Chapter 88: Elyssia B II.
Suddenly, the surrounding space as if distorted. Takeshi, Airi and Ayaka immediately disappeared before her eyes, the bloodstain on the floor still warm also evaporated as if never existed.
The man stood far away, at the crevice. Hand just swung the sword away still held up also disappeared. All disappeared before her eyes without leaving any trace.
Elyssia stood still, body frozen. Two eyes wide, pupils dilated and trembling in the sockets. She had witnessed everything, but didn't know what to do but just stand and watch, everything happened too fast for her.
* "W-What... happened...? Why did they disappear?"
As if realizing something, she immediately turned sharply up, aiming her gaze toward the door of the room, as if waiting for something.
* "That was the memory erasure time... no, more like a forced loop."
She looked toward the crevice at the stairs, skeptical and full of confusion.
* "Then where is the 'me' of this room? Earlier it was Ayaka who was stabbed to death by the sword, if 'I' was killed then it must have looped? Lingering death? Doesn't sound reasonable at all, Ayaka hit by the sword immediately disappeared."
* "So there's a possibility the 'me' of this room already went out, if so they won't have information. Meaning this room will return to the beginning and be lacking me?"
As if hearing some sound from behind. It was quite small, but she could clearly know she heard it. Turned sharply back, but only the closed door, bowed down and discovered a piece of paper folded hurriedly, still with rainwater.
Frowned slightly and bowed with confusion. Picked up the folded paper, she stood straight up and opened it.
* "Four minus zero equals wait. Four minus four equals go."
* "What does it mean?"
She turned back and heard a voice coming from the room, then looked at the paper in her hand.
Skeptical eyes looked at the paper in hand, she still felt it was wet. She turned back and looked at the door.
* "This paper is wet, very likely someone just pushed it in from underneath."
She grabbed the doorknob and opened it, alert eyes darted in the dark rain. But nothing, she released her hand from the door. The door as if used to it, slowly closed without any impact.
But she didn't care, she was quite panicked.
* "What to do now, in a bit they go out and see me outside and soaking wet then they'll suspect immediately. Or should I pretend? Pretend how now?"
* "Now pretending while inside the house and I am wet like this is not okay, or go outside? But going outside the house disappears immediately."
* "Then standing under the eaves is okay?"
She turned and opened the door once more, looking outside with a worried look.
* "Praying not, finding a house like this is very tiring."
She lifted her foot with anxiety, but then also decided to set her foot down. Suddenly remembered when she was outside she could look into the crevice and see inside, she further felt perhaps it was not so.
She stepped out, but nothing happened, the door still opened and she still looked inside. The feeling of fear lowered, the door slowly closed. She stood there and waited…
…
After an unclear interval. It was long enough that she fell asleep outside and her clothes had dried.
Inside had undergone another loop that she didn't know.
At this time, Airi, Takeshi and Ayaka were standing at the stairs and observing the room.
Airi held a paper in hand, she read the words on it and observed the room again.
"In the paper it's recorded the next room is safe then we just checked, downstairs seems also safe."
Takeshi propped hands on hips and observed the house with Ayaka.
Ayaka: "Don't know for what reason Elyssia cannot participate?"
Takeshi shrugged and shook his head.
"There will be a reason."
Airi nodded, her voice serious and said:
"Important is we need to complete the trial."
Takeshi: "Right."
The three stepped down the stairs and observed the room once.
Airi: "This house has few details, right?"
Ayaka just like that walked to the kitchen and turned back saying:
"Hey, I'm going in to see if the kitchen has anything."
Airi nodded.
"See if you can find a knife?"
Takeshi smiled and stepped into the kitchen with Ayaka, he happily helped:
"Let me help."
Airi stood still, right hand holding a pen and ready to write. Hand upturned and the paper was placed in the palm.
* "Hope nothing suddenly rushes out."
…
After searching the cabinets, the only thing welcoming them was bowls and plates... Takeshi and Ayaka walked out without harvesting anything.
Takeshi let out a sigh.
"Nothing at all."
Ayaka pointed around the room.
"Could it be only these small items? If so how is the trial?"
Takeshi stepped to the table and sat down, he stared at the water pitcher and four metal cups. As if thinking of something, he pointed at them.
"Hey, could it be these are poisoned or have some clue?"
He picked up a metal cup and turned the bottom and looked, then observed once more many times.
"Why is there nothing?"
Ayaka and Airi approached and sat down.
Airi: "Not that easy."
Takeshi: "What to do now?"
Ayaka pointed out the door, excited voice:
"Can I go out and watch the rain?"
Airi lowered her voice and warned:
"Be careful, I'm afraid the trial doesn't allow going out, best you stay inside here."
Takeshi: "Then opening the door and standing inside looking out is okay."
Ayaka nodded and smiled.
"Don't worry."
