SWBG - Chapter 4

After receiving the game-over message, the eliminated reserve members along with the tables, chairs and rabbits all instantly vanished. Had Gu Jing Sheng not reacted quickly by steadying herself in a horse stance, she would've performed an "elegant swan landing" (ass hitting ground) in front of the two remaining participants.

[From: Happy Board Games]
08321-6 is promoted to full member.
Mobile upgrade complete.

After this notification, Gu Jing Sheng's phone transformed amidst a multicolored halo - from a brick to... a color-screen brick.
—It's 2050, why would any system insist on such retro aesthetics?

The upgraded phone now had six new icons besides [Messages]: [Notepad], [Assistant], [Prize Pool], [Mailbox], [Contacts], and [Happy Board Games].

Researching new features could wait. Gu Jing Sheng pocketed her phone and approached the other two in the game hall.

Xia Xiao Yun's voice carried deep exhaustion: "Thank you for cooperating earlier."
Gu Jing Sheng: "No need for thanks, I was helping myself too." After a pause: "May I see your phone?"

Xia Xiao Yun handed it over without hesitation, but what greeted Gu Jing Sheng was familiar static snow.
Gu Jing Sheng reached out, only for her fingers to pass straight through Xia's phone.
"No display, no physical contact."
Xia Xiao Yun pondered: "After upgrading, there's Notepad, Assistant, Prize Pool, Contacts, Happy Board Games and Mailbox."
"Same." Gu Jing Sheng nodded. "Text communication seems unrestricted."

During their exchange, Wei Jia Shi had listened quietly before speaking up: "Um, I'd like to return to my room to rest. We can contact each other via phone if needed."
"Alright."

Gu Jing Sheng opened Contacts to find two entries already saved: [08321-7] and [08321-4].
Numbers without names—optimistically, this might be Happy Board respecting privacy by preserving anonymity; pessimistically, entities like them whose IDs should've been voided were never considered human to begin with.

Before returning, Gu Jing Sheng surveyed the hall—the doors belonging to Zhou Qing Qing, Jiang Ping, Ren Song Sheng and Lin Shen He had turned an ashen gray clashing with the pristine background, now impossible to open from outside.

Slouching bonelessly against the headboard with bent legs, Gu Jing Sheng first opened the seemingly harmless [Notepad]—indeed empty, like every freshly reset phone—while [Assistant] displayed a new description:
"Provides game consultation services for full members."

[08321-6: How does one leave "Happy Board Games"?]
[Assistant: Dear participant, you have 24 hours of free time. Next mandatory game begins in 23:48:32. Please manage your time wisely.]

"..."

She'd expected evasive answers, but now realized "Thank you for participating" lottery slips were downright charitable compared to scammers who'd make you pay them five yuan instead ╮(￣￣)╭.

[08321-6: What's the next game about?]
[Assistant: Dear participant, you have 24 hours of free time. Next mandatory game begins in 23:47:56. Please manage your time wisely.]

"..."

Same answer for different questions—calling this an "Assistant" was fraudulent branding; "Auto-Reply" suited it better.

[Contacts] still only showed Xia and Wei's codes. The [Mailbox]'s inbox, sent and trash folders were as empty as the Notepad. [Happy Board Games] archived past mini-games—though Gu Jing Sheng felt her energy expenditure during "Marvelous" could modestly be described as one against ten, only one record existed here. The sole additional gain was an unlocked achievement:

[Achievement: Full Member]
Description: You're still a novice, but have taken your first step in Tabletop gaming.
Effect: Phone system upgraded to "Special Edition for Full Members"

Since childhood, Gu Jing Sheng had always saved the best for last during leisure activities. Only after examining other icons did she leisurely select [Prize Pool]—

"Bzzz—"

The sudden vibration nearly made her drop the phone onto the bed.

[From: 08321-7]
Testing phone functions. If received, please reply.
PS: Calls are currently unavailable.

Gu Jing Sheng typed "111111" and sent it to Xia Xiao Yun. After waiting a moment to confirm no further conversation was forthcoming, she cautiously tapped [Prize Pool].

The Prize Pool was divided into two sections, their unreliability evident just from their names.

[Prize Pool]: Welcome to the [Free Stuff is the Most Expensive] Prize Pool. Participants get ten free draws, reset after each game session.
Note: Only 3-star or lower items available.

