The castle loomed before us imposingly.
It was a sight that left many of us breathless, its mere presence feeling eternal.
At least, this was how it seemed to me.
"I knew it."
Leon smiled, staring at the imposing castle in the distance.
"My guess was correct. If I'm not wrong, we must also enter that place if we want to leave this place. I believe that the exit is there."
"What? Why would the exit be there?"
Drake asked, alternating his gaze between Leon and the castle.
Leon merely glanced in Drake's direction before smiling again.
"Sacrifice something, and you'll get it."
Drake's face contorted, but he didn't say anything else.
The more I looked at him, the more disappointed I felt. The difference between him and Leon was quite massive. Although Leon was insane, he wasn't an idiot like Drake was. He had both brains and power.
"What should we do, Squad Leader? If the exit is inside, do we have to infiltrate the place?"
"No, there's no need for that."
Leon chuckled while pointing at the entrance.
"...We just walk in."
"Huh?"
"But that's..."
"If you don't believe me, sacrifice something. An eye. An arm. Anything of importance. It'll all become clear then."
He proceeded to walk ahead.
Nobody knew what to make of his words. However, his team followed him without hesitation. They looked confused, but more so regarding the situation. There was no confusion in their eyes as they followed Leon from behind.
It was as if in their minds, there was no way he was wrong.
'Well, I also don't believe that he's lying.'
I followed after them.
Nothing obstructed us on the way to the castle. The path was clear, with no anomaly in sight. In fact, from the very start of our journey in the forest, there had hardly been any anomalies, with just the occasional one showing up.
The path was clean, with the bushes and vegetation nicely trimmed.
Everything led to the gate.
The open gate seemed to welcome us.
Leon walked through first without breaking stride.
The rest followed.
I was the only one who paused, taking a moment to observe the outside of the castle alongside the insides that seemed to carry a certain warmth that served as a stark contrast to the cold outside.
From the outside, the place looked completely deserted. But as I looked through the gate, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. And considering how polished the outside of the castle was, I knew my hunch was correct.
Still...
'...There's no use staying here. I also have a feeling that the exit is located inside. I'm just curious to see if finding it is hard.'
I walked past the gate.
The moment I did, my scenery completely changed.
The gray sky faded, replaced by a bright blue one as grass and thick vegetation spread in all directions. The dry ground and sickly-looking trees were gone, replaced by warm sunlight and the gentle rustling of leaves.
Laughter and chatter echoed through the air as I suddenly found myself in a large courtyard. Fine tables covered in white cloths were arranged neatly across the grounds, stretching across the open space.
Plates, silver trays, and tall glasses covered the tables, each one filled with all sorts of delicious-looking food that gave off a rich, inviting aroma.
'What is this place...?'
I had expected many things upon entering the castle, but this was the last thing I thought I'd see. I looked around, taking in everything before finally turning my gaze toward the others, who looked just as confused.
"What is this place?"
"...Are we back outside? What is going on?"
Their confusion was evident.
I joined the group, my gaze settling on Leon as he looked around. His face showed nothing, but judging by the way his eyes swept across the courtyard, it was clear he was just as confused.
But eventually, his lips parted.
"Don't touch the food or anything."
His voice carried an unusual seriousness.
"I can no longer see as clearly as before. I can't tell you if this place is real or fake. However, it would be in our best interest if none of us touch anything."
"That's a good decision."
A warm voice suddenly echoed through the air, a man dressed in dark clothes. They were well-made, but with no ornamentation. No rings, jewlery or anything fancy.
The fabric of his clothes also looked to be of good quality as he warmly approached.
"It's always great to be cautious when entering new places. Although everyone here is free to eat and drink as much as they want, I wouldn't blame them for not touching the food. After all, nothing comes free."
The man laughed warmly.
For whatever reason, hearing his laugh, I felt like laughing alongside him.
It didn't seem like I was the only one.
Everyone else around also seemed to relax to some extent.
"Well, why don't you all take a seat for now? Don't eat, but at least relax a bit. I can see that you are all exhausted."
The man pointed towards the many seats.
"If you are all too tired, then you can all also take a room and get some sleep. There are showers and everything that you might need to feel refreshed. And please..." The man stopped, pressing his hand over his chest. "If you have any questions, please feel free to tell me. I'll gladly answer to my best ability."
"Where's the exit?"
Leon asked immediately, without wasting a single second.
The air stiffened for a moment, but only for a moment. The man soon laughed again, his warm laughter reverberating across the courtyard as he looked at Leon.
He then pointed at the cattle.
"It's inside the castle. Just go all the way straight and turn right. You should be able to find the exit, Leon. If you wish to leave, I won't hold you back. However, I do hope that you stay here a little longer."
"..."
Leon didn't answer, his eyes narrowing.
I realized rather quickly the reason behind his expression. He probably wanted to leave quickly, but was struggling to see through the man before us.
Eventually—
"Sure."
He agreed, his face easing as he moved towards one of the seats and sat down.
The man smiled happily, turning his attention towards us.
"What about you all? Do you wish to stay or leave? As I said, I won't force you to stay here. If you wish to stay, then you can try to enjoy the food and have a nice chat with everyone who is present. How about it?"
He turned his attention towards me.
"...You look especially tired, Seth. Haven't slept in a while? Why don't you get some rest and enjoy yourself? I assure you that nothing will happen to you."
Yeah, as if I'd believe you...
Keeping my expression straight, I eventually followed Leon's example and sat down.
'This might be a trap. It's best to calmly observe the situation first.'
But looking around, this place really did look warm and calming. So much so that I didn't even realize that I had taken a sip of the glass of wine before me.
"——!!"
The sour, zesty taste of the wine lingered on my tongue before sliding down my throat as I took a sip.
"——!"
My eyes widened the moment I realized what I had done. My hand shot down as I set the glass back onto the table, the aftertaste of the wine still lingering at the back of my throat.
T-that...!
"Don't worry, there's no poison in it."
Leon's calm voice reached me from next to me as he similarly placed his cup down.
He smacked his lips before muttering, "It's actually amazing wine."
My lips parted slightly as I stared at him.
He looked back at me from the corner of his eye.
"...It looked nice, so I had a taste. I'm sure you were also the same."
No, I wasn't.
I didn't even like wine to begin with.
But...
'Yeah, it was quite good.'
Massaging his throat, Leon continued.
"I'm quite well versed with poisons or any tricks. There's nothing wrong with the wine. In fact, the fact that it's such good wine is what worries me. Not even on the islands is the wine this good."
"Is that so?"
I looked at the cup in front of me. The wine was blood-red, its surface glistening under the bright light of the sun above.
When I looked around me, the others had also appeared, sitting around the table and taking a sip of the wine as well. They showed similar expressions of surprise as they had a taste of the wine.
I felt that something was wrong with the action, but I also didn't detect anything wrong with the wine.
'Is the wine really just wine?'
I didn't want to believe it.
"Are you all enjoying the wine?"
The man approached us as he smiled at us. Although he wasn't very handsome, he still had a certain charm to him. One that felt warm and friendly.
But...
'He knows our names.'
None of us had ever met him, and yet, for him to know our names, I knew that he was no regular being.
'Let's see where this is going before deciding what to do. I'll wait for him to leave before exploring the castle to see if he's lying about the exit.'
"So, how was your journey through the forest?"
He started to make small talk with us.
Strangely, he seemed to blend in quite seamlessly with all of us. As if we had known him for a very long time.
He turned to look in Drake's and Esteban's direction.
"...I heard about your loss. Sam and Jordan were good people. Unfortunately, they left so early. The forest is not for the faint-minded."
Drake's and Esteban's expressions darkened slightly.
