"Haah… haah…"
She was almost unable to run anymore. Every breath felt like her lungs were being scorched with pain. In this empty city, on these deserted streets, only the girl was desperately running, while behind her followed a gigantic, terrifying steel monster. Its footsteps were slow yet steady, like a predator toying with its prey, always trailing behind her.
"Haah…!"
Finally, the pain reached its limit. The girl stopped, gasping heavily. Her slender, deer-like legs had already begun trembling. Yet the footsteps behind her continued to approach, with no intention of stopping.
"Shirley… Ashe…"
Calling out her friends' names, the girl clenched her teeth. Her heart pounded violently, as if it might burst at any moment.
Why… why did something like this happen to her?
She had been accompanying her worried friend home, but on the way, her friend suddenly screamed. A bizarre black monster had appeared behind her. The girl had been completely stunned by the scene. Fortunately, the monster didn't seem interested in harming her friend—for it, her right eye seemed far more valuable.
So the girl made up her mind to lure the monster away from her friend.
But… she hadn't expected this monster to be so terrifying.
And not just that…
Where… is this place?
The girl raised her head and looked around. At first glance, this seemed to be the fog city. But when she tried to open doors and hide inside buildings, she discovered that none of the doors could be opened. They weren't locked—they were simply stone blocks that looked like doors.
So the only thing she could do… was run. Run, run, and keep running.
To draw the monster away.
To keep it from harming her friend.
But… what should she do next?
"———————!!!"
Just as she was racking her brain, a beast-like roar rang out again. She turned her head and saw that the terrifying steel monster had already reached a short distance behind her. It spread its claws, glaring viciously at her, letting out a greedy howl.
"Golden Eye… give it… to me…!"
"Don't… joke around!"
Her entire body trembled. Fear had already begun to blur her consciousness. Yet she still clenched her fists tightly and shouted at the monster.
"I won't lose to you!"
"Boom!!"
At that moment, a black shadow suddenly descended from the sky, crashing heavily between the girl and the monster, startling her.
"Huh?"
The girl looked up in shock. Standing before her was a towering figure clad in a black coat, wearing a wide-brimmed hat. He held a pitch-black cane in his hand, his back facing her.
Who… is he?
The scene threw her mind into chaos. She wanted to say something—but no words came out. At that moment, the steel monster also noticed the black figure and spread its arms again.
Strangely enough, when she first saw the monster, she had been terrified of its massive steel body. But now, this tall black figure was even a head taller than the monster. To an observer, the monster suddenly didn't seem that frightening anymore.
"That depends on whether you have the ability!"
Hearing the monster's roar, the black figure snorted coldly. Then the girl saw him grip his cane tightly and slam it down. With a heavy sound, black flames instantly erupted from the ground.
What… was that?
Staring at the black flames before her, the girl widened her eyes in terror. For some reason, just looking at those flames made her feel a chilling dread. Her body, which had been burning hot from running, now felt as if cold water had been poured over it—turning ice-cold.
Not only that, within the flames, she saw a strange pattern formed by arcs of red and black.
That was…
Even though she had never seen such a pattern before, a word suddenly surfaced in her mind.
Destined Death.
It was an ancient end—one feared even by gods—the ultimate conclusion of death and destruction, where all things would burn away…
Her consciousness stopped there.
The next moment, she fell into deep darkness.
When the girl regained consciousness, it was already the morning two days later. Sitting beside her bed was the apartment landlady.
From her, the girl learned the truth.
Two days ago, someone had knocked on the landlady's door. When she opened it, she found only the unconscious girl and her friend. The girl had been running a high fever. Even after doctors examined her, the conclusion was simply that—a fever.
Fortunately, she had awakened.
But her friend… was not so lucky.
Unconscious.
That was the only diagnosis the doctors could give. Her friend had no fever, no symptoms. She simply lay there, like a sleeping beauty, unable to wake.
This news struck the girl like a bolt from the blue.
Why had she awakened—but her friend had not?
What exactly had happened?
Everything she saw that night… was it really not a dream?
She didn't want to believe it.
But reality was reality.
On the first day, she stayed by her friend's side, caring for her.
On the second day, renowned doctors came one after another.
On the third day, even the most famous physicians failed to wake her.
On the fourth day, the girl spent the entire day in her room thinking about what had happened that night—the steel monster chasing her, the dark city, and the Grim Reaper who had appeared before her.
Then—
She realized something.
That… Grim Reaper—
she had seen him before.
More than once.
That's right. Although she hadn't seen his face, she could never forget that height.
If she remembered correctly, the first time was at the Thames River. When she fell into the water, he had rescued her. She hadn't even had time to thank him before he vanished without a trace.
The second time was at the academy. He had stood beneath the shadow of a tree in the courtyard, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a black coat, holding a black cane. She had wanted to greet him—but had been too busy rushing to class.
The third time… was that night.
On that dark street.
Even though his back had been turned, the clothing, the cane—and most importantly, that height…!
Thinking this, the girl made her decision.
No matter what, she had to find him.
Perhaps… from him, she could find a way to awaken her friend.
There was only one way.
She had seen him at the academy before. Although she didn't know what he was doing there, as long as there was even a sliver of hope—she would go.
With that thought, the girl composed herself, tidied her clothes, and left the apartment, heading toward the academy—
Then she stopped.
Because she clearly saw that not far ahead, beneath the shade of a tree, that tall, black figure was standing there, silently watching her.
"..."
Her emotions suddenly became complicated.
It felt like finally making up her mind to travel across mountains and rivers to find someone—only to step outside and find that person already waiting.
Still, she took a deep breath, met his gaze, and walked toward him step by step.
So tall.
Although she had seen him several times before, this was the first time she observed him up close in daylight. Just standing before him gave her a strange sense of pressure—as if what stood before her wasn't a human, but some massive creature like an elephant.
It instinctively made one want to keep their distance.
But as a lady, she would not forget her manners.
"Good day, sir. My name is Mary Clarissa Christie. Regarding the times you have saved me from danger, please allow me to formally express my gratitude."
"Haah…"
However, to Mary's surprise, the man merely sighed.
"So you really can see me."
"Huh?"
"Come with me. Let's walk."
After saying that, Duanmu Huai turned and walked forward. Mary hesitated for a moment, then followed behind him.
The two walked along the riverside in silence. After a long while, the man finally spoke.
"How are your conditions?"
"Huh? Thanks to you, I'm fine. It's just Shirley…"
"Shirley?"
"Ah, yes—my friend, Shirley Brontë. She's still asleep… we've had many doctors examine her, but she still hasn't woken up."
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Duanmu Huai raised an eyebrow.
"She still hasn't woken up?"
"Yes… please forgive my rudeness, but if possible, I ask for your help…"
"No problem."
To Mary's surprise, Duanmu Huai nodded without hesitation.
"Take me to her."
"Okay!"
Delighted that she had received permission so easily, Mary quickly led Duanmu Huai to her friend's home. However, what surprised her was that when they arrived, the maid responsible for caring for her friend only greeted her—and showed no reaction whatsoever to the man beside her.
"Don't mind it. Just a small illusion. I don't like drawing attention."
Although she didn't fully understand, Mary had no time to dwell on it. She brought Duanmu Huai to Shirley's room, where he finally saw the sleeping beauty.
"I see…"
Staring at the unconscious girl lying on the bed, Duanmu Huai narrowed his eyes and observed her for a moment. Then he turned to Mary.
"Tell me everything that happened that day—every detail."
He said.