Chapter 335 : Mental Hospital
"What the hell is that Eight-Tailed Fox up to? Really, I've been finding that big-breasted freak annoying for a long time. With breasts that big, they must be implants."
Even after being rescued, Candel remained indignant. She seemed to hold a grudge about being deceived by the Eight-Tailed Fox.
But the girls had no response. Especially Lonis, who felt extremely melancholic, not knowing what would happen next...
After all, the most disheartening thing was betrayal by a companion.
Although they hadn't spent much time with the Eight-Tailed Fox, the girls had no wariness toward her. Lonis never expected she would choose to do such a thing at this moment.
After walking for a short while, everyone arrived at the deepest part of the Exile District—
The Kingdom Mental Hospital.
Or rather, this building hidden underground was originally the foundation of the Exile District. A thousand years ago when the Apocalypse Independent Kingdom was still prosperous, this place housed large numbers of mental patients.
"Senior Elucia, this is the end of the passage."
"Mm, it seems the entrance to the Cold Abyss is also beneath this building. But along the way, we didn't see the Eight-Tailed Fox or Withered Leaf."
"Have they already entered inside the mental hospital?"
"That's possible. Let's go in and take a look."
......
Unlike the mental hospitals in Lonis's memory, the Apocalypse Independent Kingdom's mental hospital was built very much like an amusement park.
This was an abnormally massive palace-style building. From the colors and design of the walls, the original theme here should have been "cheerful" and "entertaining"—because the windows were all different sizes and shapes, with many towers protruding from the outer walls, and various climbable corridors.
But now...
Everything had been abandoned.
And because of long periods without maintenance, plus the mutual beatings of exiles, the entire castle's outer walls were covered with dense bloodstains.
The dim lighting, combined with that seemingly present yet absent chilling breeze, really looked like a haunted house—terrifying to behold.
"Oh? There are traces of the door being opened. It looks like they did go inside."
"Elucia, should we... also enter through the front door?"
"Mm, little fox, you go first."
"Eh?!"
"Didn't little fox say she wanted to prove her martial prowess? Then I'm counting on you~"
"Wuu wuu..."
......
At this moment, Lonis somewhat regretted wanting to show off.
After all, in a mental hospital sealed for so long, it wouldn't be surprising to find any kind of monsters inside. And this was the Apocalypse Independent Kingdom's mental hospital—perhaps she could see creations as perverted as Caster.
Sure enough, the moment she stepped inside, Lonis almost vomited.
Because sprawled before her was a conjoined person... It had two legs in the lower body, but the upper body split in a V-shape, with the left head resembling a female and the right head resembling a male.
The two inner arms were intertwined, like twisted rope that chilled the heart.
But fortunately...
This monster was already dead.
Pitch-black blood flowed on the ground, indicating it had just died recently. And several fallen leaves remaining on the floor seemed to be traces from the recent battle.
"Ugh..."
"Miss Hero, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, thank you..."
Lonis covered her mouth, not taking the handkerchief Sethilu offered. But just then, Candel pointed to another direction and said:
"Look over there, it's Withered Leaf."
"Eh, it really is!"
......
......
Withered Leaf was collapsed on the stairs of the hall, seemingly asleep, with no response from her entire body.
It wasn't until the girls ran over and her eyes were illuminated by the Ember Shield's radiance that Withered Leaf slowly opened her eyes like a weary traveler.
"I'm..."
"Withered Leaf, are you alright?"
"Uh, I..."
The green-haired girl rubbed her forehead, then as if suddenly remembering something, shouted: "Be careful!"
"Be careful?"
"In this mental hospital, there aren't just those strong ones who've lost their reason. There's also a very cunning enemy who ambushed me from behind while I was fighting..."
Withered Leaf panted heavily. It was clear her magical power was almost completely exhausted and she couldn't continue fighting.
Candel snorted coldly and said harshly: "I know, it must be the Eight-Tailed Fox."
"Eight-Tailed Fox...?"
"Mm, I was just deceived by her and then attacked by her! All signs point to her coming to the mental hospital, so she must have attacked you."
"Was it the Eight-Tailed Fox... but why? Was she worried I'd steal the Cold Abyss power?"
"This..."
Candel hesitated but still said: "Regarding the Eight-Tailed Fox, shouldn't Withered Leaf know more than us?"
"Why...?"
"Because wasn't she once the Research Director of the Apocalypse Independent Kingdom? Withered Leaf should have met her."
"No, my adoption by Lord Hofa happened after the Apocalypse Independent Kingdom's fall."
"!"
"I was originally just an abandoned human baby. Lord Hofa took me in. However... ten years ago, I did meet the Eight-Tailed Fox once."
"Oh?"
"At that time, she seemed to want to infiltrate Ruins City to search for something, but ultimately, she was repelled by Lord Hofa... We had the opportunity to pursue her then and make her pay the price of another tail, but Lord Hofa didn't pursue."
"What did Hofa say then?"
"Mm, Lord Hofa said at the time... the sky wants to rain, people want to eat, if the nine-tailed fox wants to run, let her escape."
"!"
"Ah... that's right, it was also then that I first saw Lord Hofa show that kind of emotion. I didn't understand Lord Hofa's feelings at the time, but thinking back now, that should have been guilt."
"Interesting. In that case... we're not in a hurry to go to the Cold Abyss."
Elucia smiled slightly and turned to look around: "This mental hospital should still contain very crucial intelligence. Let's search this place thoroughly."
"We don't need to look for the Eight-Tailed Fox?"
"Mm, because the matters here have become more important."
Although this mental hospital looked deep and dark, seeming like monsters could appear at any moment...
The girls' journey...
Was incredibly peaceful.
Everyone didn't encounter any monsters, only the sound of high heels echoing lonely in the spacious corridors.
As everyone continued forward, they discovered more and more documents...
Those things hidden in the past finally restored themselves before the girls.