"Where were you, Squad Leader!? We were all looking for you everywhere!"
Mia came to greet me the moment I stepped back into the arena. After which, I felt the noise around increase as the crowd's stares were directed my way. I pretended to be completely oblivious to the stares in order to maintain my 'mysterious' persona.
Outside of that, there was something else that I was curious about.
'How exactly are they going to grade us?'
I had already handed back my camera and my phone. Although Leon had taken the data transmitter, I had still downloaded it on my phone. The real question was whether we'd get the same points or if there was more to it.
Nevertheless, this was rather concerning.
'I did contain the anomaly and brought the mirror with me, but with no anomaly inside, it's just an empty mirror. I only brought it with me since that's the medium where the anomaly came from. There might be something inside if I look for it.'
"Quiet for a moment."
The Vice-Director's tired and lethargic voice reverberated across the surroundings, entering the ears of everyone present as the noise died down.
All eyes fell on him.
"Firstly, I'd like to congratulate all those who are here. After an arduous trial, you have all managed to make it back alive and display your skills to the entire world."
The entire stadium erupted in applause.
Clap! Clap—
Whistles followed alongside cheers.
Most surprisingly, I also heard cheers headed in Ariel's and the others' way.
"You were amazing! You fucking put those bastards in their place!"
"I love you, Ariel!!"
"Ariel...! Joanna! Min!"
Hearing the chants, I couldn't help but look at the others in surprise. I knew that they had done something, but I didn't expect the crowd to like them so much. But then again, alongside the cheers were a lot of boos for them.
Primarily from the fans of the teams that they took cover for.
"Unfortunately, just like any Congress, there's been a lot of casualties. For that, I'd like to offer my deepest condolences. This is unfortunately how our line of work operates. Losses are inevitable, and the only thing we can do is try to mitigate them."
The noise died as the Vice-Director lowered his head.
For just a few seconds, the place remained quiet.
Until—
"With that all said, we can now go to the ranking announcement. We'll be transparent the entire time and show everyone the process."
Raising his head, the Vice-Director raised his head as the rankings appeared for everyone to see on the boards.
——[Guild Ranking]——
⌈1⌉ — Helios Vanguard [Points: 75] + 1315
⌈2⌉ — Obsidian Bastion [Points: 73] + 817
⌈3⌉ — Eclipse Sovereign [Points: 71]
⌈4⌉ — Crimson Oath [Points: 68]
⌈5⌉ — Argent Vangard [Points: 62]
⌈6⌉ — Melson Sanders [Points: 62]
⌈7⌉ — Arithmus [Points: 61]
⌈8⌉ — Evening Sun [Points: 60]
⌈9⌉ — Severed Stars [Points: 60]
.
.
——[Guild Ranking]——
It was the same way as it had been before we had left for Point Z.
"Let's start with Helios Vanguard."
The Vice-Director began to narrate as several videos and clips of the teams belonging to Helios Vanguard appeared. Of which, I caught several of Leon as another one of the screens focused on him as he waved his hand and smiled.
"Leon!"
"Leon...! Leon!"
The crowd erupted into a massive wave of applause.
"There was a minor complication at the start due to Leon's sudden disappearance from the feed. During that period, we lost track of him and were unable to accurately assess the number of points he earned. Even so, his team alone managed to accumulate a total of 315 points in his absence."
Everyone erupted, shouting, 'Helios Vanguard!', 'Helios Vanguard!'. The cheers were so loud that I felt troubled by all the noise.
Thankfully, it didn't last long as the Vice-Director spoke once more.
"The score is determined based on several factors. These include the number of members remaining, the findings they've secured, their level of exploration within Point Z, anomaly documentation, situational awareness, and most importantly, the extent to which they were able to uncover information related to the task."
Explaining calmly, the Vice-Director turned his attention towards Leon.
My heart sank slightly.
"...And when taking all of that into account, and based on what Leon has managed to hand over to us, we've decided to award the Helios Vanguard Guild an additional thousand points."
BOOOOM—
The place erupted.
This time, louder than ever before.
The noise swelled until it felt like the entire place was shaking. Cheers erupted from every direction, voices rising as people shouted Leon's name over and over.
Standing at the center, he raised his hand and waved, acknowledging the crowd. The light from above caught on his golden hair, making it glisten as he stood there, almost radiant in their eyes.
The chants only grew louder as he basked in them.
"MVP!"
"MVP! MVP!"
"MVP!"
Staring at him as he basked in the cheers, I suddenly felt his gaze flicker in my direction as his smile grew. I kept my face the same as he smiled at me, but I really felt like shit.
'I don't even know who I dislike more. Him or the rat...'
"Enough."
With the Vice-Director speaking again, the noise quieted down. However, the fervor continued to linger in the air as he went on to announce the rankings of the next team.
"Next up is Obsidian Bastion."
Many held their breath in that moment as the focus shifted to the figure standing at the center of the arena.
They remained completely still, not a single muscle moving, yet their presence alone felt imposing enough to command the entire space.
"Unlike the other teams, they were one of the few Guilds that suffered almost no losses. Under Liora's command, they were able to organize themselves effectively and remain focused on the task at hand. Unfortunately, their progress was hindered by a lack of favorable conditions, and with Liora's attention seemingly divided, they were only able to accumulate a total of 817 points."
There was the collective sound of sighs coming from the crowd as the cheers weren't as loud as those of the Helios Vanguard Guild.
"Please don't be discouraged. There can still be points awarded for the MVP award. It's not over yet." As the Vice-Director encouraged, he went on to announce the points of the next few Guilds.
"Next up, Eclipse Sovereign Guild..."
The announcement carried on for the next few minutes, each new announcement carrying loud cheers. Despite this, none of the teams managed to even come close to the Helios Vanguard Guild as their dominance became increasingly clear, with the 'MVP' chants for Leon growing increasingly louder.
Soon, it became our turn as I looked at the new table.
——[Guild Ranking]——
⌈1⌉ — Helios Vanguard [Points: 75] +1390
⌈2⌉ — Eclipse Sovereign [Points: 71] +880
⌈3⌉ — Obsidian Bastion [Points: 73] +860
⌈4⌉ — Crimson Oath [Points: 68] +810
⌈5⌉ — Arithmus [Points: 61] +760
⌈6⌉ — Melson Sanders [Points: 62] +735
⌈7⌉ — Argent Vanguard [Points: 62] +710
⌈8⌉ — Evening Sun [Points: 60] +650
.
.
——[Guild Ranking]——
'This is going to be tough.'
As things stood, I didn't have much confidence that we'd be able to rank much higher. Although Ariel and the others had done something, I didn't think it'd be enough. Furthermore, with Kyle's disappearance...
"Next up, the Severed Stars Guild."
All of a sudden, all noise died as all attention fell on us.
I felt the hair on my body prickle under the numerous gazes, but I kept my expression straight as the Vice-Director's voice drifted in the air once more.
"...An interesting group."
Huh?
The sudden praise was caught by everyone present, bringing forth several murmurs from the crowd. For some reason, I found myself looking at my squad members who, for some reason, still seemed to be wearing their sunglasses.
Can you guys stop?
"This was one of the harder groups that we've had to judge in all honesty."
