Chapter 78: Witnessing the Event
In the midst of a torrential downpour, the sky poured down water like a flood, as if wanting to drive away those standing below.
Airi stood in the middle of the rain, her body soaking wet, clothes clinging to her. Her hair was wet and matted.
She looked around in confusion, dazed and bewildered; there were only houses connecting like an endless chain, dark clouds stretching across the horizon, and flashes of lightning.
"Where is everyone? Why did they suddenly disappear? They were clearly running right behind me."
Airi felt a bit panicked in her heart, yet she still tried to keep her calm. She examined the surrounding environment.
Patter… patter…
The sound of heavy rain continuously echoed without ceasing, making her ears ring. Large raindrops fell and obscured her vision; she could only see vaguely.
"The rain just won't stop."
She couldn't suppress the irritation in her heart and grumbled. But the rain would not stop just because she complained. Instead, it pushed further.
It didn't just torture Airi's ears; it made her whole body soaking wet.
A cold, wet sensation spread throughout her entire body. Unable to help herself, her body began to shiver. From head to toe, the rain spared no spot on her.
"Must find a place to shelter from the rain."
Airi covered her head with both hands and hurriedly ran through the curtain of rain.
Her feet stepped through each puddle on the ground; with every hurried step she took impacting the earth, puddles would splash up, making her even wetter.
But currently, she could not stop; the shivering combined with the rain slapping against her body made it impossible to halt.
"Right now, I've lost track of everyone."
Running through the rain amidst the shivers from the cold rainwater.
She ran to a house in front of her and stepped onto the wooden porch; she was shielded by the eaves before the door.
"Damn it, too much rain."
Turning around and standing before the door, she slowly touched her hand to the doorknob. The smooth sensation of the finely polished wood felt quite pleasant against her hand.
"Hopefully someone is inside."
From inside, familiar voices echoed out, making her feel a bit joyful. But then she heard a voice no different from her own, which made her quite curious and bewildered.
Looking through the square slit on the door, there were wooden slats crisscrossing each other.
She opened her eyes wide in shock, her pupils dilating and trembling in their sockets. She could not believe her eyes at what was occurring.
Inside, there was another Airi, standing with her hands on her hips and speaking quite seriously.
"Just search this room thoroughly."
She backed away with trembling, fearful steps. She couldn't believe what she had just seen.
"W-Why... why is there another me inside? I'm still standing here? Then who is inside?"
But Elyssia inside walked closer to the door, smiling with a bit of interest, her voice nonchalant:
"Coming out to watch the rain? It's raining very hard outside."
As the door gradually opened, Airi standing outside panicked; she turned and fled, her eyes still full of bewilderment.
She ran out into the rain, her footsteps stomping hard following her panicked emotions.
"Why is it like this? I don't understand... I don't understand. I am here?"
She looked around; there was only rain and a series of houses. She stopped, her head now a mess of tangled thoughts.
"Everyone disappeared inexplicably. But then there's a house that has both me and everyone else inside."
She raised both hands and touched her face, then slowly stroked down with bewilderment.
"Wh-Who... who am I? Am I Airi? ... Who is that inside?"
"Or is that a part of the trial's transformation?"
She was very confused right now.
"I can't think of anything else anymore."
Taking heavy steps through the puddles, she was very hesitant and very hazy.
Ahead of her was some other house. She slowly walked toward it with anxiety. In her heart, she prayed she wouldn't see the scene of herself in the house again.
Approaching slowly, she looked into the small slit on the door. No one was there, giving her a small sense of relief. She slowly pushed the door and stepped inside. Walking in slowly, "thud... thud..." light sounds echoed as she stepped on the stone floor.
While walking, she observed the room's surroundings slowly. When she reached the table, she suddenly stiffened upon hearing a noise above.
Slowly turning in anxiety, her body as rigid as a boulder.
Takeshi, Airi, Elyssia, and Ayaka slowly opened the door on the upper floor and nonchalantly stepped out.
Takeshi scratched his head in boredom.
"Nothing useful, huh?"
As they had just stepped out and were habitually glancing around, they cast their eyes down to the lower floor. It was Airi standing below and looking up.
Both sides froze, standing still and staring at each other, eyes slowly opening wide in surprise.
The Airi standing above was the most surprised.
Calling the Airi who just entered Airi A and the Airi already in the house Airi B.
