The Outer God Needs Warmth

Chapter 172

"A small frame with a subdued expression, a face stuck like a skull of someone who was once alive, holding a staff made from the bones and spine of a person."

"The most surprising thing is that this person is here."

"When this girl died, she was almost nothing but skin and flesh, and she fell to the place where I am while still alive."

"Then, she twisted and disappeared without leaving a trace, as if she had never existed."

"At least, she's not someone who references my memories."

"In my mind, it’s strange to have Hyoukesuni here."

"Since the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign said I’m the master, I thought this place might be a mental world, like in many works, but Hyoukesuni is here. And Daegon said I’m a guest."

"Is one of them lying?"

"A demon from somewhere comes to mind."

"What kind of place is this? To figure it out, the simplest and most certain way is to face it."

"I approached Hyoukesuni."

"‘We’ve met for the third time.’" "‘It should be the second time.’"

"Hyoukesuni said something strange. Second time?"

"Now that I think about it, the atmosphere of the dream changed suddenly. If there had been many mixed forms of flesh, corpses, and trash, like a cruel fairy tale, from some point, I started meeting past people."

"When was it?"

"It was after meeting Hyoukesuni. From then on, people I knew began to appear. Not unknown corpses or animal carcasses."

"Then, I need to ask this question."

"‘What do you think about people who laugh when they're scared?’"

"Hyoukesuni’s expression twisted sharply at my question. Then, she made a face of disgust."

"‘Are you mocking me?’"

"Yes. This is definitely closer to the real Hyoukesuni I know. And the first Hyoukesuni I met is not the one in front of me."

"There’s still no light or warmth, so she’s probably a fake."

"‘Yes, I’m mocking you. You’re a witch, right? Answer the question.’"

"If this is a mental world, it should be fine to speak casually. Hyoukesuni’s face twisted in disgust, then, when I insisted, she flinched and looked up at me, her face filled with fear."

"‘I think it’s pathetic.’"

"She thinks it’s pathetic. But this isn’t the real Hyoukesuni’s words. It’s just meaningless mutterings."

"‘I’m going to enter the castle ahead.’"

"Hyoukesuni looked at me, then subtly turned her gaze away and looked behind me. There’s probably something behind me."

"I didn’t turn around intentionally."

"Probably, it’s a witch. An unnamed witch."

"Since something started to change after I asked Hyoukesuni the question, I wonder what went wrong there?"

"If she’s following me, she should show me everything."

"I can predict what’s beyond the pitch-black walls with no depth."

"‘You know this is the opposite side of the exit, right?’"

"At Hyoukesuni’s words, I nodded. Yes, I know. At first, I thought I was watching a fairy tale, thinking maybe I’d meet the Heart Queen if I went to the castle."

"But halfway through, I forgot. It wasn’t a fairy tale scene anymore, suddenly, I started meeting people from the past."

"That’s why I moved toward the castle. And midway, I found a reason to keep going."

"‘Yes. I know.’"

"Hyoukesuni hesitated, wasting time. So, I stared at her. When she caught my gaze, she made a truly disgusted face, then finally walked to the wall."

"She placed her staff against the wall and knocked it lightly."

"Boom!"

"With a loud sound, the wall cracked and opened. The stones that made up the wall moved and formed the shape of a castle gate. But there was no door, only endless darkness inside."

"And beyond that darkness, a white castle appeared."

"I didn’t hesitate and stepped into the darkness. I was engulfed in dense darkness, so thick it seemed to stick."

"My body touched the darkness."

"I felt nothing. It’s the same coldness I always felt. The coldness I’m feeling right now. The cold that endlessly grows stronger, making it impossible to get used to. The cold that drives me mad. Is it the madness that’s making it cold? I kept walking, not wandering aimlessly, but walking toward my destination."

"I see a large keyhole."

"I took the key with the erased letters from my pocket and inserted it."

"Clang!"

"But the key didn’t fit."

"Huh?"

"Could it be that I was supposed to get a key somewhere, and I missed it? Or should I have brought the witch earlier? I could go back now, but it would be quite a laborious task."

"So, I moved along the corridor, pressed the elevator button, but it still didn’t move, so I headed for the stairs."

"I opened the emergency exit door to go down the stairs, but it didn’t open."

"What’s going on? Is this a bug?"

"I looked around, but I couldn’t find a way back. Eventually, I returned to the door. I wondered if I could jump down, so I tried to climb over the wall of the corridor, but there was a hard wall blocking the empty space."

"The door lock turned into a keyhole, but the key still didn’t fit."

"I wondered if I should try the doorbell."

"No sound came."

"This time, I knocked on the door."

"But even after waiting, no one came out."

"I guess I wasn’t supposed to ignore the companion and leave. What do I do now?"

"Standing still in the corridor, I suddenly heard footsteps."

"The elevator opened, and a man walked out."

"It’s me."

"Though my face doesn’t look like it’s been painted black, I know it’s my face."

"The man walked toward me, took a key from his pocket, and opened the door."

"I glanced at the key, and the word ‘Past’ was written at the end."

"The door opened, and a small house appeared. The man entered, so I followed him inside."

"He acted as if he didn’t recognize me."

"The total sum of my memories."

"If it’s like that, what should I do here?"

"While thinking that, I looked around the house, and the man changed clothes, relaxed, and entered the room to turn on the TV."

"Then suddenly, he spoke to me."

"‘It’s the exit door.’"

"Saying that, he pointed at the crackling screen."

"‘Is the theme park over?’" "‘Have you done some self-reflection?’" "‘Impossible.’"

"I couldn’t possibly do that. When I shook my head to deny it, the man smiled with the only visible lower jaw, as if he expected it."

"‘Right. What would we do with that? If the show’s over, just go back.’" "‘Right.’"

"Then suddenly, he took the key from his pocket."

"‘Do you know what this is?’"

"‘Do you think I know when you don’t?’"

"‘It’s useless.’"

"‘That’s how all memories of the past are.’"

"I must have missed the door I was supposed to enter. I talked aimlessly with the man, then went into the TV. I wasn’t too worried."

"When I play games, once I clear the scenario with 60% progress, I just leave it behind."

"Then I felt a sensation of falling from a high place, and I woke up in my bed."

"The luxurious accommodation in front of the Royal Academy. The ceiling there."

"I’ve returned to the real world."

"I don’t know what’s going on, but since I got the witch’s name, let’s say everything turned out well. And I can also feel the weight of something metallic near my buttocks."

"So the witch’s name is Maleficent?"

"It’s a very classic name."