The more I tried to think calmly, the more my anger rose. Even when I tried to think of something else, the heat rising from my stomach wouldn’t easily subside.

If I meet her again, I must punch Cali at least once. It would probably only hurt my fist, and I’m not even sure if I could land the hit.

“Sigh.”

I need to calm down. I mustn’t mistake what I need to do. Punching her is something I can only do if I manage to survive.

“……”

The basic guideline for survival is to stay still and wait in the synced position without moving. This rule was established because the location where one falls during a sync is consistent.

But now? This isn’t even a normal sync to begin with, so is it possible to endure in this situation without a single item?

What on earth is the identity of that man who caused the sync?

Why did I find him familiar, and why did he seem to recognize me as well?

−Hey, can you hear us?

−If you can hear us, wave your hand!

−Are you hurt somewhere? You don’t look well. Should we help you?

I pretended not to hear anything and slowly got up. I need to go somewhere else.

−She ignored us! She ignored us!

−Let’s tell Thorn, let’s tell Thorn!

−No, how about we tell Nemue?

−Hey, we won’t tell on you, so just play with us for a bit. Okay?

They’ve been talking about telling on me, but I have no idea what they’re trying to tell.

Formless lights, glowing like fireflies, floated and followed me. I just kept walking briskly.

The sound of grass and wood fragments crumbling echoed endlessly along with the chattering of children’s voices. It’s mentally exhausting. I was already tired to begin with.

−If you keep doing that, I’ll really tell on you!

−It smells nice.

−Play with us for a bit. Just play with us for a bit!

This noise pollution is unreal. Even a summer night when you can’t sleep because of mosquitoes wouldn’t be this noisy.

“Even if you ask me to play, what can I…!”

Just as I finally couldn’t hold back my irritation and was about to say something, my legs gave out. A cold sensation permeated the surroundings.

In the distance, something passes by.

Following it, frost-white rime covered the ground. Thud, thud, thud, thud. Then, as if an earthquake had occurred, a massive rumbling sound echoed.

−Shh.

−Looks like they’re angry. It’s because there are intruders.

−Those people invaded our paradise, killed our friends. That’s why they’re angry.

The voices chattered. The ice covering the ground bloomed into flowers.

Thud, the rumbling sound stopped. At the same time, all noise ceased. Whoosh, even the sound of the wind scattering stopped.

−You, who are you?

In front of me was something in the form of a white girl.

And it was emitting a very cold aura.

−…Among the unpleasant intruders, a child with a nostalgic scent has come. How did you get here?

That is the boss monster of this gate. That was all that came to mind. Questions like why the master of the gate was in front of me.

Before I could even feel fear.

−Hmm, good. Unlike other intruders, you’re okay. Yes, do you want to look around the forest? Do you want to play with the children?

It was eerie. I thought that perhaps all of this might be an illusion or a dream. It was so absurd that I couldn’t help but laugh.

−The black thorns and white thorns are very angry, so don’t provoke them.

Ignoring my hollow laughter, the girl lightly floated into the air and disappeared somewhere.

The noise that had stopped returned.

−Nemue didn’t get angry. She was very angry, but why?

−Oh, crying? This human is crying.

−Crying? Don’t cry. Don’t cry. It’s okay.

−Nemue didn’t get angry. It’s okay! Don’t cry.

The chattering voices also started to babble something to me again.

I cried? Tears… Ah, I did cry.

I could feel the moisture wetting my cheeks, but I couldn’t control my emotions. Why am I crying? Was that boss monster so scary?

As I wiped away the flowing tears with my sleeve, tears flowed from my other eye.

Thud−!

Just as I was getting used to the voices telling me not to cry, a massive sound shook the forest. I could see birds hurriedly fleeing.

I saw something beyond the trees. No, I just saw trees.

−It’s Thorn!

−White Thorn?

A giant tree. In its branches, presumed to be hands, it held a large club. A monster that’s easy to deal with and has clear weaknesses, but at the same time is high-ranked and tricky.

Thud−!

The reason why this monster is tricky to handle was simple. It’s just big. And stupidly strong.

I tapped my frozen legs to make them move, then pressed myself tightly behind a nearby tree. Could this tree hide my body? Cold sweat trickled down my back.

−Do you want to hide, young child?

At the same time, a slightly more mature voice was heard. Before I knew it, I fell on my backside, and the sound of wind scattering was heard.

It was a woman’s voice. A mature woman’s voice. I clearly heard a voice different from the chattering of children.

Where on earth from?

Thud−!

