???: "Get on."
Her voice trembled slightly, though she tried to sound confident.
Ethan: (Should i trust her? Her timing was definitely not a coincidence.)
???: "Hurry up, before any other goblin comes."
Ethan: (I'll have to trust her. We're done for if another goblin shows up.)
Ethan carefully lifted Dylan onto the bike and climbed on behind him.
The girl twisted the throttle, and the bike took off.
Ethan: "So… where are we heading?"
???: "The Enoshima no Kura."
Ten minutes later, they rode through empty streets and silent roads.
The engine's steady hum was the only sound as streetlights passed one by one.
Ethan kept an arm around Dylan, making sure he didn't slip.
The bike slowed as they entered a small compound.
???: "Here we are."
They got off and walked inside.
The hotel lobby was simple and ordinary.
A front desk stood near the entrance, a few chairs were neatly arranged, and a faded carpet covered the floor.
Nothing was broken—just quiet.
???: "All the rooms are empty, so pick whichever one you want."
Ethan carried the half-conscious Dylan down the hallway and stopped at Room 101.
He laid him on the bed and made sure he was comfortable.
Ethan stepped out and gently closed the door.
Ethan: "Thanks for saving us."
???: "Oh-no, it's okay."
She removed her helmet, revealing long golden hair and a gentle face.
Ethan: "So, you are...?"
???: "Oh—ah, my name is Elin. Elin Grant."
Ethan: "So, Miss Gran—"
Elin: "Just Elin is fine."
Ethan: "Alright, Elin. You showed up right when the fight was over. That feels like a bit too much of a coincidence."
Elin's expression shifted, her eyes darting away nervously.
Elin: "Um… about that. I was actually there—right after you killed the first one."
Ethan: "So you watched us almost die while hiding in the shadows?"
Elin: "…Yeah. Sorry."
Ethan let out a short breath and shrugged.
Ethan: "Nah, it's fine. We'd be in a much worse situation without you, so… thanks."
Elin: "No need. I only helped you get out of there."
Ethan: "By the way, Elin."
Elin: "Yeah?"
Ethan: "Do you know what's going on here? There are no people anywhere, monsters roaming the city, and the internet's completely down."
Elin blinked in surprise.
Elin: "You don't know?"
Ethan: "We live in the forest."
Elin: "Right… Well, it all started about a week ago. Monsters began appearing out of nowhere, so the government evacuated the residents of Fugisawa city."
Ethan: "What about the internet?"
Elin: "The monsters attacked the cell towers. That's why everything's down."
Ethan fell into deep thought.
Ethan: "…These goblins are str—"
Elin: "Goblins?"
Ethan: "The monster we fought earlier kind of looked like one, so we just call it that."
Elin paused, thinking.
Elin: "…Now that you mention it, they kind of do."
Ethan: "Anyway, the government should have enough firepower to deal with them, right?"
Elin: "I don't know. Some people—including me—were left behind during the evacuation."
Ethan: "What about the others?"
Elin: "I'm not sure. The group I was with, said they were heading to the main city. I was too scared to go with them… so I stayed here."
Ethan: "Oh."
An awkward silence settled between them, thick and uncomfortable.
Elin: "…"
Ethan: "…"
Ethan cleared his throat, trying to break the tension.
Elin: "By the way… you never told me your name."
Ethan: "It's Ethan. And the one who fainted is my brother—Dylan."
Elin: "How did you make that huge blast? The one that took out the goblin?"
Ethan: "We ran into some goblins earlier. They were a lot smaller than that one. After we killed them, a video game–like system appeared."
Elin: "A system?"
Ethan: "Yeah. It basically gave us superpowers."
Elin's eyes widened slightly.
Elin: "Can I see it?"
Ethan shook his head.
Ethan: "No. Only the user can see their own system."
Elin: "Does it do anything else? Like an inventory or analysis?"
Ethan: "No. Just Mana Blast."
Elin let out a small breath.
Elin: "Still… that's really strong."
Ethan gave a tired smile.
Ethan: "Yeah. Until you realize it takes twenty-five seconds to activate."
Elin blinked.
Elin: "Oh."
She stretched her arms and turned toward the hallway.
Elin: "Well, I'm going to sleep. If you need anything, I'll be in room 205."
Ethan: "Sleep? It's seven in the morning."
Elin glanced back.
Elin: "The goblins sleep at night. That's when I go out to gather supplies. They're heavy sleepers—unless you get too close, they won't wake up."
She paused.
Elin: "I'll wake up in the afternoon, so… make yourself at home."
Ethan nodded slowly.
Ethan: "Ok. Oh by the way, where is the washroom."
Elin: "Just go down the hallway and turn right, you will find it."
She turned the corner and disappeared up the stairs, leaving the hallway quiet once again.