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Chapter 267: Null City (4)

For a moment, the group sank into silence, each lost in thought over the unexpected situation.

“Uh……”

Fran was the first to speak.

Forcing out an awkward laugh, he said,

“They said the magic drive system had an issue—maybe it glitched? It’s fine. We’ll just go back up.”

Click, click-click.

He pressed the first-floor button several times, but nothing happened.

“No good, the button isn’t responding.”

“Are the other floors the same?”

“Let me try.”

He pressed every single floor button in turn, then gave a heavy nod.

“Doesn’t work.”

“Th-then what do we do?”

Veronica pressed her back tightly against the elevator wall, her eyes fixed on the open doors.

“Don’t tell me we have to go out there, right? Please say no.”

Outside the elevator was only silence and darkness.

An impenetrable void seemed to beckon them closer, like a hand stretching out from the abyss.

Killian, staring into it, finally spoke.

“Oscar. Maybe all the people who’ve gone missing vanished like this.”

“I think so too. Let’s confirm it first.”

With that reply, Oscar raised his hand, summoning a book into existence.

『Wind Archive』

When he had tried to use it upon entering Zenith Tower, there had been no response.

But here, things might be different.

Oscar parted his lips.

“Show me the structure of this place and the location of the missing people.”

Magic pulsed outward, then returned.

Normally, a detailed floor map should have appeared.

“……”

But what appeared was a mess, as though someone had slathered black paint over everything.

No information at all.

Oscar’s eyes narrowed.

‘Wind Archive can’t detect it?’

That could mean only one thing:

This space was under a top-grade suppression field that nullified all detection magic.

“Tch.”

Sensing that the situation was worse than expected, Fran made a suggestion.

“How about checking the comms first?”

“Ah, good point.”

If they could talk to the other parties, at least they could send word of their situation.

Oscar tuned into the usual magic frequency and spoke.

—This is Charlie, repeating, this is Charlie. Can anyone hear me?

The group waited tensely, glancing at each other.

No reply came, and their expressions darkened.

“As I thought. Communication’s impossible.”

“I was hoping we might reach the hotel party that disappeared earlier.”

“Are we even sure they were abducted to the same place?”

As opinions split, Veronica pointed at a button.

“Hey, what about the call button?”

“Hm?”

Everyone’s gaze shifted.

The red call button was encased in glass, preventing casual presses.

“The others didn’t work, so that one won’t either…”

“But we don’t know! Just press it first!”

Panicking, Veronica shouted.

Fran sighed, smashed the glass, and hit the button.

Beep, beep, beep.

The elevator interior echoed with a steady alarm.

Fran shrugged.

“See? Nothing. If even magically tuned frequencies don’t work here—”

—This is Null City Safety Control. What seems to be the problem?

A man’s voice rang out.

The four exchanged shocked looks, then shouted all at once.

“Help us!”

“We’re trapped in the elevator!”

“How do we get out of a floor called 00?”

“The buttons aren’t working!”

Like a noisy marketplace, their cries overlapped.

After a pause, the man replied.

—Please calm down. I hear you. Which elevator are you in exactly?

“I’ll speak for us.”

Oscar motioned the others to quiet down and answered.

“We’re in Zenith Tower, east-side elevator number two.”

—Trapped, you said? What do you mean exactly?

“As hard as it is to believe, the elevator took us to a place called ‘00th floor.’”

—……

After a pause, the man continued.

—Understood. One question: are the doors closed?

“No, they’re open. But it’s pitch-black outside, so we don’t want to step out.”

—All right. Please wait while I attempt remote control to bring you to the first floor.

“Thank you. Please do.”

Relieved, Oscar exhaled.

But then,

—Hmm. It seems remote control isn’t working. The elevator isn’t moving, correct?

“Correct. No response.”

—Then we have no choice. Please wait until our technical experts arrive.

“Experts?”

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Oscar frowned.

