For everyone, walking through such ruins wasn't a big deal. Even Mary, who had been somewhat uneasy at the beginning, gradually calmed down after traversing one long stretch after another. And because of that, she began to notice some unusual details she hadn't picked up on before.
"Mr. Duanmu… there seems to be nothing here…?"
"Hm?"
"No, I mean…"
As she spoke, Mary shone her flashlight across the ground. The smooth floor was covered with nothing but a thin layer of dust. That in itself was normal—but in a ruin, it was somewhat abnormal.
"There are no remains, no decorative objects or artifacts… is that normal?"
That's right. Mary had previously followed her teacher to explore ruins before. Generally speaking, in large architectural ruins like this, you would almost always find remains, or at least fragments of items left behind by previous civilizations. But here, it was as clean as if someone had vacuumed the place—nothing had been left behind.
"Oh, it wouldn't be normal elsewhere. But here, it's perfectly normal."
Duanmu Huai quickly gave his answer.
"Huh? Why?"
"Didn't I just say? The Elder Things couldn't leave this planet due to bodily degeneration, and then they ran into a little problem… and went extinct."
"Was it disease? Or a plague?"
"Heh, neither."
Duanmu Huai shook his head.
"It was a rebellion."
"…A rebellion?"
"That's right. You've seen how massive this place is. The Elder Things came here on vacation—it's not like they'd be dumb enough to build everything themselves. So they used their knowledge to create a species called Shoggoths as servants. As for those things… well… they're disgusting. You can imagine them as a mass of moldy, rotten jelly, covered in countless eyes, with bodies that can deform at will."
"Ugh..."
Just imagining it made Mary feel sick.
"Anyway, the Shoggoths rebelled. The degenerated Elder Things couldn't fight them, couldn't escape either, so they were finished. As for their corpses and everything else—naturally, they were all swallowed by the Shoggoths. And after that… well, there was no 'after that.'"
"Then… where are the Shoggoths now?"
"Oh, right beneath us."
As he spoke, Duanmu Huai tightened his grip on his cane and tapped the ground. The heavy thud echoed through the silent hall. His tone was so matter-of-fact that Mary didn't even process it at first.
"…Huh???"
"Right beneath us."
"…You're joking, right?"
Mary stopped and looked down at the solid, smooth stone floor beneath her feet. Perhaps influenced by Duanmu Huai's story, she now felt as if something was writhing beneath those thick slabs—something that had existed since tens of millions of years before humanity was born…
"Alright, that's not important right now. Let's focus on bringing your friend back as soon as possible."
As he said this, Duanmu Huai stopped walking. Mary looked up and realized they had somehow passed through the corridor and arrived before a massive, sealed stone door. Duanmu Huai placed his hand on the cold, heavy surface and let out a low shout.
"Open!!"
"RUMBLE————"
The stone door opened in response. At the same time, it seemed to attract the attention of something. In an instant, piercing, eerie shrieks echoed from all directions.
"W-What is that?!"
"Well, looks like they've been waiting impatiently…"
Duanmu Huai gripped his cane and snorted coldly.
"Lorena, get ready."
"Of course, Knight-sama!"
At Duanmu Huai's command, Lorena nodded. Mary then saw the girl suddenly open the holy scripture in her hands. In the next moment, a brilliant radiance burst forth, transforming Lorena's heavy protective gear into a white-and-gold outfit resembling that of a priestess. At the same time, Lorena clenched her fists and stood at the doorway with her back to them.
"Leave it to me!"
"W-Wait, Miss Lorena, what is—"
"Alright, don't worry. This level of trouble isn't a problem for Lorena. You, on the other hand, will have problems if you stay here. Go inside—and remember, you only have one goal. Don't forget it!"
Before Mary could respond, Duanmu Huai shoved her through the door. The next moment, her vision was swallowed by darkness. With a loud boom, everything returned to silence.
"Mr. Duanmu? Miss Lorena???"
Holding her flashlight, Mary looked around in confusion—but all she could see was darkness.
