Takakai descended the spiral staircase slowly, emerging into an opulent villa's grand reception hall.
The scene unfolded with eerie clarity:
The cacophony of overlapping conversations and laughter echoed perpetually
Depressions formed momentarily in the expensive bearskin rug beneath phantom footsteps
Through the floor-to-ceiling windows' reflection, the ghastly gathering appeared:
• The mayor, impeccably dressed, holding court
• Inebriated socialites with barely-clad escorts
• And... children under 130cm in equally revealing attire
Takakai's expression morphed into the physical embodiment of the [Disgusted Elderly Subway Passenger] meme. I can tolerate anime loli tropes, but this... this is actual criminal degeneracy.
The villa's study contained the critical clue - a handwritten letter:
[Correspondence to Antoine Bush]
Selected Transcripts:
"Preparations for tomorrow's ribbon-cutting ceremony are complete. Chief Peddy and his fire department subordinates will be detained in XX Prison immediately following the event, leaving the cavern entirely at your disposal."
"Our digital response team has implemented countermeasures against the 'man-eating monster' rumors. Public confusion regarding factual reporting should manifest within 48 hours."
"Regarding the concealed camera discovered by traffic control personnel - would you prefer the responsible firefighter detained immediately or following the ceremony?"
"Welber has proven more elusive than anticipated, having fled to Russia. Current surveillance indicates he spends his days in alcoholic stupor, though we maintain monitoring in case this proves deceptive."
"While the ceremony site maintains an 800-meter buffer from the cavern entrance, I must reiterate my concerns about your personal attendance, dearest grandfather..."
The remaining content devolved into increasingly elaborate sycophancy, each sentence more nauseating than the last. Takakai's skin crawled. Is this political correspondence or some deranged yaoi love confession?
[Telepathic Transmission from Maki:]
{Akira, report your status.} (The forced composure in her voice was palpable)
As he formulated his response, a distorted figure in tattered formalwear (the mayor's lingering obsession) shambled toward the study. Takakai deployed his [Black Umbrella] - now weeping black-red ichor from the shaft - and slipped past the entity.
The Ticket Hall Phenomenon
The newly constructed Nutty Putty Cave ticket office's glass facade revealed:
A ribbon-cutting ceremony in progress on the outdoor plaza
Rows of journalists observing as the corpulent mayor prepared his speech
The sky darkened unnaturally as the temperature plummeted
Then came the rain - not falling but erupting from the heavens.
Through the deluge, translucent figures materialized:
Tourists clutching maps
Rescue personnel in damaged gear
Each spectral form moved with purpose, their touch erasing attendees from existence.
At the storm's eye stood a slender white-clad figure, its outstretched hand grasping toward the last vanishing specter - perhaps Andreas? - before dissolving into the tempest.
The floodwaters struck with physical force, fracturing the ticket hall's glass doors.
Lixar's Warning:"We must evacuate immediately!"
But Takakai's attention locked onto the pale visage pressed against the glass - the Crevice Entity in its entirety:
Alabaster skin stretched taut over bone
Opaque eyes containing infinite malice
A hatred so profound it vibrated the air
"Fucking hell, you again?"
Part 1: The Power Distribution Room
Thick white mist swirled through the fragmented landscape, its shifting boundaries marking the edges of different lingering obsessions. Takakai could sense that crossing into these hazy zones would transport him into others' memory fragments.
The entrance to Nutty Putty Cave was conspicuously absent here - this reconstructed space couldn't even fabricate a false cave mouth, no matter how convincing.
Yet his target stood before him:
A squat, single-story building with a specially constructed rain awning—the power distribution room.
Inserting the key he'd taken from Welber's office, he turned it with a soft click.
Part 2: Welber's Message
To Those Who Come After:
If you're reading this, you're trapped here—and you've learned things you weren't meant to know.
Escape Method:
Find and wear a security guard uniform to manifest at a guard post
Remain calm when you see others—confirm they're wearing guard uniforms
Tell them: "I came to relieve your shift, but I'm early."
Exit via the Stone Forest path (NEVER the Gentle Slope—watch for signs)
Critical Warnings:
First, fulfill your initial role's requirements (explorers must visit the "Heart", rescuers must complete a rescue)
Something new watches this cave now—something furious and terrible
My Sabotage:
I've linked this facility's grid to their power network
Cutting power here will draw That Thing toward them—your chance to escape
I've survived here 59 days (see wall tallies). Now I'm becoming one of them. This is my penance.
For failing to stop the atrocities
For collaborating with them at first
Stranger—if you escape, live well. That's all we ordinary people can do.
As for me... I'll face that entity one last time.
—Welber
The room reeked of stale cigarettes and spoiled food. Discarded uniforms—explorer, firefighter, guard—lay piled on a small table amidst empty cans and bottles.
Takakai immediately contacted Maki telepathically:
{Maki! Has anyone entered the power room? Don't cut the power! The white-dress entity will invade if the base loses electricity!}
Part 3: Kaguya's Capture
Too late.
Kaguya—who had merely surveyed the power room cautiously—was ambushed upon exiting. Two heavily armed soldier anomalies pinned her as Professor Vernon emotionlessly declared:
[Violator detected. Initiate Process #3.]
Maki arrived just as Kaguya was being dragged toward Isolation Zone D6. A meaningful glance from Kaguya warned her not to intervene.
Chika's Quick Thinking:
Retrieved the invisible doll from the archives
Sneakily passed a scalpel to Kaguya via the doll
Vernon then confronted Maki and Chika:
[You will assist tomorrow's experiment in Research Zone.]
Part 4: Isolation Zone D6
The soldiers took Kaguya past inspection rooms to a hidden downward staircase—unmarked on any maps.
The lower level revealed:
A circular corridor lined with sealed cells (D1-D12)
A central "Solitary Confinement" chamber
Cell D6 was bare except for:
A ventilation grate (too small for escape)
Faint scratch marks tallying days on the wall
Then—a cough from the adjacent cell (D5).
White mist enveloped the surroundings, obscuring many areas. Takakai could faintly sense that stepping into these zones would directly transport him into the remnants of others' regrets.
He hadn't found the entrance to Nutty Putty Cave in this area. Clearly, as a fragment of memory, this place couldn't fabricate an entry point to the cave—not even a fake one.
But he did locate the power distribution area—or rather, the power distribution room.
It was a single-story, low-rise building under the rain, a small, flat structure with a specially constructed awning.
Inserting the key he'd taken from Wilbur's office into the lock, he turned it gently.
Click—
After the crisp sound, Shinomiya Kaguya cautiously stepped into the power distribution zone, her scarlet eyes swiftly scanning the surroundings to confirm no abnormalities before slipping inside and closing the door.
Good, successfully infiltrated.
It seemed no guards were stationed here—highly suspicious. For a research base studying paranormal entities, shouldn't the power distribution area be the most heavily secured? A blackout could easily disable containment measures in the isolation zone. Weren't they afraid something might break out and slaughter the entire base?
With these thoughts, Kaguya observed the room's intricate electrical systems, carefully circling the moderately sized space to ensure nothing lurked in the shadows. Soon, she noticed a document posted near the door.