Ayaka slowly spoke up: "Wh-What... is happening? Why are there two Airis?"
Airi B: "..."
Airi A wanted to turn and flee. But Takeshi above was quite calm and quickly reached out his hand to stop her.
"Wait, don't go."
Airi A slowly turned back, her gaze silent as she looked up.
Elyssia stood silently and wrote on paper; Airi A cast her eyes over but didn't pay attention. She stared at Takeshi, who had just called her back and wanted to say something.
Takeshi was the first to speak, breaking the silent atmosphere between the two sides, as if the sound of rain and thunder had been pushed out of their ears.
"A-Are... are you Airi?"
Airi B standing beside him was also speechless at Takeshi's question; she glanced over. Then looking down, she said loudly:
"Did you transform into me? What is your purpose?"
Airi A frowned, her face serious to a frightening degree. Not a single other expression, her eyes looking straight up.
Her voice dropped:
"I am Airi."
Airi B growled: "You are Airi? Then who am I?"
Airi A calmly retorted:
"How would I know that?"
Elyssia had just finished writing; she tucked it into her chest then walked forward. She pointed toward the table below.
"Come in, we won't do anything. We have to talk to make things clear; it's raining outside."
Airi A was a bit anxious; she didn't dare enter yet and stood there, staring silently.
Airi B noticed Airi A's anxiety; she softened her voice:
"Calm down, we won't do anything. Just relax."
Feeling a bit of harmony, but the anxiety had not yet ceased. Airi A:
"How can I trust you all now?"
Ayaka tried to reassure the suspect:
"We are trustworthy, don't worry."
Airi A felt a bit of safety. Because they looked very similar and carried the faces of her friends.
Airi A slowly walked in quietly and sat down on the chair.
The four of them slowly went downstairs and faced Airi A. Takeshi, still afraid the opponent didn't trust them yet, quickly waved his hands.
"Don't worry, okay, we won't do anything."
Airi A said nothing, only giving a slight, quiet nod.
Airi B sat opposite Airi A; Ayaka sat right beside her. Elyssia and Takeshi sat on either side. Airi observed every movement.
Airi B spoke first: "So, are you the one impersonating me?"
Airi A shook her head slightly, her cold gaze maintaining a steady stare.
"I am the real Airi, what are you talking about?"
Takeshi snorted and spoke up: "Now we have to prove it to know, right?"
Airi A: "I also experienced many things here and have friends like you all."
Airi B frowned; she didn't understand what the other Airi was saying.
"Huh?"
Elyssia: "Speak more clearly, we don't understand."
....
After a while of telling the story, all four found it hard to believe.
Airi B tried to remain calm.
— "She once met our group at another house? Sounds so hard to believe. But currently, she is sitting here and talking like this, as if it's evidence."
— "Or is the trial designed this way? Damn it, it's truly unbelievable. Currently, it's quite peaceful, but I don't know what scene will occur when the group lets their guard down."
"This is too hard to believe."
Airi A nodded, calmly saying:
"I also find it hard to believe; it's normal for you all to be like that."
Ayaka: "So what should be done now? This unbelievable story makes me feel stuck too."
Elyssia gave a forced smile.
"Truly don't know what to say; are we just going to sit like this? Told the story to grasp information, but still don't know what to do."
Takeshi's voice dropped low: "We still can't believe you completely, despite knowing your purpose. But I can't know if it's a lie or the truth."
Airi A: "I understand."
Takeshi: "Then for the time being, just sit here to avoid the rain."
Airi A nodded.
Airi B stood up, turned, and walked toward the stairs. Takeshi, Ayaka, and Elyssia also stood up and followed right behind.
They huddled together to deliberate.
Airi B: "Now what?"
Takeshi shrugged and shook his head.
"Ask Elyssia."
Elyssia sighed helplessly.
"I'm at a loss too; there's a fairly safe feeling. But we still need to be on guard; if we trust too much and get stabbed in the back, we're done for."
Takeshi: "So what must be done now?"
Ayaka: "How about asking her to help?"
Airi B: "Don't you remember we need to be cautious, Ayaka?"
Ayaka gave a forced smile.
"I know, but I don't know if it's because that person has a face just like yours that she seems more trustworthy."
Airi B blushed slightly; she intentionally turned away.
"Anyway, I don't want her coming along."
Takeshi felt a bit conflicted.
