Branch K-02, part 7 (after battle)
After stealing the key without my parents noticing, I took Kromer to the basement of my estate as I had promised.
From there, she led me to a dirty air vent.
Crawling in the unlit vent for a while, a dank, grimy odor and the sounds of small critters scuttling about assaulted my senses.
My clothes were stained with filth, my throat was parched, and I was overcome with the desire to go back.
That's when I noticed that the smell my nose picked up had just changed from the stench so far.
Can you feel it?
Kromer whispered to me.
There's something up ahead…!
This might have been the last chance I had to turn back.
It might have been better to dissuade her with all kinds of sweet placations to leave and come back later.
Even if I knew that empty flattery wouldn't work on her.
But before I could try, a vile curiosity came over me.
I was entering a world where villains belonged for the first time.
And for some reason…
I gave up turning back.
All while knowing in my heart that I was squandering my last chance.
Oh, the loathsome sight I had to witness; it was something I couldn't think to behold twice.
Could "monstrosity" be an apt description for what I saw?
It seemed too sentient for that, yet it also seemed decidedly wrong to say that it was even remotely human.
Huk… Guhgh…
Shuddering in fear, I started to regret stepping into this world.
Sinclair, you idiot, look at yourself. Hoping by some miracle to get another chance right after you've wasted it.
Along with my regret, I had the feeling that I'd never forget what I saw that day until the moment I die.
K - Kro…mer… I… I've gotta go back…
On the other hand, Kromer was enraptured.
She was mesmerized by the scene, watching intently as though she had made a discovery of a lifetime.
……
Leaving Kromer all enamored to herself, I crawled backward for the exit.
Why is my basement connected to such a horrid place?
How did Kromer know this?
Why isn't she scared, either?
I could almost hear Kromer's spine-chilling whistles with the wind blowing from behind.
The very next day, Kromer came to school as if nothing had happened.
Sinclair, thank you so much more for showing me precious things.
Take these as my thanks.
She handed two mysterious coins to me.
Always keep them at your side. Got it?
All I could do was nod.
Since then, the things I saw in that vent constantly haunted my mind.
And I began to consciously avoid Kromer.
I could picture myself involuntarily trembling in terror just by looking at her.
But there was something I needed to take back from her.
The basement key.
My parents could find out at any moment. One minute of sorting the keys is all it would take.
For the first time, I betrayed my parents living in a world of warmth…
I was afraid that my deviation from their world would end up becoming an irrefutable fact.
Kromer… Won't you give it back now?
Give back what?
The… basement key…
…Pft.
I mustered the courage to ask one day.
Kromer burst into laughter, as though she didn't expect this from me. Intimidated, I slowly stepped back.
Pwahahaha!!! Oh, and here I was wondering what you were struggling so hard to say…
Fine, you can have it, Sinclair. We don't need the key anymore.
And besides…
Your grudge will most certainly bear fruit, Sinclair. You didn't want to get your procedure, right?
You remember our promise? You fulfilled my grudge, so it's only fair that I pay you back.
I was too absorbed in the relief of getting my key back to realize what Kromer was really talking about, and I curse my ignorance for it.
About what Kromer's "we" really meant.
About why she said it's not needed any more, and how she was going to fulfill my grudge…
I didn't think to question a single thing, and for that…
I regret my inaction; I curse my foolishness.