I look at the figure of Josh's walking; he uses his hand to hold up his upper body.
-So you can walk after all. (Farah)
-Well, you can say so. (Josh)
-Then, what were you doing in there? Lying on the ground when we first found you, Josh? (Farah)
Josh stops walking.
-Do you know why I stay in the cave in the first place? (Josh)
Amy becomes angry at Josh's question and inquires him back.
-How can sister know about that? (Amy)
-Ahaha, you are right! (Josh)
-My job is to help other challengers overcome this trial. It's one way to redeem what I had done in the past. (Josh)
Josh continues.
-However, It has been a long time since I see the last patches of challengers. (Josh)
He forces an awkward smile.
-If I didn't see you guys, then I would have tried to kill myself today. (Josh)
-Eh? Why would you do that? (Farah)
-I can't live while carrying my guilt like this. The nightmare tortures me every night. (Josh)
-Kill yourself... You mean you want to consume that suspicious water. (Farah)
-It's one way of dying, and another way is being eaten by the gigantic shadow you guys saw in the past. (Josh)
-Eh? How can you be so certain about that? (Farah)
-The death can't talk, that's all. (Josh)
We continue walking deeper inside the secret passage.
-We are almost there. (Josh)
In my head, Death said to me.
-I think he is wrong about this matter, Farah. (Death)
-What do you mean by that, Death? (Farah)
-The monster we saw last night holds an enormous amount of soul. The people who are eaten by it will become prisoners of that monster's body. (Death)
-No way. (Farah)
-This whole trial is like a cruel joke of God. It tortures all the challengers even after they are killed. (Death)
-I agree. (Farah)
Mia seems to notice I am different from usual and asks me.
-What's wrong, sister? (Mia)
-Nothing, Mia. (Farah)
-We are finally here. (Josh)
We finally arrived in a cramped room. There is nothing but an enormous bed in the middle of the room.
-Welcome to my room! Make yourself at home. (Josh)
Suddenly, Mia's stomach growls. Her face becomes bright red while trying to avoid my line of sight.
-I'm sorry, sister. (Mia)
I caress Mia's head.
-It's normal for you to be hungry after travelling a lot. (Farah)
-Ehehe. (Mia)
Mia seems to enjoy me caressing her head. When I turn around, I can see Amy looks at Mia with jealous eyes. I instantly try using my other hand of mine to pat Amy's head.
-Sister...I (Amy)
When I try to finish the patting's time, Amy tries to hold back my hand and asks me.
-Can you pat me a little more, sister? (Amy)
It's incredibly rare to see mature Amy act differently from usual. Can I bring her home? She is so adorable?
-Can't you? (Amy)
Mia instantly jumps and hugs Amy.
-Sister is acting too cutely. (Mia)
I can feel smokes coming from Amy's head.
-Because I feel so comfy when sister pats me, Mia. (Amy)
-Right, Right. I feel that sister's hand has unusual power. Her hand can make us feel at ease every time she pats us. (Mia)
-Ahaha. (Farah)
Josh coughs and said.
-You three seem so close. (Josh)
Mia makes a proud face and says.
-Naturally. (Mia)
We have dinner after that. By using canned food, I can make some simple dishes. After finishing eating, we sit on the bed and try to listen to Josh's story again.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Josh's POV
Maria is acting weird after we came back from the lake. At night, when we are sleeping together, Maria stands up and walks out of the tent.
-Maria, where are you going? (Josh)
However, she doesn't answer my question and keeps going in the lake's direction.
-Hey, Maria. (Josh)
I run out of the tent and start following her. I can hear Maria babbling from afar.
-Ma..e U Hole (Maria)
I try coming closer and can see the face of her disappear and looking toward me.
-Make Us Whole! (Maria)
I become too frightened and fall to the ground, While Maria leaving me behind. I shake my head.
-It must be an illusion. (Josh)
I stand up and start following Maria again.
-Maria! (Josh)
I shout out loud and hope that Maria will overhear me.