"So we kick her out for safety? The house door doesn't have a damn lock; coming and going is easy."
Airi B closed her eyes and accepted that choice.
"It can only be that way."
Elyssia reached out her hand, gesturing to slow down: "Then speak a bit nicely, let's see how she reacts."
Airi B nodded.
"Yeah."
The four of them walked over and stood before Airi A. Airi B stepped forward. Her voice lowered:
"We have deliberated; let's assume you are me. Then you also know we cannot trust you completely. Therefore, we really hope you leave this place; we cannot keep you in the house as a potential hidden danger."
Airi A felt a bit of sadness from deep within, but she still tried to keep her calm. She stood up gently, feeling sad when the people before her were no different from her friends, yet they did not accept her.
— "I am Airi."
Airi A nodded, as if she had understood what Airi B said. Her voice was a bit sad and dropped low:
"I understand... then I will go."
She quietly turned away, her face falling, and took heavy, quiet steps on the stone floor; the sound of footsteps seemed to echo a disappointment inside her.
She opened the door slowly and looked out at the torrential rain and the pitch-black sky, as if someone had spilled a bottle of ink on the sky's painting.
Slowly stepping outside, she voluntarily closed the door. Airi didn't leave; she sat right against the edge of the door with sadness, not knowing where to go. She curled her body up and hugged her legs with her arms, as if she were the only thing left in existence. Slumping down, tears soaked into her thin sleeve; a few tears, she didn't want to, but they just kept falling.
— "Where should I go?"
Inside, Airi B walked closer to the door and peered outside through the slit; seeing no one in sight made her feel a bit relieved.
— "Is she gone?"
Airi B turned back and sat at the table with everyone. Currently, they were also quite stuck regarding what they should do.
Takeshi leaned his arms on the table and placed himself in a state of boredom; his other hand tapped steadily on the tabletop.
"What should we do now? After meeting that Airi, I can't think of what I should do anymore."
Elyssia: "I've already recorded it; if our memories are erased, we can still read. As for whether we'll believe them when we've just been erased and read them, I don't know."
Takeshi was sitting with his back to the kitchen and leaning on his arms, facing the stairs. But he wasn't looking; it was like a state of not paying attention to any object in sight. Blinking once, he tried to stay calm and think of some way.
Takeshi saw a gap at the stairs tucked close to the wall, which was quite hard to see, but now he had noticed it.
He frowned and stared at it for a moment as if to confirm. He didn't say a word, just stood up to the confusion of the three girls; they also stayed silent and watched, curious to see what Takeshi wanted to do.
Takeshi walked closer and peered in; it was an old, crude wooden door, as if carved directly from a chopped tree without any other processing.
— "A door?... Is it a basement?"
Takeshi turned back, his hand pointing into the gap. He called out loudly:
"Hey guys? There's a door here, likely a cellar."
The three girls were a bit surprised but still sat on their chairs and looked over.
Airi B still didn't understand: "A door?"
Takeshi nodded and spoke louder to emphasize:
"Yeah, there's a door here. Come over here and look."
Ayaka was the first to stand up, followed by Airi B and Elyssia. They walked over slowly.
Takeshi saw them approaching, his hand still pointing inside.
"Right here."
The three girls peered in and saw a real door. A bit of curiosity and caution flashed inside them like a flame.
Ayaka was a bit curious: "Oh, a real door."
Elyssia took the opportunity to write on paper.
Airi B: "So there will be the next clue."
Takeshi: "Shall we go then?"
Airi B nodded.
"What else is there to do if we don't go?"
Elyssia finished writing; she bent down to tuck the paper and pen into her shoe and stood up straight.
"Everyone must be careful."
Takeshi entered slowly and carefully through the narrow gap. He gripped the edge of the door and opened it slowly.
But inside was very dark, very, very dark. Airi B and Ayaka peered in, a bit surprised.
Ayaka: "No glowing stones inside? It's too dark."
Airi B turned back: "Get the glowing stones, Ayaka."
Ayaka nodded, walked past Elyssia—who hadn't entered yet—and took two sticks with glowing stones and brought them down. She gave one to Airi B, who gave it to Takeshi, while the other stick she kept to light her way.
Takeshi took the glowing stone and brought it into the darkness; the inside was empty, only dust, cobwebs, and mice running around squeaking "cheet cheet" in panic upon seeing humans and light approaching like a threat.
