Chapter 79: Proposed and Intuition
In some place and with some Airi. She also witnessed a similar scene:
The scene where all four people were sealed... still hiding in that corner and observing.
She stood frozen, her body shivering in fits. Turning to run in terror, her left hand held the glowing stone stick swinging in the suspended fear.
Running outside, she gasped for breath continuously, a heavy feeling like a boulder stuck in her chest. Gripping the edge of the wall tightly, she could not believe the scene of her friends disappearing before her eyes; that disappearance was like a great shock, like a segment of emotion being destroyed from within.
At this moment, her head held only fear....
Collapsing down as if her spirit no longer had a support point. Holding her head with both hands, she forgot they might not be her friends.
…
A moment later, there was only the sound of great thunder and the rain from outside screaming like her mind earlier. But currently, she had regained her calm; the rapid breaths had become steady again. Slowly standing up, her appearance was like someone who had lost all strength. She hadn't weakened physically; it was her spirit that had weakened.
Self-understanding that she needed to be calm. She stood up straight.
— "I lost my cool too much; maybe they weren't everyone."
Her facial muscles relaxed back to a normal state; she slowly walked toward the chair and sat down slowly.
— "So they were sealed?"
Her contemplative gaze stared toward the door, but she wasn't watching it. She simply rested her gaze there and sat silently thinking.
— "Or is it simply an exit to the outside? But I'm still here, so surely it's not an exit."
A sudden pause…
Airi was in the basement with everyone. They were silent and walking in the dim light. Opening the door, before them were large wooden barrels stacked on top of each other, blocking the entire view.
To their right, there was still a small passage to squeeze through, but a sound rang out, making them stiffen and not dare to go out, only daring to peek their faces out and observe.
It was the man; on his face and arms appeared a series of symbols like slithering snakes covering him entirely. They glowed with a brilliant red light in the dim room.
Two hands placed in front, not gripping anything, but his body trembled and strained. Two rows of teeth clenched as if wanting to crush each other.
Hovering over the stone block was the young boy groaning in painful sounds, eyes tightly shut trying to endure the pain. There was nothing supporting him, yet strangely he could fly; it seemed to be some kind of technique.
The man let out a crazed smile, his fierce eyes looking up at the boy who was suffering. He spoke with a frantic voice:
"Hahaha, you dare to escape, you monster? You must stay here forever, you disgusting beast."
He laughed even louder as if enjoying the pain.
"This time I will reinforce this seal, let's see if you can escape?"
The four stood silently behind, eyes wide with surprise at the scene right before them. No one dared to breathe heavily; they could only stand watching with their own eyes the boy who was suffering.
Airi with a rush of thoughts:
— "It's the boy who knocked on our door; why does that man want to seal him?"
He strained even harder; his two hands that were in the air immediately swept straight down as if pulling an object.
The boy hovering in the air was immediately sucked into the brown skull and disappeared without another groan; the brown skull shook violently.
Suddenly, a phantom appeared. Skin the color of blood, lumpy and wrinkled. Two red eyes, a fierce face like a monster. He growled a threat back:
"I will kill you... you bastard, this seal won't hold me for long."
After speaking, he disappeared. The shaking brown skull went silent. Leaving silence for the room.
The man exhaled a tired breath and slumped his head. Suddenly, he turned toward where the four were hiding and peeking. An eye full of deep, profound killing intent looked into their eyes. The four shrank back, immediately turning to run.
The man grabbed the sword placed against the wall quickly; he drew the sword, a sharp sound echoed. He threw the scabbard aside and gripped the sword tightly, running past the wooden barrels and into the tunnel.
The four fled hurriedly, the light from the stone shaking with the panicked running movements.
Takeshi spoke through gasps of breath while running:
"What the hell? Run, he wants to kill us."
Running out of the tunnel, the sound of hearts thumping in their chests echoed incessantly.
Ayaka glanced around the house.
"Where to hide? He'll catch up."
Takeshi said nothing; he ran toward the door and jerked it hard, flinging the door open. Turning back in a panic:
"Run outside!"
The three girls followed right behind, one by one, but then they saw no one.
Back to…
She realized something, something very terrible. Her right hand trembled as she slowly brought it before her face, eyes trembling as she looked into her palm.
