Chapter 39

Chapter 39

"Mr. Lan En!" Mary's voice, barely containing her excitement, instantly brought back the sanity of both Lan En and the Druid.

Lan En: ...?

Where is this???

Lan En was just normally in his psychotherapy room, feeling a bit sleepy so he closed his eyes for a moment, and then when he opened them, the world had changed!

Lan En tried to move his hands and feet, only to find they were practically immobile, completely restrained. The only parts he could move were his mouth and eyes.

Through the small window on the iron door, he saw two people standing outside, both of whom looked familiar.

Aren't those the red-haired nurse matron and the Druid???

But wasn't she dead? What’s going on? Is he dreaming? Or was everything before a dream? Had he never left the hospital? Lan En was completely confused.

"Mr. Lan En, I've missed you~"

The Druid couldn't help but shiver, feeling goosebumps all over. Lan En felt the same, especially when he remembered the nurse matron's true form with eight legs.

"You're finally back, you don’t know how much we..."

The red-haired nurse matron was about to express her longing and affection for Lan En, when suddenly a coughing sound came from behind.

Turning around, they saw a doctor who resembled Frankenstein's monster standing behind them, who darkly said, "Nurse Matron Mary, aren’t you in charge of the external area? What are you doing here? Have you left your post without permission!?"

Towards the end, the stitches on the doctor's face seemed to come alive, twisting grotesquely, as if he was about to take action the next moment.

"No! I brought him here," Mary immediately grabbed the bewildered Druid, "He's a new orderly, and I saw you were short-staffed here, so I brought him over!"

Emmm, the Druid suddenly realized, so he's just being used as a tool?

Quickly, another question popped into his mind: they seemed to take their work regulations very seriously, even monsters couldn’t easily leave their assigned posts. What exactly was going on here?

"That's still not acceptable, you..."

"Alright, Dr. Dawson, since Miss Mary has a reason, let's leave it this time."

Another gentle voice came from behind Dawson, and only then did the Druid notice another person, completely obscured by Dr. Frankenstein's towering figure.

As this person came into view, a hint of surprise flickered in the Druid's eyes, for this was the first normal human he had seen in this instance.

No, he didn't seem entirely normal either. His skin and facial features suggested middle age, but he had the white hair of an elderly man, a face marred by illness, and a refined, gentle appearance, like a professor or scholar. The only anomaly was his missing arm, with an empty sleeve that seemed out of place in this horrific instance.

If this isn't a special NPC or instance boss, I'll eat my hat!

The Druid instinctively threw a scouting check.

[Scouting: Successful]

[You notice that the man in front of you has a nameplate pinned to his chest, reading "Soren Hog, Director of Arkham Hospital."]

He's the director??

The man seemed to sense something and looked at the Druid with a knowing smile.

Hearing the director's words, the doctor's fierce expression finally softened, albeit reluctantly: "Alright then, since the director says so, we'll let it go this time. You should go back, Miss Mary."

The red-haired nurse matron left reluctantly. Sensing a crucial plot development, the Druid shamelessly stayed put and started recording.

Director: "How is the patient inside doing?"

The doctor dutifully responded: "Currently, we are still observing the symptoms and will administer treatment accordingly."

"Good, you may leave now. I want to have a longer conversation with the patient."

However, the doctor hesitated, revealing a look of uncertainty: "But, this goes against the hospital's rules."

The director's face darkened, his tone intensifying, "I am the director."

The doctor's expression tensed, his eyes filled with the dissatisfaction and helplessness of an employee toward their boss, he slowly said, "Alright then."

He temporarily left, dragging away the Druid who had attempted to stay and watch. The Druid didn't want to miss the scene, repeatedly looking back.

Lan En, separated by an iron door, locked eyes with the director. Noticing the Druid's departure, he playfully winked at him in a relaxed and mischievous manner.

The Druid felt struck, a flush of warmth spreading across his face, reluctantly leaving the floor under the doctor's urging.

