DBCR 03

Chapter 03

No answer comes to that “why.”
Even if I pressed the issue, I’d probably just get something like, Because you’re the one, so you have to do it.
So first, I decided to figure out what kind of situation I was in.

For some reason, this body doesn’t seem to be my original one. The scar I had on my hand is gone, and my body feels lighter and more agile.
I pulled at my hair to check. Lemon‑tinged pink hair. Not my original hair color. As expected, this isn’t my body.

Whose body it is, I have no idea. There are no memories belonging to it. I don’t know what abilities it might have either.

First, I examined the clothes I was wearing. As far as I know, that novel was roughly based on a late‑19th‑century class‑based society.
In that kind of era, clothing would tell you your social status.

So I looked at my clothes…
Hmm. I have no idea.

Reddish‑brown wide pants, and a blouse with no pattern or decoration whatsoever. On my feet were pale, mottled leather shoes. A strange pattern—like they were made from the skin of a small zebra.

There was a jacket lying beside me, so I quickly picked it up to inspect it. A large badge was attached to the jacket’s collar. I’d find out later from Irix what this badge was—it was a school badge.

Deciding there was nothing more to learn from the clothes, I stood up.

The body itself wasn’t very different from my original one, so it didn’t feel awkward. The height and build are similar too.
Still, being in another world with a different body makes my former life feel like a long‑ago dream.
My childhood, my working life, everything that happened back then.

The only thing I remember clearly is the writing about this world—along with that pale, white face looking at me expectantly as it handed me a notebook bought casually at a convenience store.

I should have said it clearly back then.

No. Don’t. Read. That. And. Go. Back.

If I had, I wouldn’t be wandering this strange realm—I would’ve died instantly and cleanly.

I opened the travel bag beside me. Inside were clothes and a wallet. The clothes weren’t much different from what I was wearing now, and the wallet was stuffed with bills.
There was no ID, which I had been hoping for. Maybe this is a world where such things don’t exist.

I wondered if there might be a notebook or memo pad. There had to be something.
I searched thoroughly, but there was nothing like that. There were no personal items that could tell me who this body belonged to.

In the end, the only clue was the name tag dangling from the bag: “Elpini from Sanzna.”
I couldn’t tell whether that was a name or a brand, but for now, I decided to be Elpini.

Giving up on learning about the body’s original owner, I examined the cabin, looking for an exit.
Whether I had to kill the dark mastermind or reform him, I needed to get outside first.

I found a long, ornate door. When I pushed it slightly, it opened onto a sink and shower room covered in gorgeous ceramic tiles.
I couldn’t help but gasp in admiration. The patterns engraved on each tile were incredibly vivid and beautiful—dreamlike, almost like images generated by AI.

There was a mirror in front of the sink. I stepped inside and looked at my reflection.
On the other side was a girl with a pale, slender face, lemon‑tinged pink hair, and light pastel‑blue eyes, as if painted with watercolors. She looked to be in her late teens or early twenties.

So young.
What a cruel fate—to have a ghost from another world cling to you at this age. How did that happen to you?

…Well, that said, I can’t exactly claim my own arrival in this world at that age went smoothly either.

Next to the mirror hung a ceramic clock adorned with an elaborate snake decoration. The clock was fixed at 3 p.m.
Suddenly, the snake decoration lifted its head and moved.

Huh?

I leaned in, fascinated.
It looked like a real, living snake…

The snake blinked. A thin, black threadlike tongue flicked out.
Ah. It is alive.

“……”

No—if it’s alive, that’s a problem!

I had to begin the eternal human dilemma upon encountering a snake.
Is it venomous, or just a normal snake?
Maybe snakes in this world don’t have venom. Or maybe, on the contrary, all snakes have venom.

What do I do…?

The snake tilted its head at me, then suddenly shuddered.
Is it going to bite…?

Thankfully, no. The small shell‑like things attached to its sides flipped open with a snap.
And then—flap—

Those look kind of like… wings?

