At the first end of the stairway leading to the Sixth Floor, a woman was sitting at the window's edge.
Long aubergine-colored hair and pale skin. Her body was covered in a long black gown adorned with laced feathers, but all of that had lost its colour due to part of her soul being shared.
The only light she possessed was in her ametrine-yellow eyes. She looked at the stars through the window, leaning against the wall.
Lost in her thoughts.
Persephone: "Myeong, he said."
She spoke in a low voice, almost like she was sighing.
Persephone: "I have never heard of it. What could it mean?"
She asked with no emotion on her face, and no one could answer her question.
Persephone: "Name? Or a place, maybe?"
Even if someone had been there, no one would have been able to hear her; only one other existence could perceive her existence right now.
Thinking about him, she looked at the night sky once more. This time more intensely, as though she were looking into someone's eyes.
Persephone: "You lied to me, or maybe it is just a happy coincidence for you."
It isn't clear whom she is talking to.
Persephone: "Whatever..."
She blinked and lost interest. Her eyes remained on the night sky, but her attention shifted to the door a few steps above her.
'Tch!'
She clicked her tongue internally as she thought about the existence that had told her not to approach the next floor while going there himself.
Persephone: "Why does it matter if it goes through alteration? Any of my skills would be enough to contain it... although I don't know how much of the skill his body could handle."
Alteration is a phenomenon that occurs whenever the balance of the universe is disturbed. However, an alteration in a lower realm did not seem particularly serious to her.
The only reason she couldn't continue arguing with Arthur was that she, a higher existence, could not directly interfere with the lower realm without facing any penalty.
'A little bit of penalty is nothing.'
She is a higher existence and the Goddess of the Underworld. She could endure occasional penalties.
'But I will be found out.'
While charged with a penalty by the balance of the universe, her presence would be found by the other higher existences, which she obviously didn't want.
Her mere presence in the lower realm was already enough to affect the balance, but since she had not directly influenced anything, it remained acceptable.
Persephone: "How much longer do I need to wait?"
She grumbled. She was obviously bored rather than concerned.
?: "Are you sure this is the way?"
As she drifted through her thoughts, a feminine voice caught her attention.
?: "Yes, I'm sure. I saw him come through here."
Another voice was of a male, and it was a voice that was familiar. Actually, both voices were familiar.
As she set her eyes on them, the owner of the feminine voice had fiery red hair, while the owner of the male voice had silver hair.
Persephone recognised them—Valerie and Ducas.
Her eyes shifted toward the two individuals climbing the stairway leading to the Sixth Floor, in the middle of which she sat. Naturally, neither of them could see her.
Valerie: "What is he doing here?"
Ducas: "He was patrolling with Professor Yates."
Valerie: "Then why would he come here?"
Ducas: "I don't know, but after he came here, I lost him."
Persephone listened as the two climbed the stairs.
Ducas wore a concerned frown, while Valerie sighed repeatedly.
She had encountered Ducas in front of the female dormitory; he said that he had come from his room because he needed to get his sword.
When asked, he told her, after thinking for a while, that Arthur had gone missing. Thinking that this time, along with the students, Arthur had also disappeared, she decided to accompany him.
Valerie: "But do you often follow him?"
Ducas: "I have to. He often gets involved with suspicious people and never tries to depend on anyone. I don't know what would happen if I left him alone."
Persephone subconsciously nodded her head, and Valerie seemed to agree as well.
She still wasn't entirely sure what to think of Arthur.
But after the incident at the plaza, she found herself agreeing with Ducas.
Valerie: "You respect him."
Ducas: "I owe my life to him."
She knew about the incident that occurred at Brigian's Church; the news certainly reached the town. The church said it was the result of one of the pillars of the church receiving another blessing. And that too by God Dionysus, himself.
But there were some whispers that the famous pillar of light shown at midnight was because of an attack; either way, the Church maintained its influence.
But Ducas told her about cruel experiments, people's confinement and how Arthur "rescued" everyone. So she understood what he said and believed that Arthur had also helped her.
'He has already helped me with Griff and Felicity.'
