Chapter 351: The White End (2)

I had been turned into a two-dimensional stick figure. Even if I panicked, nothing changed. The world was as flat as could be, and I was a stick figure, as one could be.

Idiot: Oh, how interesting.

Fortunately or unfortunately, I wasn’t the only one turned into a stick figure. The Guardian was in a similar predicament. While I was a figure with solid lines, his outline was made of dotted lines. That was the only difference between us, really.

Idiot: へ(￣∇￣へ)

And that was the face he was making. The emoticon was very much like him. The mere sight of it pissed me off. A speech balloon floated above his head.

Idiot: Right now, the world looks like a picture drawn on a piece of paper to me. Zombie, does it look like that to you as well?"

“

Ah

, yes...” I nodded, cautious. “It looks the same to me, but why are you speaking using a speech balloon? You can just talk, can’t you?”

Idiot:

Huh? To me, it looks like you’re the one speaking in a speech balloon.

The Guardian appeared confused. It didn’t seem like he was lying.

“Are you serious?”

Idiot: Yeah, every time you speak, speech balloons float above your head. I can’t hear your voice.”

“

Ah

, I see. Maybe you can only hear your own voice in this world.”

I understood what was going on now. No sound existed on this floor. Instead of hearing people speak, their words came as text, as if we were in a comic book. One could hear their own voice but not others’ voices. I wasn’t really sure how this was possible, but that was how this world was.

Myfoxgod: Peep.

Snakey: Kieeee.

The Constellations’ cries were also replaced by speech balloons. Next to the speech balloons were their names. Judging by the fact that Your Exclusive Music Box was Myfoxgod and that Snakey had replaced the Labyrinth-Dwelling Eye, it was safe to say these were just nicknames that I was comfortable with.

Wait a minute. If the Guardian’s name is shown as idiot, then that means...

I looked back at the Guardian, who tilted his head.

Idiot: What are you looking at?”

I feigned innocence. “Nothing. I just think speech balloons suit you well.”

Some truths didn’t need to be voiced. I was just asking for trouble if I did.

Idiot: Is that so? Well, yeah, I do look cool in whatever I do.

I left the Guardian behind me to look around. “Anyhow, what do you think we should do here?”

I wasn’t looking in all directions. Unlike my original world, I could only move left or right. If I were to draw the scene before me...

.,,..　　　　　⊂;⌒;⌒;,つ

,,:;:'':::'::::,,

,,:::::''::::::::: ::::'':::,,,

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

On the left was the mountain. The fluffy thing in the sky was a cloud. The line that stretched below the mountains and clouds on both sides was the ground. It was quite a simple world.

Idiot: Whether we go left or right, we just have to get a move on, right?

Said the fool who knew nothing but martial arts.

Idiot: This is the underworld, isn’t it? Then there must be souls somewhere in this place. Though I have no idea what kind of life one has to live to think of this place as heaven.

“Okay. Let’s move on.”

I started walking forward—no, to the right. I didn’t hear my steps. As I walked, a word appeared as if it were a sound effect in a cartoon.

[Tap.]

“Wow, even the footsteps sound like this...”

I tried stomping to test this theory.

[THUMP!]

Capital letters in a grand and flashy font appeared.

[Tap... tap...]

On the other hand, when I walked stealthily, the letters were small. The font was modest, too.

“This is amazing.”

This heavenly floor existed in a two-dimensional world. After walking for a while, I ended up meeting a local.

Resident A: Oh, I’ve never seen you in our town before. Are you a traveler?

The resident was shown as a stick figure, just like me. They held something in their hand and were hitting the ground with it. The object in their hand... Was it a sword? A trident? No, judging by the way they dug the ground, it was likely a rake. This person was plowing a field.

“

Ah

, yes. Hello.” I bowed. “Can you tell me what my face looks like?”

Resident A: What? Your face?

“Yes, you said you’ve never seen me before. I was wondering how you can tell me apart from everyone else.”

Resident A: Huh? Of course I can tell you apart from the others. You’re asking a very weird question. ( ￣□￣)

The farmer made it sound like

I

was the weird one, but I was overwhelmed by a strange feeling. No matter how hard I looked at the farmer’s face, I couldn’t see how it was different from my own. Gosh, could locals really distinguish everything when they were just stick figures?

Resident A: Anyhow, before you enter our town, you have to pass a few trials.”

“Trials?”

Resident A: They aren’t hard. Just answer my questions. Are you visiting our town to harm someone?

I shook my head. “No, I am not.”

Resident A: Good.

The farmer responded as if my answer had cleared all their doubts and there was no need to insist on this matter.

Resident A: There’s more I want to know. Do you plan to cause any trouble in our town? Are you going to stir up fights with the other residents?

“

Eh?

No, I have zero intention of doing so unless they hit me first...”

Resident A: Alright. If any unwanted incidents occur, will you cooperate with the investigation and trial per our town’s customs and laws?”

“Of course.”

Resident A: You are a good traveler!

