This entire Kyle situation was starting to become annoying to me. I understood Kyle's concerns and the reason for his anger, but why couldn't he just listen to me? I wanted to talk, but he just refused to listen to me.
Nothing that I said seemed to work.
I wanted to make things work, but he didn't want to.
I was at a complete loss.
And now...? I had to go along with whatever nonsense was happening, pretending to mourn him when I knew that he was fine.
"How are you feeling?"
Rowan's words quietly reached me as we headed towards the main area. Looking at him, I pretended to lower my head while answering, "...He's still fine. I'm not worried."
"I see."
Rowan patted me on the shoulder, giving me a pitying look.
I could only accept his look while lowering my head.
"Kuek."
"Ah, it'll be okay."
"...Y-yes."
I clenched my teeth, forcing my laugh down. For whatever reason, I found myself laughing at this ridiculous situation.
'My head is way more fucked up than I previously thought.'
Eventually, we arrived at a large room where chairs were scattered, and people were seated in every direction. The moment we stepped inside, all noise died down as I felt every gaze in the room lock onto me.
Something about the stares felt uncomfortable, but I didn't let that show in my expression as I lowered my head and found a seat.
'...I'm not just famous outside of the Guild, I'm also famous in here. Feels like I'm some sort of zoo exhibit.'
At least that part hadn't changed.
Past or present, I always felt like that.
Leaning back in my chair, I sat in silence, not saying a word as more and more people entered the room. From familiar faces like Ariel and the others, to Clara, and eventually Zoey.
All the important people within the Guild showed up to the meeting, with the last one being Catherine, her face changing subtly the moment our gazes met. I could feel the disgust in her eyes as she looked at me.
'Doubt this will ever change.'
"Ehm. Can I have everyone's attention?"
Drawing everyone's attention, the Section Chief appeared at the front of the room, his hair as unkempt as ever, his stubble more pronounced. Judging by how he looked, he probably hadn't gotten much sleep.
Not that he got much sleep to begin with.
"I won't take much time. I'm sure everyone is busy."
Waiting for the place to turn silent, the Section Chief cleared his throat again as he stepped to the side, allowing for the light from the projector to hit the wall behind him.
"Anyways, I would like to first congratulate everyone for their achievements during the Congress. Thanks to everything you guys have achieved, I now have more work. A... round of applause."
Clap! Clap!
He was the only one to clap.
Adding onto that, his claps felt listless.
"...Setting that aside, I am here to tell you not to become arrogant after our recent success. If anything, you should be a lot more cautious. Now that our name has started to spread, we'll start to become targeted by the other Guilds. We've attracted a lot of attention."
The Section Chief's eyes landed on me for a brief moment. Though subtle, I felt his gaze and closed my eyes.
Honestly, he didn't need to remind me of this.
I was quite aware of my situation.
'Things are certainly going to be a lot more annoying going forward. Especially when I think about the Guilds that Ariel pissed off. Oh, right... There's also that Helios Vanguard Guild.'
I almost sighed out loud.
"Well, although I say all this, you all shouldn't worry too much. With our newfound fame, we've also drawn quite a bit of interest from sponsors and other potential investors. We're planning to upgrade the Guild and bring in new hires very soon. As things progress, we shouldn't be too worried about the major guilds."
"New hires...?"
"We're getting more people?"
Immediately, whispers spread across the room. Even I couldn't help but lift my head at the unexpected announcement.
'We're getting new hires?'
This was surprising news to me. But then again, it made sense. The Guild was expanding and it was only natural that they'd try to get new recruits with the increased income and fame. I was certain that there would be a lot of talented people showing up soon.
"So, that brings us to the main topic at hand."
The Section Chief looked around.
"...We need a few people to overlook the entrance examination for the new recruits."
Eventually, his gaze settled over to me.
In that instant, I understood.
"We plan to select recruits in the coming weeks. For that, we'll choose a group of people to oversee the entire process. They'll be responsible for inspecting and selecting members based on their own tests. We won't do much. In a way, this is also a test for you guys."
I held my breath.
"...This will be a way to determine who is fit to become a Team Leader."
*
Recruit --> Squad Leader --> Team Leader --> Section Chief --> Guild Master.
These were the ranks within a Guild. Of course, there were a few exceptions, with 'star' recruits being on a higher or similar level to squad leaders. In general, however, these were the ranks within the Guild.
A recruit was simply a recruit, while a Squad Leader was someone in charge of a squad made up of several recruits.
Team Leaders, on the other hand, were in charge of several squads.
However, unlike recruits and Squad Leaders, they also had a higher clearance level, with them usually taking part of incredibly secretive missions that no one was aware of. For the most parts, Team Leaders were rarely at the Guild.
They'd show up from time to time, but outside of that, they were usually always taking care of things that nobody really knew.
It had been something that I had been extremely curious about for a while.
And suddenly, the chance for promotion had appeared.
No, it was more accurate to say the Guild Master had set the stage for me to become a Team Leader. He couldn't promote me outright, but he could create a situation where I had the chance to become one.
This was his way of saying, 'Get promoted quickly.'
While I didn't understand the motive behind the sudden promotion, I knew I had to achieve it no matter what. Becoming a Squad Leader would give me more power and a higher clearance level, letting me learn more about the world and uncover more clues about the situation with the bible.
Looking around, I could see that I wasn't the only one tempted.
I could see a lot of familiar faces tempted by the sudden promotion prospect.
"Before anyone jumps the gun, I'm just stating that this is a stage to see whether you're qualified to become one. There's no guarantee that anyone will become a Team Leader after this. In any case, we've already put together a list of people we want for the selection process. Soon, you'll all receive details on your phones about how we want you to test the 'new' recruits."
The Section Chief went on to rumble about the criteria for the next several minutes. Honestly, I had long stopped paying attention to him, waiting for him to finish as he eventually looked back in our direction.
His mood changed.
"...That's enough from me. Now that I've gotten over that part, I'd like to spend some time to remember the unfortunate ones that weren't able to make it during the Congress."
Although his expression remained stoic, his face quivered a little as he lowered his head. After which, a photo of Kyle appeared on the projector behind him as the entire room turned silent.
I sat in silence, staring at the image projected on the wall.
The Section Chief's voice echoed in the background, and as I sat in silence, observing the image, I realized something.
'Nothing.'
I felt absolutely nothing.
Was it because I knew that he was alive?
No, it wasn't that.
Looking around and seeing the expressions on many of those present, I lowered my head and realized that I my chest was completely empty. No... not quite. Deep down, I did feel something.
I...
"Pftttt—"
The sudden and unexpected sound caught everyone off guard.
Soon, all heads turned in a certain direction.
However, the moment their attention shifted toward the source, they all quickly looked away. With their heads lowered and hands covering their lips, they chose to remain silent, as if understanding that 'he' was likely the one suffering most in that moment.
Even the Section Chief remained silent for a moment before speaking again.
"I understand he was quite close to many of us. He was talented and extremely kind, often helping everyone here. Whilst I still hold onto the hope that he's still alive, the chances of such a case are... low."
Everyone listened in silence, mourning those who had fallen in the Congress, but not everyone was the same. Standing at the back of the room, one person's gaze lingered in a certain direction, her emerald eyes narrowing slightly as she watched Seth.
His hand still covered his face, with Rowan patting his back, but...
'He laughed. He definitely laughed.'
She had been paying close attention to him.
In a way, her mind had only been filled with thoughts of him since her meeting with Liora.
She was well aware of how often she found herself second-guessing Seth, but at that moment, as she stared at him and recalled the brief instant when he had laughed, Zoey's hand clenched tightly.
'I'm not wrong... He definitely laughed. He definitely laughed.'
Her chest felt stuffier the more she thought about his smile.
Then, looking back at him, she found herself clenching the device that Liora had given to her not long ago.
'Disease. It has to be the disease.'
Zoey took a deep breath, trying her best to calm down.
'...It has to be.'
***
The meeting carried on for several dozen more minutes.
Honestly, at one point, I wished it would end sooner. I started to really struggle with my laughter, finding the entire situation to be hilarious. Everyone was attending, mourning over someone who was still conscious and probably looking at the entire scene from within me.
