CHAPTER 22 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN
---
The morning sun, climbing higher, illuminated the narrow alleys with piercing lines of light between the gaps of buildings. Dust motes danced in golden silhouettes, swirling slowly in the warming air. Kyoichiiro stood at the end of the alley, his gaze fixed on the spot where they had left the thug—now just a small dot in the distance, still sitting on the ground with his head bowed.
He sighed.
Kyoichiiro: "Alright. Let's go."
He walked slowly, unhurried. His steps were steady, but his mind was far away. Behind him, Amura followed with an empty stare—eyes open but not truly seeing.
I still can't accept this, Amura thought, his steps automatically trailing Kyoichiiro's. But... fine. If I keep thinking about it, it'll just fill my head with useless things.
He blinked, realizing he had been daydreaming, then quickened his pace slightly.
Aetheria walked on the other side, her eyes occasionally glancing toward Kyoichiiro. She noticed how his shoulders were slightly more tense than usual, how his hands—normally relaxed at his sides—now sometimes clenched and then released. As if he were carrying an invisible burden.
He thinks about a lot of things he doesn't say, Aetheria thought. Like a weight only he can see.
Kyoichiiro stopped near the thug—not too close, about three meters away. He stood there, staring at the still-bound man's back. The thug didn't move, didn't look up. Only his shoulders rose and fell slowly.
Kyoichiiro closed his eyes for a moment.
I thought the same, he said to himself, recalling why he hadn't turned the thug over to the authorities. This is an isekai world. A world full of mysteries and uniqueness that can't be explained by old logic. I thought about calling the police, but... I forgot. I don't know where I am right now. A hospital? A guard station? Nothing is clear. I can't hand someone over for legal processing when I don't even know what the punishment is.
He opened his eyes.
Kyoichiiro: (Almost whispering, only to himself) "Is my sister alright over there? I hope she can take care of herself."
His thoughts drifted to Claire. His sister. The last person from the Khaneo family still with him in this world. He had left her in the village—not abandoned, but... entrusted. A letter had been left behind, money had been provided. Claire was strong enough. Claire had always been strong.
But—
Kyoichiiro clenched his fist. Slightly annoyed. Slightly angry—not at Claire, not at the world, but at himself for not being able to be in two places at once.
Aetheria: (From behind, her voice hesitant) "Kyoichiiro-san? What's wrong?"
Kyoichiiro flinched. He realized he had been standing still for too long.
Kyoichiiro: (Turning around, his expression flat again) "Ah. Nothing. Just... daydreaming a little."
Aetheria didn't fully believe him, but she didn't ask further. Amura just shrugged. Elunie—the little girl they had just freed—stood beside Aetheria, her eyes still wary but no longer empty.
They walked away from that place. Alley after alley they passed: turning left, then right, passing the pile of wood still scattered at their previous hiding spot. Sweat began to dampen their foreheads as the sun grew hotter. It was still noon. The day hadn't progressed too far.
Kyoichiiro: (Breaking the silence) "We should find some food first. What do you all think?"
Amura: (Rubbing his stomach) "Ah, conveniently. The market is quite close from here. I'm pretty hungry too—reasonable, after swinging around a one-ton iron block."
Aetheria: (Nodding) "Me too. We haven't eaten since morning, and we came straight here. My stomach is starting to protest."
Elunie: (A small voice, barely audible, but clear enough to Kyoichiiro's ears) "Me... too."
Kyoichiiro looked at her for a moment. The little girl looked down, her fingers playing with the torn hem of her shirt. She looked embarrassed.
Kyoichiiro: "Alright. Let's go."
Suddenly——
Grrrrowl.
The sound of a growling stomach. Clear. Loud. Kyoichiiro glanced at Aetheria. Aetheria shook her head quickly, her face slightly flushed. At Amura. Amura just shrugged—not me, he seemed to say.
Kyoichiiro looked at Elunie.
The girl blushed. Her previously pale face turned pink, her cheeks puffing out slightly from embarrassment. She covered her stomach with both hands, as if trying to hide a sound that had already escaped.
Kyoichiiro: (With a strange expression—somewhere between amused and sympathetic) "Alright. Let's hurry."