……

The Druid should receive his hint, right?

Lan En thought, feeling somewhat uneasy.

When he noticed the nameplate on the director's chest, he remembered who this person was, likely the boss of the foreigners.

...Wouldn't this directly prompt the players to form a team?

Lan En had already thought it through, although he didn't know why the big boss would appear here instead of the final battleground he remembered. But as long as players continuously blocked the instance, wasn't there hope of defeating the boss?

He could only hope that the Druid received his hint and would quickly go to the forums to gather people.

"I believe this is our first meeting," Soren quietly observed Lan En, confined in the ward, and said, "I am Soren Hog, and also the leader of the foreigners' organization."

Speaking, he suddenly paused, chuckling softly, "No, for us, this should be the second meeting."

Lan En, not understanding, simply frowned without responding.

Soren didn't seem to care about Lan En's reaction, continuing to speak to himself, "I should hate you. The plan I prepared for so long, the only chance in a thousand years, failed because of you."

"Do you think I should hate you?"

Lan En remained silent, staring impassively at him. He still had no idea why Soren was targeting him specifically, as in his memory, there was never a character named Lan En in the previous life's storyline.

"Yet, strangely, upon actually meeting you, I don't feel the hatred I expected in my chest. Instead, there's an unfamiliar emotion," Soren looked deeply at Lan En, "What exactly are you?"

"A malevolent god would never feel this kinship. Looking at you feels like seeing a long-awaited homeland..."

Saying this, he suddenly spoke with self-mockery, "Never mind, it doesn't matter anymore. Soon, my plan will succeed."

"My plan, once used by you as a stepping stone for your ascension, will now see you as my stepping stone to achieve my goals. Fair, isn't it?"

Having said this, without waiting for Lan En's reaction – or perhaps knowing he wouldn't get one.

"So, just wait here for the final moment to arrive."

With that, Soren turned and left, Lan En watching his figure disappear around the corner, the surroundings becoming quiet once more.

Lan En immediately closed his eyes, trying to enter the Dream Gap, but shockingly found that he could no longer access it.

Lan En: "..." Wait, doesn't that mean he's become weak again?

And without access to the Dream Gap, he couldn't contact Edmund.

He barely moved his head, not surprised to find that the Soul-eating Butterfly wasn't here either.

Oh no.

Was it because of the chains on him?

Lan En struggled, confirming he was immobilized, and, unable to hold back, thankfully the player forum could be accessed by thought alone. He hurriedly opened the player forum, hoping the Druid would receive his signal and figure out a way to bring players here to fight the boss.

Meanwhile, the player forum was abuzz with activity.

"Hospital Instance Live"

Druid: Friends, as expected, I finally got in!

Druid: No more talking, first take a look at this picture.jpg...

Comment 2L: !!Front row!!

Comment 3L: Wow, this instance, these monsters! They look dangerously off the charts. Is this really an instance we can explore at our current level? (scared)

Comment 4L: I always felt this game wasn't intense enough, okay, I was wrong, it’s intense, even too advanced for humans orz.

Comment 5L: @Druid, how the hell did you get into the instance? I'm begging you to spill the beans, don't make me beg on my knees.

Druid: I don't know either. (confused)

Druid: Seriously, I just went to the nurses' station to investigate clues, came out and was caught by the blonde nurse. Next thing I know, she’s walking towards me, transforming into the Meat Mountain Butcher as she moved (gesturing).

Druid: That effect... was terrifying. I thought she was going to eat me alive.

Black Cat: Sorrowful.jpg. Why is it that when we do tasks together, you get in and I can't?

Comment 5L: Is there a possibility that Druid got in because of Lan En? Maybe it was Lan En's key, or something Lan En did that allowed Druid to enter.

Comment 6L: Very likely.

