Chapter 188: Otherworld (2)
Chapter 188: Otherworld (2)
The Lowest level of Nanjido.
It was now a place ruled by the laws of the Otherworld, pristine and devoid of a single speck of filth.
There, the four of us, myself included, stood in tight-lipped silence, staring at The Hole.
I was mindlessly flicking a metal rod.
Un-ho sat on my shoulder, staring blankly at The Hole.
Al’shel had entered serious mode, several polyester pouches hanging from his waist.
And Elder Li watched the two of us quietly.
Everyone was pretending to be fine, but their heads were likely filled with a thousand thoughts.
It had been quite some time since we had last spoken while standing before The Hole.
The reason I hadn't opened my mouth, even though ten minutes had passed since our scheduled departure time, was the same.
I had thought I could just go and come back like it was nothing, but facing the entrance in person, an instinctive sense of dread washed over me.
And that long silence was finally broken.
“…Are you truly going?”
It was Al’shel’s low, heavy voice.
Are you truly going?
Are you going?
Going…
Al’shel’s voice echoed several times within the hollow space.
It wasn't because his voice was loud, but rather a testament to how far this place had drifted from the original world.
Thanks to those words, I pulled myself together.
“Yeah.”
I couldn't afford to look pathetic in front of that Octopus Head after coming all this way.
It was a ridiculous reason for someone essentially walking to their own suicide, but then again, hadn't I always lived this way?
“Truly. Not out of that pathetic pride of yours. I am asking one last time. Are you really going?”
Did this guy learn telepathy or something?
And I felt like I’d heard that question more than ten times today.
“Yeah.”
Pride or whatever, my mind was made up.
No more ambiguity.
“…Then it cannot be helped.”
Resigned to my firm tone, Al’shel let out a sigh and shook his head, clutching his forehead.
“I thought I would never have to go back unless the Earth literally exploded, yet here we are…”
Mutter, mutter, mutter.
Grumble, grumble, grumble.
Al’shel’s lamentation continued for about a minute.
Since this might be the last time, I didn't cut him off and just listened.
“…Whew. Take this before we go.”
Having vented all his frustrations, Al’shel let out a final sigh and tossed one of the pouches from his waist toward me.
Thud.
I felt the slick texture unique to polyester.
Not wanting to waste any more time, I caught it mid-air and checked the contents immediately.
“What’s this?”
“Aren't those dates? Poyo.”
The pouch was filled with things that looked like dates.
They were dried and shriveled, though.
“They are dates. For rations.”
Hmm. Rations. I suppose it makes sense; we aren't just popping in and out, we’re traveling far, so they’re necessary.
“But why dates of all things? There’s jerky, there are hardtack biscuits.”
“Those won't do because they are already dead objects. Even if it's small, something must possess life to offer even the minimum resistance against the interference of the Otherworld.”
‘To be honest, it’s mostly for psychological comfort. But it’s better than nothing.’
I understood the gist of it, but could a seed really be considered alive?
Well, if the survival-expert octopus said so, it was probably right.
“And, um. This is a bit uncomfortable to bring up, but…”
As if it truly were difficult to say, Al’shel shook his head and looked up at the ceiling before finally making up his mind.
“How about linking our souls?”
Is this guy insane?
“Drop dead.”
“I am not meant for throwing—!”
He was clearly out of his mind, so I grabbed Un-ho and chucked him at Al’shel.
Perhaps because of the distance, or maybe he expected it, the octopus tilted his head slightly and dodged the flying Un-ho.
“Yes. Well. I expected as much. Then, make sure you keep that pouch on you.”
“What for?”
“A Magic Circle is engraved on my pouch and yours to link our locations. Since the direction of time and the scale of space will be different for each of us, it is essential for us to regroup.”
I see, so that’s what he meant by linking souls. If that’s the case, it might be worth considering…
I looked at the octopus’s face with that thought, but…
“….”
Looking into those uncomfortable eyes, I couldn't bring myself to want to link my soul with that thing.
I didn't know what it would feel like since I’d never done it, but I certainly didn't want to do it with that octopus.
“The pouch will be enough.”
I fumbled to tie the pouch to my waist and looked quietly at Al’shel.
“Please use the Reality Anchor only after we regroup. If you use it before then, we might never find each other again. Ah, though in an emergency, you could—”
“Oh, about that.”
I tossed the Reality Anchor I was holding in one hand straight at him.
“Catch.”
“Wait, why are you throwing that—?!”
Caught off guard, the octopus hurriedly twisted his body to catch the Reality Anchor.
Watching that unsightly display made me regret handing it over for a second, but it couldn't be helped.
“You keep it and use it if things get dire.”
“…What are you thinking?”
“What do you mean? Even if I run into a special situation, I can't use magic, so I can't respond. You can use magic to make something happen. Got it?”
It was simple logic.
Choosing the side with a higher chance of survival.
“…Do you not consider the possibility that I might betray you?”
