Chapter 40 Part 1

【Welcome to the C-level Multiplayer Dungeon “Devil Town.”】

【In Vita Harbor Town, perpetually shrouded in fog, there was a secret legend. It was said that the devil lurked in the mist, devouring the souls of those who lost their way, possessing their bodies, and blending into homes. At night, it would devour its favored prey.

Only by locking the disguised devil in the Church Confessional at midnight could its true face be revealed.】

【Task: Identify the devil disguised as a human among the player team and escape the Small Town.】

…

An endless expanse of smoky gray stretched before him, like thick clouds that had fallen to the ground, silently spreading and muffling all sounds.

Zhong Nian stood within it, gazing at the mist that seemed to conceal unknown dangers. He remained cautious and did not move recklessly, instead focusing intently on his observations.

In stark contrast to the eerie atmosphere of the Instance, the automatically opened Live Stream Room was filled with joy.

【Wifey, wifey! I missed you so much after not seeing you for days!】

【Muah muah muah muah—】

【After the last Instance ended, I tried to find you and posted a missing person notice on the Forum, but still no luck, boo-hoo.】

【Don’t even mention it—I’ve been staking out the Rest Area twenty-four hours a day, sleeping on the streets, and still haven’t run into you.】

【Baby got even prettier. That oversized Bunny Hoodie is so cute!】

【Did you forget to change clothes?】

Zhong Nian glanced at the barrage and instinctively looked down at himself.

The hoodie was off-white, with sleeves long enough to cover his hands and a hem that reached below his hips. It was very loose—the loungewear the System had exchanged for him with points. It was indeed very comfortable to wear at home.

However… not only did the hoodie have a rabbit head knitted from yarn on the chest, but the hood also dangled two long rabbit ears, making it seem a bit childish.

Just a minute before entering the Instance, he had still been curled up in his Original Form, sleeping soundly in his nest. When he suddenly heard the notification, he hurriedly threw on the clothes without much thought.

Now he regretted it.

They were already laughing at him for dressing like this.

“Why didn’t you remind me?” he complained to the System. “Did you do it on purpose to embarrass me? Just because I clung to you last night and made you sing me a lullaby?”

The System: “I…”

As the System just opened its mouth, Zhong Nian’s ears twitched. He silenced the System and turned his head toward a certain direction.

Voices came from somewhere nearby, very close.

“Damn, what kind of ghost Instance is this? Talk about rotten luck!”

“Keep quiet. If you want to die, don’t drag us down with you.”

“Let’s find the way first.”

Zhong Nian followed the sounds and took a few steps. In the mist, he spotted four shadowy figures.

His footsteps alerted the four people, who were in a state of high alert, fearing an early devil hunt.

“Who’s there!”

Zhong Nian stopped first and stood still, indicating he posed no threat. “I’m a player too.”

The boy’s voice was clear, smooth, and sweet. It carried through the layers of mist, involuntarily putting people at ease.

The four put away their weapons and approached Zhong Nian.

Once within visible range, they finally saw the appearance of this latecomer player.

Silver hair with blue tips at the ends, a face exquisitely sculpted and flawless, beautiful enough to stir the soul and draw one uncontrollably into those watery eyes.

He seemed to glow in the mist, unlike an ordinary person.

“Y-You’re really human?” The Skinny Man was the first to snap out of it, retreating warily as he stared at Zhong Nian.

Zhong Nian blinked and nodded. “I am.”

But who among them could be the devil hidden among the players as mentioned in the task? Only the devil itself knew.

In a game where death could come at any moment, no player was foolish enough to entrust trust to a stranger teammate.

Seeing that his honest answer did not dispel their wariness—they still eyed him suspiciously—Zhong Nian offered no further explanation.

It was futile anyway.

This was no place to talk either. Fog surrounded them on all sides, with danger lurking at any time. The most urgent matter was finding the house they were supposed to stay in.

Zhong Nian deliberately slowed his steps, not getting too close to the four, trailing behind while observing his surroundings.

In the visibility-obscuring fog, the only certainty was the barren ground underfoot. Without reference buildings, people could easily get lost, unwittingly circling in place without finding direction.

He didn’t know how long they had walked when the Skinny Man among the four ahead complained, “Why haven’t we seen a house yet? Even without an NPC to guide us, there should be some signs, right?”

The Bald Man sneered again. “Idiot, not every Instance is the same. Shut your mouth and follow me.”

The Skinny Man muttered something but said no more.

The other man and woman, seemingly a couple, huddled together in relative silence, sticking closely behind the Bald Man.

Zhong Nian could tell these four already knew each other, with the Bald Man vaguely as the leader. They had likely formed a team and bound into the Instance in advance.

If he were alone, isolated and without aid, the situation could be very unfavorable…

“Ah!!”

Zhong Nian, lost in thought, was startled by a scream from ahead. Before he could react, the Bald Man was already cursing at the Skinny Man.

“What the hell are you screaming for? It’s just a person! You scared the shit out of me.” The Bald Man kicked the Skinny Man and tossed the curved knife in his hand, shouting loudly ahead. “Bro, you’re a player too, right?”

Zhong Nian approached a few steps soundlessly, using the four to shield himself as he peered through the gaps between their bodies.

The figure standing not far away was very tall, nearly two meters, with a perfect inverted triangle build. He wore professional dark outdoor gear and sturdy boots.

What was strange was the black Tactical Mask covering his face, paired with the hood of his outer jacket pulled up. His black hair was relatively long, leaving only a pair of hawk-like sharp eyes partially visible.

No wonder the Skinny Man had cried out. Seen suddenly through the mist, such a tall figure with no visible face could easily be mistaken for something inhuman.

The Girl in the Couple let out an “Ah” and covered her mouth and nose. “Could this fog be toxic??”

The other three also paled.

“Bro, where’d you get that mask? Did you find it, or is it a prop?”

Besides clothing, the only things players could bring into the game were props.

The Masked Man said nothing, coldly sweeping his gaze over the four before fixing it keenly in a certain direction.

Zhong Nian, hiding behind to observe, suddenly met the man’s eyes. His shoulders shrank, fists clenched, and all his hairs stood on end.