---
The market at noon was busier than in the morning. Merchants who had been organizing their goods were now shouting with full enthusiasm. The aroma of food—freshly baked bread, smoked meat, ripe fruit—mixed with less pleasant smells from the gutters and human sweat. Kyoichiiro walked ahead, observing every stall he passed. His eyes never stopped moving—not just searching for food, but also assessing: who looked suspicious, where the exits were, how many people were carrying weapons.
Amura: (From behind) "Kyoichiiro-san, where are you going? The food market is over there—"
But Kyoichiiro had already turned left, heading toward a simple bread stall at the corner of the market. Its wooden shelves were somewhat worn, and the bread on display didn't look special—hard, brown, unadorned.
Bread Seller: (A middle-aged man with a dirty apron, smiling warmly) "Oh, customers. Please, please take your pick."
Kyoichiiro looked at the bread. Left. Right. All hard.
Kyoichiiro: (To himself) Like that German bread I once tried. An edible brick.
Kyoichiiro: (Turning to Aetheria and Amura) "How many do you want?"
Amura: "One."
Aetheria: "Two."
Elunie: (Still shy, but her voice clearer than before) "Three."
Kyoichiiro stared at Elunie for a moment. The little girl looked down again.
She has quite an appetite, Kyoichiiro thought, his gaze shifting to the bread, each about the size of an adult's fist. But her body is thin. She's probably been starving for a long time.
Kyoichiiro: (To the seller) "Seven loaves."
Bread Seller: (Nodding amiably) "Alright, I'll prepare them."
While the seller wrapped the bread in dried banana leaves, Kyoichiiro glanced at Elunie. The girl stood beside him, her eyes fixed on the pile of bread on the counter—like a hunger she couldn't hide. She swallowed.
What am I going to do with this girl? Kyoichiiro thought, his brow furrowing slightly. I can't keep dragging her along. But I also can't bear to leave her behind.
He stared too long. Elunie felt his gaze, looked up, and their eyes met. The girl's expression was confused—perhaps wondering why this strange boy kept looking at her.
Kyoichiiro quickly looked away. Almost as if he'd been caught.
Bread Seller: "Here you are. Seven loaves. Total 12 Zeyn."
Kyoichiiro reached into his pocket, pulling out several coins—small coins left over from the money Edon had given him. He counted them in his palm, then handed them over. The seller accepted with a smile.
Amura: (Slightly surprised) "You're paying, Kyoichiiro-san?"
Kyoichiiro: (Flat) "Yes."
He distributed the bread: one for Amura, two for Aetheria, three for Elunie, one for himself. Then they found a shaded spot—a narrow alley that wasn't too dirty, beneath a building's overhang.
---
They sat in a row on the stony ground. Kyoichiiro in the middle, Elunie to his left, Aetheria to his right, and Amura beside Aetheria. The atmosphere was quiet, only the sound of chewing audible.
Kyoichiiro bit into his bread.
Ugh, so hard, he thought, his jaw working overtime. But it's cheap. For that price, it's fine.
He didn't complain. He never did. He just kept chewing with an unchanged expression—flat, as if eating ordinary food.
Beside him, Elunie devoured her third loaf eagerly. Her small teeth bit into the hard bread without difficulty, her eyes sparkling. Kyoichiiro, still on his third bite, glanced at her briefly.
She really was starving, he thought. But at least she's eating now.
Aetheria ate neatly, bite by bite, her eyes occasionally glancing at Kyoichiiro—observing, though it wasn't clear what she was observing. Amura ate faster, but still within reasonable bounds.
Fifteen minutes passed. The bread was gone. Stomachs were full. They sat for a while in a comfortable silence—not a tense silence, but the silence after a meal, when the body is digesting and the mind is a little calmer.
Kyoichiiro stood. He held the katana at his waist, feeling its weight for a moment, then his gaze shifted into the distance.
At the far end of the market, among the crowd, a group of hooded figures was walking. Their clothes were loose, covering almost their entire bodies, their faces hidden behind veils. Nothing seemed special—they looked like ordinary merchants—but the way they walked: hurried, without turning, without looking left or right, as if they knew exactly where they were going.
