Chapter 3-ANOMALY and PROBABILITY (1)

I'd laid on that stiff mattress for hours, eyes wide open, staring into the dark. Not a blink of fatigue, not a shred of sleep.By the time the sun rose, I was still lying there, like a mannequin pretending to rest.

And somehow… I felt fine. Sharp, even.

In those long, silent hours, I noticed a few things.

First: the village. It was bigger than I thought at first, but strangely empty. Many of the houses seemed abandoned—no lights, no movement, not even smoke from chimneys. It was like a stage waiting for actors who never came.

Second: my body. I felt no fatigue. I had walked for hours yesterday, with no food or water, no rest… and yet I felt perfectly fine. Not tired. Not hungry. Not thirsty. And most unnerving of all was the fact, that I couldn't sleep at all.

And lastly: Marie. She was too kind.By all logic, her behavior didn't make sense. I'd woken up nearly naked in a field, and just happened to be found by a girl my age who offered me so much help.Was that normal here? Or… was it part of something else?

All these things… they didn't add up.

I stood up and looked out the window.

It was early morning. The sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon, spilling golden light over the village like paint on canvas. The view had a sort of romantic charm—peaceful, still, almost perfect.

I hadn't changed clothes last night, so I stepped outside for a walk without needing to dress.The air was cool and fresh, brushing against my skin like silk. The silence of dawn wrapped around the village like a blanket.

"This world feels a little too perfect," I muttered as I strolled past empty houses and dew covered grass.

I thought about what the system told me:"You are not bound by the laws of this world."

I stopped by a small pond in the middle of the village and stared down at my reflection. The water was so still it almost looked like glass.

"What did it mean by that…?" I whispered.

No answer.

After a few minutes, I turned and walked back toward the inn.

When I entered, I found the receptionist sitting at her desk in the small reception room. She looked up from whatever she was doing.

"Oh, you're awake" she said casually.

"I didn't sleep well" I replied.

There was a wooden chair across from her. I pulled it out and sat down.This was the first time I really looked at her face.

She wasn't young, but not old either. Her hair was mostly black but streaked with strands of gray. Her features were sharp, proud. Still beautiful, in a mature sort of way.

"Can I ask you something?" I said.

She sighed, clearly annoyed at the interruption. "Ask."

"Why is the village so empty?"

She narrowed her eyes. "Why do you ask?"

"Just curious."

She didn't answer immediately. She exhaled slowly, as if debating whether to tell me the truth. Then, after a long pause, she began to speak.

"Three weeks ago… a devil came."

"A devil?" I asked, leaning in slightly.

"Yes. A man hated by the gods," she said, her voice hollow.

"He came and killed half our village."

"Half?"

"All the men," she said bitterly. "He spared only women, children, and the elderly."

I've heard this before. I've seen this.A déjà vu?

"I know this man" I almost said, but I held my tongue.

"He killed my husband…" she added, clenching her fists.

I stayed silent. But eventually, I worked up the courage to ask:

"Why did he do that?"

I already knew the answer. I just needed to hear her answer.

"Because he was a messenger sent by the devil."

"The devil?"

"Yes. The one who opposes the gods. Banished from the heavens, he was forbidden to taste the absolute light. So he created the absolute darkness."

Hatred glimmered in her eyes.

"The kin of the devils… we should have wiped them from existence long ago."

"If it's not too much to ask…" I said carefully. "May I know your husband's name?"

She hesitated, then quietly answered, "His name was… Alden."

After that, she stood and disappeared into the kitchen, without another word.

I sat there for a while, letting her words settle in my mind.

Then it hit me.

"This is the same village from the tutorial sequence."

A system notification appeared in the corner of my vision.

[1/3 mysteries solved]

The system… It really could hear my thoughts. That meant it also knew how I felt. It wasn't just a guide, it was a witness.

Pieces were starting to fall into place.

But the main question still lingered like a shadow in my mind:"How am I supposed to bring a fitting end to this story?"

I didn't know how long I sat there, lost in thought. Eventually, I stood.

"If I'm not mistaken," I whispered to myself as I walked upstairs, "she should be here soon."

Back in my room, I took the robe which was lying on the bed and pulled it over my clothes.

I took a deep breath, inhaling the crisp morning air that drifted in through the cracks of the old wooden door. For a moment, I stood still, letting it fill my lungs and clear my mind.

Then I exhaled slowly, collected myself, and began to leave the inn.

The receptionist didn't say a word as I passed her. I gave her a polite nod and stepped outside.

As I opened the door, I saw her.

Marie stood there, hands nervously clenched in front of her.

"I'm glad you're okay," she said. "I couldn't sleep last night… I was so worried about you."

Her concern looked genuine—but now, I wasn't so sure what was real anymore.

Still, I smiled.

"That makes me happy to know," I replied.

"Can I ask you for a walk, Marie?"

"I'd be happy to."