D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad Chapter 2189 A Less Nice Distraction Part 1

Lily ---

With a hefty gulp, Lily carefully navigated into the room, her lantern casting a constant, flickering glow that scarcely pierced the gloom. Her shadow manipulation abilities extended far beyond the lantern's meager light, yet Lily remained uncertain about the best position to hold it. Should it be out in front, held close, or perhaps to her side? Doubts began to surface about the wisdom of this endeavor.

The atmosphere felt perilous, especially when contrasted with her previous surroundings. It might have been the insufficient illumination or the absence of Kat contributing to her apprehension, but the unidentifiable sounds also kept her on edge. Was this primal instinct at play, or merely a consequence of confronting the unknown?

Lily cautiously extended her lantern into the oppressive darkness, its beam eventually falling upon a table. Taking a few more steps forward, she elevated the lantern as she climbed onto the wooden surface. The table featured several drawers, but sifting through them yielded nothing but moldy pulp. Any written notes that might have once existed were long gone. She wondered if restoration was possible, but Lily was unsure if enough remained or if the remnants even qualified as paper.

Nevertheless, Lily resolved to attempt it. Channeling her power into the spell, she felt it briefly engage before disintegrating in her hand. After a few more failed attempts, she sighed in resignation. Her assessment was correct; the damage was too extensive for this iteration of the spell. Perhaps a higher Rank would suffice, but the restoration spell was primarily designed for mending paper and filling minor gaps, not for transforming mildew back into legible script.

With a disgusted scoff, Lily slammed the desk drawer shut and dismounted, preparing to survey the remainder of the area. More cavities marred the floor, significantly larger now, with one particular spot yawning deep enough for a trailer to tumble down. Peering over the edge with her lantern held aloft offered no clear picture of what lay below. It felt as though lowering it further might invite something to snatch it from her grasp. The peculiar noises persisted, yet pinpointing their source—be it creature or contraption—remained an impossible task.

Lily continued her perambulation for a short while, eventually realizing that this space had once served as a reception area. It was furnished with empty plant pots and what might have been couches in a bygone era. The gaping holes in these locations made certainty difficult, given the complete absence of any discernible furniture. However, the depressions were situated directly against the wall, flanked by cabinets, and their shape bore a suspicious resemblance to that of a couch.

Despite these discoveries, Lily was wholly unprepared for the next unsettling revelation. When she decided it was time to proceed, she searched for the doorway leading to the subsequent areas, only to find… none. There was no wall either, at least not anymore. She had merely stepped over the warped remnants of the wall trim. Lily had initially dismissed it as rubble, but the transition from smaller, multicolored tiles to expansive, polished marble slabs offered a significant clue.

Lily swallowed again as she detected movement nearby. Swirling the lantern around, she could discern only a faint sheen upon the ground, reminiscent of a recently mopped floor. The fact that it formed a perfectly straight line was an ominous sign. Lily sniffed the air, but detected no discernible monster scent. It was predominantly musty mold, dust, and faint traces of fresh water. While the water source wasn't close, Lily surmised it must have involved a substantial quantity of water.

Lily shifted her lantern, tracing the trail as it continued onward before veering away from her and disappearing into the darkness. Following it in the opposite direction yielded similar results, though it maintained a rigid, unswerving path. Lily… was bewildered. Should she follow this inexplicable phenomenon? Could it be some sort of enchanted mop? Lily sniffed the air once more; there was no hint of soap or cleaning agents, but she questioned if such details would even matter.

Lily nibbled her lip for a moment before shaking her head and stepping away from the floor's peculiar marking. The prospect of battling a spectral mop, if that's what it was, held no appeal. Instead, Lily moved deeper into the area, encountering more holes, but also something else. Shattered glass lay scattered across the floor, accompanied by a metallic framework. It appeared to have once been a cube, but much of the metal was now absent. Three long bars remained: one across the top, another along a side, and a third extending directly downwards. The vertical bar seemed to possess a joint for two additional metal pieces, but these were missing.

Once more, Lily brought her nose to the air, detecting precious little. Her gaze swept the surroundings, attempting to discern any details on the wall behind the metallic structure, but found none. Off to the side, however, she spotted the fragmented remains of what appeared to be a step ladder, lending credence to the notion that this might have once been a fish tank. Yet, the question lingered: why would they study fish in this place?

Lily inhaled again. She moved around, realizing the 'wall' upon which the tank rested was, in fact, a substantial, solid shelf, seemingly constructed solely to support two tiers of objects. The upper shelf remained vacant, devoid of any metallic supports. It was positioned quite high, and Lily remained uncertain if it could accommodate another tank above.

The arrangement was mirrored on the rear section and duplicated on the left and right sides as she navigated the space further. None of these offered more insight than the initial discovery; they all retained faint traces of what might have been present, but shattered glass and stray metal rods provided little additional information when found in multiples. However, it did solidify the suspicion that the inhabitants here were engaged in some form of study. If their purpose was merely fish farming, why utilize smaller tanks instead of a larger one? And if these were intended for amusement, why maintain so many?

Turning away, Lily intended to retrace her steps and venture towards the side. Abruptly, she noticed water pooled on the floor behind her. Lowering her lantern, she observed its distinctive sheen, a shiver tracing its path down her spine. There had been no sounds, or rather, no discernible noises to alert her that something had passed so close. The prior incident at least involved a wet, flopping sound, but this time... there was nothing.

Lily tasted the air, combating an inexplicable urge to sample the liquid on the floor. It resembled water, carried the scent of water; it was likely water... but she wasn't Kat. Lily definitely did not possess a regeneration factor that could protect her should this substance prove poisonous. While unlikely, it was a possibility, especially since she hadn't heard a thing. There was no basis for assumption. None whatsoever.

A flashback surged through Lily’s mind: the force of the kick, the impact against her face, the ensuing bleeding... and Kat's plea. Lily forcibly suppressed the memory, yet the ache of it persisted.

Lily swallowed hard, contemplating the possibility of an automatic way to contact Kat. She envisioned it like a mental slingshot, triggered by fear or injury. The answer, she suspected, was likely yes, but Lily had no clue how to implement such a mechanism. It might be possible if she could somehow ask KatE about it.

Her gaze swept the surroundings, piercing the darkness beyond her lantern's limited reach. The light flickered momentarily, threatening to extinguish. Lily tensed; that brief interval of darkness felt like an eternity. A surge of anxiety washed over her, the unsettling thought that she might need to make a desperate sprint for the exit. But the light returned, steady and unwavering. Everything remained unchanged. She was... safe. Probably.