Why is my Isekai in the Slice of Life anime was become a Horror Story?

Chapter 12: A Chaotic World Opens a New Perspective

[Instructions for Rescue Personnel at Nutty Dutty Cave:]

[As a participant in this rescue operation, you have been forewarned about the dangerous and unpredictable nature of this mission. These instructions are a compilation of lessons learned from recent rescue operations, designed to ensure your safety. Follow these guidelines strictly during the operation.]

1. Ensure that you carry all the standard equipment of rescue or firefighting personnel when entering the cave. You must maintain the appearance of being a "rescue worker" or "firefighter." It is not just about having the gear but ensuring you look the part.

2. Every 15 minutes, recall your identity and name. If you can only remember your identity as a rescue worker but cannot recall your name, leave the cave immediately—you are no longer fit for the rescue mission.

3. Do not enter the "gentle slope" area, especially near the large fissure. Regardless of what you hear, see, or sense, there is no one left to rescue in the "gentle slope" area.

4. Ensure that the individuals you rescue can clearly state their identity and name. Quickly escort anyone identifying as an "explorer" out of the cave. "Tourists" must be able to recall their names clearly and express the intent to leave the cave to be eligible for rescue. You may seek assistance from "staff" and "guards," but do not attempt to rescue them. Individuals unable to clearly state their identity are unreliable—do not listen to or remember the names they provide.

5. Survivors from the "big slide" can be rescued, but their identity must be verified as "explorer." Individuals with other identities are unreliable. Do not enter the "big slide" area—rescue personnel are prohibited from entering this zone.

6. Any rescue personnel emerging from the "big slide" are extremely dangerous. Avoid contact with them at all costs. If unavoidable, use any means of violence at your disposal to repel them. The fire axe and 9mm pistol provided to you are for this purpose—do not hesitate.

7. If you notice the water level in the cave starting to rise, immediately abandon the rescue operation. No matter what, head for the cave entrance. Do not pay attention to anything in the water or react to any sounds at this time—focus solely on saving yourself.

8. If you find yourself unable to leave the cave and get lost, remove your rescue uniform and change into other clothing. Ideally, dress as a "tourist" or "explorer." If this is not possible, dressing as "staff" or "security" is acceptable but should not exceed 30 minutes. Under no circumstances should you retain the identity of "rescue personnel," and do not trust any rescue workers you encounter at this point. Look for a path with fixed safety ropes, as this may be your only way out of the cave.

9. Whatever principles you may have upheld in your career before, your top priority now is to save your own life. The situation here is not worth sacrificing your life for. Your sacrifice will bring no value and will only make future rescue efforts more difficult.

...

Amidst the heavy rain, Takakai quickly read through these instructions.

This was the second set of rules he had received in this dungeon. Unlike the rules for "explorers," the guidelines for "rescue personnel" contained significant differences, with many points requiring careful thought. However, there was no time for contemplation now. Under the watchful gaze of the surrounding entities, he had to immediately act as a "rescue worker" to enter the cave ahead.

The rescue team he belonged to consisted of ten members.

Through his blessing, Takakai confirmed that four of them were players, while the remaining four were actually monstrous entities.

In the rain, Takakai surveyed the area. Outside the entrance to Nutty Dutty Cave lay a simple park, accompanied by a sign reading, "Welcome to Nutty Dutty Cave."

At the moment, aside from their rescue team, there was no one else in the park. However, looking further out, Takakai could see a crowd gathering near the park's gate, along with many large and small tents set up.

It seemed that many people were watching these rescuers closely.

Although under the power of the blessing, Takakai could clearly confirm that the figures outside were merely phantoms—lingering illusions from past histories—it felt like an unsettling revelation.

If he wanted to escape Nutty Dutty Cave, now seemed like the best time.

But Takakai remembered very clearly: to complete the mission, he needed to reach the [true surface]. And the scene before him, as he donned the rescue gear, was still filled with an eerie, uncomfortable atmosphere. Perhaps this wasn't the "true surface" after all. After all, he was already standing at the cave entrance, and logically, the mission should have been completed long ago.

"Time to move!"

The leading man shouted as he stepped into the cave entrance.

At that moment, everyone around moved in unison, including Takakai. All their actions seemed compelled, forcing them to follow the man into the depths of the cave ahead.

