Chapter 12  ;I Became Abigail and Started Making Trouble in the multiverse 

"Mm," Abigail nodded.

"I understand what you're saying, but... how I handle it is up to me."

Looking at Ding Muyu, Abigail began plotting her next move, wondering how to stir things up in the most entertaining way.

After a quick discussion about the details, the reincarnators' team meeting concluded.

---

After the meeting, Abigail wandered down the hallway, bored.

Suddenly, she heard Saeko Takagi's voice from the far end of the corridor.

"I get it, Mom, you're always right."

"Looks like something interesting is happening," Abigail perked up, excitement flashing in her eyes.

She immediately headed in the direction of the voice.

"Alice?"

As Abigail reached the hall near the main entrance, she saw Alice standing there.

"Abby-chan!" Alice waved, smiling as she spotted Abigail.

Abigail walked over, opened her arms wide, and hugged Alice.

"Ah, bliss," Abigail said with a contented look on her face as she embraced her friend.

"Abby-chan," Alice replied, though she didn't resist. She was already used to Abigail's hugs.

"Enough already!" came a voice from upstairs. It was Saeko Takagi.

Abigail and Alice both turned to see Saeko descending the stairs.

"Takagi-senpai, is something wrong?" Alice asked, concerned by Saeko's serious demeanor.

"It's nothing. Don't worry about it," Saeko replied curtly and walked out the door.

Abigail, intrigued by Saeko's behavior, followed her outside.

She watched as Saeko entered the repair shop nearby.

Without hesitation, Abigail trailed behind her.

Inside the shop, the sound of voices could be heard.

"You seem pretty happy, huh?" Saeko's voice was sharp as she spoke from behind Hirano Toda. "Well, enjoy it while you can. We can't stay here forever."

"Why not, Takagi? This place is like a fortress," Hirano asked, curious.

"You ever think about how hard it is to maintain electricity and water? Even elementary school kids know that."

"Uh, so you're saying..."

"To keep a huge network like this running, even under ideal circumstances, you need multiple experts, an organized environment, and safe conditions. Do you really think we can guarantee any of that now?"

"...That's true," Hirano realized how impossible it would be in the current world.

"Hey, little girl, what are you doing here?" A man's voice suddenly called out from behind Abigail.

"Just curious, Uncle," Abigail answered innocently.

"Well, don't touch anything!" the man warned before walking deeper into the garage.

Watching him disappear, Abigail was reminded of an idea she had earlier. With nothing better to do, maybe it was time to test it out.

"Hey, kid, that's a real gun you've got there, not a toy," the man pointed at Hirano's rifle.

"N-no... I know," Hirano stammered nervously.

"Matsudo-san, is that all you wanted to say?" Saeko, leaning against a car, spoke coldly.

"Ah, Saeko-sama, I just wanted to let you know that the car you came in is all fixed up," Matsudo replied, clearly flustered.

"Understood, thanks."

Realizing he wasn't welcome, Matsudo quickly turned and left.

"Wow, you're really a proper rich girl, huh?" Hirano exclaimed in surprise.

"I'd rather not be called that by you. And by the way, you should think of a plan," Saeko responded.

"Why?"

"Didn't you notice that reaction just now? Most people here are adults. So, to them, what do you think we are?" Saeko's words made Hirano realize his position.

"Let's talk with Komuro and the others," he said, a bit more aware.

Meanwhile, Abigail had already climbed to the top of a Hummer, watching the conversation unfold. She suddenly had an idea.

"Huh? What's this?"

Out of nowhere, a colorful bubble appeared between Saeko and Hirano.

"Why is there a bubble here?" Saeko asked, confused.

Pop!

The bubble burst, but nothing seemed to happen... or did it?

Moments later, Saeko and Hirano collapsed on the ground, fast asleep, their breathing calm and steady. Meanwhile, Abigail sat atop the Hummer, gazing into a large bubble that showed a reflection of the two unconscious figures.

Boom...

A loud sound erupted outside the garage.

"What was that?" Saeko jolted awake, startled by the noise.