How was that not funny?
The struggle persisted until the Section Chief finally called it quits.
"Make sure you remember everything I've mentioned. You'll receive more details on your phones soon. This will be very important for the future of the Guild, so handle it carefully."
With that, the Section Chief lowered his head and headed out, ruffling his hair as he went. Just before leaving, however, he paused and turned in my direction.
"Seth."
Hearing my name get called, I raised my head.
The Section Chief paused for a moment before nudging me with his hand.
"Come. I need to talk with you about something."
"...Oh."
Looking around, I stood and followed after him. To be honest, I wasn't all that surprised, more or less understanding why he had called me as he led me to a separate area, likely his office.
'Yeah, it definitely is his office.'
The place was just as messy as his office in Malovia.
"Have a seat."
The Section Chief gestured to the chair opposite his desk as he sat down. I didn't bother with formality and took a seat. Meanwhile, he reached into his drawer, pulled out a crystal bottle, and poured himself a drink.
He was just about to take a sip when he looked at me.
"Want one...?"
"I'm good."
"You sure?"
"Yes, but if you want to drink, I can call Team Leader Soran. I'm su—"
"Did I do something wrong?"
Seeing the Section Chief visibly stiffen, I held back my smile while leaning back over the chair.
Silence swept over the room for a few seconds until the Section Chief spoke.
"How are you doing?"
"I'm... doing the best that I can."
I replied sincerely. This much was true.
"...I see."
Taking a sip, the Section Chief placed the cup back down onto the desk.
"The reason why I called you here is for two reasons."
He raised one of his fingers.
"One, to make sure you take this event seriously. If you perform well, you'll have no trouble getting promoted to Team Leader. I'm sure I don't need to tell you about the benefits that come with that position."
"No, I am aware."
"That's good."
The Section Chief raised his second finger.
"Secondly, it's regarding your games."
"Oh?"
My ears perked up as I sat up straight. What about my games?
"After a lot of trial and error, we've found them to be quite effective. This became rather obvious with how your team performed during the Congress. There's been quite a lot of demand for them, and so here."
The Section Chief suddenly slid a paper across the desk.
I casually glanced at it before reaching for it.
"This is...?"
"It's an offer the Guild received from a platform called Dock. From what I know, you already post your games there. In any case, they want exclusive rights to your games, and from what I've heard, they've already started a promotion for your games."
"Oh."
I fiddled with the paper in front of me.
Giving it a quick skim, I could see that the offer presented to me was quite good. There was even a formal apology regarding what had happened previously, with them planning on allowing the update to go through.
In fact, it was already through.
'That's interesting, but predictable. With my fame increasing, it's only natural they'd know about my games. They should also be aware of how effective they are in helping some recruits deal with gates.'
Yeah, it makes sense.
But...
"I'll pass."
I slid the paper back to the Section Chief.
"Huh? You're passing?"
"I am."
"...Are you aware of just how much money they're offering? Why are you...?"
"Just saving myself from any potential headaches."
I was done with Dock. They had already screwed me over twice, and that was one time more than I needed them to. Although they had the largest market share in the game market, I didn't care.
I no longer needed them as much as they needed me.
"I'm planning on going with a different company or starting my own. And to be honest, I don't think I'll have to worry about money for the time being."
Thinking about the numerous sponsorships and deals that were lined up for me, I found myself laughing a little. Sure, the extra money was nice, but I had reached a point where I'd rather not earn money if it saved me from getting headaches.
"Hmm, if that is your decision, then I won't stop you."
The Section Chief appeared to be quite understanding. He merely took the paper back and put it away. He was most likely going to reject the offer for me.
Taking another sip of his drink, he looked back at me.
"In that case, the only thing you need to focus on is the upcoming recruit selection. You'll mostly have freedom in how you handle it. Enough of that. I've said all that I need to say. Get some rest."
"I will."
Standing up, I turned and headed for the door.
But just as my hand reached for the knob, the Section Chief's voice reached me once more.
"Seth..."
I stopped and turned back.
"You're alright, right?"
I tilted my head.
"I'm alright?"
"Mhm."
The Section Chief nodded.
"I'm not even asking about the situation with... ehm, Kyle. I'm just asking in general. What happened to you in the Congress wasn't easy. I'm just asking to make sure, but are you... alright?"
I blinked.
After which, I smiled and opened the door.
"I'm feeling great."
Never felt better.
-x-X-x-
Regret came rather quickly.
"Maybe I should've accepted the offer."
—[—[Furniture]—]—
● Oak Bookshelf: 40 SP
● Mahogany Chair: 25 SP
● Walnut Cabinet: 60 SP
● Pine Stool: 15 SP
● Cherry Dresser: 55 SP
● Ebony Side Table: 35 SP
—[—[Furniture]—]—
Staring at the list in front of me, I realized that perhaps I wasn't in a position where I could just ignore Dock like I thought I could.
'...I severely underestimated the amount of money that I need to get the Gate to function properly.'
It wasn't even the furniture that was expensive.
In fact, that was the least of my problems.
----
[Anomalies]
◉ Twisted Man: 40,000SP
◉ Blood Butcher: 25,000SP
◉ [Slot Open]
◉ [Slot Open]
----
Scratching the back of my head, I sighed.
The expensive part wasn't the furniture, but the anomalies. Even a single Twisted Man came at a steep cost, and to make matters worse, that was only the baseline price.
Tapping onto the anomaly, another tab appeared.
——●
[Rank:
80,000 SP
320,000 SP
——●
I cursed upon seeing the new prices.
"This is really going to rob me of everything."
Thankfully, it wasn't like I couldn't afford it. There was a limit, though, capped at B rank. I couldn't go any higher. Not that I was interested in going any higher. I was also not too keen on having a Twisted Man inside my Gate.
"...I'm also not very keen on the blood butcher. I should probably fill the other two slots. What do you think?"
I turned my head to stare into the distant white void.
A figure stood there, staring at me in silence. Their eyes were hazy, as if all light had long since faded from them. Even so, there was still something in that gaze, something faint yet unmistakable, as he looked straight at me.
I sighed.
"Come on, Kyle."
I walked over to him.
"I understand that you're angry, but I've already explained it to you. My circumstances are a bit difficult. Everything was outside of my control back then. I did kill people, but it wasn't really me, if you understand?"
Waving my hand, a couple of wooden chairs appeared.
I sat down on mine while looking at Kyle.
"But even if I did have a choice, I probably would've done it again. I did it because I needed to survive, and had I not done what I did, a lot more people would've died. In a way, I saved people."
This was true.
I had stopped Dantalion from taking over my body. If I had failed, the world would've been in a far worse state. In a way, the sacrifices had been necessary.
"I—"
"—completely lost it."
Kyle's voice spoke over mine.
Pausing, I looked up to meet Kyle's gaze as he looked back at me. Feeling his gaze, I took a deep breath, unsettled by something in the way he was looking at me. It almost felt as though... he was looking at a stranger.
I wasn't a stranger.
"I don't think you're aware of it."
"Of what?"
"You're losing it completely. No... you've already lost it."
I laughed.
"Again with this nonsense. I haven't lost it. I'm sane, and I feel better than ever. Did you know that I used to be scared of everything?"
"...I do."
"Now I am not. If anything, I now have the urge to step on the things that once scared me. My head... It's clearer than ever. This was just how I've always been. I was just being hindered by my fears."
"Mhm."
Kyle calmly replied.
It was such calmness that really bothered me.
Leaning back against the chair, I crossed my arms.
"Alright, let's say I lost it. After everything I've gone through, this much is normal. And considering I'm sick, my actions should be even more justified."
"...Sure."
Kyle lowered his head and sat down.
"I guess."
"....."
I clenched my teeth.
His calmness...
"I've lost it, alright. Since that's the case, shouldn't you help me get back to the right track? There aren't many people that I care about. You're one of the few. If you think that I'm losing it, then maybe you should help me—"
"I'm good."
"...."
"I don't really care anymore. You can do your thing. It doesn't really matter to me. In my mind, you've already died. You're just a shell of what I once thought of my brother."
"...."
