Why would Sixth Master betray him?
The reason for this was still worth investigating.
But the first thing that was certain was that he had better not break her music box.
As for whether she betrayed him because she recognized him as the childhood version of the future Mono.
This might only be known after he revealed his face.
Mono knew that Sixth Master had previously come into contact with the future Mono.
There was a conflict between the two.
If she betrayed him because she recognized him, that would indeed be logical.
But if that were the case, whether or not he should take off his hood became another problem.
As for the theory that Sixth Master let go of him and allowed him to fall into the abyss because she was hungry, Mono currently saw no evidence to support that.
In short, he still had to proceed with caution.
...
A gust of wind brushed across the lake's surface.
He didn't know how much time had passed, nor how far the door panel had drifted forward.
It wasn't until a faint rumbling sound came from the mist that Mono, lying on the planks, sensed something. He stood up and looked into the distance.
In the distant mist, a series of illusory rumbles could be heard faintly.
"What is that?"
Mono immediately became alert.
Now, he didn't dare treat this world as just a little game anymore, even if it was called little nightmares.
The sleeping Little Six also seemed to sense something.
Her long eyelashes twitched slightly, and then she slowly opened her eyes.
The moment she opened her eyes, she seemed a bit confused.
She had actually fallen asleep?
She was dazed for a moment.
It seemed like she hadn't fallen into such a state of complete unconsciousness for a very long time.
Yet, she had really just fallen asleep on a piece of broken, cold wood floating quietly on the lake?
"Mo... mo, no." She suddenly thought of something and hurriedly sat up.
Only then did she realize that she was draped in a trench coat.
She turned her head and saw a familiar figure.
She saw Mono staring blankly ahead.
She couldn't help but look up as well.
The mist before them gradually dispersed, and their vision was slowly shrouded by a layer of shadow.
"This... is?"
Mono looked at the scene that suddenly appeared before him in stunned silence.
On the nearby shore, rows of massive, towering ancient buildings swayed gently amidst the sound of splashing water, illuminated by the reflection of black clouds and mist.
Those ink-black windows emitted unfathomable, eerie light.
It was as if they were watching the gaze of everyone looking toward them, threatening to seize their very souls.
These ancient buildings appeared both awe-inspiring...
...and exuded an inexplicably oppressive atmosphere.
They had... reached the city.
Is this the city?
Even though Mono had appreciated the city's scenery while playing the game,
being there in person made him realize that the two experiences were simply incomparable.
Under the shadow of the tall buildings, no words could describe the shock he felt from the depths of his heart.
This was an experience that could not be felt through a screen.
The wind, water, mist, and sound—everything blended so closely together that it seemed every cell in his body was merging into it.
After a moment of marveling, Mono's strong mental fortitude quickly brought him back to his senses.
Although the city was awe-inspiring, its environment was actually not much better than the forest.
On the contrary, in some respects, it was even more hostile.
In the city, there were even more living creatures.
Many terrifying monsters also loitered within the houses of this city.
Mono still remembered the Long-Necked Teacher monster and the Upside-down Fat Doctor monster.
With one careless move, Mono might encounter these horrific monsters.
Furthermore, in the forest on the opposite shore, they were eventually pursued by a shadow monster.
Did that mean similar situations would occur in this city?
There might be more than just two or three monsters here.
*Thud~*
The boat hit the shore.
"Hey, let's go~"
Mono jumped off the boat and ran toward the shore.
Hearing this, Little Six pursed her lips slightly but said nothing as she also jumped off the boat.
She originally wanted to say that her name wasn't "Hey."
"Your clothes." Little Six ran over on her bare feet and handed the trench coat to Mono.
Mono put it back on.
Little Six skillfully took Mono's hand.
Mono didn't say anything; they had grown accustomed to coordinating like this on the road.
The beach was covered in soft sand. As Mono ran, he paid close attention to his surroundings.
However, after running for a short while, he suddenly noticed something unusual.
What is that thing over there?
He turned his head.
On the beach not far from him sat a dilapidated Television, tilted and crooked.
The Television was just like the one in the forest when he first transmigrated to this world.
However, strangely, a black shadow seemed to be standing next to the Television.
Mono stopped in his tracks.
Little Six also stopped her bare feet.
That looks like the shadow of one of the Little people?
Seeing the shadow remain motionless, Mono hesitated for a moment before slowly moving his feet toward the black shadow.
He was curious about what it was.
Besides, Little people posed no danger to him now.
Moreover, even if he couldn't handle it alone, there was only one opponent; he didn't believe that he and the Sixth Master working together couldn't take it down.
Soon, Mono drew closer.
However, as the shadow became clearer,
he realized that the black shadow really was just a shadow.
A human-shaped shadow, its entire body emitting black mist.
Is this...?
A glitch?
A glitch is a lost soul.
This was the soul of a deceased Little person.
Perhaps it was bound here by a lingering obsession.
Mono remembered that when playing the game, there was a hidden storyline about collecting spirits.
It seemed many Little people in this world had died tragic deaths for some unknown reason.
Thus, in the places where they died, they left behind restless souls filled with obsession.
...