Players on the forum discussed the events and sights encountered by the Druid, maintaining a friendly tone. They had an in-depth discussion about the clues related to the blonde nurse found by Druid, and the instance, speculating on Druid's method of entry.

Until Druid uploaded the photo of Lan En in the ward on the third floor of the psychiatric area.

Lan En's good looks were often a topic of interest, with players sneakily capturing his images and sharing them on the forum for collective admiration. But honestly, as good as he looked in a white coat or casual clothes, without experiencing Lan En's charm in-game, players quickly got tired of just pictures.

But this restraint suit!

Under the dim, bleak lighting of the ward, Lan En’s skin appeared almost translucent. He was bound by the restraint suit at a 45-degree angle on the hospital bed, his eyes half-closed, long curled eyelashes fluttering as if ready to take flight, exuding a tantalizingly provocative allure.

The next moment, he opened his eyes; his beautiful green irises rimmed with gold, imbued with a hint of divine, melancholic detachment compared to usual. The extra golden chains wrapped around his restraint suit made him seem like a sealed deity or a forbidden monster.

Comment 17L: ! Lan En... that restraint suit is way too sexy! I'm totally swooning.

Comment 18L: Swooning hard, my wife hso, so hot.

Comment 19L: Tsk tsk, restraint play, the developers really know how to entertain.

Comment 20L: This developer is clueless. Where's the official large-scale CG? Where can I recharge? Where are the character body pillows and other merchandise?

Comment 31L: Let me in this game, let me in, ahhh why did the beta only open 500 spots why why why

Comment 22L: You’re dreaming, even those of us in this game can't enter this instance.

Comment 23L: Ahhh, the photo is so good-looking, and everyone who has played knows Lan En looks even better in the game. Especially when the inspiration is high, there's a dizzyingly mesmerizing effect, wuwuwu imagine how good he looks in person (babbling).

Comment 24L: ...The level of obsession on this forum is too high... Are there so many Lan En fans here? Doesn’t anyone care about Lan En's current situation?

Comment 25L: Looks like he's been captured. (scratching head)

Comment 26L: Huh? But Lan En never left the psychotherapy room, I've been watching it every day.

Comment 28L: Wasn't there several times in the previous storyline where Lan En was targeted by mysterious forces? They must have succeeded this time. Honestly, isn't this evil god a bit too weak? (laughs)

Comment 29L: Maybe he really is sealed, but it seems so unimpressive.

Comment 30L: Yeah, although I guess he might be sealed, an evil god constantly outwitted by mortals, tsk tsk.

Discordant voices gradually emerged in the forum thread.

It was inevitable, not everyone could log into the game. Just looking at photos, not everyone was captivated by Lan En's appearance. These cloud players waiting for new beta spots, watching Lan En's fans hop around on the forum, would naturally feel a backlash.

Plus, players are fickle and admire strength. Lan En had never been at a disadvantage before, but as soon as something seemed off, unusual voices in the forum quickly rose.

After all, an evil god should be lofty and view humans as insignificant.

At that moment, Druid reappeared, startled by the strange direction of the forum discussion.

Druid: Huh, I was only distracted for a moment and this thread has turned quite bleak.

Black Cat: There you are, Druid. What's the latest update?

As a casual fan of Lan En, Black Cat was anxious about the forum's mood swings. After all, his previous posts thrived on analyzing the popular Lan En, and he had a considerable fondness for this attractive and mysterious NPC.

Druid: It's quite complex. I'll send you the photo, and you start a new thread.

After their conversation, the two quickly left before the detractors emerged.

Lan En accessed the forum and saw the new thread opened by Black Cat.

He was unaware of what had transpired in the previous thread, holding onto the hope that Druid would mobilize others to come, as players often swarm to rare instances.

However, upon entering this thread, he found its direction quite unexpected.

"Hospital Instance Analysis"

Black Cat: Dear Lan En fans, I know you're anxious, but let's not rush.

Black Cat: I, humble as ever, am here to organize the rules of this instance again.