"Do kill me if you think I've overstepped with my words. Rather, I'd much rather you do that. Instead of staying stuck in this blank world, I'd rather just leave. I'd rather... go to where the real Seth is."
Without even realizing it, my chest rose and fell in quick, uneven breaths. I tried. I really tried to make things work. To talk it out with him. But at this moment, it became painfully clear to me.
I had lost him.
Kyle.
I... had completely lost him.
No matter what I did or said, he wasn't going to listen.
The only person that I could call family in this unfamiliar world had given up on me.
"Hahaha."
Instead of feeling sad, I just found myself laughing.
Truly...
There were times when I considered telling everything to Kyle, thinking he would understand me, but that had been naïve. From the very start, he was never going to accept me. To him, I was just a fake Seth.
From the very start, I was alone.
This much became clear to me as I laughed again, leaning my head back, staring at the white void around me.
'In that case, there's really no need for me to care too much about anything.'
With a wave of my hand, numerous points were deducted from my balance as the ground beneath me began to rise, a structure forming from the white void.
At first, it looked clean. Clinical. Walls assembled themselves in perfect symmetry, polished tiles reflecting a sterile, artificial light that had no visible source. The air even carried that faint, sharp scent of disinfectant, as if the place had already been used... and cleaned... countless times.
I frowned.
"Not quite what I was going for."
Looking up, I started to mess with the lighting.
Shadows stretched along the corridor the moment I did, bending in ways that didn't quite match the angles of the walls. I watched one linger too long in a corner before snapping back into place.
Better.
Doors lined the hallway next, each identical at first glance. Then the details settled in. One had a handle slightly lower than the others. Another had scratch marks around the lock, deep and frantic. A third... didn't have a handle at all.
In just a dozen minutes, I recreated the interior of what looked like a hospital hallway.
After thinking it through, this was the setup I decided on for my upcoming Gate. Given how each Gate had some sort of 'connection' with the real world, I needed to make sure that my Gate was grounded with the outside world.
Of course, this was all a test at the moment.
I wasn't even sure if this was the scenario I'd go with. Still, I wanted to experiment with it a bit to better understand what I needed for my upcoming Gate.
...And that was exactly what I did for the next few hours, immersing myself in this new 'creation' mode, completely forgetting about Kyle as he stood not far from me, watching everything unfold in silence.
By the time I was done, several hours had passed, and I found myself standing in the middle of an old, abandoned corridor. The lights above flickered faintly, the dim glow enclosing me from every direction.
Feeling the cold chill that lingered in the air, I pressed my lips together.
'Yeah, this is pretty good.'
But there was something that was still missing.
The anomaly...
Tapping my foot against the ground, I frowned until I pulled up the anomaly tab. As my eyes settled on the [Twisted Man] tab, I found myself thinking of purchasing one when I suddenly stopped.
After a while, I shook my head and stopped.
"No, not yet."
I pressed [Exit] and left.
Appearing back in my office, I sat back against my chair while staring at the ceiling.
I had saved the scenario, but there were still too many things missing. At this rate, I wasn't sure I'd be able to develop a Gate.
"I need to—"
Ding!
A chime suddenly rang, startling me.
At the same time, a notification appeared before my eyes.
[New Quest Activated!]
• Difficulty: N/A
• Reward: Special Unlock!
• Objective: Anchor your Gate to a real-world location.
• Location: N/A
• Failure: Special mode will remain locked forever.
Description:
From games to gates! What once was a simple creation now demands something deeper, something anchored in reality. The next step is not as easy as it first appeared. A Gate cannot be born from imagination alone. It requires foundation, logic, and a tether to the real world. Without a past, without a place, a Gate cannot exist.
A hollow construct will collapse. An ungrounded idea will fade.
To proceed, you must seek out reality itself.
There are countless locations waiting to be claimed, each with its own history, its own weight, its own lingering presence.
Time Limit: N/A
[Will you accept the quest?]
▶ [Yes] ▷ [No]
-x-X-x-
It was a sunny day.
It was one of those days when it felt pleasant to be outside. Stepping outside of the Guild, I took in the fresh air while also adjusting my sunglasses. The sunglasses were rather special in the sense that they could hide my appearance, but it was really necessary.
'I can always use the new skill that I learned.'
That skill was certainly useful in situations like these. Still, thinking about it... It felt a bit like overkill.
This was fine too.
"Hm?"
Pulling out my phone and scrolling through my apps, I caught sight of someone out of the corner of my eye and raised my head to look.
Rowan?
Unlike me, he wasn't wearing sunglasses, just a plain white cap. It did a decent job of hiding his features, though it wasn't really necessary since he wasn't that well-known. Standing by the walkway, he was focused on his phone.
Thinking for a moment, I decided to approach him.
"Rowan."
"Eh...? Wh—ah."
Although my features were hidden, he still seemed to recognize me.
His shoulders relaxed.
"Seth? What are you doing here? You going somewhere?"
"Yes, actually."
"Oh? Where...?"
"I'm going to the Central Hospital. I'm planning on visiting someone there."
"Huh? You're going as well?"
I paused for a moment. Then, I tilted my head.
"What do you mean as well? Are you hurt somewhere?"
"Ah, no. I... do you not remember?"
"Remember?"
I paused for a moment, searching through my memories. It didn't take long before it finally clicked.
"Ah, that's right."
His sister.
Rowan's sister was sick.
'It's been a while, so I almost forgot about it, but yeah... the reason why Rowan is even doing all of this is because of his sister.'
"How is she doing...?"
"As... best as she can do."
Rowan tried to smile, but it looked quite forced to me. Staring at him, I understood that the situation had gotten worse.
I patted him on the shoulder, trying to think of something to say, but just then a car pulled up.
Rowan lowered his phone and pointed at it.
"This is my taxi."
"Ah, I—"
"Since we're going the same direction, want to come with?"
I paused, pulling my hand away from his shoulder. I didn't really think too much. Since we were going to the same place, I didn't think that it would be a bad idea.
"Sure."
Reaching for the car door, I pulled the door open and got in. Rowan was just about to follow me when a hand suddenly reached forward and stopped him.
"You take the front."
A familiar voice made Rowan and me freeze as I turned to look at the girl in the cap. Her long blonde hair curled slightly as she slid into the backseat of the car. She wore a loose green jumper that stopped just above her waist, a little higher than her white shirt, leaving her midriff exposed as she kept her hands tucked into her pockets.
Sitting down and with her gaze locked at the front, she calmly chewed on the gum in her mouth as she spoke, "What are you waiting for? Sit at the front. At this rate, you'll make the driver wait for too long."
"....."
Rowan just stood still, completely lost.
Eventually meeting my gaze, he gave me a pitiful look.
I looked back at him and shook my head.
Don't you fucking—
"On second thought, I think I forgot something."
"———!"
"You two go ahead. I'll meet you later."
You—
Clank!
An uncomfortable silence followed after Rowan closed the door. The driver turned his head and gave us a look before eventually starting the car.
Turning to face the window, I rubbed my face.
'To think that I helped him in the past. If he ever asks me for any therapy sessions, like hell I'll help him. Hmm... now that I think about it, it's been a while since I've held one. That's not bad. I like it like this.'
I wasn't a therapist to begin with.
I wasn't even sure why I did it. Then again, I'd probably do even better if I did it now.
"My head is a mess."
Unexpectedly, Zoey was the one to break the silence between us. With her gaze still fixed ahead, she spoke in a voice low enough that only the two of us could hear.
"...A part of me wants to apologize for what I said before. I was probably heated from everything that had happened. I feel like I've been a bit unfair to you. Especially when considering everything that has happened to you."
Listening to her words, I scratched the side of my head.
Was she apologizing to me?
"Honestly, you fuck my head up."
Zoey's face scrunched up as she kept her gaze forward.
"You do something, and in the end, it always ends up with me thinking that I was the one in the wrong. That I just misunderstood you. It's always like this... It's kind of weird, you know? When do you think this cycle will stop?"
"When you stop misunderstanding me."
"Pfft, yeah."
Zoey laughed, though it didn't seem genuine.
"But you don't make it easy for me not to misunderstand you."