Someone who always helps others but never asked for help himself—that was how both of them viewed Arthur.
Walking through the stairs, they walked past Persephone without any idea that she was there and reached the simple door on the sixth floor.
Valerie: "Going to the Sixth Floor of Trivia is forbidden."
As a fourth-year student, Valerie knew that particular rule well.
Ducas: "So I've heard."
Persephone watched both individuals, waiting for them to be mentally attacked by the schema's influence, but she became curious when both of them walked up to the wall without any problem.
Ducas rubbed his hand across the surface of the door and spoke.
Ducas: "I can feel an aura, but it's faint... and sinister."
At the word sinister, Persephone floated up and positioned herself directly behind them. Valerie also accessed the door.
Valerie: "It looks like any ordinary door."
Ducas: "It does. Let's go inside."
Valerie nodded her head, and Ducas opened the door.
At the moment Ducas opened the door, Persephone thought:
'Isn't he a realm above ordinary existence?'
A realm above—an existence with all stats above one hundred—that is the existence Ducas is.
'Whether he goes inside or I go inside, alteration will happen either way.'
The thought of stopping Ducas never even crossed her mind.
Then, as the door slammed shut behind them, two lower existences and one higher existence passed beyond the simple-looking door.
****
Lisa and I were swallowed by the shadow; the darkness dulled all of my senses. I couldn't see anything, couldn't feel anything, or smell anything, but it didn't last long.
A few seconds later, the darkness around us cleared, and we were still falling.
Lisa facing away from the direction we were falling. It seemed we had been flipped around.
She turned her head around while still gripping my shoulders.
Lisa: "Where are we?!"
She shouted, not because she was angry or frustrated, but because the rushing wind made it difficult to hear.
I was about to say something when I noticed past her, a wall rapidly approaching.
I immediately pulled Lisa into a tight embrace.
+
[ Lower Existence 'Lisa Hart' is startled. ]
+
I couldn't see her face, nor I had the time to. I roared in my mind.
'Zoeeee!'
—Yes, My King.'
Her gentle voice echoed in my head, accompanied by the sound of a distant waterfall.
Majestic silver-white wings, almost transparent, unfolded around us and wrapped us both.
Then we hit the wall.
Crash!
+
[ Some Nubeculas have sparkling eyes. ]
+
The impact wasn't particularly loud, but the wooden wall cracked like a spiderweb, with us at its centre.
Zoe made the wings disappear, and I let go of Lisa, rolling to her side with arms wide open. Lisa's head was on my right arm.'
+
[ The Nubecula 'Dionysus' is snickering. ]
+
She pushed herself up, and I did the same.
'Wow, that was scary.'
Before I could even process what was happening, we were swallowed and emerged from the darkness, then a wall suddenly appeared in front of us. I had acted entirely on instinct.
'But I am sitting on a... wall?'
I looked beneath me.
And yes, obviously.
We had been falling.
It wasn't a wall.
It was a floor.
+
[ The Nubecula 'Who Likes Cigars And Candy' comments, "How did the hug feel?" ]
+
'I thought this asshole took off.' I grumbled internally.
+
[ The Nubecula 'Raziel' sighs. ]
+
Ignoring the messages, I looked up, hoping to see a swirling shadow above us.
'Nothing, huh?'
But the shadow was not above us—just an ordinary roof.
I turned to look at the silent woman beside me, who looked puzzled.
Arthur: "Are you okay?"
Lisa: "Yes, I'm fine."
Considering how she had screamed at me earlier, I was expecting a lengthy earful.
But something seemed to have calmed her down.
I stood up and dusted myself off.
Arthur: "Looks like we lost our cloaks."
The cloak I had worn over my dark-purple shirt and tan pants was gone.
Lisa's cloak was gone as well, revealing a dress similar to a purple cape dress, though much more elegant and decorated with jewellery.
I unbuttoned one of the buttons that had pulled at my throat when Lisa pulled me earlier.
+
[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' is fanning herself. ]
+
Arthur: "Fortunately, neither of us is hurt."
