EP.20 The Culprit Must Be in Here, Then
In the Bottomless Pit, it is not the setting sun but the flickering daylight lamps that announce the night. When the Military Nation's standard clock strikes 6 PM, the artificial lights meant to replace the sun blush red as if mimicking a sunset.
Imitations are inevitably bound by their form. From top to bottom, once the light of the daylight lamps slowly sinks like a sun dipping below the horizon, the faint nightlights scattered throughout the Bottomless Pit illuminate the inside of the buildings.
Copied things always show their seams, and the nightlights are inferior to the evening sky in many ways. Instead of the dusky navy sky painted by the remnants of light, dim illumination bathes the Bottomless Pit. It is a distinctly different glow from the shimmering of the moon and stars seeping in like fog—an unpleasant light that casts shadows even within the darkness.
But then again, compared to the grace of the sun that illuminates the whole world, how could such light not fade?
As the daylight lamps died, the corridor's lighting also dimmed. Now, the shard of mirror I had placed in the door crack reflected nothing but darkness. Furthermore, the light entering my room had gone out, making it impossible to continue my work. I stopped what I was doing and stood up from my desk.
Fifty-two cards lay on the desk. They were cards I had created by using up all the alchemical flame given by the Regressor and my entire day's time.
I am a magician, an alchemist who transmutes money using cards and suckers as ingredients. A deck of cards is my weapon.
I swept my hand across the desk. The fifty-two cards scattered haphazardly across its surface slid obediently into my hand with a single gesture. Square, stiff, and resilient. A familiar touch greeted me.
I split the face-down deck in half and shuffled. The flexible, springy cards wedged themselves into each other's gaps. I mixed, cut, bridged, and mixed again. Tap. I set the fully shuffled deck down on the desk.
"Ace of Diamonds."
I flipped the top card. It was the Ace of Diamonds. Naturally. I had shuffled it to be that way.
I hadn't held cards in days, but my skills hadn't gone anywhere. They had simply waited for me deep within my mind. I casually lifted the Ace of Diamonds. A single, sharp, red motif dominated the face of the card as if it owned the space. I held the card between my index and middle fingers, then gave it a flashy flick. The moment I spread my hands apart afterward, the Ace of Diamonds was nowhere to be found.
The quality and condition of the cards were fine. I exhaled deeply and steeled my resolve.
"Alright. Let's go."
I would rather it just be Aji stealing food. But if that wasn't the case...
Even if only to escape, I should bring my own weapon.
I carefully opened the door so it wouldn't make a sound.
The darkened corridor seemed to have swallowed even sound. During the day, it was quiet, but at least had a modicum of vitality.
Now, however, true to the name Tantalus, it was gloomy and silent.
I headed down the deeply stretching corridor. The dark, silent hallway made me feel as though I shouldn't even make footstep noises, and I found myself walking on my tiptoes without realizing it.
It didn't take long to reach the dining hall. I concentrated my mind, searching for any signs of another's thoughts from inside.
I couldn't sense even a hint of mental noise from within. Meaning, at the very least, there was no human currently thinking inside.
Whether they had no thoughts, or weren't human, remained to be seen.
I slipped inside and took a seat in a corner of the dining hall. I just had to wait quietly like this and arrest Aji the moment she tried to covet the pot. If a ghost popped out, I could just flee immediately.
Hunting is originally an aesthetic of waiting. Behind every glorious hunt lies an endurance of patient waiting. I held my breath and stared intently in the direction of the pot.
As tedious time passed and my concentration waned, my head began to bob as I dozed off. How many minutes had passed? Footsteps were heard from outside.
Took the bait.
See? I knew it was an intruder. There's no way someone is inside. I don't believe in such unprovable conspiracy theories.
I tensed my muscles, waiting for the perfect moment, watching for the prey to fall into the trap. The moment they laid a hand on the pot, they'd be trapped. When that happened, I'd jump out and pounce...
The shadow that entered the dining hall swept the room with golden, shining eyes, and then—
"What are you doing there?"
Walked toward me.
Just because I can read minds doesn't mean I'm particularly good at hiding. I stood up from my seat and pointed at the Regressor.
"It was you. I expected as much."
"Expected what?"
"If you were that curious, you could have just asked for a bite. Did you really have to sneak over in the middle of the night to steal it? Your transgression has bred rampant distrust between us! Distrust is the evil that gnaws at society. An obstruction that creates friction and noise like rust caught between turning gears! Do you realize what a horrendous act you've committed?"
"What the hell are you even talking about?"
The Regressor ignored my words and turned her gaze away.
"If you have nothing to do, just keep quiet."
"The one who farted is throwing a fit, I see. You crapped all over Tantalus and now you're playing dumb!"
"What kind of vulgar nonsense is that?!"
The Regressor reflexively retorted, then stared at me with an expression of disbelief.
"Don't tell me you actually thought I came here just to steal food?"
"Up until a moment ago, yes."