And when they passed a fruit vendor, one of them whispered something. The fruit vendor nodded, then handed them a small bag. Without words, without haggling. They left.
Kyoichiiro narrowed his eyes.
Kyoichiiro: (Without turning, voice low) "Amura. Take Elunie back to the inn first."
Amura: (Startled) "Hah? So suddenly?"
Kyoichiiro: "I see something suspicious. Aetheria will stay with me. You take her to a safe place, and when you're done... you don't need to catch up. Just wait at the inn."
Amura: (Still confused) "What's the matter? Is there something—"
Kyoichiiro: (Cutting in, his voice firm but not harsh) "This is urgent. Please, Amura."
Amura fell silent. He stared at Kyoichiiro—searching for a lie, searching for a reason, but all he saw was decisiveness. Not the decisiveness of a know-it-all, but the decisiveness of someone who had already made up his mind.
Amura: (Sighing) "Alright, then. Be careful."
Kyoichiiro: (Crouching in front of Elunie, his voice softer) "Elunie. You should go to a safe place first, okay? You need enough rest to recover. And right now..." He glanced toward the hooded group, already moving away. "...the situation might get a little dangerous for you."
Elunie stared at him. Her large eyes—still tired, still moist—moved between Kyoichiiro and the distant shadows of strangers. She hesitated. Her hands clutched the hem of her own shirt.
But finally, she nodded.
Amura helped Elunie to her feet, then without much talk—just a small nod toward Aetheria—he darted off. His magic carried them away, disappearing between the buildings, leaving only a swirl of wind that lingered briefly before vanishing.
Aetheria, who had been silent, finally spoke.
Aetheria: (Hesitant) "Kyoichiiro-san... what's really going on?"
Kyoichiiro: (His eyes still following the hooded group's direction) "I saw someone suspicious. And I want to follow them."
He turned to Aetheria.
Kyoichiiro: "Do you want to come?"
Aetheria fell silent. Seconds passed. Two. Three. Four.
Aetheria bit her lower lip. Her gaze moved toward the hooded group, now disappearing around a corner, then toward the back—toward the bustling market, toward the inn, toward the safety they had left behind.
Aetheria: (Her voice smaller than usual, a tremor of doubt in it) "I... I don't know, Kyoichiiro-san. This... this feels different from the dungeon. In the dungeon, at least we knew our enemies—monsters, levels, abilities. But this... we don't know who they are. How many there are. What they can do."
Kyoichiiro didn't interrupt. He just waited.
Aetheria: (Continuing, still hesitant) "Can't... can't we call the city guards? Or report this to the Guild?"
Kyoichiiro shook his head slowly.
Kyoichiiro: "We don't have proof. Just suspicion. The city guards won't move on 'I saw someone who looked strange.' And the Guild..." He paused. "The Guild needs an official report with evidence and the informant's name. That would take days. Meanwhile, they could move anytime."
Aetheria fell silent again. Her previously relaxed hands now gripped the hem of her own robe—tightly.
Aetheria: (Finally, after five long seconds) "Alright... I'll come. But... if it gets too dangerous, we retreat, okay?"
Kyoichiiro: (Nodding) "Agreed."
---
Kyoichiiro didn't wait any longer. His hand reached for Aetheria's—not to hold, but to pull her with a quick motion.
Aetheria: "E-eh?!"
Kyoichiiro: "Use your wind magic to speed up our steps and muffle the sound."
Aetheria nodded, concentrated for a moment, and a thin wind enveloped their feet. They darted forward, passing merchants busy with their goods, passing crowds that didn't have time to notice.
A fruit vendor blinked.
Fruit Vendor: (Muttering) "What was that? Wind, probably."
They entered a narrow alley on the side of the market—dark, damp, smelling of earth. Kyoichiiro walked carefully, each step measured to avoid making noise. Aetheria followed behind, her hand still holding the hem of Kyoichiiro's robe.
Turn left. Pass a small incline with white fabric hanging above—perhaps leftover laundry. Turn right.
And there, at the end of the alley, they saw him. The hooded figure—just one now, the others having dispersed—walking hurriedly down a wider street.
Kyoichiiro: (Whispering) "Faster."