‘To save myself alone.’
“Then that’s that. But don't you need me for your dream?”
“I do wish to strike them down, but if I weigh that possibility against my own life, my life comes first.”
“Then do whatever you want. Suit yourself.”
I had no intention of taking back what I’d already handed over.
With that, I turned my steps toward The Hole.
“Are you leaving?”
Elder Li spoke up.
He was the only one who had come to see me off, as I wanted to keep my departure to the Otherworld known to as few people as possible.
“I’m off, Elder Li.”
“Tsk. Madman. Do you think the Otherworld is a joke? Even with preparation, most of us died when we escaped our home world. We couldn't even recover the bodies.”
“Then if our world falls, just as many will die. Considering that cost, isn't my single life a bargain?”
“…You are insane. Weighing your own life against a future that hasn't even arrived.”
Elder Li scolded me, but what did it matter?
I figured I probably was insane.
So, without another word, I took another step forward.
Al’shel followed behind me in silence, clutching the Reality Anchor tightly.
Un-ho, influenced by the somber atmosphere, climbed onto my shoulder.
Step. Step. Step.
The interval between each step grew longer, and after about nine steps.
“I’ll pray you come back alive as usual. Blood Hammer.”
To the backdrop of Elder Li’s final farewell, we were swallowed by the darkness.
* * *
How much time had passed?
A second. Or a minute. Or a century.
I couldn't tell for sure.
My consciousness wasn't connecting properly.
The thought I just had vanished, and a thought I would have in the future surfaced.
I have to go forward.
Who am I?
Maintain your consciousness, Lee Ha-ram.
The meat was delicious.
From the countless scattered fragments of consciousness, I picked the one I liked best.
Forward.
Where is forward?
Who is Lee Ha-ram?
As I brought those two elements to mind, something spat out information.
Lee Ha-ram… is probably me.
Forward is the direction to move.
So, I straightened my body and used the heavy thing in my hand to push back the mass of pressure that was trying to take something from me.
Vroom.
Perhaps because I moved my hand that way, the heavy object in my grip vibrated for the first time.
…Right. There was such a thing as sound.
Ears were created to hear it.
In a world that only had touch, another sense was born.
Whirrr. Whirrr.
The sound of something rotating and vibrating.
Ah. That is called a hammer.
No, that’s trash.
I have entered the Otherworld.
Once again, various stories swirled within me.
Whirrr. Whirrr.
Do I… need this?
I didn't know what it was, but it kept making noise and even creating vibrations.
Is it… trash?
Thinking that, I tried to throw the thing in my hand away, but…
?
My hand wouldn't open.
No matter how hard I shook it, that long, vibrating thing wouldn't leave my hand.
It was as if that hand alone had escaped my control.
…Does it matter?
It was only slightly annoying, so I decided there was no need to throw it away.
I moved forward.
Where to?
Forward.
Why?
Because I shouldn't stop.
Why?
Is there a reason to stop?
Is there a reason not to stop?
There are plenty of those. Because I have to go forward.
Hmm. I see.
Perhaps because my ears had formed, I answered the questions someone was throwing at me in my mind as I walked forward.
But do you know?
Know what?
Since it was the one who told me what I had forgotten, I asked back out of curiosity.
To walk, you need a solid object.
Hmm. Right.
Ground, floor. That’s what they call it.
【But there’s none of that here.】
the moment I heard that eerie voice.
I began to plummet toward the ‘bottom.’
At a right angle from the direction I had perceived as forward.
And then, numerous senses came alive.
The pain of air crashing against me as I fell.
Lacerations from flesh being torn by the sharp wind.
Blood. Right, the coldness created as blood scattered.
The paralysis of senses due to internal deficiency.
As I began to feel all of it, one emotion surfaced.
Fear.
What happens now? What do I—
【Death by exsanguination】
【Death by dismemberment】
【Death by falling】
【Death by collision】
The eerie voice spoke each word.
The moment I realized their meaning, my fear only intensified.
【I can see the floor.】
Simultaneously with that voice, I regained my sight.
And just like that, I was crushed against the floor. I understood death.
* * *
Something entered my head.
And I opened my eyes.
Because that memory was so vivid.
Who am I?
I picked up the pink object I saw beside me.
I raised my hand naturally.
As if it were the obvious thing to do.
And naturally, I expected something to follow, but…
Squish. Squish.
The pink object only felt sticky against my surface; it didn't provide the stimulation that should have been there.
While I shuddered at that terrible sensation for a moment.
Ah, right. I needed a mouth.
Something suddenly occurred to me. I opened my closed mouth and put the pink object inside.
A savory flavor. Something that stuck to my teeth.
A bit of saltiness. And a metallic taste that numbed my tongue.
Right. Meat.
The meat was delicious.
And, possessing a mouth and eyes.
Into the invisible darkness.
I walked forward.
Because that was what I was supposed to do.