With the Vice-Director's words going in a direction that was unlike how he had spoken to the previous teams, tensions suddenly rose. Looking around, I could feel even more gazes directed our way.
In particular, I took note of Leon's expression.
He didn't say anything and was just smiling, but I could read his expression, 'Did he figure something out while I had left? Did he give me everything, or did he hide something from me?'
Honestly, no.
I was also kind of lost.
Was it my team, or was it Zoey and the others?
"They have lost several members of their group, most notably one of their renowned Paragons. Even so, they were able to bring back several notable findings. And that is not all. I am certain everyone present is already aware of what they accomplished within Point Z, correct?"
The crowd remained silent for just the briefest of moments.
Then—
"That's right! They're cheaters!"
"...How was that allowed in the first place? This makes no sense!"
"They should be deducted points for what they've done."
"Fuck off!"
A lot of them erupted into boos as they directed their hatred our way. This time, it was a lot more intense than it was before.
'I guess it must be because they are finally starting to see us as a threat to the places of their favorite Guilds.'
When I looked at my squad, expecting them to be a little overwhelmed by the jeers, I was instead surprised to see them standing still, staring at the crowd with their sunglasses. Almost smilingly.
'What the hell happened to them while I was gone?'
But then, I suddenly recalled Nora's words and just decided it was in my best interest not to know.
"Quiet."
With the Vice-Director speaking again, the noise ceased as he continued, not wanting to drag the time any longer.
"Based on their overall performance and the results they have achieved, the group has accumulated a total score of 319 points."
The crowd erupted.
This was one of the highest initial scores that had been given so far.
"How is this possible!?"
"How does that count?"
"That's not all." The Vice-Director ignored all the noise and continued, "They've also managed to acquire several important and key pieces of information that we've deemed to be extremely useful."
Once more, the noise quieted down, all eyes fixed on the Vice-Director.
He wasted no time, immediately shifting his attention toward the screens as an image appeared.
The photo showed the inside of what seemed to be a wardrobe. At first glance, it looked ordinary, but upon closer inspection, a small, fragmented piece of metal could be seen hidden within. Before the very eyes of everyone present, the image zoomed to display a closer image of the metal... and it was there that murmurs swept the place as people tried to figure out what it was.
"What is that?"
"...It's got weird symbols?"
"A ring? I don't know..."
Yes, I agreed with whoever had said it. Although it was broken, it really did look like a sort of fragmented part of a ring.
However, within that part were several engravings.
My eyes squinted subconsciously as everyone looked at the broken 'ring'.
'Lesser?'
That was all that it said. In fact, I wasn't even sure that it was that, as the 'r' was cut in half. However, something about the 'ring' made my chest tremble, feeling a certain something as I drew a deep breath.
"We've studied this piece of metal, but we're still not aware of its significance. It doesn't appear to be an anomalous item, and there wasn't much we could derive from it. Therefore, after carefully tallying the score, we've decided to award them 418 points."
The place erupted again.
This time, it wasn't out of chaos, but out of relief.
With 418 points, we were still far from reaching the top spots.
"The other teams have also handed in several items and clues, but after calculating everything, the Severed Stars Guild has managed to obtain a total of 533 points."
"Waaah—!"
Cheers swept the place.
Some were because some people were genuinely happy for us, while others were because our group didn't surpass the points of their favorite group. Looking around, I stared at my own group, who cheered, happy with the result.
I could understand why they were happy.
While these points didn't put us at the very top, they at least solidified our position, breaking the status quo that had persisted for many years with the Oak Circle. This was a massive victory in itself.
But...
'I don't like this.'
I didn't like this position.
It just... didn't sit well with me, especially since I was the one who had acquired the data back in the Limbo. I had also given the data to the examiners, but very clearly, they had ignored it since Leon had the transmitter.
'This is bullshit.'
My sense of bitterness only grew as I turned my head and caught sight of Leon. Our eyes met for a brief moment, and he nodded at me, as if congratulating me, but it was clear he was mocking me. This became especially apparent to me when I noticed the slight lift at the corners of his lips.
I took a deep breath.
'Calm down. Relax. I've gotten what I wanted. There's no need to be hung up on about this. I can always deal with him later. Yes, I can do that. Later.'
Scratch~ Scratch~
Without even realizing it, I began to scratch the side of my neck.
It was starting to feel extremely ticklish.
"Ehm."
The only thing that stopped me from scratching further was the Vice-Director, who coughed slightly, drawing everyone's attention as he continued, "Wait. Before everyone starts cheering, I am not done yet."
Not done...?
Not just the crowd, but even I was confused. There was more?
'Is it possible that he's counted what I sent? If so—'
"There was something else that we had received, but didn't show just yet. Not because we couldn't quite make sense of what we've received, but because the footage that we've received doesn't come from the Guild in question."
Huh?
"It doesn't come from the Guild in question?"
"Does that mean it's coming from another Guild? Someone is helping them?"
"Why would they do that?"
Even I was confused by what was happening, and as that confusion grew, the Vice-Director's gaze fell on me for a brief moment before he raised his head to look at the screens in the distance.
After which, the screens change.
And soon—
—Clink! Clink!
—Cheers! Hahah! This is some wonderful wine!
—How about you enjoy this food? What do you think?
—This is amazing! I wish to never leave this place! It's paradise!
Footage that I thought would never surface in the world appeared.
And in that moment, I caught sight of myself as I took a sip of the wine alongside the others.
The eyes of many immediately fell on me as my heart skipped a beat.
This...
Surely not, right?
'How is this possible...? It shouldn't be possible.'
Staring at the images that were being displayed above, I found myself at a complete loss. I was well aware of the fact that the cameras didn't work back then. There was simply no way for them to work.
And yet...?
Wait.
A thought surfaced in my mind.
Not just a thought, but a figure.
Could it be?
—Don't worry, there's no poison in it.
As Leon's voice drifted in the air, the crowd cheered. The cheer was what shook me out of my thoughts as I turned to face his direction. He was also staring at me, but the smile that usually appeared on his face was gone.
For a moment, I thought I caught a brief glimpse of it.
Panic.
Yes, he was panicking.
—Are you all enjoying the wine?
As the footage continued, 'he' appeared. Even in the video, his features remained hidden as the strong glare of the sun seemed to block his face.
I could hear whispers from the crowd saying things like, 'What? Why can't I see? He seems handsome.'
And all sorts of nonsense like that.
If only they knew...
Thankfully, they soon realized that something was wrong with his upcoming words.
—I heard about your loss. Sam and Jordan were good people. Unfortunately, they left so early. The forest is not for the faint-minded.
The noise ceased as the King's words echoed across the place.
—You see, the forest is rather special in the sense that it amplifies a person's thoughts. However, for such thoughts to appear, one must already feel them in the first place.
—So while it is unfortunate that they chose to go that way, in the end, they found liberation in their own way."
—Some of you, on the other hand, do it because you're good at it.
—You don't really find much pleasure in your line of work, but you do enjoy being the center of attention. You like showing your abilities and receiving all the praise from the media and your fans.
The brief moment he looked at Leon didn't go unnoticed by the crowd as whispers echoed once more.
'Could he be talking about Leon?'
'...There's no way. He must've just looked. Nothing real.'
'Yeah, Leon is nice. There's no way.'
