's eyes, and she couldn't help but look at Hayashi questioningly.
Facing Kaguya's questioning gaze, Hayashi didn't answer but handed two 'papers' to her and Yukino.
"I don't have much time, Kaguya and Yukino; I need you to trust me and just do as it says. Don't doubt, don't overthink; I need you to trust me wholeheartedly!"
Having said this quickly, Yukino and Kaguya saw Hayashi flee like lightning, as if being chased by something terrifying.
In just a blink of an eye, the two girls couldn't even see his back.
"?"
"?"
A few question marks flashed blankly in their eyes.
Suddenly, the damp sensation on their fingertips attracted their attention. They looked down at the 'papers' Hayashi left them.
Yukino's and Kaguya's pupils couldn't help but shrink.
It was a good thing they had seen many terrifying things, but their hands still trembled slightly.
Because the 'papers' in their hands were not 'papers' at all!
They were clearly two fresh pieces of human skin, covered with writing!
Dripping with blood, as if freshly peeled from an arm.
"!"
"!"
Looking at the skin in their hands, Yukino and Kaguya's pupils vibrated violently. They couldn't imagine why!
Even though everyone had just entered the zoo, Hayashi had to use such terrifying means to leave information.
Even with their experience, even if this instance was difficult, on the first day, they would at least have time to gather information.
But Hayashi's method... and his words... 'Trust him!?'
With deep confusion, Yukino and Kaguya squinted at the information on the skin.
The skin wasn't large, but the amount of information was not small at all. The tiny, fly-like script made it difficult for Yukino and Kaguya to read without great effort.
Then they saw:
[Inside the Zoo, the more you know, the more dangerous it is.]
[Don't delve into it, firmly believe in 'common sense,' and believe that you are human.]
[Believe in the rules of wherever you are. ]
[I hope you can help me, but if you want to complete the instance task directly and escape the Zoo, here's how to leave the Zoo directly.]
[ 1. Enter happily, watch animals happily, leave happily, and don't see anything strange.]
[ 2. Enter happily, see strange animals, or accidentally violate a rule in the park, but always stay with acquaintances and friends, and finally leave with the crowd.]
[The above are normal exit behaviors, not applicable to you. You need to go to the Lion Park to listen to the lions' roars, and then you can successfully exit the park!]
[Isn't it simple?]
..."The way to leave is that simple!?"
Yukino's beautiful eyes widened slightly as she asked Kaguya in disbelief.
"It certainly looks simple, but it wouldn't be simple for us if we didn't know!"
Kaguya reminded Yukino, frowning, then paused and continued.
"Unlike ordinary tourists, we will investigate the situation of the zoo. Do you think we can leave happily?"
"No, finding a way out requires information."
Yukino answered without hesitation, her face a little pale.
"Right, and the information Hayashi left says that the more you know here, the more dangerous it is!"
Kaguya said gravely, already guessing that without Hayashi's reminder, she and Yukino's subsequent actions would simply lead them to their deaths in the Zoo.
"Are you going to the Lion Park to leave?"
Yukino asked Kaguya. Kaguya glanced at her, and Kaguya, who knew her well, knew that Yukino had already decided to stay and help Hayashi.
"What a mysterious and inexplicable guy."
Kaguya said, a bit annoyed. She didn't understand. She had been preparing to be the strong one, lead others, and train new department members to help Yukino clear the instance.
But how did she lose her initiative the moment she stepped into the zoo?
And how did this Hayashi guy know this information and record it on skin?
Why not use paper? Was it because paper couldn't record it?
Kaguya carefully recalled Hayashi's every move just now but couldn't figure out how he knew this information. In the end, she could only wonder if that guy had the ability to predict the future.
"Leave? I've been asked by a junior to trust him completely; can I still desert? The Shinomiya Family doesn't teach that!"
Kaguya replied, a little displeased.
Hearing this, Yukino wasn't surprised, because she knew that both she and Kaguya were extremely competitive people.
Although both of them were a bit stunned by Hayashi's sudden and terrifying message on human skin at the moment. Ultimately, they decided to trust Hayashi.