The sounds that come from the gates keep getting louder and louder as time passed away while I was still thinking about the situation that was happening to me right now.
I was standing up in the middle of the hall like a fool, not knowing what to do after I lost Zhertva in the gate we headed on.
'What should I do?' I asked myself as I ignored the sounds and looked at my surroundings if there were any signs of Zhertva here. First, I have to find him before something might happen.
But there's no way to find him in this big hall, I couldn't bring myself to walk around without any possibility to see him and those sounds kept being louder and louder. It felt like they wanted me to approach them. It's like my soul is being torn apart from that point onward to be sucked by those curious thoughts I had towards those gates. To just going there and know what's inside them.
But when I thought about it, I didn't really want to open the gates that were captivating those horrible sounds. I'm not that dumb to do something that dangerous just because of curiosity.
I couldn't do anything, I didn't find Zhertva and I don't see any escape from this place but even if so, I wouldn't let myself break out of this place without feeling guilty if I was to abandon Zhertva here.
As I was thinking about a plan for this situation, I had decided to just pick a random gate and see what was going to happen to me but still be careful. And I gently avoided the one that was where the horrific sounds were coming.
I walked into the right side of the hall and I carefully opened the first gate I saw, I looked inside the gate but I didn't see anything. There was nothing in there, just an endless darkness where I couldn't get anything but just despair myself in there.
I was not a poet but that's the only kind of monologue I can do for myself to not go insane in this place that looked like some kind of labyrinth prison that wasn't really great made even with the good build. And strangely enough, there's no one there except for me and Zhertva. Even not a single guard or maybe some kind of dictator of the place here.
I didn't walk inside the gates, instead I just gently closed the gates before heading back to my actual situation of doom and despair to find Zhertva and escape this freaking massive prison place like.
For minutes or maybe hours, I opened all of the gates in the hall. There were so many that I couldn't even count them and they looked exactly alike, so sometimes I opened the same one I opened minutes ago.
But there was no sign of an exit or of Zhertva.
When I was searching for a clue inside the basement I was before, I couldn't find anything except the morse code I couldn't even decode at this time and nothing else that could help me. And now, I was opening the last gate I didn't really get to open a few minutes ago. I don't expect anything at this point.
The only thing I could do was just to have hope that at some point maybe I can find an escape or even maybe Zhertva who disappeared.
'I just want to die already.'
'And also, my connexion with Dern cut off all of a sudden when I was walking in the streets hours ago. If only he was here..'
I hesitated to open the gate for a moment.
'But Dern mentioned that Kayle put a radar in my pocket.'
I urgently searched my pocket and I then found the radar Dern was talking about. It looked like a little pink cute bunny keychain.
I was surprised by the looks of this so-called radar Kayle own made to search for me. I never expected someone like Kayle to make something so cute like that. And there was a blue light blinking in the pink rabbit's small right eye. It was surely the radar. It was surely the pointer of the radar that helped to reaper me or something like that.
After observing the radar for a moment, I put it in my pocket and touched the handle of the yellow gate I was about to open. But strangely, the sounds from earlier were slowly becoming silent. I turned slightly my head to the other gates, the one that was making those strange non human sounds from earlier.
But I decided to ignore it for my own sake to survive.
I gently opened the door.
...
There was finally an actual room inside the gates, I stepped forward in the room. The room was luxurious, it looked like a library in a way but more shine with all the lights in there and a bit more short.
As I was observing the room, I noticed there was another door behind a shelf that contained some books about medicine. I didn't look in the other door for now because I saw through the keyhole that it was just a room of darkness.
What was even this room? There's nothing else than books and chairs here, I didn't even know about this place either. It was not in The Hope For A Better World. This world is starting to warp? Maybe or I didn't just remember that.
I didn't verify informations in my notebook since I was trapped in this place.
As I thought about that, I searched in my coat's pocket if the two precious notebooks of mine were still here.
"This better help me before I might lose my mind."
I opened the notebook that was about the story of THFABW. I read and searched over and over again in the notebook, but as long as I searched, there was nothing about this place or a "King" in THFABW.
All in it was just about some political things, wars, demons and slavery and a lot of others like that but I didn't find anything about a place like this in the human world or the underworld that was the demons' world.
Or maybe, it was a place where the protagonist has never gone before. The author of THFABW sure loves to hide important informations, the protagonist died before even having the chance to take his revenge and kill all the antagonists, but except Dern of course. He was pretty easy to kill for the protagonist, he was not really strong physically after all and they even mentioned that Dern has some kind of an illness since he was young but when I got into Dern's body, I didn't have any sort of ill or something like that. That's pretty strange.
I was deep in thoughts as I was reading the informations about THFABW in my notebook. I couldn't help but getting more and more confused about my situation and this place as I read more.
But as I was thinking, I know I was wasting time right now with that. I should find something important to help me to get out of this place or at least to find Zhertva instead of searching for a place that doesn't exist in my notebook.