At my words, something flared up within her, and anger became visible on her face. She gracefully stood up.
'Looks like the Archduke is finally rising.' A ridiculous joke thought popped into my mind.
Lisa: "Yes, thanks to your wings."
Well, that made me sound somewhat holier, so I didn't like it, which I didn't particularly like.
Not that I cared enough to argue about it.
I am sure she is thankful, but she does not sound thankful.
Lisa: "Now tell me, Arthur."
A cold sweat ran down my back, with a strong sense of déjà vu.
'That's exactly how my mother used to start conversations, before scolding me.'
Lisa: "What possible reason did you had for jumping off like that?"
+
[ The Nubecula 'Who Likes Cigars And Candy' is laughing. ]
+
[ The Nubecula 'Dionysus' comments, "Someone is in trouble." ]
+
She sounded cold, but—
'That one is easy.'
Arthur: "I was following the darkness, Miss Lisa."
+
[ The Nubecula 'Who Likes Cigars And Candy' comments, "...What?" ]
+
"Into the darkness."
That was the only thing written in my BTDW text file.
That was the phrase I wrote; at the time, the phrase written into the reddish hue appeared in my dreams.
That is the reason I walked through the hallway without thinking much and jumped into the shadow.
Lisa: "What? Who told you to do that?"
Her brows furrowed in confusion.
Arthur: "Nobody?"
Then I frowned as well.
It would be great if there was someone like that, but I don't think there is anyone capable of telling me such things.
'If there was someone like that, I'd make them deal with this instead.'
Lisa: "Huh?"
Arthur: "Hmm?"
+
[ The Nubecula 'Dionysus' comments, "Ha?" ]
+
[ The Nubecula 'Who Likes Cigars And Candy' comments, "Hohoho?" ]
+
[ Several Nubeculas are confused. ]
+
'These Nubeculas...' A vein bulged on my forehead.
Lisa looked completely baffled by my answer.
But the truth was simple. No one else knows about the Hidden Script influencing the top floor of Trivia. Well, almost no one.
I calmed myself down.
Arthur: "I have something I want to ask you as well, Miss Lisa."
Question marks practically appeared above her head.
Meanwhile, my expression turned from calm to stoic.
Arthur: "What are you doing here?"
She opened her mouth to reply but halted.
Lisa: "Aa—"
The unfinished word lingered on her lips for a second before she closed her mouth again.
Instead, she responded with a question of her own.
Lisa: "I could ask you the same thing."
Why does she sound like that is something tough to answer?
I could answer it just fine.
Arthur: "I came here to bring back the missing student."
Her expression shifted, which I felt as confusion, no, surprise.
+
[ The Nubecula 'Raziel' comments, "Helping is good." ]
+
[ The Nubecula 'Raziel' is pleased. ]
+
[ 800 points have been donated. ]
+
Arthur: "There are strange rumours about this place. I thought it would be a good place to investigate."
+
[ The Nubecula 'Who Likes Cigars And Candy' is snorting. ]
+
Lisa: "...She told me she sensed something, so I came. But..."
She stared at me before mumbling something under her breath that I couldn't hear.
Arthur: "Hm?"
Noticing my curious expression, she lifted her head as if nothing had happened.
Lisa: "I came for the same reason."
Yeah, like I believed that.
Who was it?
It had to be Hekate.
She must have sensed something now that the influence here was weakening.
That explanation made the most sense. My thoughts shifted to a more pressing problem.
Lisa being here.
Her presence is definitely going to influence the script. Unfortunately, there is nothing I could do about it now.
'It's not like I can make her leave.'
I cannot just make her leave or throw her out. I just have to deal with it.
'One strong person shouldn't make things too difficult.' 'One strong person should not make things too much more difficult,' I consoled myself, but I felt as if it was just a failed, desperate attempt.
Lisa: "Then we should move."
+
[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' is nodding. ]
+
'She's too quiet.' Gumiho is the most enthusiastic one, so it was weird to me that she was this quiet.
Lisa began walking, and I followed behind her. The room was dark, but I could still make out the surroundings; it was a large classroom, similar to the one where I take classes.