The crowd's whispers entered my ears as I continued to look at Leon, who started to look around. In some way, he seemed to want to end the broadcast.
But he wasn't able to, as it continued.
Soon, the angle shifted.
—Hahaha, if it isn't Leon. I recognize you.
It soon became my angle as Leon stood next to me, greeting the members who had gone missing.
My breath caught at the sight as my previous assumption became true.
'There's no doubt about it anymore. This is Paimon's doing.'
He...
"Ha."
I covered my lips, trying my best to suppress my laugh. I knew that this wasn't the time for me to laugh. Especially for what was to come next, but I couldn't help it. Thinking about everything I had gone through, he was the last person that I thought would do this for me.
And most importantly...
Staring at Leon's gradually worsening expression, I found it extremely hard to suppress my laugh.
"Squad Leader...?"
"Are you... okay?"
Hearing the worried voices of Joanna and the others, I reassured them that I was fine.
"I'm fine. Just a little cough."
"Yeah, but..." Joanna suddenly looked up, her eyes fixed on the screens in the distance as she mumbled, "I knew that you had gone somewhere, but I didn't think it'd be so terrifying."
The video progressed.
It only grew worse from that point.
—It's been almost a decade since we've been here. There's no way you've only recently joined the ranks. I guess that memory must mean a lot to you for you to cling to it so much.
What I found to be especially hilarious was that I could see a noticeable alteration in the footage.
'Right, I do remember that they were insulting the BUA at this point.'
Of course, they'd cut that part.
—We're not treated like trash over here. We can drink, sleep, and have fun every day. Nobody forces us to do anything! It's practically paradise.
The effect of the place became known to everyone.
All spectators drew a deep breath as they realized just how terrifying the place was as it became increasingly quieter.
—I'll stay here with them. You go ahead and look for the information. We'll meet up down here.
Watching as the missing member handed me the key, the camera shifted once again.
This time, I watched as my figure retreated into the castle as I stared at the scene with interest.
'Leon's angle...'
If things proceeded as I understood things went, then it wouldn't be long until Leon followed me from behind.
And sure enough—
—On second thought, I'd like to follow him. He might get lost.
—Hahaha, do that. The castle is quite big after all.
Leon politely saluted the group before entering the castle. The familiar large hall greeted everyone's sight as Leon proceeded forward.
By now, all shred of composure had left Leon's face as he looked around.
But regardless of where he looked, there was nobody to help as the footage continued, and he moved towards a certain room.
—He should be here...?
As he stopped before the open door, he hesitated for a moment before moving in. That was also the moment that he caught sight of me. I seemed to be fiddling with something while something hung in the air.
There were collective gasps around, but the shock wasn't over as I soon began walking in the direction of the body, setting up my own rope.
All attention focused on me once more, the air growing increasingly still.
I didn't pay any attention to those around me.
Rather...
'I know this happened, but at this point, the Realmwalker should've also appeared. Now that I think about it, Leon never saw the Realmwalker. I guess he altered the footage alongside our perception.'
Things progressed differently from what I remembered, but I more or less had an understanding of the sequence of events.
—Hmm, I see. So everyone below is dead. It's just like the forest. The people below are just souls. Should I help him?
Leon's whisper was what made things truly entertaining for me as the crowd turned their attention towards him, his face growing increasingly worse.
And soon—
—Nah, that won't benefit me.
The scene shifted as the image of hanging myself appeared for the world to see.
The noise died completely in that moment as the eyes of many widened. Some from the shock of my actions, while others from the shock of Leon's words.
I couldn't blame them.
Leon's image was clean. He was the polite and perfect Paragon that always seemed sunny.
And yet...
The video clearly showed the opposite as Leon turned back and headed back towards where the party was.
The crowd erupted in that moment.
"What is this?!"
"It has to be fake? This can't be true...?"
"Was he lying to all of us from the start?"
"No, what are you talking about! He was simply doing it because it's a competition! He also can't risk his life for others!"
There were, of course, people who defended him, but even those voices grew in the minority after the next moment.
—After all, what can someone who's already died do with that?"
—They don't realize it, but they've already been affected. Their minds are weak, and they've succumbed to the comfort that is presented around them."
—You've fallen for the temptation."
—I've seen you fall for the temptation. I saw everything, and I didn't stop it when I could've."
—From the start, I never trusted you. I didn't let you go up there because I wanted you to find the information. I let you go up there because I knew something was going to happen. From the moment you were in the forest, I could see it.
—I was shocked when you managed to rank ahead of me during the First Trial. Honestly, I was really having a hard time keeping it together. If not for the fact that I knew that we were being watched, I wouldn't have been trying so hard to look friendly."
The more he spoke, the more the noise ceased.
And soon, all eyes were fixed on him as his face looked incredibly stiff.
—Seeing the current state that you're in, all is good. My competition is now gone, and I can just claim credit for everything. There's no doubt about it that I'll now rank first.
Staring at the scene, I just couldn't help it.
Even though I knew that it was wrong and I tried my best to resist the urge, I ended up unable to resist.
I really wasn't able to, as I burst into a fit of laughter.
"Hahaha."
It wasn't that I was doing it on purpose.
It just ended up that way as I burst out laughing in front of the entire world. Something about Leon's face felt extremely amusing to me.
'I've been thinking of ways to get back at him, but it looks like I don't have to do anything at all. This gift... what a pleasant gift this is.'
But no.
This was still not enough for me.
This was Paimon, not me. It felt satisfying to see him like this, but it was still not me.
My laughter didn't last for very long as I felt the attention of the entire arena on me.
Wiping the corner of my eye, I just looked at Leon.
He was staring back, but his expression was a far cry from relaxed.
Amidst the silence, I started to hear whispers.
"No way."
"It can't be true. There's no way..."
"Why is it like this?"
"It's a lie. It has to be a lie."
The more I heard, the more I felt like laughing again. Although I couldn't see my face, I probably looked constipated from my attempt at holding back my laughter.
'This is killing me.'
But I couldn't laugh for long as the footage continued.
This time, the angle shifted once more.
And as Leon left the group, it suddenly became my turn.
Once more, the noise around the arena fell, with some voices saying, 'Wait, how is this possible? Isn't he supposed to be dead?'
I questioned this myself, but then again, I had never died in the first place.
—A trick. Yeah... it must be a trick.
I watched my mental breakdown before everyone present.
—I won't die. I will not die.
I watched myself scream at the hanging body that stood in front of me.
—There's absolutely no way!!
The way in which people looked at me seemed to change. I could feel the members of my squad look at me with worry as I kept my attention fixed on the screen. Honestly, everything had felt like a blur to me back then.
I didn't remember much of it, or it was more like I had completely erased it from my memory.
Eventually, the scene shifted back to the party going on outside.
Esteban and Drake appeared once more as they enjoyed the wines and drinks presented to them. They both looked intoxicated as they seemed to have lost themselves to the pleasure, while Paimon approached me and his words reverberated across the surroundings.
—What do you even struggle so much for? Isn't it because you want to live a good life without the disease that has been plaguing you? In that case, you're free at the moment. The disease will no longer restrict you.
Some things had been left out, but the truth behind my disease hadn't.
My lips opened, but what could I even say?
'Why did he leave those words in?'
—You're starting to open your eyes, Seth. I'm really happy that you're seeing the truth.
