"Maybe from inside this drawer, I can find some kind of information."
Ace gently opened the drawer. When he saw what was inside, his eyes widened at what he found.
What!!
"Why… is there a document. Inside the drawer!" He hesitated slightly.
◉ =[Document=subject0...]=
Ace slowly took the document, and unintentionally a sheet of paper slipped out from between it.
(!)
"Hm, what's that."
Before Ace checked the contents of the document in his hands, he gently placed it on the bed to examine later. He then bent down to pick up the sheet of paper that had fallen to the floor.
"What kind of paper is this!" He picked it up calmly. "The texture is quite smooth."
Ace slowly sniffed the sheet of paper. "It still feels fresh, like it was just printed straight from the factory."
Suspicion began to form, and he flipped the paper over to check the back.
(!!!)
This…
Ace froze for a moment—on the back of the paper was a layout diagram of a room structure with a single fixed route. But the path within that structure did not go straight to the destination.
What is this… there are so many winding paths.
But when I look at it again… this is incredibly detailed information.
Each structure contained several explanations that Ace could make use of. However, there was one piece of information that felt slightly suspicious.
==Beware of ad....==
==Good luck==
"Out of all the information here, only one thing isn't explained."
Ace held his chin, his mind filled with thoughts. His gaze slowly grew serious.
There's a lot of useful information here. And if I observe carefully… there's someone else besides me.
With the information he had gathered, it now gave him a small clue to find a way out.
It feels like I'm being forced to join some kind of game. To the point that I was given this sheet of paper.
*Scratches head*
Ace closed his eyes for a moment, thinking deeply. In the silence, he opened them again as a possibility crossed his mind.
4 hours later~
Ace stood in front of the door aligned with the bed, carrying a lantern that had been provided. It served as an alternative light source for when he went outside.
*Lightly pats the pocket of his jacket*
"Okay, this should work."
He carefully felt along the door, examining every corner without missing a single gap. Until he sensed a difference in temperature beyond it.
"Even the door itself is still very clean," he said in admiration. "The wooden texture is still sturdy."
"But the outside feels a bit strange."
After finishing his inspection—Ace placed the lantern down, brushed his hair aside to sharpen his hearing, and leaned closer to the door. He gently knocked as a final check.
From the sounds produced, Ace gained several useful pieces of data about what lay beyond.
Somehow, I have an ability to detect things.
*Claps hands*
This is really helping me in my current situation.
Ace picked up the lantern again and grasped the door handle, which was elegantly carved from high-quality wood. The scent of fresh paint lingered.
"It seems like a traditional-style door handle. With extraordinary craftsmanship."
*Exhales*
Ace slowly pulled the door open, without lowering his guard in the slightest. "Alright. Let's go."
As the door opened, a bright light spilled out from beyond, forcing Ace to shield his eyes for a moment, followed by a thin, cool mist.
His vision slowly adjusted to the room he was entering, but—
He rubbed his eyes. "Good grief… my vision's blurry. But it's not too bad!" Ace fell silent for a moment, unable to look away from what he saw.
His body trembled slightly from the cold temperature of the room.
Wow… it's like I stepped into a refrigerator.
And the door didn't even let any cold air leak through its gaps.
Ace stepped out of the room and gently closed the door behind him.
Before he started walking, he took a moment to joke to himself about the cold.
*Breathes out*
He chuckled softly. "Even though it's pretty cold here, I guess it's not that bad." He scratched his cheek lightly with his index finger. "Well, I did briefly think this place was filled with nitrogen because of the thick white mist."
Ace tucked his hair into his jacket and pulled up the hood. "And thankfully, my clothes came with me."
"Yeah, who knows what would've happened if I were bare-chested."
The room Ace entered was quite large and had a traditional structural design with a solid foundation.
That alone made Ace lose focus for a moment, captivated by its beauty.
"Good grief, this exceeds my expectations." He glanced upward. "And yeah, I can say that all of this mist is artificial. The ventilation seems fairly large and it's positioned near the ceiling."
"But the design is way too modern for a room like this."
Ace walked straight ahead casually, enjoying the refreshing atmosphere.
Still… where does this room get its light from. And this place is a bit brighter than where I woke up.
—It's like a dormitory.
As time passed, the white mist thickened and began to interfere with Ace's view of the floor beneath his feet. He waved his hand to disperse part of it.
"This is bad, I need to hurry before this place becomes my final resting ground."
Despite the disturbance around him, he remained firm in his original goal.
But for some reason, Ace reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a cake that had been provided in the initial room.
No one knew what he was thinking. He casually brought the cake closer, but before it reached his mouth, it slipped from his hand due to his carelessness.
Seeing that, Ace immediately reacted, crawling on the floor to search for the cake. He swept away the thick mist with the lantern, using it as minimal lighting.
Allowing Ace to possibly retrieve the cake.
His index finger scratched his cheek. "Damn it, where is it." He groped around in panic.
As he searched, he unknowingly moved closer to the center point of the room.
Alright, I'm getting closer. Just a few more steps.
Ace's hand accidentally touched something slightly different from the floor. It was curved and not very tall, about 1 cm.
This is it… I found it. If that's the case, then what I need to do is—
Ace lifted his body and quickly stepped onto it.
"…"
Wait. Nothing's happening… but according to the instructions, if I stand here, the door should open immediately.
{ A bright light }
*Ggrrrkkkhh
Before he could think further, a massive mysterious symbol lit up beneath Ace's feet, forming a circle. It triggered the room to instantly transform into another foundation, replacing everything around him.
{ Not remaining in one place }
The spatial dimension began adjusting to his existence. Light flickered rapidly like the turning of time.
{ Pleading in hardship }
The phenomenon caused an intense transformation. Ace was unintentionally caught in the adjustment, enduring a violent but survivable pain.
{ To accompany you to a cursed place }
The chant stopped abruptly, followed by darkness. A gigantic door burst open with a heavy boom, emitting dim light from within—
Uhukuhuk, (coughing blood).
—in front of Ace, who was struggling to steady his breathing. The thick mist had vanished, leaving only the lantern as his companion.
End of Chapter (surviving alone).