Pioneering the Apocalyptic World - Chapter 65
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When I opened my eyelids, I found myself in a pitch-black place.
“… Huh?”
There is nothing in front, behind, above, below. A world enveloped in darkness.
Even still, I’m in unknown state where I can see my hands and feet.
“Ugh… I feel sick because I have no sense where is up, down, left, or right… At least I need a floor…”
As soon as I muttered that, a stone pavement appeared at my feet, and the strange feeling of floating disappeared.
I hit the stone pavement with my heels and check how it sounds.
“Ah… I’m in a dream?”
So this is what’s called a lucid dream.
That when you are aware that ‘this is a dream,’ and is often said that you can change the dream as you pleases.
Fumu, if it’s a dream, I want to see that after a long time.
“Come out, computer!”
When I held out my palm in front of me and chanted like a spell, the computer I used to use appeared without a sound in front of me.
However, it vanished like a bubble before it can be touched.
“Eh~…”
In addition to my computer, I tried to bring out the device containing the e-book I was half-reading and the portable player I used to love, but all of them disappeared immediately.
Kuu, even though it’s my dream, it’s stingy. Even though the stone pavement hasn’t disappeared yet, what’s the difference?
Haa…it can’t be helped. I have time until I wake up from my dream, so why I don’t try walking around?
“I thought, but… I wonder if I can walk, in this state.”
I took a step forward with my foot. Then the stone pavement increased by one. So that’s how works.
But instead, the stone pavement behind me disappeared. Is there a limit on the number, or… Don’t tell me that they disappear like a timed scaffold, right?
I look into the part without the stone pavement. An endless jet black that seems to continue to the bottom of the abyss. A chill ran down my spine as I felt like I was in a high place without a lifeline.
While trying not to look at my feet as much as possible, I slowly advance.
“Hmm… Splendidly there’s nothing here.”
There is only me and the stone pavement. All I can hear is my own voice and the sound of my feet tapping on the pavement.
Is this the landscape that represents my subconscious part… I don’t like it.
I feel like a messy world full of things would be more correct.
While idly thinking about this and that, I just walk with a vague sense of time that I can’t determine if I’m walking for a minute, ten minutes, or an hour.
Then the change came abruptly.
[I was wondering why there are hyumans in a place like this… Are you a child of Promethia?]
“Hyee?”
I was surprised that a voice other than my own resounded without any warning, and I let out a strange voice. I can’t be helped, it startled me!
[But even if you’re a miko, you’re too pathetic… Why you can exist here… No, I see, so that is how.]
I couldn’t see the owner of the woman’s voice that sounded like she is in her twenties, and I couldn’t tell which direction the voice was coming from because of the strange reverberation.
I don’t recognize her voice, so I don’t think she’s someone I know.…… No, somehow, I feel like It is familiar … But also I don’t …?
It feels like something is stuck in my throat and it’s really frustrating. So let’s just ask.
“Ah, um… Who is it? I wish we could at least meet face to face and talk…”
[I don’t mind showing myself, but… Try to don’t die, okay?]
“……What?”
With a disturbing reply.
Ahead of my gaze, darkness overflowed.
Even though we’re already in the dark, can I call it an even more condensed, deep darkness?
No, this place isn’t actually dark??
“??Ugh”
I vomited blood as I felt the pressure that directly crushed my heart.
Pain and chills covered my whole body as if I had been stabbed by an icicle, and I couldn’t even stand and fell to my knees.
Scary, painful, scary, scary.
From that darkness, an intense??Presence.
An overwhelming??power.
[Haha, this little chick. It was impossible after all?]
“Ah……?”
At the same time as I heard the woman’s wry smile, the thing that had accumulated on my body softened.
Even though it only happened for a few seconds, my body was covered in sweat, yet I was shivering from the cold, gasping for air due to the overwhelming lack of oxygen.
[But you are still alive? ……As expected, even if it was an accident, killing you would not just end with being scolded by Promethia. You endured it well.]
My head was still confused, spinning around, but apparently I was praised.
For some reason, It spoke out.
“T-Thank you very much……?”
[Haha, I don’t know if you are honest or stupid!]
“… Then, how saying that I’m either way…?”
When I responded like that, I was laughed at even more. It seems that she liked that response.
After laughing for a full minute, the woman spun her words while still smiling.
[Now then, maybe it was because of ‘that’ you was able to endure it, or because of your qualities……No, can I call it qualities when I you are a miko of the Creator God and have it?]
…… What is it? I’m not sure what she is talking about.
But before I can interject, the woman continued.
[I thought I’d just send you away and end here, but I changed my mind. It’s just a little, but I’ll give you my divine protection. It’s not something that a Creator God’s miko can have, but…Well, you already have it from the start, so it won’t change much.]
“Huh? Huh? Won’t the god of creation get angry with me for receiving such a thing?”
[Kuhaha, if something happens, I’ll get scolded with you.]
“Wait a minute!?”
Ignoring my protest, a piece of darkness in front of me was cut off and flew toward me.
Hyeee, I have to run ……I thought doing it, but my body won’t move!
I was terrified of what would happen to me as I was bathed in shards of darkness(?) without any resistance, but I didn’t feel anything particularly abnormal.
Rather, it seems that my body has become a little warmer …?
Not knowing what had happened to me, my eyes widened, and suddenly, the voice of the woman changed into something softer.
[It’s okay, there’s no way you’ll get scolded.]
“Huh?”
For a moment, I felt a sense of déjà vu at the slight glimpse of the woman appearance.
Floating in the darkness, as if??
[Now wake up. Or rather, just get out of here.]
“Ah.”
I felt as if my body had been kicked, and I was dropped from the top of the stone pavement.
To the abyss??
“Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?”
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”
I screamed and jumped up.
“Aaaah… Ah, what…?”
I look around while putting my hand on my chest to calm my raging heart.
A familiar wooden wall. Sunlight shining through the window. The warmth that is by my side.
“… Nuu… What the hell is going on…”
“… Uru?”
Rubbing her eyes and letting out a big yawn, Uru slowly woke up.
“Mm, is it morning? Rion, good morning… Hmm?”
“W-What?”
Uru, who was about to greet me in the morning as usual, stopped speaking and looked at me suspiciously.
Not only did she looked at me, but for some reason, she started sticking her body to me and even smelling me. Eh… Did I sweat in the night? ……But it didn’t seems like it was that.
“I feel a familiar presence…”
“What?”
What do you mean? I tried to ask, but was interrupted by a hasty guest from outside.
“Rion-sama! Are you … Okay…?”
Fricka rushed in, thinking that my scream just now was caused by an abnormal situation.
However, the worrying voice fades away, and her expression changes to an indescribable expression.
And looking at Uru who was sticking to me. Said one phrase.
“… It’s okay to me mix in?”
“I was not doing anything!?”
Thus, the events of the dream slipped out of my head.