Chapter 5: Electric Drill Pierces Glass Like Iron, The Missing Man Suddenly Reappears

[You know, the Lustful Defiled Gods are unbelievably powerful—once possessed, you’re doomed to corruption.]

[But don’t worry, Master. They’re not invincible. Fight with all you’ve got, defeat them, or lower the corruption risk, and there’s still hope.]

[To aid you, you’ve been set as Shizuku Sakurai’s classmate.]

[Congratulations, Master, for lowering Shizuku Sakurai’s corruption risk to 72%. You’ve earned one lottery draw and gained a revive.]

[For every 15% reduction in corruption risk, you’ll earn another lottery draw.]

[Fail, and you’ll be turned into a frail loli, played with by dozens of burly men daily!]

“Wah—!”

“F*ck, that’s terrifying!”

Vision snapped back, along with his senses, the pressure on his left leg, and a nearby buzzing sound.

?

It’s not summer, so why the buzzing?

And this smell…

Su Buyu sniffed, catching the distinct scent of disinfectant.

Was he… in a hospital?

He tried to scan his surroundings when a soft, dreamy voice reached his ears.

“Mm… don’t make me go back… it’s so fun…”

Still lost in sleep, mumbling dreamily, her lips curved as if in a pleasant dream, Shizuku Sakurai giggled softly.

Her long, delicate eyelashes cast faint shadows on her lids in the sunset’s glow, fluttering like calm butterflies with each breath.

Shizuku Sakurai lay quietly on Su Buyu’s leg, her cheeks faintly flushed, as if the sunset paused for her.

Her chest rose and fell steadily, but soon grew uneven.

Her trembling lashes stirred.

She woke.

“Mm—oh! Gotta say, hospital beds are comfy! Hey, you’re awake! How’s your hand? Still hurt?”

Her words jogged Su Buyu’s memory of what happened.

His palm pierced, a sharp arrow through its center, blood and pain flooding back.

…Strange.

Even in the original plot, this street only had Hideo Saiki, someone tied to the followers.

So why… was there another attacker?

And using an arrow, such an unconventional method?

Which early-game follower used that kind of attack?

Su Buyu racked his brain, running through every follower from the early chapters, but came up empty.

Tricky.

He frowned, exhaling sharply.

“Phew—”

“You look awful. Is the wound still hurting? I’ll get a nurse!”

Seeing his darkened expression, Shizuku Sakurai jumped up to leave.

Su Buyu grabbed her in time, saying it wasn’t needed.

What he cared about more was…

“Did they catch the one who attacked me?”

If they caught them, he might recall their identity from the plot.

But Shizuku Sakurai only shook her head regretfully, spreading her hands.

“Nope, they were fast—inhumanly fast. Even the cop’s pistol missed, and…”

“And?”

“It felt… glitchy. Crazy fast, but so unnatural.”

Glitchy, yet unimpeded?

Weird. Could it be some special ability?

“Did you see what they looked like?”

Su Buyu pondered, rubbing his chin, looking at Shizuku Sakurai.

“If not, describe their appearance.”

At his words, Shizuku Sakurai settled back into the chair, recalling details.

“Short, I guess. Couldn’t see their face, all wrapped in a black cloak—darker than that cop.”

She thought of the cop blending into the alley’s shadows, barely holding back a laugh.

“Like natural camouflage.”

“Don’t roast him. Racial talent, perfect for a Sengoku-era samurai.” (TN: likely a dig on the new Assassin’s Creed character)

“No clue what you’re on about, but it feels like laughing would be bad.”

“Right, what about those thugs?”

As Su Buyu asked, Shizuku Sakurai blew a gum bubble, leaning lazily in the chair, mumbling.

“They’re in lockup, but won’t stay long. Good behavior, out in a few days.”

“I’m not worried about revenge, but if you’re alone one day… wait, no, how’d you move so fast back there?”

She closed her eyes, picturing the moment: in the dim alley, amid chaotic shadows and noise, his figure darted through the crowd like a fleeting wind, striking Hideo Saiki with precision.

Such swift, efficient movement—hardly something a normal person could do.

She eyed Su Buyu, head tilted against the chair, her gaze sharpening like a cat’s.

“Su Buyu, who are you?”

“I’m a ninja, believe it?”

“Nah, but…”

“But?”

“If you say it, I believe you.”

She leaned close, her pink gum balloon swelling, filling his view with pink until—pop!

The bubble burst, and a fist appeared before his eyes.

The fist opened, revealing a piece of candy in her palm.

“Ta-da, a thank-you gift.”

Ignoring his protests, she popped the sweet into his mouth, her grin mirroring his as if sharing the joy.

Su Buyu leaned against the hospital bed, savoring the comforting taste.

