~Eveline, during a certain scene from last time~
『Another death! Ugh! Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid me! Gotta retrace my steps!』 (Frantically zipping across the sea)
『Oh, look! A scorpion!』
"What's that?"
While searching, Eveline spotted something on a desk. I picked it up—a scorpion-shaped key. This should open the hall's door. Maybe the grandmother's room off the rec room too?
『Two keys in hand—things are going smoothly!』
"…Let's check deeper, then head back to the second floor."
I ventured further, but a snake-carved door was locked, so I backtracked. Using the shortcut door I'd unlocked, I climbed to the first floor and used the scorpion key to enter the hall. There, Jack stood waiting, spiked roller in hand.
"Found you! Feeling lively, huh?!"
"Oh, I'm full of life!"
I swung my empty right fist in a straight punch, catching Jack off-guard. It connected square on his face, sending him sprawling.
"Alright, now!"
『And he calls himself a systems engineer…』
"TVs work when you smack 'em, so systems engineers gotta be tough! Q.E.D.!"
『That's not how it works!』
Ignoring Eveline's jab, I bolted up the hall's stairs to the second-floor corridor and rushed into the rec room. The scattered door fragments, chairs, and TV wreckage left little room to maneuver.
"What a mess… Clean up, would ya?"
『You're the one who trashed it, Ethan.』
"Oh, right."
I'd gone wild on Jack here. Something shocking happened, but it slipped my mind… What was it? Shaking my head, I used the scorpion key to enter the grandmother's room.
"This is that old lady's room…?"
『She's the only grandma around, right? …Heh, serves her right.』
"You say something?"
『Nope!』
Right away, I spotted a broken shotgun. Perfect length.
『Why are you swinging it?』
"Alright!"
『Your 'alright' always means trouble!』
I stuffed the broken shotgun into Zoe's backpack, ignoring Eveline, and rummaged through the room. On the bed, I found shotgun shells; in a drawer, a dusty lower denture. Silently pocketed that.
『I know what you're planning, and please don't!』
"Fun fact: teeth are the hardest part of the body. Incisors cut, canines tear tough stuff, molars grind. The surface is super-hard enamel, supported by dentin and cementum anchoring it. Their weakness is acid, but otherwise, they're nearly indestructible—harder than anything but diamond. Brush well, and they're unstoppable."
『That's educational, but it's a denture!』
"Close enough."
I scanned a memo on the desk, aware Jack could show up any second. Gotta hurry.
"'I'm sick of chasing guests around the courtyard for hours. Next time someone escapes, hide the dog reliefs and keep them out of the main house. Locations: living room clock, rec room book, basement dissection room.' …So that's where you got the info, Eveline."
『Major shortcut unlocked!』
"Who're you mimicking?"
『You, Ethan.』
"??? I'd never say that."
Tilting my head at Eveline, I checked another shelf and found another memo.
"'To Mrs. Baker' …The old lady? 'How's your condition? It's been a while since your last visit. X-ray analysis shows a head shadow resembling a 'fungus'… mold-like structure. It may cause hallucinations or auditory issues. If a parasitic fungus is the cause, immediate removal is critical, or it could be too late. Please visit for a thorough exam. Crawford Lang, Dulvey General Hospital.' …Mold, huh?"
I glanced at Eveline. She stayed quiet. Definitely something central here. Molded, now this—mold's the key. I opened my mouth to press her, but a door creaked outside. I clamped my hand over my mouth, shutting up.
"Come out, you big, bad kitten! Your little cat punch won't faze me!"
"Bring it!"
『Why do you have to confront him?!』
As Jack neared the door, I yanked it open, slamming it into his face. He reeled, clutching his nose. I gripped the denture in my right hand and smashed it into his face.
"Denture punch!"
"Guuuh!"
『That's awful!』
Jack collapsed from the denture hit. I shut the door, locked it with the scorpion key, shoved the billiard table against it for good measure, and bolted from the rec room.
"Alright, let's move!"
『You're so brainy-muscle sometimes.』
As I raced down the corridor to the hall, a deafening boom echoed. That barricade didn't last. I slipped through the scorpion door back to the basement, opened the shortcut door, and entered a room just before the partition. The sight stopped me cold.
"What's this place?"
『Two bathtubs… There's one upstairs too, right? What's this for…?』
"…Don't tell me it's for washing corpses…"
『Nah, I'm not worried about that, so probably not.』
"Are you in on their deal or not?!"
As Eveline and I bickered, the answer hit. Two Molded spawned from nowhere.
『Gah?! Jump scare!』
"Hey, hold up."
『What?』
"Molded—named after mold, right? They're mold."
『Yup.』
"Then I get it. This room's kept damp to make Molded spawn easier."
『Oh, makes sense!』
Eveline clapped, impressed. You knew they're mold and didn't figure that out? She's not that curious about others, is she?
"Full speed ahead, you bastards!"
『Go, Ethan! Don't die, whatever it takes! (Desperate)』
The nearest Molded swung its claws. I fired the handgun, blasting its "eyes" to stagger it, then shot both shoulders, blowing off its arms. As it thrashed, I stabbed my knife into its head, crushing it. Ignoring the other, I fled deeper. I had the dissection room key—through the boiler room, and I'd win, right?!
"No time for you losers, damn it!"
『Lycan all over again!』
Ignoring Eveline's nonsense, I swung the broken shotgun like a bat in the boiler room, knocking back swarming Molded. Reaching the final door, I unlocked the dissection room. It was split by shelves, and on the far side, the deputy's corpse hung on the wall. Sick bastards.
『There's the last one!』
"…!"
I spotted the final Cerberus relief on a shelf but hushed up. Jack entered from the opposite door, grabbing the relief, oblivious to me.
"…I was supposed to be the father. But that girl chose him. No, no, no, no…"
(That girl?)
I covered my mouth as Jack muttered to himself, almost pleading. Like he's talking about a kid…
"I'll find him… and make him pay."
Relief in hand, Jack opened the door to the morgue, per the map, and left.
『How's he getting ahead of us?』
"That's one question… but Eveline, who's 'that girl'?"
『Probably Zoe, right?』
"…Sure."
Eveline's hiding something, no doubt. Whatever, keep moving.
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