They ran. Turn right again. Now they were on a busier street, but the figure didn't look back. He kept walking, occasionally glancing left and right, but never turning around.
But as they passed a stack of crates on the alley's edge, Aetheria's foot accidentally kicked an empty can.
Kling—!
The sound of metal rolling across the stony ground.
Kyoichiiro froze. Aetheria covered her mouth with both hands, her face paling.
The hooded figure stopped. He turned—slowly, like a predator hearing prey. His eyes, hidden behind the veil, aimed toward the alley where the sound had come from. He stared. Two seconds. Four seconds.
Kyoichiiro didn't breathe. Neither did Aetheria. They hid behind the stack of crates, only a few meters from where the figure stood. If he came closer, they would be seen.
But the figure only frowned—or at least, his veil moved as if he were frowning—then turned and continued on his way.
Kyoichiiro: (To himself, slowly exhaling) That was close. Too close.
Aetheria relaxed her grip on her mouth, but her body still trembled slightly.
Kyoichiiro: (Whispering) "Be careful. From now on, every step must be silent."
They followed from a greater distance. Five minutes passed. The figure finally stopped at a stall different from the others—not food, not clothing, but a wooden table with a shabby tent, where a man with long black hair tied in a ponytail, a thick mustache and beard, and ordinary, slightly wrinkled clothes sat casually.
Hooded Figure: (A heavy voice, like someone used to giving orders) "The usual."
He received a leather pouch from the man's hand—a small pouch that seemed to contain something. Then he placed something else on the table. Coins.
Mysterious Merchant: (Voice calm, flat) "Yes. This is payment for your service."
The hooded figure nodded, then left. Without looking back.
Kyoichiiro stood at the corner of the alley, still observing. Aetheria beside him.
Kyoichiiro: (To himself) Receiving goods. Giving money. A quiet transaction. But it doesn't look like ordinary trade.
"Kyoichiiro."
Kyoichiiro flinched. He turned—Amura stood behind him, without Elunie. Amura was alone.
Kyoichiiro: (Whispering, slightly surprised) "You're already here? That was fast."
Amura: (Sighing) "I dropped her off. I could find you because my energy is on your katana. But that's not important now." He stared toward the merchant. "So, that's the target?"
Kyoichiiro: "He might have information. I'll talk to him."
Amura: "Are you sure? He doesn't look like an ordinary merchant."
Kyoichiiro: "I know. But we don't have another choice."
Up ahead, the hooded figure was already gone. The mysterious merchant began tidying his table, getting ready—perhaps to leave, perhaps to wait for the next customer.
Kyoichiiro: "We should go over there."
They walked out of the alley, toward the shabby wooden table. Kyoichiiro stopped in front of it, Aetheria and Amura behind him.
Kyoichiiro: (Voice flat, not too loud) "1501."
The merchant looked up. His eyes—jet black, hard to read—stared at Kyoichiiro from behind his mustache and beard. He wasn't surprised, nor was he nervous. Just silent, observing.
A kid? he thought, his eyebrows rising slightly. Since when does a kid know that code?
Mysterious Merchant: (Voice calm, but with a hint of appraisal) "Kid. Since when do you know that code?"
Kyoichiiro: (Unaffected) "That's not important, is it? If I can pay, it shouldn't matter."
The merchant fell silent. He stared at Kyoichiiro longer. His gaze moved to Aetheria, then to Amura, then back to Kyoichiiro.
Mysterious Merchant: (Sighing, his shoulders dropping slightly) "You think information like this can be bought with pocket change, kid?"
He stroked his beard. Not a casual gesture—but the gesture of someone calculating a price, and not a price in coins.
Mysterious Merchant: "This information is expensive, kid. Not about money... but consequences. Once you know, there's no turning back. The people you're looking for... they don't like it when their hiding places are known."
His voice dropped, becoming heavier.
Mysterious Merchant: "I've seen many people ask like you. Some came back. Some..." He paused. "Didn't. So, before I say anything more, answer one question: where did you get that code?"
A middle-aged man with a shabby apron, passing behind them, slowed his steps. His eyes observed the small group of children standing before the mysterious merchant's stall—an unusual sight in an area like this. He stared for a few seconds, then walked away. Probably not important.
