The Land of Regret.
A name Takakai had given this place himself.
A fire station. A high-end restaurant. An office building.
Structures piled atop one another in impossible configurations, their lingering Obsessions replaying fragments of their past lives.
A similar phenomenon had occurred in Shirakawa Apartments, but there, the setting had been confined to a single apartment building—just minor variations across time, like the dual spaces of Room 109.
Here, in Nutty Putty Cave, the distortions were far more elaborate.
Takakai suspected it was because far more people had died here—and because many more had been involved in shaping the cave's rules.
Not every victim could leave behind a Regret.
From what he'd seen, only those deeply tied to the cave before its collapse could imprint their memories onto the environment.
The fire station belonged to the rescue team.
The office building housed the cave's staff.
The high-end restaurant? Probably linked to Anthony T. Bush.
This time, Takakai's goal was to uncover new areas—to piece together more of the past.
And, of course, to retrieve that key he hadn't used last loop.
Where exactly does this "power relay system" lead?
"You're sure you want to follow me in here? It's not safe. No telling what's lurking inside."
Takakai glanced at Lixar.
"That's exactly why I have to go. I need to understand what happened here—how to fix it."
Lixar's tone was deadly serious.
And, according to Takakai's Blessing, the man radiated genuine goodwill—not a shred of malice.
The Blessing had never flagged Lixar as a threat.
Yet Takakai couldn't shake his unease.
Am I just being paranoid?
He had to consider the possibility.
But in the end, he stayed silent—maintaining his guarded facade as he stepped into the fire station.
Just like last time, the interior was freezing.
Doors and walls fused together unnaturally.
At the far end of the hallway, Obsessions repeated their training drills like broken records.
BANG!
Takakai kicked the door open, black umbrella in hand.
Every entity in the room snapped their heads toward the noise.
But under the umbrella's concealment, they couldn't see him.
After a moment of eerie stillness, they returned to their mindless routines.
Lixar lingered in the hallway, waiting for an opening.
Takakai ignored him, moving instead toward a previously unexplored corner—where another door stood.
Beyond it lay a garage, housing a single fire truck.
Of course.
To the doomed rescue team, this place would've been unforgettable.
Every call to the cave would've started here.
Takakai circled the garage, confirming no alternate exits, before climbing into the truck's cab.
He adjusted the seat.
Stowed the umbrella.
Leaned back—
And turned to face the man now sitting beside him.
[You know I can't let you leave. We need you here.]
The words echoed in Takakai's mind.
[More of us will die if this keeps up. And their families will never even know how.]
Howard Smith—unshaven, bloodshot eyes—shook his head in exhaustion.
[This was a mistake. It's been out of control since Andres died. We shouldn't have gone back into that cave.]
[What choice do we have? With you here, fewer people die. If you quit, you know what happens next. Anthony T.'s men are watching. Someone else will take your place—someone worse.]
The other man—Takakai's "seatmate"—lit a cigarette, frustration etched into his features.
[It never ends…] Howard sighed.
[Just hold on. Once the mayor's out after this year's review, things should calm down.]
[I doubt it.] Howard's frown deepened. [None of this adds up. That cave's already killed people. The accidents keep happening. Why are they pushing so hard to turn it into a national attraction? What's in it for them?]
[Drop the conspiracy crap. This state's never had a successful tourist spot. Nutty Putty caught the cave craze at the right time. The bigwigs are milking it for all it's worth—flaws and all.]
A long drag on the cigarette. A plume of smoke.
[Still doesn't feel right…] Howard muttered.
[Just ride it out. A few more years, and you're clear.]
With that, the man stepped out of the truck.
Howard lingered, pulling a notebook from the glove compartment.
He scribbled something inside—then followed.
Takakai blinked.
The cab was empty again.
But the vision had been clearer this time.
Sharper.
Because I've faced Andres directly now?
The cave's Core Obsession was bizarrely passive—no hostility, no awareness of Takakai's presence.
If not for its ability to suppress other Obsessions and inflict those grotesque executions, Takakai might've doubted it was a Core at all.
He reached into the glove box.
Pulled out Howard's notebook.
Notes on Nutty Putty Cave
—A record of my expeditions. Maybe it'll help others survive.
Rule 1: The Role You Play Matters More Than Who You Are
Two of my men vanished after their gear was damaged. Others survived as long as they kept their uniforms intact.
Are we only safe if we "act" like rescuers?
Rule 2: Avoid the Gentle Slope
That area's cursed. My team kept getting pulled into crevices.
Paddy said tourists used to vanish there too—yet no one ever dies. They just get… stuck.
If Andres haunts the Blood Vessels, what's in the slope?
Rule 3: Never Enter the Blood Vessel's Fork
No one who goes in comes back.
The walls there have drag marks. Is that Andres' doing? Or something else?
Rule 4: Survivors Must Remember Their Names
Those who forget who they are… only their clothes remain.
Rule 5: (To Be Continued)
Maybe after one more trip, I'll have more answers.
Or maybe I'll join the missing.
Flipping to the back, Takakai found hidden notes—written in reverse order.
Howard's Secret Investigation: Anthony T. Bush