Mono silently walked to the center of the hall.
Only then did he notice what was drawn on the floor.
The originally clean wooden floorboards were now covered in patches of white powder.
Drawn upon them were pairs of large white eyes, one overlapping another. In some places, the powder was so thick it obscured the lines, yet the drawing continued.
These were all the handiwork of that Ceramic Figurine that had been locked here earlier.
What did these eyes mean to it?
What did they mean to the Long-necked Monster Teacher?
Looking at these eyes, Mono thought of the colossal monster from the game's ending.
That grotesque mass, composed of countless crimson flesh and pairs of eyes as large as lanterns.
These eyes were undoubtedly connected to it.
Every place here seemed to have similar eyes.
They pervaded every corner of this small Nightmare World, seemingly omnipresent.
Their presence could be found wherever stories unfolded.
Little Six remained silent beside him.
In this world, she had also noticed these eyes.
These gazes were blatantly watching from there, their numbers unknown.
Even if one avoided one pair, other eyes might still be watching from other corners.
Over time, she had grown accustomed to their presence.
Though they felt oppressive, there was no way to evade them.
Just as she was thinking this,
"Hey, Little Six, close your eyes for me~"
Mono's voice suddenly came from beside her.
Little Six looked over, puzzled.
"Wha... what...?"
"Just close them when I tell you. Are you afraid I'd harm you?" Mono said.
He wasn't very satisfied with the Ceramic Figurine's masterpiece.
So many eyes were unnerving to look at.
Hearing this, though still confused, Little Six slowly closed her somewhat indifferent eyes.
However, not long after closing them, she heard a rustling sound by her ear.
Then, a'sizzling, splashing' noise drilled into her ears.
It sounded like flowing water.
What was he doing?
...
Ahead, Mono looked at the eyes on the floor now submerged in water and nodded with satisfaction.
He then re-fastened his belt.
Now *this* was a perfect work of art—a large pile of powdery eyes dispersed by an unknown liquid.
Mono held a deep-seated hatred for eyes.
Though he knew doing this might not completely evade the prying of some unknown entity,
he still had to do it.
One must take a stand. If he didn't make his position clear, wouldn't those entities think he was easy to bully?
This could be considered a return gift.
"Alright, you can open your eyes now,"
Mono looked up and said to Sixth Master,
"We need to go."
After he spoke, Sixth Master, still standing in place, kept her eyes tightly shut.
"Hey, I said we need to go. Did you hear me?"
Mono didn't know what nerve Sixth Master was acting on now.
Seeing her eyes still firmly closed, he slowly walked over.
Looking closely, Mono noticed her entire body and posture seemed somewhat tense.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?"
"Noth... nothing's wrong."
Sixth Master's eyelashes seemed to flutter slightly, but her tone maintained its usual indifference.
Mono looked at her skeptically:
"If nothing's wrong, why are your eyes still closed?"
Hearing this, Sixth Master could only slowly open her eyes.
Perhaps it was an illusion, but Mono seemed to catch a glimpse of a faint blush on her cheeks.
"Do you have a fever?"
Mono reached out to touch her forehead.
"No..." Sixth Master quickly took a step back as if dodging, "I don't. Let's... go."
Seeing this, Mono found it even stranger.
With Sixth Master's constitution, she shouldn't get sick, right?
He stole another glance at her and saw a trace of awkwardness still lingering on her usually cold face.
Was Sixth Master having another episode?
Mono silently thought.
...
The two continued forward, passed through the hall, and successfully reached the next room.
Though called a room, it was really just a small compartment.
"No way forward?"
Mono began surveying the surroundings.
Soon, he discovered a ventilation opening.
"Hey, let's go."
Mono walked under the cabinet and started climbing up.
Little Six's lips parted slightly, but she silently followed behind.
This annoying friend still called her that.
She had already told him her name.
...
Soon after, two figures once again squeezed into the narrow passageway.
The light suddenly grew somewhat dim.
Only the rustling sound of footsteps remained.
The ventilation duct twisted and turned. After crawling for several minutes, light finally reappeared before Mono's eyes.
*Tap~*
*Tap~*
*Tap~*
However, before reaching the exit, a series of tapping sounds reached his ears.
"Shh~"
Mono turned back and signaled to Little Six.
Sixth Master nodded.
The two slowed their pace and crawled toward the exit.
Soon, they reached the edge of the opening.
Looking straight out from the opening's edge.
Outside, under the dimly lit walls, there was nothing.
Only a few Beam lay quietly in the center of the room.
And the sound was coming from beneath those Beam.
Mono turned his head to look under the Beam and saw a familiar figure.
There was the Female Teacher, holding a ruler and repeatedly striking a Ceramic Figurine.
The Little people struggled incessantly in her grasp, but it was utterly futile.
Mono sighed.
Long-Neck Teacher doesn't focus on teaching properly and always resorts to violence—unexpectedly mischievous.
...
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