Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Screams from the Mirror
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7
Was it because of the rumors? The corridor on the third floor of Tartarus Hall was devoid of any signs of life.
It looked gloomy probably because it was at the end of the hall where the lighting was poor.
The chill in the air might have been a factor too.
Even so, no one in their right mind would want to step into a place swirling with ominous rumors without a good reason.
Unless they had a club room on the third floor or some specific business there...
Otherwise, people wouldn't approach easily.
Thanks to that, it was nice not having to worry about prying eyes while pressing my ear to the mirror at the end of the third-floor corridor.
"Hmm..."
I pressed my ear right up against the mirror.
Even the faintest sounds had my full attention, but...
Nothing special came through.
After waiting over five minutes like that, there wasn't even a scream, let alone the sound of wind.
The corridor was enveloped in a massive silence.
In the tar-like, sticky, eerie quiet, I slowly pulled my ear away.
"Can't be helped. It was random from the start anyway."
The screams didn't happen twenty-four-seven.
It was just a matter of luck if you caught them.
Or maybe bad luck, depending on how you looked at it.
Looks like today wasn't the day.
I'd wanted to hear it for myself, but oh well.
Time to head back and rest.
I'd gotten a bit worn out learning the tea ceremony.
"I thought it was someone, but it's Theo Agrit."
A sudden voice calling my name from behind made me jolt.
Anyone popping out in this gloomy corridor would startle you.
I turned slowly to see Giacomo standing with his hands behind his back, looking at me with a suspicious grin.
"...What is it?"
"That sharp expression of yours isn't bad, but no need to get so serious, right?"
Turning around to find a shady guy like you suddenly there—should I smile?
...No way I'd say that, so I just stayed serious.
"Saw you passing by and came over."
"And where are you headed today that takes you through here?"
"Heh, you know how it is. But more importantly, looks like the rumor I told you about got under your skin?"
"Not really."
The screams in Tartarus Hall had been an Easter egg I'd been interested in from the beginning.
I'd spent days and nights trying to uncover its secrets before, even writing down hypotheses and theories to test them one by one.
The fact that I still hadn't cracked it stuck in my chest like a thorn.
Even if Giacomo hadn't mentioned it, I'd have come to check eventually.
"Just stopped by while doing club activities."
"Sure, let's go with that."
I brushed it off, and Giacomo chuckled slyly.
Even his laugh was suspicious—what a talent.
Giacomo might actually have a gift for looking shady.
"Your club... was it the Tea Ceremony Club?"
"How'd you know?"
"There's ways. I like tea too—want to have a cup sometime?"
A cup, huh...
Anyone could tell that wasn't about tea. It was booze.
You're a delinquent priest who prefers whiskey over tea anyway, Giacomo.
"Not really into tea."
"So the Tea Ceremony Club was just a must-join thing?"
"Something like that."
"Too bad, but no big deal. We can just drink booze instead."
"Question again: is it okay for a priest to drink so casually?"
"Answer again: as long as you don't get caught."
Fine, I'll report you.
Next time I see you drinking in front of me, straight to the Astra Church.
"Actually, you know the screams from this mirror? They don't happen during the day."
"Huh?"
Giacomo's sudden bombshell made my head spin.
In the game, I don't think I'd ever checked the mirror during the day...
I vaguely remembered hearing screams mostly at night.
But that's not the point.
I rubbed my temples.
"...Why tell me now?"
"Because you didn't ask?"
This guy...
He's so annoying I want to punch him.
Calm down, hold it together...
He's obviously baiting me on purpose.
Getting mad means I lose.
Hoo...
I was heading back to rest anyway.
As I brushed past Giacomo easily, he asked casually.
"Heading back?"
"You said it only happens at night. No point sticking around."
"Then should I come at night too?"
Why would you come?
As I opened my mouth to retort, someone stepped behind Giacomo and hooked their arm through his.
"Where do you think you're going at night? There's a prayer meeting tonight, Priest Giacomo."
The clear, ringing voice made Giacomo laugh lightly and turn.
That let me see the girl behind him clearly.
Wavy platinum blonde hair cascaded over a robe embroidered with golden star patterns.
Her large blue eyes and petite frame made her look quite youthful.
Especially holding a staff as tall as she was, she pointed it right at Giacomo with a sharp thrust.
"Planning to run off again today?"
"Run off? I'm just stepping out briefly for some spiritual enlightenment through asceticism, Sister Emilia."
Emilia. Emilia Pafner.
A follower of the Astra Church like Giacomo, and an excellent healer.
In Broken World, a precious healer, she'd partied with Leon a few times.
Beyond that, Emilia had a major role to play.
And that moment was unfolding right in front of me.
"Don't give me that ascetic nonsense. Last time, the priest in charge of the prayer meeting snuck out, and I had to clean up the mess—how much trouble was that!"
