Chapter 74

"Reduce the friction between the handcuffs and your hands?"

Natsuki looked at Kaguya's snow-white, slender wrist and quickly caught on to Billy's hint. His gaze fell on the glass bottle on the table.

"So, the liquid in this bottle isn't water... its hand sanitizer?"

"Yes, it's hand sanitizer," Natsuki confirmed as he picked up the glass bottle. He poured some of the transparent liquid into his hands, feeling the smooth, slippery texture. It was definitely hand sanitizer.

"So," Natsuki looked at Billy thoughtfully, "You're here to give us hand sanitizer?"

Billy rolled his eyes, "As a butler, it's my duty to meet the needs of every guest."

"You're really on top of things, aren't you? You could win Butler of the Year," Natsuki joked.

He then turned to Kaguya, "Put your hands out."

Kaguya extended her hands. Even in the dim light, Natsuki could see how delicate her fingers were. Her skin was smooth, almost translucent, and her nails were neatly trimmed, free of polish but still perfectly shiny. Her hands were, in a word, beautiful.

Natsuki smiled as he poured the hand sanitizer on Kaguya's wrists. "I'm glad we didn't have to play any of those weird games earlier, or I'd feel really bad right now."

"You're overthinking it," Kaguya shot back, "I'd rather wear handcuffs than use that stuff."

But as Natsuki applied the sanitizer, her skin became even more slippery, like a fish slipping out of his grasp. It worked perfectly—the handcuffs slid right off.

"Hand sanitizer is pretty amazing," Natsuki remarked as he tossed the handcuffs onto the table. "Let's get out of here."

"Hold on," Kaguya interrupted, rubbing her wrists. The sensation of the hand sanitizer was different from what she was used to. "We still need to take off that collar around my neck."

Natsuki's eyes widened as he realized she was right. The collar felt like it locked up something deeper than just her body—it was almost as if it locked up her soul. The idea that something like this, which he had only seen in comics, was now real and around her neck was terrifying.

"Mr. Butler, how do I take off this collar?" Natsuki asked, turning to Billy.

"The answer lies within you," Billy responded cryptically.

"Within me?" Natsuki echoed, puzzled. After a moment's thought, he pulled out the silver key from his pocket. "Are you talking about this?"

Kaguya frowned as she recognized the remote control in his hand, recalling the unpleasant experience from earlier.

"You mean there's a button that can make the collar open automatically?" Kaguya asked, her right hand wrapped around her chest, her voice icy.

Billy the Puppet nodded, "This guest's wisdom is commendable."

"Which button?" Kaguya pressed.

"Sorry, I can't say due to the rules," Billy replied with a hint of mischief.

Natsuki glanced at Kaguya. "There are six buttons on this remote. I pressed the first one on the upper left earlier. That leaves five more. I'll figure it out soon enough."

Kaguya bit her lower lip, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face. The remote wasn't exactly like the one in the comics. There were some unfamiliar buttons. Who knows what might happen if she pressed the wrong one? But the thought of wearing that collar any longer…

"Just try it," she decided, her voice firm.

Natsuki raised the remote. "You sure?"

"…Go ahead," Kaguya said quietly, her hands subtly clenching into fists, bracing herself for whatever might happen.

"I'm doing it," Natsuki warned before pressing the second button.

"Meow~"

A soft, unexpected meow filled the room. Kaguya immediately raised her hand to cover her lips, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Natsuki looked at her, wide-eyed. She had just turned into a catgirl.

Their eyes met, both equally surprised.

Natsuki hesitated, then pressed the button again.

Kaguya's eyes widened, her face a mix of frustration and embarrassment. She was struggling to hold back.

A few seconds later…

"Meow~"

The sound escaped again, full of humiliation and anger. Kaguya's resolve crumbled as her cheeks burned red.

"Are you still pressing that?!" she shouted, her face now scarlet. "Stop it, now!"

She had prepared herself for an electric shock, but instead, all she felt was a tickle in her throat, something she couldn't hold back, like a cough that had to come out.

"It's definitely the key," Natsuki said, turning to Billy, his expression serious. "Mr. Butler, care to explain what just happened?"

Billy's voice was calm and unruffled. "Since it's a pet collar, it's only natural for the pet to make pleasing noises, right?"

His answer left no room for argument.

"That's true..." Natsuki nodded almost without thinking.

But when he noticed Kaguya glaring at him, her lips still covered, he quickly shifted gears. "It's weird, though. Why would there be something this messed up in the castle?"

"Everything here has a purpose," Billy replied with a cryptic smile. "Please don't question the hospitality of the castle."

Natsuki turned back to Kaguya. "So, the second button didn't do much. Should I keep going?"

Kaguya took a deep breath, her resolve hardening. "Continue."

Giving up now would mean everything she'd endured so far would be for nothing, and that was not how she operated. Kaguya wasn't one to back down easily, especially not after coming this far. A little meow was nothing—just something they'd learned back at the Ghost Academy.

"Alright, here goes," Natsuki said, pressing the third button.

"Woof~"

Kaguya's hand flew to her mouth, but the sound slipped out anyway.

"So, a dog this time," Natsuki noted. "Guess that makes sense—cats and dogs are pretty standard pets."

He didn't hesitate before pressing the fourth button.

Kaguya's long lashes fluttered, and she let out a soft, trembling whisper she was clearly trying to suppress:

"...Master."

Natsuki felt his face heat up, but he couldn't resist pressing the button again.

"Master."

Her voice came out again, a mix of shame and unwilling submission.

"Master."

No.

This was too much. But also… impossible to stop.

Seeing Kaguya, usually so composed and in control, calling him "Master" with flushed cheeks—it was something no one could refuse.

"You pressed it three times." Kaguya bit her lower lip, her shoulders trembling slightly with anger. "...Turn yourself in!"

"I'm really sorry," Natsuki said, genuinely apologetic. "My hands just… stopped listening to me."

"If they don't follow orders, maybe you should give them to someone who needs them more," Kaguya retorted, her face stiffening in frustration. "That's it. I don't want anything to do with this collar anymore."

"There are only two buttons left," Natsuki said with a hint of regret. "How about we just give it one more try?"

"No way," Kaguya crossed her arms over her chest, her voice firm. "Think about it. Billy never said pressing just one button would unlock the collar. If it's some kind of combination, we'd be here all day trying to figure it out."

Natsuki sighed. "You're right… considering how simple the iron cage was to unlock, the collar probably has a straightforward solution too. It's just not coming to me right now."

Seeing that Kaguya was adamant about not trying again, Natsuki reluctantly put the key away. "Fujiwara is still in the next room. Let's go find her."

To be cautious, the two climbed back into the cage and returned to the third-floor room through the passage. After ensuring the hallway was clear, they quickly slipped out of the room and entered the one next door.

"We could send the 'mom' in first to check things out," Kaguya suggested in a low voice.

"I'd love to, but unfortunately, I can't," Natsuki shook his head. "I tried to call Shimizu in Andy's room earlier, but there was no response."

It seemed that the character they could summon in the midnight subway was unavailable in this scenario, and the game offered no explanation.

"That's odd…" Kaguya tilted her head, confused. "Andy?"

"It's from one of the world's top 100 must-see movies, The Shawshank Redemption," Natsuki explained. "You should watch it once we're done with this game."

"Also, the protagonist's name is Andy, not Shawshank."

Kaguya looked puzzled. "Why emphasize that?"

"Because," Natsuki sighed, "you'd be surprised how many people get that wrong after watching the movie!"

With that, Natsuki cautiously pushed the door open. After waiting a few seconds and seeing no immediate danger, he whispered, "Let's go in."