You’re Telling Me This Is a Slice-of-Life?

Sakurajima Mai? How could it be her? Could there really be such a coincidence in this world?

Even when the girl whose head had been split open earlier truly had her head split open, Yuuki hadn’t been this surprised. It had nothing to do with appearances—he had long since realized which world he had transmigrated in.

But this was too much of a coincidence. The last time he ventured out, it had been to confirm whether Sakurajima Mai was experiencing supernatural phenomena. And now, he had been dragged into this “Reincarnation Game.”

Just as he was seriously analyzing the girl’s facial expressions, a sudden knocking on the table interrupted his thoughts.

Knock, knock, knock.

“You walk in and immediately start staring at a girl—are you ignoring me on purpose?”

An irritated voice drilled into his ears. Yuuki turned his head to see a young man, around twenty, clad in a black leather jacket, staring at him.

With a chiseled face, a bulbous nose, and narrow eyes, the guy had a tuft of red-dyed hair on top of his head. At first glance, he looked like the lead singer of some underground rock band—the kind of guy who talked big about his “dreams in music” while actually spending his days causing trouble, lazing around, and getting into fights.

[But this guy isn’t just some street punk.]

Yuuki’s gaze lowered to the massive sword resting on the table. Its blade was lined with chainsaw teeth, and the cold gleam reflected from its surface made it clear—it was no cosplay prop.

“Hey, did you hear me? Do you have any idea how long we’ve been waiting for you?”

The rock band guy, as if noticing Yuuki’s subtly assessing gaze, picked up the giant sword with one hand and jumped off the round table. His intimidating presence made Yuuki’s brows twitch, instantly pushing all thoughts of Sakurajima Mai out of his mind.

A veteran player?

If someone had entered the game before him, then it meant his situation had nothing to do with Sakurajima Mai.

He discreetly slipped a hand into his pocket as he studied the aggressive “rock band guy.”

“Enough, Thomas. We’re all teammates here, and we need to work together to clear this dungeon.”

A calm voice intervened. A man in a black suit, wearing rimless glasses, stepped forward to block Thomas’s path. He looked like an exhausted salaryman, yet the large revolver holstered at his waist added an air of authority.

“You need useful teammates to clear a dungeon. This guy barely made it through the newbie guide by the skin of his teeth—what the hell can he contribute?”

Thomas sneered but stopped advancing.

“And don’t act so familiar with me, Li Dan. This is our first time working together.”

“Well, we’re the only two veterans here. Don’t we have to take on a bit more responsibility?”

Li Dan didn’t seem offended—his temperament was good.

“Responsibility, my ass. I barely survived the last dungeon. I went through hell just so I could enjoy life—not to babysit a bunch of rookies.”

Thomas ran a hand through his red-dyed hair, then slung the massive chainsaw sword over his shoulder. He stomped one boot onto the table, raising his voice for everyone to hear.

“Listen up! If you want protection, the conditions remain the same—women can pay with their bodies, and men can pay in cash once we’re back in reality. Don’t fool yourselves. This game is far deadlier than you can imagine. If you die here, you’re dead in the real world too!”

Crude. Confident. And brutally realistic.

Yuuki had remained silent from the beginning, quickly piecing things together.

He had likely missed the veterans’ initial briefing because he had wasted too much time killing the newbie guide. But that was no big deal.

First: There were two veteran players, and they didn’t know each other.

Second: Without teammates, these two clearly held control over the group.

Third: Everyone here came from the same world—otherwise, Thomas wouldn’t have proposed “pay in cash after returning to reality.”

Fourth: Time in the real world and the dungeon seemed to run in sync. That much was obvious.

Yuuki finished processing these four points when he felt a light tap on his shoulder.

“Don’t be scared. He just acts tough—he won’t actually do anything to you.”

The “salaryman” Li Dan smiled reassuringly, exuding an easygoing charm.

This was the kind of smile you often saw on insurance salesmen. And Yuuki’s blank, frozen expression certainly made it seem like he was frightened.

“He… he wanted to kill me just now?”

“Relax. Killing a teammate inside a dungeon can have unpredictable consequences. Most people wouldn’t risk it.”

So, if necessary, it could still be done.

“Phew, that’s a relief, then.”

Yuuki loosened his expression, as if completely missing the subtext. He nodded earnestly.

“Thanks for earlier. How should I address you?”

“Li Dan. Just call me Brother Li.”

Li Dan extended a hand. Yuuki instinctively shook it, but his brows lifted slightly.

It was subtle, but as they let go, Li Dan’s fingers lightly brushed against his palm in a way that felt almost… deliberate.

“Ahem. Everyone, gather up. The mission’s about to start.”

Li Dan didn’t explain, simply tossing out those words before turning away, maintaining the image of a reliable older brother.

Certainly more dependable than the loudmouthed, overbearing Thomas.

Most of the other players were either confused or cautiously optimistic. No one took Thomas up on his offer, which visibly annoyed him. He stood aside in frustration, while the rest of the group slowly gathered around the round table.

Under the dim glow of the crystal chandelier, their faces gradually came into view.

