The sharp sound of the homunculus snapping its fingers spreads to the cave from the hole.
I hear the sound of two things falling.
“Roa! And Rose!?”
Roa is crouching next to me.
I look back, and see Rose’s vines that were carrying Taula have fallen, like they’re clinging to the ground.
“M-master Rust…”
I crouch and try to help Roa get up, when she struggles to say something.
“Are you all right, Roa!? I’ll… I can’t lift you!”
It feels like Roa’s body is nailed to the ground. I can’t lift her a finger off the ground.
I look over at Rose too, and it looks like it can’t move either.
Rose is strong enough to easily rip apart armored salmon, but it can’t budge. My scrolls are still hovering for some reason, but the vines manifested from them are all glued to the ground. It looks like the same thing is affecting Taula.
“R-run…”
Roa struggles to say.
“You know I can’t do that! Tell me what’s going on with your body!”
The 《Transcribe》 scroll only tells me her state of health.
“…Heavy…”
She has trouble even just moving her mouth.
I try to figure something out based on the information she managed to give me.
Heavy? Is it controlling gravity? But it’s not affecting me, and my scrolls are still hovering like usual. Is it only targeting Roa, Rose, and Taula? Is that even possible? It has to be that giant homunculus’ doing, but…
I think about it that far, when I check what’s beyond the hole.
The giant homunculus is still relaxing on that big chair.
I think it notices me looking at it, because it raises its index finger, and moves it back and forth.
I’m guessing it’s telling me to go there.
Despite what it did with just as much ease, this time that movement really is just a gesture.
I have to go.
I slowly get up, and walk towards the hole.
“N-no!”
Roa pleads.
I turn around, and see her hand reaching out to me, while she’s still stuck to the ground.
There’s some blood on that arm, probably because she scraped it on the ground.
Somehow, I can sense that the giant homunculus is astonished by Roa’s persistence.
I feel like it’s giving me time, so I quickly take out a potion and pour it on Roa’s arm.
“I’ll be back soon. Sorry Roa, but look after Taula while I’m gone. You can leave the scrolls if Rose’s manifestation is undone.”
“Master Rust…! No!”
I walk briskly towards the hole, while feeling nervous because who knows when that giant homunculus might change its mind.
And then, I step into that white room again.
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