"Where… am I?"
"What's the fun in hogging this guy? Chatting with nobody, laughing in this mess—a total nutcase! I could put on a show with him that'd thrill everyone," Madao says.
"Hah! What a cheap circus. Who'd watch? I'll guarantee this man's suffering," Giant Lady sneers.
"Planning to chop something off in your empty castle?" Madao retorts.
"Hey, Ethan, what's 'something'?" Eveline asks innocently.
They're deciding my fate, arguing—Madao, Giant Lady, and Eveline with her kid-like curiosity. Lay off the dirty talk; there's a child here, even if invisible. Then, the silent Mother Miranda—Pervert-Mask, as Eveline calls her—speaks. The others listen intently; she's clearly the boss.
"I've heard enough. One side lacks reason. My decision's made. Heisenberg, this man—not madman—is yours."
"Even the craziest boss calls you a madman, lol," Eveline whispers.
"Gladly, Mother," Heisenberg bows, tipping his hat.
"Mother Miranda! What's this? Heisenberg's childish and disloyal!" Giant Lady protests, storming toward me, towering. How tall is she?
"Entrust him to me, and I'll handle him flawlessly—"
"Quit yapping and admit you're a loser! Find your own prey!" Heisenberg cuts in.
"Go, Madao! Loser Giant Lady!" Eveline cheers.
"Shut your mouth, boy. Adults are talking," Giant Lady snaps.
"Boy? What kind of taste is that?" Eveline mocks.
"Boy? You dare defy Miranda-sama?" Heisenberg growls.
"You don't grasp responsibility!" Giant Lady snaps back.
"Big body, bigger ego, huh?" Heisenberg taunts.
"Get her, Madao!" Eveline eggs on.
"Fight! Fight!" the puppet squeals.
"Pfft… Hey, ignoring me?" I chuckle, then catch myself.
Their bickering—two adults, two brats—makes me laugh, but their glares turn to me.
"Stop laughing! We're deciding if you die, got it!?" Heisenberg roars.
"Fair point," Eveline agrees.
"For once, I agree, Heisenberg. This rude man—shall I kill him here, Mother Miranda?" Giant Lady asks.
"Everyone, Mama's mad, so chill…" Mama's-Boy mumbles.
"Die horribly!" the puppet screeches.
"Silence!" Miranda's voice booms, six black crow-like wings spreading from her robe, silencing the room. Lycans swarm, summoned by her voice. So many—if they attack, I'm done for.
"My command is absolute. No objections. Know your place."
"Objection! Bringing minions is cheating!" Eveline protests.
"Thank you, Mother. Now, dear beasts, the wait's over! The game begins!" Heisenberg declares, arms wide.
Surrounded by Lycans, Heisenberg grins, raising his hammer.
"Let's see it, madman Ethan Winters. Ready?"
"Who's a madman? Stop—!" I shout.
"10… 9… 8… 7…" he counts.
"Ethan, this way!" Eveline calls.
"6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…!"
His hammer slams the floor, starting the countdown. I stumble to my feet, handcuffed, as Lycans roar and close in. Eveline points to a hole in the floor. No choice!
"Showtime!" Heisenberg bellows.
"Damn it! Eveline, lead the way!" I yell.
"Got it! I won't let you die!" she replies.
I leap into the hole, landing hard, and sprint as pursuit echoes behind. The path splits, but Eveline scouts, guiding me to open routes. She's damn reliable right now.
"Ehehe, praise me more!" she beams.
"Good, keep running, Ethan," Heisenberg's voice echoes.
"How do you know my name!?" I snap.
Kicking through a barricade, I enter a cavernous space like a stalactite cave. Crossing a natural bridge, a roar above reveals the village's giant, leaping down. He swings his hammer, knocking me off.
"Hey, stop! No way, seriously!?" I yell.
"Whee! Is this a slide!?" Eveline cheers.
"Not the time! My back and ass are burning!"
"You're pretty chill," she says.
Sliding down, I land in a natural cell. Lycans claw at an iron gate; a spiked ceiling descends. Ignoring pain, I search for an exit.
"Still alive? Not bad," Heisenberg taunts.
"Ethan, this way!" Eveline calls.
"Damn it, not yet!?"
"Tough as the rumors say," he mocks.
"What rumors, you bastard!?"
Eveline guides me to a breakable wall. I smash it, crawling through to dodge the spiked ceiling. Another spiked ceiling descends in the next tunnel, so I sprint. Heisenberg's taunts remind me of Lucas—infuriating! A massive, whirring blade-machine approaches in the next open space. The exit's beyond it. Damn it!
"Did you think I'd let you escape? Donna and Moreau are bored," Heisenberg says.
"Ethan, there's a gap!" Eveline shouts.
"Time to spill your guts for a grand finale! American mince, anyone?" he laughs.
"Want American mince? I know a place—Baker house!" I retort.
"I'll be minced—!?" Eveline shrieks.
Diving into a gap, the blade grinds my handcuffs, breaking them. Lucky break. The show's over, I guess. I'm safe… but Eveline's gone, caught in the blades?
"That was close… Are they after Rose? Eveline! Where are you?"
Crawling through a gap under the stopped blades, I find Eveline—face and body a minced mess. I flinch.
"Can't see!" she wails.
"You can't be touched, so stop messing around!"
"Mean! You could worry a little," she pouts, instantly reverting to normal.
She spins, growing into an 18-year-old beauty, her black dress scaling with her, dancing gracefully. She was never allowed to grow up naturally.
"Hey, am I cute?" she asks.
"Yeah… shame I can't see you like this in reality."
"Wasn't granny-me cute too?"
"You were… a weird comfort in that mad Baker house."
"Aw, you're sweet, Papa! Love you!" she says, clinging.
"Yeah, yeah," I reply, moving deeper, weaponless.
Moreau talks a bit here, unlike the game. Grown-up Eveline on Pixiv is amazing! Her kid personality in an adult body is great. Granny Eveline was healing for many, I bet.
Hope you're excited for the next part! Feedback, ratings, or typo reports are welcome—comments fuel my writing speed!