Chapter 14: The Elf Drops into the Backrooms (Part 2)
A brain-rattling roar shook the entire room. No, the whole space trembled violently. The eardrums felt like they would burst from the relentless howling that showed no sign of stopping.
Then.
BOOM!!
"……!"
Something slammed hard into the outer wall at the end of the corridor. Shattered debris flew all the way to the room's entrance. And the identity of that broken object was none other than...
"…A chair?"
From the pitch-black end of the dimly lit corridor, something began to slowly reveal itself amid the darkness. A pitch-black organic mass twisted like wire. Abnormally long arms and fingers. It had no distinct shape, yet it resembled a human form closely.
Yes. That thing was the very Yudong Goe-i that had just been desperately pleading with her to save it.
As she read the Juttak's messages, the Yudong Goe-i fully emerged. It glared intently at Silvia beyond the room...
"KIIEEEEEEEEEEK──!!!!"
...before letting out another shriek and bolting off somewhere, vanishing completely.
It all happened in an instant. Once the thudding footsteps faded away...
She muttered in a puzzled voice.
"…Why'd it just leave?"
As the guardian of the World Tree, she had encountered countless beings of various races. Naturally, not all showed her kindness—some had displayed outright hostility.
In that sense, the roar just now was pure malice. The intent to kill without fail.
"But it backed off…? Wait, no way?"
She scanned the room she was in, then suddenly turned on the gallery as realization dawned.
Ignoring all the other comments, she opened the worn book as the Juttak suggested. The very first page confirmed it.
[Backrooms Guidebook]
"It's the Backrooms Guidebook! As expected of me! Hmhm!"
Silvia shrugged smugly, even though she hadn't really done anything. Not like anyone could see anyway. Honestly, it just felt better this way.
1. This space is the Manila Room, a room in the Backrooms where you can recover your sanity.
2. As long as you're here, you're safe from entity threats.
3. No attacks (projectiles) of any kind can enter the Manila Room entrance.
4. There is no time limit on the Manila Room. Rest as long as you like.
5. Note that noclipping spots change randomly every day.
6. If an entity gives up on you, you can leave this place.
7. But since this place appeared, that has never happened even once.
The guidebook's contents were straightforward. Aside from the first page, the rest were blank.
"Hmmm. Hmmm? Hmm."
She crossed her arms, dragging out her words as if pondering deeply. Her head tilted side to side, swaying four or five times.
Then she froze.
As if a brilliant idea had struck her, the corners of her mouth twitched upward—in a rather unsettling way.
"Heeheehee."
After discovering the Manila Room, Silvia was spending her time there like it was her own home. Sprawling out for hours napping, lounging around scrolling the gallery and doodling on the back of the guidebook. When hungry, she'd even boil instant ramen.
It had been two weeks since she got trapped in the Backrooms. Somehow, she was living better here than in the 500-Million-Year Button space.
Some gallery users were even jealous.
But that wasn't the problem.
Maybe she got bored there. Or maybe as an elf, she just wasn't scared. Either way, she'd reached the point of toying with the entities—in all sorts of ways.
"Chop, chop. Ha! So fucking annoying! You idiot, moron, just die!!"
Puffing her cheeks in a pouty sulk, she tossed the empty Almond Water pack behind her. She picked up a new one from the floor, stabbed it with a straw, and slurped it up.
"Chop, slurp."
Sucking hard on the straw, the Almond Water pack deflated in seconds. Savoring each sip...
"Kya, sooo good!! Almond Water tastes best in the Backrooms!"
Forgetting her anger from moments ago, she let out joyful snorts.
"Mmhmm~ Tasty~ Sooo tasty~."
The box of Almond Water the Juttak gave her for sanity recovery. The nutty flavor was exquisite. She couldn't stop reaching for more.
Her race was elf, after all. Born preferring vegetarian fare, Almond Water was the ultimate drink for her.
"Kaha!"
Another pack gone in one go. She pondered briefly, tossed the empty one, and cracked open a fresh one.
"Bought a ton anyway, no biggie~. Hmm, wanna drink this every day though. Gotta ask Juttak for more later. Hehe."
There'd been a slight mishap at first, but drinking it cleared her mind and lightened her body. The maddening hum was gone. The yellow walls no longer churned her stomach.
"Oh yeah. Forgot while lounging."
To leave, she needed to find the noclipping spot. Meaning exit the Manila Room, dodge the Yudong Goe-i, and locate it.
"Hmm, do I have to? It's so comfy here."
Magic was gone, but whatever. It wasn't that useful anyway. Ramen, gallery, selfies, Almond Water—four things, honestly enough.
"Up we go…. Nah~ It'll work itself out~ So cozy and nice hereeee. Can't stop loungingggg."
Then.
Light flooded the dim corridor.
The scenery flipped in an instant.
"What the—"
Bewildered as the lights came on, she sat up. Then she saw what lay before her and flinched.
Her eyes filled with dismay.
"……Wha, what…?"