Could it be that the rescuers were bound to enter Nutty Dutty Cave as part of their [identity]?

With this thought in mind, Takakai used the little control he still had over his body to observe his surroundings. He paid less attention to the bizarre rescue personnel and focused on the players. These four players appeared to come from various parts of the world. Among them, two looked terrified, one seemed tense, and the last had an expressionless face, as though they had fully adapted to the identity of a rescuer.

Rushing water—rushing water—

Amid the heavy rain, Takakai noticed a torrent of water flowing down the stairs leading into Nutty Dutty Cave, flooding deeper into the cave.

"Thirteen rescue teams have entered this cave before us, but many people remain trapped."

The team leader turned back and shouted loudly to Takakai and the others.

"When you came here, you were already aware of the strange phenomena in this place. So just follow the rules—they've been forged by the sacrifices of many lives."

"We can't save everyone in the cave. Do your best, but don't push yourself."

"You understand what I mean by this—don't die in there. If you do, it'll only endanger more people. Alright, let's go!"

Due to the heavy rain, the team leader had to almost scream to ensure Takakai and the others could hear him clearly.

Stepping into the entrance of Nutty Dutty Cave, the water was already covering their feet, rising to their ankles.

Takakai could see the cave's dim lighting; most of the lamps were out, but a few emitted faint glows.

There were clothes everywhere.

Takakai noticed countless pieces of clothing floating in the water.

In the murky, muddy water, each garment surfaced and floated, resembling bodies drifting aimlessly.

The man leading them into the cave had disappeared without a trace.

The five non-human rescuers had also vanished at some point.

Takakai suddenly felt he had regained control of his body.

The two previously terrified players had collapsed onto the ground, appearing on the brink of a breakdown. The tense player was panting heavily. After catching their breath, they turned to look at Takakai and quickly approached him.

"Hey, hi, I'm Wang Gui. You're a player too, right? How did you suddenly show up here? Are you a veteran player? Do you know how to get out of here? We… we've been stuck in a loop here six times already. No matter if we run outside or rescue people, we all end up right back at the moment we read the rules..."

It was clear that Wang Gui, the man speaking, was extremely anxious.

Meanwhile, the player with the emotionless face began walking deeper into the cave. His rigid movements didn't resemble those of a normal person. Instead, it was as if something else was controlling his body, manipulating him like a lifeless corpse to march forward.

"Calm down a bit, calm down. Tell me your situation in detail—don't panic," Takakai said, glancing around briefly to confirm there was nothing unusual in the immediate area. He then turned to Wang Gui and spoke firmly.

The middle-aged man, seemingly around forty, took a few gasping breaths before gradually regaining his composure. He began explaining their situation to Takakai.

As it turned out, Wang Gui and the two players sitting on the ground were all new players experiencing a dungeon for the first time. Completely clueless about what was happening, they suddenly found themselves cast into the roles of rescue workers. While still reeling from the shock, the veteran player, who had since walked off, had gathered them together. He explained the basic rules of players and dungeons before leading the group in an attempt to find a way out.

Initially, they had tried to escape by running straight out or by finding a survivor in the cave who could be taken outside under the applicable rules. But every attempt ended the same way—they were returned to the starting point, forced to reread the rules, and sent back into the cave. This process repeated over and over again.

By the fourth loop, the veteran player had ventured into the "big slide" area. However, by the fifth loop, the veteran had stopped communicating with them entirely. He became silent, almost like a lifeless puppet, and only acted mechanically—following the rules and searching for rescue workers.

The three new players, growing increasingly terrified, tried various methods to save themselves. But by the seventh loop, when Takakai appeared, the results were grim. Except for Wang Gui, who remained cautious and avoided making critical mistakes, the other two players no longer remembered their own names, their memories steadily fading away.

"Please, save us… save me…"

Wang Gui clutched Takakai's sleeve tightly, his voice trembling with unmistakable fear and despair.

After listening to Wang Gui, Takakai bowed his head, thinking deeply for a moment. A truth began to take shape in his mind.

Perhaps the identity of the rescue team in this dungeon, much like the rescue team from Shirakawa, belonged to the category of [those who cannot complete the game].