Fulzo gasps and draws his sword. He's scared, but seeing me emerge from the darkness, he lets his guard down.

He blinks and tries to say something but stops.

The zombies all around put the stuff down and disappear.

“I have a few ap left.” Gron seems to regret it and slinks away from me.

“Ful, don't worry. I told you a minute, but Gron called me.”

“N-no, no, of course. Rather—how did it go? Isn't this their equipment?”

I nod. “I was a little tired of their damage. So, they shouldn't cause any more problems.”

Fulzo sheathes his sword, but his gaze remains suspicious. “Did you eliminate them?”

Ci-cin.

“Huh? Nope, nope. I don't kill people.”

“They would have deserved it, prrr.”

“Gron, I'm the Empress of this place. I have duties. I can't do as I please if it's not necessary.”

“We have already talked about the rules and the System once. We have differing opinions. Prr, so forget my comment, sorry.”

Fulzo scratches his temple, perplexed.

“So, I'm around? Or did you imprison them?”

“There is no worse prison than the cosmos itself. I could lock them up in some room. They wouldn't be able to defeat the gargoyles anyway… but I preferred that they wallow in the dungeon. They are here to search, so let them search.”

Fulzo nods unconvinced. Gron slips into a backpack to snoop around.

“Ful, go ahead and take what you need. We'll leave the rest here. I'd say we can get going.”

“Hm, okay. Do you already know which path we have to take?”

“More or less. First, there is a place I would like to show you.”

♦

[Dungeon path]

I, Gron, and Fulzo emerge in my bedroom.

A jolt of pain stiffens the muscles in my hand. I grimace, hold my breath, and try not to show my discomfort.

I hear Fulzo's steps making the charred boards creak, and I stretch my fingers several times. The pain passes, but I glimpse a blue glow. A crust between the nail and the index finger.

Ci-cin.

I rub my eyes. The shimmer is gone.

That is better. For a moment, I feared I would be [corrupted] myself.

“N, sorry for the confusion. What place is this?”

“It's her house.”

“Oh, I see.”

I turn towards the voices. Gron is lying on the ground. Trembling, Fulzo approaches the window.

“It's windy?”

“A storm came through many years ago. It doesn't go away.” I scratch my ear. Looking around, I see them, the corals.

Their butterfly-wing petals vibrate in places exposed to drafts. My hair also waves, like Gron's hair.

Fulzo's shortcut does not have these problems. On the other hand, I realize that he is almost as tall as the roof.

Not a comfortable space for him…

“Ful, I brought you here for safety reasons. Would you mind waiting while I check to ensure I don't have any guests waiting?”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Hm, no. I am not in a position to dictate priorities.”

“Thank you for your understanding,” I bow a little. “If I could, I would suggest you play chess with Gron, but the board… forget it, I'll bring you an infusion later.”

Fulzo sits on the bed. He shakes his head. “No need, thanks for the proposal. Rather, is there anything I can do to help you?”

Uh.

Surprise.

This is indeed a rarity.

After Sylviette, no one ever asked me if I needed a hand. So spontaneously then…

…hmm…

Not that he can do much. Maybe that is why no one asks.

Indeed, Sylviette has reached a significant [lv] for mortals. And she helped me solve a problem where she was involved…

Ci-cin.

“Don't worry. These are things unsuitable for a mortal, hehe. I'm going. I should be back in a few hours. If you're bored or if Gron is bored, you can go out. Watch out for the wind. The tornado is far away, but you never know. And avoid bothering any deceased!”

While I give the directions, I leave the room, the hall, and the veranda.

Ci-cin.

The ash and the wind welcome me back.

♦

The three-mouthed vampire rhino is the last remaining creature.

A turbulent deceased does not want to chat. But to escape.

It is pawing with its stubby, clawed paws. It roars and kicks up some sand.

It must have given many adventurers a run for their money before it was shot down.

After yet another roar, it points its horn at me and charges.

It is a [lv: 21]. Its place is not the desert.

So—

I let it hit me in the chest.

HA!

Drops of green blood drip down its brown scales.