No… not darkness.
Her right eye—the Golden Eye—pierced through the blackness.
What she saw were… stairs. Spiraling upward endlessly, as if leading to the sky itself.
At the same time, Duanmu Huai's voice echoed once more in her ears.
Remember, your goal is only one. Don't forget it.
...
That's right. I only have one goal. Whether in the dark streets of the Fog City, in the snowstorm of Antarctica, or even now…
"Charlotte, wait for me. I'm coming to find you."
"Tap tap tap tap tap...…"
Her footsteps echoed crisply through the silent staircase as Mary sprinted upward. She didn't know where she was going—but she knew clearly what she was seeking.
It was at the end.
She kept running—hundreds of meters of stairs—yet strangely, she felt no fatigue, no shortness of breath. It was as if this wasn't reality, but a dream. Or perhaps Lorena's training had actually worked?
But compared to her steps or exhaustion, the darkness ahead brought something else—
Echoes of the past. Memories.
Her mother—the Scholar—bidding her farewell at the airport.
"This is fine. Be a good child with proper manners, Mary."
"I know. I'm not a child anymore. I'll be fine on my own. So please do your best over there, Mother. Take care."
"Ah… you too, Mary…"
Just like that, her mother left. Having already lost her father, the mother and daughter who had depended on each other were now separated. But Mary knew—her mother had chosen her work over her daughter.
Don't leave me, Mother.
Watching the departing airship, the only thing the girl could say was her silent plea.
Don't leave me alone…!
"...…"
Her footsteps stopped.
Mary's eyes widened in shock. Her body trembled uncontrollably. The memory she had tried so hard to forget for two years now resurfaced as a nightmare, seizing control of her body from within. It was the wail of her younger self.
Please, Mother, don't leave me. Don't leave me alone. Being alone is so scary… so lonely…
And then—
"What are you doing?"
A man's voice echoed in her ears again.
Low. Familiar.
"Don't forget. You only have one goal."
"That's right."
Mary jolted, her body suddenly feeling lighter, the oppressive fatigue vanishing.
It's not over. I didn't come here just to end like this!
The girl raised her head again and continued climbing.
Forward. Always forward.
And then—she saw her.
Blonde hair. Emerald green eyes. A gentle face.
Her dear friend stood upon an altar, dressed in a black gown woven from darkness itself.
"Charlotte…"
Even though she had imagined this scene countless times, seeing her friend like this left Mary at a loss for words. And she noticed—Charlotte's left eye had turned golden as well.
"…It's been a while, Mary. Honestly, I didn't expect you to come here."
Her tone was as calm and gentle as ever, as if they were simply meeting at Mrs. Leeds' restaurant for afternoon tea.
"Charlotte… why are you doing this? What are you trying to achieve?"
At last, Mary voiced the question that had weighed on her heart.
And finally, she received an answer.
"…Because I don't want to lose you."
"..."
"I'm afraid… that maybe tomorrow, it will happen."
"..."
"So I don't need a future."
"..."
"As long as there's today. As long as there's now. I don't need a future. Rather than losing you… why not stay here, Mary?"
As she spoke, Charlotte raised her hand and pointed at Mary.
"My wish has already been fulfilled. In this Charlos, where I should have been alone, I met you. So please… stay."
As Charlotte spoke, darkness writhed at her pale fingertips, twisting and condensing into a blade.
"Remain in an eternal today… only then can we protect ourselves, right?"
"B-But…"
Facing her friend, Mary bit her lip.
"No one else is here. Not An, not anyone… it's just you and me, Charlotte."
"That's right."
Hearing Mary's reply, Charlotte lowered her gaze.
"You're much kinder than I am. I've already given up everything except you. But don't worry, Mary—I knew you would say that…"
As she spoke, Charlotte raised the blade and pointed it at Mary.
"I will tear apart your thorns, and pierce you through with mine. You will remain here with me for eternity. So… stay with me! Please! Mary!!!"
With a desperate scream, the black blade thrust toward Mary's chest.
(End of Chapter)