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“First of all, our hotel uses electronic locks on all the room doors. Normally, there are no issues, but during a power outage, the electronic locks can sometimes discharge. If that happens, guests might get trapped inside their rooms, so please keep the doors unlocked as a precaution. However, roaming around in the dark carries the risk of getting hurt, so please do not exit your rooms.”

“During a power outage, theft incidents or losses can frequently occur. Therefore, we ask that guests keep their valuables with them and do not open their room doors. Currently, security personnel are patrolling the hotel, and we’ve notified the police just in case of an emergency. If you wish to open your room door, please wait until the police arrive.”

“Also, some people turn on their gas stoves in fear of the dark during a power outage, but that can lead to fire or explosion risks. The power issue will be resolved shortly, so please do not light any fires and simply wait quietly.”

“Each room is equipped with an emergency flashlight. The flashlight can be found on the right wall beside the room door and can operate for up to 15 hours. If it stops working before that, please don’t panic and replace it with a spare battery to resume operation.”

“Additionally, please do not use the flashlight. The human eye can quickly adapt to darkness, and creating a light source makes you accustomed to it, which makes you vulnerable to the darkness. If you become accustomed to the darkness, you won’t be able to perceive anything approaching, leaving you susceptible to assaults.”

Their statements were similar yet different.

They were exactly the kind of words that muddled a person’s mind, making it impossible to discern truth from falsehood.

“What’s going on, what’s real?”

Iarin muttered while squeezing Ella in her arms, looking thoroughly confused.

“The message about not going outside is the same. The staff outside is telling us to open the door, while the broadcast says not to. What on earth is happening?”

She mumbled, grappling with her confusion.

“Moreover, the broadcast tells us to use the flashlight, but the staff says not to create light. Given that they’re trying to maintain darkness, it makes it seem like the staff are fake, but since it’s supposedly to defend against assaults, they might actually be real…”

Usually not one to think deeply, Iarin was even more susceptible to such deception.

She was caught in a tussle between the staff and the broadcast, and Iserin, watching Iarin’s bewildered state, gave her a sharp slap on the cheek.

*Smack!*

“Ow!”

With pain radiating from her cheek and sparks dancing in front of her eyes, Iarin glared at Iserin, who had slapped her. Her eyes were sharpened by surprise, allowing her to see Iserin’s figure as if she were using night vision.

Iserin wore an angry expression.

“Already! You’ve fallen for it, you idiot!”

Iserin shouted at Iarin, who was rubbing her cheek.

“Strange fairies show up, and then the staff and the broadcast come out at the same time! How can you believe any of that? They’re both fake!”

[Indeed, both are fakes.]

Iarin momentarily wore a blank expression at that shout.

“You’re right. Why did I believe…?”

“Because it’s the kind of talk that tricks people with weak minds. You really need to meditate and train your mind, just like big brother says!”

Words that deceive those with weak minds.

[Both the sound and the content are suspect. Maybe it’s because they’re performing human sacrifices, but their skill in deception is amazing. Even though your sister said you’re weak-minded and a warrior, it’s really dangerous how easily you’re tricked. Just like a nine-tailed fox that lures people to devour them.]

The content seems clever, yet it’s filled with contradictions.

The broadcast stated, “Due to the power outage, all electronic devices have ceased functioning,” yet the equipment used for the broadcast is also an electronic device. In other words, it doesn’t add up.

The staff pretends to care about the assault, while trying to get guests to open their room doors wide. They claim to prioritize the safety of customers, yet have made it easy for “something” to enter when an assault may occur.

However, in an environment filled with darkness and fully tense due to the fairy, if such contradictory words are thrown from both sides, it’s impossible not to be fooled. No matter how intelligent a person is, in such situations, they are always influenced by instincts, and if they are under instinctual influence, they’ll want to rely on whichever seems safer rather than analyzing both statements carefully.

“If both are fake, then we just need to do what they didn’t specifically mention.”

Ella, nestled between Iarin and Iserin, spoke as if she made a resolution.

“The staff advised against using the flashlight, and the broadcast encouraged it. And the staff also said not to turn on the gas stove.”

Ella pulled out the wisp she had stashed inside her clothes.

“But nobody mentioned creating a light source through a familiar!”

The wisp that came out of her arms illuminated the room brightly as soon as it appeared.

That light was brightening the room without irritating the eyes.

Like turning on a fluorescent light, the living room was illuminated, and color finally returned to the once dark room.

“Guests, as mentioned before, generating light makes you vulnerable to the dark. What you are doing now is a hazardous action that violates emergency behavior guidelines, and we cannot guarantee your safety. Please extinguish that light immediately.”

『 Ah, right now, on the top floor, one guest has created a light source, brightening the area. We kindly request you utilize a flashlight instead of generating a light source. 』

“Guest! Please turn off the light!”

『 Please cease illuminating the area using a familiar and use the emergency flashlight while waiting for the power to return. 』

“Guest! You really need to turn off the light!”

『 Guest, generating light through special abilities may seem beneficial in the short term, but it can interfere with recovery efforts and lead to complications. Unexpected issues may arise due to interference, so please either retract the familiar you’ve summoned, or cover it to reduce or extinguish the light. 』

“Darkness is the best environment for hiding your body. Although you may believe you are safe because you’ve created a light source, if that light source disappears due to some force, you will be left unprepared, not accustomed to darkness once again. Generally, it takes about 15 minutes to adapt to the dark, and for those without special training or enhanced sight, the process can take 8 to 10 minutes. You need to gradually reduce the light and return the room to darkness.”

『 Self-luminous familiars consume certain energy to emit light, which can result in risky variables. Emergency generators and electrical items may respond sensitively to such risks, prolonging recovery time, so please turn down the light promptly. 』

“Guest, you must listen to me! Turn off the light!”

『 Ah—ah. I’ll say it once more. A guest on the top floor has formed a light source with a special ability. Please extinguish that light immediately and use a flashlight. Once again, I emphasize, a guest on the top floor who summoned a familiar and brightened the area should extinguish the light or return the familiar. 』

Iarin looked genuinely alarmed, seemingly overwhelmed by the frantic voices urging her.

“I-I’m scared. Bunny, aren’t you scared?”

“I’m not scared. They can’t hurt me directly; they can only deceive with their voices. So why should I be afraid?”

Ella, who had been trembling earlier, no longer seemed bothered at all; she confidently puffed out her meager chest and stared out the window.

Just a moment ago, the window had offered a view of the nightscape, but now, with the light on, it transformed into a mirror reflecting Ella’s figure.

The mirrored Ella seemed to showcase her past of fear, her pajamas soaked with cold sweat, and the hair that had been drenched clung tightly to her skin. Moreover, her lips bore a slight cut, caused when she bit them in shock during the fairy’s frenzy.

No matter how much she tried to act confident, it was hard to believe her due to such appearances.

Ella quickly raised her hand to tidy her hair.

“Huh?”

But in that moment, she felt something strange.

She raised her hand, clearly raised it, yet—

The reflected Ella merely stared blankly back at her.

No.

That’s not all.

Their eyes did not meet.

The eyes.

The eyes of the Ella in the mirror were looking past Ella’s shoulder instead of meeting her gaze.

The mirrored Ella rolled her eyes back, facing Ella, then slowly began moving her lips.

“Got.”

“Ya~.”

“Ah.”

“Ah~!”

The Ella in the mirror reached out her arm, pulling Ella in for a hug.

 

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