Perhaps because of it, they started to eat the food. Their eyes lit up the moment they did.
I grew curious too, reaching for one of the snacks and having a taste myself.
'——!"
This...!
My tonsils danced with joy the moment I had a taste.
This was beyond good!
"You see, the forest is rather special in the sense that it amplifies a person's thoughts. However, for such thoughts to appear, one must already feel them in the first place. So while it is unfortunate that they chose to go that way, in the end, they found liberation in their own way."
For some strange reason, I found myself agreeing.
"I know that your line of work isn't easy. You've all probably seen all sorts of things. Some of you have worked yourselves to the bone in order to escape poverty."
The man turned his attention to Drake, who paused as he reached for his glass and clinked it with his.
"Some of you, on the other hand, do it for survival. To cure yourself of the terrifying disease that has plagued you since childhood."
I felt a gaze directed my way, and subconsciously, I raised my hand, clicking my glass with his as I felt a certain warmth run down my chest. I felt watched. Acknowledged. As if I were talking to someone who understood my struggles.
"...Some of you, on the other hand, do it because you're good at it. You don't really find much pleasure in your line of work, but you do enjoy being the center of attention. You like showing your abilities and receiving all the praise from the media and your fans."
Clink!
Leon clinked his glass.
"I understand all of your woes and can sympathize with all of you. The pressure that comes with your job, and all the expectations. I really do feel for you all."
Placing his glass down, the man smiled once more, his warm expression gentle, like a soft breeze.
"I do hope that all of you enjoy your time over here. In the meantime, I will go and tend to the other guests who are present."
Standing up, he was just about to leave when he paused.
"Oh, right."
He turned his attention back to us.
As he did, he pointed in a certain direction. Where a certain group appeared.
"Those guys over there should be the ones that you're looking for. They got lost on their way, eventually reaching this place too. I suggest you talk to them. Especially since it was your goal to find them. After which, you all can enjoy this place or leave at your own will. Nobody here will stop you."
Warmly laughing, he shifted his attention elsewhere, walking towards another group to make small talk with them.
Wherever he walked, laughter and smiles followed.
I traced his back with my eyes, following his every movement.
He didn't feel like the main character of the place, but rather an extremely competent and friendly host who tried to make everyone feel welcome.
This place...
It felt warm and nice.
'At least, compared to the forest outside, this place is quite nice. It almost feels like a luxurious resort. Kind of makes me want to stay here longer.'
But I couldn't.
I shook my head.
'There are things I need to do.'
My thoughts were broken by the scrape of a chair as Leon stood up, heading towards the distant group the man had pointed towards.
I hesitated for a moment before standing up. As I did, I took one last bite of the food.
'It's really good.'
Though it seemed like I was the only one who followed Leon as the others remained where they were, savoring the food and drinks.
I couldn't even blame them as I walked behind Leon.
Eventually, the two of us arrived before the group in question. They looked exactly like in the profiles that were given to us, but as opposed to the profiles, they were all wearing different clothes.
The clothes were white, and as they stood together, they appeared to be enjoying the food and wine while talking with one another, only stopping when they took notice of us.
"Hello."
Leon was the first to greet them as he bowed his head slightly.
The group paused, tilting their heads as they looked at Leon.
But eventually, they smiled.
"Hahaha, if it isn't Leon. I recognize you."
They looked at him warmly as they placed their cups down and extended their hands, almost as if trying to embrace him.
"You're one of those famous Paragons from a decade ago, the one who was ranked really high. Top ten, right? Did you manage to reach the top rank?"
Leon blinked his eyes slowly before he answered.
"...I've only recently made it in the top rankings."
"Recently?"
The group paused, looking at each other before bursting into laughter.
"How could that be?"
"That's a good one, hahaha."
Taking a step forward, one of the group members patted Leon on the shoulder as he laughed along with the others.
"It's been almost a decade since we've been here. There's no way you've only recently joined the ranks. I guess that memory must mean a lot to you for you to cling to it so much."
He continued to pat him.
"Come on, what rank are you now?"
-x-X-x-
A decade?
I sucked in a cold breath, trying my best to maintain my expression. It was already obvious from the start that something was wrong, but I didn't expect things to be this alarming.
'But what is going on? It hasn't been long since they disappeared. How can they say that they've been stuck here for a decade? Is time here slower, or is there more to it that I don't know?'
"Unfortunately, I'm still the same rank. I wasn't able to get much higher."
Leon looked completely unfazed by the revelation.
In fact, he played along with it.
"...Is that so? That's unfortunate. I guess your talent got squeezed dry in the end. That's normal. I've seen many hit their limit. But still, you've ranked very high. There's no shame in what you've achieved."
Patting Leon's shoulder, the man adjusted his thin circular frames.
"Just be glad that you've even ranked so high. At least, because you got such a high ranking, you weren't forced to take over missions for the BUA that you didn't want to take. Just like us."
Chuckling, he looked back at the group, who raised their glasses and each had a drink.
"Haa."
Wiping his chin, the man turned his attention towards me.
"Hmm. Who might you be? I don't think I'm familiar with you. Are you a Squad Member of Leon's group?"
"Something like that."
I, too, played along.
There was no need to reveal too much.
"Ah, is that so? You don't look very strong."
I just smiled.
Leon glanced at me before looking back at them.
"Tell me more about how you got here."
"Oh, it's really not that big of a story." The leader of the group, whom I presumed was the leader, answered, took another sip of his drink.
"We were all carrying out orders from the bureau. You know, the usual. There's been a recent report regarding a certain point. What was it again? Point Alpha? No... Hmm, it's been a while."
"Point Z."
Leon calmly answered, prompting the man to snap his finger.
"Ah, that's right!"
He took another sip.
"Yes, Point Z. That's the place. We were ordered to investigate the place by the bureau and sent down there. It was recently found information, but apparently, Point Z had some sort of involvement in the appearance of the Mist. We were all sent down there to investigate the validity of the report."
"And...?"
"Hmm, I don't quite remember after that."
Taking another sip of his drink, the man scratched the side of his cheek.
"It's been so long. From what I remember, we did find something. I think I have it in my pocket. Let me check."
Patting his clothes, the group leader tried to look for something, but then, as if recalling something, he smacked his forehead.
"Ah, right! I think it's in my room. Yeah, it's in my room. I'll go get it later for you guys. I presume that you've come to look for us for that information, right?"
"...Yes, but we were also asked to bring you guys back."
The smiles on the group's faces froze at once.
For just a moment, something darker flashed across their visions as their smiles faded.
"Do not do that."
The group leader's voice deepened, his grip over the drink tightening.
"...Do not send us back. We are happy over here."
The air seemed to chill as his eyes trembled.
For a moment, I nearly forgot how to breathe.
But then—
"Well, alright."
Leon shrugged his shoulders.
"Since you guys don't want to return, I won't force you. So long as you share the information with us, I won't cause you guys any more trouble. Is that okay?"
"....."
"....."
"....."
The tense silence continued as the group all looked at Leon rigidly.
But eventually, their smiles returned.
"That's perfectly fine."
"...Haha, for a moment, I thought we'd have to fight. That's great! It's great that you understand. This place is great!"
They cheered.
"We're not treated like trash over here. We can drink, sleep, and have fun every day. Nobody forces us to do anything! It's practically paradise. And you know what's the best part about this place? We can all leave at anytime we want! Nobody forces us to be here, haha!"
The group laughed once more.
Leon laughed alongside them, and I, too, tried my best to laugh. To merge with the group.
But the more I pretended to laugh, the sicker I felt.
This place...
'It's trying to keep us here.'