He suddenly felt this girl’s expressions were richer than in the game.

As long as she wasn’t corrupted.

For now, Hideo Saiki wouldn’t strike soon, giving him time to dig into the Lustful Defiled Gods’ followers.

But this injury…

Su Buyu glanced at his bandaged left hand.

He tried clenching a fist, feeling only a faint pain.

Shizuku Sakurai waved it off.

“Chill, the doc said the arrow missed anything vital. Rest a few days, and you can lose the bandages.”

“What? That fast?”

“Yup, wounds heal in about two weeks. Don’t worry, ask the doc if you want.”

She pointed behind her at the bed curtain.

Her gesture made Su Buyu realize…

The buzzing he heard waking up came from behind that curtain.

As it grew louder, a strange woman’s shout echoed.

“Ohhh~ This power’s intense… hitting my weak spot, like a racecar speeding to the finish!!!”

Her bold, wild voice mixed with the drill’s screech, erupting into a roar of pain and release from the next bed.

The curtain’s color inexplicably darkened.

Uh…

What?

…This is a hospital, right?

Su Buyu froze, blinking in disbelief at the sounds a hospital shouldn’t have.

But remembering this was the game world, he let it go.

Game world, huh. No surprise.

In this setting, even if a nurse burst out with a drill, he’d shrug it off.

But before he could calm down, the curtain whipped open, a slowing transparent glass rod glinting under the lights, thrusting into his view.

A woman in a white doctor’s coat casually powered down her drill, then fixed her gaze on him.

“Oh? Awake? Guess I was too loud, huh?”

Su Buyu said nothing.

He just stared at the woman, her drill, and the custom attachment on its tip, mouth agape.

“Uh? …You… I… ugh…”

Stunned by the sight, Su Buyu frowned, lips downturned, teeth clenched, words stuck in his throat.

Don’t ask—he didn’t get it.

Why was a nurse holding a drill?

Sure, this world’s people were tougher, but a drill? That’s too much!

No screws needed there—why drill it in?

Was this doctor a Cybertronian?

No… unbelievable.

Su Buyu’s focus shifted from the drill itself.

He accepted it.

If worldview shapes understanding, this world was a Lovecraftian nightmare to him.

He was a mere ant before its giant, forced to let it shatter his already fragile perception.

But the shocks didn’t stop there.

Shizuku Sakurai, sitting nearby, dropped an even bigger bombshell.

“Doc, you done relieving stress? Can you check my friend’s wound now?”

Wait? She’s the doctor? The one who stitched him up?

“No… hold on… my head’s spinning.”

“What’s that nonsense? You didn’t hit your head, and it’s not spinning like my drill.”

The doctor grabbed a tissue, wiping off water stains, then checked Su Buyu’s hand.

“Bend.”

He bent his fingers.

“Straighten.”

He straightened them.

“Good, you’ll be fine to remove the bandages in a few days. Won’t mess up your takeoff.”

“Takeoff?”

“Y’know, this~”

She made a fist, miming a back-and-forth motion at her hip.

“…Is that a joke?”

“Hm? You don’t think so?”

She gave a calm smile, pulled the curtain, and the drill’s buzz resumed.

…Haha.

He laughed.

People laugh in utter speechlessness.

Scratching his tousled hair, forcing a grin, he turned to Shizuku Sakurai, playing on her phone.

“…Thanks for looking out. Maybe I should head home.”

“Oh? Leaving already? Got someone waiting at home, huh? Fine, go then.”

Shizuku Sakurai pocketed her phone, smiling as she helped Su Buyu put on his clothes.

“Wanting to go home’s normal—family’s there, and hospital disinfectant stinks. I don’t come here much when I’m hurt either. Let’s go!”

Her steps were light as she walked to the door, waving for him to follow.

Su Buyu dressed slowly, watching the girl, hearing the drill and shouts, sighing inwardly.

Maybe this is why the Lustful Defiled Gods “love” this world so much.

He gave a bitter smile, packed up, and headed to the door.

But as he tried to greet Shizuku Sakurai, he noticed a trace of displeasure on her face.

That displeasure came from the person before her.

Su Buyu stepped out.

Seeing the figure fully, his eyes widened, stunned, unable to react.

No… what?

Was he remembering wrong?

Did changing fate make this person appear here?

Someone who shouldn’t exist here meant some fixed fate had shifted.

Su Buyu steadied his emotions, offering his uninjured hand under the man’s gaze.

“Hi, I’m Su Buyu, Shizuku Sakurai’s classmate.”

“Hey, kid. I’m Shizuku Sakurai’s father. Sorry for the trouble—you got hurt.”

But Su Buyu remembered.

At this point in the plot, Shizuku Sakurai’s father…

Was missing.