As for Mikami, the information given by the police described him as someone who enjoys taming others—"a sadist".
Wen Xishu had reason to believe... just like Mariko, Mikami could only maintain their charm and evoke certain things when in their latent period.
Mariko kept her human appearance constantly in order to trigger her lust, staying latent.
Similarly, Mikami also stayed latent to conquer Takahashi Fumihiko.
Wen Xishu was quite satisfied with the encounter of these two.
At the same time, this encounter left a card in Wen Xishu’s hand unused. This meant that there could be one more "ghost" in the house.
Originally, in Wen Xishu’s plan—
Mariko was meant to restrain Takahashi Fumihiko.
At this moment, bringing anyone else in would disrupt the situation. But now, Mariko did not need to restrain Takahashi Fumihiko anymore.
Takahashi Fumihiko could be restrained by Mikami instead.
With them restraining each other, Mariko’s card was freed up.
Why do this? Why bring in another "one of them" in the house?
Wen Xishu had a feeling, perhaps the true play of this mission... was "not related to humans" at all.
But for now, he still couldn’t find enough evidence to support this idea.
...
...
Early morning, 5:59 AM.
Ever since Mikami moved in, no one else had knocked on the door that night.
Only one minute left until Wen Xishu survived the long night.
Under Wen Xishu’s manipulation, Mariko extended her latent period. Mariko longed for Wen Xishu’s "love".
With Mariko extending her latent period, plus the sudden entry of Mikami who desired to "conquer" her... Takahashi Fumihiko dared not make any rash actions.
Takahashi Fumihiko understood one thing, if he didn’t extend his latent period and chose to let it end naturally... he would turn into a monster.
Without a doubt, if he turned into a monster and attempted to eat Wen Xishu, he would offend Mariko who was "nurturing fruit".
And he would also offend Mikami who intended to "conquer" Wen Xishu. He didn’t dare to do that, so he could only choose to extend his latent period.
Mikami, seeing the other two monsters extending their latent periods, and himself desiring to conquer everyone in the house, naturally also extended his latent period.
Thus, the balance in this house was achieved.
When the clock struck six, the night ended.
As daylight arrived, Wen Xishu heard the alarm clock in the house go off, and he quickly turned it off.
Meanwhile, Wen Xishu noticed that the TV was on.
[Congratulations, you have successfully survived the first night.]
[Currently, there are 4 true humans surviving in Rokkasho.]
[On the second night, they in their latent period will intensify the "forced ripening of fruit". Meanwhile, the external beings that come on the second night will be even stronger, and their mental infiltration on you will be fiercer.]
[If you successfully survive through the day and into the second night, you will gain a new ability.]
[Good luck.]
The image on the TV was a scene of Rokkasho, meaningless except for delivering the message.
Wen Xishu said:
"It looks like we were pretty lucky to survive the first night."
This information left Wen Xishu quite surprised.
He initially thought there were no other living people on this island. But now it seemed... there were actually four humans alive on this island.
"Does this count me? If it does, then there are three."
"Why tell me the number of surviving true humans in Rokkasho? And it’s unbelievable that in such a harsh environment, there are three others surviving besides myself..."
"So I didn’t actually do anything, even if those humans didn’t visit me, I didn’t let them in... they still survived?"
"Then what’s the point of this game if it’s not to protect those people?"
Wen Xishu felt a bit sleepy.
He initially thought he could hold on until ten o’clock... but now that the day had just arrived, he felt sleepiness creeping in.
Undoubtedly, it had been a mentally exhausting night, and the confirmation of daytime made him feel relieved.
Wen Xishu yawned.
At this point, it had actually been over eight hours since Takahashi Mariko, Takahashi Fumihiko, and Mikami entered the house.
In other words, their natural latent periods would have normally ended by now.
But they all chose to stay latent, choosing to extend their latent state under various circumstances.
This was a good thing, as things were going smoother than Wen Xishu had anticipated.
But then, Mariko suddenly said:
"Dear, are you sleepy?"
"Yes. I am sleepy."
"Great, let’s sleep together, shall we? Dear god, you should be more intimate with me now."
The cost of extending the latent period surfaced. The price was much more severe than Wen Xishu had expected.
Wen Xishu remembered that the first intimate act was just head-patting. According to the rules, the second intimate act had to be more intimate, it needed to level up.
Of course, this upgrade definitely wasn’t "two head-pats".
Mariko’s eyes were filled with desire. She coiled around Wen Xishu like a snake.
Her hair seemed alive, starting to weave through Wen Xishu’s clothes bit by bit.
Damn, it was head-patting at night, and directly moved to sharing a bed by day?
This speed of intimacy escalation left Wen Xishu somewhat stunned.
Without a doubt, if he really had relations with Mariko—this mysterious entity whose true form he couldn’t discern—
Wen Xishu would be disgusted with himself. Moreover, if this really happened, it would probably be not far from his own death.
Although medically, such a disease wouldn’t kill him in a few days, Mariko was a strange creature, and who knows if the diseases she brought would also escalate.
Now, Mariko’s hair, like a lover’s hand, began to caress Wen Xishu’s cheek.
Mariko’s breath was rapid, like a snake about to devour its prey:
"Dear god, let’s begin."
(The alarm didn’t wake me... unbelievable, sent a bit late.)