I sucked in a cold breath, shifting my attention towards Leon. He continued to chat with the group until he eventually thought of something.
"In that case, how about you hand me the keys to your room so my squad member can go to your room and pick up the information that you've found? After that, we'll get out of your way so that you can all enjoy your party."
"Hahaha!"
The group leader laughed, his laugh loud enough to echo everywhere.
"But of course! There's no problem with that!"
He turned his attention towards me, taking out a set of keys.
"My room is located on the third floor. My room number is 77. You should be able to find it easily."
He tossed me the keys with no reservation as he reached back for another drink.
At the same time, Leon looked at me with a smile.
"I'll stay here with them. You go ahead and look for the information. We'll meet up down here."
"...Alright."
Looking at the keys and then Leon, I turned around and moved away from the group. In all honesty, I had mixed feelings about the situation. On one hand, I felt Leon's attitude to be strange.
Was he really handing me the keys like that? Did he not know that this was a competition? Whoever found the information would most likely get the highest points in the Congress?
While on the otherhand, I felt that perhaps I may have misjudged Leon.
He was a Paragon.
Not just any Paragon, but someone who had reached the very top.
He probably knew when to put his pride aside and do the best thing for the mission. Or maybe he was just using me to find the information before snatching it from me.
'I don't know. I'm starting to feel really confused about his attitude.'
Whatever the case was, there was no use dwelling on it at the moment. For now, the most important thing was to find out the information the group leader had mentioned.
At the very least, finding the information would help me with my current ongoing quest.
Even if something did happen to the information, I wouldn't lose out too much.
Thus, without wasting any more time, I headed towards the main part of the castle. At the same time, however, I glanced back in the direction of the man who had greeted us at the start and stared at him.
I didn't know why, but I felt like staring at him.
And as he sensed my gaze, he raised his head to look at me, smiling as he waved.
I nodded back.
Then, tightly holding onto the keys in my hand, I entered the main castle.
-x-X-x-
Step. Step—
The hollow yet loud echo of my steps reverberated through the surroundings the moment I stepped into the castle.
Coming into the castle, I paused for a moment, taking in my surroundings.
The place was enormous.
A long red carpet spread across the floor, and tall chandeliers lit the room, their crystal-clear lamps reflecting off the polished marble beneath. Numerous paintings adorned the walls, their ornate frames adding to the hall's grandeur.
But contrary to the outside, there was no one inside.
The place was completely deserted.
In such a grand place, I was the only one standing.
I felt... minuscule.
'Now, where am I supposed to go to reach the third floor?'
I looked around before eventually following the red carpet.
The carpet muffled my steps as I walked forward, glancing around in every direction as I took in the paintings lining the walls. Although I wasn't someone who appreciated art, I had to admit that the paintings that were all over the walls were extremely nice to look at.
They depicted all sorts of things. From pictures of sceneries, to individuals and large dinners.
It was a sight that almost made me want to pause for a moment to take a look.
But—
'No, don't get distracted.'
I pinched my hand, feeling a shiver run down my heart.
Although I didn't know what was going on, for just the briefest of moments, I had almost forgotten about my mission. For a moment... I thought about spending my time admiring paintings that I had never cared for in my life.
'Yes, it's best that I get this done quickly. The more I stay here, the more dangerous it feels.'
My steps hurried.
Without even knowing where I was going, I just continued to walk ahead.
The path felt endless.
Paintings continued to dot the surroundings, each looking more grand and majestic as the sound of my muffled steps reverberated throughout. I tried to ignore all of it, keeping my thoughts to myself as I lowered my head to avoid looking at anything.
'Find the room. Find the room. Find the room. Find the room. Find the room.'
Through repeated reminders, I managed to keep my goal in mind. And after walking for several more minutes, I eventually found them.
The stairs.
'Yes, this way.'
Reaching for the handrail, I hurried up the stairs.
The carpet stopped at some point, and my steps now echoed off the tall walls as I held tightly onto the marble handrail and continued upward.
'Third floor. Third floor. Third floor.'
I tried to shake away any excess thought, only reminding myself of my goal as my steps hurried further. Holding the keys in tightly with the other hand, I eventually reached the third floor.
Step—
My steps echoed louder than ever.
The moment I stepped in, it felt as though all sound had amplified.
A large corridor that stretched in both directions greeted my sight, the sheer size of the place enough to make me small. But above all, like every other part of the castle, the place was completely deserted.
I felt minuscule as I looked at both sides of the hall, checking the keys in my hand.
'Room 77. I need to go to Room 77.'
I decided to turn right.
Step—
Once more, my step bounced off in all directions as I continued ahead.
Paintings lined the walls on each side, but this time, something about the paintings felt different. They no longer displayed scenes like in the lowerfloor, but instead, they displayed portraits of different people.
'...Why does it feel like they're looking at me?'
I took a moment to look at the paintings.
Silence fell across the large corridor the moment I stopped. But I quickly regretted my decision. Not because of the paintings, but because of the silence.
It felt suffocating.
In such a large corridor, the silence stung as I subconsciously took a step forward, moving towards the paintings.
But—
'No, I'm not here for the paintings.'
Clenching my teeth, I quickly turned my attention away, shifting it towards the numbers on the wooden door by the side of the corridor.
[56]
I wasn't far away from the room I was supposed to go to.
Step. Step—
Once more, the echo of my steps bounced off in every direction. But unlike before, I felt a certain solace in the sound as I looked on both sides of the corridor, checking the number of each room quietly.
'The lack of people really makes this place feel weird.'
It just felt so empty.
Thankfully, I found the room not long after, as I stopped before room [77]. The silence that I felt suffocating a moment prior returned.
Keys in hand, I placed them in the keyhole and turned the key.
Click!
There was no struggle.
Inserting the keys, I turned once, and the door unlocked.
Creaak.
The door creaked open as I stepped in.
A faint breeze hit me the moment I entered the room as the curtains at the far end of the room ballooned. Almost as if they were alive.
I walked past the breeze and looked around the room.
In all honesty, the room was quite nice. It looked fancy, containing all one might need. A large bed, table, wardrobe, and a nice chandelier. And as I stared at the large bed at the center of the room, my eyes suddenly felt heavier.
'...Ah, shit.'
I took a step forward, my gaze fixed on the bed.
Massaging my eyes, I tried to keep them open, but the mere sight of the bed made it impossible for me to do so as I felt a wave of sleepiness wash over me.
Should I...?
I hadn't slept in so long, and I was both mentally and physically exhausted. I knew that this was all probably a trap, but the sense of temptation remained in my heart. I really wanted to lie down on the bed and get some good sleep.
"Shit. Shit."
Covering my face, I snapped my fingers.
A dark figure appeared next to me.
"Slap m—"
Slap!
No hesitation.
I felt a powerful sting next to my face as my eyes widened.
Then, looking up, I saw a dark hand move towards my face once more.
Swoosh!
I ducked, dodging the hand while looking at the Realmwalker who stepped.
"You... I said once."
The Realmwalker turned its head.
This bastard...
'No, this isn't the time!'
I clenched my teeth, trying my best to keep it together. Although I was angry, it did help as I no longer felt as sleepy as I took my eyes away from the bed and looked elsewhere.
But...
"Where could his stuff be?"
The place was extremely clean. There was nothing out of order, and there didn't appear to be any item that belonged to the group leader. In a way, this felt strange as I moved towards the nearby desk and checked the drawers.
"Nothing?"
But even that contained nothing.
"...Strange. Was he lying?"
I felt that this was possible.
But at the same time, my head flicked towards the door entrance.
"..."
Nothing stood there.
Just the empty corridor behind it as the door remained open.
