"It took some time... but why do I have to be carried like this?" said Eve to herself, puzzled, as she was bound by tentacles of pain.

"Again... I’m really sorry... but this is to make sure you don’t escape…" said Pain, apologizing deeply.

"I know... I know... no need to repeat this every five minutes," Eve said irritably.

Pain was moving from one platform to another, carrying Eve, who was lost in thought: "I can't deny I'm taking a risk now... but... I must ensure the safety of the fungus... or the gnomes... And also... it's foolish to escape and sneak around in a place with no end... I wouldn’t survive here... But... there’s only one way... based on what I’ve seen... I assume... there's a chance to survive... and that is..."

"Pain... is it...?"

"We’ve arrived, Zero," said Pain, opening the last door. Eve lifted her head to see a gigantic mansion. No, it was a house with an old Victorian-style architecture, surrounded by many old streetlights.

The house was floating on a giant platform. Pain extended one of her tentacles to one of the streetlights and grabbed it tightly, then began pulling the platform they were on toward the house. They crashed into the large platform.

"Here... is the center... of this world," said Pain, pointing to the house.

"So... this is the place of the Lord of Mirrors," said Eve in awe.

"Yes... it's quite famous, isn't it?" said Pain happily.

"Heh... 'It's a given,'" Eve said with a nervous smile.

Pain approached the door, which was a giant wooden one adorned with huge eyes. Pain extended one of her tentacles to open it, then lowered Eve down.

"After you, Zero," Pain said, opening the door.

Eve entered the house. The entrance was immense, and the space was furnished with Western-style furniture. The carpet was intricately designed in shades of red and white, and there were distorted pictures of eyes, children, and monsters hanging on the walls. Crystal chandeliers holding burning candles, dark red fabric adorning the stairs, and giant windows decorated with colored mosaics. It felt as if they were in a house in London from the 18th century.

The air was slightly dry but otherwise ordinary. However, the images on the walls had a terrifying aura for Eve. She turned right and left as she moved deeper into the house of unknown fear.

Pain closed the door behind them, and when Eve looked at her, she noticed her clothes had changed to Victorian maid attire. Eve was stunned for a moment.

"I think my master is upstairs... probably in the kitchen," Pain said, beginning to ascend the stairs.

Eve followed her, saying, "In the kitchen... aren't you the one who prepares his food... since you're his servant?"

"When I leave the house to look for intruders... he stays in the kitchen cooking."

"That's wonderful... really... Is your master deformed or normal like you?" Eve asked, looking at the distorted pictures and feeling as if those eyes were watching her. A chill ran down her spine, so she quickly diverted her gaze.

"I can't describe his appearance very well... you'll see him... don't worry," said Pain happily.

'Why do I feel so tense... no... stay calm, Zero... I need to be cautious... but what if... she wanted to take me to the kitchen... as a...' Eve thought to herself, imagining herself as a luxurious dinner dish.

'No... no... stay calm... and don't forget the plan. My goal now is the gnomes... I must find them and then...,' Eve was lost in her thoughts until something caught her attention. A picture resembling what the gnomes had drawn—the volcanic island—but it was slightly different. The volcano appeared to be made of iron, and there were no trees or plants on it. The picture was unclear and distorted.

Eve stood still and said, "This is... the volcanic island."

Pain turned to her and approached, saying, "This picture... it's of one of the connected regions in our world..."

"Connected regions... you mean... the volcanic island?" Eve asked in surprise.

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Pain laughed and said happily, "You can call it the volcanic island."

"Okay... I think so," Eve replied cautiously.

"And these pictures... they are of children who were linked to the Mirror World..."

"Linked... like you, Pain?"

Pain continued to ascend the stairs. 'That's right, Zero...' Pain thought to herself sharply and seriously.

"Hurry up, Zero... we’ve taken too long," Pain called out to Eve.

"Uh... okay... 'She's not what I expected... there's something strange about Pain... she seems so composed when we entered...' Suddenly, Eve spotted a picture that seemed familiar. It depicted a child who appeared to be huge, with a hunchback, wearing a dark blue cloak that covered their head and face.

Eve pointed at the figure, asking, "Who is that person in the picture above?"

"Do you mean the one with the deformed body... ha... why do you ask?" Pain teased.

"Stop with the heavy teasing, Pain, and tell me," Eve said, her face filled with anger and fear.

"Okay... okay... I’ll tell you... this child... is one of the first children linked to the Mirror World..."

"Linked to it...?" Eve asked, confused.

"Yes... and the deformity that happened to him... it’s because of his imagination..."

"So... his imagination turned him into this... but... how?"

"I don’t know exactly... that's what my master told me... when I started working for him... Oh... and he also mentioned something about a bet or something like that... I don’t really remember well... but... my master said... that this child... was very special... but... he didn’t tell me why."

"Hmm... Pain... why did your master want to meet me?"

"My job is to serve my master... and guard this place... unfortunately... I don’t know the exact reason... I’m sorry," Pain said regretfully.

"Hehe... 'Disappointing expectations'... no worries," Eve said with a nervous and strange smile.

"Pain... do you use electricity... or...?" Eve asked curiously.

"We don’t use it on the first floor," Pain replied happily.

