What did she just say?
Did she just say Mirelle…?
I had to take a moment to fully digest the situation, my thoughts squirming as I connected even more dots. However, I was quick to snap out of it and stared at the space in front of me.
Even though I was curious about the situation, there were more pressing matters at hand.
‘Like getting out of this darn place.’
With the old lady distracted by Mirelle’s appearance, I knew that this was the perfect opportunity for me to figure something out and escape.
I would’ve loved for Mirelle to directly attack her, but as of right now, Mirelle wasn’t capable of doing anything but causing a distraction. Although Mirelle was an extremely strong anomaly, my current capabilities were clearly not enough to make use of her full abilities.
Even her skill was currently marked with question marks.
Catching sight of the woman staring blankly toward Mirelle, I turned to the Twisted Man, who was also drawn to Mirelle’s giggling.
‘Even if I can use Mirelle’s skill, there’s no way that she can defeat the Twisted Man. For the old woman… I don’t think she’s much stronger than me.’
The issue was that she could control the Twisted Man.
That was the most troublesome thing.
So long as she could control the Twisted Man, it would be impossible for me to leave this place.
‘I’ve already found everything that I need. I’m sure the quest is already completed. The thing I need to figure out now is how to leave.’
This was still considered a Second Order mission.
…At least, I hoped.
Whether it was or not, I wasn’t sure, especially when I came to the realization that the strange cult behind Mirelle had a hand in this matter.
But now was not the time for me to dwell on those matters.
I need to think.
‘How in the world can I get rid of the Twisted Man and the old woman? No, not even the Twisted Man… the old woman.’
If the old woman was the one who was controlling the Twisted Man, then she was my target. She was the one that I needed to handle somewhat in order to escape.
All sorts of thoughts and ideas jumbled up in my mind as I thought of all sorts of scenarios.
This all happened in the span of less than a few seconds, and when the old woman spoke again, she redirected her gaze towards me.
“Why… is Mirelle here? How is she… here?”
Her eyes were wide as she looked at me.
Bloodshot even.
For some reason, she almost looked desperate to the point where I could feel the circle beneath me starting to falter.
‘Wait, this can be an opportunity…’
Her actions sparked an idea as I looked from the old woman back to Mirelle.
I quickly recalled Mirelle, then summoned her again. She clung to my right leg, peeking out from behind it to stare at the old woman.
“M-mirelle… It’s really her…”
The old woman’s eyes shook the moment she saw Mirelle.
This also confirmed my thoughts about her and the cult. Without a doubt, she belonged to the same cult that had involved Mirelle.
It was already quite obvious before, but this eliminated all shred of doubt.
“You… how is Mirelle with you?”
With the old woman asking again, I felt shivers run down my spine when I felt her gaze. It felt more bloodthirsty.
More desperate.
There was something sinister in her eyes now, filling the hollowness that once filled them.
“….W-why aren’t you answering me?”
Her voice grew even more hoarse as she spoke, her eyes fixated on me.
I could see the impatience starting to build up as she looked at me.
Just as she was about to act, I raised my hand and pointed to my mouth, keeping my eyes fixed on the Twisted Man.
“Hu…?”
Pausing, the old woman alternated her gaze between me and the Twisted Man before she spoke once more.
“….It won’t attack… you. There’s no need to worry. You can speak freely.”
I shook my head.
Although I did believe her words, the point of the matter was that I wanted the Twisted Man as far away as possible from me.
It was only once it was gone that I could think of escaping this place.
“I said… You can speak!”
The old woman raised her voice, her voice turning even more hoarse as her wrinkles became more pronounced under the dim light of her lamp.
I stood firm.
As of right now, I held the advantage.
She wanted information from me, and in order to get it, she had to listen to my requests.
I once again pointed at the Twisted Man.
‘Get rid of it, or I’m not going to speak.’
Although I didn’t directly say the words, it felt as though she understood them as her face twisted and contorted. The red circle beneath me also glowed a stronger pulse, and staring at it, I felt my stomach churn.
‘Ah, yes… Nothing strange here.’
Even though the red circle beneath me felt threatening, with the heat starting to become unbearable, I didn’t let it affect me.
‘I hold the advantage in the situation. She wants information. She also probably wants Mirelle. In that case…’
I looked at Mirelle and unsummoned her.
“Mirelle!”
The old woman grew frantic as she saw Mirelle disappear before she flicked her attention back towards me.
“What did you do…? Bring Mirelle back. Bring… her back!”
The old woman’s voice strained further as she started to scream for Mirelle, but I ignored her while continuously staring at the Twisted Man.
I needed to make sure that she got my intentions.
And I didn’t have to wait for long…
“I’ll get rid of it! I’ll get rid of it!”
With a wave of her hand, the Twisted Man began to move, turning towards the stairs that led to the second floor before disappearing right before my very eyes. The wooden stairs creaked under its steps, and I knew that it had truly gone up.
But still, I didn’t relax.
‘There’s also a chance that there might be another one.’
“It’s gone… speak now. Tell me how you got Mirelle. No, let me see her!”
The old woman stepped forward, moving towards me, but stopped the moment she felt the barrier in front of me.
When I saw her stop, I quickly summoned Mirelle as she once again hugged my thigh.
This time, her little mouth parted open as she mumbled, “I don’t like this… I don’t like this…”
Staring at the old woman, Mirelle didn’t look happy at all.
I could understand why.
If the old woman was truly related to the cult, then there was no way she’d be happy with her here.
But I needed her to play along for just a little bit.
Just a little..
Turning towards Mirelle, I patted her back while nudging with my chin towards the old lady. Understanding my intentions, Mirelle made a face, but eventually stopped hugging my leg as she moved closer towards the old lady.
“M-mirelle…”
Seeing Mirelle, the old lady grew even more frantic as her hands pressed against the invisible barrier before her.
“M… Mirelle. Come here. Come here to me.”
“No.”
Mirelle shook her head, taking a step back while staring at her.
“You come to me.”
She also began to sulk while staring at the old lady.
My entire body tensed at the sight, my hands slowly curling as I waited patiently.
And then—
“Come? Yes… of course I’ll come.”
Taking a step forward, the red circle beneath began to falter, and soon it dimmed down completely as the old woman crossed the circle and headed towards Mirelle.
“Yes, it’s you, Mirelle… I know it’s you. I—”
It was also in that moment that I moved, a viscous black liquid coating my entire hand as I lunged at the old lady in a desperate attempt to take her down.
It was now or never!