I bit my lips, my eyes narrowing as I moved my attention towards the wardrobe. That was when I finally took notice of it. The slow... creeping sound of something being pulled. One that I felt was vaguely familiar.
My heart pressed tightly against my chest.
With my attention on the door, I slowly moved towards it.
One step. Two steps. Three steps.
I was now in front of it.
The sound was louder now.
Then—
Clank!
I opened it.
——!
A silhouette swayed, its body moving back and forth as I raised my head to stare at the familiar face greeting me.
Aside from the smile on its face, it was extremely pale, lacking any semblance of life as it continued to sway.
I knew then.
Staring at the swaying body, I understood everything.
"Ah, shit."
-x-X-x-
Creaaak—!
The body swayed in front of me, its breath completely gone.
My heart swayed in the same rhythm as the body.
'There's no breath. He's dead.'
I looked at the body's features and was even more certain of it. This was the same Group Leader that I had been speaking to moments prior. I
In that case—
'Everyone outside is dead.'
Or were they? I couldn't tell for sure since they had all felt so 'alive'.
"Ah, fuck."
Ruffling my face, I tried to push the unease down and moved towards the swaying body.
'It might've been a trap, or maybe not. Nevertheless, I'll still try to see if the evidence that they've found is in here.'
The body was dressed in different clothing from the one below.
He was wearing a military-like uniform, with pockets running down his jacket and pants. Patting the body, I tried to feel for anything inside the pockets.
"A pocket knife?"
I tossed it to the side.
For some reason, my movements became rushed as I searched through the pockets.
It almost felt as though my presence was unwanted.
That I was seeing something that I shouldn't have been seeing as my heart pressed tightly against my chest, and my movements hurried further.
'Nothing here too. What about here?'
Taking another item out, I paused.
It was a picture.
One depicted a certain woman and a young girl.
His family...
I took a deep breath, looking back at the body in front of me before putting the picture away and continuing my search. The silence around me felt even more suffocating as every sound around me felt heightened. Reaching toward his breast pocket, I felt something solid and unbuttoned it, reaching for whatever was inside.
But as I did, my head subconsciously lifted.
A pair of hollow eyes met mine. Staring straight at me.
"——!"
My entire body froze, my expression tightening completely as I subconsciously took a step back.
However—
The eyes didn't seem focused.
They simply swayed with the body, rocking back and forth atop the wardrobe.
My hand tightened considerably as I looked away from the eyes and towards my hand, where I saw a small black box.
'It's a data transmitter.'
The item served as a USB stick but was much more advanced.
'...This is what I came here for.'
I felt a lot more relieved after seeing it, and unable to stare at the body any longer, I closed the wardrobe while moving towards the table to connect the transmitter to the phone.
———●
Data Transfer :
|[0%]—————————|
———●
The bar moved up rather quickly as I connected it with my phone.
Waiting for the files to transfer, I grabbed my phone and placed it in my pocket. After which, I moved slowly out of the room and back towards the corridor.
Step—
The echo of my step reverberated across the surroundings once more.
But this time, the sound was louder than before.
It almost felt as though the very floor was trying to announce my presence to every other door within the corridor.
I subconsciously swallowed, my gaze wandering in all directions before settling on the room next to the one that I was in.
Realistically speaking, my goal was over.
I could go downstairs and inform Leon and the others about the situation.
But...
'No, I'm sure things aren't that easy.'
I needed to get a proper idea of where the exit was. Not only that, but I needed to confirm if my previous observation was correct and that everyone who was downstairs had killed themselves.
With the shadow of the Realmwalker trailing behind me, I moved towards the next room as the Realmwalker moved past the door and unlocked it from within.
Click!
Entering the room, a faint breeze brushed past me once more.
This time, the air felt colder.
I moved quietly, taking in the layout of the room. It was no different from the previous one, but the moment I stepped inside, the situation became much clearer as a tightening sound reached my ears immediately.
Staring at the overturned chair and the swaying body, my heart froze.
'Dead. Suicide too.'
Strangely, the sensation of dread lasted only a few seconds before it stopped affecting me. Instead, as I stared at the swaying body, a certain thought crossed my mind.
'That... it looks strangely comforting.'
I thought about my current situation.
My body subconsciously relaxed.
What was I even doing all of this for?
At the end of the day, I was in such a mess because I wanted to cure myself of the disease that had been plaguing me since young. But it was really hard.
The disease I had turned out to be a lot more complicated than I had initially expected.
I had to be put through so many situations that... had almost killed me on many occasions, pushing me to the brink of madness.
Was it all worth it?
Thump!
I felt something thug at my clothes.
But I resisted.
Thump!
It put even more power.
I swiped my hand, and the resistance stopped.
My mind drifted towards the people downstairs.
Towards their happy faces and shared laughter.
What if...?
"——!"
Snapping out of my thoughts, I found a pair of eyes staring right at me, their hollow, unfocused gaze fixed in my direction as the body swayed faintly in the still air.
"Wha..."
Looking down, I realized I was standing on the toppled chair, my hand reaching up toward the rope that held the body suspended above.
Ba... Thump! Ba... Thump!
Clank!
Stumbling back, I nearly fell off the chair as I looked around.
That's...!
That's.....!
'Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.'
Ruffling my face, I forced myself to calm down.
Cold sweat trickled down my back as the reality of the situation sank into my mind.
In that very moment, for just the briefest of moments, I almost found myself falling for the temptation. All it took was that brief moment of distraction for my body to move on its own.
Had I not snapped out of it when I had...
"No, let's not think about it."
I wiped the sweat on my forehead while looking around for the Realmwalker.
Where was that fucker?
Why didn't it do something? I had it come out for a reason!
"No, nevermind that... I... I need to get out of this place."
It was clear.
The more I stayed in this place, the stronger the temptation would become. I needed to find the exit as soon as possible!
'Let me go quickly to the others.'
Step! Step—
Moving out of the room, I didn't even bother trying to hide the sound of my steps as I rushed down as fast as possible.
There was no time for me to bother about anything else.
Moving down the long flight of stairs, I eventually reached the lower floor as the sound of laughter started to echo in the background once more. My heart eased for a moment, but not for long, as I collected myself and stepped out.
"Hahaha."
"...So as I was saying, last week I tried this, but I had gotten so drunk that I had nearly forgotten about what had happened."
"You should try this. It's really good."
Conversations filled my ears from all directions as I continued to look around.
Eventually, I spotted Esteban and the others.
Hm? But where was Leon?
"Oh, you're back."
"——!"
My heart nearly leaped out of my chest as I spun around to lookat the figure standing behind me.
When did...!
'No, nevermind.'
I calmed myself down while nodding.
"Mhm, I found what I was looking for."
"That's good."
Leon nodded, extending his hand.
"Give it to me."
"Hm?"
I stopped while looking at him, my brows furrowing.
He continued to stare straight at me, his expression extremely serious.
"...Did you not hear me? Give it to me."
My heart sank.
This gu—
"There's no point in you keeping it anyway."
Suddenly, his lips curled upward as he pressed his hand against my shoulder and leaned closer, whispering into my ear, "After all, what can someone who's already died do with that?"
-x-X-x-
"What...?"
Staring at Leon as he pulled his head back, the frown on my face deepened.
"What are you talking about?"
But even as I asked again, he wouldn't answer.
Instead, he kept his hand extended.
"Are you not going to give it?"
"Explain yourself first. Are you threatening me?"
Initially, I had some expectations. I expected him to have some sort of dignity and, to some extent, be reliable. However, it was clear that I had been mistaken.
'No, I'm not. I knew from the start he was going to be like this.'