[Prize Pool]: Welcome to the [Paying Doesn’t Guarantee Power] Prize Pool. Only outstanding participants earn draws. Your remaining draws: 2.
Notes: 1. A timeless classic! Since launch, this pool has received ▇▇▇ complaints due to lack of pity system. 2. Maximum rarity: 10-star, but note: there is no lower limit.

"..."

Gu Jing Sheng’s eyes twitched at the descriptions. Words failed her. She wanted a heart-to-heart with the designer—just how many gacha failures had they endured to create this abomination combining every flaw of card games on the market?!

Despite her mental ranting, her fingers betrayed her by tapping the draw button. With practiced ease, she initiated a 10-pull—

[Forest Clinic’s Discount Blood Vial]: Heals minor injuries/illnesses, but may suppress appetite.
Respected Mr. ▇▇ claims reduced food intake aids recovery.
"Injured weaklings should starve... Ah, I mean, fasting speeds healing."
Rarity: ★
Note: Single-use. ×2

[Old Sanna’s Instant Coffee Pack]: When breakfast time came, Old Sanna vanished, leaving only coffee powder on the stove.
Food tycoon Mr. Hibbert acquired it and launched his own brand.
"No evidence links Miss Ostrich’s heart condition to overconsumption, but avoid brewing >3 packs—it ruins the flavor."
Rarity: ★
Note: Single-use. ×2

[Elderberry Brand Bandages]: Widely used for wounds since launch.
Not all medical supplies include instructions.
"Nurse Sparrow fed a patient three whole rolls. Sadly, they still bled out."
Rarity: ★
Note: Single-use. ×2

[1-Hour Revival Voucher]: Not true resurrection, but a preview! Only downside: 60-minute limit.
User may return to game space early.
"Under no circumstances break the rules."
Rarity: ★
Note: Single-use, stackable. ×2

Free pools loved spitting out duplicates. When [1-Hour Revival Voucher] appeared, Gu Jing Sheng’s fingers froze, her blood seemed to halt.

This wasn’t a dream. After the meteor strike, she’d truly entered this bizarre, perilous game space. But luckily, the voucher’s name hinted at a way back.

She took deep breaths to calm her racing heart.

Two total revival hours wasn’t much, but no rush—she only needed time to notarize her will. Ever-prepared, Gu Jing Sheng had drafted hers pre-adulthood, signed at eighteen, and updated it relentlessly. Current version: 17th edition.

As she steadied herself, the remaining two items appeared:

[Suspected Royal Artifact - Cracked Pottery Jar]:
A clay jar with a chipped rim that randomly produces food every evening.
History: Long abandoned in an eastern village's derelict granary until discovered by a wandering bard.
Notable Record: "Madame ▇▇▇ insisted this jar evoked fond memories of her time in the Principality of Thrush Break—though we question this claim, given her notorious feud with the Queen of Thrush Beak."
Rarity: ★★
Note: The previous owner took this jar on a desert expedition. After three days subsisting solely on dry bread, he belatedly realized one still requires a waterskin for survival.

[Great Detective’s Friend]:
As the detective’s companion, you frequent dangerous locales, yet inexplicable luck averts disaster.
Note: Fortune and peril are twins.
"Every great detective’s social web is vast. Ensure you’re pivotal—not just a one-case extra."
Rarity: ★★★
Note: Part of [Great Detective] set. When ▇▇▇ learned of his friend’s death, he vowed to solve the case—cementing his fame.

After eight 1-star items, Gu Jing Sheng finally got lucky—though the descriptions suggested her luck was... questionable ==.

[Bonus Gift: A daily necessities kit from "24/7 Frog Supermarket."]
At least the pitiless pool threw in freebies—but the description unsettled her. When somewhere provides toiletries, your stay won’t be brief...

Author’s Note:
PS: Some items are (loosely) inspired by Grimms' Fairy Tales and Andersen's Fairy Tales.

Volume 2: It's Fruit Harvesting Season Again

Translator's Notes

“111111” has two meaning:

1. "I’m here" / "Present"

• Mimics raising a hand (like saying "here!" during roll call).

• Common in live streams, group chats, or forums to show participation.

2. Agreement or Confirmation

• Similar to nodding along ("yes, yes, yes").

• Example:
  A: "Meeting at 8pm?"
  B: "11111" (="Got it!")

Introduction is done... Moving on to the next volume~~~