—...Let yourself go. There's no need to struggle any longer.
—Have fun.
As Paimon's soft voice reverberated through the surroundings, I could feel several people gulp at once as they stared blankly at the screen. Though he wasn't present, his whispers almost seemed to reach those watching.
As if his words were striking directly at their inner desires.
And that's what made Paimon so creepy. From the start, he had never forced me to be there.
He never forces anyone to be there.
He... just tried to convince them to stay there.
'I can't believe I survived something like this.'
Then, I raised the glass of wine in my hand and cheered alongside the others. The party commenced, and laughter echoed throughout. In that moment, I heard many gasps; the stares directed at me were even more bothersome.
This became even worse as they watched every single interaction that came after, and how I was slowly starting to lose my name and identity. Some screamed, 'It's obvious! Why are you not realizing this!?', while others covered their faces.
But soon, such reactions faded.
—Spurt!
Especially from the moment I took my eye.
The noise ceased. It was so quiet that one would even hear a pin drop. Some understood why I did what I did, while others just looked at me as if I were crazy.
But that was just the start.
Soon, I started to cut my wrists.
Paimon's voice drifted across the stadium as everyone heard.
—Why do you want to leave? You were so comfortable a few moments ago. What is it that is pushing you to leave this place? Is the very idea of dying bad for you?
His words were soft, and yet so enticing.
But even in those moments, I never fell for his temptations.
Each time, I'd sacrifice something new.
—Akh!
The sound of my screams echoed across the arena as many flinched.
Some screamed.
"T-that's... Squad Leader."
The worried voices of those around me entered my ear, but I just stood quietly, staring at what was happening to me.
It felt weird staring at it from a different perspective.
But soon, cracks started to appear on my face.
—But are you sure they'll struggle without you?
—...They won't.
Oh...
I remembered this moment clearly as I pursed my lips.
As expected, not all gifts were great gifts. Paimon had omitted a lot of things, but he had kept others in the recordings.
For a King like him, I knew that he knew almost everything about me.
He also knew what would stir things up with those around me.
—You know it, right?
—I know it.
I felt a subtle shift coming from Joanna and the others, but I didn't look at them.
I continued to watch.
—Ariel alone can do what you can't do. She's much more suited to leading the team than you are. With her, they can climb places that they'll never reach with you. In that case, what are you useful for?
—Will there be anyone who will miss you?
—No.
—So why do you keep struggling?
And soon—
—That's not it. I've... never cared about what others do without me.
I closed my eyes in that moment.
'I don't get it. Why are they showing all of this? How is this relevant to the Congress?'
Opening my eyes again, my attention fell on the screens once more.
The scenes only became more brutal after that.
Fingers. Toes. Arm. Leg.
Hunger.
Starvation.
Gradually, I watched all the things that I put myself through in that situation.
Even though everything had happened in a matter of hundreds of days, everything was cut and assembled in a way that it made it all seem like it happened in seconds.
But those were a lot of hours of footage...
'How did the footage capture that many hours? And how were they able to edit it so quickly? Did Paimon do something?'
Yes, this felt like the only real answer to the situation.
Very likely, he had removed the time dilation.
But that didn't matter.
As I watched myself put myself through so much pain, I had long noticed the quietness around me. It was so silent that it almost felt stifling.
The only thing that carried through the silence was the sound of my screams in the speakers, but even those died out at some point. The next few scenes were rather grotesque, prompting some to cover their eyes.
It got to the point where some even started protesting.
"How long is this going to go for?"
"Make it stop."
"Make it—"
It did stop.
The scene did stop.
Everything turned black.
At least, for a moment.
When the cameras returned, it was from a different angle.
Blood spilled again.
But this time, it wasn't my blood.
It was Drake's blood as I saw a figure stab down on him.
"Eurk——!!"
His muffled scream filled the surroundings as his body shook. Many gasped, but when the image became clear, it became quiet again as I stood in front of Drake, my hand dripping with blood, as I reached for his mouth and covered it.
—It's... time for you to wake up. Ke...
A hoarse, almost brittle voice filled the surroundings.
—...I've figured it out. Kek... A way to beat this.
Those were the first moments everyone saw it.
The madness.
-x-X-x-
It was as if a spell had been cast on the entire arena.
All eyes were fixed on the figure on the screen, his face completely mangled, marred by deep cuts and missing key features like his nose and ears.
He looked like a monster.
A terrifying monster that made one unable to sleep at night.
And yet, despite his current state, the figure remained completely calm as his voice traveled across the surroundings.
—...You... get ready. Sacrifice... what you must. Keep conscious.
—H-huh...? W-what do you mean...?
—I mean... what I mean.
He was supposed to be the epitome of luck.
A person who had appeared in the right place at the right time.
Someone who was never meant to be a Paragon.
But—
—Spurt...!
It became increasingly clear as the videos continued that this was the furthest thing from the truth. As the video progressed, people witnessed his madness. The video continued to flash, gruesome scenes appearing for all to see.
Drake and Esteban were also subjected to such things.
But they weren't as extreme as him.
He... took things to an extreme level, and as the situation progressed, some couldn't help but turn his way. He stood in silence, his dark eyes fixed on the distant monitor.
There was no trace of emotion.
In fact, it was even hard to read his expression.
He just stared at what was happening as though this was the first time for him, seemingly completely oblivious to the numerous gazes directed his way.
—Day... 143. I think I get... it. I think I have gotten a grasp on... what I need to do. This place... it.. it's... What was I talking about? W-what am I doing? I'm thirsty.
—165. Thirsty. Hungry. Thirsty. Hungry. Sleepy. Sleepy. Thirsty. Hungry. Sleepy. Pain. Hate it. I...
—I... I'm going crazy. It's hard to fight the urges. The... more I sacrifice, the crazier I become... I don't recall the last time I felt normal. How... long can I keep my sanity for? How long... can I keep my identity for?
As his hoarse voice whispered throughout the stadium, the air seemed to change.
The audience hadn't been clear because everything had been going fast, but with his voice echoing in the air, the faces of many changed.
"Wait, w-what did he say?"
"One hundred days...?"
"Surely not, right?"
"He must've gone mad and lost track of time. Surely he... didn't do this for so long."
"But didn't that previous group say they've been there for a decade?"
The silence that followed felt even more suffocating as they watched Seth slowly rise to his feet. Even that simple movement seemed painfully difficult, his body staggering, yet as if driven by something unseen, he forced himself onward, dragging his steps toward the castle corridor.
"No, what is he doing...?"
"W-why is he leaving?"
By now, the audience had been so absorbed by what they were seeing that they had completely forgotten about the fact that Seth was now doing fine.
Staring at the monitor, many clenched their hands.
Especially when—
Thump!
Seth stumbled forward, his body barely keeping up with him.
"Ah!"
"...No!"
—How pitiful.
Things grew even more tense when a certain voice whispered.
—You look really pitiful at the moment. Is it really worth it? Torturing yourself to this point? For what reason?
Although calm, something about the voice made the hearts of many shiver.
It wasn't their first time hearing it, but each time it sounded, it was as if something within their hearts tickled, prompting them to want to listen to the voice.
This made many question themselves...
If this was what they felt through a recording, just how terrifying was it in real life?