I suddenly recalled the words the man who had greeted us at the start had said about him.
'Some of you, on the other hand, do it because you're good at it. You don't really find much pleasure in your line of work, but you do enjoy being the center of attention. You like showing your abilities and receiving all the praise from the media and your fans.'
I didn't know why I was suddenly reminded of such words.
In fact, I was even more confused about how they flew over my head, and only now I recalled them.
'No, now that I think about it... the man seemed to know quite a lot about us.'
Why?
Why did I never notice?
"Am I threatening you?"
Suddenly, Leon burst out laughing.
His laugh echoed throughout as he looked at me as though I were an idiot.
"Did you hear what I said to you? Why would I be threatening you?"
"What?"
I became even more confused.
No...
More than confusion, I was just trying to deny any sort of other thought.
I clenched and released my fists.
'Yeah, it's not possible.'
"So it seems like you're still unaware."
Leon stopped smiling, his eye flickering for a brief moment as he looked at me.
"Take a look around you. In particular, look over there."
He pointed towards where Drake, Esteban, and the others were. Including the members of his own group. They were all laughing and chatting together, seemingly talking about something extremely funny.
"...They don't realize it, but they've already been affected. Their minds are weak, and they've succumbed to the comfort that is presented around them."
Leon's voice echoed quietly next to me.
"It's pitiful, really. A lot of them are Paragons carrying the dreams of many Guilds and people. They are some of the best of the best within our world. And yet... they've succumbed to the temptation of this place."
"But what does that—"
"You're not that much different yourself."
Leon continued, his voice growing softer. Almost amused in some regards.
"You've fallen for the temptation."
"No, I haven't. I—"
"But you have. I've seen you fall for the temptation. I saw everything, and I didn't stop it when I could've."
"....!"
My heart suddenly squeezed, my expression changing as I turned my head slowly, meeting Leon's line of sight as his smile widened. Almost twisted.
"From the start, I never trusted you. I didn't let you go up there because I wanted you to find the information. I let you go up there because I knew something was going to happen. From the moment you were in the forest, I could see it."
He pressed his finger onto my forehead.
"...The gap in your mind."
"That's... not. That's..."
"I was shocked when you managed to rank ahead of me during the First Trial. Honestly, I was really having a hard time keeping it together. If not for the fact that I knew that we were being watched, I wouldn't have been trying so hard to look friendly."
Scratching the side of his face, Leon's face turned disgusted for a brief moment.
"Still feel sick about that. But..."
He turned his attention back to me, his smile widening.
"Seeing the current state that you're in, all is good. My competition is now gone, and I can just claim credit for everything. There's no doubt about it that I'll now rank first."
He reached his hand towards me once more.
But this time, he didn't ask.
Instead, he pressed his hand over my shoulder. I wanted to struggle or do something, but I felt powerless.
'Realmwalker!"
'Conductor!'
'Mirelle!'
'Mr. Jingles!'
My nodes weren't working.
My connection with the anomalies was similarly gone.
'No, no...'
"So this is the data transmitter?"
Before I knew it, Leon held onto the data transmitter. He had taken it from me without me even realizing.
No, but it didn't matter.
None of it mattered as I pushed past Leon, heading back into the castle.
'No, it's not possible. It makes no sense at all. I'm sure he's just messing with me. I feel alive. There's no way that I'm dead. It can't be...'
Walking up the stairs, my steps no longer felt as loud.
If anything, I couldn't even hear them.
"Haa... Haaa..."
That didn't matter to me. It was irrelevant.
Walking all the way to the same floor as before, I retraced my steps, going back to the rooms that I had visited.
"....."
Soon, I came to a stop.
I stared at the room, the door still open as if inviting me in. Before I realized it, my feet began to move on their own, carrying me toward the doorway ahead.
Ba... Thump! Ba... Thump! Ba... Thump!
It almost felt as though I could hear the sound of my own heartbeat.
No, it was clear to me.
It was loud. So loud.
But—
"....."
As if it had been an illusion from the start, it stopped at once.
Creaaaaak—
Along with the creaking, I stared at the body hanging from the ceiling.
My lips trembled.
"Ah..."
I stumbled back.
Thump!
***
"Hahaha. Let's drink more!"
"...This wine is so good! I've never had such good wine!"
"Right? I wish I could stay longer."
"Ah, Leon! You're here."
"Mhm."
Smiling, Leon looked at the group in front of him. In particular, he paid attention to the remaining members of his team as he placed his hand over their shoulders.
"May I have a word with my team for a moment? It won't take long."
"Haha, of course!"
Drake shouted, downing the wine in his cup.
"Take as much time as you want while I enjoy this! It's so good!"
"Hahaha."
Laughter erupted, and Leon joined in too as he pulled his team members aside, despite their protests.
"What is it, Squad Leader? I wanted to enjoy the wine a bit more."
"Yeah, the good is so good. Why don't you try it?"
"If—"
"We'll be leaving now."
"——!"
"....!!"
The faces of his members changed immediately. However, before any of them could say a word, Leon held onto the data transmitter.
"I've got what we came for. Let's go."
"But—"
"Follow."
His words poured cold water on their minds.
In that instant, it was as if whatever had been affecting their minds had stopped. They quickly snapped out of whatever state they were in and started following him from behind as Leon tossed the data transmitter in his grasp.
He wasn't lying...
He really could've saved Seth if he wanted to.
He had followed him from behind and watched as everything unfolded. It wouldn't have cost him anything to stop him.
But...
Why?
Why would he save him?
'It's a competition after all.'
"Really, what a pity."
-x-X-x-
Creaak! Creaaaak—!
The body continued to sway in front of my eyes.
From its dark hair to the dark circles beneath its eyes... There was no doubt about it. That was my own body.
"No, but... I..."
Holding onto my mouth, I tried my best to calm my emotions.
'This is my mind playing tricks on me. It has to be.'
Yeah, there was no way.
I still... felt alive.
I could breathe, move my hands, think, and feel. There was no way that I wasn't alive.
"A trick. Yeah... it must be a trick."
Just like I couldn't feel the Realmwalker, and the others, that was also probably a trick.
'This is all to make my mind unstable, and make me give up. I won't give up.'
Yeah, there was no way.
"I won't die. I will not die."
I went through so much just so that I wouldn't die. How could I kill myself?
"There's absolutely no way!!"
My hand smacked against the floor as I pushed myself up. My chest rose and fell in quick, uneven breaths as I looked back toward the doorway. It was empty. However, I kept my gaze directed the way.
"..."
The silence around me thinned as I continued to look at the door, the corridor past it feeling even bigger than before.
Then—
Step!
I decided to move out of the room, heading straight to the lower floor like before.
My mind was clear.
I wasn't dead. I was being tricked.
Yes, it had to be that way.
Step. Step—!
Reaching the stairs, I went back to the main area where laughter rang throughout. A soft tune played in the background as the people continued to enjoy the party, taking a sip of their drinks while eating and chatting with one another.
For just the briefest of moments, I felt tempted.
I... felt like joining them.
'No!'
But I was quick to shake those thoughts away as I continued to look around.
Eventually, my gaze settled on a couple of familiar figures.
'...They've been left behind.'
Drake and Esteban.
The two from the Melson Sanders Guild were chatting with the others nearby, casually enjoying their drinks and snacks. Seeing them like that, I couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment. One of them was supposed to be a powerful Paragon, while the other was supposed to be someone smart enough to rein over such a Paragon.
For them to fall this easily...
'No, I am the last person who can think this way.'
Shaking my head, I continued to look around before eventually finding 'him'.
Yes, 'him'.
Even now, I didn't know their name or identity.
They had never mentioned it.
