[I wouldn't know because I'm not a human.]
"Exactly. You're a fignt of my imagination. I created you." I made a finger gun gesture at him.
[No. I created you.]
"You have a wild imagination." Did my dream creature just pull a 'no u' on ?
[Listen carefully. We don't have much ti.] He held out his hand.
"Sounds cliche, but okay, I'll listen to you until it's ti to wake up."
[I will ask you so questions and you will face a different fate depending on your answer.]
"Alright." Interesting. This kinda feels like one of those online personality tests.
[Do you truly feel like you belong here?]
"Starting off heavy, are we?" I smiled sadly, "no, I don't. I've tried, though."
[Do you want to find your place to belong?]
"Look, man. I've tried starting over in a different place. I've tried building relationships with others, though it never lasted long," I paused, "and I've co to accept that I probably would never belong. It's okay, though. I don't even understand what it ans to belong." I chuckled a little.
[If I tell you that you have a chance to belong sowhere, would you take the chance?]
"Just a chance?" I raised my eyebrow.
[I cannot guarantee you anything.]
"Where is this place you're referring to?"
[That, I cannot tell yet.]
"You, a thing in my dream, are telling to abandon the things I've obtained by working like a horse for years, in exchange for a chance of finding my place? You're a bad businessman, you know. You should learn how to make a reasonable offer."
[Will you take the chance?]
"Well, yes." I instantly answered.
Damn Chae, you desperate woman. I couldn't believe I agreed to that so easily. I guess it's okay since it was just a dream... Would be nice if it was true, though.
[Very well. I have received your answer. You shall now forget any events that will take place after this.]
--------
...And that was the last thing I rembered. I didn't know whether I stayed around to chat or if that man instantly teleported . Probably he did sothing that I shouldn't see, and that's why he erased my mory.
Ah, now that I thought about it, I hope Daeun got ho safely. And sorry, Kim-harabeonim, it seed that my visit would not be possible anymore.
"And after you went to sleep, what happened?" The headmaster asked .
"Then I woke up here, and t Jeanne." I casually answered him.
"I feel like there are quite a lot of missing parts here. Ho ho!"
"Sa here, I wish I know more, too. Ho ho." I said with a flat voice.
"Very well, then. I take it that you're not willing to speak," he smiled at , "Zhang, take her to the underground prison."
"Wait, what!?" I shouted in a panic.
"Wait, headmaster. Our mission was a success partly because of her. Would you please reconsider your decision?" Owen said.
Ah, Owen! My guardian angel!
"Ho ho, don't you worry, Owen. She will be treated with respect there. I'll have Elena watch over her." He chuckled as he took another sip from his glass of wine.
Ah, you demonic old fart.
"But--"
"I gotchu, gramps." General Zhang grabbed my shoulder and pushed slowly so I'd walk forward with him.
"General Zhang, are you really going to throw her into prison?" Owen frowned at general Zhang.
"Yeah, I've caused no trouble to you guys, so why should I be imprisoned?" I tried to shook him off, but his grip was too strong.
"Owen, c'mon. Just because she hasn't doesn't an she won't." General Zhang shrugged him off.
"Ho ho! I'm glad you understand, Zhang~" The headmaster humd in delight.
"But--" As I was about to protest, I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder.
I turned around and found general Zhang smirking weirdly at .
"What are you looking at? Move." He said while he very slowly blinked.
...Perhaps?
I silently opened my skill window, and activated my ntalist skill to send a secret ssage.
[Please select a recipient.]
"General Zhang."
"Yes?" He tilted his head.
[Recipient confird. Please enter your ssage.]
I sent him a ssage saying 'you fucking eel, what are you planning this ti?', and glared intensely at him.
[ssage delivered.]
His eyebrows suddenly perked up, and his mouth made an amused grin.
"C'mon, don't stare at like a cat. It's freaky." He chuckled.
"Yeah. So freaky." I slowly blinked and followed his steps obediently.