—You could've chosen the easy way out. You could've eaten all the food you wanted, drunk all the water you desired, and slept in the finest beds you'll ever lie on. Instead, you struggled for hundreds of days... for what? What exactly did you struggle for?
The voice continued to echo throughout the arena, bringing a certain silence as everyone just looked.
Although no one said a thing, they all wanted to know the same thing.
Why?
Why was he still struggling?
—But in the end... You were just struggling out of stubbornness.
Yes, it was stubbornness.
It had to be that.
Otherwise, why would he persist?
—You struggled not because you didn't want to die or anything like that. The reason you refused to die was simply that you're stubborn. That's all. You're nothing special. You're just... like everyone else. A more pitiful version of them.
Everyone seemed to subconsciously nod.
Was it because of the voice, or was it because they also shared the same sentiment?
Nobody knew. Not even the audience.
Why would anyone put themselves through all of this torture if it wasn't stubbornness? Many of them would have long given up.
There was no need for him to do this.
There was simply no—
—Ha... ha.
A short, yet hoarse laugh shattered the thoughts of many as eyes started to widen.
This hadn't been the first time he had laughed.
But listening to his current laugh, something felt different as he slowly raised his head to look at the figure no one could see.
—I... want to...
When his voice came out, as broken as it was, everyone paid attention.
The only thing that one could hear was his voice as many strained their ears to listen.
You want...? Want wha—
—...Make you bow.
"...."
"...."
The air appeared to shift in that moment.
All of a sudden, it felt incredibly suffocating. As though someone had stripped all oxygen from the air.
Many found themselves struggling to breathe.
And yet, none looked away.
They all stared at the screen.
—I want to know... how it feels...
At what was unfolding before their very eyes.
—...to step on a King.
The madness.
—Ha... ha...
And as his laugh escaped once more, shivers began to run down the bodies of all those present. This didn't just include the audience, but the Paragons and competitors that stood at the bottom of the stage as they all turned their attention towards the figure responsible for all of this.
With a calm look, he accepted the stares.
He accepted everything while his laugh grew more and more unrestrained inside the footage.
—Hahaha... Ha!
The more he laughed, the greater the shivers everyone felt.
Such shivers only grew with time as his voice eventually reached their ears once more.
—H-haha. With my eye clear, I can see... through the illusions. I can see through the fakery of this place. B-but despite that, I can't see you.
Nobody could see him.
In that moment, the minds of a few rattled as they suddenly thought of something.
This was especially clear for some of the sharper-minded Paragons, who had a sudden understanding.
—Your name. I... know your name.
A hysterical laugh reverberated once more.
However, nobody dared to say anything, as though nobody could see the face of the figure standing in front of Seth; they could see the subtle shift in his expression.
Did he figure something out?
What did he figure out...?
"Ah!"
Suddenly, one of the audience members shouted.
"That's...! The key to getting out of this place is likely finding out the identity of the person standing in front of him!"
"c—!"
The eyes of many widened.
"Right! How could I not have thought about it!?"
"Since he takes identities, what happens if you give him his identity back?!2
"That's...!"
Things unfolded just as the others predicted.
Seth opened his mouth while trying to shout the name of the person standing before him.
However...
Each time he tried, he'd be blocked.
—Know your place.
The place rattled.
—Rattle! Rattle!
Things grew progressively more unrestrained as Seth tried his best to say his name, with many of the audience members on the edge of their seats.
Say it! Say it!
And yet, despite all of this, Seth was never able to say his name.
He seemed to get closer and closer to it, and just as he was about to say his name, his entire body was thrown back.
That also appeared to be the moment when Seth seemed to have lost sight of the situation.
"Akh!"
"No...!"
Screams followed.
The audience was fully invested.
"Shit!"
"How the hell can he beat that thing? It's impossible! It's...!"
The sound of a step filled the place.
Once more, the noise ceased.
Drake and Esteban's figures appeared. Both didn't look great, and the way they looked at Seth was complicated, containing both fear and apprehension.
—D-do it.
And yet, the moment he spoke, they obeyed.
The angle shifted.
It shifted to Esteban's camera as he stabbed down at his leg, blood spurting in all directions.
——!
Realization dawned on the audience.
He...!
—RATTLE! RATTLE!
The place rattled even more fiercely as the voice grew more alarmed.
—Stop it!
But Esteban and Drake didn't stop.
—You do not understand what you are doing. Stop this at once!
The panic in the voice was clear.
It boomed across the entire arena. And yet, they didn't stop.
No, Esteban did at some point as he looked at Seth.
That was also the very moment everyone saw it.
The twisted and maddening smile that lingered upon his lips as he stared at the figure ahead.
His eyes were bloodshot, and yet they were wide open.
Then—!
—Spurt!
Drake's knife came cleaving down his neck, severing his head.
Nobody screamed.
Nobody made a sound.
No...
Nobody could make a sound as they stared at Drake's figure on the screen as he grabbed Seth's severed head, blood dripping down onto the ground.
The noise was completely stripped from the stadium.
Be in the recording, or across the entire place.
There was no sound.
In that moment, it was as if the hearts of all those present had synced.
Ba... Thump! Ba... Thump!
They watched as Drake's figure slowly moved towards the blank figure standing in front of him before eventually taking a knee and presenting the head towards him.
Besides the soft dripping of the blood coming from Seth's head, there was no other sound.
And yet—
It was almost as if they could hear the words inside his mind.
I... offer you my everything.
My eyes. My arms. My legs. My heart. My body.
And finally—
My head.
To you, who is King Paimon.
That day, everyone got to witness it.
The true twisted nature that hid within Seth.
The madness.
-x-X-x-
The footage ended on that note.
And yet, even after it ended, the stadium remained silent.
The eyes of everyone continued to linger in my direction as I tried my best not to show much emotion. When I looked around me, the emotions on everyone's faces were clear to me.
From the fear to the shock that they experienced as they witnessed what I had done.
Even now, I struggled to grasp the meaning behind showing all of this.
But when I looked to my side and caught sight of my own squad members, Ariel's voice just barely managed to drift inside my ears as she softly muttered, "See? I... told you that he's the craziest one. You call me crazy, but look at him. He's... way past that."
No, that's bullshit.
I did exaggerate in the footage and scenario, but I was forced to do so by the circumstances.
She was the true crazy one.
"Ehm."
The Vice-Director's voice echoed once more.
Only then did everyone pull their attention away from me as he stood at the center.
"I'm sure all of you are shocked by what you've witnessed. In all honesty, I was, too, alongside the people in charge of setting up the footage. In fact, the footage was incredibly long, and if not for our advanced system allowing us to look through the most important parts, it would've taken us at least a year to sort through everything."
Nobody said a single thing.
Many understood. I also understood.
'So that's how they did it? No, it can't be just because of their system. I'm sure that Paimon had a hand in this.'
Honestly, I didn't know how to feel about that.
Had he done this out of amusement?
...Or was there a deeper meaning behind his actions?
Whatever the case was, my situation had now changed completely. I was known before, but not quite to the same extent as some of the top Paragons. This time, however, things had changed completely.
There was no doubt in my mind that for a while, I was going to become the most famous person on this planet.
'Ah, fuck.'
I didn't like the idea of it.
I had changed. I knew that I had changed.