[Dungeon path]

We emerge in the [Area-N], named by me, and with its volcanoes. A perfect place for such a wild and untamed creature.

[Shadow wall] and I free myself from its horn.

[Judgment]

[Judgment: Nightmare]

The being drools and lets out its wail as it scatters in sparks.

Oh, cool, how they doze down here!

I look around. Although the glow of the mountains and lava pits is in the background…

…I am already sweating.

What a bad place [Area-N].

[Dungeon path]

Fulzo is not in the room. Gron is sleeping on my bed, wrapped in blankets.

It is truly a beautiful cat. I gently bring my hand closer to its tawny collar, but I withdraw it when I see it has open eyes.

Ci-cin!

“Ah!”

“Look, I'm not sleeping. I was bored.”

“Excuse me. Some rain events kept me busy for a bit. Where did Fulzo end up?”

“He should be out on the porch.”

I walk up to the porch. Fulzo is leaning on the parapet and looking at the horizon. The tornado is in the distance.

The lightning.

The incomplete whirlwinds.

The clouds obscure the membrane in the sky.

I guess I understand what he's feeling. I remember the first time was full of meaning.

A sublime landscape. A distant yet sufficiently close force.

In a slow and steady approach. A dilated sense of danger and…

That sense of malice that comes from beyond the gaze.

Ci-cin.

Fulzo turns around. He stands up from the railing and waves at me.

“Oi, N, I saw you with some of those creatures.”

“Did you see me judging them?”

“Only the ones nearby. After that, I admit that I never saw you again. So, when we die… yeah, I mean, it's stupid to ask. But so, we just disappear?”

Um, difficult question. But nothing I have ever been asked.

“I cannot answer you. The fact is, you living people shouldn't even know about this place. I understand and accept that I have developed techniques to explore this, but I cannot answer your metaphysical questions. When you die, we can talk better about it.”

“Well… rewarding as a prospect.”

“Excuse me.”

“No, I mean—ah, never mind. It's already something that you arrive here, and there is a person like you. The idea of being judged by Ivykku or similar abominations of ideal righteousness disgusts me. You seem to understand us better.”

Ci-cin, Ci-cin, Ci-cin, Ci-cin!

I look away. I intertwine my fingers. I feel my cheeks reddening—I am not used to compliments!

HA!

“N, anyway.”

“Here I am!”

“Even if yours were a disintegration technique. I don't know, a way to just make us disappear. I accept it. Before I was born, I did not exist. After I die, I will not exist. So don't worry, when the time comes, I will accept it.”

Hmm, I would like to tell him that [obliteration] is a rare event. He will be judged by my [skill]. The System will decide on [Nightmare] or [Dream] and sleep forever as part of the dungeon.

But I do not think I can say that.

Gron says we've discussed similar issues before. Problems. Between effective rules and self-impositions dictated by tradition.

I do not know. It is not worth thinking about.

Fulzo turns towards the desert. The cape covering his shoulders flutters.

“Look.”

“Yes?”

“It doesn't have to do with the big questions. It's a down-to-earth thing.”

“If I can I will gladly answer you.”

He lets out a laugh. “Well, why is everything here burned?”

“Uhm…”

“I mean—the ash desert, the boards of this house, were already less noticeable due to the darkness, but inside concrete was blackened. The strange yellow cave paintings were burnt. In short, it's as if a great fire burned everything, and this is what remains.”

«Fsss.»

“I… I don’t know. Sorry.” I bow my head and make a small bow. More out of habit than anything else.

“Hm? Fine. I guess.”

We remain looking at the horizon, the orange colors, the membrane, and the absolute black sky beyond it.

“There are no stars.”

“We are at the edge of the universe. The nearest star is so far away that before its light arrives, the universe itself will end.”

“Really!?”

“That's what my father told me. That's what his mother said. And so said his mother's father. And so— got it, right?”

Without looking at me, Fulzo nods. He leans back on the railing.

“You think… anyway, back to simple. When you're ready, we can resume.”

I smile. “Sure, then get ready. Let's leave immediately.”