She walked to the door and opened it, before her eyes the sky was pitch black, heavy rain poured down. Her face was quite surprised seeing the rain.
* "Woahh, heavy rain."
Suddenly she looked down, saw a familiar figure sitting leaning against the wall and head tilted sleeping.
Opened eyes wide, she was skeptical and peered close, but she still didn't forget not to step outside.
* "Elyssia?"
Seeing Elyssia sitting outside, Ayaka boldly stepped off the stone floor and set foot on the wooden floor outside.
Airi still sitting at the table opened eyes wide seeing Ayaka step out... but nothing happened so she lowered her gaze.
Ayaka sat down and nudged Elyssia, calling softly:
"Hey, Elyssia? Are you sleeping?"
Ayaka was quite panicked, she turned back and called loudly:
"Hey you two, come here. Elyssia is sitting here."
Takeshi stood up, he was quite curious and walked over. Airi seeing that also followed immediately after.
Takeshi, curious voice: "What happened?"
Both stepped outside and saw Elyssia was sleeping, quite confused and looked at each other.
Ayaka still nudged Elyssia and called:
"Hey?... Hey?.... Elyssia"
Elyssia slowly opened eyes waking up, she suddenly was startled, opened eyes wide and jerked her body back, face quite panicked.
Takeshi, Airi and Elyssia also were startled following Elyssia's reaction.
But then Elyssia calmed down, but voice still quite skeptical and trembling:
* "Y-You... guys...???"
Ayaka: "Hey? Why are you sleeping here?"
Elyssia was trying to think of an answer, she only forced an embarrassed smile.
* "What to do?"
"Umm, I don't know, suddenly you guys are standing in front of me. Where is this?"
Airi frowned in confusion.
"How can you appear here?"
Elyssia forced a smile.
"I don't know."
Takeshi propped hands on both sides.
"Anyway, having enough people is fine, not lacking is good."
Elyssia stood up and glanced around.
"Where is this?"
Airi: "This is our trial."
Elyssia nodded understanding.
"I see, so how far have you guys gone?"
Ayaka stood up and turned into the house.
"Come inside, this is the trial's space."
Elyssia followed immediately after and Takeshi also followed in.
Airi was silent and looked at Elyssia entering with skeptical eyes.
* "The paper also didn't mention how many people. Initially our group appeared with only three, strange Elyssia is outside alone."
* "Feeling like it seems this trial is impersonating or doing something, temporarily still only suspecting."
All four sat at the table. Suddenly Elyssia took out a paper from her chest, she read it, curious eyes brought it to the middle of the table.
"Everyone look, this paper was in my chest."
Airi took the paper and looked, Ayaka peered close. Takeshi propped hands on the table, face discouraged not knowing what to do currently.
Airi asked again: "It was in your chest?"
Elyssia nodded.
"Yeah, I felt strange, who knew there was one."
Airi placed the paper on the table then Ayaka grabbed the paper and stared, seemingly wanting to think.
Airi was quite confused with the information on the paper.
* "Four minus zero equals wait, four minus four equals go, what does it mean?"
* "She found it in her chest. Could it be only because of this clue paper, so she was teleported elsewhere?... Sounds too hard to believe?"
Takeshi: "Probably because she was the one holding the clue so she was outside."
Elyssia shook her head.
"I don't know."
Ayaka as if realizing something, she spoke with a hurried voice:
"Hey, guys. I think the meaning of this paper is if there's no one in the house then wait, if enough then leave."
Airi as if realizing something.
* "Wait, if so there's a possibility Elyssia is a person from outside? But she is still sitting here, could it be someone transformed?"
Takeshi also realized something, he stood up abruptly, backed away and pointed a finger straight at Elyssia's face, voice trembling:
* "C-Could it be... Elyssia is the person from outside."
Elyssia hurriedly waved her hands and denied.
"Huh? How can it be me? The paper was on my person."
* "Not good, could bringing the paper out as a clue for everyone to discuss be a wrong decision?"
Ayaka and Airi with skeptical eyes looked at Elyssia waving her hands and looking at everyone.
Elyssia was trying to show she was not what Takeshi said.
Ayaka spoke: "Also very possible."
Airi nodded.
* "If being a person from outside yet bringing that paper out is truly stupid, she is smart."
"Surely the paper is for us to have internal friction, then suspect each other."
Takeshi slowly sat down, his face showing clear suspicion, but hearing Airi speak, he also reduced the suspicion.
Airi: "The fact Elyssia appeared outside, then she had the paper on her. Can only be the trial did that, for us to be divided."
Ayaka nodded in agreement.
"That way maybe trust will be lost and confront each other."
Takeshi folded arms across his chest.
"Then is that all? We still don't know how the trial is, we still only know we need to solve the trial, but what to do?"
Elyssia smiled.
"Maybe exploring."