But this part of me hadn't changed.
I still hated people just as much as I hated them before.
"The reason why we've decided to show all of you this footage was mainly because we needed to explain to you how Seth would be receiving an extra point for collecting the data transmitter. I'm sure many of you would've protested had we done so. But above all of that..."
The Vice-Director paused, his attention falling on me.
"...I just wanted to let you all witness what it means to be one of the best within this industry."
I opened my lips, but soon closed them.
BOOM—!
"Waaaah!"
"That was crazy!!!"
"He's out of his mind! He's completely out of his mind!"
After which, the audience exploded. The entire place shook as I suddenly heard my name being chanted by everyone present. It was to the extent that I started to have goosebumps all over my body.
But that was the extent of the emotions that I felt.
I wasn't all too happy with the attention.
Especially when I was aware that 'they' were watching. Those who most likely had the same system as I did.
Now that I had reached this point, they were all probably aware of me.
My life wasn't going to become easier from this point forward.
In fact, it was going to become much harder.
Still...
For this one moment, I let my mind relax for a moment as I basked amidst the cheers.
"Taking into account that he was one of the people who managed to acquire the data transmitter, and he was able to provide us a way to clear the scenario above us in case some people fell for the same trick, we've decided to award him a total of 5,000 points. This means..."
The Vice-Director's words brought silence to the place again.
Shock filled the faces of many again, and even I, who had maintained my composure until this very moment, couldn't help but be shocked as I raised my head to look at the updated table.
——[Guild Ranking]——
⌈1⌉ — Severed Stars [Points: 60] + 5533
⌈2⌉ — Helios Vanguard [Points: 75] +1390
⌈3⌉ — Eclipse Sovereign [Points: 71] +880
⌈4⌉ — Obsidian Bastion [Points: 73] +860
⌈5⌉ — Crimson Oath [Points: 68] +810
⌈6⌉ — Arithmus [Points: 61] +760
⌈7⌉ — Melson Sanders [Points: 62] +735
⌈8⌉ — Argent Vanguard [Points: 62] +710
⌈9⌉ — Evening Sun [Points: 60] +650
.
.
——[Guild Ranking]——
Staring at the updated table, I found myself at a complete loss for words.
This...
'We're likely going to be first, aren't we?'
***
The rest of the Congress barely held any excitement. Besides a few spots between those belonging to the Oak Circle, there were no major changes. The rankings remained generally the same.
But it was because the rankings were as such that the world went into uproar.
For the first time in ages, the status quo between the great guilds and oak circle had been broken.
One single Guild alone managed to rank at the very top.
Not only that, but they were able to accomplish all of this dominantly.
Of course, everyone knew the reason for this.
Breaking — [Seth Thorne wins the WC MVP award with an overwhelming number of votes.]
Breaking — [The rising comet that appeared out of nowhere. Seth Thorne, the new WC MVP.]
Breaking — [Seth Thorne silences all critics. WC MVP winner.]
Breaking — [Seth Thorne, WC MVP. His market value shoots through the roof. What is his new market value? Will the big guilds fight for him?]
Breaking — [Reputation on the brink of destruction. What will be of Leon Drave?]
All sorts of articles started to spread throughout the internet. Most were celebrating Seth's recent success, but within them were also articles regarding Leon. With the entire world watching his antics, his perfect reputation crumbled completely.
His standings among the fans also started to fall as he began to lose hundreds of thousands of followers per hour.
The Helios Vanguard Guild tried their best to mitigate the damage, but it was a little too late.
Thankfully, Leon still had a lot of die-hard fans.
Above all, his skills were real.
He was fake, but his skills were real.
Unlike Leon, Seth gained a massive number of followers. The Severed Stars Guild PR team was also forced to work overtime and hire additional staff in order to handle the numerous calls that they started to receive.
Seth's name started to become extremely hot, and it only grew in the following day as several official offers were presented to the Guild.
Breaking — [Crimson Oath Guild bids 150 million for Seth's contract.]
Breaking — [Eclipse Sovereign Guild bids 160 million for Seth's contract.]
Breaking —[Obsidian Bastion Guild bids 165 million for Seth's contract.]
A full-blown bidding war began amongst the top Guilds, each bidding higher and higher with each passing hour.
The entire world watched, interested in the situation.
Everyone wanted to know.
Would Seth Thorne stay in the Severed Stars Guild, or was he going to join one of the major Guilds?
The entire world was paying attention.
Just where would the Mad Crown go?
-x-X-x-
The MVP award was rather fancy.
Its long body was coated entirely in silver, polished to a cold sheen, and sculpted into the shape of a hand that curled upward, its fingers outstretched as if grasping at a crown. No matter how I looked at it, the award looked both fancy and weird.
'I don't know what to do with this.'
Beneath the award was a plaque that read my name, [Seth Thorne].
The award itself wasn't very heavy, nor did it seem like it would break easily. Feeling the cold body of the trophy, I felt tempted to sell it.
"It should sell well, no?"
The thought left as fast as it came.
Thinking about my current situation, I knew that money would be the least of my problems going forward.
"Ah, shit."
Leaning back against the headrest of the chair in my office, I felt the coarse leather of the armrests beneath my arms as I closed my eyes and took a slow, steady breath.
The mood within the Guild was weird.
Naturally, a lot of them were happy with the results. The Guild had a sudden surge in popularity. Not only were they able to rank first, but they also had me.
The MVP.
Ariel and the others also had a sudden surge in popularity.
The PR teams were receiving calls every single second of the day regarding them and me.
All was good.
All but one thing
'Kyle.'
What the hell am I supposed to do about him?
Kyle's disappearance left the air around the Guild heavy. The loss of a Paragon wasn't easy. Especially one as capable as Kyle, who had the potential to rise to a very high standing.
In fact, I used Kyle as an excuse to separate myself from the others.
Everyone outside probably thought that I was mourning him.
And in a way, I was.
Because while I knew that he was alive, I also knew that at the moment, he hated my guts.
"Haa."
With a sigh, I covered my face and shook my head.
"What am I supposed to do with you?"
I spoke the words aloud, hoping that Kyle would listen. However, such hopes were slim. The only thing I could do was hope that the Conductor and the others could talk some sense into him.
But even that possibility felt slim.
Especially when I recalled his appearance from back then.
"Oh, Kyle."
I shook my head again and shifted my attention elsewhere.
Towards the corner of the room where a particular mirror stood. A white cloth covered the mirror, and as I stared at the mirror from where I sat, my fingers drummed against the table.
'Right, there's that too.'
The BUA and those from the World Congress had already analyzed the mirror. After determining that there was nothing inside, they allowed me to bring it back. When I mentioned to them that I wanted to bring the mirror with me, they all gave me weird looks, only for them to agree after they recalled my deeds.
"I guess there are benefits to looking crazy to others."
Of course, I wasn't that crazy.
Just a tiny bit.
at least, not as much as Ariel.
She was batshit crazy.
Swooosh—!
I pulled the curtain away and stared at the broken mirror.
Fragmented pieces of my own reflection stared back at me as I remained standing still, taking in the sight in front of me. I studied the mirror for the next several seconds before eventually taking a step back as a shadow appeared next to me.
"I need you to make sure that nothing happens to me."
The Realmwalker didn't answer.
