Then, a sudden flicker crossed my vision—
a new system notification appeared.
> [Alice's Demise Progress]
[35% → 33%]
My eyes narrowed. As I thought… these two weren't part of the cause behind Alice's demise.
It wasn't the people—it was the place itself.
This entire area reeked of danger. We were standing right in the middle of enemy territory, and the system was reacting to that.
> [35% → 32%]
[35% → 36%]
[35% → 34%]
[35% → 31%]
The numbers glitched, flickering wildly across the screen like a broken compass.
Each fluctuation sent a cold chill down my spine.
'The surroundings themselves are affecting her… the longer we stay here, the higher the risk.'
The sooner we leave, the better—for both our lives, but especially for Alice's.
Still, something about it bothered me.
'Why has the status window—something always so precise—suddenly become so erratic?'
If there were a clear cause, I could deal with it.
