Chapter 620: Big Fan [2] |
The silence that followed felt deafening, a constant pounding echoing at the back of my mind.
Despite this, I maintained my calm.
I had no choice but to.
Especially when I felt Rowan and Zoey’s piercing gazes directed my way.
"What? What is he talking about? Seth...?"
"....."
I didn’t answer either of them. Instead, I fixed my attention on the anomaly ahead. I was intrigued. Was he controlling the anomaly? In that case, was he also of the Shephard Decree?
’No, that doesn’t seem to be it.’
His movements and actions were a little too disjointed.
’...But I still doubt that’s his Decree.’
"From the stage... set up to the climax. Everything... was perfect! That was the moment I... became a true fan of you. I... really wanted to meet you, Mr. Jester."
The voice remained broken, almost brittle.
The more he sounded like this, the more certain I was that he didn’t have full control of the anomaly. Just partial control.
But that was more than enough to make me wary.
"But... I’ve been curious. Why...? Why hasn’t the Jester shown up again? Have you decided to retire?"
"I killed the Jester."
I answered, the words flowing out rather smoothly.
"To begin with, I was the one who killed the Jester during the Malovia incident. From the start, it’s impossible for me to be the Jester when I’m the one who killed it."
"Ha... haha."
A brittle, almost cackling laugh reverberated through the space as the anomaly’s lips slowly pulled wider. The motion stretched unnaturally, as if the skin itself resisted, yet continued to give, the sound of that broken laughter lingering across the entire area.
Though I still couldn’t clearly make it out, the anomaly before me seemed like some kind of large, dark, eroded mass, its form resembling a shifting slime that barely held its shape.
Nothing about it felt creepy, but its presence felt overwhelming.
"So... that’s what you’re going with?"
"That’s how things went."
"Haha."
The laughter lingered, the figure seeming to take a twisted amusement in my words.
’How much does he know?’
Honestly, I was struggling to stay calm. Why was it acting like it knew exactly what I had done? Realistically, that should have been impossible. And yet... from the way it spoke, it was as if it knew everything.
"Well... it doesn’t really matter that you’re denying it."
As the laughter stopped, the air seemed to shift.
It suddenly started to feel cold.
"I know."
The voice turned heavy, alongside the atmosphere.
"That’s all that matters. I know, and they’ll soon know."
A low, bubbling sound began to spread through the air as the anomaly’s form started to distort. Its body seemed to swell and collapse at the same time, the surface rippling before slowly giving way.
Thick, dark matter sloughed off as it began to melt into the ground, sinking as if the floor itself were swallowing it whole.
Staring in its direction, my entire body tensed, every nerve on edge as my thoughts churned rapidly. I braced myself, expecting something to happen, an attack... an ambush... just anything.
But nothing came.
The bubbling subsided, and within moments, the anomaly’s form was gone entirely, leaving behind only the space where it had stood.
As the silence settled in, something seemed to whisper right beside my ear, its voice barely more than a breath.
"...And it won’t just be me who knows. Soon, everyone will know. Good luck leaving this place."
"——!"
Grabbing my right ear, I spun around abruptly, only to be met with the empty hospital space. My eyes darted from side to side, scanning every corner, every shadow, searching for any sign of movement. But there was nothing, just the dim, flickering lights and the stillness pressing in from all directions.
A heavy, tense silence blanketed the entire area, making it feel as though something was there, just out of sight.
Watching.
"Haa... Haaa..."
Unknowingly, my breathing had turned heavier.
’Where is he...?’
Holding onto the knife, I tried to sense any presence, but no matter how hard I looked, I found nothing. I kept scanning the space, checking every corner for something, yet the more I searched, the clearer it became that there was nothing there.
I wanted to keep searching, but just as I began to move, a hand grabbed my arm and held me back.
"What?"
When I turned my head, two gazes were fixed on me.
My heart sank, instantly understanding what sort of situation I found myself in.
Zoey was the first to speak, her expression slightly hazy as she looked at me. She didn’t seem surprised. Rather... she looked suspicious.
"What was that about? Were the words that he said—"
"No, it’s just nonsense."
I cut Zoey off before she could finish her question.
"It’s just a bunch of nonsense he’s spouting to plant a seed of distrust in the group. I’m rather well-known at the moment, so it’s obvious he has information about me."
"That makes sense."
Rowan seemed to agree with me, but Zoey’s eyes narrowed. Her grip on my arm tightened.
"...But this isn’t the first time that you’ve been accused of something like this. Didn’t the same thing happen with Myles?"
"Myles...?"
That rat?
It had been a while since the incident with Myles, so I had almost forgotten him, but thinking back, he had indeed accused me of the same thing.
Shit...
Even with him gone, he still caused me trouble.
I still retained my calm.
"What about Myles? He’s a lunatic who tried to push me out of the Guild because I was doing too well. Don’t tell me you’re going to believe the words of some random psychopath over a traitor."
"....."
Zoey’s eyes narrowed further, the silence carrying through us as she stared intently in my direction. Although my words made sense, I could see the doubt in her gaze. I could see that she didn’t believe me at all, and it was such a gaze that started to piss me off.
Why...?
Why didn’t she believe me?
"Hey, hey."
Perhaps noticing the tension that lingered between the two of us, Rowan stepped in, separating us as he looked around.
"I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but now isn’t the time to fight. I don’t know what’s happening, but this is definitely not good. Let’s stay calm..."
His voice trailed off as something seemed to click in his mind. His expression shifted, and in the next instant, his head snapped up. Without another word, he turned and sprinted toward a nearby room.
Judging by how his face had paled and the direction he ran, he was heading for his sister, but there was no point.
She was probably gone.
"You know..."
As Zoey’s voice echoed once more, I turned toward her and saw her take a step back from me.
"All logic says you’re not. That it shouldn’t be possible. And yet... for some reason, a part of me still believes them. It’s strange, but at the same time, it would explain a lot. Am I going crazy?"
"Yes, you are."
"Haha."
Zoey laughed, her hand covering her lips. My gaze lingered on her for a few seconds longer before I lifted it, focusing on the sudden notification that had appeared.
[Scenario Spotted!]
[Operation: Hospital Escape!]
Class :
Escape the hospital. Good luck~
[Scenario candidates will be joining shortly. Do you wish to use any item?]
[You have ten seconds]
Reading the description, my eyes widened. At that exact moment, Rowan burst out of the room, his face filled with panic.
"My sister..."
His eyes locked directly onto me.
"S-she’s gone... She’s gone!"
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