Black Cat: First, let's analyze the hospital instance rules. As per my previous guess, there seem to be two different worlds within this instance. I initially thought their boundaries were day and night, but Druid entered the hospital's rear in the afternoon, suggesting there might be special rules we're unaware of.

Continuing, based on the diary found at the nurse's station by Druid, the blonde nurse, who is also the human form of the Meat Mountain Butcher, is not overweight during the day, even lean, and suffers from anorexia, with a preference for dieting.

But at night, it's the exact opposite, as I'm sure everyone has seen screenshots of the Meat Mountain Butcher.

Druid: [Image.jpg]

Comment 5L: Thanks, though you didn’t have to actually take one (awkwardly).

Comment 6L: Ahhh, too close, too close! Good thing I finished eating.

Black Cat: Plus, based on the content revealed in the diary, Nurse Matron Mary, the one who turns into a spider in the hospital video, seems to fear spiders in reality. Doesn’t that make you think?

Comment 7L: Are they all things they're afraid of?

Black Cat: Exactly. At night in this hospital instance, people might turn into the very things they fear. The blonde nurse fears obesity, Nurse Matron Mary fears spiders. Look at this video taken by Druid, don’t all the monsters they encounter along the way seem significant?

Black Cat: A monster with organs hanging from an IV stand, another muttering to itself while clutching a heart, one chasing its own legs, and a faceless child.

Considering their identities as patients, it all fits this characteristic.

Lan En realized with a sigh.

He had recalled several clues about the major event of Arkham's fall using a memory potion, which included details about this instance.

The hospital instance was a prelude to the fall of Arkham, as well as the beginning. It seems to be a testing ground for the foreigners' organization, with special rules formed through their interference.

Lan En knew more than what they had deduced. When he first saw the rules of this instance, he might not have thought much of it, but now... aren't these rules somewhat similar to the first layer of the Dream Gap?

Considering the foreigners' organization's goals and the unique nature of the Dream Gap, it's conceivable that this place is at the heart of their conspiracy. They aim to open the gates to the world of dreams, and this location is the prelude to their ultimate scheme.

Black Cat: Looking further, I was initially puzzled why Nurse Mary would save the Druid... Considering the doctor's reprimand towards Nurse Mary later, we can speculate that in this nocturnal hospital, the anomalies are also bound by rules. They might be following the day's medical system, like Nurse Mary, who could only enter the third floor of the psychiatric ward by assuming the identity of a 'caregiver' for Druid to meet Lan.

Black Cat: The doctor's scolding of Nurse Mary clearly suggests she's not usually allowed there.

Black Cat: Moving on, did anyone notice the doctor's reluctance to let the director stay? It's just a guess, but it seems the director isn't very popular. It appears more like he was accepted only because of his 'director' status.

Black Cat: So, we can infer that the 'director's' role is crucial in this nocturnal hospital scenario. The seal on Lan and his suppressed state could likely be due to the 'director's' power or authority in the hospital.

10l: Makes sense. So, in simple terms, it's still the 'director's turf' here?

11l: The director brings Lan into his turf... heh, a form of imprisonment play?

12l: Stay on topic, guys. Clearly, this director is part of the force targeting Lan, maybe even the leader.

Tears in Lan's Eyes: Finally, someone's back on track. The boss of the instance is right here. Aren't the players going to join in??

13l: The director... not bad-looking, strong and cautious. Love it. As someone who admires strength, I'm ready to switch sides.

14l: So Lan is still sealed, huh? Well, off I go.

Black Cat: Hold on, I'm getting to the main point. Have you seen this short video?

Black Cat: [Video.jpg]

The video released by Black Cat was the complete footage of his following Nurse Mary to the third floor of the psychiatric hospital, encountering the doctor, the director, and Lan, ending with Lan winking at him.

Black Cat: Does this look like the expression of someone who's sealed and cornered?

