Kaguya-sama Wants My Surrender!

Walking through the gate, the group entered the amusement park. 

Everyone immediately became more vigilant. 

"Everyone, stay alert." 

"Watch your surroundings—front, back, left, and right." 

"Report anything unusual right away." 

"Understood!?" 

"YES!"

A sense of seriousness spread among the more than twenty players. 

Following the organization and instructions of Chika, the group divided into temporary teams of six. Each team maintained a short distance from the others to ensure order. 

Though the effectiveness of this arrangement was uncertain, it provided a sense of psychological comfort. 

Even the dark and foreboding environment seemed less oppressive due to the group's large numbers. 

"Kobayashi-san, can you tell us where you and your friend were attacked?" Amamiya asked as he turned to her. 

"Um…" 

The girl widened her eyes in surprise at the question. Rising slightly on her tiptoes, she scanned her surroundings before bowing nervously and apologizing. 

"I'm so sorry. I can't recognize it." She admitted, flustered. "When I go out, I usually rely on my phone for navigation. Without it, I can't tell east from west or north from south…" 

The girl gave a deep, 90-degree bow. "I have no sense of direction—I'm terribly sorry!" 

Amamiya quickly reassured her. 

"It's not your fault." 

"Huh?" 

The girl raised her head in surprise. 

"You've never entered through the main gate before," Amamiya explained. "It's perfectly normal not to recognize your surroundings. I wouldn't either in your situation." 

Kaguya crossed her arms and added, 

"Kobayashi-san, didn't you mention that you and your friend came in through a collapsed wall?" 

"Yes, that's correct." 

"Then let's follow the wall," Kaguya suggested. "We should eventually find the spot where the wall collapsed. Once we do, will you be able to guide us from there?" 

"Yes, absolutely!" Kobayashi's eyes lit up with determination as she nodded excitedly. "If I can find the gap in the wall, I'll remember the rest of the path!" 

Amamiya gave a small nod. 

"Let's move, then." 

"Understood!" 

Kobayashi bowed deeply once more, her respect evident. 

--- 

The group set off, tracing the length of the wall. The desolate amusement park was eerily quiet; no players or staff could be seen along the way. The silence, combined with the absence of life, gave the park a grim and haunting atmosphere. 

A few minutes later, they came across a partially collapsed wall. 

The damage appeared to be the result of long-term neglect, and the gap left in its wake was wide enough for people to pass through. Scattered bricks and stones surrounded the area, clearly visible under the light of their flashlights. 

"This is it!" 

Kobayashi's eyes brightened as she hurried forward. "This is where Ryoko and I came in… Look, you can still see the footprints!" 

Amamiya followed her gesture, spotting faint footprints in the dust near the collapsed wall. 

"From here, there's a small square just ahead," Kobayashi explained, biting her lip. "That's where Ryoko and I were attacked." 

The ghost that attacked the two people turned out to be the amusement park's mascot. According to Kobayashi's description, it resembled a bear-like creature, similar to Kumamon. However, its eerie and unsettling appearance made it deeply disturbing to look at. 

Initially, they thought it was just an inanimate object. But as they got closer, the mascot suddenly sprang to life and attacked them. 

The girl who was with Kobayashi had been standing too close to the mascot and was caught off guard. Kobayashi tried to save her, but a new monster appeared and began chasing her instead. 

In the face of such danger, she had no choice but to flee in panic. Lost and helpless, unsure of what to do next, she suddenly spotted an advertisement flyer posted nearby. 

Unlike the flyer seen earlier that morning, this one was far more detailed. 

First, it included a rough map of the ghost town, marking key locations like residential areas, convenience stores, hotels, commercial streets, schools, and churches. 

Next, it outlined certain operational rules for navigating the ghost town, such as paying for purchases at convenience stores to avoid "dangerous consequences." 

Lastly, it promoted the "companion play" services offered by the anti-gang and anti-evil task force. 

When Kobayashi first saw the flyer, her initial reaction was disbelief. 

"Is this a joke?" She thought. 

When did NPCs start advertising within a game dungeon? 

But after some reflection, she became skeptical. The coded information on the flyer seemed to be something only players would understand. 

Deciding to investigate further, Kobayashi followed the flyer's directions. They eventually led her to a restaurant, where she stumbled upon Kaguya and her group nearby. 

At that moment, overwhelmed with relief and joy, she burst into tears. 

When her partner had been captured and she was left wandering, clueless and terrified, seeing a large group of players felt like a miracle. 

For the first time, she had a clear thought: 

"I found an ally!" 

--- 

Under Kobayashi's guidance, the group soon arrived at a small square. 

Amamiya scanned the area, concluding that it was likely a gathering spot used for celebrations. Abandoned sales carts and entertainment stalls dotted the square, but they had long since fallen into disrepair. 

"No… it's gone." 

Kobayashi nervously ran to one of the stalls, only to discover that both her friend Ryoko and the monster-mascot had vanished. Her face fell visibly, her disappointment palpable. 

"Kobayashi-san, don't lose hope!" Chika grasped her hand and spoke with determination. "Not seeing her here means there's still a chance. Ryoko must be somewhere, waiting for you to save her!" 

After offering encouragement, Chika turned to Amamiya. 

"Amamiya-kun, what should we do now?" 

"We have two options," Amamiya replied after a brief pause. "Since this is part of the amusement park's ghost story, your friend must still be somewhere inside the park. The first option is to find the park staff, have a friendly chat, and ask for their help." 

Sajuna, who had been quietly observing, murmured: 

"I haven't seen any staff members so far." 

"Then we'll have to go with the second option," Amamiya said, his voice steady. "We'll conduct a thorough search of the entire amusement park." 

The ghost town wasn't particularly large, and the amusement park within it was even smaller. 

Moreover, with no other visitors around, their group of over 20 players could cover ground quickly. While the approach might seem crude, it was undeniably effective. 

"Alright, let's start searching," Umi said, rubbing her hands together, eager to get moving. 

"We should split into teams," Amamiya suggested. "Given that everyone has combat capabilities now, there's no need to worry too much about safety." 

On the way to the square, Amamiya had utilized his unique "copy-paste" skill to grant everyone a temporary ability: "Sweeping Away Gangsters and Eradicating Evil." 

There was no point in hiding his skills—strength meant safety. 

After all, human nature leans toward cooperation when encountering a strong ally. When someone finds a "thick thigh to cling to," the instinct is to hold on tight, not to let go. 

In essence, every player in the group was now part of the anti-gang and anti-evil task force. 

"Maintain the formation and move in teams of six," Chika instructed with her characteristic organizational efficiency. 

"We'll divide the park into four zones: east, west, north, and south. Each team will search one area." 

"If anyone finds something, call for backup immediately." 

She clenched her fist enthusiastically. 

"The anti-gang operation starts now!"