It just stood behind me.
I paused, the silence around me feeling a little stiff as I turned back.
"You know, I feel like you've been getting rather rebellious lately."
"....."
The Realmwalker didn't say anything.
Rather, it suddenly crossed its arms, almost as if it was saying, 'You don't think...?'
I paused at the sight.
Then—
"If it's a fight that you want, I'll give it to you anytime. You don't think I've forgotten what you've done to me back at the Limbo?"
The Realmwaker's arms unfolded. Suddenly, it seemed to remember.
Yeah, yeah.
Fucking bitch.
Well...
Looking at the Realmwalker and thinking about everything that I had done to it, I sighed, pressing my hand against its shoulder.
"Don't worry. I understand your concerns."
The Realmwalker raised its head. Then, it shook its head, seemingly saying, 'No, you don't understand.'
"But I do."
Shake. Shake.
"Look, I'll get a new meat shield in the near future. Happy now?"
"—!!"
The Realmwalker's head raised up in delight.
Grabbing my shoulders, it shook me, and my head bobbed back and forth.
"L-let go!"
Only then did the Realmwalker let go of me as it hastily stood back, its hands clasped behind its back, while its back stood straight. He looked like a model soldier.
"....."
Honestly, I was speechless.
But I let the Realmwalker have it.
At the end of the day, it was true that I had been using it as a meat shield for so long.
"Make sure to cover the mirror if I can't fight back."
Nod! Nod!
"...Alright."
I shifted my attention back towards the broken mirror, my expression tensing. Making sure that the room of my office was closed, I took a deep breath while staring at the mirror. Although I had 'contained' the mirror anomaly within me, I knew that it wasn't obedient to me.
At least, not yet.
The anomaly was a lot stronger than I was.
However, thanks to the fragmented piece of the mirror, I was able to suppress it a bit. But that wasn't enough to make it submit.
That was my current goal.
I needed to contain the anomaly.
Especially since things were far from over.
I pulled up the existing quest that had yet to be completed.
——●
[New Quest Activated!]
• Difficulty: N/A
• Reward: 10 Essence Shards [Attribute of choice] | 300,000 SP
• Objective: Enter the Mist and find out its secrets.
• Location: N/A
• Failure: Death
Description: The mist carries unspeakable secrets and horrors. It is the reason humanity chose to tear chunks from the earth and build floating islands above it. What is behind the mist? What could've caused it to develop?
Time Limit: 2 weeks.
[Will you accept the quest?]
▶ [Yes] ▷ [No]
——●
I drew a deep breath the moment I looked at it.
'Yeah, there's still this quest.'
To be honest, I wasn't very worried about it. My eyes subconsciously drifted towards the ring on my finger.
In case things turned back, I could always ask Paimon for the answer.
However, that was the last thing that I wanted to do.
Knowledge was power, and there was no better power than Paimon's knowledge. It was for this reason that I opted for this method. Although the anomaly in the mirror wasn't obedient to me, I knew that it had been in the mist for a very long time. If I could get it to submit to me, I'd be able to figure out more about the mist and complete the quest.
Above all, I would also gain some new, powerful abilities.
The world knew of my madness.
But they didn't know about the power that hid within that madness.
Without further ado, I took another deep breath and stared at the fragmented reflection before me. Then, as my first node churned to life, I released the mirror anomaly.
Almost instantly, the atmosphere changed.
Flick!
The lights above me faded.
Darkness took over the room.
Though the office was familiar to me, it suddenly started to feel different as the very air turned cold and I felt an additional presence.
I didn't panic.
I knew that there was no time for me to panic as I stared at the mirror.
I could no longer see my reflection, but I could feel a presence inside the room. The presence lingered somewhere as I closed my eyes and tracked it with my node.
Unlike before, with the anomaly now connected to me through my node, I could sense its presence at all times, and when I opened my eyes again, I knew it was lingering within the mirror.
'Alright.'
I took a deep breath, feeling the air turn even colder.
'The anomaly should be in the mirror. In case the situation turns, I'll just have the Realmwalker cover the mirror. Everything is sorted. I just need to—huh?'
My thoughts came to an abrupt halt the moment I felt something press against my back. Before I could even react, I was thrust toward the mirror, just barely managing to turn my head in time to catch a glimpse of the Realmwalker through the darkness.
A sudden sense of déjà vu struck me.
This...
Wasn't this familiar?
This motherfuc—
BANG!
Striking something hard, I stumbled forward as I held onto my head.
"Ukh...! Fuck—!"
A few curses left here and there. Partly because of the pain, and most importantly because of the sudden betrayal.
"Fuck getting a new meatshield! I'll make sure you become my meatshield for life! That's a promise!!"
Cursing several more times, I finally pulled my hand away from my forehead. That was when the words died on my lips as I looked around, stunned by what I was seeing.
This...
I recognized this place.
This room in particular.
Although it wasn't worn down like before, warm light streamed from above as the curtains billowed gently, fresh air drifting through the room. A familiar wardrobe stood by the side, and a pristine mirror rested beside me.
There was no doubt about it.
This was Point Z.
Or to be more precise, this was Point Z before the mist.
"What's going on?"
Helping myself up, I moved toward the window and looked outside. The scenery that greeted me left me stunned. Trees rustled beneath a faint breeze that drifted through the air, tousling my hair along with it. Warm laughter echoed below as I caught a glimpse of several people gathered beneath.
This place looked incredibly nice.
'...Yeah, there's no doubt about it. This must be Point Z before the mist.'
But why was I here? Did I go back to the past?
No, that seemed unlikely.
Was this how the world within the mirror was? Another paradise-type thing?
Honestly, I wasn't certain, but as my eyes remained fixed on the scenery outside, the door behind me abruptly opened, and a figure walked in.
Clank!
My heart skipped a beat as I turned my head.
A figure walked in, her long white dress trailing softly behind her as she moved toward the mirror. Holding a brush in her hand, she began to run it through her hair in slow, steady strokes.
Coming into the room, she didn't seem to sense my presence at all.
Rather... it was more like she couldn't see me at all. But that wasn't what struck me the most. Staring at her, I swallowed quietly as I took in her features. Or the lack of them. She had no face. No nose. No eyes. No mouth. Just a smooth, blank surface where her face should have been as she continued brushing her hair in front of the mirror.
I grew alert.
Was this another scenario that I had to clear?
'But where is the quest?'
I'd usually see a quest window the moment I was thrust into a scenario.
Then...?
Trrrr! Trrr—!
A sudden ringing sound echoed across the entire room.
My heart jolted.
That ringing sound...
"Mom! Mom...! Pick up the phone, mom!"
The faceless girl called out below, but she got no response. Lowering her hand, she turned back and mumbled, "Why the hell is no one responding?"
She then began to walk out of the room.
Without a second thought, I followed her from behind. It was clear now that she couldn't sense my presence at all, even as the loud squeal of the landline phone echoed throughout the entire place.
Eventually, she picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
Her voice sounded quite annoyed.
But the annoyance didn't last long as her face changed.
"What?"
There was fluster in her tone as she answered.
Straining my ears, I tried to listen, but I couldn't quite make out what was being said. In the end, I didn't need to.
"Wait, wait... What are you talking about? Go upstairs? Why do I need to go upstairs?"