The snake stretched its neck toward me and brought its head close.
I stayed as still as possible.

If you scream, snakes get startled. Startled snakes bite. I still didn’t know whether this was a snake that could bite safely or not. If you only find out it’s a dangerous snake after being bitten, it’s already too late.

Some time passed.

After sniffing my forehead with its long‑stretched neck, the snake flapped the shell‑like things on its sides rapidly—and then… floated up.

Otherworldly snakes sure do all kinds of things, huh?
Go away. Go away. Please go away.
Far, far away…

And then—

It landed on my shoulder.

I bit my lip and looked at the snake. It settled comfortably on my shoulder, then coiled its body and went limp.

Is this… okay?

Since it’s staying still, I guess it’s okay for now. When I first saw it, it looked huge, like a cobra, but now I could see it more objectively. It was a thin little snake, about as thick as a finger.

“Snake.”

The snake’s tongue flicked out.

“I’m about to move, so if it’s uncomfortable, go somewhere else. Just don’t bite.”

I slowly left the bathroom. As I moved, the snake lifted its head, tilted it—and suddenly slipped into my clothes.

What the hell?!

I nearly screamed and tried to grab it, but it was too fast and I missed.
In an instant, the snake coiled itself around my neck and relaxed.

More time passed. My chest was pounding. The snake stayed perfectly still.
It kind of feels like this is just the warmest spot.

It’s not a cat, so what is this?
Ah—right. Let’s hypnotize myself. This is a cat. A cat.

Carefully, carefully, I stepped outside and finally found the exit door. When did this appear? I swear it wasn’t here earlier.
It was a polished wooden door carved with vines, just as ornate as the bathroom door.

I cracked it open and peeked outside. There was a richly decorated corridor. Beyond the windows stretched a blue plain, and at its far end rose a tall mountain. The mountain’s peak was a transparent shade of blue.

Admiring the view, I walked down the corridor and moved into the next cabin.

The corridor‑side window was open, so I looked inside. No one was there. Completely empty. There were clothes and shoes belonging to passengers—but no people.
The next cabin was the same. And the next. And the one after that.

There was really no one.

I kept moving forward. All sorts of places appeared—a café, a lounge, a small library…
All of them were empty. Truly, I was the only one here.

Even though there were no people, personal belongings like clothes and bags were scattered everywhere. There were half‑eaten cakes and sandwiches. Cups of hot tea still steaming, and glasses of cold juice freshly filled with ice.

There were traces of people—traces that suggested they’d been here just moments ago—but the people themselves were gone.

It felt like the world had already ended, even before Irix could destroy it.

Thinking my head might start going strange if I stayed out here, I decided to return to my cabin.
On the way back, I passed the small library again, so I picked up a random book and opened it.

It was written in unfamiliar characters, but I could read it. A traveler’s geography book. It described each region—
geographical features, history, notable figures, local specialties, and so on.

After skimming it, I picked up a magazine. It looked like a current affairs magazine—full of insults disguised as commentary about politicians and political situations.

The letters on the page blurred like smoke, and new words appeared over them.

“For now, please rest.”

There you are—finally showing yourself again.
And that’s all you have to say?

“There’s nothing else to do anyway.”
I answered a bit curtly. As my initial shock faded and my body and mood adjusted to my surroundings, this mysterious being started to feel less intimidating.

“But why can’t I see anyone? There are definitely people here. It feels like they’re just invisible to me.”

“You are not yet connected to this world. The people here cannot see you, and you cannot see them.”

“Feels like I’m living with ghosts.”
No—if we’re being precise, I’m the ghost. I already died, after all.
…Wait. I did die, right?

“You will be able to see them.”

“How long do I have to wait?”

“Soon.”

That aside—what are you, exactly?

I was deeply curious, but since I couldn’t find out unless he chose to reveal it himself, I decided to do as he said and rest.

Alright. Let’s play.
How long has it been since I last had a break?

Let’s empty my head and my heart, and just enjoy myself.