“…..”
I sat in silence while slowly replaying the events in my mind.
Feeling the knife’s subtle resistance as it sank into the killer’s chest and recalling the warm blood that splashed across my face, I remained silent.
I…
I had killed someone.
This much became clear to me.
Not the serial killer in the scenario, but an actual person.
While they were probably alive again, it didn’t change the fact that I had indeed killed them.
“…..”
And yet—
Besides the initial shock of the realization, I didn’t feel very much.
’Is it because I’ve seen too much stuff…? Or is it because of other things? Yes, he was trying to kill me as well. I was just defending myself.’
I really did expect to feel more, but I was a lot more indifferent to it than I initially anticipated.
“…Maybe it’s because they don’t really die, but even if they did truly die, I doubt I’d feel much.”
I didn’t know how to feel about this. I was becoming more and more aware of the changes in my body.
Not only would I get occasional moments when I lost my emotions, but now I was also starting to become indifferent to a lot of things.
Was this due to the node in my head?
I covered my mouth.
’I really need to figure out a way to heal my fracture. If things progress like this, I don’t know what I’ll become.’
The fracture was one thing, but the Cognitive Shard was also a big issue. If one was slowly changing me, then the other was outright killing me.
“Whatever the case is, for now, this isn’t a bad thing.”
This gate was one where the mind was extremely important. It was a gate that broke the minds of anyone inside.
This indifference…
It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
In fact, it was probably for the best, as I felt that it was necessary in order for me to clear the gate.
I stood up from my seat and took out the compass while also staring at the lamp in front of me.
’If the compass didn’t lead me in the wrong direction last time, then so long as I follow the same path as before, I can look for the exit. There will most likely be someone waiting for me there.’
Whether it was the ’killer’ from before or the real serial killer, I wasn’t sure, but I had to somehow manage to reach the area before anyone died.
“That’s easier said than done.”
Each loop was slightly different. I didn’t have a fixed time for when someone would die. I didn’t even know how many people were present.
This entire situation…
It was incredibly complicated. To resolve this scenario, I had to find everyone present and make sure none of them died. The moment they died, the scenario would reset. I couldn’t allow anyone to die.
“…..”
I felt a headache just thinking about it.
’I can just go around and ask, but will they even answer? I can try going as me, but given that they are scouts from the bureau, I’d like to avoid that. In that case…?’
I stopped for a moment and stared at the mask on the desk.
It stared back at me as I slowly closed my eyes and took notice of my current state of mind.
“…Do I have no choice but to go around pretending to be another anomaly?”
I sighed, feeling my head throb further. But at the same time, I realized that this was something that I had to do. In order to clear the scenario, I needed to truly become an ’anomaly’.
’Just pretend to be another anomaly and scare them to the point where they’ll reveal everything.’
I didn’t know whether this was the best solution to the situation, but it was worth a try.
And thus—
Grabbing onto the lamp, I headed for the door, trying my best to dispel any of the fear that I was currently feeling.
’Don’t be scared. Don’t be scared. Don’t be scared.’
Tok tok—
The knock came, and I reached the door before stopping. Eventually, pulling the mask on my face, I pulled the door open.
Creaaaaaaak!
’Let’s get this done before too much time passes.’
***
“This can’t be. This can’t be. This can’t be…”
Morland hunched in the corner, clutching his head, his face pale and empty as memories of a previous loops flooded back.
’It wasn’t supposed to be like this. There was only supposed to be one anomaly. Where did another one come from?!’
The darkness embraced him from all directions. Morland struggled to keep his head straight as despair started to take over his mind.
The situation already felt like it was impossible to clear, and yet, it had somehow gotten even worse.
He desperately wanted to report the situation to the bureau, but something was wrong with the gate. He couldn’t find his way out at all. None of the items was working either.
He knew that the Bureau had sent a few people to check up on them, but they had also probably encountered the same issue.
’I just have to resist until the Guilds come. Just resist until then. Just—’
*Step*
“…..!?”