"Can start by talking to me instead of lashing out."
Zoey paused before nodding.
"You're right. That's a start."
Her lips pursed for a moment until she turned her head to face my direction, our eyes meeting.
"In that case, I'll ask straight to your face. Did you laugh when Kyle was brought back at the Guild? Or was I just misunderstanding again?"
I blinked, my lips opening on their own.
Wait, she saw that?
I thought no one had seen it, but it seemed I was wrong.
Nevertheless, I replied quickly.
"I wasn't laughing."
"....."
Zoey kept staring at me, her eyes never leaving mine. Her gaze felt uncomfortable, but for some reason, I had a feeling that looking away wouldn't be a good idea. Thus, despite my discomfort, I matched her gaze, never looking away.
She eventually pulled away.
"...I see."
Leaning her head back against the headrest, she stared out the front window.
"I'll trust your word for it this time."
Those were the last words she said before she closed her eyes. As my gaze continued to linger in her direction, my lips opened and closed several times, but eventually, I didn't say anything else.
For some reason, her words didn't seem to match her tone.
...It felt as though I had somehow confirmed something to her. But... I wasn't sure either. Was I just being paranoid?
Honestly, I didn't know, and that bothered me.
It was all that I could think of as the car continued to head to the hospital.
Thankfully, the ride didn't go on for long.
Within a dozen minutes, we arrived before a massive building several stories tall. As the car came to a stop, we both got out at the same time. Since Rowan had called up the cab, he ended up paying for it, and as the two of us waited for him at the entrance, Zoey's soft voice reached my ears one more time.
"Rowan's sister's situation has gotten pretty bad lately. From what I've heard, she might not make it until the end of the year. He's been coming here almost every day."
What...?
Had the situation gotten this bad?
"This is your first time hearing this, right?"
I looked at Zoey once more.
She just looked in the distance with her hands in her pockets.
"Kyle has been helping Rowan with the medical fees. Now that he's gone, it'll be a bit more difficult for him to pay, even though he earns quite a lot."
Slowly turning her head, our eyes met once more.
"This is a rough world, isn't it?"
-x-X-x-
Something was definitely up with Zoey.
I couldn't quite explain it, but something about her made me uncomfortable. She seemed to act and speak just fine, but something about her mannerisms really threw me off. Despite this, I didn't pay too much attention to it.
Rowan arrived a few moments later, and the three of us separated.
I originally thought Zoey had come just to talk to me, but it seemed she had other reasons for being there. Parting from the two of them, I glanced at Rowan a couple more times before heading off on my own.
Honestly, I was surprised by what Zoey had told me.
I hadn't known Kyle had paid for Rowan's sister's treatment, but thinking about it, it made sense.
Kyle had always been very soft-hearted.
'Well, it's not like he's dead. When he comes to it, I'll just let him go. In fact, I probably wouldn't mind letting him go now. The problem is that I can't risk having him reveal anything about me. I should find a way to stop him from doing that.'
Then again...
It wasn't impossible. He was technically controlled by me.
Maybe...
'Now that I think about it, wasn't there someone else who had issues with one of their siblings? Geneva was it...? I do remember promising her to help her. Hmm. I should check it out later when I have time.'
There was also the matter with Mr. Jingles.
Thinking about it, there were a lot of things that were tied to this hospital.
"We're here."
A voice shook me out of my thoughts.
Looking at the nurse standing in front of me, she handed me a slip as she reached for the door.
"The patient's condition still isn't great. If possible, I'd like you to avoid agitating her emotions too much. That could be problematic."
"...I understand."
I smiled at the nurse.
"You don't have to worry too much about that."
"In that case, I feel more relieved."
She returned the smile. However, just before she opened the door, she stopped herself and looked back at me. After a moment of hesitation, she took out a small pad and handed it to me.
"Actually, I'm a big fan... can I have your autograph?"
"....."
I found myself at a loss.
Nevertheless, I obliged and signed the paper. Her face brightened as she tucked it away and opened the door for me, mumbling, "Thank you! Thank you!" over and over again.
Honestly, it wasn't like I didn't see it coming.
The people in this hospital had been giving me strange glances. I knew that the moment I had revealed my identity at the counter, news had spread among the other nurses and doctors.
Clank—
Instantly, a wave of fresh air washed over me as the distant curtains billowed softly in the breeze. Sunlight streamed into the room, casting a warm glow across the space and revealing a clean, quiet interior with a large bed set to the side.
Sitting on the bed was a familiar figure, her silhouette outlined by the light as she slowly turned her head in my direction. In the background, the steady beep of the cardiogram echoed through the room.
Beep! Beeep—!
Removing my glasses, the initial confusion disappeared from her face as she smiled warmly.
"...Seth."
"Matriarch."
I smiled back at her, moving into the room as the nurse behind me closed the door to give the two of us some time.
The Matriarch set the book in her grasp as she extended both hands.
"How long has it been? I've been meaning to ask you to come visit for quite some time. I thought that you had forgotten about me."
"...I was quite busy."
"I saw."
Her eyes lit up for a moment.
"You've made quite a name for yourself lately. It's all I've been hearing about. I'm honestly glad you've been doing so well. I'm sure the other children are happy about it, too."
"Ah, the other children... How are they doing?"
"Well, they are doing the best they can."
The Matriarch's smile faded slightly, a trace of sadness settling in its place as she let out a quiet sigh.
"They've been recovering a bit, but they did go through a lot. I heard that it'll take some time for them to improve. However, it does seem like there are some improvements, which is always great. Are you also planning on visiting them?"
"I am. Probably after this."
I could feel Mr. Jingles growing quite restless.
"That's great."
The smile returned to the Matriarch's face as I looked around and found a nice seat to sit in.
Right as I sat down, the Matriarch asked, "How is Kyle? I haven't heard from him for quite some time. Is he doing well? Is he here?"
"Kyle?"
I paused for a moment.
Then, thinking about what the nurse had previously told me, I realized that they had probably not told her about what had happened to him.
I pressed my hand against my chest and lightheartedly replied.
"Actually, he's dead."
The Matriarch's expression changed.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
The cardiogram started to beep faster.
"Wait, what... Are you...?"
"Nope."
I shook my head.
"He's dead. Died back in the World Congress. I'm surprised that you didn't hear about it."
I tilted my head.
"H-ha, that can't be... H-how could..."
The beeping grew more relentless as her lips parted and closed again and again, her words slurring each time she tried to speak. Seeing her like this, I decided to stand up and move closer to her as I held her hand.
"Matriarch."
I kept my voice warm.
"This is something that happens often in our line of work. I can understand why you're distressed, but you should be well aware of this."
Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!
"...He didn't suffer. It was quick."
Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!
"S-stop. S—"
"Stop, what?"
I tilted my head while moving my head closer to her. I didn't even know when, but I was smiling. Yeah... I was smiling. Something about this situation felt hilarious to me.
Especially when...
"Are you sad that one of your potential vessels is gone? But I don't think you were that sad when something happened to me. I heard you were texting Kyle a lot. Just like how I never contacted you... You never contacted me. Why is that?"
I tightened my grip on her hand, and her expression shifted. Then, before she could react, I reached forward and grabbed her by the neck.
"Huek!"
A strained, choking sound escaped her as her face flushed a deep red.
Her hands immediately scrambled, trying to push me away, but the difference in our strength was too great. I forced her head down, tightening my grip around her neck.
Her hands continued to flail until they found my arm, her fingers digging into it as she tried to pry me off.
"Ukhe...! Khe!"
Choking sounds continued to spill from her lips as she struggled to force out words.
"Hm? You're trying to say something?"
I leaned closer, trying to hear what she was trying to say, but at the same time, my grip tightened.
"Ukh!!"
Her face was entirely red.
No, it was purple.
Her resistance was also weakening.
My grip remained the same.
Looking at her and seeing her struggle, I felt absolutely nothing.
Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!
Even as the beeping grew more rapid and unbroken, I felt absolutely nothing.
But I didn't persist for very long.
"Ueeeeeek!"
Letting go of her throat, I calmly patted my hands while sitting back down in my seat.
At the same time, the Matriarch continued to choke, gasping desperately for air.