She moved toward the door and opened it.
Creak.
Tak.
+
[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments, "I don't like it." ]
+
[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' comments, "Stop being scared, you are Gumiho." ]
+
[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments, "But I don't like it!" ]
+
'Ho? She is scared? Now that's something. Well, it does feel ominous.'
Past the door, a hallway similar to the ones in Trivia stretched to the left and right opened up.
Arthur: "Are we taking each side on our own again?"
I obviously said it sarcastically.
Lisa: "And you're going to follow the darkness?... Again?"
I sensed the same sarcasm in her tone as well.
Arthur: "Well, it's dark all around so..."
I shrugged.
She squinted her eyes at me, then stepped through the doorway, moving towards the left direction.
I quietly followed. I don't actually have any clue where to go anyway.
The place seemed to be growing darker and darker. Lisa and I asked each other a few times whether we sensed anything unusual, but neither of us felt anything.
There was only one odd thing.
Lisa: "We haven't encountered a single turn."
And that was it: we had been walking down a straight hallway the entire time without taking any turns.
'Maybe it's curved?'
If the hallway was constructed with a slight curve, it could simply be one giant circular corridor.
It was a wild thought, but it didn't stick for more than a second.
I pointed ahead before speaking.
Arthur: "There's a turn."
Lisa halted and stared intently at the end of the hallway. I understood her reaction.
We hadn't encountered any turn until now, and suddenly one appeared?
+
[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments, "Don't like it. Not liking it." ]
+
But what else could we do except continue forward?
Arthur: "Let's see."
I urged her onward.
Lisa nodded once, then walked, and I naturally followed behind.
Before taking the turn, we—at least I—didn't have any expectations. Everything was just dark around us.
But as soon as we turned, I felt Lisa freeze. I was behind her, so I still had to take a step. She seemed startled.
Curious, I moved forward and found myself reacting similarly. Though unlike her, the corner of my lips curled upward.
'Found it.'
A big room with a wooden floor, but the walls and roof were fully made of glass—countless human-sized glass plates covering everything in sight.
The glass had white light, the kind you see in the sky just before it is about to rain.
I looked to my side, toward the hallway from where we had taken the turn. A similar glass mirror-like plate was there, reflecting myself.
I looked behind; it was similar. It was as if the dark hallway had never existed.
'Where there is light, there ought to be darkness.' The weird phrase came to mind, but it was corny, so I decided not to say it out loud.
+
[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments, "Finally!" ]
+
[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' is happy. ]
+
Arthur: "This is an unexpected twist. We should search the place."
Lisa came out of her surprised state and, without saying anything, stepped ahead.
We moved further, and the size of the mirrors around us changed as we moved. Some became larger, others smaller, arranged in seemingly random patterns.
Gradually, greenish and reddish borders began appearing around the panels. We didn't even notice when it first changed. Maybe it changed gradually.
Then a small table came into view; its height was up to my waist. It had a plant with reddish leaves on it, shining rose-gold in radiance. We walked closer.
+
[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments, "Wow." ]
+
'Now she's active as usual.'
Lisa: "It looks—"
Arthur: "Beautiful."
I completed her words; the plant felt enchanting.
+
[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' comments, "Yes. It is beautiful." ]
+
[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds For Heartbroken' is looking at you. ]
+
'She's back as well. Women really do get attracted to pretty things.'
But not just the shiny red plant was beautiful. The whole place was so gorgeous that it was hard to describe.
?: "Professor Yates?"
A thin voice echoed through the room, sounding as though someone were speaking to themselves.
We turned, and a girl—a beautiful girl with long eyelashes, wearing a white shirtdress, with an ornament hanging from her left ear—came into our view
'Ah, I know this girl.'
Arthur: "That is the first girl who went missing."
At my words, Lisa moved quickly, and Amanda's eyes lit up.
?: "Oh God! It's you, Professor Yates! Finally, someone free has come!"
Lisa: "Amanda Kirt?"
Lisa reached one of the mirrors—no, it was not a mirror, it was a glass wall—and behind it was Amanda.
