We left the city center headquarters, and all that occupied our minds was getting out of this distant city.
"Why did you do that? That was a bad thing," said Luna.
"Sorry, I was forced to."
"That doesn't justify acting recklessly."
I lowered my head as she scolded me. She was right, after all. Anger would lead me nowhere.
"And what about the way back?"
I lifted my head again, scratching my chin.
"I don't know. I think I might have a way?"
I opened the system menu to take out the teleportation stone from my bag. Maybe it would work inside the city.
I used it, but another window popped up from the system.
[Notification]
"You cannot use this item in a restricted area."
I sighed as I looked at the message.
Why did I even get the stone the last time, if not for today?
But what was the meaning of that mask below the stone?
I tapped on it, and it materialized in front of me. I grabbed it with my hand, and it appeared.
It was just an ordinary mask, but its design was strange and different—yet attractive.
It looked like a clown mask at first glance, with tired facial details and round black eyes, and under one of them a drop, symbolizing a tear. Over the smiling mouth was a large X.
What does this mask symbolize? I put it on my face. Nothing happened. It was like any ordinary mask.
Everyone approached, asking me what that item was.
"What is that?" asked Elithia.
"Just a mask."
"What's its purpose?" Lynette added.
I was confused by their strange questions. Haven't they seen masks before?
"To hide my face?"
Nevin stepped forward, as usual trying to assert her knowledge.
"Listen up, spoiled girls. You were raised in fancy places, so you don't know what masks are. Masks are used for—"
"Let's just keep going. I want to bathe and sleep," I interrupted.
I kept walking toward the mansion, hoping I wouldn't face worse disasters than the last.
...
After a long time spent walking—or rather, after they insisted on taking a stroll through the market—
Despite my exhaustion, I gave in to their demands for some reason.
We arrived at the mansion late. Fog filled the place, and the gloomy grey atmosphere hung heavily. There were no guards at the gate.
Probably slacking off. I'll fire them without a doubt.
I opened the gate and entered. As we walked through the garden, things felt calmer than usual.
Everything seemed fine, but I had a bad feeling.
I continued forward, and what I feared had already happened.
Blood everywhere, with traces of swords and magic scattered around.
I continued toward the interior of the mansion. No servants in sight. The place started to resemble a graveyard.
A few meters ahead, I found someone dear to Klo who had met their end, with a bloody message left beside them.
Andrew?
Andrew had been overtaken by time, now just a lifeless corpse.
The girls were shocked by Andrew's death, especially Lynette, who had been close to him throughout her years of service.
As for me, I didn't show any expression. It was all normal to me. After all, I wrote him—and another character I wrote killed him.
"Who did this? Whoever it was has no mercy in their heart," said Luna.
Lynette dropped to her knees, approaching to hold Andrew's hand.
For the first time, I saw a different reaction from Lynette.
She began to cry.
That cold girl allowed her emotions to erupt.
If we go back to when Lynette said she was the top of her bloodline in spear combat—she meant it literally, as the sole survivor of her family's massacre.
And Andrew had raised her, so he was like a father to her.
He brought her to the mansion when Klo was 7, so she must've also been 7 since they were the same age.
And now she saw her father's corpse. It must've been painful.
"D–Dad..."
I remained standing, staring at Lynette trembling with grief and rage.
"I swear I'll take the life of whoever spilled your blood!" Lynette broke her silence and began shouting threats.
I guess I'll side with her. He raised both Klo and Lynette.
I approached Lynette and knelt beside her.
"Don't worry, Lynette. We'll find who did this. I'll personally take revenge for Andrew, who was our refuge."
Lynette looked at me with pure eyes, tears widening them even more.
Sorry, Lynette. I lied to you about revenge.
None of it matters anymore. A day will come when I'll even compromise my principles for my goals.
I won't follow the path of pity from today on. The pain I've suffered repeatedly has left its scars deep within.
I patted Lynette's head and stood up.
I read the message they left behind.
"We didn't find you in the mansion, Klo. So we left a little gift for you."
Thanks for the gift—you'll all end up like it someday.
I walked toward the stairs, leaving the girls behind.
Step by step, my chest tightened more and more.
What is this?
I went up to my room, opened the door, and collapsed onto the bed.
I stared at the ceiling until I heard knocking on the door.
"Come in."
Luna entered and sat beside me.
I moved slightly away from her, and when she realized, her cheeks flushed and she moved away as well.
We sat in silence for a long time.
"So, Klo... are you angry about Andrew's death?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"Yeah. I don't even know if I feel what you want me to feel."
"...That's... kind of a harsh thing to say."
"Sorry. My mind's a mess."
"I'm the one at fault."
"..."
Silence fell again. Neither of us spoke for a while, as if our voices were devoured by a monster named silence.
I lay in bed, lost in thought.
Staring at the ceiling.
I had lost hope. I didn't move at all, and Luna too, until sleep finally overtook me.