Chapter 35: Beneath Light, Beneath Darkness
Elf-san didn’t know there were NPCs you could interact with.
"Was it just my imagination?"
On the wooden floor, the sharp clink of a bullet casing fell.
Yet, no one had fallen. In a room near the bedroom, the man in the portrait stared at me without changing his expression.
"‘Just your imagination’? You startled me!"
"Me?"
"Why did you suddenly shoot?!"
Top Chat: Sharp Elf-san returns
Top Chat: She doesn’t seem to listen, but she actually pays attention sometimes, impressive
Top Chat: Is that really impressive?
Top Chat: Always pay attention, please
"I sensed a presence."
"…Did you hear something?"
"There was nothing, so it’s probably nothing."
Top Chat: Sense a presence…
Top Chat: You should sense magic!
Top Chat: Elf-san, you are an Elf!
Top Chat: Elf magic: ‘Blind’
Top Chat: Oh right, she was that dangerous
Top Chat: Don’t feel anything
Top Chat: Still, it really might just be nothing. We haven’t even slept in the bedroom yet
"True. It’s like part of the opening anyway."
"Mm."
Entering the bedroom and inspecting the bed, we were asked whether to rest. Of course, we rested.
‘Today’s been rough. If only I had just stayed on the main road…’
Top Chat: So he didn’t plan to go the mountain route
Top Chat: Shortcut fails, classic
Top Chat: Walking an extra station, classic
Top Chat: Getting a search party sent after you, classic
Top Chat: Nope
‘Seems the owner isn’t home either. Tomorrow, I’ll look for tools and fix the car. Geez… I just want to get home.’
The young man closed his eyes and quickly began to snore.
In the empty room, the curtains fluttered in the wind. Moonlight illuminated a black silhouette.
When the curtains returned to their original position, the figure vanished. It had been visible for less than a second.
"Oh—?"
"…How mysterious!"
Top Chat: Kirishitan tried to play it off after thinking for a bit, lol
Top Chat: Well, that’s understandable
Top Chat: It’s also introducing the game system, so can’t blame them
"He’s awake."
The young man opened his eyes; the surroundings were already dim.
‘Hey, it’s already evening. Damn, gotta gather the tools quickly or departure will be postponed!’
Nibbling on a calorie bar, he stood up… and control returned to the player.
"Let’s start exploring."
"Elf, wait. Let’s turn on the lights first. You can’t find anything in the dark."
"Mm."
Top Chat: Two people in sync
Top Chat: Hand in hand
Top Chat: First joint effort
Top Chat: Classic move
Top Chat: And that’s how Cake Taro was born
Top Chat: Not actually classic
"Found the wrench."
Top Chat: A wrench in the kitchen, kinda strange
Top Chat: It’s randomly placed, lol
"Elf, isn’t that a pair of pliers I can see over there?"
"Only three more to go."
Top Chat: Going smoothly
Top Chat: Should be about time
Top Chat: Yep
"Hm?"
"Elf, we turned on the lights in this room too, right?"
"Yeah, turned them on."
The room was pitch dark. Shining our handheld flashlight, the bulb didn’t seem broken. But—
"No good. The switch won’t work."
"What about the other rooms?"
"Let’s check them out."
Lights in several rooms around the mansion had gone out. Some were flickering, and it was clear the number was increasing.
"So the areas we can move in are gradually shrinking."
"Seems like it… What should we do? Go back to the bedroom already?"
"Hmm… guess we have no choice—Shh!"
"Kyah!?"
Top Chat: Whoa!?
Top Chat: They shot!
Top Chat: Suddenly again
Top Chat: Got a scream
Top Chat: Faith rewarded
Top Chat: Thank you, thank you
Top Chat: The lambs, lol
"This time I saw it! A black silhouette appeared under the light in the next room. That’s the enemy, right?"
"Ah… yeah, that’s probably it. Definitely is!"
Top Chat: [Breaking] Kirishitan loses it [thanks to the lambs]
Top Chat: So in the end, Kirishitan screamed before Elf-san
Top Chat: Interpretation matches, so it’s fine!
"Pursue it!"
"Yeah, go for it, Elf!"
"Roger!"
I jumped into the next room and aimed my gun behind the sofa where the silhouette had been shot down.
"Eh…?"
There was nothing but darkness; the silhouette had vanished.
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