I stared at the sight in silence, waiting for her to recover.
And she did.
It happened rather quickly, her aged features settling as her gaze fixed on me. For some reason, her face seemed more sunken than before, her hair even grayer.
Did I choke the life out of her?
"S—"
"Sorry about that."
Rubbing the back of my neck, I apologized to the Matriarch.
"...I didn't mean to go that far. Honestly, I was about to kill you before I realized it."
I suddenly burst out laughing.
"That would've been quite bad."
After all, there were still a lot of things that I wanted to ask her.
-x-X-x-
"Ukeh... Cough!"
The sound of her coughing lingered softly in the room as the Matriarch clutched her throat, struggling to catch her breath. As her face started to regain color, I stared at her with a smile, finding her current struggle to be somewhat amusing.
'This is the very same woman whom I used to think of as a mother. Seeing her like this... it really does pain my heart.'
But at the same time...
I knew that this woman wasn't the same woman that I knew.
"Have you coughed enough?"
"U... kh!"
Lifting her head, she stared in my direction, her eyes trembled.
"Y-you..."
"I, what?"
Tilting my head, I raised my hand.
Immediately, she flinched, but I just brushed my hair back.
"I'm not going to touch you, don't worry."
Well, maybe.
I didn't really have plans at the moment.
But maybe soon.
"W-why are you... d-doing this to me? Why are you..."
"Ah, stop it."
I waved my hand at her.
Honestly, seeing her like this, I felt sick.
"I know what you've done. Stop pretending like you're the innocent Matriarch that raised me. Do you think I'm not aware of what you've done to me?"
The Matriarch's lips trembled.
Seeing her face, it almost felt as though she was unaware.
But I knew.
I knew that she was aware.
"I'm here to ask questions. Do answer me if you can. And well..." I paused, thinking about the numerous other methods I had in store to get her to speak before shaking my head, "There are other methods that I have to get you to speak, but I'd rather the two of us have a heart-to-heart conversation. After all, you did raise me."
Well, to some extent.
"....."
Silence settled over the room the moment I finished speaking, the Matriarch still staring at me, her face pale and her lips trembling.
Seeing her like this, I lowered my head and smiled.
"There's no use calling for help. Nobody is going to come for you."
I flicked my hand up, and the sheets that covered her body flew up as a thin dark thread shot out from my finger.
The Matriarch let out a small yelp as she tried to pull the sheets down, but it was too late; the small device in her hand was already exposed.
Click! Click!
She pressed it a couple of times, but I just let her be.
Instead, I pointed at my temple.
"As I said, it's no use. I've got my means to stop you from calling any help."
Mr. Jingles mainly.
Click! Click! Click!
Despite my words, she continued pressing the device. Each click echoed softly, accompanied by the rapid, frantic beeping of the cardiogram beside her.
She was restless.
"H-help! Help!"
And soon, she started to scream for help.
"Alright."
That was the moment when I decided to stand up again.
"——!"
The noise died down in that exact moment as her face paled considerably.
Staring at her, I observed her carefully.
"How long are you going to act like this for?"
She was playing her role perfectly, but she couldn't deceive me. She acted terrified, yet her eyes betrayed her. There was no fear in them. I could tell.
And sure enough—
"You... should've been dead by now."
Her voice was no longer frantic. Instead, it had deepened, losing the panic it once carried and taking on a calm, almost unsettling weight.
"...The moment the transfer failed, you should've died. You shouldn't even be here. How are you here?"
"Haha."
Seeing her face twist before my very eyes, I burst out laughing while leaning back against my chair.
'I expected it the moment I confronted her, but this is beyond my expectations. Maybe there was a part of me that hoped I was wrong. Turns out I'm not.'
"How are you still alive?!"
Her voice bellowed across the entire room as her face twisted menacingly.
"You...! Your head...! You should've—"
"Oh, don't worry about my head."
I tapped my head a couple of times.
"It's definitely not right. I can assure you that. However, I'm still alive, and that's all that matters, right?"
I offered the Matriarch a smile.
No...
Not quite the Matriarch.
To someone else as I turned my head.
"What do you say? Like what you see?"
"Huh? What...?!"
Suddenly noticing the direction of my gaze, the Matriarch turned, and her face froze the moment she did. Her lips trembled as she began to stutter, "T-that... didn't..."
"Well, he did die, but also not quite...?"
I scratched the side of my face while staring at Kyle. He stood in the corner of the room, his lips open as he stared at the Matriarch. To be honest, this was one of the reasons why I had decided to come here.
Rather than just telling Kyle about my situation, I wanted to show him.
I wanted him to see with his very eyes what I had gone through.
"K-kyle, that... I..."
"Enough with the nonsense. Kyle was probably going to be your next vessel, I know."
That orphanage...
I wasn't the only one trained to become Dantalion's next vessel. I was likely the most suitable, but the others were still viable candidates. With their recent failure, whatever remained of the cult would have tried again with Kyle, but he ended up 'dying.'
But I was curious about something.
"With Kyle gone, what exactly were you going to do? Did you have another child lined up?"
"Another child...?"
The Matriarch paused, then slowly turned her head.
Our eyes met in that moment, and as they did, her lips slowly curled into a smile. The wrinkles around her mouth stretched in an almost unnatural way, deepening as the expression settled on her face.
The sight of it made my own smile fade, as I started to feel a weird sense of unease.
"It... looks like you're not aware."
Her voice deepened even further, while the wrinkles on her face grew more pronounced, tightening as her expression twisted into something more unsettling.
"Sir ■■■■■■■■■ is gone. You... took him from us. We have no other to serve."
"Then..."
"...But we aren't the only ones who worship. There exist others. They are aware of our vessels, and want them from us."
All of a sudden, the air felt heavier.
"They are aware... of you. Of what you truly are."
Frowning, I remained seated, my fingers tightening around the armrest as a flood of disjointed thoughts clawed through my mind, each one more unsettling than the last.
Then, without warning, my thoughts were torn apart by the Matriarch's scream.
"YOU NAIVE FOOL! YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN MARKED! THEY ARE AWARE OF YOUR PRESENCE AND ARE COMING FOR YOU!"
Her voice shrieked through every corner of the room, making the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.
"...THE END IS UPON US! THE LIGHT HAS BEEN SWALLOWED... THE WORLD IS ALREADY DYING... NOW ITS AL ABOUT CHOOSING WHO TO SERVE...!"
Standing up from my seat, I suddenly turned around.
Clank—
The door to the room opened, and the nurse from before entered.
She looked the same as before, but she was oddly calm as she smiled at me.
"Did I not say to agitate the patient?"
Her head tilted a little, her smile carrying through.
"...It's not good to agitate her like that."
-x-X-x-
"I'll be direct with you."
The doctor spoke, his expression tense as he stared down at the notepad in front of him. His grip on the pen tightened slightly, the tip hovering just above the paper as if he were carefully choosing his next words.
"Her condition is critical, and the prognosis is poor. You should prepare for the possibility of the worst outcome. While our team specializes in treating anomaly-related injuries, without identifying the specific anomaly involved, we cannot properly assess the pathology or determine an effective course of treatment."
From the moment Rowan entered the hospital, he had expected the piece of news. He had been preparing himself for the worst.
But, but...!
"The most we can offer is supportive care to sustain her for the next few months. That's the window in which we can reasonably expect to maintain stability. Beyond that, there are no guarantees. It is highly likely that she will not survive past that point."
The doctor left shortly after, the door closing softly behind him, leaving Rowan alone in the room.
In the silence, the only sound Rowan could hear was the steady beeping of the cardiogram beside his sister. Lifting his head to look at her, his gaze lingered on the numerous tubes attached to her, and a sharp pang hit his chest, his entire body suddenly feeling heavier.
Unknowingly, he stepped forward and sat beside the bed, reaching for her hand. He grasped it tightly, holding onto the faint warmth that still lingered.
"I..."
His lips trembled as he spoke, but biting them, he forced himself to continue.
"...I'll keep fighting. I have been trying to look for the anomaly that has done this to you, and I think I've got a clue. I've... gotten stronger really quickly. In fact... our Guild even managed to rank very high in the World Congress."