In fact...
I didn't even know what he truly looked like. All I knew was that he seemed moderately handsome, but whenever I tried to recall his features, they simply wouldn't stick in my mind. It was almost as if my thoughts refused to imprint them.
Just who in the world was he?
"Honestly, Seline, I'm really glad that you were able to push your hatred aside and enjoy yourself. It brings me great joy to see that you're starting to heal."
"All of this was thanks to you and the people around you. This place... It's like heaven."
"Heaven?"
His laugh was warm.
"I'm glad you think that's the case."
But to me, it felt extremely cold.
Stopping right behind him, I saw him turn toward me as if he had been expecting my arrival, his lips curling into a half-smile.
"Seth."
He greeted me as though he were an old friend of mine.
"It seems like you were left behind by Leon and his team. They've already left this place. It's honestly quite unfortunate that they've left you behind."
"....."
"There's no need to look that way. I understand your concerns, and I am here to ease them for you."
Taking a step towards me, he smiled warmly.
But that was all I was able to pick up. The warm smile on his face.
However, when I tried studying his face, I realized that I couldn't memorize anything at all.
"You've indeed died."
His soft voice whispered into my mind.
My heart shook.
"You're trying to deny the idea that you've succumbed to your inner demons, but is there really a need to be so hung up about your own death? Have a look around you."
He looked around.
I did too, my head scanning the surroundings as if acting on its own.
I watched all the people around. Their joy. Their laughter.
Everything.
"You've endured a lot. More than you can imagine. Your childhood has been a lie. From the moment you were born, you were nothing but a test subject for some weird cult. You were just a lab rat meant to be used as a vessel for... Dantalion."
'Dantalion. Dantalion. Dantalion. Dantalion. Dantalion.'
The mere mention of "Dantalion" sent shivers down my spine. His name echoed at the back of my mind again and again, whispering through my thoughts until they drowned out everything else.
"You've fought. You've struggled. In the end.. You sacrificed a lot and ended up sealing Dantalion away. Honestly, that's a feat that's worthy of applause."
Clap! Clap! Clap!
All of a sudden, a series of applause rang throughout the courtyard. I raised my head and looked around, feeling the numerous gazes of everyone present directed at me as they clapped with wide smiles on their faces.
"Congratulations!"
"That's an amazing achievement! Wow...!"
"We've got someone with great accomplishments! What an honor."
"Come, have a toast with me later!"
Everyone congratulated me. This included Drake and Esteban. They smiled, cheered, and raised their glasses in the air.
Clap! Clap!
The claps didn't stop.
They... just continued.
"Do you see this?"
The voice continued to whisper next to me.
"You're appreciated here. Everyone here knows about your struggles and acknowledges you for it. Aren't you tired?"
The whisper grew fainter.
"What do you even struggle so much for? Isn't it because you want to live a good life without the disease that has been plaguing you? In that case, you're free at the moment. The disease will no longer restrict you."
"....."
"You can eat, drink, laugh, and socialize as much as you want. Nobody will stop you. Isn't this what you've always wanted? Why be so upset over an unexpected blessing?"
Something within me stirred.
I knew that I was being tempted. I knew that I was being manipulated.
But...
But...!
'He's not wrong.'
The only reason why I struggled so much was that I wanted to live. Because I wanted to get rid of the disease that was plaguing me and live a normal life. That was all that I really wanted and desired.
Then...?
'Isn't the life that I've always wanted right before my very eyes?'
Eat. Drink. Sleep.
Laugh.
Party.
Enjoy...
My lips gradually parted as my chest felt less heavy than before.
"You're starting to open your eyes, Seth. I'm really happy that you're seeing the truth."
The warm laughter returned.
At the same time, I glanced down and saw a hand extended toward me, a chalice of wine held firmly in its grasp.
"Take it."
The voice whispered, my heart stirring once more.
"...Let yourself go. There's no need to struggle any longer."
My breathing grew heavier.
"Have fun."
And—
"...Okay."
I soon took the chalice, staring at the reflection that stared back at me. In particular, those dead eyes that seemed to belong to someone who hadn't slept in a very long time.
I'm tired.
"I know."
I want to rest.
"You can do that."
"Can I?"
"Yes, you can."
Really?
"Drink."
Okay.
Bringing the chalice to my lips, I took my first sip.
"Wooooh!"
"Hahahahahah!"
"Congratulations! Congratulations on your freedom!"
Cheers erupted in all directions the moment I took a sip. Feeling the warm reception, I looked around me before my lips pulled into a smile.
"Thank you!"
I laughed.
"Thank you very much!"
I didn't know much about wine.
In fact, I didn't even like wine that much.
"Try this. This is a Champarion from 1975. It's one of the finest wines that you can have. Honestly, the taste is neither too sweet nor too bitter. It's got the right amount of fruitiness and acidity."
I took a sip.
"Wow...!"
"Right?"
"More. Give me more."
Things were different now.
I was now starting to enjoy the taste of wine.
I was also learning a lot about the blends and the different tastes of them.
But that wasn't all.
The food was good, and the people were really nice. But above all, the beds were really comfortable. Even though I had been sleeping a lot more than in the past, the number of times when I felt satisfied with my sleep could be counted on one hand.
But here...?
It felt as though I would have the best sleep every single day that I woke up.
This place was no different from paradise.
'Yeah, who cares if I'm dead and stuck here. At the end of the day, I no longer feel so tired and no longer have to struggle for some bullshit disease that has been eating away at my sanity each day.'
This right here was the life that I had always desired.
"Come, Seth. Try this snack."
"What is this...?"
"This is a steak tartare with a drizzle of white truffle oil and toasted bread."
"This is good!"
Not only the wine, but even the food was spectacular. Mingling with the other people in the courtyard, I started to enjoy myself. So much so that I started to lose track of time. I didn't even know how much time had passed, but the days just seemed to zoom past me.
Every day, I would wake up, go down to the party, chat with the others, learn new things, and enjoy the food and the wine.
This felt like paradise on earth.
But at the same time, something stirred within my chest.
The more time I spent in this place, the more I felt like I was losing something.
But what?
What was I losing?
"How are you feeling, ■■■■? It looks like you've started to mingle well with the others."
Hm?
What was it that he said?
I think I'm drunk.
I looked at the wine glass in my hand.
"Can you say that again? I didn't hear you properly."
"That's alright."
He smiled warmly.
"I'm asking how you're doing. Are you enjoying yourself here? Is there something that is not to your liking? If you want more food, I can get more. If you want better wine, I can provide you with better wine."
"Is... that so?"
"Of course. I can get anything that you want, ■■■■. Just ask, and I'll provide it for you."
I blinked slowly.
There it was again.
In the midst of his sentence, there was something blank.
Something that my mind couldn't quite perceive.
But what? What was it?
"■■■■? Is everything alright? Do you want to get some rest? It seems like you've had quite a lot to drink."
"...Maybe."
I smiled, twirling the wine in my cup before taking a sip.
"Maybe."
Was I drunk?
There was a good chance that I was drunk.
Looking down at my cup, I stared at the blood-red liquid inside. Twirling the wine slowly, I watched it swirl along the glass, glinting under the harsh light of the sun above. As the liquid continued to circle, I suddenly stilled the glass, having noticed something.
My reflection...
Why was there no reflection?
But above all—
'What do I even look like?'
I closed my eyes and tried to think.
I think... I had brown hair. Brown hair, correct? No, was it yellow? I was blonde, right? Hmm. No, I don't think it's that either. But what about the color of my eyes? Were they green? No, they were blue.
Gray? Black? Purple?
'What? Why is it so difficult to remember?'