Lan, seeing this, had an ominous feeling.

Wait, wait a minute, that wink was a signal for the Druid to rally support on the forum, they wouldn't interpret it as—

Black Cat: Clearly, this is all part of Lan's plan! He got himself captured by the director on purpose!

Lan: ...

Black Cat: Think about it, so many of us couldn't find the entrance to the hospital instance, but it was Druid who got trapped. Why him, the first one to take on Lan's task? Remember who Lan gave the key to? Remember how Lan favored him before?

Black Cat: The truth is apparent, Druid has now been chosen as the pawn of the evil deity!

Druid: Hiss—That makes sense.

Black Cat: Lan was captured on purpose. There's something fishy about this hospital instance. Think about it, this was once Lan's 'sealing place'. His re-entry must be premeditated!

Lan: ???

20l: Master, I've had an epiphany!

User 21l: So that's how it is.

User 22l: That makes sense. I wondered why Lann didn't resist at all when he was captured this time. Maybe he was laying the groundwork in the previous encounters, appearing seemingly weak but troublesome, forcing them to bring him into this hospital.

User 23l: Hilarious, you could just say Lann was pretending to be scared.

User 24l: Now he's finally starting his counterattack! I suspect Lann's goal is to break a seal!

User 25l: Makes sense! Upvoted!

User 26l: This theory seems a bit far-fetched, but I'll stick around for updates.

User 27l: Same here, Black Cat's predictions were all correct, so let's continue to watch.

Lann: ...

Wait a minute.

Is there a possibility that he was genuinely captured and brought here?

qwq Why does everyone assume it's his plan? Isn't the Fourth Calamity excited to see the boss? Someone save me, please!

Lann was dumbfounded.

Meanwhile, as various conspiracy theories and guesses were being posted on the forum, Druid was taken by a doctor to a ward to care for patients. Unable to post, he let Black Cat post on his behalf, only occasionally glancing at the forum in between patient care.

Upon seeing Black Cat's analysis, Druid had a moment of realization.

So that's it, his entry into the instance was no accident.

He had been drawn into Lann's plot and might have become a pawn in the scheme.

Druid thought to himself, thankfully, he had the forum.

Black Cat: Druid, start a live stream. I know you don't want to be a broadcaster, but you're the only one among us who can enter this high-difficulty instance (pitiful face). Text, pictures, and videos can't compare to a live stream.

Druid: But I've never done a live stream.

Black Cat: No worries, just play as you usually do. Plus, we can help you analyze the instance. This one clearly has special mechanics that require thinking. You're the only player who can enter, and we'll all support you.

Druid felt there was some truth to this. Although a bit embarrassed, he still started an in-game live stream.

The live stream quickly filled with countless players. Druid's previous posts had effectively attracted attention, and now most players were focused on this special hospital instance, believing it was key to the main quest.

It was Druid's first time doing this, and he was uncertain whether to start with an introduction when suddenly, he heard a loud shout from behind:

"Hey! New guy, get to work!"

"Oh, I know!" Druid thought it was the doctor again and hurriedly grabbed a cloth to wipe the railing.

But after waiting in vain for the doctor's reprimand, he turned around and saw an old man in a wheelchair behind him, missing top and bottom front teeth, 'heh heh' giggling through his gapped teeth like a mischievous old rascal.

Druid, with a helpless expression, asked, "Who are you?"

He saw the name tag on the old man's chest: "Luke? Did you take your medicine today?"

"Heh heh, what medicine? Tee hee, I'm not sick."

"Oh? Really? Luke, is the world about to end?" another patient loudly asked.

Old Luke's face immediately became serious: "Yes! Yes, the prophecy is true. The world is about to end! The evil gods are invading!"

Druid, hearing about the invasion of evil gods, instinctively tensed up: "What did you say? Evil gods invading?"

