I’m afraid. Even when confronted with the satan, even confronted with dying, I’ve discovered a approach to dwell. However now it’s pitch black. I can’t see a approach out. I’m afraid that Simeon is de facto going to die, and that I’ll miss my solely probability to save lots of him.

“…Huh.”

Humorous, isn’t it. I used to be so positive of victory, understanding that his solely weak spot was me, him who feared nothing, however I used to be incorrect. I’m no totally different from him.

My best concern is his dying. I concern his absence much more than my very own dying. In terms of his well-being, years of exhausting work might be undone straight away. When the straightforward and perfect path is in entrance of me, I select the troublesome and silly one.

Some might name it love, however I can by no means admit to it. That feeling. The extent of that emotion… will stay unrevealed till dying.

“The place is he? …That individual.”

Even when it’s cowardly self-righteousness.

“The guild chief is on the base now.”

As quickly as Raphael had completed talking, I went into my room and began to decorate. My fingers trembled as I buttoned a couple of buttons. There was a risk he may die. There was no time for rational thought, for questioning if I used to be making the suitable selection or if I used to be making an irreversible mistake.

There is just one thought in my head. What occurred that might trigger him to be getting ready to dying? He in all probability wasn’t injured within the dungeon. Regardless of how critical the harm is, it’s exhausting to die so long as Raphael has the therapeutic means. Then, it’s a distinct cause. To suppose I’m the one one who can save Simeon…What the hell is Raphael anticipating from me?

‘I believed possibly if it was hyung, the guild chief would open his coronary heart.’

I didn’t know why these phrases appeared in my thoughts now. I grabbed a seashell so I may name Michael, simply in case. As I left the room, Raphael jumped to his toes as if he’d been ready for me.

“Are you positive you need to assist?”

(TL/N: You’re the one begging him, now you’re asking him :)) )

“I don’t know what I can do, however….”

Raphael disregarded his chest, his anxieties put to relaxation. Earlier than we departed, I locked the door however observed the overcast sky. The black clouds seemed like they had been going to pour rain at any second.

“Will the boat be capable to float on this climate?”

“Boas?”

“Sure. The Apostle’s base is in the course of the ocean, so we’ll must take a ship, or possibly a helicopter.”

“Ah,” Raphael sighed with a anxious glint in his eye.

“That’s positive. Does hyung’s home have a door with a keyhole?”

“A key… gap?”

The entrance door is an automated lock, however fortunately the toilet door has a keyhole. I gestured to the toilet, and Raphael walked over and stood within the doorway. Unable to comprise my curiosity as he fumbled in his jacket pockets, I requested,

“What are you making an attempt to do?”

“I’m making an attempt to attach the trail to the ark.”

“…The ark?”

“Whoever has Noah’s key can go out and in of the ark anytime, wherever.”

What’s Noah and what’s the ark, and is he referring to the awakener’s powers within the Apostles?

As I contemplated, Raphael pulled a protracted, skinny stick from his pocket. He inserted it into the tiny keyhole, and with a click on, a faint glow emanated from the crack within the doorway.

When Raphael lastly opened the door, a humid breeze rushed in. As I believed it smelled surprisingly like the ocean, simply past the door lay a blue sea.

“What the….”

My jaw dropped and I couldn’t shut it. In a single second, an abnormal toilet door turned a passageway to the ocean. The stark divide between the within of the home and the bar, with only a single threshold, was unreal. Even the wildflowers swaying among the many cliffs and rocks carved by the tough waves had been surprisingly acquainted.

As if studying my thoughts, Raphael crossed the edge first.

“This seems to be acquainted, doesn’t it?”

“…It’s the bottom of the Apostle.”

“That’s proper, we name it the Ark.”

The bottom, floating alone on the ocean, seemed like a ship, however it was an ark, and if you happen to inserted an olive department, known as the “Key of Noah,” into the keyhole, it will open a passage to the ark. That is how the Apostles had been capable of escape from the scene of every incident.

I crossed the edge cautiously, my eyes scanning my environment. I may really feel the grass and soil beneath my toes. The belief that I wasn’t dreaming made it all of the stranger. In the meantime, Raphael quietly closed the door to the toilet, asking.