But Kyoichiiro felt that gaze. He didn't turn, but his back stiffened slightly.
We're being watched, he thought. Not just by this merchant. But also by the people around. This isn't a safe place to linger.
Kyoichiiro: (Voice low, quick) "I got the information from a thug I just defeated. In the eastern alley, about two hours ago."
Mysterious Merchant: (His eyebrows rising) "A thug? What was his name?"
Kyoichiiro paused for a moment. He hadn't expected to be asked such a detailed question.
Mysterious Merchant: (Smiling faintly, a smile that didn't reach his eyes) "What? You don't know his name? Or... are you just lying, kid?"
The air around them grew colder. Amura felt it—his hand moved to the hilt of his sword. Aetheria held her breath.
Kyoichiiro didn't move. His mind spun quickly.
He's testing me. This is a trap. If I give a name, he'll know who I got the information from—and that thug could be in danger. But if I stay silent, he won't trust me.
He stared into the merchant's eyes. Didn't blink.
Kyoichiiro: (Voice flat, but with firmness beneath) "I don't know his name. And I deliberately didn't ask."
Mysterious Merchant: (His eyebrows rising higher) "Oh? Why?"
Kyoichiiro: "Because names don't matter. What matters is what he knew—and what he gave me as proof that he wasn't lying."
Kyoichiiro reached into his pocket. He pulled out something—not the necklace, since he had returned it. But a small torn piece of fabric from the thug's shirt, which had accidentally stayed in his hand while cutting the ropes. He placed it on the table.
Kyoichiiro: "He had a necklace with a photo of his wife and daughter. His wife had long brown hair, his daughter was still a toddler. He lost them five years ago. And he worked for you—or for the same people as you—for the past two years, because he had no other purpose in life."
The merchant fell silent. His eyes narrowed, scanning the torn fabric, then looked back at Kyoichiiro.
Kyoichiiro: (Continuing, his voice unchanged) "I don't know his name because he didn't need mine. And I didn't need his. All I needed was information. But if you still doubt me..." He paused for a moment. "...just ask him yourself when he comes back here. Because he will come back. But he will never be a threat to you or anyone else again."
Silence hung in the air. The merchant stared at him for a long time. Then, slowly, he nodded.
Mysterious Merchant: (Sighing, his voice slightly lighter) "This kid... you're not messing around. But do they really want to go there?" He shook his head. "First time finding a kid with such a unique way of thinking."
He turned around, opened a wooden chest behind the table, and took out an object—a small crystal, bluish-gray in color, not shiny, looking like an ordinary stone but with fine cracks on its surface that emitted a faint glow. But before handing it over, he stared at Kyoichiiro once more.
Mysterious Merchant: "One more thing, kid. The place you're looking for... it's not just an empty house. Underneath it, there's something that should never be awakened by anyone. If you go down, don't make noise. And don't believe anything you see down there."
He handed over the crystal.
Mysterious Merchant: "The place isn't far from here. About 15 kilometers east, into the forest. There's an empty house there, abandoned for a long time. Under that house... there's an underground prison. You don't need complicated codes. Just go in and find the most inconspicuous door."
He sighed.
Mysterious Merchant: "This crystal will help you not get lost. If you're in a critical situation, hold it tight and focus your mind on a safe place. The crystal will glow and give you direction. But remember—this thing can't always be relied on. In that place... magical energy fluctuates often."
Amura observed the merchant from over Kyoichiiro's shoulder.
This place feels very alien, Amura thought, his eyes scanning the surroundings. But this merchant... he knows a lot. Too much. He's probably been operating in the dark side of this place for a long time. And his warning... it's not just an empty threat.
Amura: (Whispering to Kyoichiiro, hesitant) "Kyoichiiro-san... are you sure about this? We don't know what's waiting there. It could be a trap. If we go in... we might not come out."
Kyoichiiro turned to Amura. His eyes didn't change—flat, calm, as usual. But there was something in them that made Amura unable to argue.
Kyoichiiro: "I'm not sure either. But we've come this far." He tucked the crystal into his pocket. "And if it is a trap... we'll find a way out. Together."