The sudden sound of a step ripped Morland from his thoughts, his face draining of color as panic gripped him. He froze, holding his breath, pressing himself against the machinery, and covering his mouth with trembling hands, desperate to remain hidden.
But—
*Step*
As if aware of where he was, the step grew closer to him.
Moreland’s entire body stiffened.
One step. Two steps.
Three steps.
The steps drew closer and closer, and Moreland’s expression turned more and more desperate.
That was until—
Silence.
The surroundings turned silent, and the sound of the steps stopped.
A minute passed like this as Moreland tried his best to keep his breathing even.
’Is it over? Did it pass…? Can—!?’
A blue light suddenly flared before Morland, his face twisting in shock as a white mask materialized, tiny bells chiming eerily with the Jester’s movements.
Moreland’s heart leaped out of his chest as he tried to react, but before he could do so, a dark figure appeared behind him and immobilized him.
“——!”
Moreland found himself unable to move at all as his face paled considerably and sweat started to trickle down the side of his face.
Slowly, the Jester moved the lamp forward as their eyes eventually met.
Eventually…
“How many?”
A cold, raspy voice cut through the air from the Jester. The moment Moreland heard it, he felt as if he were being dragged to the ocean’s deepest depths, icy fingers squeezing his body from every direction, suffocating him.
He opened his mouth, but was totally breathless.
While it was true that he was a scout, his job was just to scout things and escape at the briefest signs of danger!
With all his tools not working, he was essentially no different than a normal person. Hence why he couldn’t hide his fear at all.
“How many…?”
The Jester’s voice echoed out again, as Moreland was brought into a deeper, suffocating dread.
Morland didn’t pass out like last time. Staring at the Jester, whose mask was half brightened by the dim glow of the lamp, Moreland swallowed.
How many…
How many what??
His mind scrambled to process the situation, struggling to grasp the Jester’s request. Before he could make sense of it, the Jester spoke again.
“How many people here?”
Hearing the Jester’s voice once more, Morland froze as his mind finally processed the question. How many people? It wants to know how many people?
Why? For what reason…?
Opening his mouth, he tried to speak but found himself unable to say anything. In the end, he shook his head.
He didn’t know.
…And he didn’t plan on telling.
Why would he suddenly speak to an anomaly?
“…..”
The Jester stared at Morland in silence before pulling back.
This surprised Moreland as he blinked his eyes in confusion. He was just going to leave him like this?
But why? Why would the—
Spurt—!
“Ukeh!!”
Something cold pressed against his chest as he looked down in horror, staring at the hand that stabbed right through his body.
Morland’s expression twisted in that moment, and just before his vision grew black, the Jester’s voice reached his ears again.
“I’ll find you again. I expect an appropriate answer.”
His vision grew dark shortly after that.
Time reset.
…And Morland found himself standing in the same spot he had found himself appearing hundreds of times in the past.
“Haa… Haa…”
His chest rose and fell with each ragged breath as his hand clutched at his chest, the lingering pain searing in his mind. Sweat streamed down his face, and the image of the Jester kept replaying over and over.
’No, no. I need to hide. I need to hide until the Guilds come.’
Morland staggered through the abandoned factory, his eyes darting between broken machinery, rusted conveyor belts, and shadowed corners. Each creak of the floor beneath his feet made him flinch. He pressed himself against walls, sliding behind stacks of crates, trying to find a spot that could shield him from the Jester’s gaze.
“Here.”
He ducked into a narrow space between two towering machines, the darkness swallowing him almost completely. Just when he allowed himself a brief moment of relief—
*Step*
The sound of a step echoed sharply through the cavernous factory.
His body froze, every nerve screaming.
’No, no, no, no, no…’
The shadows around him seemed to stretch, pressing closer as if alive, and the metallic scent of rust mixed with his own panic.
Soon—
A dim blue light appeared, and a Jester appeared.
“…Found you.”
“Haaaaaaaaaak—!”
A scream ripped through the surroundings.