Chapter 179
Clael and Reina had descended the staircase—or so they thought. But when they came to, they were in a bizarre space.
Red walls, red floors, red ceiling surrounded them.
Outside the windows was total darkness. There were no lights or light sources, yet somehow, they could still see.
On top of that, the space was inverted vertically.
Clael and Reina were standing on the academy's hallway ceiling.
"Lord Clael, where are we?"
"The Reverse Academy... Hell beyond the Thirteen Steps. In other words, a dungeon."
"A dungeon..."
Reina looked slightly uneasy.
Even as a Saint, such a bizarre space seemed to frighten her. It was only natural for a girl her age.
Clael firmly held her hand to reassure her.
"In this place, spatial distortions occur randomly from time to time. Please hold my hand tightly so we don't get separated."
Clael said to Reina.
In the dungeon created by The Seven Mysteries of the Academy... the 'Reverse Academy', waves would randomly occur, separating companions.
In fact, Eric and the others who had jumped in just before were nowhere to be seen.
They appeared to be completely separated from them.
"There are two things we need to do here... Find Prince Eric and the others. And destroy the cause of this space."
"............"
"...Reina?"
Reina remained silent.
She wore an expression like she was savoring something and looked down at the hand Clael was holding.
"Such a bold Lord Clael... You're so wonderful..."
"Reina?"
"No, it's nothing... Well then, shall we go?"
Reina quickly looked up and responded.
She seemed a bit dazed, but perhaps she had gotten scared again.
"Don't worry. I'm right here with you."
"Yes... I'll never let go! Not for life!"
"F-For life...?"
"Yes!"
Was that Reina's idea of a joke...? Still holding Clael's hand, she clung tightly to him.
It felt a bit too close for comfort, but regardless, they had to explore the Reverse Academy.
'Migyaa'
"Hm..."
Just as Clael and Reina were about to move, a voice like that of a crying baby echoed around them.
When they turned toward the sound... of course, it wasn't a baby.
A viscous creature, melted and oozing. No, it was unclear whether it was even a living being—a grotesque monster.
In short... they had encountered a monster.
"Reina, the enemy is..."
"Purification"
"It appeared, so be careful..."
Before Clael could finish, Reina had already moved.
A light released from Reina's hand engulfed the black ooze and erased it without a trace.
"Kyaa, Lord Clael. That was scary—"
"............"
Reina clung to Clael.
No... why did she look so happy? Clael wondered.
"...Anyway, where should we go from here..."
But Clael gave up on thinking.
He pushed aside unnecessary doubts and began exploring the dungeon.
Though the space was inverted, the internal structure of the academy remained the same.
However... the problem was, they didn't know where the 'core' of this ghost story was.
The central part of the Reverse Academy was randomized even in the game, changing with each playthrough.
"I don't know why, but... I feel an evil presence coming from that direction."
"You can tell, Reina?"
"It's a really vague feeling, so I'm not sure..."
Reina said uncertainly.
Apparently, even with the power of a Saint, she couldn't grasp the center of the Reverse Academy.
They had no clues anyway. They might as well go where Reina suggested.
Clael and Reina, sticking close so they wouldn't get separated, began walking along the academy's ceiling.