An Alternate Escape Route

Digging down was impossible. Even with my apparent blessing from the now-deceased goddess, it was irrational.

"Are you sure nobody would come inside?"

"Not really. But they are normal humans influenced by the calming spell. They wouldn't make new movements on their own. They simply continue doing what they were doing till their action is forcefully stopped."

Her words made me realize how crazy the spell was. I was thankful to have Lily and Mary by my side.

I reached my limit after digging a couple of meters down.

'Can't we just go back to the woods by road?'

I directed my question at Lily.

『There are elves on the outside. I suggest finding another way out that does not involve facing the el-』

The words on the screen halted. They suddenly disappeared and new words began appearing.

『It is possible.』

'But you just said it was dangerous to face the elves!'

『It is possible. A single elf would be no match for an apostle of a goddess.』

Lily sounded weird, but she had a point.

'You might be right. I'll tell Mary about this.'

『Do... Not...』

'What do you mean?'

『Mary is a resident of this world. Her primary concern would be to protect you as the last will of the goddess. She would not agree with facing the elf.』

'It would be bad to leave her out of this...'

『It's for her own good. For yours as well.』

I just decided to follow the words of Lily whom I've known for a few hours more than Mary.

'Now what do I do?'

===========

I climbed out of the pit I had dug. Mary was keeping watch at the entrance.

"Can you check if the pit is deep enough for me to start digging horizontally?"

"Oh okay sure. Keep watching till I'm back."

Mary left the watch and went to look at the pit.

『Now.』

I pushed Mary in and ran out of the door. I locked the door from the outside. The people in the restaurant were still repeating their actions.

I exited the restaurant slowly and walked towards the sanctum. The elf was not there. The two little girls that were very much alive when we entered the restaurant were now lying on the floor with their friend, lifeless.

I had to kill that elf to avenge them.

"What are you doing, kiddo?"

I heard a voice. It was behind me. It was not a female voice. I turned around. It was a tall male with long hair, a male elf to be precise.

"Hey, this is that kid that entered that building along with a little girl!"

A female voice sounded. It was the elf we met along our way to the restaurant. She was standing on a different rooftop.

"Why is he alone then? He doesn't seem to be affected by the spell either."

The male elf got suspicious.

"Why does it matter? There are always a few kids that remain unaffected, right? Let's just dispose of this kid like we usually do."

It was getting worse. I knew I would be killed if I didn't do something soon.

『The appearance of a second elf was beyond my calculations. The situation isn't out of hand yet. I still have a proposition.』

'What is it?'

『Give me your body.』

Another screen appeared before me.

『Child "LiLy" has requested usage of possession.』

『Accept』

『Deny』

Accepting it felt like the most natural thing to do. I clicked on "accept", and blacked out.