Could they even find the 00th floor?

“…Understood. Also, please notify Kiri Gloria that we’re stuck here. The earlier missing people likely disappeared this same way.”

—Acknowledged. Please wait.

Veronica finally relaxed a little.

“Phew, saved. I’m sweating like crazy.”

“You scare easier than I thought.”

“…And? What’s your point?”

As they bickered, the speaker gave off a strange sound.

Tick, tick, tick.

Like gears snagging on something.

Oscar asked sharply,

“Hello, can you hear me?”

—We hear you. Please go on.

“There’s a weird ticking noise in here.”

—Elevators contain many screws and gears. That sound is normal, don’t worry.

“……When will the experts arrive?”

—They’re en route.

It would take tens of minutes to travel from the Black Tower to Null City.

They’d be stuck until then.

Oscar leaned against the wall.

“By the way, what exactly is this 00th floor?”

—The Zenith Tower elevator manual lists no such floor.

“…What?”

Oscar pressed further.

“Wait. Then how do you plan to rescue us if you don’t know where we are?”

—Our experts will open the doors and descend by rope.

Descend by rope?

If they could do that, couldn’t the group just climb out the same way?

Oscar looked at Killian, who quickly climbed up through the ceiling hatch.

He soon dropped back down, shaking his head.

“Impossible. No rope, no shaft. It’s like this elevator is floating in an isolated void.”

“What?”

Startled, Oscar called out,

“There’s no rope connected to this elevator.”

—That’s incorrect. All Zenith Tower elevators are attached by rope.

“Then this is an abnormal situation.”

—Sir, please trust our experts and wait.

The evasive answers were unconvincing.

As Oscar clicked his tongue, Veronica cut in.

“Hey. Did you tell Kiri about us yet?”

—We’ll notify shortly.

“What? You still haven’t? Do you realize how anxious we are?”

—We apologize. Please trust us a bit longer.

“Forget that. Put your supervisor on.”

—I don’t understand the request.

“You must have a team leader. Put them on.”

—That’s impossible.

“How is it impossible when people are trapped in an elevator?”

Silence.

“Well? Answer me!”

—We apologize. Please wait a little longer.

“Then at least give me your name.”

—I cannot disclose personal information that would violate privacy.

Arms crossed, Oscar scowled.

‘Something’s off.’

Yes, they were having a “conversation”—but the responses felt slightly misaligned.

After a moment’s thought, Oscar asked:

“Hey.”

—Yes, sir?

“Who did you say you work for?”

—I am with Null City Safety Control.

“Rank and name?”

No answer.

Cold dread spread through Oscar.

“Hey.”

—Yes, sir?

“Tell me about Le Cabinet.”

—Le Cabinet is a luxury restaurant in central Moritz. Its exterior is Gothic-style, while its interior combines red wallpaper, golden ornaments, and grand crystal chandeliers to create an opulent atmosphere. Guests dine in musk-scented private rooms. Signature dishes include veal tenderloin steak, Neapolitan spaghetti, and mushroom cream cheese soup. Seasonal offerings such as truffle risotto and smoked duck breast salad are also available. Prices are over triple the average, but it’s called ‘the most perfect dining experience in Moritz.’ Le Cabinet is frequented by tourists, elites, politicians, and mage associations. Would you like to know more?

“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Oscar’s face turned pale as he shouted,

“Everyone, get out of the elevator!”

—That is not advised. Please trust us and remain inside—

Ignoring the voice, the four bolted out.

And then—

BOOOOM!

The elevator plummeted downward.

After thirty seconds, a distant crash thundered below.

“Hah… hah…”

Fran gasped for breath.

“T-that wasn’t a person, was it?”

“It was Prometheus’ automated response.”

“Unbelievable…”

“I should have realized when the replies felt slightly off.”

Biting his lip, Oscar peered into the suffocating darkness around them.

“…Looks like the master of this place has some very nasty hobbies.”

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