When the distant stars rose, this place remained dim and gloomy.
In the deepest part of the Continuance Institute.
Only a solitary lamp moved slowly along the narrow path. Yegor panted after it, already drenched in sweat.
"How much farther?"
"Almost there." The dean walking ahead moved lightly, her voice devoid of fluctuation.
"You said that two hours ago. You seemed to say the same thing before I even came in."
"If I told you the truth, you might have found it troublesome and decided not to come."
Without looking back, Dean 000 replied, "Based on my understanding of you, I needed to increase your sunk cost to improve your initiative..."
Panting, Yegor stared at her in disbelief. "Well, thank you very much!"
"But rest assured, this time we really are almost there."
The dean added, "It's right ahead."
"I sure hope so."
Yegor shook his head and wiped the sweat from his brow. He wanted nothing more than to kick off his leather shoes; walking barefoot would have been more comfortable than wearing those things.
If he had known it would be this troublesome, he would have changed into something looser.
Though if he had known it would be this troublesome, he would never have come even if it killed him.
"Say, don't you people have any transportation around here? Even if the cliffs are too steep for cars, surely a helicopter would work?"
"Within the restricted zone, certain laws may occasionally become anomalous. If you don't want to fly a helicopter straight into an invisible meat grinder..."
The dean asked thoughtfully, "As far as I know, you don't have a backup, correct?"
"...Normal people don't have that sort of thing!"
"Is that so? What a pity. Heh heh."
The mysterious figure wrapped head to toe in a protective