"Gulp"
Paul swallowed his saliva, took a deep breath, and said in a deep voice,
"This task is not easy. We should have been mentally prepared for it, right?"
"Well," Jack said with a pale face. He nodded,
"It's easy to kill that boy, but there must be great danger hidden in this nightmare mansion."
Paul looked back, understanding the situation, and said
"Our plan is crystal clear: locate the boy named 'Astr Serene' promptly. We must watch him. Then let's escape this eerie place."
"It can be said that this mansion is the biggest support of "Astr Serene". He himself is definitely powerless. So as long as we find him, everything will be easy."
'At this time, it will be up to us whether to capture him alive or to slaughter him directly.'
Paul tightened his fists; his expression was fierce and determined. Jack nodded in agreement.
Glancing at Evander, who lay on the ground, attempting to staunch the bleeding with his clothes while moaning, Jack gritted his teeth. With a serious expression, he added,
"Let's split up. If we can find Astr Serene fast, we will be able to leave fast."
The words were not finished. Suddenly, a low voice sounded from behind them, scaring shit out of them.
"Why are you looking for the Lord?"
Suddenly, Paul and Jack almost jumped in fright. They looked back in horror and saw a handsome young man.
They were unaware of him when he silently approached from behind, standing there with a seemingly kind smile.
Perhaps a bit too kind, as the corners of his mouth almost reached the base of his ears, resembling a painting—Astr Serene.
Paul's eyes lit up.
'I thought it would take a lot of effort to find him, but I didn't expect him to show up on his own initiative'
"Please help us! We accidentally broke in here."
Paul begged, distracting the young man's attention and making him lower his vigilance towards them while slowly approaching.
"Astr Serene"'s smile remained unchanged, and half of his face was hidden in the shadows.
"Oh, that's it. So, what help do you need? It's very simple.
'I guess the distance is enough.' Paul tore off the disguise of weakness, glanced up, rushed forward, and shouted, "All we need is you."
"Plop"
There was a sound of pebbles falling into the water.
"...?"
Paul's determined smile froze. The sound of his arms sinking into the boy's chest was reflected in his eyes, which were widening in fear.
{Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! }
The extremely joyful laughter sounded, and Paul slowly raised his head stiffly and saw the mocking smile on the young man's face that really reached his ears.
'Absolutely not something humans can do.'
"Ah, ah ah ah!"
The screams, intertwined with wild and harsh laughter, reverberated through the mansion, haunting the ears of his two companions.
What appeared in their eyes was the scene of Paul being gradually swallowed up by the young man.
It was extremely scary and weird. And it was incomprehensible for them.
Paul's physique was much stronger than that of the boy, but no matter how hard he struggled, he could not free his arms, as if he were submerged in a sticky mire.
All that awaited him was to suffocate to death and turn into a corpse.
"Help me!" Paul turned around and screamed desperately at his two frozen companions, "Help me."
Before he could finish his words, Canvasbane Rafeal had finished enjoying the last beautiful moments of his prey.
It felt as if a colossal net had unfurled abruptly, propelling his entire body outward in all directions.
The last scene that remained in Paul's eyes was the overwhelming, dirty colour that occupied the entire field of vision.
"Clang."
A yellow, one-eyed mask fell to the floor alone. The splashed paint gathered together to form Rafeal's handsome face.
"..."
Dead silence filled the mansion. Rafeal smiled with great joy; his amber eyes turned; he fell on the remaining two people; and he said slowly,
"Choose a way to die."
Upon those words landing, Evander, now missing a calf, drew a dagger and swiftly cut himself, slashing his own throat. Blood sprayed forth, and a peculiar mix of relief and happiness graced his countenance.
"What the hell is this place?" Jack, the last person left, yelled in collapse.
Driven by the desire to survive, he threw himself on the door and twisted the handle crazily!
"Click, click, click!"
The door, which could easily be opened upon arrival, was now firmly locked. At this moment, Jack also understood.
This mansion is simply waiting for them to fall into a trap. They are like stupid and ignorant prey, walking into the mouth of the beast.
"F*CK!!!"
Jack threw down the door and ran upstairs, even though he didn't know where he could escape.
"Tap, tap."
Rafeal's leather shoes stepped on the scarlet carpet, and he chased after him unhurriedly, enjoying the fun of teasing his prey.
"Is this blond boy 'Astr Serene'? That adult didn't mention he'd be this frightening! In his presence, other human beings seem insignificant."
Jack ran wildly, panting, round and round, round and round. Until he realised that he was just spinning in circles. This circular corridor has no end at all.
"Hoo, ho, ho..."
Jack staggered to a stop and looked back in despair.
"Astr Serene" was still not far behind him, and the distance had not shortened at all.
'...All efforts were in vain.'
"Astr Serene, what on earth are you?" Jack murmured. Unexpectedly, this unintentional remark caused the young man in front of him to stop in his tracks.
"Astr Serene? You called me Astr Serene?"
The young man asked strangely.
Then he sneered, looking down at Jack with contempt almost overflowing from his eyes.
"You can't even discern the true owner of this mansion, yet you boldly declare your intent to kill 'Astr. Serene.' Are you attempting to amuse me to death?"
Jack was stunned and blurted out, "You are not Astr Serene? How is this possible?"
'If this defenceless monster is not the owner of this mansion, As the controller, "Astr Serene" must be so powerful.'
A creepy feeling crawled up his spine, and cold sweat had already soaked his clothes.
"Okay, stop talking nonsense." Rafeal's patience with stupid people plummeted. "Let me kill you quickly, before you lower your human intelligence more."
Seeing the face turn into oil paint, spinning and twisting, Jack gave up resistance. He closed his eyes in despair.
The cold air gradually approached and finally stopped in front of him, making his teeth chatter.
Rafeal smiled, spread his fingers, and grabbed Jack. At this moment,
"I remember; I thought I asked you to let one person live, right?"
A soft voice sounded from the side and reached the ears of the two "people".
Suddenly, Rafeal's movements froze, and a look of panic suddenly appeared on his face.
'It's over. I was having so much fun that I forgot about it.'
Accompanied by this voice that was incompatible with this terrifying mansion, the cold air retreated instead of advancing.
"...?"
Jack opened his eyes in confusion. He saw a scene he would never forget.
He saw the humanoid monster that easily killed them leaning down and kneeling in front of a fragile young man sitting in a wheelchair.
Kissing the back of the young man's bright white hand. With flattery, please, and caution.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
How they entered the Astr dream space, and all will be explained properly, there are many people like the principal.
And after 2 or 3 chapters, I will be going to change to the first POV.