TNZKMA 116

１１６

I sat on a fallen pillar, wondering what to do next. The spot where the light was leaking in was too high, and even giant Kyui wouldn’t be able to reach it.

Judging by where I had originally been and the distance Kyui carried me, I figured this place must be within a 50-meter radius of the eastern district square. No matter how far we’d gone, it couldn’t be more than 100 meters.

Still, I never would’ve thought there was an underground tunnel beneath the town. Did Saine know about it?

I had a feeling that no one in town knew about this. Maybe even Olphynn didn’t know.

I explored the area within the range of the light. From the number and position of the fallen pillars, I could tell the place had originally been quite large. Aside from the spot where we came in, there were three other passages. One of them had collapsed, and only the entrance was visible, but I guessed these passages had been spaced evenly around the circular square, leading out.

It kind of reminded me of how the town was laid out. The town was built with straight lines and right angles, like a grid. This place, however, seemed to be constructed with circles and straight lines. This was a round square, and the path Kyui brought me through was straight. The square aboveground was a square, but aside from the shape, the way the roads were built felt the same.

If the structure was the same and the roads above and below followed a similar path, this could be the sub-main road of the eastern district.

Thinking that far, I held my head in my hands.

[I don’t get it… Without knowing the direction, I have no idea which road leads where. And, well, there’s no way this place is directly under the square above… Ugh, what should I do?]

I curled up and rolled around. All I had with me was money. I must’ve dropped the bread I was about to eat, and I had nothing else.

[Well, at least Kyui is safe.]

Kyui seemed tired and had fallen asleep in his usual spot in the pouch. I patted him gently through my clothes.

[Alright, Dad’s going to do his best! …Or maybe I should say Mom?]

If Saine is the dad, then I’m the mom. Well, either way, it doesn’t really matter. Kyui has saved me countless times, but I also need to protect Kyui. Somehow, I’ve got to find a way to escape from here.

First, I check my body. When I woke up in the pitch-black darkness, my whole body was in pain, but aside from a lot of scrapes, there didn’t seem to be any major injuries. Just some bruises, probably.

I’d hurt my fingers and nails when I panicked and tried to dig into the ground. My fingertips were bleeding, but I’ll be fine. My nails were a little worse for wear, but whatever. At least I’m alive and my legs are working—that’s what really matters.

Come to think of it, in the Monster Forest, the rain keeps pouring and is absorbed into the ground, then it wells up in the town’s well. There are underground water paths running beneath the town. So, am I above or below those water paths?

I look up at the spot where the light is leaking in. The perspective from below and from above is different, of course, but this place seems deeper than our well. That would mean the groundwater is above here… I really hope water doesn’t start leaking in.

What happened to Dole’s ceremony, I wonder? The priest’s prayers would continue until the Reincarnator appeared. If a hole opened up in the square, that must’ve caused quite a commotion. If the ceremony was canceled, what will happen next?

If the prayers were stopped midway, was the Reincarnator a failed reincarnation? Or, will they have to start over because of the cancellation? It would be nice if they could redo it with the Red or Black Crest.

I sit on a stone pillar, thinking. The small amount of light helps keep me sane and lets me think clearly. But if I lose this light, will I panic again?

Damn it. If only I had a lantern or some candles. Oh, even a flint would be fine. I just need some light. I wanted light that would give me the courage to leave this place.

With a sharp exhale, I pump myself up. I can’t stay here forever, so I muster my courage and stand.

I skirt around the rubble, climb over pillars, circle around the square, and reach the exit. The entrance is blocked off in two places, including where I came from. I cautiously peer into the passages leading out of the square. Two of them seem to lead somewhere. Both are pitch dark, but at least they don’t feel like they’re blocked right away. There’s a good chance the ceiling has collapsed further along, though.

Now, which way should I go? There’s the entrance straight ahead, and another one directly opposite, across the square. I thought hard, but in the end, I gave up trying to figure it out. Thinking about it wasn’t going to help.

“Alright. If it lands face-up, I’ll go this way. If it’s face-down, I’ll go the other.”

With that, I kicked off my shoe into the air.

“Face-up it is. Alright, this way then.”

I nodded to encourage myself and took my first step forward with determination.

I couldn’t see, but it was fine. As long as I kept my hand on the wall and walked carefully, I’d be okay. I calmed the fear threatening to overwhelm me, slowly making progress. I couldn’t bring myself to lift my feet, so I slid them across the ground, the soles of my shoes scraping as I moved forward.

The light quickly vanished, leaving me swallowed by suffocating darkness. When I died in my previous life, I lost consciousness right away. The old folks say they remember the moment they died, but not what happened after. The moment they think, “Oh, I’m dying,” they’re already reincarnated in the next instant.

I waited, buried in the dirt, for Haruka, who never came. I still remember the fear of being buried, along with the loneliness and anxiety of waiting for my best friend who never arrived. Even though I was dead when it happened.

But even in this new life, I’ve never been freed from that fear. For me, darkness is overwhelmingly terrifying.

In the pitch-black, with not a single sliver of light, only the sound of my ragged breathing and the scraping of my feet echoed. The weight of the darkness pressed down on my shoulders, making them feel heavy. I let out short breaths, telling myself this darkness was just like Saine’s eyes. I wasn’t scared. This was the same color as Saine’s eyes.

I’ll definitely get out of here. Saine’s coming home soon, and I’m going to be there to greet him properly.

And so, I kept sliding my feet, advancing through the darkness.