"I don't know, but we should check it out," Hirano grabbed his gun as the two headed outside.

Stepping out of the garage, everything was eerily calm. The earlier noise seemed to have vanished into thin air.

"What? Nothing happened at all?" Hirano relaxed when he saw no signs of chaos or panic.

"Hirano, stay quiet," Saeko suddenly whispered.

"...Okay." Hirano fell silent.

Saeko closed her eyes, as if trying to sense something.

"This isn't right. It's too quiet," she said, her eyes snapping open.

"What's wrong, Takagi?" Hirano asked, confused.

"It's strange. It's way too quiet."

"This place is usually quiet though, isn't it?"

"Even from the garage, we should still hear some noise. This level of silence is unnatural," Saeko replied.

"Now that you mention it... but why?"

"You ask me, who should I ask? Think harder! Anyway, let's go check around and see what's happening," Saeko said, heading toward the residential area.

"Wait up, Takagi!"

They walked back, noticing the eerie absence of people. The guards who should have been at the gate were nowhere to be seen. It felt as though they were the last two people left in the world.

"What's going on? Where is everyone?" Hirano looked around, puzzled.

"I don't know. Let's check inside the house first," Saeko said, trying to remain calm despite her growing unease.

At the entrance to the residence, Saeko hesitated for a moment, then pushed the door open.

The sight inside left her frozen, eyes wide, her expression blank.

"Ahhh..."

---

"Takagi, what happened?" Hirano rushed over, alarmed by her scream.

"This... this is..." Hirano saw it too—a severed head, still dripping blood, hung by the entrance, staring right at Saeko as she opened the door.

Scanning the room, Hirano didn't sense immediate danger, so he approached Saeko. "Takagi, are you okay?"

Taking a few deep breaths, Saeko shook her head. "I'm fine. It just startled me. But we should be cautious. Who knows what danger lies ahead."

Despite being a bit shaken, Saeko wasn't paralyzed with fear. After the past few days of horror, a head alone wasn't enough to break her resolve. She studied the head, realizing it didn't belong to anyone she knew.

As she inspected it further, the head suddenly smiled.

A strange, eerie laugh filled the air.

Hehehehehe...

The sudden laughter made Saeko jump back several steps. Hirano, holding his shotgun, aimed it at the head.

"What the hell are you?" Saeko shouted, unnerved by the head's unnatural behavior.

"Life is fragile, yet resilient. Welcome to the Bubble Reshaping Clinic. May your transformation be enjoyable. Whether you become weaker or find your true potential is up to you... Hehehehehe..."

The head's expression twisted grotesquely as it suddenly expanded.

Boom!

The head exploded, blood splattering across the floor, forming a crimson carpet as though welcoming them deeper inside.

"What's going on here!?" Hirano exclaimed, shaken by the sight.

"I don't know, but I'm sure this place is dangerous," Saeko replied grimly.

Without hesitation, she entered the house, and Hirano followed.

"But Takagi, if this place is dangerous, shouldn't we just leave?"

"Are you stupid? Now that we're here, the only way out is through," Saeko snapped as she led the way into the living room, observing everything carefully. Though it looked just like her home, she knew something was different.

The eerie stillness persisted, but nothing else happened.

"Let's check further inside," Saeko suggested as she headed toward the hallway.

"Takagi, be careful. This place might be full of traps."

Hirano, tense and alert, held his gun tightly, finding comfort in its weight as they proceeded cautiously through the corridor.

As they walked down the corridor, everything remained eerily calm. It seemed like nothing was out of place.

Even when they reached the end of the hallway, they still hadn't encountered anything unusual.

"Was that severed head earlier just a bluff? Like a haunted house trick—using words to lead you, so visitors can't help but imagine things," Hirano mused.

"But there's nothing here. If they wanted to scare us, they'd at least have some props, right? Besides, this place doesn't feel like it's meant just to frighten us," Sayaka replied.

"I know, I was just saying. Anyway, let's hurry and search for clues."

With that, Sayaka opened a door without hesitation.