"Hmm, if we enter Dead End Hollow now and block the train along its route, it should be possible in theory," Wise said, analyzing the plan while Belle kept her eyes glued to the computer screen.
"Fairy, can you track the train's real-time location?"
[|Affirmative. Calculating a safe route to the target train.|]
"Wow, this smart butler is amazing! Truly worthy of the legendary Proxy Phaethon! Nya!" Nekomata cheered with excitement.
"Ahem, anyway, desperate times call for desperate measures. We need to figure out a way to stop the train in Dead End Hollow," Wise said, carefully skirting the topic.
Just then, the ever-thoughtful Fairy added another suggestion.
[|Suggestion. Master can purchase a commercial life insurance policy before departure.|]
"Thank you very much, Fairy."
Wise ignored Fairy's suggestion and, without further ado, immediately set off, having Nekomata bring Eous into Dead End Hollow.
"Hello, Nekomata. Can you hear me?"
"Yes, I can hear you. Amazing! This is the first time I've met a Proxy who can communicate directly from inside the Hollow. No wonder Nicole said you are the most capable Proxy in all of Eridu."
"Thank you for the compliment. Next, we will execute the train-stopping plan. Are you ready on your side?"
By now, Wise had finished all his preparations and was fully ready for consciousness synchronization at any moment.
"Yes, no problem. Leave it to me."
Nekomata confidently patted her flat chest, and the plan officially began.
"Brother, be careful!" Belle said to Wise, her voice filled with worry.
They had never stepped into a place as dangerous as Dead End Hollow, and the tension in the air made her grip her sleeves.
"Don't worry. I'll bring back good news," Wise spoke with calm confidence.
Without another word, Wise began synchronizing his consciousness. The familiar black screen faded, and his eyes slowly opened.
He blinked and immediately froze. Nekomata was carrying him on her shoulders like a sack of rice, clearly trying to avoid any physical contact. The awkward position made him shift uncomfortably.
"Huh? Nekomata, what are you doing?"
"Oh, it's Wise! Hold on a second." Upon hearing Wise's voice, she froze for a moment before lowering him to the ground.
He could not really blame her. In her eyes, he looked like a hopeless cat-petting addict with a slightly perverted streak, someone who needed to be handled with caution.
She had been trying to avoid unnecessary contact, doing what she believed was the safest option. Even so, this was Dead End Hollow. If he ended up in that helpless state again, things could turn dangerous in an instant.
Wise bounced slightly and brushed the dust from his bottom after the way she had set him down. His gaze shifted to Nekomata, who stiffened for a moment before pretending nothing unusual had happened.
For now, Wise decided to let it slide, but he knew that one day he would get her back for it.
Not long after that, the Cat Thiren and the Bangboo continued their journey, when a loud commotion suddenly erupted in the distance.
Fairy's voice echoed a moment later, delivering a warning.
[|Warning! High-level Ethereal detected approaching. Exercise caution and evade.|]
'High-level Ethereal?'
In Dead End Hollow, only the Dead End Butcher, the place's infamous resident, truly deserved that title.
"Oh no, it is that monster Billy mentioned. We need to hide!"
The moment Nekomata saw the massive creature approaching, her instincts kicked in.
She grabbed Wise, who was in his Bangboo form, and hurried into a narrow gap between two collapsed walls. A dense wave of Ether energy washed over them, strong enough to make her fur stand on end. Her body tensed on reflex, every nerve urging her to stay completely still.
With almost no room to move, she held the Bangboo Wise close against her flat chest. The tight space made her breaths shallow, and even the smallest shift felt impossible.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the place. Each slow step from the Dead End Butcher made the ground vibrate beneath them. Nekomata pulled Wise even more closer and held her breath, hoping the creature would pass without noticing.
Then Wise's tiny hand brushed her tail. Before she could react, he accidentally wrapped his fingers around it. A sharp jolt ran up her spine, so sudden she nearly gasped aloud.
"Hmm~ N-Nyoo~ "
She covered her mouth as fast as she could. The Dead End Butcher was still too close, and with how tightly they were pressed together, Wise had no way to release her tail.
Her face burned with embarrassment. She had never let anyone touch her tail before. The sensation was so overwhelming that she wished she could disappear into the ground.
Fortunately, the footsteps grew fainter as the creature walked away. Nekomata slowly leaned forward and peeked out, spotting the Dead End Butcher moving farther into the ruins.
Only after making sure he had not noticed them did she finally release a long breath of relief. Nekomata let Wise down, and the moment he no longer felt suffocated, he immediately let go of the tail he had been clutching.
At the same time, Nekomata smoothed the fur on her tail, her expression flickering between shame and irritation. She tried to keep her tail lifted high, as if making sure no one would ever grab it again.
[Ding! Target: Nekomata has increased her favorability toward the host by 5. Her current favorability is now 40. Additionally, 200 Emotional Value has been obtained.]
[Current Emotional Value: 4200]
Wise felt a bit awkward watching her reaction. This time, it really was his mistake, even if the main reason had been how tightly Nekomata had squeezed him just moments earlier.
"L-Let's continue forward."
"Mm."
With time running short, they could not dwell on something so small and kept moving.
Before long, another obstacle appeared in their path. A discarded train car lay across the route, its metal shell torn open as if a giant Ethereal had smashed through it and tossed it aside.
"Nya, what is this train car doing here? Proxy, we did not take the wrong path, did we?"
Nekomata looked down at Wise near her feet, and he shook his head.
"No, our route is correct. This abandoned train car was probably thrown here by an Ethereal."
"'Thrown'? That kind of strength is way too terrifying, nya!"
While Nekomata kept exclaiming, Wise tried to think of a way to get past the obstacle, but the thoughtful Fairy offered another suggestion before he could finish.
[|Suggestion. Master is small in stature, and the client's race also includes cat. You could try to squeeze through the gap.|]
"What is wrong with this smart butler? I am a Cat Thiren, not an actual cat, and this gap is tiny. There is no way I can pass through it! How am I supposed to fit, nya?"
She rejected Fairy's suggestion immediately, but after a moment she stopped and examined the situation again with more attention.
"If it were just me, climbing over would not be a problem, but not while carrying a Bangboo. And the surroundings are full of deep pits from the sinkholes, so going around is not realistic either."
Just then, a soft and hesitant voice rose from the other side of the train car.
"Um... excuse me..."