Swirling my cup again, I raised my head and looked around. The world around me seemed to tilt and spin, my head growing lighter with each passing second. I couldn't understand what was happening.
Above all, I couldn't remember.
How did I even look like?
No...
What was my name?
Ah, my name.
I think I know that much.
"My name is ■■■■."
Huh?
"■■■■."
That's...
"■■■■."
I touched my mouth.
Why?
"■■■■."
I couldn't hear a single thing. Every time I opened my lips to say my name, something appeared to block me. The name flowed out, but my mind refused to register what came out of my lips.
It was as if it had been permanently removed from my memories.
It couldn't be, right?
'No, it can't be.'
Taking another sip of the wine, I moved away from the spot I was in.
"Hey, ■■■■. Come over here, I've got something new that you should try."
"■■■■! ■■■■!"
"Oh, ■■■■! Where are you going, ■■■■? Come! Try this! There's also someone that I wanted to introduce to you!"
Walking around, everyone tried to grab my attention. In a way, it felt strange. It almost felt as though everyone was targeting me at once.
My usually calm heart started to beat faster as my steps hurried.
Without even thinking, I moved toward the castle windows and stared at the reflection looking back at me.
But...
"....."
What greeted me was just an outline.
A faceless outline of what used to be a person.
Ba... Thump! Ba... Thump!
Something started in my chest.
It grew louder and louder as the noise around me ceased for a brief moment. And when I looked back, I saw several eyes directed my way.
They were all smiling.
"■■■■, what are you doing? You're acting strange."
"Have a drink with us, ■■■■. Why are you acting so strange?"
"■■■■?"
I opened my lips, trying to say something.
But I couldn't.
■■■■. Who was ■■■■?
No, who was I?
"Haa... Haa."
Subconsciously, my breathing grew heavier and heavier. I couldn't understand what was happening, but I felt that something was wrong. For just a split second, my mind seemed to clear as I tried to think back about my situation.
About my life.
My memories of the past.
But—
"..."
It was blank.
I couldn't remember anything at all.
No, there were bits and pieces, but they were faint.
I couldn't quite tell what was real and what was fake.
'Who...? Who am I? What is this...? What am I even doing? What is happening? Why am I here?'
Questions flooded my mind every second.
They echoed loudly inside my mind as I struggled to find an answer to each of them. Then, suddenly, a sharp pain began to build in my head.
"Akh!"
"■■■■? Are you okay?"
"Are you okay, ■■■■?"
"S-stay, back!"
I stumbled back, raising my hand to stop the people from approaching me. Holding onto my head, I looked around me.
For just a moment, my mind felt clear.
I started to recall things, but at the same time, the very things I recalled started to fade from my mind.
I still couldn't recall my name.
My features, or even my identity.
But I did recall something.
Certain words.
'One has to sacrifice something important to them to see the way.'
'Only through such a way can you show that you can let go and not cling to the thing holding you down.'
I didn't even know who the voice belonged to or who said the words.
But in that moment, something clicked inside my mind.
And—
Smashing the cup in my hand against the wall beside me, the glass shattered into jagged pieces. Gripping one of the sharp fragments, I pressed it against my face and drove it into my right eye.
SPURT!
Spurt—!
The pain engulfed my mind, swallowing any semblance of thought. I struggled to keep myself from screaming as blood streamed down from my eye and onto the ground.
All the noise around me seemed to stop in that moment as I felt numerous gazes directed my way.
"....."
Besides the steady dripping of my own blood, there was no other sound around me. The air hung still, the silence absolute.
In that moment, I slowly raised my head to look around me.
That was also the moment that I saw it.
The numerous empty faces devoid of any features stared right at me.
...Ah.
Suddenly, I realized the reason why Leon had never fallen for the situation. It wasn't that he wasn't affected, but it was because he could see the truth that lay bare before our very eyes.
As I scanned the surroundings, only two figures still had their faces intact.
Esteban and Drake.
"Oh my goodness!"
"Seth...!? How are you doing? What's happened?"
"Why did you do that to yourself?"
"Should we get a medic?"
The noise returned a moment later as people began to approach me, their expressions filled with concern. But the moment I sensed them closing in, I instinctively stepped back. These people... No, these things... They weren't humans.
They were something else entirely.
"Seth, are you okay?"
Seth... Seth...
Yes, that was my name.
"Seth?"
"A-ah, I am fine."
I tried to remain calm, my voice coming out rather hoarse.
"...I'm just tired. I... think I need to get some sleep."
"Is that so? Then you should've said so. Please go and have some rest."
"Yes, go rest. We'll be here."
"If you need anything, just let us know."
They were all still nice, their voices comforting.
So much that my heart started to ease for a brief moment.
'No!'
Holding onto the shard of glass, I cut my wrist.
"Seth!?"
"What are you doing!?"
"Ah, it's nothing. Nothing."
I forced a smile while looking at the empty faces around me.
"As I said, I'm tired."
The pain helped clear my mind.
Without saying anything else, I turned around and headed back toward the castle. As I walked, I could still feel the numerous stares following me, a lump forming in my throat. Even so, I ignored it and continued forward.
Step. Step—
The castle was different.
Now that I could see clearly, the interior was no longer as fancy or well-maintained as before. The corridor and entrance were still large, but everything was old and worn. Spiderwebs stretched in every corner, and the bright lights that once shone from above had long since faded, leaving the halls bathed in a dim glow that felt almost like darkness.
I walked through the darkness, holding onto my eye as I tried to push the pain away.
Even though everything looked different, the layout was the same. I knew exactly where I needed to go as I eventually found myself in the same room as before, stopping only to look at my hanging body.
"....."
Staring at my hanging body, I remained silent.
"W-why?"
Why was it still there?
I had sacrificed my eye. I should be able to see through all of the illusions. So why?
Why was my body still there?
"N-No, I can't fall for it. Don't let yourself fall for it."
I sat down on the worn-down bed and tore a strip from the cloth, pressing it over my eye. The fabric quickly soaked through, staining red as it absorbed the blood.
'This place is dangerous. I need to quickly find a way out of this place. But...'
I bit my lips, my head still looking away from my body.
Could I even...?
"No, let's not think about it. I need to find the exit first. Yeah, that's what I need to do. That's what I—"
"You're looking for the exit?"
"——!"
My head snapped to the right, turning toward the figure standing by the window as the curtains billowed behind him. His features remained hidden behind the shifting fabric, but through a narrow gap in the curtains, I could still see the faint curl of his lips.
"Why do you want to leave? You were so comfortable a few moments ago. What is it that is pushing you to leave this place? Is it the very idea of dying bad for you? But what is wrong with that? So long as you eat, sleep, have fun, and do everything that you want, what's wrong with letting yourself die?"
His voice was like a whisper of temptation.
The more I heard it, the more my chest began to tremble. In that very moment, the damp, worn-down surroundings started to shift, slowly giving way to the all-too-familiar luxurious environment as his whisper reached my ears once more.
"...What is the point in struggling? You're already dead anyway. You... killed yourself. It's obvious that you've lived a life of struggle. You're tired. That's why you chose to rest. And there's nothing wrong with that. What's wrong with resting? You deserve it."
Creaaaak—
The creaking sound of the rip echoed faintly in the background as my heart thumped loudly in my head. At the same time, the voice whispered inside my mind once more.
"It's time to let go. Enjoy yourself. There's no need to cling to some meaningless life that will only lead to you being controlled by some strange entity. Be yourself. Don't let others control you. Be free. Enjo—"
SPURT!
"Aaaakh!!"
Pain engulfed my mind once more as I drove the blade into my leg. The sudden surge of agony nearly made me collapse as the surroundings began to shift again.
