...
Matikanetannhauser instinctively turned to run back but forgot she was already against the wall—her little face smacked right into it.
"Mmf—" She yelped in pain again.
"Please, please, you're gonna make me cry." Lucian clutched his chest, surrendering.
This NPC was too dedicated—popping straight from the ceiling, hanging mid-air.
The NPC slowly retracted upward, but some things didn't go back—like half his torn sleeve.
Lucian sighed, shining the flashlight on Matikanetannhauser.
She rubbed her forehead, teardrops at her eyes, whimpering: "Wuwuwu... it hurts."
Lucian: "Move your hand—let me see."
As she shifted her arm, Lucian's unique scent rushed over her—like clean sea breeze, refreshing and calming. She quieted instinctively.
"No swelling. Should stop hurting soon... wait, Tan-tan, why's your nose bleeding?!"
"Eh—!?"
"Don't panic—I have tissues. Here." Lucian pulled out tissues, wiped the blood, then twisted one into a plug for her delicate nose.
Matikanetannhauser's original horse constitution was weak—she often got nosebleeds. In anime, it showed from her "weird behaviors." Lucian never believed it before; now he had to.
"Why the sudden nosebleed?"
"My nose hit the wall too just now."
"Tan-tan, are you charging headfirst... let me check if the wall's okay." Lucian joked to ease the creepy atmosphere.
Matikanetannhauser paused, then rubbed her forehead, pouting. "Trainer, can't you care about what actually matters?"
"You're right. My shirt remnant's still in your hand—thanks for keeping it safe." Lucian said earnestly.
"I just wanted to drag Trainer and run together." Matikanetannhauser bowed her head.
Feeling the fabric, seeing his bare shoulder, she almost laughed.
But catching his scrutinizing gaze, she held it back, apologizing. "Sorry, Trainer—I dragged you down!"
Lucian ruffled her hair, adjusting her little hat. "It's fine."
"So touching, Trainer you..."
"I never expected you to solve puzzles anyway. Not screaming earlier was the biggest help."
Matikanetannhauser fell silent.
Not annoyed—confused.
It felt like sarcasm, but he made perfect sense. She really helped him!
"No worries. Trainer and I are teammates—helping each other is normal."
Lucian glanced at her, lips pursed to hide a smile, eyes full of amusement. "Alright, clue's found here. Let's leave."
"Oh, okay." Matikanetannhauser hid behind him again, clutching his hem. Timid, like a scared soldier behind a shield.
"Trainer, I'm still kinda scared."
"Hold tighter. Close your eyes."
"Thanks, Trainer. ╥﹏╥"
"No big deal. Saying you're scared—do you want encouragement, or me to stay with you?"
"Stay... stay with me."
Matikanetannhauser looked up at Lucian's broad back.
She really wanted to lean against it. It'd feel so safe.
...
After leaving, they pressed on.
After that scare, Lucian now checked ceilings, mentally prepping against "flying corpses."
Soon they entered a brighter room. Before long, the other teams arrived.
Special Week clung to Silence Suzuka's arm, nestling close. Her long lashes held tear-dew like morning drops.
Silence Suzuka's forehead was lined black, shrouded in gloom, looking sickly.
Their experience seemed rough.
If alone, they'd have rushed into Lucian's arms for comfort.
"Suzuka, Spe-chan—how are you? You okay..." Lucian asked cautiously.
"Trainer-san, so scary... but Suzuka was brave every time—standing frontmost against popping NPCs, never dodging." Special Week's voice still trembled with fear.
Lucian looked at Silence Suzuka. Wow, Suzuka-chan's that brave?
Silence Suzuka stayed silent, face darkening.
Truth: she'd frozen in terror, feet leaden, voice lost.
Thinking this, she glared resentfully at Lucian. Leaving his two cute girlfriends to protect another horse girl!
Lucian averted his eyes—her stare felt piercing.
"Trainer-san, what happened to your clothes?" Special Week finally noticed.
Silence Suzuka focused too. "NPC?"
That force—definitely a horse girl tearing it. If staff touched Lucian, Silence Suzuka wouldn't stand for it.
"Uh..." Lucian glanced at Matikanetannhauser.
She sheepishly rubbed her head, holding up the torn cloth. "I ripped it. Wanted to drag Trainer fleeing—pulled too hard, took half his sleeve."
"Tannhauser, then your nose?" Special Week asked.
"Ahahaha... too dark running, hit the wall." Their little captain needed face—couldn't admit turning straight into a wall.
"Suzuka, Spe-chan—find the clue?" Lucian asked.
"Yeah, here." Special Week pulled out a clue item. "Thanks to Suzuka blocking the door—after the 'ghost' left, I begged staff for the clue."
"No, Spe-chan..." Silence Suzuka tried explaining but faltered.
"Whoa, sugoi! Suzuka-senpai!" Matikanetannhauser praised.
Fine, Silence Suzuka gave up explaining.
"Whoa, Suzuka-senpai, sugoi!" Lucian echoed. "Then please lead upfront, Suzuka-senpai. I'll protect everyone from behind!"
Silence Suzuka narrowed her eyes, hand sliding to Lucian's waist, twisting hard.
"Hiss~ Wrong, wrong!" Lucian grabbed her wrist but couldn't pull free.
The prolonged intimate contact let Special Week see clearly.
Or rather—deliberately let her see.
Special Week's mind wandered. "Trainer-san and Suzuka... like flirting..."
Suzuka-senpai, or Trainer-san?
For budding Special Week, a choice.
But she fixated on "single choice"—needing someone to suggest "both."
...