"Oh... okay, 'there might not be any electric traps at the front door... but you could be lying... but I’ll take advantage of her stupidity... unless she's pretending to be dumb... sigh....'"

The two girls were walking down a corridor lit by dim lighting. There were many strange doors. Pain turned to the right, but there was no door, and began speaking: "Master... I’ve brought Zero... she’s here," Pain said calmly and happily.

"Bring her in," came the distorted voice of a man in his fifties or older.

"Okay..."

Pain turned to Eve and waved her over, saying, "Come, Zero..."

"Uh... okay," Eve said nervously.

Eve stepped toward the threshold of the kitchen. She lowered her head, saying, "Thank you for having me..." As she raised her head, her pupils contracted, and a chill ran down her spine. There was a monster wearing formal clothes—white shirt, honey-colored pants, and a red bow tie that looked like a butterfly—but what froze Eve in place was its head, which resembled tree roots. It had no head at all, only roots extending from its neck to the ceiling, crossing it as though part of an illusion. Its skin was deformed, and the skin of its hands was extremely wrinkled.

Eve couldn’t speak. She felt a heavy weight on her feet. Cold sweat dripped down her forehead, and her heart raced with anxiety. Usually, Eve could gather herself in such situations, but this time, fear consumed her from head to toe. The monster held a green bowl, mixing and stirring it with a wooden spoon.

'Although it’s not the fairy man... why do I feel like this... why... why...?'

The creature placed the bowl down and said, "I didn’t expect to see you, Zero... time really passes quickly," the creature said as it moved toward Eve.

"...What... what do you mean by that?" Eve began to slowly retreat, feeling the weight in her feet, but her caution moved her bare feet.

Eve felt something strange on her chest, as if something were burning. She clutched her necklace. The more the creature approached her, the hotter it felt on her chest. The object inside the necklace was glowing.

'No... not the right time... no... no...'

"Don’t touch me," Eve screamed in fear, clutching her necklace tightly and turning her back in panic.

"Ha... okay," the creature said as it left the kitchen.

"Pain... prepare food for our guest... and don’t forget to put the vinegar in the oven."

"Of course, Master," Pain replied happily.

Pain turned to Eve, saying, "Come on, Zero... you’ll shower before..."

Suddenly, Eve collapsed onto her knees, trembling. Pain rushed over to Eve to comfort her.

"Are you okay... you’re shaking... Zero..." Pain looked at Eve’s face, drenched in sweat. She murmured softly, "I almost lost control... I almost lost control..."

Pain helped Eve to stand up, reassuring her, "Don’t worry... nothing will happen to you... you’re safe here."

"Pain..." Eve said in surprise.

"Don’t worry… I won’t cook you for dinner… you’re our guest," Pain said with great happiness and joy.

Eve began to look at Pain with a mix of confusion, bewilderment, and shock.

"Hey... hey... my fear has just increased a lot more," Eve said, smiling with a strange expression.

At that moment, the Lord of Mirrors was sitting on his chair in his office. It was a disordered office with a traditional, non-modern style. One of the roots extended across the Mirror World, spanning a great distance, reaching the borders. He had a version of himself in one of the mirrors where Eve was, and that version was speaking to the Fairy Man.

"Did you find her?"

"Yes... my servant brought her to me... I didn’t expect it to be such an easy catch."

"What do you want?"

"I mean... I have everything... a place to live... a world of my own... and a servant who obeys my commands... but... there’s something missing."

"And what is it?"

"It’s power... I want more than I have... bring me the minds of children that will give me the absolute power I dream of... and take your little game with you... and if you don’t accept my condition... I’d be glad to add a child to my collection."

The Fairy Man clenched his fists angrily at what he had heard.

"You’d better be in your best condition… or else."

The Lord of Mirrors’ consciousness returned to him as he thought. Suddenly, he heard a knock at the door.

"Come in."

Pain opened the door and said, "Dinner will be ready soon... oh... what are you doing... the place is so dark in here."

"Pain... how was Zero for you?"

"Huh... I mean... she’s nice... but she’s kind of absent-minded... and she might also be lonely."

"Hmm... why do you think that?"

"Well... her nature... kind of reminds me... of someone who was just like her... her personality... is unique... and her temper... very familiar... I won’t lie... staying with her... makes me feel at ease," Pain answered happily.

"Huh... I see... Pain... I have to tell you something."

Pain was walking down the hallway, holding new clothes for Eve. She seemed absent-minded, with traces of shock visible on her face.

'Is this the purpose of bringing her here? I... I’m confused.'

"Pain... have you finished drying my clothes?" Eve called out to Pain.

"Yes... I’ve... finished drying them... I’ll come now," Pain replied.

What the Lord of Mirrors had told her was unsettling for Pain. She kept thinking about it while helping Eve put on her clothes.

"Pain... you seem absent-minded," Eve said in confusion.

"No... I’m fine... ummm... Zero..."

"What... did something happen... tell me..." Eve said as she buttoned her shirt.

"Actually... would you mind reading me a book after dinner?" Pain asked nervously.

"A book... (smiles)... sure... I’ll read you a book," Eve said happily.

"Really... that makes me so happy..." Pain said as she helped Eve, but anxiety took over her.

‘Zero... I... I’m sorry.’