Thinking about the World Congress, Rowan suddenly smiled.
"We've... got someone in our Guild. Someone really strong and talented. He's also the one who has helped me out a lot. I think that... with him, I might be able to find something. He's... he's amazing."
Rowan's grip of his sister's hand tightened.
"He may look like he's tired all the time, but he's really kind. Haha."
Rowan suddenly laughed.
"He's actually my therapist, and I can't count how many times I went to him for a session. Each time... he'd look bothered and try to shoo me away, but in the end, he always listened. I think that if I bothered him again, he'll listen... haha."
Rowan laughed again, but his laugh was more strained.
"...He's amazing. I'm sure if it's him..."
Clank—
Rowan's words were abruptly cut as he heard the sound of the door opening behind him, and as he turned his head, he saw Zoey enter, her hand reaching for her cap as she removed it, allowing her soft blonde hair to sway behind her.
"I've heard from the doctor."
Her expression was grim as she entered.
Coming to a stop next to Rowan, she looked at his siter on the bed.
"She..."
"Only a few months."
Noticing the hesitation, Rowan finished the words for her.
Smiling, he let go of her hand.
"A few months."
He repeated, standing up.
"I think that's... enough time."
"Enough time?"
Zoey raised her brow.
"Yeah, I think so.
Rowan nodded while looking at the door.
"I think I've got a clue about the anomaly, and—"
"You're planning on asking Seth for help?"
Zoey cut him off before he could finish his sentence. Blinking, Rowan looked at Zoey as she stared at him in silence.
Eventually, she closed her eyes and sighed.
"There's nothing to doubt about his capabilities anymore. I'd be dumb to call him a lucky bastard. He's got the skill and the mind for this. He's likely one of the most talented people I've ever seen, but..."
Noticing the hesitation in Zoey, Rowan frowned.
"But...?"
"But I think he's si—"
Flick!
Zoey's words came to an abrupt halt as the lights above flickered, dimming for a split second before cutting out entirely. Darkness swallowed the room in an instant, the sudden loss of light making the space feel tighter.
Startled, Zoey and Kyle looked around.
"What?"
"A blackout? Irene! Wait, Irene!"
In the darkness, Rowan immediately rushed to his sister's side, his face filled with worry as he tried to feel the numerous devices attached to her body.
"Oh, no, no, no..."
"Wait, relax."
Zoey pressed her hand against his shoulder, trying her best to calm him down as she explained, "The devices attached to her have a separate power supply. There's no need for you to worry too much. She's still fine, and..."
Right as Zoey paused, she heard a faint flickering above her, the sound sharp in the silence.
Both she and Rowan looked up at the same time as a section of the lights sputtered back to life, blinking unevenly before settling into a dim, unstable glow that barely pushed back the darkness around them.
"The hospital has a backup generator for cases like this. There's no need to worry. Probably just a random outage."
Although she said this, every part of Zoey's body was tensed. For some reason, it felt strangely quiet outside.
Looking at Rowan and then his sister, she nudged her chin to the door.
"I'll go outside to check things. I'll try asking the nurse about what happened."
"...Please."
Nodding, Zoey headed to the door.
Step—
The sound of her footsteps seemed unnaturally loud, echoing off the walls as she made her way to the door.
She reached out, placed her hand on the handle, and pulled it open.
The moment she opened the door, the hospital's vast interior came into view, rows of white pillars stretching in every direction beneath the sterile, pale lighting. Just like her room, the place was dim, the lights above flickering weakly.
But more than that, it was the silence that stood out as she looked around and found the complete absence of people deeply unsettling.
'Why is there no one? It's as if everyone has disappeared...'
Just before entering, she remembered there were a lot of people. Had they all run down?
No, that was unrealistic.
Then...?
Zoey's entire body was tense as her head moved from left to right, scanning every nook and cranny of the hall as Rowan's voice echoed from behind her.
"Did you figure anything out?"
"...It's empty."
Zoey replied, her voice almost a whisper.
"It's completely empty out here."
Or so she thought.
Step!
All of a sudden, she heard it.
A sharp footstep echoed from somewhere in the distance, and her entire body jolted as she snapped her gaze toward the source of the sound.
Flick! Flick!
The lights above her continued to flicker, a faint, persistent hum filling the air as the footsteps drew closer and closer. Zoey's heart began to pound against her chest as she scanned her surroundings, her hand fidgeting inside her pocket while she ran through multiple plans in her head.
The footsteps grew closer, each one louder than the last, echoing through the empty space. In a way, from the rhythm of the steps, it almost sounded as though whatever was coming was running.
Zoey's gaze stayed fixed ahead, her entire body tense and ready to move at any second.
And soon, she caught sight of a silhouette forming in the distance.
When it drew close enough for her to make it out, her tense body eased slightly as she realized it was one of the nurses.
As if also catching sight of her, the nurse was taken aback.
"Why haven't you evacuated yet?"
Her voice echoed across the hall. However, eyes also lit up at the same time.
"There's been a blackout. I need some help. Actually, there's—Ukeh!"
Her words came to an abrupt halt as a figure appeared right behind her, grasping her by the neck as Zoey's eyes widened.
"Where are you running off to?"
A voice followed.
One that Zoey was all too familiar with.
"...There are still many questions that I need to ask of you."
-x-X-x-
"HIEEEEK! HIEEEEEEK—!""
The Matriarch's panicked, piercing shrieks continued to echo, filling the room and clashing with the otherwise sterile environment.
I stared at the nurse who had come into the room, her head tilted slightly as she looked at me and then the Matriarch, her lips pulled into a thin smile.
"...Look at what you've done. Now that the patient is like this, it'll take a while to calm her down. I'd like for you to please leave the premises."
Her tone remained polite, but I could tell that things weren't so simple.
"You're part of the cult?"
"Cult?"
The nurse tilted her head further.
"Oh, my. Why would you think I'd be a part of something like a cult? Could you also be sick?"
"Don't think so."
Maybe.
Yeah, I probably was.
"HIEEEEEEK!"
The screams grew louder, and the nurse turned her attention back to the Matriarch.
"I'd still like for you to leave the premises. As you can see, the patient isn't doing very well."
"I can tell that."
"Then please—"
"But you see, there are still questions that I'd like to ask her. If possible, could you wait a little bit more?"
The nurse's smile faded.
Something about the air shifted. Suddenly, it grew heavier.
"This isn't negotiable. If you continue to obstruct me, I'll have no choice but to call security. We don't want things to escalate to that point, do we?"
Listening to her words, I blinked a couple of times.
We don't want things to escalate to that point?
"No, but I do."
Why wouldn't I?
I usually wasn't one to look for trouble, but that was the old me. The current me was different. I needed answers.
I wanted answers.
That's why I decided to come to the hospital.
I knew I'd find my answers here, and I was also aware of the possibility that this place was controlled by another cult or organization, keeping the Matriarch in check.
In other words—
"I'm here to cause trouble."
The nurse blinked, confusion filling her face.
"Trouble? I'm just..."
"Yeah, yeah. That's interesting. Anyways, I still need to talk with her for a bit. If you would be kind and just give me a few more minutes. I'd really appreciate it."
I tried to be polite when asking, but for some reason, the nurse didn't seem to appreciate that. Her eyes squinted as she stood by the door.
"Will you really not leave?"
"...Soon."
"I see."
The nurse smiled once more.
Then—
Flick!
The lights went out completely, plunging the room into darkness as the sound of the cardiogram faded, along with the Matriarch's shrieks. In an instant, everything fell into a deafening silence.
Despite the sudden situation, I did not panic.
Instead, I extended my hand forward, a knife forming in my grasp. The moment I activated its ability, I became instantly aware of the numerous presences scattered throughout the room.
'I see. There's more than one.'
About three...
This more or less confirmed my previous assumption.
This place was no normal hospital. Perhaps a part of it was, but another part was controlled by another strange cult or organization.
This was perfect.
Swoooosh!
All of a sudden, I felt something stab in my direction. Long aware of what was happening, I merely tilted my head to the right while simultaneously activating [Trait Transfer] and slowing down time.