'Go upstairs!'
A scream pierced through the phone's speakers as the girl let go of the receiver. At the same time, her head snapped toward the door. I turned as well, my stomach churning as a sudden sense of dread settled over me.
I could feel the ground shaking under my feet, and the windows began to shatter like broken glass.
"H-Huh...!?"
The girl let out a startled yelp as she stared at the window. The house began to rattle a moment after, and as I drew closer to the window, I saw it.
A dense, dark mist rose in the distance, churning as it barreled through everything in its path, swallowing structures and life alike as though it sought to devour the world whole. The house continued to shake, the tremors rattling through its frame, yet despite the violent motion, the noise seemed to fade away completely, leaving behind an eerie, hollow silence.
I continued to stare at the approaching mist, the dread coiling tighter in my stomach as it drew closer. Beside me, the girl took a step back, her body trembling. Though I couldn't see her face, I could tell she was trying to say something, her movements hesitant and strained.
But the silence persisted.
It crept over the world, gripping all living beings as it sped up, swallowing everything in its path.
The girl next to me ran.
She dashed towards the second floor as fast as possible.
I reacted a step later, my eyes still lingering over the mist in the distance. But eventually, I followed her back up the stairs, catching up with her quickly and just barely managing to enter as she slammed the door behind her.
With her back pressed against the door, her chest rose and fell repeatedly.
Tears streamed down her faceless face as she turned toward the window. In the silence, the mist continued to roll forward, swallowing everything in its path, a low, whipping sound cutting through the stillness as it filled the air.
Looking at the mist, I remained still.
I just watched as it slowly approached our way.
In a way, it felt... inevitable.
Soon, the mist was almost upon us, rolling forward with terrifying speed as it swallowed everything in its path. To my eyes, it felt as though the world had slowed to a crawl, yet the mist surged closer in an instant. It was fast, far too fast, and as I turned my head, the last thing I saw was the girl, her back pressed against the familiar mirror, both hands clutching where her mouth should have been.
Then...
Swooosh—
The mist swallowed us whole.
My vision went completely dark as the mist swallowed me from all directions. It felt as though a powerful wind tore past me, whipping my clothes and hair in every direction as I was engulfed.
The silence that followed felt deeply unsettling, and when I turned my head, my heart froze as I took in the sight of the girl.
She stood by the mirror, but half of her body was almost inside the mirror.
Her head reached outward, trying to grasp something, but that something didn't exist as the mirror sucked her in.
I could almost imagine her desperate screams as she tried to free herself from the mirror, but there was no one to help her. For a moment, I hesitated. However, taking a step forward, I moved towards the girl and tried to reach for her hand.
But...
'As expected, I don't exist. This isn't the past.'
My hand phased right past hers.
In the end, as both hands clung to the side of the mirror, she was eventually sucked in as the mirror rattled for several seconds before settling.
'Is this how the mirror came to be? But why am I being shown this? What is the purpose...?'
My gaze continued to linger over the mirror for several seconds until I eventually looked away, and moved towards the window again, taking a look at the surroundings. The scenery was now a familiar one.
While the house had yet to wear down, the silence was exactly like Point Z. However, unlike Point Z, there was still a sign of life outside.
I could see the lingering shadows of several figures running around in panic.
My eyes squinted.
'From what I remember, everyone disappeared in Point Z. I assumed that it was because of the mirror, and I still think that's the case. Then...?'
I subconsciously turned my head to look at the mirror.
After which, I heard the sound of someone entering from below.
One that was followed by a familiar sound.
Trrr! Trrr—!
The next sequence of events was just as I knew. Someway or another, the people downstairs were forced to make it to the second floor, and the moment they reached this room, they'd be sucked into the mirror.
I suddenly thought back to the sudden disappearances with the flare back in Point Z, and I had a sudden epiphany.
'What if instead of dragging them to hell, the mirror is actually making them disappear by making them enter the house? That's why we were never able to spot them. But that doesn't explain the 'impostors'. Could that also be the mirror's work? As a way to trick people into entering the house?'
I had all sorts of hypotheses in my mind.
The hypothesis lingered in the back of my mind for several seconds until I turned my attention back to the mirror. That was also the moment I found my own reflection staring back.
'Hm?'
My heart squeezed for a moment.
However, I soon realized what was going on.
"Have you shown me what you wanted to show me?"
The reflection didn't move as I did.
Its lips remain closed despite what I said.
I knew then that what was staring back at me wasn't really my own reflection.
Eventually—
"Protect... I protect..."
I understood instantly.
'I'm still confused about how she turned into an anomaly, but based on what I saw, I can deduce that her behavior is tied to her final thoughts before she transformed. She draws people in to "protect" them from the mist, leading them to the second floor as a reflection of her mother's words before she changed.'
The disappearances started to make sense.
However, what exactly happened to them? She said protect, but was she really protecting them? I doubted this.
Sure enough...
When I looked at the mirror again, I could see several other figures staring back at me. Some I recognized. They were people who had come to the Congress with me. However, their faces were completely white, and they seemed to lack any soul.
In a way, they almost felt like ghosts.
Were they ghosts?
However, as I observed them more, I had a sudden realization.
"...I see."
I closed my eyes in understanding, turning my head to the right, where a figure appeared.
"Are you going to start explaining to me?"
"You caught quite the peculiar anomaly."
Leaning against the side of the wall, the Conductor chuckled.
"I don't mind explaining, though. We already had a good talk with the anomaly."
"...I know."
The Realmw... meatshield's behavior made sense to me. The reason why it had pushed me was that they were already aware that the mirror wanted to show me this.
I still wasn't going to forgive that meatshield, though.
In fact, I planned on making its life a lot harder in the future. No, I planned on having a good talk with everyone. Not just the meatshield.
This couldn't go on.
'Traitors. They're all traitors.'
"I think you understood what it was trying to show you, how it came to be, and what drives its behavior."
As the Conductor's voice drifted in the air, I raised my head and nodded.
"Yes."
I understood this much.
"The mirror's ability doesn't just lie in the fact that it can create illusions. From the moment it absorbs a person, it can copy their memories and way of speaking. It can essentially become them. That's how it blends seamlessly into groups without anyone noticing."
My eyes widened slightly.
This ability...
It was a little broken, no?
The Conductor chuckled.
"But that's not all. It can also blend seamlessly into a group and make them forget its existence. As you've probably guessed, the mirror is of the [Illusionist] Decree."
"Mhm."
My eyes drifted to the mirror.
The more I looked at it, the more tempted I felt.
If I managed to acquire such skills, the possibilities for me were endless.
But there were a couple of things that I was curious about.
"How is it able to bring people to hell? Does it have a connection with hell?"
"Ah, that..."
All of a sudden, the Conductor's lips twisted.
They twisted in such a way that I started to feel the hair at the back of my neck rise as it chuckled.
"That's the funny thing."
The Conductor's soft voice drifted across the room.
"That wasn't the mirror's doing."
My breath caught.
"In fact, it wasn't even there at the start, following you guys. That was something else entirely. Something that..."
The Conductor paused, extending its long and slender hand as it pointed at me.
"...Is closely tied to you."
All of a sudden, I was reminded of something.
Something that I hadn't thought about in a bit.
[You have been haunted]
Could it be...?