Chapter 42 Friend or Foe
As we proceeded forward, we encountered a corridor. According to the map, this should lead to a garden. There may be a doll like myself and the others there that might lend us it’s aid or something like that vicious ogre we faced before.
Furthermore… There may be creatures there that have been mutated by the darkness.
Still, despite mutation, they should follow some basic rules.
Plants burn easily before fire and flame.
With Clovis here, we should pass through easily…
Still, this corridor is quite long.
It should take half an hour, no, 35 minutes till we reach there by walking at this pace.
We have half a day left before one of us fades away, we need to strike as soon as possible.
However, after the garden, the Heart is next.
So we have time left for a leisurely walk.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Of course, we won’t let our guard down.
There may be some creatures lurking here…
“Oi laddie.”
Llednar suddenly called out to me.
We’re following the formation we discussed beforehand.
I’m at front, Clovis is at the back while Llednar is between us.
“Yes?”
“Do you know why those creatures are attacking us?”
“What do you mean?”
I asked puzzled.
Why would he question why those creatures are attacking us?
Isn’t that normal?
“I mean to say… Aren’t we the same as those things? We’re probably even their boss.”
“Hm… Good point.”
“That is indeed a riddle.”
Clovis joined in our conversation.
We are indeed similar to those creatures.
Pitiful beings trapped in our bodies and forced to wander the land of the living.
So why would they attack?
“Clovis, when we went towards you, we encountered some creatures that attacked us immediately when we drew near. Did they not bother you at all?”
Clovis began to think.
“Hm… Not at all. They were even some creatures that passed by. Those bat-like things that passed and didn’t pay me any heed.”
“Eh?”
“Hm…”
But they attacked you immediately along with us when we encountered them…
“I wonder… Perhaps… That may be it.”
After thinking about it a bit, I found an answer.
“Figured something out, laddie?”
“Oh, an answer? Enlighten me please.”
Pressed for an answer, I gave it out casually.
“This malevolent curse started due to a source. A heart. This heart has a will of its own. And it has full knowledge of what’s going on.”
“It knows everything?”
“Yes. I believe it also controls those mindless beings.”
This should explain everything.
“It didn’t attack Clovis because he did not intend to attack the heart. But we do. Therefore, the heart is sending it’s minions to stop us.”
“Oho… That clears things up.”
“The darkness clouding us had passed.”
They both nodded.
“Hm…?”
As we kept walking, I saw a gate.
“We’ve reached the garden.”
The two immediately raised their guard.
Llednar began fingering his daggers while Clovis began practicing his magic.
On the other hand, I put my arm upon my sword.
Ready to draw it upon a moment’s notice.
There was a fog blocking our view.
But I could see some wilted plants.
And within the fog, something was coming…
Directly at us.