Needless to say, the person attacking me wasn't much stronger than me. However, I knew not to let my guard down as I immediately went for the throat with the knife.
Spurt—!
I felt the connection instantly, something wet splattering over me, but the brief sense of satisfaction only lasted a few seconds before the person collapsed into nothing.
A fake?
No, I wasn't sure, nor did I have the time to care.
Swooosh! Swoosh!
Suddenly sensing multiple presences behind me, I activated the same skill again, slowing time. But the moment I did, my expression shifted, and I quickly turned toward the Matriarch.
...Oh.
By the time I realized, it was already too late.
The figures that had been hurtling toward me vanished just as suddenly as they had appeared, their presence dissolving into nothing. At the same time, the lights above flickered back to life, casting a dim, uneven glow across the room and revealing the Matriarch's body as blood spilled down from her shirt alongside the knife that was stabbed in her chest.
I stood in silence, observing the Matriarch.
"I see."
From the start, I hadn't been their target. Their goal was to silence the Matriarch.
But that raised the question...
'Why did they do it now? Was it to stop her from saying anything to me?'
"Ah, this is annoying."
I ruffled the back of my head.
"Even though she was a little crazy, I could've just used the Conductor's music to get her to talk. Now that she's dead, it'll make things a lot more difficult for me. Still... I guess it also confirms a few things for me, and..."
Turning my head to stare at the entrance of the room, I started to make my way towards it.
"...It's not like I've lost track of them."
Clank—!
Stepping out of the room, I was met with complete silence. The hallway was empty, not a single person in sight, as rows of benches lined the walls, and doors stood closed on either side. The air felt still, almost suffocating, as if everything had been abandoned in a hurry.
Looking around, my gaze passed over the repeating pillars stretching into the distance before settling on a particular hall, my head tilting a little.
'They've run pretty far.'
I didn't immediately give chase.
Instead, I looked around me. At the space.
How were they able to clear this entire place so fast? Last I recalled, the place was packed with people. Were they all fake? Or did they use some trick?
Whatever the case was, I knew that pulling off something like this wasn't easy.
'Looks like I'm dealing with something troublesome.'
Tapping my foot against the ground, I finally made up my mind and started moving. Whatever was going on, staying still wasn't an option. Things were bound to get more dangerous, and staying in the same place would only make things more difficult for me.
Of course, I wasn't too worried either.
As I stepped forward, my foot sank into the ground, the floor giving way beneath me as it pulled me down. The world seemed to fold in on itself, the ground rushing up until my vision went completely black.
Then, just as suddenly, I found myself somewhere else. Everything looked the same, yet the air felt different, heavier somehow, and the entire environment carried a subtle, unsettling shift.
Step. Step—
"Hmm~ Hmm~"
As the quiet sound of my steps echoed, I found myself humming as I looked around the place.
I kept walking like that until I finally came to a stop at a certain spot, my head slowly lifting as I looked up.
"Here...?"
I tilted my head slightly before nodding.
"Yup."
Deactivating the skill, the world collapsed in on itself as the air shifted once more, the colors of my surroundings snapping back into place. The back of a figure appeared before me, standing still as they spoke to someone, unaware of my presence.
"Where are you running off to?"
Without hesitation, I reached out toward the back of their neck.
"...There are still many questions that I need to ask of you."
-x-X-x-
To be honest, I didn't think much when I grabbed the nurse by the neck and pulled her back. I only wanted answers, to understand what was going on, but the moment I did, my gaze shifted forward, and I found myself staring at two people ahead of me.
"Hm? You guys are not gone...?"
With everyone else gone, I had expected them to disappear as well, but it seemed they had remained.
Strange...
"What are you doing? Why are you...?"
"Oh, this?"
I looked at the nurse in my grasp.
"I believe she knows what is happening. I'm just trying to get some answers from her. Don't mind me too much."
Although I said this, I was a little worried now. This woman in my grasp knew a little bit too much. I didn't want her to say something that would implicate me.
Furthermore—
'She's surprisingly calm despite being in my grasp.'
This didn't give me a good feeling.
"Okay, I'll ask quickly since I don't know if we have much time. What is going on at the moment? Why is everyone gone? What are you planning on doing? Why did you..." I looked ahead and lowered my voice a little, "...kill the Matriarch."
"....."
Silence followed after my questions, the nurse's head lowering.
I tightened my grip on the back of her neck, pulling her face closer as I considered using the Conductor's skill to force her to speak. But the moment I caught a glimpse of her face, my expression froze as it began to melt, sliding off her head in a slow, unnatural way.
What the...
"Seth?!"
"Seth...!"
Right after that, I heard Rowan and Zoey shout from behind me, their voices low but urgent as they turned their attention past me, their bodies already moving as if to react to something.
I didn't even hesitate, swinging the nurse's body behind me as a large shadow cast over the area I was in.
Then—
BANG!
Blood splattered in every direction as the nurse's body burst apart, fragments scattering across the floor. In the aftermath, a large silhouette stood revealed behind it, its form looming in the dim light.
'...Shit.'
Standing in the dim light, the creature was difficult to make out, its form blurred by the shadows. Still, there was something about its presence that made it clear it was powerful, and I found myself trying to rationalize the situation as quickly as I could.
'An anomaly. That's no doubt an anomaly. And given how there's nobody here, is it possible that I'm inside a Gate?'
No, that wouldn't make sense.
If I were inside a Gate, I would've gotten a system notification.
'Whatever the case is, I can't make out what sort of anomaly I'm dealing with. The best move would be to run and gather more information on it.'
As of right now, it wasn't attacking me. It just stood still in the dim lighting, seemingly waiting for something. Maybe sound? Did it react to sound? No...
That didn't seem to be it.
Then...?
"Why is it not attacking?"
Before I knew it, Zoey and Rowan were at my side, both of them staring at the looming anomaly, their bodies tense and ready.
"I knew something was wrong the moment there was no one left, but... There doesn't seem to be any signal. I can't get in touch with anyone."
Tapping the back of her phone, Zoey looked in my direction.
"What the hell is going on? Do you have any idea?"
"I don't..."
At least, I wasn't certain.
I knew that this had something to do with a cult or something of the sort, but I wasn't certain. And that was the problem.
But that wasn't the most pressing matter.
"I'd say that we should deal with the anomaly ahead of us before thinking about anything else."
Zoey and Rowan tensed further, their focus locking onto the anomaly. Yet even as the three of us stood ready, bracing ourselves for whatever it might do, it didn't move. It simply remained there, staring at us from a distance, its stillness more unsettling than any action.
'Why is it not moving? Should I attack first...? But I don't think I'm strong enough to deal with it. Maybe... Should I find some time to run? Should I use the Realmwalker as a meatshield? I mean, it deserves it after what it did to me back then. Hmm, no wait... Zoey and Rowan are here. I can't expose the Realmwalker.'
Hmm.
This was a rather problematic situation.
As my mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation, something shifted.
Click! Click!
A low clicking sound echoed through the surroundings, spreading in all directions. My head immediately shifted upwards, focusing on a certain black box.
The speakers?
—...Ehm.
A low coughing sound echoed a few moments later, and my expression shifted slightly.
—Check one, two. Check... Check.
The soft voice echoed again, this time louder, as if the very air around us had begun to shift.
—Alright, it looks like everything is working.
The voice sounded happy.
—Honestly... I didn't expect such special guests to find their way here tonight. I do apologize... for not welcoming you personally... but you see, that becomes rather difficult... when our guests haven't been... especially friendly.
The voice appeared to be directed towards me as I continued to stare at the speaker.
'Is he the cult leader... or someone else? If he's communicating through the comms, then he should be in the communication room. Should I head there...? No... I can tell the anomaly will move the moment I do.'
—Well, I'm a rather nice person, so I won't blame you too much for what has happened. In fact, I'm rather happy that someone as esteemed as you has come to visit us, Mr... Mad Crown was it?
I didn't know if the one speaking could see us, but I could almost picture the expression he wore as he spoke through the comms. He was definitely smiling, wasn't he?
I wanted to smile too, but his next words made it impossible for me to smile.