He pulled out a pouch of Zeyn coins—slightly heavier than before—and placed it on the table. The pouch contained about 480 coins. Not a small amount, but not large either.
The merchant took the pouch, felt its weight, then smiled—a small smile, almost invisible.
Mysterious Merchant: "Ah, thank you. I hope you'll be among those who return."
---
The three of them walked away from that table, back into the narrow alleys toward the main road. Amura walked beside Kyoichiiro, his eyes still scanning the surroundings warily.
Amura: (Voice low, only for the three of them) "Kyoichiiro-san... I trust you. But I'm also scared. This is different. Monsters, dungeons... at least we could see our enemies. But this..." He sighed. "This is like walking on thin ice. One wrong step, and we fall. No one knows where."
Kyoichiiro: (Not turning, but his voice calm) "I know."
Amura: "And if this is a trap? What if the merchant deliberately gave us false information to set us up?"
Kyoichiiro: (Pausing for a moment, looking at the crystal in his hand) "Maybe. But we won't know until we check it ourselves."
He turned the crystal over between his fingers.
It's not as easy as I thought, he reflected. Amura hesitates. That's natural. I hesitate too. But hesitation won't save anyone.
Kyoichiiro: (Tucking the crystal into his pocket, his voice firm) "Let's go."
He took Amura's hand with his left, and Aetheria's hand with his right. They held on—Aetheria on the right, Amura on the left—and Amura activated his magic again. Cold wind enveloped their feet, muffling their steps, quickening their pace.
They darted forward. Past building after building, damaged roads, a small bridge over a foul-smelling drain. Kyoichiiro kept looking around, his eyes never stopping.
My feelings are mixed right now, he thought, wind hitting his face as they ran. Between doubt and indecision. Between certainty and fear. Maybe this is too rushed. Maybe I'm rushing to decide. But... I don't know what's waiting beyond that door. No one does. And if I don't move now... how many more people will keep suffering?
They entered the forest. Tall trees covered the sky, leaving small gaps where sunlight pierced through in thin golden lines. Dry leaves fell to the ground, creating a brown carpet that rustled beneath their feet.
Kyoichiiro saw a path in the distance—not very wide, but clearly often used. Traces of cart wheels and footprints.
A road? he thought. Is that the main route into this forest area? Probably often used by merchants or couriers.
They kept running. Fifteen minutes. Twenty. Finally, the trees began to thin out slightly, and in the distance, in the middle of a not-very-large clearing, stood a house.
The house was simple—wooden, two stories, with a roof missing tiles in several places. Its paint was peeling, its windows dark with no light from within. The front yard was overgrown with knee-high weeds, and the wooden fence around it had collapsed in several spots.
But there was something strange. The atmosphere around the house felt... uncomfortable. As if cold air was creeping up from the ground, even though the sun was still shining.
Kyoichiiro: (Stopping in front of the door, staring at the house with narrowed eyes) "This is it."
The front door was locked. Kyoichiiro pushed—it didn't budge. He looked at Amura.
Amura: (Nodding, drawing his sword) "Let me."
He didn't slam the door with brute force. Instead, he inserted the tip of his sword into the gap between the door and the frame, right next to the hinge. With precise movements—right, down, then twist—he broke the locking mechanism from inside. A metallic crack echoed.
Amura pulled out his sword. Kyoichiiro pushed the door. The wooden door swung open with a long, creaking groan, like a lament from a house untouched by human hands for a long time.
They entered.
Inside, it was dark. The air felt heavy, damp, smelling of dust mixed with mustiness—but beneath that, there was another smell. A smell that made the hair stand on end. The smell of old iron, dried blood, and something that couldn't be explained in words.
Kyoichiiro swept his gaze around: an empty living room, only a worn-out sofa and a wooden table with one broken leg. The walls were covered with scratches and gouges—some looking like claw marks, some like sword slashes.
Amura raised his palm. A small fireball ignited, illuminating the room with flickering orange light. Shadows on the walls moved like living creatures.
Kyoichiiro: (Whispering) "Amura in front. Aetheria in the middle. Me at the back."
They walked down a narrow hallway toward the back of the house. Each step echoed on the rotten wooden floor—too loud, too sharp, as if this house wanted no peace.
