The Sweet Aftermath of the Corridor

“Xiaobai! Leidi! It’s truly wonderful that you’re both safe!” Sister Ruka, overcome with emotion, her voice thick as if on the verge of tears, swept Colt and Leidi into a tight embrace.

However, this touching reunion was swiftly overshadowed by a more urgent need.

“S-Sister Ruka,” Leidi pleaded, her expression one of utter desperation, “I know you’re worried about us, but could you please let us go for a moment? We’re about to burst!”

“Yes, our bladders are practically exploding!” I, too, was in the same predicament.

Oh, how we needed to relieve ourselves!

The restroom! We needed to reach it, and quickly!

****

“Ugh, heh heh heh~~ I feel like I’ve been reborn…”

“I absolutely, unequivocally, profoundly understand that sentiment…”

Pushing open the restroom door, Leidi and I emerged, leaning on each other like comrades-in-arms returning from an utterly brutal battlefield. Adorning our faces was hope—the radiant hope of living once more!

“Xiaobai, Leidi, you’ve both been gone for a whole day. I was so worried.”

As if guiding weary travelers, Sister Ruka led us to the sofa and offered us glasses of water.

“I’m so sorry. It was entirely my fault for acting so unilaterally and overconfidently…” Accepting the glass, Leidi hung her head, her expression etched with profound self-reproach.

“What matters is that you’re back safe and sound. There’s no need to blame yourself so harshly.” I gently patted her back, attempting to lift Leidi’s spirits.

While it wasn’t entirely without her fault, it had, after all, been an unintentional oversight. Moreover, we were now safe. Therefore, it truly was alright.

“Speaking of which, Sister Ruka, while we were away, did the maids from the ‘Chrysalis’ manor come looking for us in the bedroom? What’s the current situation?” After taking a small sip of water, Leidi inquired, a hint of worry in her tone.

“I managed to fob them off with a few excuses for the time being, but it seems Maid Chief Yamashiro, who remained eerily silent, grew suspicious…”

As mere guests of the manor, Sister Ruka’s position must have been incredibly precarious then. ‘I’m truly sorry,’ I apologized silently in my heart.

“My apologies. I’ll go take care of it immediately.” Setting down her cup, Leidi made to leave the bedroom.

“‘Now?’ I asked, a touch of surprise in my voice, though I also rose to my feet.

“We’ve been absent for far too long. If we don’t address this, it will lead to significant trouble. Besides, you should go freshen up. I’ll bring back something to eat.” Leidi placed a hand on my shoulder, indicating that I should remain where I was.

“‘Alright. Oh, and please bring plenty. I haven’t eaten a thing all day and I’m absolutely ravenous right now.’ I feigned rubbing my stomach, then smiled at Leidi.”

“‘Mm-hmm.’ Leidi nodded at me with a soft smile and then departed from the bedroom.”

“Xiaobai, what exactly transpired within the ‘Corridor’? Could you tell me about it in detail?” It was purely out of concern, I knew. Sister Ruka turned to me and posed the question.

“‘Of course. However… it was quite a dreadful experience. Just let me brush my teeth first.’”

Following that, I recounted my woes to Sister Ruka, though, in truth, most of my complaints revolved around sheer boredom and gnawing hunger.

****

“The method you used to enter the Corridor is quite extraordinary…” Sister Ruka commented, nibbling on a strawberry-pink marshmallow, her eyes wide with astonishment and blinking rapidly as she gazed at us.

“Yet, I can’t shake the feeling that this isn’t the proper way…” Leidi took a sip of hot cocoa, then rested her hand on her chin, her brow furrowed in thought.

Hot cocoa, lavishly topped with marshmallows, accompanied by some raisin bread—was this Leidi’s and my *dinner*?

‘Huh?’

