The Zoo Behind the Door (Happy New Year)

"Ron."

Aselia's voice rang out, carrying very much the feeling of "I've been holding this in for a long time, and now I finally have to say it."

"Mm?"

"I have a question."

"Go ahead."

"Are you... planning to open a zoo behind that door?"

Ron took a sip of herbal tea and asked despite knowing the answer, "What do you mean?"

"A zoo," Aselia repeated, her voice icy.

"Behind that door of yours, you've currently got a chunk of flesh that eats itself, a manifestation of pure fear, a giant leech that can slow time, a plaster statue... and several pieces of trash whose names I can't even be bothered to remember."

She counted them off one by one.

"And that Last Words Moth that makes me sick, though strictly speaking, it counts as your research assistant, not a prisoner."

The Dragon Soul's voice took on a note of helplessness.

"Do you know what would happen if one day they all broke out together?"

"They won't."

Ron's tone was certain.

"The space behind the [Threshold of Darkness] door is part of my Void Shell."

He put away the containment list.

"The Void Shell is the manifestation of the soul, the externalization of will."

"As long as my will is firm enough, those cells will remain indestructible forever."

"And even if we take ten thousand steps back, they're each locked in independent subspaces. They can't contact one another at all."

"A mass breakout requires the premise of a 'mass.' They don't even know who their neighbors are."

Aselia was clearly not convinced.

"You're planting mines for yourself. Sooner or later, one day..."

"Besides."

Ron cut her off.

"Have you ever thought about it... One day, on some battlefield where I have no choice but to go all out."

His finger