The Next Day
Morning sunlight filtered through a gap in the curtains, shining a golden streak across the floor.
"How…did it come to this?"
Eyes fixed on the ceiling, Marcille lay on her back in a daze, her thoughts drifting back to what had happened not long before.
She turned her head; Falin was still asleep. Mixed feelings churned in Marcille's mind.
Rei Ao and Fujimiya Sumika had already left, but they'd left behind memories neither Marcille nor Falin would ever forget.
…
Weakly raising her arm, Marcille covered her face. She couldn't describe how she felt: her mind was filled with the lingering madness Rei Ao had shown her, and her body, as if by reflex, still felt warm all over.
Just then came a series of urgent knocks on the door—
"Knock, knock, knock!!!"
"!!!"
The hammering sounded like a blade piercing her fantasies. Marcille's eyes snapped wide, a thin sheen of sweat gathering on her forehead. Without noticing, her hand had already been…
If not for that knocking, who knew what she might have done?!
"Marcille! Are you there? Hurry and open up!"
A voice—unmistakably belonging to Laios—called from outside, followed by even louder knocking.
On the other side of the bed, Falin rolled over, half-awake, mumbling,
"Mm…what's going on…? I think I heard my brother's voice…"
She rubbed her eyes blearily, hair spread messily over the pillow. Marcille's heart pounded as if about to burst from her chest. She grabbed Falin by the shoulders and hissed:
"It's Laios! And Chilchuck is with him!"
Falin blinked sleepily:
"Why's that making you so nervous, Marcille…?"
"That's not the point!"
Marcille's face showed panic.
"The point is our situation right now!"
"And how do we explain to them that you're alive, here, in this room?! They saw you get eaten by the Fire Dragon, and they're probably on their way to the labyrinth!"
Falin finally shook off her drowsiness, a flicker of confusion crossing her face.
"Ah…that is a problem."
Outside, the knocking became even more urgent.
"Marcille? You all right in there?"
This time it was Chilchuck's voice, full of concern.
"We heard voices inside."
Marcille scrambled out of bed. Her nightclothes were skewed, half her shoulder exposed. Hurriedly adjusting her clothing, she signaled Falin to hide—but the cramped room offered nowhere to stash her friend.
"I-I'll be right there!"
She called back, her pitch going shrill from nerves. Falin, though, was unexpectedly calm. Sitting up, she began dressing.
"Maybe we don't need to hide it."
"What are you saying?!"
Marcille stomped, flustered.
"How do we explain your resurrection? Telling them, 'Oh, I made a deal with some cross-world Chat Group Host who brought Falin back from the dead'? They'll think we're insane!"
"But…"
Falin, looking oblivious, brushed her hair back.
"Rei Ao-kun said if we run into trouble, we can always contact him."
Marcille's eyes bulged. Yes, that man, that Chat Group host whose unimaginable power had resurrected Falin. In her greatest despair, she had messaged him through that strange Chat interface in her head, paying the required price for Falin's life. Only she and Falin knew—it was a secret. Falin was also now apparently in the Chat's sub-group.
"No way!"
Marcille cut her off, adamant.
"We can't rely on him again. Our last trade already…"
Her voice trailed off. Falin's expression softened, a faint, dreamy smile curving her lips.
"Maybe Rei Ao-kun is actually a really kind person."
Falin whispered, absentmindedly twisting a lock of hair around her finger.
Marcille's heart lurched. That tone—that look—she'd seen them so many times back in school. Girls falling for someone would get that same rapt expression.
A dreadful suspicion formed in her mind: Could Falin be smitten with the man who'd taken her…first experience? But…yes, he had treated them gently…
"Marcille!"
Laios's voice behind the door sounded more anxious than before.
"If you don't open up, we're breaking the door down!"
"C-coming!"
Marcille, having tossed on some clothes, forced herself to answer. Then she turned to Falin, speaking fast under her breath:
"Listen, no matter what, we'll just bluff our way through. Not a single word about Rei Ao or the Chat, got it?"
Falin nodded. But the gleam in her eyes made Marcille uneasy. Taking a deep breath, Marcille headed for the door. Her hand trembled on the knob.
Once the door opened, Laios's tall figure filled her vision. He wore his typical adventuring gear, sword at his hip, face etched with worry. Beside him stood Chilchuck, fully equipped, his short stature exuding an air of seasoned caution 4.3.
"Why are you…?"
Marcille began, only for Laios to cut her off:
"We've decided. We're heading to the labyrinth today. We can't wait any longer."
Each day passing was a day Falin… The weight in his voice was heavy, a hint of grief flickering in his eyes.
"We came to get you so we can depart together."
Chilchuck chimed in:
"We have all the gear ready, extra provisions like you suggested."
As he spoke, he eyed Marcille's disheveled appearance with concern.
"You look pale, but your skin's oddly glowing. Did something happen?"
~~~
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