"'Up until a moment ago'? That doesn't make it better! Did I look like I was on the same level as you?!"
As if we're not on the same level. We're both stuck in here together.
Anyway, I had just read her mind. Unfortunately, the Regressor hadn't come lusting after food; she had returned at night because she was bothered by the presence she sensed just before leaving the dining hall.
I scratched my head and spoke to her.
"Then... is there really something hiding in here?"
"Probably. I'm not certain, but there's no harm in looking."
"Ah."
I hastily gathered my things. Standing up, I gave the Regressor a slight nod and said,
"Good luck."
"...Where are you going?"
"I'm running away because I'm scared."
The Regressor asked back with an absurd expression.
"Didn't you say you were the instructor responsible for managing and supervising us?"
"Ghosts aren't trainees."
"What about me? I'm going to investigate the prison and you're just going to stand by and watch?"
"Who told you to investigate? And if I told you not to, would you listen? If you're going to do it anyway even if I stop you, is there any point in me intervening?"
"Wow."
'Her way with words is still infuriating. But more importantly, what is this? Is she serious? No, surely not. Is she plotting something?'
Plotting or whatever. If it's a real ghost, if I can't read its thoughts, there's nothing I can do. Against non-humans, I'm less than a bug.
I headed for the dining hall door without looking back.
"Alright, then. I'll be going. Don't forget to file an incident report afterwards. If possible, please submit the report along with a sample."
"If you're going to do that, why not just stay and watch?"
"I'm sorry. It's lights out, so I need to sleep."
"Cut the crap and watch from there."
"Huh? Why?"
'The wary demeanor of a strong person who can parry my sword... Could it be that something truly powerful is hiding here? Or is she trying to divert my attention? Whatever her intention, let's just interfere for now. It's not because I'm scared... or anything. Leaving her in the rear as a precaution should be fine.'
Fear is contagious. Since I had made it completely obvious that I was terrified, the Regressor had raised her guard accordingly. So much so that she considered leaving me, whom she deemed a tentative ally, in the rear.
The Regressor finished her thoughts and made an excuse.
"The being hiding in there right now, living like a parasite, could be an intruder, right? If so, eliminating them is your responsibility since you manage this prison. You need to watch too."
"That's a fair point. Check it out, and if it's an intruder, take action first and report later. I'll be in my room until then."
Good luck. I'm off. Just as I stepped toward the door—
'Hey! I told you not to go! Tch, for now I'll just throw Cheon-aeng!'
You can't do that. I'd die.
I spun around and came back inside. Then, I stuck close behind the Regressor's back.
Disgusted by my sudden change in attitude, the Regressor said,
"What are you doing?"
I couldn't exactly say I came back because I was afraid she might actually use force.
And honestly, if there really was an intruder as the Regressor claimed. Wouldn't I be safer with the Regressor than alone?
Aji was currently mad at me, and the Vampire didn't seem interested in this matter, perhaps because she was a ghost herself. Right now, other than the Regressor, the only person who could protect me was myself.
Quite unreliable, indeed.
"Now, lead the way. Let's go vanquish the ghost! We can't let some mere ghost threaten us!"
"You..."
'Still... having someone behind me is a bit reassuring. Tch, the problem is that it had to be that guy...'
Regardless, leaving me in the rear, the Regressor began surveying her surroundings with her piercingly bright, golden eyes.
The third of the Seven-Colored Eyes, the Golden Eye. The Huoyan Jinjing that allows one to see the unseen. With eyes like that, ghosts wouldn't be scary.
What can I do? Absolutely nothing. Just watch from the sidelines and eat popcorn.
Ah, should I at least cheer her on?
"Fighting! Ghosts are just remnants of magical power generated after death! Let's go without fear! Trainee Shei's sword can even slash ghosts!"
"...Can you be quiet? You're being so loud I can't hear the sounds."
"You're only looking with those flashy eyes anyway. Focus on your vision."
"I'm listening too, you know?"
The Regressor slowly scanned the dining hall. She also cast her gaze toward the storage room attached to the shelf a bit further inside. She tilted her head with a puzzled expression.
"I don't see anything. Nothing at all."
"Hah. See? It was nothing after all."
"That can't be. According to my intuition, when I feel like something is there, there usually is something."
That intuition of hers is hardly trustworthy. She couldn't even see through my bluff.
Anyway, since I survived thanks to that intuition, I had nothing to say.
"If it's not visible even with those sparkling eyes, we can assume it's not there."
"It's strange..."
"Just give up. There's nowhere else to hide in this tiny dining hall. It's a hall with two tables and a closet the size of a palm; where else are you going to search? Unless the opponent can pass through walls."
"Walls?"
I obviously said it as a joke, but the Regressor fell into deep thought upon hearing my words.
"Right. Walls. That's where it was. The Military Nation's concrete is thick. If it was hiding inside there, I wouldn't have noticed."
This is severe even for a conspiracy theory. I sighed and waved my hand in front of the Regressor's face.
