I met Naga doctor and nurse couple who work at the hospital.
Fortunately, by using the key the chief pharmacist had forgotten, the door opened with a rusty creak. A warm, humid breeze brushed against my cheek.
“It’s this way, I’ll guide you.”
The moment the Jarlot couple proceeded past the door, the lantern’s light suddenly went out.
“Oh, what should we do? Do you have any matches?”
“It’s alright, let’s proceed further.”
Kalm walked off into the darkness.
“Hey, wait up. It’s dangerous if you go alone!”
I hurried to follow her.
*Bang*
The door closed. It was nearly pitch black. The darkness of underground, with no moonlight.
“Mr. Jarrot, are you there? Kalm? Wait, I’ll look for matches now.”
*Puul.* My arm was pulled by someone. Were these short fingers Kalm’s?
“Kalm? Where are you going? Are you going to leave Mr. Jarrot behind?”
*Puul, puul, puul.* I tried to pull my arm back, but I was dragged along by strong force.
*Puul, puul, puul, puul.*
“Wait, I said wait! Hey, Kalm, say something!”
“What happened, Hiro? It’s almost time.”
“Your words are strange.”
“Strange? Strange? Strange?”
What is this? Who is this? It’s not Kalm. My feet stopped abruptly.
“Finally, we’ve arrived, arrived, arrived, arrived, arrived, arrived, arrived, arrived, arrived, arrived.”
“What, what’s going on, Kalm? Who are you…?”
Cold sweat trickled down my skin. I felt an all-consuming creepiness I had never experienced before. From the darkness, I felt a gaze licking my whole body.
*Drip. Drip, drip, drip. Glare. Ah, eyes. I can see them even in the dark. Eyes, completely black eyes.*
Her white figure floated indistinctly in the darkness. I gently reached out my hand to her shoulder.
Kalm?
She slowly turned around, her eyes were completely black.
“Found you, found you, found you, found you, found you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you!”
A shrill scream of laughter. No, no, this isn’t her! When did she switch? I drew my dagger again, taking a defensive stance. What about the Jarlot couple, are they safe?!
“Hey, this way!”
A familiar voice from behind, was it Veronica? Thank goodness, she came to help, I could almost cry from relief at the reliable ally. She took my hand, and leaving Kalm behind, we returned the way we came.
“Did you meet the Naga couple on the way here?”
“Naga? Ah, they’re fine. I let them escape ahead.”
That’s a relief. Veronica stopped running after a while and looked back at me.
“Listen carefully. You are currently trapped in an illusion. That’s why he (she) also went mad.”
“I knew it. So this is the enemy’s technique this time.”
She nodded. Then, she pressed something long and thin into my hand.
“Is this a dagger?”
“Yes, use it. Kill him with it, and you’ll wake up.”
What?! My heart nearly stopped at those words. Is she telling me to kill a companion?
“There’s no way I can do that?! Because…”
Wait, is this really Veronica? I could only judge by her voice in the darkness, but there’s no guarantee it’s her. Besides, Veronica went upstairs, didn’t she? Did she chase us all the way here?
“What’s wrong, can’t you do it? Are you even a man?”
“Are you really Veronica?”
“Yes, hurry up. There’s no time. If you don’t wake up, I can’t be saved either.”
“…Then say it. The name of the manga protagonist you were calling.”
“Manga? Stop talking nonsense.”
I put all my strength into my dagger and thrust it at the enemy who I assumed was in front of me.