"Yes, yes, foreign evil gods, foreign evil gods are going to destroy the Earth. They've always wanted to do this. They are seeking followers, establishing summoning anchors, all to one day break through the barriers and descend upon Earth. Then, the sky will be enveloped in eternal night, the seas rise, fishmen come ashore, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, humanity will face annihilation, and the world will welcome its new master."

Old Luke gazed at Druid with his cloudy eyes, his voice dry as if dried branches scraping the ground: "Next year, at this time, the day of the covenant arrives, the stars return to their correct paths, and this world will no longer be suitable for human life. Humans must find a new place to live."

Druid felt he might have heard something significant and couldn't help but inquire further: "Are you... Are you serious?"

"Of course—"

"New guy, don't listen to that old coot's nonsense," the 'Director' in the next bed rolled his eyes. "This old man has been here for nearly ten years. Guess why he's still here and can't leave?"

"Um, why?"

"Because he claims every year that the world will end next year!" the 'Director' said exasperatedly. "And he says it to every new person!"

"Shut up, fake Director!" Old Luke, not to be outdone, snorted coldly.

"I'm not a fake Director!" the 'Director' jumped up angrily. "I'm the real deal. The one outside is the fake. I am the true Director of Arkham Hospital."

"Oh? Is that so? Then, dear Director, why are you wearing patient's clothes here?"

"Because that man schemed against me! He stole my identity. I am the Director, I am!" The 'Director', stung by Old Luke's mocking expression, suddenly lunged from his bed to Old Luke's, grabbing his throat. "I am the Director of Arkham, this is my hospital!"

Old Luke's eyes rolled back as he was choked, but he fought back, jamming two fingers into the 'Director's' nostrils. The 'Director' reeled back, blood streaming from his nose.

The two grappled on the bed, while the other patients in the room turned to watch the commotion, clapping and even shouting, creating a chaotic scene.

Druid watched, dumbfounded.

[Wow, so this is Arkham Asylum, as terrifying as it gets.]

[I thought that old guy Luke had something going for him, but now I'm not so sure. Let's wait and see.]

[Amazing, this is my first time watching a live stream from a psychiatric hospital hhhh]

[Wait a minute, weren't the people here supposed to be monsters and eerie beings? Why do they seem normal now?]

[Yeah, Druid, you're not committing post fraud, are you?]

The druid couldn't help but retort, "Of course not. I'm not sure why they look like normal humans either. I was shocked when I first arrived. As for whether I'm a fraud, you'll soon find out."

As soon as he finished speaking, a hurried flurry of footsteps came from outside the ward. The door was flung open, and the chief doctor burst in, fuming: "Quiet! Separate them at once!"

He pointed at the two entangled figures, followed by a pig-headed figure, others with heads transformed into guns or knives, and even a two-meter-tall cockroach orderly who immediately stepped forward to disperse the onlookers and break up the fight.

[What's with this doctor and orderly?]

[Gosh, a two-meter cockroach (faints)]

[Hiss, isn't this doctor the one who looks like Frankenstein?]

[Black Cat's deduction seems right. Doctors and nurses here turn into monsters from their subconscious fears. But it's strange, why haven't the patients changed?]

The druid also found it strange. When he was brought here by that doctor, he was astonished. Compared to the outside world's pandemonium of demons and spirits, this place seemed as normal as a real psychiatric ward.

It was like a bizarre hellish joke; normal humans here were the monsters, while the abnormal became the norm.

Especially when he saw the cockroach orderly tie the 'Director' to the bed and inject him with a sedative, as the 'Director' screamed, "Don't touch me, I'm normal!", the sense of ironic reversal intensified.

The doctor snorted coldly: "Looks like his delusion is getting worse. Still claims he's not ill. Nurse, double his medication."

The faceless nurse nodded in agreement.

"And you!" the Frankenstein-like doctor pointed at the druid spectating nearby, "Though you're new here, what a scene you're making by watching them fight! It's all because of your negligence that the patient's condition has worsened."

