"Lucien... if possible, try to keep a lower profile."
"And don't forget... everything that happens here affects reality too."
"Please don't accidentally hurt anyone..."
Elise couldn't help reminding him again.
Lucien smiled gently.
"I'm only experimenting."
"I don't have any other intentions."
Then he looked upward.
"Isn't that oxygen-mask spirit upstairs?"
"Let's go find him."
"...Alright."
Elise lifted her small lantern and walked ahead.
"Stay close."
"There's no real light source here."
"It's easy to get lost."
The two left Quinn's apartment and entered the elevator.
Soon—
the doors opened on the fifth floor.
A rotten, icy wind immediately rushed inside.
Compared to the fourth floor, this corridor felt far darker.
Far gloomier.
Somewhere nearby—
water dripped continuously.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
Following the sound, Lucien and Elise slowly moved forward.
Soon, they saw a woman standing in the darkness.
She was soaked from head to toe.
Her face was deathly pale.
Heavy dark circles covered her eyes.
Her hair clung tightly to her skin.
Water continuously dripped from her clothes.
Clearly—
her death had something to do with rain.
The female ghost stared fearfully at the two of them.
No—
more specifically—
she stared at Lucien.
"Were you killed by the oxygen-mask spirit?"
Lucien asked directly.
The woman nodded weakly.
"Where is he?"
This time—
she desperately shook her head.
"I can't tell you..."
"He'll kill me..."
Elise was about to speak.
But Lucien spoke first.
"What are you scared of?"
"You're a ghost."
"He's a ghost too."
"Why didn't you fight back before?"
"And now you won't even give directions?"
"So timid."
"So hesitant."
Then Lucien looked at her.
"What?"
"You're afraid of him..."
"...but not afraid of me?"
As he spoke, he slowly clenched his fist.
A faint glow immediately gathered around it.
The moment it appeared—
both Elise and the female ghost instantly felt a terrifying pressure.
If that fist landed—
they'd probably disappear instantly.
The female ghost immediately trembled harder.
Tears nearly came out.
Elise stared blankly.
"..."
Why...
why did Lucien suddenly sound like some mountain bandit threatening travelers?
The female ghost looked like she wanted to cry.
Lucien frowned.
"Do you have weapons here?"
"Knives?"
"Guns?"
"...What?"
Elise's eyes widened.
Weapons?
Guns?!
Why was this sounding stranger and stranger?!
The female ghost shook her head desperately.
Water splashed everywhere.
Lucien immediately frowned.
"Stop shaking."
"You're spraying water everywhere."
The moment those words fell—
the rain surrounding her suddenly stopped.
The female ghost instantly froze.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Silence.
Then Lucien waved his hand.
"Forget it."
"I'll search myself."
Seeing this, Elise swallowed nervously.
Something felt very wrong.
Very wrong.
Soon—
sounds of rummaging came from nearby rooms.
Crash.
Bang.
Clatter.
Then a moment later—
Lucien walked back out.
In his hand—
was a crowbar.
As he casually swung it through the air, faint whooshing sounds followed.
Lucien nodded with satisfaction.
"Why didn't you say you had something useful?"
"This is much better than knives."
Elise's eyelids twitched violently.
The female ghost stared blankly.
Then Lucien pointed at her.
"You're coming too."
No room for discussion.
No room for refusal.
The female ghost glanced at the crowbar.
Then silently nodded with tears in her eyes.
Thus—
their team changed.
From two people—
to two people and one ghost.
Along the way, the female ghost kept muttering softly:
"His voice..."
"...it's still in my head..."
"Even suicide couldn't escape him..."
"He said I was his pet..."
"Recently..."
"...he found a new pet..."
Hearing that, Elise immediately understood.
The so-called new pet—
was likely Quinn's stolen soul.
The female ghost continued:
"He also found a partner..."
"They're both evil..."
"They help each other..."
Elise froze.
Partners?
She had never heard of evil spirits cooperating before.
Suddenly Lucien spoke:
"The one who attacked you before."
"The old woman in black."
Elise looked over immediately.
Lucien continued calmly:
"The oxygen-mask spirit wants Quinn."
"The old woman wants you."
"If she's telling the truth..."
"...those two probably formed some agreement."
Fear immediately appeared on Elise's face.
Previously—
she already couldn't defeat the old woman alone.
Now there was another strengthened evil spirit too.
This...
this...
Before she could continue thinking—
Lucien suddenly smiled.
"Perfect."
Elise blinked.
Lucien looked delighted.
"A clean sweep."
Silence.
Elise slowly turned her head.
Then stared at him.
No...
No, no.
That wasn't the expression someone should have while facing two dangerous evil spirits.
"Lucien..."
She spoke cautiously.
"You shouldn't underestimate them."
Lucien raised the crowbar.
"I am being careful."
"Look."
"I even prepared a weapon."
"..."
Elise suddenly wanted to say something.
But after opening her mouth—
she quietly closed it again.
Forget it.
Nothing she said seemed useful anymore.
The female ghost led the way.
Elise carried the lantern.
Lucien walked beside her.
White mist covered the ground.
Darkness stretched endlessly around them.
No one knew how long they walked.
Eventually—
they stopped outside a room.
The female ghost stood beside the doorway and turned around.
"They're inside..."
"...please don't make me go in..."
"I don't want to see them..."
She looked pitiful.
Almost pleading.
Lucien remained expressionless.
"Open the door."
The female ghost lowered her head weakly.
Then obediently pushed it open.
The room was silent.
Cold.
Dark.
Only one figure sat quietly on the sofa.
Eyes closed.
A strange smile hanging from her face.
As if sensing their arrival—
she slowly pointed forward and began singing.
"I've always wondered..."
"...what my future will become..."
"Tell me, my friend..."
"...how can I see the ending..."
Her voice echoed throughout the darkness.
Strange.
Penetrating.
Eerie.
Even Elise unconsciously slowed her breathing.
But beside her—
Lucien frowned.
The next second—
he swung the crowbar.
BANG!
A thunderous sound exploded through the room.
Not only did the sofa instantly shatter—
even the female ghost guide nearly got smashed apart.
Wood fragments flew everywhere.
Elise and the female ghost jumped away in panic.
The two looked at one another.
Completely blank.
Then Lucien calmly lowered the crowbar.
"Her singing was terrible."
"...she deserved it."
Elise:
"..."
Before she could say anything—
Lucien suddenly raised the crowbar again.
His head snapped toward the darkness beside them.
Then—
he moved.
Like a tiger pouncing prey.
He leapt upward and smashed downward violently toward empty space!
The air pressure from the crowbar swept through the darkness.
A veil lifted.
And beneath it—
an ugly face was revealed.
The old woman in black.
Shock still lingered in her eyes.
She instantly retreated.
Sliding backward unnaturally.
Trying to escape Lucien's attack range.
But suddenly—
a cold smile appeared on Lucien's face.
Got you.
The old woman suddenly discovered—
instead of moving farther away—
her body was rushing toward Lucien.
Straight toward the crowbar.
As if invisible hands had pulled her forward.
Her expression instantly changed.
CRACK!
A horrifying sound rang out.
One arm instantly twisted at an unnatural angle.
Broken.
Completely shattered.
The old woman opened her mouth—
about to scream—
But a hand suddenly grabbed her throat.
In her vision—
Lucien slowly revealed a bright smile.
Showing a row of white teeth.
"Run?"
"You think you can escape?"