Seele's fist was small and pearly white, yet it unleashed a world-shaking punch that blasted a path through the bottom of the pitch-black Sea of Quanta.
The void-like "seawater" could no longer serve as a cage, parting violently to either side.
Seele was no longer confined to a corner of darkness; she could now swim freely through the Sea of Quanta.
She had truly become a "daughter of the sea."
"I'm out~"
Tiptoes pointing down, she landed lightly.
With a soft thump, Seele landed on the ground, finally feeling the security of solid earth beneath her feet. For the first time, she found the feeling of being captured by gravity to be wonderful.
Although Brother Ye Feng is a perverted bad guy, he doesn't seem so hateful after all.
He had forcefully left his mark on her, but it had indeed freed her from that hellish torment.
For a moment, Seele didn't know if she should be grateful to Brother Ye Feng.
Seele's small hand clenched slightly over her chest. On her fair, flawless skin, the faint crimson mark of her Stigma was visible.
「We should say we've come in.」
Dark Seele corrected her.
Seele had actually managed to punch open the Sea of Quanta and enter a World Bubble with her own strength.
After a moment of shock, Dark Seele immediately felt a surge of irritation.
She just wanted to argue about anything and everything.
"...Mm, yes, we're in."
Seele said happily, her voice light and relaxed.
Seeing Seele agree with her so readily, Dark Seele huffed and fell silent.
Seriously, argue with me!
Hmph, even with this power, she's still just a weak little girl!
As I thought, she still needs me by her side.
Dark Seele nodded to herself, feeling her anxiety lessen slightly.
Seele scanned her surroundings. It was a bustling city at night, illuminated by a chaotic mix of dazzling neon lights.
The weather was unusually muggy, without a single wisp of wind.
Walking down the street, Seele could see many landmark buildings, all bearing the characters for "Canghai."
This city must be called "Canghai City."
"HOMU Happy Restaurant..."
Seele stood before a brightly lit storefront, looking up at the cartoonish characters on the sign. She couldn't help but touch her stomach.
...So hungry.
In her quantum state, she had no physical senses, and thus, no feeling of hunger.
But upon entering the World Bubble and collapsing back into a physical entity, her bodily sensations returned all at once.
Seele swallowed, feeling as if she had returned to that winter of wandering, starving and cold.
「If you want to eat, then eat. Who's stopping us?」
Dark Seele said bluntly.
Seele shook her head forcefully, tearing her gaze away from the delicious food displayed in the window. "No, I can't... Seele can't do that..."
「Tch, what a useless coward. Then you can just starve.」
To avoid further temptation, Seele walked towards a more deserted area.
This was the city's central park.
The clamor of the city instantly faded, as if she had entered another world compared to the crowded streets.
At night, only a few sparse white lamps dotted the area. The shadows of the trees loomed, creating a desolate and tranquil, yet somewhat eerie silence.
It felt like a ghost might float out at any second.
Looking up, even the moon seemed hazy, tinged with a crimson hue.
"That's... Someone collapsed up ahead!"
Seele focused her gaze and saw a dark figure lying on the ground. From the long, slender curves, she could tell it was a woman.
Seele ran over. Anxiously looking at the figure on the ground, before she could even get a good look, she heard an explosive shout from behind her.
"——I finally caught you! You're the culprit who's been attacking women at night recently, aren't you!"
Eh? Eh?
Seele spun around in a panic. A young woman with fiery red hair was staring at her with a piercing gaze.
"Cul-culprit...? N-no... It wasn't Seele..."
Seele waved her hands frantically, explaining, "Seele was just passing by and saw her lying here. I was about to check on her... and then you showed up..."
"Oh? Is that so?"
The red-haired woman walked over.
Her gaze remained wary as she scrutinized Seele from head to toe.
"I haven't seen you around before."
"Um... Seele just arrived in this city..."
The red-haired woman was holding a gun and had a small knife tucked into her belt. She said, "Is that right? I'm a vigilante in Canghai City. You can call me Officer Himeko."
"Officer Himeko... I'm Seele..."
"Mm, you already said that."
Officer Himeko looked at Seele and said, "There have been multiple attacks on women at night in Canghai City recently. I need you to cooperate with an investigation."
「Hah? We have no obligation to do that! Keep yapping and I'll tear you to shreds!」
"Hm? What was that sound?"
"Ah... n-nothing. What do you need Seele to do, Officer Himeko?"
Himeko stared at Seele. "I need you to come back to the police station with me. Is that a problem?"
"...G-go to the police station?"
Seele never imagined that just after escaping one sea of suffering, she would end up in the clink.
"Here's the situation. Given the bizarre nature of the case, the fact that you're a suspicious new face, and your presence at the crime scene..."
"...Bizarre?"
"Yes. The victims are all young, beautiful, single women. After being attacked, they've all remained unconscious. There are almost no external injuries on their bodies, except..."
"Except?"
"Without exception, they all have two bloody holes on the back of their necks, as if pierced by canine teeth."
"Huh?"
Seele instantly thought of certain fantasy stories.
"You don't mean to say..."
Vampires?
---o---
"This is delicious."
In the interrogation room, Seele looked at the pork chop rice Himeko had brought her.
She was happy with the choice she had made.
Seele had followed Officer Himeko to the police station, and after answering a series of questions, she was allowed to stay here.
"If that's not enough, there's more in the kitchen. This is miso soup, it's even tastier with the rice."
"Thank you, Officer Himeko."
"Don't mention it. Although I don't think you're the culprit, your origins are unknown, so I can't just let you go. For the next few days, why don't you stay here? Of course, you're not under arrest, and I won't restrict your freedom. Plus, you can receive a small hardship allowance here, though it isn't much."
"...Okay."
"Alright, take your time eating. I have to go on patrol."
With that, Himeko left the interrogation room.
Though it was called an interrogation room, it was actually more like a small hotel room, complete with a bed and a bathroom.
After finishing her meal, Seele stood by the window, her hand instinctively resting on her lower abdomen.
Now that she had a full stomach, her thoughts turned to Brother Ye Feng again.
It was all thanks to Brother Ye Feng that she could come to this World Bubble.
And also...
"Is there really a mole here?"
More than anything else that had happened in this World Bubble, Seele was most concerned about this question.
Dark Seele suddenly spoke up: "A mole? You mean the one under your breast? Yeah, there is."
"Eh?"
Seele froze. There is?
Wait.
"...How do you know that?"