"Uh..." The druid wanted to defend himself, but upon seeing the centipede-like stitches wriggling on the doctor's skin, he chickened out, "Sorry, I'll be more careful next time."

"Hmph, if there is a next time, you'll face the hospital's punishment," the doctor ominously warned. After a rough check of the room, he ordered the druid to continue administering medication to the patients and left with the nurse.

With the drama over, the other patients dispersed regretfully, returning to their usual routines, including praying, daydreaming, dancing, and bothering others.

The druid, the only normal one among them: ...

Well, it seems even those who look normal here are not really normal.

[So this is a psychiatric hospital, huh? Thanks for matching my imagination of this place.]

[There must still be clues on them. The fact that only the psychiatric patients in this entire area appear as they do during the day suggests a critical detail.]

The druid thought the same. Without needing any prompts, he began to use his adept real-world conversational skills, inquiring about matters while changing the IV drips for the patients.

"Sir, how long have you been hospitalized? Have you noticed any changes in our hospital recently?"

"Aba, aba."

"Brother, how do you feel today? Can you see things clearly? Has anything strange happened lately?"

“：￥%……”

"Hey, Auntie, do you feel like there's something different about our doctors today?"

"Different, yes," an elderly auntie nodded. Just as the druid was about to rejoice at finally getting a response, and before he could ask more, the old lady in her hospital gown chuckled, "He's even handsomer than in his youth, haha!"

"Uh, besides that, is there anything else...?"

"Speaking of which, young man, are you a new orderly?" The auntie's eager gaze fixed on the druid, wandering from the handsome face he had painstakingly crafted over half an hour to his towering stature of over 70 (tall and strong, over 1.8 meters).

Feeling a chill down his spine, the druid quickly waved his hands: "Auntie, you keep getting your treatment, I have some other things to attend to, I must go now."

"Don't go, young man, I own two houses in Arkham!"

The druid fled as if escaping a disaster, leaving the comment section in stitches.

[Way to go, Dezi! Seize the opportunity with that wealthy lady!]

[A rich woman, unattainable in reality, appears in a mental hospital (pondering)]

[I'm dying of laughter haha, Dezi, you've got a real talent for live streaming. What great showmanship!]

[How can we investigators back down now? A mere trifle like chastity can be sacrificed.]

Druid wandered from ward to ward, utilizing his gift of the gab to seek clues. Unfortunately, few patients were coherent enough to communicate; most ignored his questions, some were incoherent, and others would suddenly get distracted and start doing something else in the middle of a conversation, leaving Druid feeling exasperated.

After canvassing every ward, Druid dejectedly returned to the first one.

He hadn't found any key clues, and the investigation had hit a dead end right from the start.

The commenters started offering him advice.

[Hmm... I wonder why only the psychiatric patients in this hospital seem normal, while the others feel like monsters in human skin. But these 'normal' ones are the ones who can't communicate. That's the situation so far.]

[If the problem isn’t with the patients, maybe it's the hospital? Perhaps there's something special in the psychiatric ward, like a particular object or a magical array, or maybe it's the suspiciously locked doors. Druid, why not try looking around?]

"Now that you mention it, I remember passing a locked area in the hospital's courtyard," Druid hesitated, "Should I go check it out?"

[Better not. Didn't that doctor warn you to stay on this floor and not to wander? What if you get caught? You're the only one who can enter this scenario right now, and the information is too crucial for future players... cough, I mean, for you.]

Druid's face fell upon reading this comment, a look of exasperation spreading across his face. So their suggestions were just to scavenge for clues in this scenario.

[The current situation calls for finding Lann. Undoubtedly, this whole series of events is related to him. Since Druid is the only one here, it's evident that there are things he needs to accomplish.]

[That's right, you're a pawn, with the foreigner's leader and Lann as the chess players,] read the comment, 【You can act once the chess player gives the command.】