— "That kid was sealed, and he is a monster. But the people earlier... were also sealed... Could it be?"
She brushed her bangs back, leaning on her hand and holding her head. Trying her best to stay calm, the rapid breathing heard earlier gradually subsided.
— "Not sure... maybe it's because they went near and the seal was set to seal anyone who approaches."
— "And that kid is a monster, so maybe he is very strong and forced the man to seal him."
Realizing something, she raised her head, tossing her messy hair.
— "But that kid has power, while we don't. And there doesn't even need to be any man."
She held her head, face scowling, trying to think further to make it as logical as possible.
— "Damn it, why do I find it so logical?"
She swallowed with anxiety and bewilderment.
— "This is a trial, and we need to solve it... And maybe, its solution is the truth that we are monsters?"
She felt this idea was terrible, but if considering this a trial, it became increasingly logical. Currently, she could not think of any more logical hypothesis.
— "Then what must I do? Even if I accept that as truth, what's next to escape?"
Frowning, another way of thinking that she found very logical, a bit of anxiety but accompanied by a bit of joy.
— "If I know, then there's also everyone else."
She stood up abruptly and slammed the table hard; this time she was very certain of the answer she had proposed. The slam made the table shake violently, feeling as if it would collapse facing time and her violent strike.
— "Exactly, it can only be that. Now I need to give this information to everyone so they know."
Realizing something, she sat down again in contemplation.
— "But is it just that simple?"
— "Simply knowing we are monsters, then escaping sounds way too easy, doesn't it? Feels like this trial is deeper."
Opening her eyes wide, her body sitting on the chair with her back straight.
— "I see, noticing it again now:"
— "First, there are other houses containing me and everyone. Counting my room and 3 other rooms I once peeked into. That means there are even more, and if there are more, this confirms that..."
While thinking, she stopped and proposed a different way of thinking. She expanded her thinking to the maximum.
— "Currently this room has no one, so if other rooms are the same. Won't there be many rooms, while out there are many different houses, but the common point is they all have us in them."
— "Think about the impossible, Airi."
....
— "So if I know the truth, and others also know, then an empty room or one without me will be the condition to escape."
Her eyes widened at her own crazy way of thinking; her face clearly showed that even she could not believe it.
— "Right, right."
— "Other Airis and everyone can also go to other rooms, and if they also know the truth and go to the place where they are missing, then they can escape."
— "According to my thinking, this trial definitely needs enough conditions, and must have exactly 4 people in the room to work; though I haven't solved this yet, it is extremely logical."
Her two hands now clenched weakly; she felt as if she were approaching the truth. Her breath was rapid, but not out of fear; she was partly feeling excited at the discovery.
— "I've got it."
Scene change…
Airi B, Ayaka, Takeshi, and Elyssia were standing at the stairs and observing the house once over, eyes slow but sure, trying not to miss any detail.
Airi B sighed in boredom.
"Haizzz, nothing, huh?"
Just then, Takeshi, standing right at the edge of the stairs bending down, saw the door leading down to the tunnel.
Quite surprised, he pointed down and shouted:
"Hey guys, there's a door here."
The three girls walked over, eyes surprised looking down.
Airi B felt a flash of joy.
"Here it is."
Ayaka: "Hidden so well, like a blind spot of the eye; kept walking back and forth without seeing anything, wouldn't have known if I didn't pay attention."
Elyssia nodded, eyes still fixed on the door below.
"True."
She took out her pen and paper and began writing.
Airi B took up two sticks with glowing stones on the tips and slowly walked down.
"Let's go, let's see what's down there."
Elyssia turned around; she habitually and cautiously glanced around with her good eyes. Suddenly, she saw from a distance, on the ground, a white paper folded up lying right next to the door. As if someone had shoved this scrap of paper from under the small slit of the door.
Frowning slightly, she walked down the stairs which "creaked" with every step she took.
The three behind were a bit confused and glanced after Elyssia.
Ayaka asked curiously:
"Hey, where are you going, Elyssia? Aren't we exploring the stone cellar?"
Elyssia turned back and smiled.
"Wait for me a moment."
She walked past the table normally, her eyes already set below and still pinned on the paper on the ground.
Approaching, she bent down and picked up the paper. The paper wasn't too coarse, but it was wet at the edge. She frowned slightly and looked down at the door slit.
