The Mystic Dominator

Going up to the first floor

Silence in the midst of the parlour-

　　Everyone unconsciously became quiet under the influence of the motion that could not be ignored.

　　The loud bang was like a neighbour's house swinging a sledgehammer to demolish a wall when they woke up early in the morning.

　　The most appropriate sound at the right time.

　　"......"

　　"What's this ...... what's this commotion?"

　　Finally, Thomson still spoke.

　　This rowdy businessman, who had been irritated one after another, was currently looking at Ronald and Nessus with a face of fear, while at the same time carefully pointing to the top of his head.

　　The bravery that he had shown in refuting the boy before seemed to have vanished from him.

　　Still, following his instincts, he sent a query to his two companions.

　　After all, judging from their previous behaviour, the two beside him were not the same class of guys as himself.

　　"Tsk-"

　　Looking at Thomson's scowling appearance, Ronald opened his mouth to explain even though he had a bit of a headache:

　　"It's the sound of wood being smashed."

　　"Based on the analysis of the tiny movement that was made at the same time, it should look like a wooden door was cut off."

　　It was a pity that Ronald's explanation looked unacceptable to Thomson:

　　"I'm not asking about any door, it's what's going on up there again!"

　　"There's not going to be any more monsters, is there?"

　　Ronald shook his head:

　　"I can't see through walls."

　　"......"

　　Being choked by Ronald, the middle-aged businessman was completely dumbfounded, no longer able to hold a word in his mouth.

　　"Wooden door ......"

　　Unlike the flustered Thomson, hearing Ronald's explanation, Nessus looked down and thought for two seconds, then raised his head seriously:

　　"Going to have a look?"

　　Pointing to the living room window, Ronald voiced his thoughts:

　　"Must go."

　　"And we don't have much time."

　　Through the living room window, the light from the fireplace fire barely made it possible to see the night outside.

　　The fog that had swallowed the caravan and its companions earlier was still encroaching little by little towards the centre. This process was slow, but it still made people feel that horrible oppression and danger.

　　And according to the fog's current speed projections ......

　　In roughly another hour, this thing would be able to push the distance to the edge of the mansion.

　　Eventually, the darkness that devoured everything would completely envelop the entire Black Mountain.

　　At that time, by and large, there would be no 'people' to entertain them with hot soup and food.

　　"Hoo-"

　　"Alright, alright."

　　"It's really enough of a tosser, rushing a road can also encounter such a deadly thing."

　　Taking a deep breath rather helplessly, Nessus then placed the lamp on the table, then tucked his right hand into his pocket and led the way to the right side of the house.

　　--There were the steps leading upstairs.

　　Without hesitation, Ronald followed closely behind to follow:

　　"Merchants seek profit, and since Gaines doesn't want to lose those fruits, it's just a given that he'll encounter this kind of thing."

　　"Who says otherwise ......"

　　Seeing Nessus and Ronald walking towards the first floor one after the other, Thomson, who was still standing at the back, could be very different.

　　Listening to the dialogue between the two men, watching their movements.

　　There was too much in it for the traveller to understand.

　　Obviously in danger, why were these two guys now able to chat away like an after-dinner walk while actively stepping into the crisis?

　　"Nessus, you guys ......"

　　"Do you guys not want to die?"

　　"......"

　　Before his figure disappeared around the corner of the stairs, Nessus heard Thomson's voice.

　　With a step in his footsteps, he recently spoke up, thinking of the close to a month he had spent together before:

　　"Staying down there and fooling around is the way to get killed."

　　"Thomson, think carefully."

　　"Ugh ......?"

　　Watching the two men step onto the stairs, Thomson stood frozen in place.

　　He subconsciously glanced at the window Ronald had pointed to earlier, and the low night seemed to press directly on his heart, calling for breath.

　　"Wait ...... wait for me!"

　　A clench of teeth.

　　Under the intimidation of the thick fog outside the mansion, Thomson still plucked up his courage and chased after him.

　　--

　　Unlike the ground floor that was illuminated by the fireplace, after walking up the stairs, the surrounding vision darkened violently.

　　Although barely able to see, it was no longer possible to clearly distinguish the colours of objects.

　　In the relatively gloomy corner locations, even the corners of the room were completely hidden in darkness.

　　At this time, Ronald heard Thomson's footsteps ascending the steps behind him and immediately reminded up the middle-aged businessman:

　　"Hush--"

　　"Keep your voice down and pay attention to safety."

　　"Got it ......"

　　Lowering their footsteps, the three of them then began to cautiously advance up the first floor corridor.

　　The team was still led by Nessus, with Ronald on guard in the middle.

　　Finally Thomson was in charge of the rear.

　　Since the movement on the first floor before was very obvious, their purpose was also obvious.

　　--First to check out the location where the noise was made.

　　In less than a minute, the place arrived.

　　In the location where the door of the room was originally set, there was now only a lone door frame left, and the central door lock was shattered directly towards the room.

　　Also because of the close proximity, a female voice came out of the room with the broken door:

　　"Come out, dear?"

　　"Why are you hiding from me? Does it mean that my dinner is not good enough!"

　　"Your favourite child is right in front of me~~"

　　At that moment, a much younger female voice appeared in a pleading tone:

　　"Mum, please stop!"

　　"Shut up!"

　　Boom-

　　"Ah!"

　　There was another loud bang.

　　This time it was accompanied by the exaggerated sound of objects breaking and the young girl's screams.

　　The dangerous female voice sounded again:

　　"Hehe, just stay here honestly."

　　"We'll have plenty of time when I take care of your father."

　　"My dear boy."

　　Mixed with sobs, the young voice was still pleading:

　　"Oo...... oo...... oo...... oo...... oo...... oo...... oo...... oo...... oo...... oo......"

　　"Mum, please leave me alone!"

　　"I really didn't mean to go against you!"

　　Ta-da-da-da-

　　The sound of leisurely footsteps rang out, heading right towards the door!

　　In an instant, Nessus and Ronald, who realised that the other party was about to come out, spoke at the same time:

　　"Hide, don't be discovered by her!"

　　"Retreat!"

　　"......"

　　Faced with very different choices-

　　After only hesitating for less than a second, Nessus at the forefront instantly realised that Ronald was the right one.

　　The guy in the dialogue was clearly looking for something, and if he chose to hide close by, the probability of being discovered was simply too great.

　　One cannot hide, one must withdraw!

　　Instantly unifying their opinions, the three of them immediately padded back and skipped.

　　With this destructive power embodied by the other party, fighting was not a wise choice.

　　But it was a pity.

　　Before reaching the stairs, that female voice still rang out:

　　"Who's there!"

　　"Run-"

　　"Go hide outside the house!"

　　There was no point in tiptoeing now.

　　With the momentum of a hundred-metre sprint, the three of them who had touched the first floor drew their legs and ran wildly, fleeing back to the living room on the ground floor as if a dam had been released.

　　But when Thomson, who was at the forefront of the escape, was about to rush into the porch and then hide in the garden outside.

　　Ronald, in the middle of the group, however, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

　　"Wait!"

　　"Something's not right!"