I lay down on the bed to rest, waiting patiently. Down in the kitchen, Yashu was still busy cooking. When the fragrant aroma drifted through the door cracks and the sound of the stove switching off echoed, I knew she had finished her "masterpiece." I still remember that meal vividly: braised tofu served with a light, simple green cabbage soup.
To make me feel more secure, Yashu even moved her bed right next to my door to keep a close watch. That silent gesture truly touched me.
After an all-nighter, we decided to stay at the café for a few more days to recover our health. Consequently, our schedule for conquering the Demon Gate had to be pushed back later than planned.
Perhaps because I had gradually adapted, the clicking and tapping on the walls every night no longer had the power to wake me; I could sleep straight through until morning. However, since being discovered by Manager Ming, I didn't dare lower my guard for even a second. Every night, without fail, I exerted all my strength to push the heavy wooden wardrobe to block the door, then carefully used my staff uniform to hide the grotesque painting on the wall.
Two days later...
When I felt my health had fully recovered, I knew this was the "golden moment" to push forward. It was time to risk my life and enter the Demon Gate for the third time.
To avoid repeating the mistake of sleep deprivation, we learned from experience to eat earlier and more efficiently, no longer as clumsy as we were in the early days.
While we were both clearing the dishes after a hearty meal, something suddenly crossed my mind. I turned to Yashu and asked:
-"By the way... there's something I haven't had the chance to ask. How exactly do you know the precise time to enter the Demon Gate? Did someone show you?"
Yashu stopped what she was doing and turned to look at me. Her face was etched with astonishment, her pupils dilated slightly, and her eyebrows shot up with every word I spoke. She asked back, her voice filled with disbelief:
-"No way... You didn't read the board?!"
I froze, subconsciously repeating her words like a machine:
-"The... what board?"
"When we were first pulled here, everyone goes through a period of 'drifting' in an infinite space—that's the subconscious zone. There's a rule board for the Eerie World there so newcomers won't be lost. Everyone is forced to read it!"
Yashu explained in detail, looking at me as if I were some strange creature:
-"Don't tell me... your place didn't have that board at all?"
Her question made me start to doubt myself. I tried to rummage through every nook and cranny of my memory, but truly, I found nothing. I only remembered falling asleep at my desk, my body sinking into a mysterious void - my eyes couldn't open, and I couldn't move. By the time I woke up, I was already in this twisted place.
In the end... at what point did everything go wrong?
I tried to shake off the terrifying thoughts swarming in my head, took a deep breath, and asked Yashu:
-"What was written on that board, exactly? Can you tell me in detail?"
Seeing my attempt to stay calm, Yashu suppressed her own questions and began to recount:
-"The board gave a brief introduction to the rules of this world. For instance, how the night in the Eerie World is always more dangerous than the day, or how the difficulty of the Demon Gate increases with the number of completed missions... Most importantly, the method of entry: At exactly 3:30, you must stare at the 'Eye-Sun' for ten seconds while crossing both arms over your chest. If too many people participate at once, we'll be pushed into a waiting hall; if there are few, we'll be sent straight to the mission area."
She paused briefly, giving me a concerned look before continuing:
-"At first, when I saw you asking so many things, I just thought you were forgetful. Who would have thought... you actually never saw that instruction board."
( So, the fact that I didn't see the rule board is extremely abnormal... It's a miracle I didn't do anything beyond the limits in those first missions. ) I tried to direct my thoughts toward something positive: ( Seems like I'm a bit of a 'unique case' myself, huh? )
No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn't understand why I was so different from everyone else. But then again, there was no point in digging too deep into such baffling matters; it would only give me a headache. I would piece the clues together later when I had more information.
Seeing me sink into silence, Yashu didn't push further. The clock had struck past 7:20 PM. We decided to head back to our respective rooms to catch some sleep and prepare for tomorrow's life-risking journey.
Back at my door, I performed a series of actions that had become instinctual: checking the thin layer of dust on the handle, throwing the test handkerchief... Only when I was certain nothing was amiss did I feel safe enough to step inside. Now, this vigilance had become an indispensable survival habit.
I returned to my bed and quickly fell into a deep sleep...
It wasn't until the familiar knock on the door sounded that I woke up, sluggishly pushing away the heavy wardrobe blocking the door and cautiously peering through the peephole. It was Yashu. We exchanged our private code, then simultaneously held up the personal items we had agreed upon beforehand for confirmation. Only when we were certain the other wasn't a demon in disguise did we truly feel safe to "reunite."
Just like last time, we silently headed toward the reception desk, plucked a strand of hair, and dropped it into the glass jar - a sign for the manager to know that two of his employees had departed.
Stepping into the space outside, we found a courtyard wide enough to clearly observe the "Eye-Moon" reigning over the eerie night sky. Despite this being the second time performing this bizarre ritual, I couldn't help but feel a sense of embarrassment. I thought to myself: I hope no one walks by right now...