The curtains billowed by the window once more, but the figure was long gone.
I glared in the direction of the window.
"You... talk too much."
***
Clank—!
An old metal door opened, and several people stepped out. Fiddling with a small device in his hand, Leon looked around with a smile. He appeared to be inside a small house. There didn't seem to be anything strange about the house, and as he looked back at where he came from, all he found was a small room.
'I guess it's gone.'
He began to walk out of the house, reaching the empty street of Point Z as he looked around.
"It seems like we've finally managed to get out of that place."
He looked behind his squad.
He felt a little disappointed by the fact that two of his members had died, but things were still good. With the data transmitter in his hand, the Congress was as good as his.
'Well, I did pay a hefty price for it.'
Leon touched his eye.
Even now, it was missing. However, he wasn't too worried. He knew that Menders could find a solution for him. Although they were a bit crazy, they were also very capable.
"Let's go look for some place to rest. There are still a few days until the Congress is over, and in the meantime, we should see if we can fi—"
Click!
Leon's expression froze as he felt something press against the back of his neck.
Perhaps it was because he was slightly tired, but he didn't feel any presence behind him until it was too late.
Blinking a couple of times, his lips soon pulled into a smile as he turned his head to stare at the pair of dark eyes that stared back at him.
"Ah."
He raised both hands as he greeted her warmly.
"If it isn't Liora. What a nice way for you to greet me."
"You look like shit."
Liora's words made Leon burst into warm laughter.
"You think? Actually, I went through quite a lot. Even now, it hurts quite a bit."
"What was it?"
"Believe it or not, it was actually an anomaly. A pretty strong one at that."
"Did you kill it?"
"No, I just barely managed to escape it."
He wasn't lying.
Although he wasn't quite sure if what he had met was an anomaly.
"In any case, why are you pointing your weapon at me?"
"Because I need to make sure you're not a fake."
"Oh?"
Liora pulled her gun down and retreated a few steps. At a glance, it did seem like she was no longer alert, but Leon knew. He knew and understood that if he made a single wrong step, she'd shoot him on the spot.
Normally, Leon was confident in dealing with her, but with an eye missing, he didn't want to take any risks as he continued to smile.
He made casual conversation.
"I take it that the reason you're so cautious is because of the strange anomaly that lingers in the mist, right?"
"...It can mess with a person's perception."
"Mhm. I've noticed."
Actually, Leon had an idea. The main reason he had gone to 'that' place was because he was following the strange anomaly to get a better idea of the situation. In the end, things turned out the way they did, and he managed to acquire the data transmitter after a lot of effort.
"We should part ways."
Leon smiled at Liora.
"As you can see, I'm rather injured at the moment. I need some time to properly heal from the situation. Although I would like to team up with you, I'm not in a condition to do so."
"I don't care about that."
Liora coldly answered as her eyes narrowed. Looking around, she sniffed the air before looking back at Leon.
"Where is he...?"
"Hm? Where is who?"
"Seth."
Liora's eyes narrowed.
"...I can smell him from you."
***
Spurt—!
"Akh!"
Pain engulfed me as I barely managed to suppress my scream. Looking around, I struggled to keep myself together. Blood leaked onto the floor, spreading across the already reddened surface, stained with layers of dried blood.
How much time had passed?
I couldn't remember.
The days seemed to pass by in a flash as I left the room every single day to find the exit. I checked new rooms every single day, trying to see if there was any way for me to leave this place, but I'd just be met by the same scene over and over again.
Creaaak! Creaaaak—
'I can't forget. I can't forget. I can't forget.'
I looked at my hand.
Where there should've been five fingers, there was only one left.
Every day, I'd sacrifice a new part.
This was the price that I had to pay in order not to let myself forget.
To not let myself forget about my identity.
"Haa... Haa... Haa."
Breathing unevenly, I leaned my head back as I tried my best to suppress the pain.
F-for just how long did I have to do this for?
I was tired. So damn tired.
The pain was real, and each day that passed, I'd have to sacrifice something new. What would happen once I had nothing else left to sacrifice?
"Why...? Why am I even struggling so much?"
The man's voice whispered inside my mind again.
'What is the point in struggling? You're already dead anyway.'
'You... killed yourself.'
'It's obvious that you've lived a life of struggle. You're tired. That's why you chose to rest. And there's nothing wrong with that. What's wrong with resting? You deserve it.'
The voice grew stronger and stronger each passing day, taking over my consciousness as I struggled to deal with the pain.
Yes...
Why was I struggling so much?
What even was the point of my doing all of this?
From the start, all I wanted was to live a normal life without any disease taking over my life. However, it was clear that I had already died. Why was I still struggling despite knowing that I was dead?
Why?
Why...?
'What is it that is pushing you to leave this place?'
I don't know.
'Is it the very idea of dying bad for you? But what is wrong with that? So long as you eat, sleep, have fun, and do everything that you want, what's wrong with letting yourself die?"
I don't know. I don't know.
Holding my head with both hands, I mumbled, "...I don't know."
But still—
Forcing myself up, I moved out of the room.
Or at least, I tried.
The curtains behind me billowed as a soft breeze brushed into the room.
"You're going again to look for the exit?"
My steps came to a stop, but I didn't answer.
I couldn't answer.
Instead, I reached for the blade and tried to cut off a new finger.
But—
"Coward."
My movements came to a stop.
"You're merely using pain to escape from the reality of your situation. Deep down, you know the real reason you don't want to accept this. It's not because you don't want it, but because you're afraid of leaving the people who rely on you alone. You're overrating yourself."
The voice drew closer, whispering close to my ear as my heart shook.
"Kyle is already considered a Paragon. Even without you, his life will be great. The same goes for everyone else in the Guild. Now that the Guild has reached the King-Grade, they will have a lot more resources and renown."
"....."
"Is it your squad that you're worried about?"
Yet again, I couldn't respond.
There was something about the voice that made it impossible for me to reply.
It felt hypnotizing.
But...
"I am worried."
My voice soon flowed out on its own.
What?!
That's not what I meant to say.
"Is that so?"
For some reason, even though I was looking away, it almost felt as if I could still see the figure standing behind me.
It was smiling.
So widely that it almost felt twisted.
"You're worried about them? But why?"
"Because they rely on me."
No, this isn't me speaking!
"No, it is you. This is your true thoughts."
Impossible!
"Nothing is impossible. Especially when you know it yourself."
No, no!
"But are you sure they'll struggle without you?"
"...They won't."
——!
"You know it, right?"
"I know it."
Know what?!
"Ariel alone can do what you can't do. She's much more suited to leading the team than you are. With her, they can climb places that they'll never reach with you. In that case, what are you useful for?"
I...
I....
"Will there be anyone who will miss you?"
".....No."
"So why do you keep struggling?"
The voice pressed closer into my ears. My body shook alongside the whisper.
"You're struggling for nothing. There will be no one who will miss you even if you were to leave. Is it the Guild Master? But you should be aware that he only cares about results. He'll just be disappointed in his failed investment."
That's...
"There's no one who will miss your death. Why do you cling so much to life when it's meaningless to stay alive? Just let go."
The voice whispered once more, but this time the whisper felt stronger than ever, sending a deeper tremor through my body.
"Let yourself go and enjoy the things that you deserve. Let—"
"That's not it..."
I looked at the remaining fingers on my hand and sliced down, cutting them off.
The voice stopped at once.
"I've... never cared about what others do without me."
Blood spurted all over the ground as I stared at my fingerless hand. The pain failed to register as I dazedly looked ahead.
"I..."
Shaking my head, I walked towards the exit.
'That's not it. That's just not it...'