-She is not here... (Josh)
I try looking at the sky, so I can find the direction that leads to the lake.
-There is no star in this space. And how the hell can I see in the night without a torch? This space is really unpleasant. (Josh)
I try to look at the ground and recognize the footsteps that imprint on the ground.
-This way! (Josh)
I run like crazy, and I ultimately arrive at the crimson lake. I can see Maria is trying to drink the lake's water using her hand.
-Maria! (Josh)
Again, there is no response come from her. I come closer to Maria and place my hand on her shoulder. Maria's head spins 180 degrees and looks at me. This time I can only a mouth on her head. The eyes and other things have disappeared.
-Hiiiii! (Josh)
I retreat far from Maria. A familiar voice comes out of Maria's mouth.
-What's wrong, Honey? (Maria)
Maria gradually walks toward me.
-Do you want to take a sip of this water, Honey? (Maria)
Her voice suddenly becomes creepy.
-It's really delicious. (Maria)
-Ahhhh! (Josh)
I touch myself and notice I'm still lying on the bed.
-Hah! Everything is a dream, right? (Josh)
-What's wrong, Josh? (Maria)
Maria comes into the tent and asks me.
-Are you sick, Josh? (Maria)
When Maria tries reaching my side to check up on me, I hit off her hand.
-Eh...(Maria)
-Can you leave me alone for now, Maria? (Josh)
Maria looks at me with a worried face.
-All right. Get well soon, Josh. (Maria)
When Maria leaves the tent, I start questioning myself.
-Everything is a dream, right? (Josh)
However, I find out something that denies my assumption. My feet is full of dirt.
-I remember that I chase after Maria on my barefoot. (Josh)
-The monster we saw last night holds an enormous amount of soul. The people who are eaten by it will become prisoners of that monster's body. (Death)
This is a mutated version of the undead soul eater, right?
Can necromancers and Liches also sense souls like Death?
Thanks for the chapter
Whew, that's right, a mass of meat that acts as a prison for these pure souls
They can! Some of them can make special undead like wrath but it's very rare to see one. Even Ahma, doesn't have the talent to interact with the soul.
Congrats on #1 trending again
-Then, what are you doing in there? Lying on the ground when we first found you, Josh? (Farah)
are -> were
My job is to help other challengers overcome this trial. It's one way to redeem what I have done in the past. (Josh)
have -> had
If I didn't see you guys, then I have tried to kill myself today. (Josh)
I have tried -> I would have tried
I can't live without carrying my guilt like this. The nightmare tortures me every night. (Josh)
without -> while, since the nightmare is torturing him every night?
It's one way of dying, and another way is being eaten by the gigantic shadow you guys saw in the past.
missing (Josh)
This whole trial is like a cruel joke of God. It tortured all the challengers even after they are being killed. (Death)
tortured -> tortures
are being killed -> are killed
Nothing, Mia (Farah)
need '.'
Right, Right. I feel that sister's hand unusual power. Her hand can make us feel at ease every time she pats us. (Mia)
shouldn't it be 'hands' instead since Farah did use both of her hands to pat Amy and Mia
-> I feel that sister's hands have unusual power
By using can food, I can make some simple dishes.
can food -> canned food
When Maria leaves out of the tent, I start questioning myself.
-> leaves the tent
My foot is full of dirt.
foot -> feet (unless he walks on one foot)
Ehehe, I really appreciate that
And I will fix those mistakes thanks for your help
Hey why did this change the genre to horror ?
Don't worry, it will return to fluff soon
Thanks for the chap!
Hence, you can walk after all. (Farah)
So, you can walk after all~
Then why do you lie there when we first found you, Josh? (Farah)
Then, what are you doing in there? Lying on the ground when we first found you, Josh?
Maria's head spins 360 degrees and looks at me. This time I can only a mouth on her head. The eyes and other things have disappeared.
I think 180 should be better. Since if it was 360, then she wouldn't be able to face him
All right thanks a lot.
Let me fix it