“Can you retain this a secret? It’s taboo to open the door of the ark in entrance of outsiders who aren’t apostles.”

“Sure….”

I nodded shakily. Nobody would consider me if I instructed them anyway.

Abruptly, I flip round and as a substitute of an outdated rest room door, I see the doorway to a base that appears like a contemporary artwork museum. The sight was extra uncomfortable than welcome. My fists clenched because the reminiscences of the previous got here flooding again to me.

“So, what’s Simeon’s situation now?”

I requested him and he gave me a disheartening reply.

“…I don’t know.”

“What?”

“As a result of nobody noticed him.”

He mentioned he is perhaps useless. If nobody noticed it, how may they know? The doubt confirmed on his face, and Raphael defined calmly as we entered the bottom.

“Solely a small a part of the apostle is aware of, however the guild chief has a Sabbath.”

“Sabbath… you imply like a vacation?”

“No, no. It’s only a title for comfort, it doesn’t imply something in any respect. Anyway, when it comes round, he by no means comes out of his room, and he’s requested us to not, as a result of he’ll come out on his personal when the time comes. I don’t know why, however one way or the other… I felt like he was locking himself within the room.”

I’ve by no means heard that earlier than. Raphael as soon as instructed me that Simeon doesn’t even belief the member guilds he works with…. Is there such a factor as a secret that should not be revealed to anybody?

“What’s he doing within the room?”

“…I don’t know.”

“What?”

“Due to the barrier the guild chief put in place, the apostle can’t go in…. however he often comes out in a day or two, so I believed it will be the identical this time, however it’s been per week now, and despite the fact that I put meals in entrance of the room, it hasn’t been touched, and I can hear one thing breaking and cracking once in a while, and yesterday morning was even worse.”

Raphael, who had been strolling briskly by means of the maze of corridors, all of the sudden stopped. He glanced round, as if to ensure nobody was watching, after which whispered in a low voice.

“I believe he’s hallucinating…”

“Hallucinations?”

“I used to be placing meals out on the entrance of the room after I overheard a voice speaking. It was the guild chief speaking to himself, however it was like he was having a dialogue.”

A hallucination, and he’s even having a dialog with it…. I’ve a foul feeling about this. Simeon’s situation was a lot worse than I had anticipated. My mouth went dry with a sudden wave of tension.

After a couple of moments, Raphael’s steps stopped at a door. The door was vaguely acquainted, black wooden with a curved sample carved into it. It was the room containing the <Portrait of Saint-Germain>, the place he had come to see Simeon the day earlier than.

“Is he in right here?”

Raphael nodded silently and reached for the doorknob. There was a crack, a spark. In contrast to me, Raphael calmly seemed down at his hand, as if he had seen this coming: his fingertips had been swollen pink, as if he had touched one thing scorching.

Earlier than I may ask if he was okay, Raphael grabbed me by the shoulders and mentioned,

“It’s sealed to maintain the Apostle out, so you will get in, and in addition to… I’m positive the guild chief will take heed to you, so I’m sorry to get you twisted up on this, however…….”

“You don’t must apologize, I mentioned I’d come.”

I gently tugged his hand off my shoulder. I may really feel Raphael’s nervousness in his trembling fingers. I knew he needed to save lots of Simeon as a lot as he cared about me, so I spoke as boldly as I may.

“Raphael. Wait right here till I come out.”

“Are you positive you’ll be okay by yourself?”

“No downside, but when I’m in any hazard, I’ll name you instantly.”

Raphael let go of my hand and took a step again, I then stood in entrance of the door and knocked.

“Simeon?”

I known as out his title, however it was useless silent on the opposite aspect of the door. I’ve no selection however to go in. Cautiously, I grabbed the doorknob and turned it, and in contrast to the sparks I’d seen earlier, the door opened quietly. I shot a have a look at Raphael to inform him to not fear, then stepped into the room alone.

Click on.

The door closed, and the room was plunged into darkness. The very first thing that caught my eye was the <Portrait of Saint-Germain>. The one mild in the dead of night room was the small lamp above the portray. After some time, my eyes acquired used to it and I may see my environment.