— "Huh? It's wet? Could it be..."
Without warning, she immediately opened the door at great speed, wanting to see who it was. But before her eyes was only the silent black sky, the sound of heavy rain from outside rushing in and hitting her, lightning flashing across her face.
She frowned and stared outside for a moment.
Suddenly Ayaka from behind placed a hand on her shoulder and called:
"Hey? What's wrong?"
Airi B stood behind with her arms crossed, looking outside with Elyssia.
"Is there something suspicious?"
Elyssia turned back, her face a bit confused. She held out the piece of paper folded neatly and small in her hand.
"Look at this."
The three approached and observed, quite curious.
Ayaka: "Paper with the next clue?"
Takeshi rubbed his chin, looking thoughtful.
"Probably so."
Airi B: "Just say it."
Elyssia nodded; she pointed her empty left hand toward the stairs.
"Earlier standing there I looked at the door and saw this paper, so I came to see."
Takeshi was very surprised at the fairly long distance.
"You can see that far? Such a tiny scrap of paper."
Elyssia nodded.
"I am an angel, my right eye is different from yours; my eyes see night like day."
Ayaka was quite interested; her face clearly showed it.
"Sounds really interesting."
Airi B was quite serious.
"So this paper?"
Elyssia shook her head; she held the paper high before everyone and pointed at it.
"Look, the paper is wet. So I think some guy outside shoved it in from the outside."
Takeshi seemed to realize.
"So that's the reason."
Elyssia slowly unfolded each fold of the paper; everyone was quite suspenseful and watched without blinking at the center, which was the paper.
When fully opened, it was upside down; she turned it toward herself and read, frowning in confusion after seeing the content inside.
The three silently observed Elyssia.
Elyssia held it out before everyone. She pointed her left hand at it.
"Look, what is this?"
Inside the paper was written:
4 - 0 = wait. 4 - 4 = go.
The four were silent for a while, trying to understand what was written in the paper, but no one understood.
Takeshi: "Wait? Go? What does it mean?"
Ayaka: "Some code?"
Elyssia: "I don't know either."
Airi B sighed.
"Try to solve it everyone; it's probably a clue leading to something the trial gives."
Takeshi pointed toward the table.
"Go sit out there; standing makes my legs tired."
…
The four were now sitting on chairs, the small paper placed in the middle of the table; everyone was silent, trying to understand what the scrap of paper meant. Each person had a different look: one scratching their head, one holding their head....
Elyssia spoke up, breaking this silent human atmosphere.
"Has anyone thought of anything logical?"
Airi B shook her head helplessly.
"I'm at a loss."
Takeshi scratched his head in helplessness and irritation.
"4 - 0 = wait, what the hell is it? Does it want us to wait for something?"
Ayaka sighed.
"I think, what's the point of thinking so much? Been sitting a while now, why not try looking at that cellar, might be better."
Airi B glanced at Ayaka.
"But it could be a clue or some warning? And it's important for us going down to the basement."
Takeshi nodded, agreeing with Airi B.
"I think we should consider it more carefully; every step is dangerous."
Ayaka sighed; she slumped onto the table in boredom.
"But we can't solve it!"
Elyssia had recorded it in her paper; she tucked the pen and paper into her shoe.
"Just investigate a bit more."
Airi B pointed at the paper in the middle of the table, where the paper had been placed.
"4 dash 0 and 4 dash 4, what the hell is it?"
Elyssia: "I think it's a condition; for example, if there's enough of 4 of something, then must go. If not enough, then must wait until it's enough."
Takeshi: "Sounds logical but still too vague, need something more specific."
Elyssia shrugged and shook her head.
"Where would I get it?"
Ayaka frowned slightly; she had an idea.
"Hey, what if 4 here is us?"
Airi B and Elyssia nodded slightly; it seemed logical.
Elyssia: "Sounds logical; so if there are enough of the 4 of us, we must go? If missing, then must wait?"
Airi B: "4, well there are only the four of us here, but thinking about the information on the paper still feels confusing."
Takeshi: "Too tangled, I think we should try the basement; thinking back and forth is just a dead end."
Airi B sighed.
"Just keep thinking, Takeshi; who knows, maybe suddenly it's solved?"
Elyssia glanced at Takeshi and nodded in agreement with what Airi B said.