Amura: (Whispering) "This place is quite large. How do we find the underground door?"
Kyoichiiro: (Observing his surroundings) "Just search. There are no guards here, at least for now. But be careful. Something isn't right."
They spread out through the silent house. Aetheria checked the kitchen and living room, opening empty cabinets, touching walls for anomalies. Amura checked the ground-floor rooms—bedrooms, storage rooms, even the hallway closet. Kyoichiiro checked the bathroom and the remaining unexplored spaces.
Five minutes passed. No one found anything—only dust, darkness, and an unnatural silence.
They regrouped in the living room.
Aetheria: (Slightly disappointed) "Did you find anything, Kyoichiiro-san?"
Kyoichiiro just shook his head. Then he looked around.
Kyoichiiro: "Where's Amura?"
Aetheria also looked. Amura was not in the room.
They walked to the hallway, returning to the rooms Amura had checked. Room after room they passed—empty, silent. Then, at the very end of the hallway, behind a door almost invisible because its peeling paint blended into the wall, they found Amura standing still.
That door was different from the others. Its wood was darker, its handle of rusted iron, and on its lower threshold—faint scratches, like symbols that couldn't be clearly read.
Kyoichiiro: (Approaching) "Amura. Did you find something?"
Amura didn't answer immediately. He just stared at the door. His hand held his sword, but he didn't draw it—only gripped it tightly.
Amura: (Finally, his voice low) "This seems to be it. No doubt."
Kyoichiiro: (Moving closer, also staring at the door) "Are you sure?"
Amura: "I'm not wrong. There's... unpleasant energy behind this door. I can feel it. The same magical aura as the chain coiled around Elunie's neck. But this... is stronger. Dirtier."
Kyoichiiro brought his hand close to the door handle. The wood was cold—too cold for room temperature. He could feel a small vibration at his fingertips, like a faint pulse, like something behind that door was waiting.
He stopped.
His hand remained in the air, a few centimeters from the handle. He could open it. He could step inside. He could—
What am I doing? he thought, his chest feeling tight. I'm bringing Aetheria and Amura to a place I don't even know the contents of. I don't know what's waiting behind that door. No one does.
He bit his lower lip. His hand began to tremble—slightly, almost invisible.
But if I don't step forward now... if I retreat now... how many more people will keep suffering? How many children will end up like Elunie?
He took a breath. Deep. Long.
I've already died once. I'm not afraid to die again. But I am afraid... of doing nothing.
He clenched his fist. Then released it.
Kyoichiiro: (Whispering, barely audible) "Why should I hesitate?"
He pushed the door handle.
The door opened with a heavy sound—not a creak, but a groan, like something awakening from a long sleep. Beyond the door, darkness deeper than before welcomed them. The air that escaped from there felt cold, damp, and smelled stale—a smell that turned the stomach.
Amura raised his fireball higher. The light pierced the darkness, revealing wooden stairs descending downward—old, moldy, and looking fragile. At the bottom of the stairs, where the light barely reached, there was an earthen tunnel stretching further inward. And from within that tunnel came sounds—the drip of water, the wind that shouldn't exist underground, and another sound... a sound like whispers, but incomprehensible.
Aetheria: (Whispering, her voice trembling slightly) "We're... going down?"
Amura didn't answer immediately. He gazed at the tunnel below, his eyes narrowing.
Amura: (Finally, his voice firm but not overblown) "We've come this far. I won't back down. But..."
He turned to Kyoichiiro.
Amura: "You remember your promise, right? If it gets too dangerous... we retreat."
Kyoichiiro: (Nodding) "I remember."
Kyoichiiro: (Stepping onto the first step) "Let's go. Be careful. One wrong step, and we could be trapped."
The wood beneath his foot creaked, but didn't break. He stepped again. One by one. Behind him, Aetheria and Amura followed—Aetheria with hesitant steps, Amura with steady ones.
The light from Amura's fireball illuminated the damp earthen walls, where tree roots pierced through the ceiling like rotting veins. The sound of dripping water from afar was steady, like the ticking of a clock counting down their time.
They continued downward. Inward. Toward a place that might—or might not—change their lives forever.
And above, the wooden door closed by itself, click, locking them inside the darkness.