In A Place This Strange

Yes, unless the Transfer Gate’s “destination” was constantly shifting to match the level of the snow, but he could not imagine it having such a convenient function.

In that case, the snow here was fixed at its current height.

“I do not understand the exact mechanism… but that is how it works.”

“That is certainly possible.”

Come to think of it, there had been more than enough information.

Spatial distortions, Transfer Gates, labyrinthification.

All sorts of information had mixed together, and because the sight before him had been far too unreal,

Kikori had paid no attention at all to the very first thing he should have been concerned about.

“This place itself is strange to begin with.”

“Well, obviously. It is completely absurd.”

“Right, absurd. We are being misled by words like transfer and distortion. This space separates what it lets through from what it does not let through. I should have realized it was strange the moment that happened.”

Temperature, weather. Once you passed through the “Transfer Gate,” all of that changed. That part was still fine.

The snow did not pass beyond the “far side” of the Transfer Gate. That was still fine too.

But then what about water? Did the river flowing along the ground get “cut off” at the Transfer Gate?

If that were true, then that river was not a river.

And that must have been the case even back in the days of the “spatial distortion,” yet Kikori had seen it when he explored with Kuon and the others before.

He had definitely seen “a flowing river.” Which meant… the Transfer Gate adjusted what it allowed through.

“…Can something like that really happen by chance? Rather, something might be…”

“Controlling it, maybe. And then?”

“The dungeon is probably being controlled by some kind of ‘something’ with a will. And it probably bears a very strong killing intent toward humanity.”

The Kobold Plains, where people would likely be slaughtered with ease if there were not enough of them.

The Fairy Forest, whose fairies hated humans.

The Flame Wyverns that likely lived in an adjacent region beyond that.

And then this heavy snow region. Every single one of them was a place where humans would die easily if they entered unprepared.

If that was not killing intent, then what was?

“But still, does that have anything to do with your current situation?”

“It does, and it does not.”

“Haaah?”

“If I know this place is abnormal, then no matter what happens, I can be prepared to accept that ‘that is just how this place works.’”

In short, if Kikori judged things by the common sense and knowledge he possessed, he would die very quickly.

He had to understand the reality that this was a place beyond understanding.

He had to realize that he might have turned some “something” capable of controlling phenomena like this into an enemy.

While looking at the “hole that had already been buried,” Kikori swallowed hard in tension.

“But if this place is this strange… then I can believe it exists.”

“You mean Yggdrasil?”

“Yeah. Even if I am going to die someday, I want to repay Aria-san before I die.”