Before I could be scared by the incomprehensible situation, the echoing sound urged me again. I hurriedly got up, hid my body behind the tree, and peeked out to see a tree with a snow-white trunk walking with thunderous steps.

That tree looks at least 100, no, 500 years old…

The tree, seemingly unaware of my presence, headed somewhere. It looked like it was following the trail of the white girl I met earlier.

−White Thorn just met a human. That’s why it’s so angry. It’s okay, we won’t harm you.

The voice echoed again. Only then could I understand the identity of this voice.

This forest is a gate.

And gates are places where everything is dangerous.

Even objects could be monsters, and even the ground I’m standing on could be a monster.

Yes, even this tree I’m hiding behind could be a monster.

−Now you see me.

The tree spoke to me.

Suddenly, as I shifted my gaze, I saw numerous trees. I saw birds flying in the sky. I saw lights hiding between the grass. I saw a flower field in full bloom beyond.

All those things.

“Ah, aah……”

I fainted right there.

When I opened my eyes again, it was a time when the stars were embedded in the sky like jewels. As I got up, something slid off me. It was leaves piled up like a blanket.

“……”

I could hear the sounds of insects and birds, but there was no other noise. I brushed off the leaves with a disgruntled expression.

I’m going crazy. What should I do now?

Whether I move or stay put, if there are only monsters around, the result will be the same. Strangely, they didn’t show hostility towards me, but there’s no telling what might happen.

I wonder if Gunsin got caught up in this too.

Since there are other humans here, it’s not impossible. Although it’s someone who threatened and tried to kill me, finding that person might be safer now.

Thump thump. My heart was beating fiercely. The thought dominating my mind was clear: I want to go home.

♪−.

A singing voice was heard from somewhere. Stupidly, even though I wanted to run away, I followed that singing voice.

Hiding my body behind trees, entrusting myself to things that might threaten my life.

“……”

It was a strange feeling. Is this baseless feeling of despair really because I want to escape from here? Or…

♪−.

The singing voice became clearer. I saw light in the distance.

The scene I stole a glance at, hiding behind a tree that divided light and darkness, was.

A huge lake and a girl singing there. The translucent apparitions of frolicking children and two black and white trees standing guard behind them.

And pale human corpses.

There were several people. Some had already become corpses, half-submerged in the lake, being caressed by the singing girl, while others were struggling desperately to escape from the lake.

A human captured at the back screamed. He seemed to be an awakened one, taking something out and throwing it into the air before running away. An explosion occurred, and the shapes in my vision blurred from its impact.

“……”

The escape failed, of course. The ‘thing that used to be human’ was completely crushed by the club swung by the tree and fell, spewing blood.

At the sight before my eyes, I ran away from that spot.

I ran until I was out of breath.

Everything I saw seemed like an illusion, and their not harming me seemed kind. Maybe I thought nothing would happen.

But this place was reality.

A terrible reality.

My senses blurred. If it weren’t for the voice I heard right after, I would have collapsed.

“I’m sure I heard a sound here. Damn, I also have thoughts…! Oh? Here, here! There’s a person! I’m telling you there’s a person!”

It was the sound of a human voice.

“Hey. Hey? Are you alright?”

As I heard the rough voice of someone going through puberty, I closed my eyes.

I’m tired, I want to rest…

A faint singing voice could be heard from far away. It was as gentle and warm as a lullaby, and as sad as if it were wishing for something.

“Oh my, are you awake?”

“……”

“Looks like you’ve been wandering alone for days. You’re in terrible shape. Here, would you like to eat this?”

Something was held out in front of me. It was a chocolate bar you might see at a convenience store.

“Um, are you…”

“Oh, I’m not a monster that looks like a person. You can eat it without worry.”

“What?”

“This is the emergency food I carry around.”

The tone was friendly. I held the chocolate bar and stared blankly for a while.

“Oh, this person is crying?”

“Must be eating for the first time in ages.”

“How is that a meal? It’s a snack.”

“Tsk, wasting food when we’re already short on supplies…”

“Don’t say that. And I hope you haven’t forgotten that this is all my personal property.”

I could hear them chattering among themselves in front of me. I carefully bit the end of the chocolate bar. The excessive sweetness made my throat burn.

“Are you feeling a bit better?”

The woman who handed me the food smiled. If you want more, just say so, we have other things too. The calmer her voice, the more indescribable emotions welled up inside me.

“The situation isn’t okay, but you’ll be fine. When you’ve eaten and calmed down, talk to us. We’ll explain.”

I silently chewed and swallowed the chocolate bar. Somehow, it tasted salty.