I couldn’t help but feel a pang at his words. I already said no last time, so why was he asking again?
I shook my head. “Meow.”
“…Really?”
“Mew.”
There was a rare hint of suspicion in Isaac’s eyes. He was usually not one to doubt me.
“There was a fire at the house yesterday. It’s embarrassing to admit, but I’m afraid of fire. Ever since you died like that…”
Ah, so that’s why he couldn’t move. I felt a pang of sympathy when he said he had developed a trauma after my death.
“But a maid saved me. Her name is Mia too…”
It felt as if Isaac’s eyes were piercing through me.
“For some reason, it felt like you came to save me, just like back then.”
“…”
“Isn’t it strange? Why did I think of you when I saw that maid?”
…Damn it. His intuition is spot-on. But it’s just a hunch without any solid proof. In this situation, all I could do was pretend not to know.
I jumped down and touched the Ouija board.
-Maybe it’s just because we share the same name?
“Is that it?”
-As I said before, I’m not human. I’m a cat.
Isaac stared intently at the Ouija board as if deep in thought. At that moment, something appeared before my eyes.
[Night of Fear: The Night of Terror]
[Chapter 3. Exploration]
Oh! It looks like the second floor is finally open!
I wanted to go up and take a look, but there were creatures on the second floor, and I was a bit scared to go alone. In times like this, I had no choice but to rely on Isaac…
I touched the Ouija board with my paw.
-I’m feeling a bit stuffy. I want to go out.
“Shall we? Let’s go for a walk.”
I left the room with Isaac. Pretending to take a casual walk on the first floor, I stopped in front of the stairs to the second floor.
“Hmm? The door is open.” Isaac spoke in a rather indifferent voice.
I cautiously went up to the second floor first. The atmosphere on the second floor was different from that of the first floor. It was still dark and desolate but more luxurious compared to the first floor. The chandelier’s light glowed faintly, and the walls were adorned with various decorations and artworks. It felt as if, at any moment, nobles dressed in beautiful clothes might come out, laughing as they passed by. But I couldn’t let myself be fooled by the atmosphere…
At that moment, I heard sharp footsteps coming from the other side. There was a man dressed in a butler’s uniform. However, it was clear he wasn’t human. After all, he didn’t have a head. Instead, his well-dressed tailcoat made it easy to identify who he was—a creature called the ‘Butler.’
Kkikik…
The butler turned his body to face us. His white gloves were stained with blood. He stared at us for a moment, then suddenly rushed at us with incredible speed, reaching out his hand. But he wasn’t faster than Isaac.
Slash! Isaac drove his sword straight into the creature’s chest. The butler struggled for a moment before finally collapsing.
Uuh… We made it through safely, but it was still terrifying. While I hid nearby, watching carefully, Isaac sheathed his sword and looked back at me.
“You were really scared, huh, Mia?”
“Meow…”
“Let’s go somewhere safe. I know a good place.”
Isaac picked me up and headed somewhere. When he opened the door, I recognized the place instantly. It was the library. It was also where Isaac and I used to spend a lot of time together when we were young. Wow, seeing it like this, it really feels like we’ve gone back in time.
After sitting on the sofa, Isaac put me down. “We used to spend a lot of time here, didn’t we? You would sit quietly beside me while I read.”
“Mew.”
“I’ll read to you again today. Come here.”
Just like when we were children, Isaac held me in his arms and began to read a book. It was an old myth, and the story was somewhat interesting. Isaac’s voice was pleasant to listen to, so I didn’t mind. As I spent time in his arms, three hours passed before I knew it. I jumped down from Isaac’s lap.
“…Be careful out there, Mia. Got it? If you see anything that looks like a person, run back to the library immediately. I’ll be here.”
“Meow.”
He’s so dependable.
I rubbed my head against Isaac’s leg a few times before leaving the library. The area was bright compared to the first floor, but I felt an eerie sensation for some reason. Why? It would be better if someone else were here…
By the way, where is Lian? If Lian had opened the second floor, he would have been around somewhere…
I moved cautiously but stopped when I heard footsteps approaching from the opposite direction. Who could it be? Is it Lian?
When I hid and watched, I saw the butler wandering around the house. If I wasn’t careful, the butler might come this way…
I quickly slipped into an open room. It was a parlor, and it seemed empty. I breathed a sigh of relief and took a step further inside when I heard someone’s voice.
“Hello?”
Uaaah! I almost flipped over in surprise. My fur stood on end, and my tail puffed up. What the—?
I looked around in alarm and saw a man sitting on a luxurious sofa. The black-haired man was dressed in a neat suit, but he was wearing a half-mask that covered his face up to his nose, so I couldn’t see his entire face. However, from the shape of his mouth and jawline, I could tell he was quite handsome.
Who is this man…? He wasn’t part of the original game events.
The man smiled gently and said, “Impressive that you made it this far.”
“Impressive? What do you mean?”
Gasp, this time, my voice sounded human.
Who is this guy?
The man’s soft voice continued quietly. “This is a dangerous place, you know.”
“Who are you, anyway?”
“A dangerous being.”
The moment I heard those words, a bad feeling passed over me. If he was referring to a dangerous being in this game, there was only one possibility.
“A demon…?!” I quickly backed away.
The man remained seated, smiling leisurely. “That’s what they call me.”
“W-Why to me…?”
“Why did I appear to you?”
The man crossed his legs and looked at me. Even that small gesture seemed elegant.
“To grant your wish.”
Wish. The word seemed to carry a sweet scent.
Why did a demon who wasn’t in the original game appear? Should I just avoid him? Should I run away? I knew that nothing good would come from getting involved with a demon… However, I also thought that using the information from the original game might work to my advantage.
I stared at him and said, “So, you’re saying you’ll grant what I want?”
“Yes.”
“Then… tell me how to get out of here.”
“Ah, that’s easy enough.” The man laughed as if amused.
Suddenly, I noticed that the man had no shadow. Somehow, the man himself seemed like a shadow. The man laughed again.
“If you kill Isaac, you’ll be able to escape from this place.”
It was what I expected, but it wasn’t the answer I wanted. I glared at the man and said, “Another way?”
“You don’t like the easy option?”
“I don’t like it. Tell me another way.”
The man smiled again, a smile that made me frown. He rested his chin on his hand and looked down at me.
“To tell you that… there will be a price. Are you willing to pay for it?”
“What exactly is the price?”
“You just need to do a few favors for me.”
Favors? What on earth could he be asking for?
As I grew wary, the man spoke soothingly. “Don’t be too afraid. It’s not as big a deal as you think.”
“…”
“And you can quit halfway if you want.” He spoke casually, but I couldn’t trust him.
I stared at him directly and said, “Can you swear on the Icarus Wing?”
At those words, the man visibly flinched. The smile disappeared from his face.
“…How do you know that phrase?”
Icarus Wing. This was one of the pieces of information from the game.
Demons always hide something. To get a definite answer from a demon, you need to make them swear on the Icarus Wing. If they break this oath, their existence is said to be erased. So, knowing this phrase meant I wouldn’t be at a disadvantage.
“It’s not important how I know that phrase. What matters is your answer. Can you swear on the Icarus Wing that everything you say is true?”
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