The massive amount of information left Shiya reeling, and it took her a while to sort through her thoughts.
By the time she did, the little girl had already vanished with a giggle, turning her head and disappearing.
Getting up and looking around, Shiya didn’t notice anything unusual in the ward.
If it were anyone else, they would have simply dismissed the little girl’s words as a prank.
But Shiya had played the game based on this world.
She keenly picked up on the “contamination” the little girl mentioned.
Doing the math, it was indeed the time when the Sludge Man appeared in the game.
As an elite monster, it could disguise itself as a human, possessed the ability to create fully enclosed spaces for killing, and caused a lot of trouble for the main characters.
Shiya just never expected the Sludge Man to coincidentally choose the very hospital she was in as its hunting ground.
Her mind raced frantically, but her feet didn’t stop moving.
Leaving the ward, she quickly arrived at the exit of this floor’s inpatient department.
Unfortunately, many things don’t go as you wish.
“Huh? Wait a moment.”
A nurse on duty at the nurse’s station narrowed her eyes, immediately locking onto Shiya who was trying to leave.
“You’re Miss Shiya, the one who attempted suicide recently, right? Her Highness Princess Elina gave strict instructions that you are not to act recklessly.”
Remembering her earlier forced entry into the medicine room and considering her still-weak physical state, Shiya estimated that the highly professional nurse would subdue her immediately.
She had no choice but to turn around and patiently explain.
“I just want to go out for some fresh air.”
This was clearly an excuse.
The nurse snorted dismissively, completely unconvinced.
She picked up the phone at the nurse’s station and beckoned for Shiya to come over obediently.
“Her Highness the Princess instructed that if you are uncooperative or show any signs of suicidal thoughts again, she authorized us to temporarily restrain you with straps. If you have anything to say, you can say it to Her Highness now.”
“What right do you have to restrict my freedom?” Shiya shouted anxiously.
But as soon as the words left her mouth, they felt strangely familiar.
Then, the nurse pulled out an inpatient admission form from behind the counter.
In the guardian section, the name Elina Novelia was clearly written.
Furious, Shiya slapped the counter.
“How can she sign there? Am I supposed to call her ‘Mom’ now?”
The nurse struggled to suppress a smile at the corner of her mouth, giving Shiya a meaningful look.
Shiya had no choice but to resign herself to her fate.
Thinking of Elina’s slightly heroic-looking eyes and brows, she wondered how she would explain things to her.
Beep beep beep—The phone rang for a long time with no answer.
The nurse raised an eyebrow and dialed again.
This time, the wait was even longer.
“Stay right here and don’t move. I’ll go prepare your nutrient IV drip for tonight.”
With that, the nurse turned and walked towards the pharmacy in the back, apparently assuming Shiya wouldn’t be going anywhere today.
Beep beep beep—The phone rang for a long time again before finally hanging up with a click due to no one answering.
Only when the noisy ringing faded did Shiya suddenly realize the entire hospital corridor was deathly silent.
Even the sounds of the nurse rummaging in the pharmacy had vanished.
The air solidified, a silent yet palpable horror pounding against Shiya’s heart.
Thump thump thump—Shiya’s heart was beating violently.
Without further hesitation, Shiya turned and ran quickly towards the corridor exit.
The wind whistled past her ears, but her heart had already sunk to the bottom.
If the little girl was right and this entire ward building was contaminated, then someone as weak and defenseless as herself had absolutely no chance of survival.
Bang bang bang—
Behind her, numerous cabinets in the pharmacy were being roughly tossed about.
Shiya didn’t look back, not daring to satisfy her curiosity.
Unfortunately, it was all futile.
With a boom as the pharmacy wall shattered, a pitch-black sludge spike, reeking of blood, shot straight towards Shiya’s back.
“Don’t be afraid. It’s all right now.”
Elina held the little girl, who was crying her eyes out, her own heart aching.
For some reason, it reminded her of Shiya as a child, begging her not to leave.
It’s a pity everything seemed to have changed now.
Ever since that suicide attempt, Shiya’s attitude towards her had grown much colder.
Elina could feel it.
Though perhaps maintaining a bit of distance between them wasn’t entirely a bad thing.
Two student council members clicked their tongues in amazement at the hole in the wall of the little girl’s family courtyard.
“Is this where her older sister was ambushed while trying to escape?”
“That monster is truly cruel, giving a sliver of hope before delivering despair.”