The farmer smiled, looking satisfied for some reason. They patted my shoulder twice.

Resident A: Even if you’re an outsider, a person like you can be trusted. Please enter. Our town welcomes you!”

“

Um...

”

I was a bit surprised. I was glad to be welcomed, but I didn’t understand this person’s thought process. How could they trust me? We had only exchanged a few questions and answers, but that was it. Such simple questions and answers weren’t enough to determine who I was. They couldn’t even tell if I was being truthful. So then why?

Snakey: Kieeeee.

As if sensing my confusion, Snakey let out a sound. It was clear that he knew what my question was and had the answer at the ready.

[The Labyrinth-Dwelling Eye has activated their power.]

[Revealing the hidden information about this floor.]

[Truth Heaven Realm:

Floor: 75

Constellation: Faceless Conductor

Difficulty Level: B~A

Information (Lv. 1): A flat world made of pictures and text.

Information (Lv. 2): This is one of the underworlds built within the Tower.

Information (Lv. 3): Truth Heaven is the underworld where souls tired of lies and fraud rest. Those who are tired of seeking truth in others’ words, those who are sick of distinguishing truth from lies when meeting new people, and those who now hate the complicated human world settle here after death.

In the Truth Heaven Realm, you must always speak the truth!]

Ah, so that’s what this is.

My question was quickly answered, but the information kept updating. I kept reading the facts that Hishimit Kritz was showing me.

[Once you enter this place, you don’t need to worry about what others are hiding. You don’t need to doubt their sincerity. Just ask and you’ll get a truthful answer. The other person can’t hide their true intent with subtle looks or clever words. Here, each phrase and word is shown exactly as it is.

Even how you look and how others look are hard to tell apart here, so you can relax. You don’t need to act or wear a mask. In this world, there is no place for empty flattery. This heaven was made for those tired of being human yet still desire to be with others.

May you find peace.]

Resident A: If you ever find yourself in trouble, come find me anytime!

The farmer took their rake and left. Before long, they walked off the screen and were gone from sight.

“I see.” I now understand the farmer’s odd reactions. After sharing the information I just got with the Guardian, I added, “Just exchanging questions and answers is enough in this world. In the end, all I say is true. As long as I say I mean no harm, there’s no reason for me to be feared even though I’m a stranger.”

The martial arts idiot crossed his arms and nodded.

Idiot: I see. A world where you cannot lie... Most Hunters are cunning, so many of them would find being unable to lie torturous. Of course, for someone like me, whose heart is as clear and transparent as a river, it’s easy to settle in this place.

“What?”

Idiot: What?

As we chatted, we found ourselves walking into town.

Idiot: Zombie, repeat after me.

“What weird stuff are you trying to make me do again?”

Idiot: Sir Sword Emperor is so cool and great that I’m secretly respecting him. Repeat.

Did he go crazy?

Idiot: Ah, come oooon! Now! Do it right now!

The Guardian kept pestering me. I sighed.

“Si...”

The moment I opened my mouth, a huge shock ran through my whole body.

[Forbidden!]

[You cannot break the rules of this realm.]

[You cannot lie!]

I was immediately rendered silent. Since I hadn’t tried to lie willingly, I tried again, but no sound came out of my mouth. The sentence the Guardian begged me to say would not come out no matter what I did.

The Guardian watched me with a cold, dead look.

Idiot: Hey, Kim Zombie, you... Unbelievable. I called myself cool and great and made you say that you secretly respect me, but you couldn’t even say “sir?”

Shit.

Idiot: You bastard! You can’t even say “sir” when you speak to me? Calling me “sir” is a lie?! Is that it?

“

Ah

, of course it is. How the heck can I call you sir? Did your conscience jump out of your heart, cross the East Sea, swim the Pacific, and reach Hawaii?”

Idiot: Oh my god! Are you even human? I taught and gave you my all. How much are you looking down on me in your heart?

“No... Wait. Hold on. You just called me Kim Zombie! You sincerely think of me as a real zombie? How could you do that to me!?

Idiot: Don’t change the subject!

“Get lost!”

As we passed through town, the residents were watching our fight for free. They looked at us with various looks on their faces.

(・ﾛ・ )?

( ⓛ ω ⓛ )

₍•ɞ•₎ˎˎ₍•ʚ•₎ˏ

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡° )

I didn’t care about the others, but the last resident somewhat annoyed me. There was even a speech balloon above their head.

Resident D: Heh.

What was this? Were they trying to pick a fight with me?

We were about to leave the town. One of the residents, standing far away, had a big speech balloon above their head as they approached in a rush.

Resident F: Hey, you!

“Yes?”

Resident F: Don’t go there! (´∀｀;;;;;;)

The citizen stopped me, sweating a lot[1]. They raised their hand and pointed to the right side of the screen.

Resident F: A madman lives there!

1. Using ;; (doesn’t matter the amount, there can be multiple ; like in the example above) at the end of a sentence or after an emoji symbolizes beads of sweat in texting. ☜