System: "During the main quest, there is a chance to trigger a hidden mission called [Elevator Key]."
Yu Zhizhi: "..."
'That's it? That was completely unhelpful.'
She crouched down and carefully read the labels on the medicine bottles.
She took some fever reducers, painkillers, as well as bandages and iodine.
This floor was enormous, and she couldn't find the elevators at all. She could only rely on her memory of the way she came and slowly retrace her steps.
The corridor was deep and silent. It was only then that a belated realization dawned on Yu Zhizhi—
The blood-splattered scene before her was more terrifying than any horror movie she had watched as a child.
To build up her courage, she couldn't help but hum a little song.
...
When Tang Luo Ke woke up, he found he was alone.
His eyes darkened. To make matters worse, his head was splitting.
He sat up, one hand pressed to his forehead to suppress the aggressiveness surging within him, while his other hand gripped the bedsheet tightly.
"Liar..."
She had even lied about being pregnant with his wolf cub, only to vanish without a trace the first chance she got.
The cracks on his forehead began to faintly reappear...
Just then, he heard the faint, almost imperceptible sound of humming.
The young woman's voice was melodious and ethereal, as pleasant and clear as a lark's song.
The cracks between Tang Luo Ke's brows gradually receded. He opened his eyes and stared at the door. Once his breathing stabilized, he immediately rushed out—
The moment he opened the door, he came face-to-face with the little female.
"Well, well, well. You still dared to run?"
'As expected, all living things are just irritating,' Tang Luo Ke fumed inwardly.
'If they were dead, they would be completely under my control.'
Just as he was about to erupt, he saw the little female, dressed in clothes that were clearly too big for her, timidly approaching.
Yu Zhizhi had been terrified the entire way back.
She hadn't dared to look back, afraid of what strange things might be there...
The moment the door opened, she was instantly filled with a sense of relief.
Yu Zhizhi clutched the corner of Tang Luo Ke's clothes, tilted her head up, and looked directly at the male Beastman before her. "I heard a beast roaring on the way here. It was so scary—"
"A beast? You mean Jiru?"
"Let's go inside first. It feels dangerous out here."
Yu Zhizhi grabbed his wrist and pulled him into the room.
"...Tch." Tang Luo Ke chuckled.
'Doesn't this little female know that he's the most dangerous thing here?'
Interrupted like this, Tang Luo Ke almost forgot that he was planning to "settle the score" with her.
Just as he was about to call her to account, he saw Yu Zhizhi fiddling with something. Soon, she placed a handful of medicine bottles on the table.
"Tang, I went to get some medicine. I thought it might come in handy later."
She pulled a bandage out of her sweatshirt pocket. "And this. I saw your arm was injured. This should help it heal better, right?"
Yu Zhizhi came over to him and carefully lifted his arm.
There was a hideous gash there, looking as if it had been seared by a scorching fire. It was a shocking sight.
Tang Luo Ke's body stiffened for a moment.
He watched Yu Zhizhi with an unreadable expression as she disinfected the "wound" and blew on it gently. Her rabbit ears bent slightly backward with her movements.
'She went to get medicine?'
'This foolish female...'
'The burn on my arm can't be healed with ordinary medicine.'
But he didn't stop her.
His crimson eyes were fixed on her, and only then did he realize she was wearing his clothes.
The loose black sweatshirt was far too big for her and rumpled, making her look even more innocent. Below the hem of the shirt, her slender legs were as fair as snow. She was very close, and he could still smell that familiar, faint scent of jasmine mixed with milk...
The little female had gone out specifically to find medicine for him.
She had actually taken such a minor injury to heart.
Tang Luo Ke's gloomy mood was instantly swept away.
Yu Zhizhi carefully finished bandaging his wound. Having grown up in a hospital, she had watched the nurses wrap wounds many times and had become quite adept at it herself.
She couldn't help but smile, her eyes curving into crescents.
Yu Zhizhi wanted to share her accomplishment with Tang Luo Ke, but as soon as she looked up, her gaze met his crimson eyes. Before she could get a clear look, he suddenly pulled her into his arms.
Tang Luo Ke subconsciously pressed Yu Zhizhi's head against him.
Her fluffy rabbit ears tickled his chin. He tilted his head slightly, his expression extremely unnatural.
He didn't want the little female to see the look on his face right now.
Yu Zhizhi was a bit stunned.
"What was that song you were humming earlier?" Tang Luo Ke didn't want to seem strange, so he subconsciously looked for a topic of conversation.
"A nursery rhyme from my hometown."
"Is your home far from here?"
"...Very far."
Seeing that Tang Luo Ke hadn't spoken for a long time, Yu Zhizhi tried to pull her head out of his embrace.
But he wouldn't let go.
Helpless, Yu Zhizhi could only continue to lean against his chest. "What about you? Is your home far?"
"..." Tang Luo Ke was a little surprised.
'This female... she really doesn't know who I am?'
"How long have you been locked up here?" Yu Zhizhi asked curiously.
"Two years."
'Two years... more than seven hundred days...'
'This place looks terrifying. He's actually been locked up here all alone for so long.'
Yu Zhizhi: "What about your family? Have they come looking for you?"
Tang Luo Ke's blood-red eyes darkened. "I don't have a family."
"Then what crime did you commit? Why did they lock you up?"
"You sure ask a lot of questions."
"Just tell me." Her rabbit ears twitched slightly. Yu Zhizhi realized she wasn't as afraid of Tang Luo Ke anymore.
"I ate a thousand rabbits in one night."
Tang Luo Ke lowered his voice. He slowly leaned in, his lips brushing the edge of the little female's ear.
"Rabbits have to be eaten raw, skinned alive, for the meat to be truly delicious..."
Yu Zhizhi: "..."
Sensing the female in his arms go stiff, Tang Luo Ke laughed out loud.
His deep laughter was tinged with a hint of huskiness. His hormonal scent was overwhelming as he, for once, let go and took a step back.
"BEEP—BEEP—BEEP—"
An alarm blared: "A new type of mutant is about to arrive on the B13 Floor. After hearing this broadcast, please proceed to the elevator entrance for Hunting."
Tang Luo Ke was long accustomed to this daily activity.
He glanced at the white bandage wrapped around his arm, the corner of his mouth curving slightly. "I'm heading out. The B13 Floor has a lot of hidden monsters, and they could wake up at any moment."
"Don't wander around. If you run into them, you'll be eaten until not even a scrap is left."
Yu Zhizhi quickly grabbed his wrist. "Take me with you!"
She had just heard that Tang Luo Ke was going to the elevator entrance.
'If I follow him, I can scout the route and prepare for my future escape.'
"If I stay here alone, I could be in danger too," Yu Zhizhi said, trying her best to persuade him.
The little female was right. Just because it was dangerous outside didn't mean it was safe in the room.
The only safe place on the B13 Floor was wherever he was.
The premise was—
[He wasn't Berserk.]
"Then stay close. I won't wait for you."
Tang Luo Ke agreed.
He had never been a good person. This was the first time he'd ever cared about whether his "prey" lived or died.
Yu Zhizhi nodded excitedly. Just then, the System's voice appeared in her mind—
"Beep! Host has unlocked the side mission [Elevator Key]. Time limit: 2 hours. [Exceeding the time limit] will result in mission failure!"