After a flurry of activity, seeing the little girl was somewhat calmed and the student council members had returned to their usual banter, Elina thought about going back to the hospital to visit Shiya.
But she was stopped by Karlen, who had just arrived.
“Elina, we should set up camp here today. That way, we can truly win over the people’s hearts.”
“But Shiya just recovered from her injuries. I need to go check on her. You all get settled first; I’ll be back soon.”
“Elina, at a critical time like this, you’re still going to run off?”
Karlen’s voice was stern.
As the two argued, a student council member operating a Magic Crystal Tablet hurried over.
“President, look. Miss Shiya’s situation doesn’t seem right.”
On the screen, the lights in Shiya’s ward had long gone out.
Clumps of sludge, moving like living things, writhed on the hospital bed and IV stand, as if truly alive.
Fortunately, Shiya was no longer inside.
Karlen was almost speechless.
“Elina, you actually used such a precious magical artifact for personal matters? What will everyone think?”
Elina didn’t even wait to hear him finish the sentence.
She threw everything aside and rushed towards the hospital.
“Wait, Elina! Everyone here needs you as their pillar of support.”
Elina suppressed her frustration, taking a deep breath.
“Karlen, can’t you see? The hospital has been targeted by that serial killer. I’m going to save Shiya. We can also bring everyone to avenge the fallen student council members.”
“That’s perfectly fine.”
Karlen, who had been blocking her, surprisingly agreed readily this time.
However, he quickly stepped closer and whispered to Elina, “But I’ll contact the guard force and have them go in first.
Then, our student council will arrive slightly later, in a way that minimizes casualties and maximizes public support.”
Seeing Elina hesitate, he advised with utmost seriousness and resolve, “This group in the student council is the foundation for your future bid for the throne. To uncover the truth about your mother’s death, you must endure and compromise.”
Then Karlen spread his hands.
“Besides, Miss Shiya will be rescued by the guards. You don’t need to worry about that.”
Elina raised a hand to press her temples, forcing herself to calm down and sort through the chaotic thoughts.
“You’re right, Karlen. As student council president, as the future empress, I must take actions that benefit everyone. Thank you for always advising me.”
Karlen smiled then, personally announcing for Elina that they would temporarily set up a defense at the victim’s family’s home, winning cheers from the student council members.
Back to Shiya.
The sharp spike almost pierced through her back, just a few centimeters away from carving out her entire heart.
Fortunately, it never happened.
Because a second earlier, a powerful explosion spell had blasted the spike to pieces.
Leonora, who had returned, was gripping her staff with trembling hands.
Clearly, running all the way back and instantly casting the spell had drained a lot of her stamina.
Shiya collapsed to her knees on the floor.
The earlier threat of death, stuck in her throat like a fishbone, had been relentlessly pressing on her nerves.
Even now, she could only clutch her bleeding back, unable to utter a word.
Leonora caught her breath, let out a “heh,” and took the opportunity to mock her.
“Where’s your dear Elina? Why isn’t she here protecting you? Did she get scared and run away by herself?”
“She went back early to handle student council affairs.”
Shiya’s reply was flat.
Shiya’s indifferent attitude, however, irritated Leonora, who clicked her tongue in annoyance.
“Do you know how to bandage your wound? Do a simple treatment. We need to go.”
Shiya gave a soft “mm” in acknowledgment.
First, she bowed deeply, thanking Leonora for saving her life.
Then, she found wound treatment potion and bandages on the nurse’s station counter.
But when she sat back down cross-legged on the floor, her movements halted.
Her pale golden eyes stared directly at Leonora.
Leonora felt uncomfortable under that inexplicable gaze and urged Shiya on.
“What are you dawdling for now? Hurry up. Don’t tell me you want me to serve you and treat your wound?”
“O-okay.”
Hearing this, Shiya gently bit her lip, stopped being coy, and straightforwardly took off her hospital gown.
The girl’s smooth, snow-white shoulders and delicate collarbones were now openly exposed before Leonora.
Only then did Leonora belatedly understand why Shiya had been looking at her with that pitiful expression.
But turning her head away now would be like admitting to Shiya that she was slow on the uptake, wouldn’t it?
So Leonora simply stared fixedly at Shiya, convincing herself internally: This is to protect Shiya closely, preventing her from being attacked again.
But when Shiya reached her jade-like arm behind her back to undo the clasp of her undergarment, Leonora finally flushed bright red, tightly shut her eyes, and didn’t dare look anymore.