The Basement

She wore a dark blue pleated skirt that stopped mid-thigh, paired with long stockings that created a tantalizing zettai ryouiki—absolute territory. Slender legs ended in a pair of simple loafers.

And that was all.

Alain stared, taking in the sight. Because the "she" before him was utterly devoid of an upper body.

"What... is this thing?"

Honestly, Alain's first, fleeting thought was to take it home and use it as a… comfortable cushion. He quickly banished the specifics of that idea to the darker recesses of his mind.

As he drew closer, intending a more thorough examination, his lovely half-body cushion shifted.

"!"

It seemed to sense his approach, taking elegant, almost delicate steps forward.

Alain's perception shifted instantly. His previous thoughts felt crass, filthy. A usable cushion? What an utter waste! This creature's waist was begging for an incredibly cool Kamen Rider belt. Combined with its almost cat-like gait, the fusion of power and grace would be unexpectedly striking.

And, well, wearing a Rider belt while using it… that also seemed… acceptable?

"If there's a chance, I will take it home."

His decision reaffirmed, Alain followed the direction the half-body was moving.

It glided smoothly through the living room. The light "tap, tap" of its loafers on the floor suggested its destination: the bedroom.

And the bedroom… contained the wardrobe with the iron door, the one that led to who-knew-where.

Alain's gaze intensified. Not only could it be used, and adorned with a Rider belt, but it was also… a tutorial. A surprisingly considerate one, at that.

What a perfect being! It was practically god-like, brimming with compassion, a savior of worlds.

As he observed the—no, not belt storage—the half-bodied deity, Alain noticed the subtle rise and fall of its skirt with each step.

It was… a little spicy, wasn't it?

And given his observations, this being seemed to be modeled after Mita. Was this the work of that mischievous girl?

Taking the thought a step further: if he teased it, would it advance the progress bar?

Alain knew idle speculation was useless; practical testing was required.

Consider it a trial run.

Always a man of action, Alain mentally apologized to the half-bodied deity for his impending disrespect, then reached out.

He squeezed.

The sensation was identical to Mita's: a springy, high-quality, almost jelly-like texture.

And then the deity kicked him.

"Ugh…!"

Its round, yet shapely leg, unleashed unexpected power, connecting squarely with Alain's abdomen.

"Was that… divine punishment?"

He crumpled to the ground, his insides churning. He checked the system panel; the Security Guard's progress bar remained stubbornly unchanged.

And the [Security Protection] notification was absent. The Security Guard, it seemed, was rather intelligent, not classifying playful antics as genuine attacks.

He glanced up, catching the deity tapping its feet twice—"thud, thud"—like a shy maiden.

So cute.

The deity resumed its progress.

Seeing it approach the door, Alain hurried over, opening it gallantly.

The deity, as if acknowledging his gentlemanly gesture, rewarded him with a gentle kick before gliding into the bedroom.

It circled the small table, and Alain initially assumed its destination was the iron door.

"Hmm?"

But, unexpectedly, the half-body headed towards the wall beside the closet.

Just as Alain wondered if a hidden door lay concealed there, the deity began to knock on the wall, as if that was its intended goal.

"What does this mean…?"

The deity was perfect in every way, except for its inability to speak.

Then, Alain noticed something placed on the cabinet next to the half-body.

"This is…"

He walked over, picking it up. It was a golden key.

"That's not right."

He hadn't been idle earlier in the bedroom. Besides taking Mita's little secret and leaving an [IOU], he'd thoroughly searched the entire room.

He remembered this cabinet; he was certain he'd checked it.

"Then… is the key a gift from the deity?"

Divine punishment, followed by a divine gift… a slap followed by a sweet. Alain felt utterly manipulated by this being.

With a sense of solemnity, Alain approached the deity.

The half-body turned slowly, as if gazing directly at him. It felt almost as if it were about to knight a warrior.

Alain thought he heard a faint "farewell" from the unseen void.

He crouched down, his face directly facing the deity's golden triangle, treating it as its face.

"Divine One, will you come with me?"

The deity responded with a gentle knee-bump to his chin.

"Okay… But if there's a chance in the future, I will definitely take you away."

Though he doubted he'd ever return, he considered it a hope, a long-term aspiration for escape.

"Then, Divine One, I must depart."

Finally, under the "gaze" of the half-bodied deity, Alain picked up the key and walked towards the iron door within the wardrobe.

As expected, the closer he got, the clearer the "thud, clang" sounds from within became.

The pale gold key slid perfectly into the keyhole. Alain took a deep breath. He didn't know what awaited him—Mita's promised death, or something else entirely.

But the answer, he believed, lay beyond this door.

He exerted force, turning the key. The previously stubborn door handle now felt lubricated, and with a gentle pull, the world inside the iron door opened before him.

"…Stairs?"

They were the same wooden stairs as in Mita's soft pink room, the kind that creaked ominously with each step, a classic horror movie trope.

The area beyond, like a basement, was shrouded in darkness, as if a devil were opening its gaping maw, awaiting Alain's plunge.

"Don't mess with me…"

Stepping onto the stairs, truly entering the basement, Alain realized the creepiness was an illusion.

The iron door behind him, the instant he crossed the threshold, clicked shut and locked.

"Clang, clang, clang."

The basement suddenly illuminated, and the previously faint metallic clanging became clear and distinct, as if it were right beside him.

And the source of the sound seemed to be at the corner of the stairs where he stood.

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