Stepping inside, the sound of his heavy footsteps stomped onto the stone surface beneath his feet and echoed around. Realizing he had stepped heavily, he quickly made his steps light and slow. He looked back and cautioned:
"Everyone be careful."
Airi B walked forward and beside Takeshi.
The four of them took slow, gentle steps in the fairly enclosed space. The dim light from the stones only increased the anxiety inside everyone.
Walking a distance further, the four of them came before a door.
Takeshi spoke softly and carefully: "We're here."
Airi B turned back and reminded: "Be careful."
Airi A was currently sitting outside; she didn't know where to go. Standing up slowly, she turned around and looked through the door slit; no one was in sight. She was a bit anxious and hesitated, standing still.
She really wanted to go inside, but didn't dare. But thinking about how she currently didn't know where to go, she hoped there would be one more conversation.
Opening the door, she looked inside but no one was there; there was only the sound of rain outside and thunder roaring in the sky.
Quietly stepping in and observing the room. She walked close to the right wall and approached the kitchen, where there was a viewpoint to see the gap leading to the basement.
Airi A's eyes caught the open door of the passage. She slowly walked toward it with a bit of curiosity and anxiety.
— "Huh? A tunnel?"
She peered inside but there was only darkness; she raised her head to look for a stick with a glowing stone. Standing on tiptoes, she reached and took the stick.
Bringing it inside to light the space, she instinctively stepped in with curiosity.
— "Is this place just like my house too?"
On the side of the group of four, they had reached a large stone block. They stood silently at a distance and observed.
Where there was a brown child's skull, strange drawings, and candles burning flickeringly and weakly.
Airi B spoke softly: "Some kind of sacrificial altar?"
Ayaka shuddered looking at the brown child's skull placed in the center.
"Looks so bizarre."
Elyssia: "Or a summoning table?"
Takeshi pointed his hand at the stone block: "So do you guys understand its principle?"
Airi B shook her head.
Though they didn't know what it was used for, the whole group still approached closer to observe more carefully. Takeshi spoke as he walked:
"But we still need to solve it; it will be a clue."
As the group walked closer and was only a small distance away, the symbols on the stone block immediately lit up with red light. The candles flared up violently like a great fire. The brown skull began to shake as if someone were impacting it.
The four of them instinctively flinched and backed away in bewilderment, eyes wide.
Airi B panicked: "A trap?"
But it was too late…
The red light flashed strongly, illuminating the entire empty room. It enveloped everything around and the four of them.
Unable to react, no action could be performed except for bewilderment and wide eyes.
All four immediately disappeared without leaving a trace of dust. Only the red light gradually faded like the final breaths of life. The room's light returned to normal.
Airi A was standing behind the large barrels covering the door and silently observing everything. Her eyes were wide, pupils dilated and trembling in their sockets. She instinctively backed away, unable to believe what had just occurred before her eyes. Her body trembled with fear.
— "What... what just happened? They—They disappeared? How is that possible?"
— "Is it a seal? When my group explored, we only dared to stand far and observe, but they approached close and ended up like that?"
Turning to flee in terror, the glowing stone in her hand shook as she ran, just like her mind at this moment.
She ran out to the main house. But what greeted her was not an empty room or anything better. Every muscle seemed to relax. The stick with the glowing stone slipped from her hand and fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.
It was the man who had just stepped in, one hand still placed on the door, his right hand already holding a sharp, gleaming sword reflecting in the dim light of the house.
He stood silently looking at Airi, who was not yet over her shock. Just by standing there, his threat made the space feel strangled; the air felt thick to the point of being hard to breathe, pressing down on her chest.
Airi's entire mind was enveloped by fear. Her whole body shook violently; all vitality seemed to vanish, her body uncontrollable; she wanted to run but couldn't move. She continuously ordered her own body to run but it wouldn't listen, just standing still in terror.
— "Run.... run...."
She had to wrestle for control of her body with herself; she knew if she didn't run she would die... Just as she turned, she wanted to run back into the tunnel. But before she could run, the sword was launched from the man's hand, piercing through the air.
At that moment, everything seemed to slow down; all sound disappeared. The sword tore through the air, flying at extremely high speed.
Thud…
The sword pierced straight into her forehead; her eyes were full of shock and fear, now surprised that she had been hit. Red, warm blood sprayed from the puncture and spread out; that warm sensation did not soothe her mind and it had killed Airi.
…