Amanda: "Yes! That's my name! I'm so glad!"
Tears immediately welled in her eyes.
Amanda: "I, I am s, so s, scared. It's b, been days and... I don't know w, what to do."
+
[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds For Heartbroken' is looking at her with sad eyes. ]
+
[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments, "Don't cry." ]
+
Tears streamed down Amanda's cheeks as she spoke. Her voice was hoarse and trembling.
Lisa: "Calm down. We're here now."
Amanda: "I-I..."
While Lisa comforted the weeping girl, I turned back toward the small table.
The shining plant drew my attention, there was also a small note resting beside it.
I picked it up.
The note contained only a single sentence.
< Into the darkness. >
Yup, it was this. This was the one thing that I saw in my dream that led me here.
Regarding this script, the only things I saw were the catastrophe it brought to this school, and this room with this table and this note.
I looked at the note intently. I was holding an item I saw in my dream. I
After a moment, I folded the note once, slipped it into my pants pocket, and turned away.
+
[ The Nubecula 'Who Likes Cigars And Candy' is looking at you curiously. ]
+
'Mind your own damn business.'
I walked over to Amanda.
She had nearly stopped crying, and she seemed somewhat calmer now.
Amanda: "I am so sorry. I couldn't hold it in anymore."
Arthur: "It's alright."
For the first time, Amanda looked directly at me.
Our eyes met.
Arthur: "I assume it was hard. You did great."
I thought she was finally out of tears, but she squinted her eyes, trying to hold them back.
Arthur: "You don't need to worry anymore."
+
[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds For Heartbroken' is looking at you with gentle eyes. ]
+
Amanda nodded furiously, perhaps trying to convince herself as much as anyone else.
Arthur: "Miss Amanda, do you mind if I ask you something?"
She wiped her eyes before answering.
Amanda: "No."
Arthur: "Earlier, you said you were glad that someone free had come. What did you mean by that?"
Amanda looked at me with her reddened eyes, then glanced at Lisa, who seemed equally curious.
Amanda: "Ah... I don't know how to explain it, but something lured us here, and then we got trapped. These glass walls are impenetrable."
She pressed her hand against the glass wall separating us.
Lisa: "Us? Are others in the same situation as you?"
She tilted her head slightly, her eyebrows raised.
Amanda: "You must not have found the others. There are many students and professors trapped here. Please get us out. I don't want to stay here any longer."
Lisa: "Students... and professors?"
Lisa looked around, confused. But nobody else was visible.
The glass walls—or perhaps glass prisons was the more accurate term now—stood empty, reflecting only the pale grey skylight.
Though one particular word brought out confusion.
Professors.
'We saw all the professors this morning. How can they already be here?'
There was only one conclusion: they made contact after this morning, but isn't that too fast?'
'This script is already out of control.'
Amanda misunderstood Lisa's reaction and hurriedly looked around.
Amanda: "I'm telling the truth! These cells move around. I've talked to them."
Placing my hand against the glass, I gave her a reassuring look.
Arthur: "We believe you. You don't need to worry."
Lisa: "Yes. We will rescue you and the others."
Amanda: "Tha—"
Her words seemed to get stuck as her eyes widened and she pointed behind us.
Amanda: "There! One person is right behind you, in a cell."
Lisa and I turned around with confused expressions.
?: "Another noisy one has come."
The voice sounded grumpy.
My eyes landed on a man with droopy eyes, dishevelled hair, and an unkempt beard sitting inside the glass cell.
He turned his head toward us, curiosity replacing his previous annoyance.
?: "Wait... you're outside?"
I was honestly a little surprised myself.
'We just saw you today. How did someone as lazy as you end up here?'
Arthur: "Professor Lothian. Nice to see you again."
It was Magnus Lothian.
He immediately turned his head away as if he didn't want to talk.
Magnus: "What has come to this?"
He grumbled to himself before looking back at us.
+
[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments, "I don't like him." ]
+
'Yeah, I don't particularly like him either.'
Magnus: "Hey, Professor Yates."
