MiSide: but there are 720 security guards

A pale human head stood in the corner, its deep-set eyes staring straight at them. Alain took a step forward, gripping his greatsword, and glanced behind him.

"Let's hold hands again in a bit."

"Mm!" Millie nodded solemnly, then, realizing something, anxiously added, "No, no, no... It's your freedom, you don't need to explain to me! Ah..." While she was speaking, Alain had already charged forward.

And when he was halfway to the corner, the human-headed spider retracted its head, and with a series of "kaka-kaka" sounds, it disappeared. After reaching the corner and looking down the straight corridor, even seeing the grandfather clock at the second corner at the very end, there was still no sign of the monster.

"Did it escape?"

No... it could also be hiding, ready to deliver a fatal blow at any moment. Thinking this, Alain surveyed the surrounding scene. The corridor of the 8th loop looked no different from the seventh. Whether it was the brightness or the decorations... The three clocks: alarm clock, wall clock, and grandfather clock, were all stopped at 12 o'clock sharp.

"Hmm?"

No, there was one place that was different. Alain saw several deep marks on the corner of the wall to his right, as if struck by a sharp object. He walked over, about to examine it closely, but Millie's voice from behind him was a step faster.

"Alain, be careful!"

As soon as the girl's words fell, the hand holding his sword uncontrollably lifted, sweeping the greatsword in a circle. And midway through the slash, Alain saw an inverted human head from the ceiling. One leg of the human-headed spider, like a sharp spear, was aimed at his neck.

Alain was certain that if this blow landed, his safety protection would definitely be gone. And faster than its attack was the greatsword.

After the blue flash, the head was severed. The spider's corpse instantly turned into a large mass of liquid garbled code, falling from the ceiling, sticking to the ground.

"Phew..." Alain let out a sigh of relief, "That was a big help!"

"It's okay... You scared me to death!" Millie was just about to put down the game controller when she saw Alain raise his sword at her and throw the greatsword like a spear.

"?" She didn't dodge, but let the greatsword gradually approach her. For some reason, facing a possible attack from Alain, she didn't feel the slightest bit of unease...

"Poof—!"

As she expected, the greatsword grazed past her hair and hit something behind the girl. Millie turned to look; it was a human-headed spider pinned to the wall. Judging by its position, it should have been behind her just now, planning a sneak attack.

"That was a close call." Alain walked over, firmly patting her shoulder. He then pulled out the greatsword, letting the spider turn into a large puddle of sticky, liquid garbled code.

"Well then, let's continue forward." Alain wasn't annoyed that Millie didn't reply, assuming she hadn't recovered from the shock of the sneak attack.

And Millie gazed at his retreating figure, her emotions surging like a tide. In a short time, she had also reached an answer. Presumably, the feeling of no inner turmoil even when subjected to an "attack" was a sense of security.

Since when had she started feeling a sense of security with Alain? Millie herself didn't know. Was it... when he saved her life twice in the game world last time? Or, the "date" in the real world that was said to be just hanging out? Or perhaps, the princess carry at the beginning of this return to the game? Him snatching back her beloved guitar for her?

"I want to hold hands." Can't figure it out, just want to hold hands. As for the guilt of betraying Misha... This was a dangerous situation, so she could hold hands openly, that was right. Misha shouldn't be angry.

The girl's steps overlapped, and soon she was behind Alain. The young man, as always, extended his hand to her, and Millie also took it, puzzled. The attacks in the 8th loop seemed to have been only that one time. With Alain leading the way in front, Misha was able to focus on contemplating her own state of mind, whether it was benign or malignant.

"..."

When the two reached the middle of the corridor, about to pass the cabinet, a sound suddenly came from outside the window. It was like several children slapping the windowsill, trying to scare them.

"Urk..."

Oh no... She really hadn't played many horror games, and hadn't seen this kind of scene much. Millie swallowed dryly, her body subtly retreating. She also gripped Alain's hand tightly.

And Alain in front was still observing the reddening snowy screen of the small television. He noticed her condition through her tightened grip. After pondering for two seconds, he walked to the window and raised his greatsword.

"Clang, clang, clang!"

A few sweeps of the blade smashed the window, and several human-headed spiders tried to escape but were annihilated by the greatsword. After doing all this, he said nothing and just returned to her side.

"Let's go."

Millie didn't reply, just looked a bit conflicted. Following their linked hands, she saw Alain's broad, sturdy shoulders. This guy... usually calls me bro, but... Every time, he treats her like his own Mita.

Clearly, he didn't need to go all out for her, and she didn't need such ordinary Mita treatment either. Wouldn't it be fine to just banter and joke around as usual?

The girl lowered her eyes, then looked at her intertwined hand with his. Isn't this like... Alain's Mita isn't Misha, but, but... her, Millie?

"No, no... He's Misha's player, not mine." Besides, she had already made up her mind: to be good bros with Alain. For good bros to have such transgressive thoughts... no, no. Misha and Alain are a couple, and she would be their mutual friend... that's the correct way to a "happy end."

At this time, the two had already arrived at the exit. With a "click," the door to the 9th loop opened. This time, even the remaining lights in the corridor were gone; everything was completely dark.

"Millie." He wanted to ask if there was anything that could provide illumination, but received no reply.

Alain turned to look at her, flustered. Her tender pink lips moved, and even her small hand, intertwined with his, was sweaty and a bit sticky. Listening carefully, he could make out her muttering things like "player," "Mita."

"Millie."

"?!" The girl raised her head, looking at him in panic, "What's wrong? What's wrong..."

"Do you have any means of illumination?"

"Sorry, no..."

"I see." Alain turned his head back, looking at the corridor of the 8th loop, wanting to see if there was anything that could provide light.

"?!" But when his gaze fell on the grandfather clock in the corner, his pupils contracted. Then the corners of his mouth turned up. "Indeed, my guess was not wrong."

The hour and minute hands of the grandfather clock were no longer at 12 o'clock. The hour hand pointed to "1," and the minute hand to "12." In other words, 1 o'clock sharp.

And what caused this change... Alain looked at the corridor of the 9th loop. "Is it timing from this loop? Or does it mean something else?"

But perhaps because the door had been open for too long, or because they didn't want him to pay too much attention: the door leading back to the 8th loop immediately closed.

"Not letting me look anymore?" Whatever. If there was a puzzle, he would definitely figure it out.

His gaze returned, and a speck of light in the darkness of the 9th loop caught his attention. He turned his gaze to where the light came from; it was by the window, like the flashlight swaying in the kitchen of the small dark room when he first entered the game world.

That light smashed through the window, then rolled to his feet with a gurgle.

Where the beam of light illuminated, the words "Keep it up" were written.

"It seems Prankster Mita has come to help us."

Hearing Alain's words, Millie lamented her own uselessness. With danger drawing nearer, how could she keep thinking about her relationship with Alain? She should prioritize his safety.

Bro is bro! He's a good guy. Good person, good personality, strong sense of responsibility. This kind of person should be with her best friend! Their compatibility is undeniable! And herself—Millie, should be the guide for both of them! She should be Alain's good bro.

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