"Hey. So what are you going to do? Break the wall? That's property damage."
"I won't break it."
'I'll just slice it.'
The Regressor raised her head and brought a finger up to poke her own eye.
The fourth of the Seven-Colored Eyes, the Green Eye.
These eyes, possessing an ominous green glow, could see through objects. Metals, especially lead, were difficult to see through, however.
"Cannot see through," in other words, meant that a corner of her field of vision was painted pitch black. Therefore, it was highly advantageous for locating metals.
I peeked into the Regressor's field of vision using telepathy.
A black and white field of vision came into view. The world was dark and bright as if drawn over and over with thin threads. The piercing vision could see the inside of objects, and when the Regressor's gaze landed on me, I saw the white bones inside my body. Being naked is embarrassing, but having your skin peeled off somehow incites no sense of shame—it's quite bizarre.
The Regressor's gaze turned toward the wall. The concrete wall looked like white cardboard, and the net-shaped steel frame embedded within it was clearly revealed. As the Regressor slowly scanned the wall, she discovered something.
On one side of the wall, there was a silhouette resembling a small doll. To an onlooker, it would look as if a doll had accidentally been dropped in while making the concrete.
However, the true identity of that doll was—
"Found it. It was still here?"
A Military Nation Magic Golem, small model.
The Regressor reached behind her head. Cheon-aeng fell into her hand. That very moment, the Regressor's sword had effectively been drawn.
A slashing gale that swept in in an instant peeled the wall thin. The concrete split like the bark of an old tree, curling up roundly like a scroll before turning into dust from its edges. An empty space was revealed.
There, the Regressor skewered the Magic Golem with the tip of her slender sword and dragged it out. The golem's chassis spasmed.
[I strongly request that you cease your destructive behavior.]
A dry voice flowed from the golem. It was the voice I had heard when I first descended into Tantalus.
Captain Abi, was it? The Military Nation's signalman. The emotionless bugler of the Military Nation.
The Regressor scoffed at the request.
"That's a request that might have been valid before you hid like a rat and spied on me."
[Considering your destructive and sensitive disposition, I judged that I would have been destroyed even if I had stepped forward. That judgment remains valid now. Furthermore, this unit ceased operation when it determined you were nearby. There is room to interpret that I did not spy on you.]
"Right. Right. Your judgment and your request are both correct. Typical of the Military Nation. Always rational. Therefore."
The Regressor raised her sword once more. Sparks flew from the tip of the blade. A part of the circuit ignited, and the golem crackled as if screaming.
"I'm going to break you. Goodbye, farewell. Hiding inside the wall was a bit novel."
[Stop your destructive behavior immediately. Severing communication causes inefficiency.]
"Heh. You're getting desperate. Guess this golem is also nearing its end? Makes sense. Having a few more won't mean anything. From now on, I'm going to scan every wall with my Green Eye activated."
Tormenting the golem, the Regressor looked quite entertained for once.
Oh, so I couldn't read its thoughts because it was a golem. No wonder. Phew, what a relief. It's not a ghost but a golem. It's just as tricky to deal with as a ghost since I can't read its thoughts, but the Regressor will destroy it, so it doesn't matter.
I'll just sit back and watch. The moment I was taking it easy thinking this—
[I request again. Stop your destructive behavior immediately. Due to your actions, the dissemination of information and rations will become impossible. I request again...]
Rations. That single word suddenly struck a chord with me.
As long as we're locked in here, supplies will eventually run out. If Aji keeps eating the food as she pleases like right now, the food will run out in no time.
It might be different for the Regressor who has all sorts of treasures, but I need those rations...
Come to think of it, the golem can't be destroyed!
I hurriedly approached the Regressor from behind.
"Repeat—I really hate that word. But I can do it as many times as it takes."
Not even noticing my approach, the Regressor was engrossed in tormenting the golem, intoxicated with ecstasy.
"Destroying this golem won't affect your main body. But if it causes the Military Nation even a little trouble, then it's worth it."
[I warn you. Hostile actions are...]
"Goodbye."
Flick.
When she lightly flicked Cheon-aeng, the tiny golem floated into the air. The Regressor sheathed Cheon-aeng, preparing for a slashing gale that would strike like a storm. From her fully crouched stance, compressed power was on the verge of erupting.
Approaching from her blind spot out of fear of being stabbed by that sword, I reached out toward the Regressor.
"Wait a minute! Hold on!"
It was then that my hand touched the Regressor's shoulder.
Something surged from below my field of vision. Before I could even react, I felt a sucking sensation. Something massive was coming toward me.
No, it was the opposite. The world was flipping over, and my vision was spinning round and round.
What surged was none other than me.
Tianbanjing (Heaven Inversion Realm). Fan (Inversion). Flipping the Heavens.
Huh? A counter? A counter at the level of muscle memory, one that didn't even pass through conscious thought? By the time I read that thought, my body was already falling toward the floor.