To others, that may sound just like regular banter. But to , it confird the fact that his plan is probably good for . Cats often used slow blinks to signal friendliness, so if my assumption was correct, he was trying to tell to trust him.
I guess my best bet right now was to follow along with his plan until I could find a chance to turn the situation around.
General Zhang led towards one of the huge paintings that were hung on the walls. It was a painting of a middle-aged man wearing a suit and a monocle. General Zhang raised his hand, and the painting's eyes glowed red.
My eyes grew bigger in shock. I knew this world was full of magic that ca from god-knows-where, but things like this still managed to amaze every ti.
"Alright, little cub, let's get you to your cage~" He teased with a smirk.
"Very funny. This little cub will grow big soday and eat you, you eel." I replied with an annoyed smile.
"Ooh, can't wait."
This jerk.
'Bam!'
"Oops, my leg slipped." I grinned back at him as I kicked his thigh.
'Thud!'
"Oops, sorry, my hand slipped." He smiled from ear-to-ear as he pushed into the painting with no rcy.
"Huh?"
By the ti I realized that he had pushed , I was already free-falling into the darkness.
"AAAHH!" I shouted as darkness began to fill my vision.
How could I be falling? Was there a pitfall inside the painting or sothing? I thought there would be a secret passageway or secret stairs like in those kingdom movies! But how could I be falling instead!?
'THUD!'
I fell with a loud and painful thud onto what I assu was a mattress. Thank god I landed on my side. If I was to land with my head or my spine, I'd probably be dead by now.
I managed to sit up, though with much difficulty thanks to that eel who handcuffed .
My eyes imdiately wandered around, trying to get a grasp of my new environnt. It was no longer completely dark around . Instead, dim light was illuminating the room.
As I followed the light source, I found a few lanterns hung on the brick wall. The light from those lanterns enabled to see the steel bars that were keeping from going outside.
"My, my... Welco." A sweet but sultry voice ca from the other side of the bar.
The owner of the voice was a tall woman with very flattering curves. Her dark hair and eyes looked gorgeous under the dim lantern light.
"Uh... Thanks?" I was still too shocked to be able to properly use my brain.
"Haha. You're a cute little kid." She smiled at with her full lips.
"Where am I?" I stared at her.
"You're in my underground prison, my dear," she chuckled, "shocked, aren't you?"
"Of course I am. What do you want from ?"
"Not much, dear. I just want a little chat." She chuckled at .
"About what?" My eyes carefully observed her from top to bottom. She may co off as careless, but her posture showed no openings. This lady was formidable.
"Calm down, dear. You don't need to stare at like that, I'm not your enemy."
"Oh no, no. I was staring because you're beautiful. Sorry." I shook my head instantly. I an, sure, I was suspicious of her, but I didn't lie when I said she was beautiful.
"Haha! You really are cute," she leaned closer towards , "did general Zhang tell you about already?"
"That eel? I don't think so?" I looked up, trying to rember if he left any hints about her, but none ca to mind.
"You see, general Zhang and I had an agreent about you." She smiled at and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"I hope it's a good agreent." I inched further away from the bars that were separating us.
"It's really good for you, don't worry," she licked her lips, "I'm just going to do so experints on you, in exchange for keeping you safe."
"Excuse you!? I am a true believer of consent!" I scrambled backwards. Oh my god, was I going to get cut up and injected with a virus or sothing?
"Haha. I'm kidding, you adorable kid," she chuckled in amusent, "but I was serious in keeping you safe. You have an important role in our plan, so I need you to live."
"Um, thank you, but what plan, exactly?" I asked.
"You don't need to know yet. And it would be better for you not to ask." Her face got serious.
I stayed quiet and just stared at her.
"If you know more than you need to know... Well, we might have to remove you, dear." She smiled at .
What a polite way to threaten .
"Do you have any other questions you'd like to ask?" She inquired, but her mana was giving off a murderous aura. That wasn't a question, but an obedience test.
I opened my mouth slowly.
"Where's my toilet?"
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