第５９６堀：不思議の空間 (Part1)
**Chapter 596: The Mysterious Space**
**Side: Yuki**
It seems we’ve been caught in some kind of anomaly. We started by exploring the location that seemed the most suspicious—a direct hit, it appears.
The atmosphere around us doesn't look any different, but as Shuten and Suiryu pointed out, all contact with the outside has been severed. Furthermore, the members who were waiting outside the historical archives passage have vanished. It’s only natural to conclude that we’ve been spirited away into a mysterious space.
"For now, everyone who was in this passage is safe, right?" I asked, checking on the group.
"W-wait, are we really trapped in some kind of supernatural phenomenon?"
"I’m going to go check the next area."
Kagura and Mikos didn't seem to fully grasp the situation and started to wander off, so I hurriedly grabbed their hands to stop them.
"Stay put. First, we need to confirm everyone is safe. Besides, I told you strictly not to act on your own. I know you don't want to believe this, but calm down."
In situations like this, splitting up is a textbook death flag.
"S-sorry."
"M-my apologies."
It seemed best to keep holding their hands for the time being, so I continued to check our surroundings.
"Is anyone feeling unwell?"
"Mm. Shuten and I are fine."
"I'm full of energy!"
Cleena and Shuten seem to be doing well.
"I am also perfectly fine."
"I have nothing to report either."
*“Indeed. I have no issues, either.”*
Ria, Kirue, and Suiryu are also fine.
"I’m not having any problems either. Kagura and Mikos are just a bit panicked."
"I-I’m perfectly calm!"
"Kagura, that’s not very convincing."
Mikos has calmed down a little, but Kagura is still clearly shaken. I’ll need to keep holding their hands for a while longer. Well, since Kagura is settled for now, and we’ve confirmed our status...
"Cleena, Ria, Kirue, any luck with external communications?"
"…No response here either."
"It’s no good on my end, either."
"Nothing but static."
So, it’s not just my connection that’s down. As Shuten and Suiryu suggested, we’ve likely been transported to a separate space.
"Well, in a way, this is what I expected. Rurua, Taiki, and Taizou-san are likely already taking action on the outside, so we’ll proceed as planned."
Everyone nodded at my words. I didn't expect to hit the mark so quickly, but since this is an investigation, this isn't the end. We have to find whatever Sota Kamishiro left behind for the Japanese people. Even if this is a mysterious space.
Actually, in a way, knowing the creator of this space makes it easier to adventure with peace of mind. Exploring a typical horror setting would just be a series of death flags.
"By the way, the rumors said you could hear strange voices. Can anyone hear anything?"
When I asked, everyone shook their heads. I don’t hear anything either. Are there specific conditions? ...I can't think of any clues, so I’m at a loss. Well, it’s better to stick to the plan.
"Alright, let’s move through this third-floor area. Keep your eyes peeled. Be especially careful of the books. Don't wander off."
We moved out of the historical archives corner with Shuten in the center, but...
"Huh? Wait, what? Hasn't this place gotten wider?"
Mikos stopped at a crossroads, looking around in surprise.
"She’s right. I can't see the side walls."
Kagura was also looking left and right at the intersection, stunned. In a normal library, it would be impossible not to see the walls. It makes you wonder just how massive this library is. Since the human eye can see about four or five kilometers on a clear line of sight, it seems the ends of this library are at least five kilometers away from our current position.
That’s absurd. This library is a three-story building, at most fifty meters square. It’s impossible for the walls to be invisible. This is seriously some kind of infinite loop.
"Shuten, Suiryu, any sense of malice so far?"
"I don't feel any, Toto-sama."
*“Neither do I.”*
So, no immediate danger.
"For now, let’s aim for the wall in front of us. It won’t be too late to start walking toward the invisible side walls later."
Fortunately, while the side walls are invisible, the front and back walls are visible, so I decided to head toward those. That should tell us where the loop occurs.
We walked cautiously toward the wall in front of us. We reached it without any issues, but...
"This is strange. I can't see the windows."
"Huh? You're right. There should be windows here..."
Kagura and Mikos tilted their heads, staring at the wall. This wall was on the opposite side of the stairs, and there should have been small windows spaced at regular intervals for ventilation and light. They were gone.
It seems this really is a different place from the library we were in earlier. I’m actually relieved I can’t find the windows. If Kagura and Mikos had suggested climbing out of one, that would have been a disaster. In these kinds of anomalous spaces, trying to escape through anything other than the official route is usually a bad move. It seems Sota-san, who created this place, was considerate enough to prevent panicked people from doing something reckless.
"Let’s walk along the wall."
There is a method for clearing mazes called the "wall-following" rule. It’s a technique where you keep one hand on the wall and just keep walking. It’s based on the premise that the only breaks in the wall are the entrance and exit, ensuring you eventually find your way out.
Of course, if the walls are independent, you have to realize it and deal with it, and in a real dungeon, you’d have to contend with traps and monsters, making it difficult to just hug the wall. Plus, in a situation where an infinite loop is highly likely, it feels a bit futile, but walking along the wall—where the spatial relationship is easy to understand—is a good way to investigate where the loop starts.
As I was thinking this, Ria, who was walking beside me, spoke up.
"Oh, we’re back."
Where Ria pointed, a plate labeled "History" was attached to the side of a bookshelf. Peering into the corner, I saw the red handkerchief we’d left as a marker, along with the books we’d placed on the floor. It seems this is definitely the place we started.
"W-we really can't get out. M-Mikos, y-you said we could get out, right?"
"Y-yeah. According to my information, we should be able to..."
"What do you mean 'should'!?"
Perhaps fueled by the uncertainty of Mikos's reply, Kagura’s voice rose in agitation. Things you can't understand are terrifying. Sometimes, the unknown and the incomprehensible are far scarier than a clear-cut battlefield. This is classic Japanese horror.
I have to calm Kagura down, or we’ll end up with infighting. I sighed and pulled Kagura’s hand, drawing her closer.
"Alright, alright. Calm down. It’s not fair to blame Mikos. Besides, your own ancestor is the one who built this place."
"Ugh... Sorry, Mikos."
"No, it's okay. I'm confused too. But, Yuki-sensei, you seem so calm."