He called out to Lisa, who was looking around to find others. She looked at him with interested eyes.
Magnus: "Stop looking at me so coldly and go call that old man. Or fetch that cat you always roam around with."
'Woah. You're talking to the Archduke, you dimwit.' I sighed internally.
+
[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments, "I hate him." ]
+
'Yeah, don't call Hekate just a cat. Gumiho likes cats.'
Lisa didn't reply. I also ignored him and walked toward the glass wall of Magnus's cell and knocked on it twice.
Arthur: "Maybe we can break it?"
It seemed like fragile glass, but Amanda said it was impenetrable.
Magnus: "You think I wouldn't have tried that already?"
I stared at him in confusion.
My expression clearly asked: Then why didn't you?
He made a frustrated expression at that.
Magnus: "That Mr. Intelligent smashed the glass door with everything he had. It broke, but the moment the glass shattered, he disappeared and left behind an empty black cell."
At Magnus's words, Amanda paled and shivered.
Amanda: "No way. There is no way."
Lisa consoled her, saying that she would do something about it and save everyone.
'Mr. Intelligent? Is he talking about Professor Allen? He was also here? Ah, this is giving me a headache.'
+
[ The Nubecula 'Dionysus' is sipping his wine. ]
+
I was just about to tap my forehead with frustration when suddenly the whole place started to shake like it was an earthquake.
Everything around us trembled violently. The glass walls rattled as though they might shatter at any moment.
Lisa and I locked eyes as we tried to stand firm on our feet.
Magnus: "What are you two doing?"
My head turned to the droopy man, who was sitting calmly on the ground inside the glass cell. Seeing him sitting like that confused me.
Arthur: "Don't you feel that?"
Magnus: "Feel what?"
He looked at us, confused. Amanda had a similar expression, which gave us an idea about the situation.
Lisa: "They can't feel it!"
Arthur: "Seems like it!"
Just as I was trying to make sense of the situation, the shaking abruptly stopped.
Silence followed.
For a brief moment, it was so quiet that even a pin drop would have been audible.
'What the hell is going on? Even I don't know anymore. Too many existences have interfered with this script.'
I didn't know how many, but I knew that three professors were here and more than fifty students. The script must be at its limit.
Still jamming our feet on the ground, Lisa and I looked at each other.
Lisa: "Is that all? Or..."
She murmured to herself.
+
[ The Nubecula 'Raziel' is looking at you. ]
+
[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments, "Was that really all?" ]
+
[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' comments, "No." ]
+
Just as the tactician predicted, the silence was merely the calm before the storm.
With another violent tremor, the cells around us began moving farther and farther away.'
Magnus and Amanda also showed shocked expressions this time.
The entire structure rearranged itself. Glass cells shifted positions, creating a vast hall. More cells emerged from every direction. Even the ceiling was covered with them.
The cells had people inside, and I recognised them. Every missing student was here, and even some professors I had seen in the morning as well.
The professors stared at us in confusion. Some students began pounding desperately against their glass walls.
In the midst of this, a flame stood still in the middle of the hall—a red small flame with a golden inside.
Before we could even think of anything, the fire rose higher and higher until it engulfed everything in sight.
Then it took shape. A gigantic cat made entirely of flame.
+
[ The Hidden Script has been unlocked. ]
+
[ A Miscellaneous Script has been formed. ]
+
[ Script: Flame of the Abandoned Soul ]
Category: Miscellaneous
Difficulty: B
Passing Scenario: Release the Abandoned Soul
Reward: 8,000 Points
Failure: Death. ]
+
Arthur: "Ah, shit."
+
[ The Nubecula 'Dionysus' has taken out a new wine bottle. ]
+
[ The Nubecula 'Raziel' comments, "Gonna be a tough day for him." ]
+
[ The Nubecula 'Who Likes Cigars And Candy' comments, "Or night. Haha." ]
+
[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds For Heartbroken' comments, "Shut it." ]
+
[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' is looking on with sparkling eyes. ]
+
[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments, "Stream on!" ]
+
[ A handful of Nubeculas are looking in your direction. ]
+