Mono ran to the crack where the Crispy Corner had disappeared and peered in, but he couldn't see any trace of it left.
The performance of these Gnomes in the game's plot was that of harmless little things that sometimes even helped the player.
Although he wanted to catch one to scout the situation, Mono didn't want to chase it blindly like this.
These Crispy Corners were different from them; they were long-term "residents" of the The Maw and were familiar with everything on the ship.
While they were just outsiders, and everything on the ship was strange and dangerous to them, rashly chasing was not a rational act.
So he could only give up.
"Mono..." Seeing Mono's discouraged look after failing to catch the white little thing, Six looked at the hole curiously, "What was that just now..."
"Well..." Mono pondered for a moment and explained silently, "Just some unlucky little things, nothing to be surprised about. Let's go, we need to find out where we are now."
Mono had no intention of explaining the background and origin of these Crispy Corners to Six.
Because these Crispy Corners were originally their own kind. Most people wouldn't want to know about things that seem cruel to humans.
Six withdrew her curious gaze. Although she knew Mono was being perfunctory, she silently nodded.
"Mono," even if he didn't explain clearly, there was nothing to doubt.
The two returned to the large open refrigerator again.
Mono reached out and touched it; the refrigerator was somewhat cold. He didn't know how that Crispy Corner had come up with the idea to shut itself inside the refrigerator.
Even if it wanted to keep cool, it didn't have to be so desperate.
Mono silently turned his head to look above the refrigerator.
A large wooden board had collapsed above; one end rested on the top of the refrigerator, while the other end extended to a platform made of wooden boards joined together on a crossbeam.
"Six, climb up."
Mono pulled Six in front of him and pointed upward.
The way ahead was already blocked by a huge iron wall. If they wanted to continue, they could only climb up.
"Mhm."
Six nodded and used both hands and feet, using the shelves in the open refrigerator as footholds to climb up.
Mono followed closely behind.
Before long, the two successfully climbed to the top of the refrigerator. Then, using the collapsed upper wooden board resting on the refrigerator top as a bridge, they climbed onto a platform and walkway made of joined wooden boards on the crossbeam above.
The space above and around the crossbeam was enormous. Some walkways paved with wooden...
...boards extended all the way without any cover, twisting and turning, connecting and passing through the entire space in all directions.
Here, an ordinary person would easily lose their sense of direction.
Fortunately, although the surroundings were dark, Mono could still barely maintain his sense of direction.
Mono pulled Six along the wooden path, occasionally having to climb some broken and scattered walls.
After walking a short distance along a passage, Mono's ears suddenly twitched again.
"Shh, there's movement over there..."
Mono whispered.
Their current position seemed to be in the Bilge of the The Maw.
And in the Bilge, it wasn't safe.
If he remembered correctly...
Not only was there a blind man here with a pair of long arms...
But also some strange little things, such as "giant" Leeches that sucked blood, fierce Vengeful Shadows, and even ferocious water ghosts lurking underwater, were all active at the bottom of the dim Tan E.
They were not the same as the harmless Gnomes.
Mono poked his head out and took a peek, but was momentarily stunned.
What appeared ahead... was a person?
A person whose size was almost the same as theirs.
He was holding a flashlight, running forward as its beam flickered, seemingly escaping from something.
This is...?
The little boy from the DLC?
Mono instantly recognized the identity of the figure in blue jeans before him.
The reason he had such a deep impression of this person's identity was naturally because, in the original plot of the game, this guy was eventually turned into a Bugle by the Owner of the Tan E Vessel, and then... "eaten" by Six.
Mono couldn't help but turn his head and silently glance at Six beside him.
The scene flashed through his mind again, and he couldn't help but shudder.
No, just thinking about it was unbearable.
How could a girl as cute as Six do something so cruel?
No matter what, he would never let such a "disgusting" thing happen this time. But what was that guy running from?
Mono pulled Six along and silently moved closer, finally seeing clearly what was happening.
Several thick, pitch-black, flat-round creatures with suckers and writhing, elastic bodies were crawling and chasing after the little boy as he ran.
Despite their bloated bodies, they were not slow.
Are these... "giant" blood-sucking Leeches?
PS: Catch-up update...
Everyone, I'm preparing for exams recently, so only one update for today. Please forgive me... I'll make it up...
In this darkness, however, thinking back, that should be a person.
He hurriedly turned his head.
A sudden call rang out, which was quite startling. He realized in his heart that the person calling could speak.
But he saw a grey figure.
Time passed slowly...
"You say your name is Little Ji?" Mono asked, looking at the boy in front of him. (The little boy in the DLC has no name; this is made up.)
"Mhm???" The boy named Little Ji nodded, then asked curiously, "Thank you for saving me just now. Are you also Little Person captured onto this ship?"
"No, we're just guys with a bit of bad luck." Mono shook his head.
Who would have thought they had just escaped from the Inner World only to fall onto this damn ship?
After speaking, he asked, "Do you know the current situation on this ship? Where is it docked?"
Compared to continuing to be on edge and constantly guarding against being ambushed, Mono preferred to return to the surface and live a peaceful, unabashed life with Six.
Although killing monsters to increase his strength was very attractive to him...
...he really just wanted to have a good sleep right now.
However, under his expectant gaze, the little boy shook his head and said, "I don't know where the ship is docked either. My sister and I were both captured by a giant..."
"...guy wearing a Human Skin Mask. After waking up, we were kept locked up."
"I took advantage of the monster guarding us being distracted to run out. I didn't expect to encounter Leeches. If I hadn't met you, I might have died."
Having said that, the boy looked at Mono again with deep gratitude.
Meeting someone willing to save him in such a terrifying environment was truly not easy.
In the past, the survivors he saw on the ship were never this kind-hearted.
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