"A demon with human skin, you say?"
That voice—unmistakable. A chill crawled up my spine.
I blinked my eyes open and turned slowly. "Mr. James! I thought you were in Eden."
A toothy grin spread across his face as he lifted something up by the collar like it was a grocery bag. "I was. And look what I found. Wouldn't bunny no.2 be so pleased with me?"
My eyes dropped to the dangling figure and I recoiled. "A dead human?! Isaac's gonna throw a fit."
Ronald screamed, holding Rona tightly. "D-D-Dead?!"
But Mr. James just bent over, laughing like a madman. "What dead human, bunny no.1?" He slapped the body's back.
"Aaah! Help! There's a crazy man in my room! Help! I-I—" The man jolted awake, flailed briefly, then froze. His wide eyes scanned the strange landscape, and he whimpered, "Where am I? Hell?"
Mr. James smirked. "Oh, where indeed, little boy."
And then the poor guy saw his captor's face.
"It's him. The demon—" His face went pale. Then he fainted again, eyes rolling back into unconsciousness.
Mr. James shook the limp body. "Oh dearie me. I didn't know he was so feeble. I hope he's not dead, or else I did all that work for nothing."
Isaac stomped over, arms crossed. "What is this nonsense now?" His eyes scanned the collapsed man. "He's dead, isn't he? Feed him to Munchy."
My fists balled up. "Stop feeding Munchy dead humans, you lunatic! Give Munchy proper dog food!"
While our arguing escalated—
RUMBLE.
The ground quivered beneath our feet.
"Huh?" I blinked and looked around. "An earthquake?"
But the audience in the seats—calm. Perfectly still.
"Why only us?! So unfair!"
Isaac's eyes narrowed, immediately turning to Mr. James. "This is your doing, isn't it?" He grabbed Mr. James by the collar and yanked him forward. "Fix it, or I'll beat you so hard, your ancestors will file noise complaints."
Mr. James dramatically cupped his cheeks. "Eh~ But it's not my doing! I swear! I'm innocent, my lord!"
BOOM!
"WAAAHH!"
The ground exploded. Cracks fissured out like spiderwebs. The five of us—Mr. James included—were thrown to the floor.
I landed on my butt. Again.
"Ow! How many times has it been today? My poor butt's gonna turn into a pancake. A blue-black, bruised pancake. Oui, my pretty butt!"
Smack!
Isaac hit the back of my head. "Stop whining. Cracks! Watch out for the cracks!"
"Cracks?" I repeated dumbly.
Crack.
Crack.
I turned my head slowly.
My brain froze. My jaw dropped.
The ground ruptured beneath us—fast.
"THE CRACKS ARE COMING! RUN!"
Ronald didn't need to be told twice. He threw Rona over his shoulder and bolted. Isaac and I followed suit.
I looked back—Mr. James hadn't moved. He was just sitting there.
"MR. JAMES, RUN!"
He didn't even flinch.
Ugh...
My legs screamed to keep running, but my conscience screamed louder.
He did save me. Several times, unintentionally or not.
I groaned, facepalmed, and turned back. "I can't believe I'm doing this!"
"ARGHH!"
I sprinted into the chaos.
[Isaac's Side]
We made it across. Safe—for now.
Isaac exhaled sharply. "Phew. That was close."
But something...wasn't right.
Silence. A weird, hollow silence.
"Hmm? It's too quiet. Why hasn't that noise pollution started shrieking yet?"
Isaac looked left. Right. His heart dropped.
"Where's that jinx?"
Ronald tilted his head. "I thought Llyne was with you?"
"She was—but…" Isaac's voice trailed off. "I lost her?"
Rona hummed, cheerful as always. "Rona thought Lil was faster than TsunTsun."
Silence. Then Isaac and Ronald stared at each other.
"…Oh crap."
"Don't tell me… she fell into the cracks."
Isaac turned back toward the chaos, but Ronald grabbed him.
"LET GO!" Isaac struggled. "We have to find her!"
Ronald's grip tightened. Tears welled up in his eyes. "I want to! But you'll fall too!"
Isaac froze. The memory of the golem in the mirror maze flashed before his eyes. Llyne bleeding. Barely breathing. His own helplessness.
Damn it…
His fists clenched until blood trickled down his palm. The pain grounded him.
Then—Rona's hand found his.
"It's okay," she said quietly. "It's Lil. Lil won't die."
She raised her little fist and giggled. "Lil is super strong."
Isaac stared. Her words were childish, but strangely comforting.
He cracked a smile. "Yeah. You're right. That damn jinx won't die that easily."
He slammed his fist into the ground, then stood up.
Startled, Ronald yelped and fell backwards.
"Ow!"
Rona patted his back and laughed.
Isaac turned and bowed to them. "Thanks… and sorry for worrying you."
He added, "Let's search for her from a distance first. We don't need more people falling in."
Ronald's face brightened up. He stood up immediately and grabbed Isaac's hand.
"But first—your hand."
Ronald ripped part of his shirt, revealing his muscular torso, and wrapped Isaac's hand tightly.
"There. Try not to dirty it."
Isaac nodded. Ronald grinned.
"We split up—I'll take the left side. Ronald, middle. Rona, you go right. Let's find our jinx."
[Llyne's Side]
SCREEEECH.
I was dragging Mr. James by the hair like a sack of potatoes. It was the only thing I could grab at the time.
We reached a safe corner of the stadium.
"Huuu~ I'm so tired. I can't even feel my arms."
Mr. James, meanwhile, was crying on the floor like someone had told him his favorite shampoo got discontinued.
"Hik… Hik… My hair… It was my LIFE!"
I stared at him, deadpan. "I saved you. And this is what you complain about?"
"My hair had the best treatment in the world!" Mr. James sniffled. "Before I met you four bunnies, it was vibrant! Lush! Full of life! And now—it's DEAD!"
He stroked the frazzled strands like it was a dying pet. "My hair is precious. Ladies love them. Yet, you... you..."
I smacked his hand away. "You're still single, though. Bravo."
He gasped, scandalized. "How do you know that? Are you stalking me? Wait—don't tell me—you're interested in me?!"
"Eww. No. I don't date antiques."
Mr. James froze. "...Antique?! I'm not that old!"
He paused.
Then curled into a fetal position. "Maybe I am… an old, old man…"
I rubbed my ears. "You don't need to be a detective to know you're single. You reek of it. Also, desperate. Women hate desperate."
Mr. James bolted up and grabbed my hands. "THEY DO?!"
I nodded.
He wailed. "All those years! WASTED!"
I held in my laughter. Barely.
"How many years?" I asked, poker-faced.
He glared. "None of your business. Shoo!"
"Fine." I shrugged. "If you're still single in another millennium, don't come crying to me."
Mr. James suddenly fell on his knees, bowing. "PLEASE, MASTER! TEACH ME HOW TO GET A GIRLFRIEND! I'LL DO ANYTHING!"
I sighed. "Oui. No way. That's such a hassle."
He started dancing around me, poking me nonstop.
Why did I save this man again?
"ANYWAY—what happened to the human you brought?"
Mr. James blinked. "Human?"
I screamed. "THE ONE YOU WERE CARRYING!"
His eyes lit up. "Oh! Right!"
He flicked open his inventory and yanked the unconscious body out like it was a common household object.
"Here."
I jumped back. "Is he alive?!"
"Of course," Mr. James said proudly. "I need him to raise my favorability with bunny no.2."
I sighed.
He still hasn't given up… huh.