—Your performance was truly outstanding. To be honest, even I felt shivers when I witnessed your final moments. It takes a certain kind of person to achieve something like that, but...
The voice paused, the air suddenly feeling thicker.
—Compared to your performance in Malovia, I feel like it's still quite lacking.
"....."
Ba... Thump! Ba... Thump!
A loud, rhythmic thumping echoed in my chest.
Don't tell me..
—Ah, honestly... That was truly your best performance by far. It's what made me into such a big fan of you!
The voice almost squealed at the end, the pitch rising with barely restrained excitement.
I could feel Zoey and Rowan's heads turning in my direction.
I swallowed quietly, looking at the comms.
'He's probably talking about my actions at the end. After all, that was the point where I first became famous. That's probably what he's talking about...'
—The way you killed so many p-
Flick!
Without hesitation, I cut off the communications using Mr. Jingles. I hadn't even realized my breathing had grown heavier until then. Turning my head, I looked at Rowan and Zoey, both of them clearly confused.
Zoey's lips opened, "What was he talking about...? Se—"
"Ehm! E-ehm..."
My entire body froze as I turned, my gaze locking onto the distant anomaly.
Its arm lifted, not smoothly. Joint by joint. As if it were remembering how a human body was meant to move.
Its hand reached its mouth, and it cleared its throat.
"As... I was saying, ehm..."
Its voice was broken, brittle, as if it might crack apart at any moment.
But I could hear it.
We could hear it.
And as it opened its mouth again, my expression changed.
"I'm a big... fan."
Its lips pulled into a smile.
One that made my stomach churn for the first time in a while.
"M-r... Jester. I'm a big... fan."
-x-X-x-
The silence that followed felt deafening, a constant pounding echoing at the back of my mind.
Despite this, I maintained my calm.
I had no choice but to.
Especially when I felt Rowan and Zoey's piercing gazes directed my way.
"What? What is he talking about? Seth...?"
"....."
I didn't answer either of them. Instead, I fixed my attention on the anomaly ahead. I was intrigued. Was he controlling the anomaly? In that case, was he also of the Shephard Decree?
'No, that doesn't seem to be it.'
His movements and actions were a little too disjointed.
Furthermore, I couldn't take control of my anomalies' bodies. Then again, not everyone with the same Decree has the same ability. Each Decree had its own path, and he might have taken a different path in the Shephard Decree.
'...But I still doubt that's his Decree.'
"From the stage... set up to the climax. Everything... was perfect! That was the moment I... became a true fan of you. I... really wanted to meet you, Mr. Jester."
The voice remained broken, almost brittle.
The more he sounded like this, the more certain I was that he didn't have full control of the anomaly. Just partial control.
But that was more than enough to make me wary.
"But... I've been curious. Why...? Why hasn't the Jester shown up again? Have you decided to retire?"
"I killed the Jester."
I answered, the words flowing out rather smoothly.
"To begin with, I was the one who killed the Jester during the Malovia incident. From the start, it's impossible for me to be the Jester when I'm the one who killed it."
"Ha... haha."
A brittle, almost cackling laugh reverberated through the space as the anomaly's lips slowly pulled wider. The motion stretched unnaturally, as if the skin itself resisted, yet continued to give, the sound of that broken laughter lingering across the entire area.
Though I still couldn't clearly make it out, the anomaly before me seemed like some kind of large, dark, eroded mass, its form resembling a shifting slime that barely held its shape.
Nothing about it felt creepy, but its presence felt overwhelming.
"So... that's what you're going with?"
"That's how things went."
"Haha."
The laughter lingered, the figure seeming to take a twisted amusement in my words.
'How much does he know?'
Honestly, I was struggling to stay calm. Why was it acting like it knew exactly what I had done? Realistically, that should have been impossible. And yet... from the way it spoke, it was as if it knew everything.
"Well... it doesn't really matter that you're denying it."
As the laughter stopped, the air seemed to shift.
It suddenly started to feel cold.
"I know."
The voice turned heavy, alongside the atmosphere.
"That's all that matters. I know, and they'll soon know."
A low, bubbling sound began to spread through the air as the anomaly's form started to distort. Its body seemed to swell and collapse at the same time, the surface rippling before slowly giving way.
Thick, dark matter sloughed off as it began to melt into the ground, sinking as if the floor itself were swallowing it whole.
Staring in its direction, my entire body tensed, every nerve on edge as my thoughts churned rapidly. I braced myself, expecting something to happen, an attack... an ambush... just anything.
But nothing came.
The bubbling subsided, and within moments, the anomaly's form was gone entirely, leaving behind only the space where it had stood.
As the silence settled in, something seemed to whisper right beside my ear, its voice barely more than a breath.
"...And it won't just be me who knows. Soon, everyone will know. Good luck leaving this place."
"——!"
Grabbing my right ear, I spun around abruptly, only to be met with the empty hospital space. My eyes darted from side to side, scanning every corner, every shadow, searching for any sign of movement. But there was nothing, just the dim, flickering lights and the stillness pressing in from all directions.
A heavy, tense silence blanketed the entire area, making it feel as though something was there, just out of sight.
Watching.
"Haa... Haaa..."
Unknowingly, my breathing had turned heavier.
'Where is he...?'
Holding onto the knife, I tried to sense any presence, but no matter how hard I looked, I found nothing. I kept scanning the space, checking every corner for something, yet the more I searched, the clearer it became that there was nothing there.
I wanted to keep searching, but just as I began to move, a hand grabbed my arm and held me back.
"What?"
When I turned my head, two gazes were fixed on me.
My heart sank, instantly understanding what sort of situation I found myself in.
Zoey was the first to speak, her expression slightly hazy as she looked at me. She didn't seem surprised. Rather... she looked suspicious.
"What was that about? Were the words that he said—"
"No, it's just nonsense."
I cut Zoey off before she could finish her question.
"It's just a bunch of nonsense he's spouting to plant a seed of distrust in the group. I'm rather well-known at the moment, so it's obvious he has information about me."
"That makes sense."
Rowan seemed to agree with me, but Zoey's eyes narrowed. Her grip on my arm tightened.
"...But this isn't the first time that you've been accused of something like this. Didn't the same thing happen with Myles?"
"Myles...?"
That rat?
It had been a while since the incident with Myles, so I had almost forgotten him, but thinking back, he had indeed accused me of the same thing.
Shit...
Even with him gone, he still caused me trouble.
I still retained my calm.
"What about Myles? He's a lunatic who tried to push me out of the Guild because I was doing too well. Don't tell me you're going to believe the words of some random psychopath over a traitor."
"....."
Zoey's eyes narrowed further, the silence carrying through us as she stared intently in my direction. Although my words made sense, I could see the doubt in her gaze. I could see that she didn't believe me at all, and it was such a gaze that started to piss me off.
Why...?
Why didn't she believe me?
"Hey, hey."
Perhaps noticing the tension that lingered between the two of us, Rowan stepped in, separating us as he looked around.
"I don't know what's going on between you two, but now isn't the time to fight. I don't know what's happening, but this is definitely not good. Let's stay calm..."
His voice trailed off as something seemed to click in his mind. His expression shifted, and in the next instant, his head snapped up. Without another word, he turned and sprinted toward a nearby room.
Judging by how his face had paled and the direction he ran, he was heading for his sister, but there was no point.
She was probably gone.
"You know..."
As Zoey's voice echoed once more, I turned toward her and saw her take a step back from me.
"All logic says you're not. That it shouldn't be possible. And yet... for some reason, a part of me still believes them. It's strange, but at the same time, it would explain a lot. Am I going crazy?"
"Yes, you are."
"Haha."
Zoey laughed, her hand covering her lips. My gaze lingered on her for a few seconds longer before I lifted it, focusing on the sudden notification that had appeared.
[Scenario Spotted!]
[Operation: Hospital Escape!]
Class : ■■■
Escape the hospital. Good luck~
[Scenario candidates will be joining shortly. Do you wish to use any item?]
[You have ten seconds]
Reading the description, my eyes widened. At that exact moment, Rowan burst out of the room, his face filled with panic.
"My sister..."
His eyes locked directly onto me.
"S-she's gone... She's gone!"