I put my notebook back in my coat's pocket and continued to search in this room but first, I decided to finally open the door that was inside this room. Maybe there's something interesting in this or even the escape? I don't know but I shouldn't have too much hope. This place is so creepy.
I hesitated before finally touching the handle of the door and I opened it.
The moment I opened the door and stepped inside, I felt something strange under my feet. When I looked down, it was some kind of water drowning in the floor but it wasn't even visible in the naked eye and it had a horrible smell that smelled like blood.
"What the..."
I pinched my nose in disgust and slowly moved much further into the room. I couldn't see anything because of the dark, even the lights from the other room couldn't reach into this one. But it wasn't like the others that were just endless darkness, it was more like a normal room without any light to make it clear to see right. Even if I couldn't really see anything, I could feel there was some stuff here and I tried to at least find something from here.
As I was about to search, my knee accidentally hit a table. "Ouch, this f—"
But before I could finish my sentence, I felt something in my hand when I touched the table. It was... paper? Maybe, this is something that could help me to get out of this prison.
I immediately reached for the paper in the table that I accidentally found and I returned to the other room where there was light.
When I stepped in there, I noticed that my boots and a small part of my pants were covered in blood. It looked so disgusting.
I covered my mouth with my hand to keep from vomiting. It wasn't so good for me to see blood, even after being in a basement full of bodies just a few hours earlier.
'I hate seeing blood, it makes me want to faint, ah... I'm actually such a coward, man.'
After a few moments of thinking of how pathetic I was, I focused again on the paper that I found in this dark room. The paper was a bit wet as if it got wet with water or something like that but at least, I could see the text that was written in it and there was also a photo of a person attached to the paper.
I read the paper carefully.
『 Experience : #0001
Name : V15T8M
Date of first test : 7 December XXXX
Date of last test : 6 April XXXX
Actual age : 24
Result : Failure
Notes by XD : This person had been found in one of the most important places for the emperor of the kingdom of Adens. When I, the creator of this "creature", was exploring the humans' world for the first time, I met this boy. He was just a poor person who was selling himself to survive in his pathetic life, I thought at first that he was not useful at all but as time passed as I watched him, he had actually good skills and he even managed to finally get what he wanted the most. Kill the person who was the reason why his whole life was like that.
But then, he didn't have any others to do. How could someone who has been used and controlled all their life even have something they really wanted to be?
When I saw what he was going to do with the dragger he was holding in his hand, I didn't know if that was my very right choice but I decided to save this poor 20 years old boy.
Maybe I didn't have to save his life. After all, in the end, he... 』
That was the end of the page.
"What is this?! What? What does that mean!???"
I was so focused on reading this paper that I was shocked by the sudden cut. I didn't really notice this earlier but a little part of the paper was cut out and now, I didn't understand anything about this.
"Who is this XD person or something? Is it some kind of code?"
I continued talking to myself as I was thinking out loud. "And who is even this guy that he's talking about? V15T8M? Is it even a real name? But who is this..? What is.."
I was already tired of thinking about that new information I had. All of that was literally not in the novel I read, is it really the story of "just" a side character?
What the heck was that life.....
But the more I thought about it, the more I convinced myself to forget this information and focus on my purpose to just leave this place. And as I was going to put the page in my pocket, I noticed something on the other side of the paper.
[ XD, wherever you are, I'm gonna find you one day. I guess we separated from each other but I'm gonna take my revenge on you. One day. ]
"What does that... Is this note made by this V15T8M? Hm... Though, his life was rough but I don't know anything about him. Just, what is he?"
I noticed that there was also a sign marked,
— by ....
But I couldn't see the name exactly because the page was wet.
I folded the paper in half and put it in my pocket. "Okay, maybe I should think about this later. But first of all, I need to return to this other room and...."
As I was turning around to the other room where I was earlier, strangely, the door was not here anymore. And there was nothing left, only a straight wall. As if there was never a door in here.
"What the..."
I suddenly stopped moving and I looked around in the room, for one second, I almost felt like someone was watching me.
This is getting weird.
I immediately thought about exiting this room and I ran immediately to the door and I turned the handle thinking I could escape to this nightmare of the situation in this place. But when I exited the room, instead of the hall that I was supposed to actually be, all I could see was darkness and nothing else than that. I looked at the door that I used to enter this place slowly disappearing.
"Wh..."
I couldn't even speak, it felt as if my throat was being strangled by someone and I barely could breath. 'What is happening to me...'
I weakly touched my neck but suddenly, my knees lost their energy and I was kneeling now in this some sort of space of darkness. I breathed with difficulty, but even after a few minutes of this suffering, it wouldn't stop; it was as if I were in a dream where I couldn't die at all, but just enduring the pain over and over.
'F#ck... this is... I hate this pain. Why...' My thoughts were getting messy and I couldn't even move anymore now. Except for my trembling hands that were on my knees.
I couldn't even know how much time I had to suffer like this, time passed so slow that I just wanted to vomit because of this torture. How much time was I like that? For a few minutes? Or maybe already an entire hour?