What exactly did one call this ‘super triple combo’ that incorporated breakfast, lunch, and dinner? ‘Never mind,’ I thought. ‘That’s not important. What *is* important is… this cup of hot cocoa is outrageously sweet…’

Even if I had missed three meals, was ravenously hungry, and desperately needed to replenish my blood sugar, there was no need for such an extreme measure, was there? Just how much sugar had they poured into this? It might even have reached saturation point…

“‘Honestly,’ I began, sticking out my tongue at the overwhelming sweetness, ‘if you already had a bad feeling about it, how could you still use me as a guinea pig? What if I hadn’t been able to get out?’ I retorted, a hint of exasperation in my voice.”

“‘I’m truly sorry. I never anticipated it would deviate so wildly from our expectations…’ Leidi confessed, a glint of tears welling in her eyes, her guilt palpable.”

Seeing Leidi on the verge of shedding tears like falling pear blossoms, I hastily waved my hands in protest.

“‘Alright, alright, I’m not blaming you. But next time, could you at least wait until I’m awake before conducting your experiments?’

“‘…Understood.’”

‘I couldn’t help but feel that, at times, Leidi truly resembled a younger sister…’

“Oh, right, regarding that ‘Corridor’ fragmentation phenomenon you both described. I just recalled that it actually happened to me as well…” Sister Ruka confessed softly, her gaze drifting aimlessly.

“‘Eh?!!!’ Both Leidi and I whipped our heads around with astonishing speed!”

Sister Ruka’s revelation was so startling that I nearly dropped the hot cocoa I was holding!

“‘What exactly happened, Sister Ruka?’

“‘Yes, it was absolutely terrifying. What was the cause?’

Both Leidi and I pressed Sister Ruka to elaborate, sensing the immense importance of her words.

“That is a unique phenomenon of collapse that occurs when both ‘mental power’ and ‘strength’ become insufficient to sustain the ‘Corridor’. Furthermore, it can also manifest when one loses their will to fight or experiences a complete mental breakdown.”

Then, as if a sudden thought struck her, Sister Ruka hastily added:

“‘Ah, but that was *my* situation. Yours might be somewhat different, right?’ As she spoke, her gaze darted back and forth between Leidi and me.”

“‘If what you say is true, Sister Ruka…’”

Leidi propped her chin in her hand, lost in thought. Before long, however, a sudden realization seemed to strike her, and she sharply slapped her right hand into her left palm.

“‘I understand now. Xiaobai and I were both in a relatively depleted state—mentally and physically—at that time, which is why our ‘Corridor’ was forcibly destabilized. Yet, it was precisely because of that collapse that we were saved…’”

“‘That’s most likely the case, no doubt about it…’ I nodded, agreeing with Leidi’s assessment, for we truly had been on the verge of death back then…”

“In any case, your situation is quite unique, so this deduction cannot be guaranteed to be entirely accurate for you. Therefore, the next time you conduct an experiment, please make more thorough preparations. You truly terrified me this time.” Sister Ruka advised, popping another marshmallow into her mouth, her demeanor akin to a seasoned instructor.

‘Though, I couldn’t help but inwardly grumble that she was only now acting like the Senior she was…’

“‘Don’t worry, next time it will undoubtedly succeed. I won’t allow Xiaobai to fall into peril again!’ Leidi declared, a renewed flame of confidence kindling in her eyes as she responded to Sister Ruka’s words.”

However—

“‘I must say,’ I teased Leidi playfully, a hint of mischief in my tone, ‘such big talk. Let’s hope you don’t end up half-dead and dropping out of the ‘Corridor’ again…’”

“‘What does it matter anyway?’ Leidi retorted, wiggling her eyebrows at me and flashing a mischievous grin. ‘It’s not like I couldn’t get out; I was just a little hungry and bored. At worst, I’ll simply go in and play chess.’”

“‘Hold on, hold on,’ I chuckled, ‘what happened to ‘next time it will definitely succeed’?’ I, too, broke into a laugh.”

We continued to playfully bicker, sipping our hot cocoa.

The sensation of returning to tranquil days felt truly wonderful.