Grimgal of Ashes and Illusion - Volume 14 - Chapter 21

21. Continue [re_start]

Ngh... This is... Huh...? Where... is this...?

It’s dark. Not pitch dark... though. There’s this faint, greenish... light.

The floor...

The ground...

It’s hard. And cold. Is it stone, or something...?

I’m lying down?

Was I sleeping?

No... That’s not it. I feel like it was something else... not sleep.

I was somewhere, on a long path. Not so much walking, as... I’m not sure, but falling... I feel like.

It felt like I was spinning, too...

I feel like that was a thing that happened before...

Parano. Right. It was in Parano.

I think... it was different from that time, though.

More like... I was inside a tornado... Not that I’ve ever been... inside a tornado...

Is everyone here? They are... right? If they aren’t... we have a problem.

“...”

I can’t speak. Can’t move, either.

Why? Am I numb... maybe?

My eyes... I can’t see so well, either. Is it ’cause... it’s dark?

I wonder.

Something’s shining.

Faintly.

On the ground, or the floor.

Shining lines...

A pattern?

Is someone here?

It’s like... they’re standing, not that far away.

“Hiyo.” I hear a low, husky voice. That’s a man’s voice.

“Yeeees, Master?” Another voice. This time... a woman?

...Huh?

I feel like... I’ve... heard it before?

“Begin administering the drugs. We’ll have them forget what they don’t need to know.”

“Nyaaaah. There’s a lot of them, this’ll be rough by myseeeelf. Of course, I’m gonna do it, you know? It’s time to work, work, work, yes sirree. Kyapii!”

“Also... These two.”

“Hmm? Ahh. Erm, this kid, and this kid, riiiight?”

“Yes. I’ll think of another use for them.”

“All righty! Now then, now then, we’ll begin administering Master’s super secret druuuugs. They’re special drugs Master made with a relic, you knoooow? We can’t let them go to waste! I’ll use them with caaaare.”

“You speak too much...”

“Wawawah! I’m sorry! But... but... I’ll do a good job! That’s Hiyomu for you, no mistakes, no mistakes!”

“Then get to it already.”

“Yes sirree, nyaa!”

What...?

Master...?

Hiyomu...? Wait, huh...?

That Hiyomu...?

Come to think of it... that voice in the Leslie Camp...

Oh... that was...

Hiyomu’s voice.

Master... wait... who?

It’s so dark... I can’t see. Where... is this place?

Hiyomu’s... doing something.

Close by.

“Oh, my. You... you’re awake?”

I can’t see her face well.

“Hm... Well, whatever. You still can’t move, right? It’s all the same, then.”

I was on my side, but she’s flipping me onto my back. Hiyomu’s leaning over right above my head.

Are they called twintails, that hairstyle?

No doubt about it. That’s Hiyomu.

“Okayyyy, open wide and say, ‘Ahhhh.’ Come on. Open wide. You’re awake, aren’t you?”

I clench my mouth shut with all my strength, but she forces it open. Right now, Hiyomu’s touching my cheeks and jaw with her hand...

Magic.

Right.

Use magic.

Resonance.

No.

It’s no good.

Nothing’s happening.

Yeah... I thought so.

Anyone can use magic. That was one of the rules of Parano. It only applies in Parano.

I anticipated that once we went to another world, we wouldn’t be able to use magic anymore. It seems it’s true.

I’m sure Shihoru won’t be a trickster anymore, either. Now that we’re out of Parano, Shihoru should be fine. I was right... but, this is—

“Ooookay, here’s your medicine. Drinkie, drinkie. It’s going to be okay. It doesn’t hurt. It may not taste good, but you’re going to forget anyway. Yes, yes, gooood. Now swallow. Huhhhh? You’re still resisting? What a bother. Weeeell, how’s this, then? If I shut your mouth and pinch your nose, you have no choice but to swallow, right? Hee hee. Okay. Good boy, good boy...” 

“Awaken.” 

He opened his eyes, feeling like he’d heard someone’s voice.

It was dark. Nighttime, maybe? But not pitch black. There were lights. Fire. Above him. Some kind of lighting. Candles, it looked like. Small ones affixed to the wall. Not just one, but many, spaced evenly, continuing as far as he could see.

Where was this place?

It was kind of hard to breathe. When he tried touching the wall, it was hard and rocky. This was no wall. It was just bare rock. Little wonder his back was sore after lying against it. His butt hurt, too.

Maybe he was in a cave... A cave? Why would he be in a cave...?

Those candles were pretty high up. He might be able to reach one if he stood; that was how high they were. Moreover, they didn’t even give off enough light for him to see his hands and feet.

But he sensed the presence of others nearby. When he listened closely, there was a faint noise that sounded like breathing.

“Is anyone there?”

“Uh... Yeah.”

“...Yes.”

“Where is this place?”

“Nyaa...”

“Erm, I... I’m here.”

“I-I-I dunno, guys... What is this? I wish someone could help me...”

“I’ve gotta be hung over or somethin’. I feel like shit...”

“Could you stay away from me? You stink.”

It wasn’t just him. There were a number of others. Men, and women.

“Hold on, where... is this? Does anyone... know?”

“Nah...” The big man who was close by to him shook his head. Thanks to the candles, his eyes were gradually adjusting to the light. “I... wonder. Wait... um, I’m... Hmm. What was it again...”

“Huh... What?”

“I’m probably... called Kuzaku.”

“Ohh. Your name?”

“Yeah, but... I don’t remember. I can’t recall.”

“Recall what? Ah...!”

He clutched at his chest tightly, as if trying to claw something off of it. He had no clue what was going on. How long had he been here? Why was he here?

When he began to consider his situation, something began to tug at the back of his mind. But it suddenly vanished before he could latch on to it.

He didn’t know. He didn’t know anything. He was at a complete loss.

“...I’m the same,” he said at last. “Just that my name’s... Haruhiro. What is this...?”