NOVEL NEXT Chapter 188
Ozworld Company Victim’s Union. Those words automatically made me think of the anti-fans wearing red bandanas with the phrase ‘Expel Ozworld from Pantheon’. My head was swirling with confusion.
“Are you the leader of those antis? They attack me indiscriminately. Why would someone who commands such people approach me?”
[“Among those actively participating as antis, many have indeed been harmed by Ozworld, but we are different from them.”]
There were too many scars for me to easily believe such a claim without evidence.
“And why should I trust you?”
[“
Hmm
. Unfortunately, you have no reason to.”]
Such a refreshingly frank response. For a supposedly carefully arranged contact, the preparation seemed woefully awful.
Or perhaps they’re so confident that they don’t need such persuasion.
Looked around the space lit up as if by overhead lighting, feeling it anew. This place seemed to be a space conceptually similar to a prison of dreams. My real self was in a small temple on the outskirts, last held by Ozworld.
“It doesn’t matter. I wasn’t looking for an apology or explanation anyway. I’m curious, was that writer you mentioned a BJ?”
The person on the screen smiled slightly in affirmation.
“Then, perhaps…”
[“You do ask a lot of questions, as I’ve observed. But as I said, we’re short on time, so could you allow me to speak?”]
“Go ahead.”
[“Thank you for understanding. First, let me explain where we are. This place is a temporary shelter built in your mind, a space of unconsciousness that even Ozworld can’t access.”]
It was as I suspected.
[“As you might have guessed, I have a deep resentment towards Ozworld. He killed someone I loved.”]
“…”
[“You just lost someone you love, just like me.”]
A fire reignited in my charred heart. I gasped for air, my face contorted in pain.
“So?” My words came out sharp and harsh.
[“This is just the beginning. Ozworld is a being of a different dimension compared to other channel managers, capable of altering the flow of the broadcast at his will.”]
That meant others could disappear just like Clyde had. I already felt like I was on a leash by Ozworld, and now it felt like I had lost freedom in my limbs as well.
[“We don’t want to see more victims like us. That’s why we’ve been preparing for a long time to banish Ozworld from Pantheon. Then, we found a possibility in you.”]
“What possibility?”
The character on the screen changed again. This time, a beautiful woman looking at a department store window moved her lips.
[“Ozworld’s
―
―
―
―
―
―
―
.”]
Chijijijijik—!
Suddenly, a menacing noise filled the air, and the screen filled with static. The distorted woman emitted a more twisted mechanical sound.
[“That’s all for today. Let’s meet again next time.”]
“Wait, I didn’t catch that—”
Click
. The television is turned off.
* * *
My eyelids lifted on their own.
Where is this…?
It was my new room, moved by Raul’s wish. I stared dead-eyed at the ceiling, lying as if in a coffin. Events flowed through my mind like short clips of a movie: the wedding on a rainy day, the name being engraved on my back, the wedding ring on my finger, and the disappearance of Clyde. I had been searching for him like a madwoman in my ruined state, held by Ozworld, then lost consciousness and visited a strange space. This terrible event was just the beginning, wasn’t it?
“…”
Tears silently streamed down my face. Thinking of Clyde crushed my heart, and thinking of Ozworld drove me to madness. The more I looked back on the situation, the more overwhelmed and scared I felt. My complex emotions flowed ceaselessly as tears.
The black butterfly went to Clyde, so it must have done something for him.
It had to. Otherwise, truly…
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Born From Theresa’s Heart’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[Are you okay, Theresa…? You still seem shocked…]
Regrettably, I was far from okay.
Then, I heard someone approaching from outside. I silently stifled my sobs and wiped away the traces of tears. I couldn’t face whatever was coming, with tears streaming down my face, not knowing what lay ahead.
“…
Uh
?”
Then I noticed the ring on my ring finger was gone. Had it slipped off my hand when I lost consciousness in the temple? As my face drained of color, the door opened.
“Oh my, Milady! You’re awake.” Eloise approached with a concerned look, accompanied by a doctor.
I briefly stopped the doctor from checking me to ask as calmly as possible, “Eloise. Where did you put the ring I was wearing?”
“Yes? There was no ring. Your usual brooch is stored in the dressing room. What ring did you lose? I’ll look for it.”
“It’s nothing… I must have been mistaken.”
My heart sank at the realization it was far from ‘it’s nothing’.
Eloise scolded the doctor to check my condition quickly.
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Principle of Order’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[The ring is with Ozworld.]
Ozworld. My spirit snapped to alertness at the detestable name.
Ozworld has the ring? Why?
He must be planning to use the ring to demand something from me. Otherwise, he wouldn’t personally hold onto such an item. With that thought, I asked, “Who brought me here?”
“It was the Marquis Vallensia!”
Marquis Vallensia? I was flabbergasted. My displeasure surged as someone forcibly inserted settings into someone else’s game settings.
Eloise sighed in relief, saying it was fortunate he had brought me, showing more than just gratitude for my rescue.
Well, his appearance is attractive, after all.
To my eyes, however, he was nothing more than a monster ready to devour me whole.
After the doctor’s examination, I was surprisingly declared in perfect health despite running barefoot and rolling on the ground without a single scratch.
“Lady Libby treated all your wounds. What exactly happened when you went out?”
Ah
, Libby.
“Where is Libby? No, I’ll go see her myself.”
Luckily, my room had been moved closer to Libby’s, which was a relief. I wanted to see her face. Anxious that she might have been harmed, I couldn’t sit still and rushed out of bed.
“You’re awake, Theresa. How do you feel? Are you alright?”
Raul and Roseanne had come to see me.
“I need to see Libby.”
Clyde had been erased. There was no guarantee Libby wouldn’t be as well. Ozworld could kill all my protagonists. I needed to see her alive with my own eyes to quell the growing anxiety.
“Calm down.” Raul embraced me in his broad arms and gently patted my back. Then I realized the burning pain was gone.
Had Libby healed me? As if confirming my suspicion, a white butterfly fluttered into the room. Libby peeked her head around the door, hopping from foot to foot, apparently waiting for her parents to check on me before she could enter.
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Absolutely Protect Squire’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[Our Libby is here]
Thankfully, Libby was safe.
Realizing I had calmed down, Raul sighed as if relieved. “Your father was nearly breathless with worry. Please, don’t get hurt again.”
I nodded, wrapped in his warm embrace.
* * *
The doctor left, and my family gathered for tea. Instead of the usual red tea in my cup, there was a herbal tea known for its calming effects.
“It smells nice. Try some.”
Roseanne gently encouraged me to sip, but I barely touched it with my lips before setting it down. The conversation was needed more than tea. With a composed expression, I exchanged glances with Raul, who seemed to understand and set down his teacup to focus on me.
“I’m sure you already know what I’m going to ask.”
He probably wondered who I was with where I had been and what the wedding dress was all about. Rather than clumsily lying and complicating things further, it seemed better to be honest and face the consequences. Even if Raul was disappointed in me, I believed he would forgive me.
“I went to a temple on the outskirts with Clyde.”
I braced for a thunderstorm with a tense expression.
“Clyde?”
But Raul’s reaction was puzzling. Instead of spewing venom as if facing an enemy, there was no detectable fury in his murmuring.
“I’ve never heard that name before. Surely not your boyfriend, right?”
My heart went cold.