I didn't know but I couldn't do anything to this, I was completely helpless and almost already fainted.
But then, before my eyes, I saw that there was some sort of figure in front of me. The figure before me was a grand creature with an open mouth that looked like it would devour twenty humans without any difficulties, it has a long jaw and its eyes were blood like red color and in its head, there was like a crown.
Before I could even react to this strange figure in front of me, they spoke.
[Hey, Jein.]
When I heard their voice, I immediately felt uneasy because of that and I accidentally spilled blood from my mouth. But now that I realized, I could move again. I didn't know what this 'King' wanted from me but I know at least that if I do something wrong, I'm screwed. I should do what they want and leave after.
But how can this person know my name? I didn't tell my name to anyone else except those two love birds¹ and Zhertva.
{Note : (¹) Jein is referring to Dern and Kayle.}
But I didn't think too much about it. And so, in a weak voice, I tried to speak. "W–who are you...?"
[Oh, don't be a fool, Jein. You know exactly who I am. And I know exactly who you are, too. You already saw the sign in the basement, right?]
I didn't know why but when they talked, my body was like being pressured by a heavy rock. But I ignored this feeling and I nodded at the 'King' question.
"Then... what do you want from me?"
As I asked that, I saw a tiny smirk on the King's some sort of face.
[Do you really want to know that? Um, well...]
The King's mouth gigantically opened in front of me as if it was a threat. I immediately stood up and backed down at the act. My mind was still a bit messy my head was spinning a little but I was fine.
The 'King' then continued his sentence from before,
[I want to eat you.]
A second after, I felt my body being paralyzed and I couldn't move even an inch or even speak. 'Fuck, I'm gonna be eaten by this creature...'
The figure approached me slowly and in a strange way, the King whispered in my left ear.
[I hope we can be together more longer than this, Jein. So... let's meet again, my Jein.]
[I'll be seeing you very soon.]
...
'Okay, this is getting a bit weird.' I thought as my eyes slowly closed and I lost consciousness.
* * *
Inside a grand some kind of castle were two people. The other one was unconscious while the other had the person head rested in his lap.
Those two people were Jein and Zhertva.
Jein was still unconscious after meeting this 'King' that the code was talking about. Zhertva was staring at him with empty eyes like he was somehow disappointed or disgusted by something about Jein.
After a moment of hesitation, Zhertva's hands reached Jein's face and in a soft voice, Zhertva whispered in Jein's ear.
"...You're lucky that I didn't kill you yet, Jein."
A genuine smirk was forming on Zhertva's face. He felt like Jein was going to make him even more insane than he actually is.
___ ___ ___
I opened my eyes slowly as the light was illuminating my face. As my vision was getting clear, I saw someone's face staring at me from above my face. And I felt like my head was on something that was like a cushion.
I opened my mouth to ask something but the person covered my mouth with their hand and they spoke up, "Jein. Rest, please. You already have been through a lot. You should rest."
I immediately recognized the voice that talked to me. And with the strength I had left, I removed Zhertva's hand on me and I stood up.
"Zhertva, why are you here? I thought you disappeared somewhere."
Zhertva then stood up as well, he looked strangely different. There were a few bruises on his hands and face and not like before, he didn't look like someone who would smile at any absurd situation.
Zhertva sighed and spoke to me, "Listen, Jein. We don't have enough time left. So, we should try to find an exit. And for what you asked, I... I was gathered in another place but I found a solution to escape the place and then, I found you unconscious on the floor. Is my explanation enough for you now?"
I was speechless by his sudden new attitude but I agreed with him. We should find an escape before talking about the way he disappeared but...
'Why would I ever listen to him? It's been hours since I've been here and I can't even get out of this stupid place.'
And as I thought about it, I couldn't tell that to Zhertva. Maybe he was right and already tired. I shouldn't stress him out with my thoughts.
I realized that it's been a long moment that Zhertva asked me if his explanation was enough for me but all I did was be lost in my thoughts. So, in a little awkward tone I replied. "Yeah. I guess..."
And like that, Zhertva and I started walking over to those large gates to have a clue of how to get out of here.
'This is like the beginning again...'
...
Suddenly, I heard the sound of a wall exploding. Instinctively, I jumped on Zhertva to protect him as if I were a madman who deserved to go to the hospital. 'Okay, I should shut up.'
Smoke appeared everywhere in front of the wall that had been destroyed. Someone stood there in an elegant look, the figure looked tall and had long wavy hair and they were holding a sword in their right hand.
And in a graceful voice, the person said. "Do you really want me to kill you, Jein? Get back here before I might punch you in the face."
'Wait, what...? Why is he here?!'
Obviously, the figure before me who looked like a madman who wanted to kill me was Kayle. At least, he searched for me and maybe wants to save me. Or maybe, just because of Dern.
______________
Author note :
Jein is so annoying... No, I'm kidding
But Kayle is my favorite now.