[They’re all young. Makes sense. If the tutorial worked the same way for everyone, the weak, elderly, or disabled would’ve been scared to death by that “head-blooming” monster before even getting here.]

[And their intelligence should be at least average—any complete idiot would still be wandering outside, lost.]

Yuuki gave a nearly imperceptible nod.

As he expected, the tutorial was a filtering process. There was no clichéd “let’s kill off some fool who thinks this is a dream” nonsense—it would’ve been a waste of time.

His gaze swept over the players, pausing on Sakurajima Mai briefly before shifting to the girl beside her.

His pupils dilated slightly.

“Someone you know?” Li Dan asked casually.

“No… I just thought that JK girl is really pretty.”

Li Dan followed his gaze.

Across the round table sat a blonde girl with a single ponytail. She wore light makeup, painted nails, and a high school uniform. Her looks and figure were both top-tier.

A gyaru?

Why hadn’t someone like her sought Thomas’s “protection” earlier?

He didn’t dwell on it, simply giving a quiet warning.

“Don’t get distracted inside a dungeon. And don’t pull any stupid ‘hero saves the beauty’ stunts. This game is deadlier than you think—I’m not even confident I’ll make it out alive. If you want to chase girls, do it after we’re out. Players can exchange information afterward.”

“Thanks for the advice, Brother Li. Keeping my life is definitely more important.”

“Relax, at least for now we’re all brothers in this dungeon.”

Li Dan adjusted his glasses and stepped onto the table, preparing to address the group.

But he failed to notice the flicker in the young man’s eyes behind him.

[He’s paying a lot of attention to me… he even caught my slight microexpression?]

Yuuki had gained yet another piece of intel.

He turned back—just in time to meet the blonde girl’s gaze.

Unlike Sakurajima Mai, the gyaru smiled and gave him a playful little wave, completely oblivious to the harsh reality of their situation.

[So it’s Hayasaka Ai, huh? Well, if it’s her, then making it through the tutorial isn’t surprising at all.]

Seeing Bunny Girl Senpai was one thing, but running into another “acquaintance” didn’t necessarily mean anything. Rather, this all-capable maid was clearly no ordinary person. She hid her emotions well—if he didn’t already know her background, he might’ve really mistaken her for some airheaded gyaru.

Wait a second. I know their backgrounds and personalities.

A sudden thought struck Yuuki. After realizing that the game hadn’t disabled friendly fire, he immediately sensed the danger.

Universal Principle No. 3: Players are scarier than dungeon monsters.

Forget that band guy—even Li Dan, who played the role of a caring older brother, couldn’t be trusted. Who knew when he might stab someone in the back? At the end of the day, they were all strangers. There hadn’t even been enough time to build trust.

But Sakurajima Mai and Hayasaka Ai were new players. And in all these years, Yuuki had never once altered the trajectory of the world line. That meant their life experiences and personalities were exactly as he remembered.

I don’t yet know how strong they are, but I’m well aware of their background?

Yuuki’s lips curled into a smile. If Li Dan, sitting across from him, caught wind of this, he’d probably drop dead from sheer frustration. After all that effort preaching about “sticking together,” there was already a new player treating most of them as potential enemies.

“This game is a lot like a horror or thriller movie. Logic and common sense don’t apply. One careless move, and you’ll die. Everyone, stay on high alert.”

Li Dan spoke with grave seriousness, emphasizing over and over just how terrifying the game was. But as his words fell, there was little response—most people simply stared at him blankly.

“Tch. Waste of breath. If you ask me, let a couple of them die first, then they’ll understand.” The band guy scoffed, standing up and sweeping a glance over the new players with decent looks, as well as the fat guy decked out in luxury brands. “I’m not some bleeding heart like him. You heard my suggestion—do whatever you want..”

Li Dan opened his mouth as if to rebuke him, but before he could speak—

Click.

The clock’s second hand moved. The hands on the wall clock pointed straight to twelve.

Dong—Dong—Dong—

Deep, aged, and drawn-out chimes rang out. The tense, fearful, and bewildered gazes in the room all converged on the source, making the silent hall feel all the more eerie.

Yuuki felt his heartbeat quicken. He tried to speak but found no words coming out. Strange whispers had already filled his mind, drowning out all else.

【Game Start】

【Main Quest: Bloodmoon Frenzy – Survive until the third day】

【Hint 1: This place is under siege by bloodthirsty ghouls. They will devour your flesh and blood.】

【Hint 2: Except for the castle, no location can be occupied for more than two hours.】

【Hint 3: Time will continue to slip away, just like your life and hope.】

【Hint 4: At certain intervals, the Blood Moon will send its gifts.】

【Hint 5: Everyone has the right to bask in the moonlight.】

【Hint 6: Please—do not go alone.】

The message was longer than before. The eerie voice clenched at their nerves, and a stabbing pain shot through Yuuki’s brain like a blade. He gripped the back of a chair, his trembling gaze fixed dead ahead.

Beyond the round table stood floor-to-ceiling windows. A thick, blood-red glow seeped through the glass, dimming the crystal chandelier’s brilliance.

And outside the window, the Blood Moon hung high.