The door slowly opened, revealing an intensely bright light that forced both Takakai and Kaguya to instinctively narrow their eyes. It took them a second or two to adjust before they could fully open their eyes again.
What lay before them was an empty classroom.
Thirty desks and chairs were neatly arranged in the room. A disciplinary ruler and chalk sat on the teacher's podium, while the blackboard bore barely visible traces of chalk dust.
Textbooks left on desks, a blackboard eraser fallen by the wall, backpacks hanging on chairs—every detail suggested this classroom had once been bustling with activity.
Yet now, there was no one here. Just an empty shell.
Takakai was the first to step inside, cautiously sweeping the room with his pistol raised, ensuring nothing would suddenly jump out and attack. Only after confirming it was safe did he relax slightly and motion for Kaguya to follow.
"This place… Yes, I can vaguely hear voices. It feels like there are many students in this classroom."
Still clutching the bedsheet wrapped around herself, Kaguya spoke softly as she carefully stepped into the room. The half-grown golden retriever followed closely by her side, sticking to her legs as if seeking protection.
"Search carefully, but don't immediately read anything with writing. We don't need more [friends] popping up."
Takakai spoke while slowly making his way toward the teacher's podium. As he walked, he scanned the surroundings and quickly noticed two doors on one side of the classroom. One was a reinforced security door—its destination unclear—while the other resembled the entrance to a naptime room, though he wasn't sure if it connected to one.
"I understand. You be careful too, Takakai-san."
Kaguya gave a small nod in response before moving forward as well, carefully stepping around the small dogs darting past her.
Several stray mutts were running wildly around the classroom, forcing both Takakai and Kaguya to frequently sidestep them. Freed from the kennel, the little dogs were ecstatic, completely ignoring any commands from the humans as they barked, chewed, and even relieved themselves indiscriminately, filling the room with noise and an increasingly unpleasant smell.
Takakai observed them silently for a while, turning over thoughts in his mind.
These things were once human… but now?
There's nothing left in them that resembles a person.
They're just animals—smarter than average dogs, but still animals.
Kumami-san mentioned there's a time limit for rescues in this dungeon. Maybe these mutts…
…have already passed that point. Their minds have degraded beyond recovery.
Even if they retain human memories, a dog's brain can't sustain human consciousness.
His gaze shifted to the golden retriever—calm, watchful, its behavior almost eerily human.
That one's different. It's probably Hayasaka.
Kaguya must have realized it too. That's why she's so protective of it.
In a way, their most important mission—finding Hayasaka—was already complete.
Now, the real challenge was escaping (or breaking) this place.
Damn black watch. Couldn't you have picked an easier dungeon?
"I think I found something."
Kaguya's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
"What is it?"
He turned to look, but she wasn't holding anything. Instead, she was staring intently at a blank wall.
"Over there… I can hear children whispering. They're talking about a 'place only adults can enter' hidden here."
She pointed at the wall, her brow furrowed as if straining to decipher faint, half-heard murmurs.
A secret room?
Takakai approached the wall, first knocking on it, then firing a few shots (thanks to infinite ammo mode).
No reaction.
…Licking it? No, that's just stupid.
After several failed attempts, he paused—then remembered the magnetic keycard from Fujika Academy.
If this thing works across all three schools…
He pressed it against the wall.
Bzzt—
A faint electric hum.
Click. Click. Clunk.
The wall recessed inward, revealing a dark, cramped space hidden behind it.