"It all worked out fine. I trusted in my capable Sister Emilia. Faith is the noblest virtue humans can have."
"Don't try to smooth-talk your way out. You have to lead the prayer meeting tonight!"
"Tricky. I have prior commitments just as important as the prayer meeting..."
"What could be more important than the prayer meeting? Those with faith must not do wrong. Breaking promises with others and cracking that faith is even worse."
"You've already internalized Saint Astra's teachings—tears are blurring my vision."
"Quit the fake crying and running. I'll be watching you until the prayer meeting."
See that? The shady Giacomo couldn't budge an inch.
Emilia Pafner—she was Giacomo's perfect restraint.
Anyway, Giacomo was neutralized.
Talk about perfect timing.
I nodded to Emilia in greeting as I passed Giacomo.
She nodded back politely, then proceeded to drag him away.
Keep suppressing Giacomo from here on out.
With that silent prayer, I headed back to the dorm.
8
The sun had already set.
The third floor of Tartarus Hall at night was even gloomier than during the day.
No light coming through the windows, no hallway lights—naturally.
Plus, the quiet made footsteps echo louder than during the day.
Step, step...
I listened to my footsteps as I reached the mirror at the end of the third-floor corridor.
This time, I'd verify the rumor for real.
Broken World's Easter eggs weren't fully solved very often.
I'd sunk hundreds of hours scouring every map spot, but could count the ones I actually uncovered on one hand.
So, if this world differed from the game, there might be ways to find Easter eggs here.
Couldn't help but feel a bit excited, even if modestly.
Anyway, I pressed my ear to the mirror.
First, I heard my own heartbeat.
Once my ear adjusted to that, faint sounds came from beyond the mirror.
It was a scream impossible to describe in words.
Similar to what I'd heard in the game, but more vivid.
The scream offered almost no clues.
No gender, age, or even tone to gauge.
It felt too feral for a human cry, yet too human for a beast.
Age, gender, even whether it was human at all—uncertain.
One thing was clear: it wasn't coming from beyond the wall, as the rumors said.
Beyond the mirror was definitely a wall.
So screams couldn't come from there.
As I focused, the scream itself seemed to climb up the wall.
"There must be an entrance somewhere."
Below this floor.
Second floor, first floor, or basement?
No specific guesses.
I'd combed every corner of Tartarus Hall's map back in the game days.
If I'd had an idea, I'd have found it already.
"Hidden by magic?"
There are many ways to make hidden doors.
I might have missed one back then.
Or it existed only in lore, never implemented.
But things are different now.
In this world, even elements that were just settings without implementation exist for real.
If the hidden door truly exists, I can find it somehow.
Might as well give it a shot.
If those screams weren't just an Easter egg but someone's voice, ignoring it would haunt my dreams.
9
"What the hell is going on..."
It was deep into the night when I finally left Tartarus Hall.
I'd thoroughly searched the entire place, but no hidden doors or secret mechanisms.
Not even a secret wall that vanishes after a magic hit.
How'd I check? ...Eh, better not to know.
Were the Tartarus Hall rumors just a meaningless Easter egg after all?
With no solution in sight, that thought naturally arose...
"But that doesn't sit right either."
The altar of Anirja in the Corbus Family's cocktail bar—a place that didn't exist in Broken World—did here.
It was likely a setting never recorded anywhere.
In the game, cut for volume, time, budget—adult circumstances—no mention or depiction.
But here, no such constraints, so it was implemented.
Pure speculation on my part.
Still, with all these original events popping up, it didn't seem baseless.
So what about this Easter egg?
Even if in Broken World it was just to startle players, does it need faithful implementation here?
"It's ambiguous."
Hard to conclude.
My gut says it's highly likely tied to some event.
But I can't obsess over an unsolvable puzzle forever.
I'd be busy with other incidents anyway soon enough.
"I'll think about that later..."
It was already late today.
Better fill Choco's bowl quick and crash.
As I approached the dorm thinking that, Choco was waiting at the entrance for some reason.
"Come to greet me?"
I knelt in front of Choco and asked.
She pulled out her food bowl from behind her with her front paw and tapped it insistently.
"...You ate it all already?"
I'd definitely filled it somewhat before leaving.
Wait, more importantly—you're rushing out to nag me for food?
"Come here."
I patted my knee, and Choco hopped up eagerly.
I picked her up and opened the dorm gate.
"Regular kibble or treats? It's late night—might as well make snacks."
The dorm allowed simple cooking.
I'd make some for myself anyway, so I asked, and Choco nodded vigorously.
Then buried her head in my shoulder, licking my nape nonstop.
So cute she thinks she can get away with anything.
And she could, so we headed inside and had a hearty late-night snack.