"That's right, you're losing patience. Just sit tight."
Takeshi sighed in boredom.
"But I can't think of anything!"
He noticed Ayaka was slumping her eyes down at the table and had been silent for a while without saying a word... He pointed at Ayaka as she breathed breaths that made her body move up and down with the rhythm.
He was curious.
"Is she sleeping?"
Airi B shook Ayaka, causing her to wake up; she raised her face with a sleepy look, a face as if she had just lost her soul. Glancing around, her voice was weak.
"Is something wrong?"
Realizing she had just slept, Ayaka brushed her hair behind her ear and smiled slightly.
"Sorry, I just fell asleep."
Elyssia smiled back.
"You sleep so easily?"
Takeshi exhaled in relief.
"Made me think something happened to you! Scared me."
Ayaka kept that smile.
"Sorry... sorry."
Takeshi nodded.
"It's okay."
Ayaka leaned her arms on the table, a bit tired. She placed her cheek in her palm. Her voice gradually faded with the sleepiness:
"You guys... found... anything... yet..."
Ayaka fell back into sleep.
Takeshi was a bit scared; he turned to Elyssia and pointed at Ayaka.
"Is she okay? Are you sure it's just sleep? Or is the trial doing this?"
Elyssia shook her head.
"Don't know, maybe she's just simply sleepy."
Airi B was a bit cautious.
"Seems too full of openings; let's wake her once more and try checking."
Just then, Ayaka shifted her posture; she didn't lean on her arms anymore but changed to slumping her face down on the table and stretching out. It seemed she was simply having a normal sleep.
The three watched Ayaka's movements, feeling she was just sleeping normally, causing everyone to lower their guard.
…
After a while of the three sitting and analyzing without anyone figuring it out, boredom and fatigue were clearly shown on their faces.
Ayaka, after sleeping, slowly crawled up and observed. Seeing everyone still awake, all leaning on the table thinking.
Ayaka spoke:
"Hey guys? Found anything?"
The three who were silently thinking immediately turned back; everyone was bored and shook their heads.
Airi B, with a slow voice escaping her mouth like a snail, her voice clearly showing fatigue.
"Of course not yet."
Ayaka rubbed her eyes a few times to get rid of the sleepiness; she exhaled a long breath. Having just slept made her feel full of vitality.
"Sounds hard, huh? Then try exploring the cellar, maybe there's a clue."
Boom!!
A terrible thunder sound from outside echoed; it felt as if it were right over their heads. Everyone flinched, their bodies shuddering. It felt like their hearts were about to be knocked out of their chests. At this moment, their hearts were beating wildly.
Takeshi was quite annoyed.
"What the hell is with that loud thunder?"
Ayaka exhaled a long breath; she thought she had died after that thunder.
"Startled me so much, my heart is about to jump out of my chest."
Airi B stroked her chest.
Elyssia sighed.
"Then let's explore that cellar now."
Ayaka nodded.
"Yeah, about time to go."
Elyssia reached out and took the scrap of paper on the table, then folded it neatly and tucked it into her chest to store it.
Airi B nodded reluctantly; she was a bit disappointed at not being able to solve what was written on the paper and didn't want to explore the basement too hastily yet.
"Um."
Takeshi was the first to stand up and walk outside. Following right behind were the three girls.
Takeshi turned back.
"I'm going first."
Takeshi just like that entered the small gap connecting to the old, crude wooden door.
Airi B followed right behind then bent down to the floor and picked up the two sticks with glowing stones she had placed ready there.
Turning back, she gave Ayaka a stick with a glowing stone. Ayaka reached out and took it.
Ayaka turned to Elyssia.
"Surely you don't need a light?"
Elyssia nodded.
"Yeah, don't worry."
Airi B stepped into the small gap and gave the glowing stone stick to Takeshi.
Takeshi took it and spoke with a cautious voice:
"Everyone be careful, okay."
Ayaka stepped in right after Airi B and turned back to say to Elyssia:
"You go last and record it, okay Elyssia?"
Elyssia nodded slightly.
"Yeah."
Takeshi opened the door and shone the glowing stone inside. The inside still had nothing but dust clinging everywhere and cobwebs.
Takeshi turned back.
"Slowly."
He slowly stepped inside, followed closely by the three girls.