I created a foundation

She wanted to escape, wanted to cry with her friends, wanted to retreat into the safe world that belonged to young ladies.

But she can't.

She looked at Itamaki Kiyomi's face, which was smudged by fear and tears, and saw the complete dependence in her eyes as her "only hope."

Ying Lili knew that she had no way out.

The thought of protecting her friend, at that moment, miraculously overwhelmed all the fear and weakness in her heart. This was the first time she decided not to run away, but to actively face this bloody trouble belonging to the "inside" world.

She took a slow, deep breath with all her might.

She reached out her hand and, somewhat awkwardly, imitated the way her mother comforted her, gently patted the back of Itamaki Kiyo, who was still sobbing in her arms.

She spoke slowly but firmly in a tone that was so calm and reliable that even she was surprised.

"do not Cry."

Her voice was not loud, but it seemed to have some soothing power, which made the three girls stop crying.

They raised their heads and looked at Eriri with their red and swollen eyes full of hope.

Eriri met their gazes and solemnly, word by word, made her promise.

"I know someone who can solve this problem."

She comforted her three friends who were already in a state of panic, let them go into their rooms to rest first, and repeatedly assured them that her home was "absolutely safe."

Then, she walked alone, with her cell phone in hand, to an empty, quiet corner.

Trembling, she dug out the number from her address book that she thought she would never call.

That number belongs to the "President", the dark devil, and the chairman of the SCP Foundation - Lin Qing.

The call was dialed, and listening to the "beep...beep..." waiting tone coming from the receiver, Eriri felt her heart beating faster than when she was being chased by the monster last night.

Finally, the call was connected.

From the other end came Lin Qing's usual voice, calm as a still well, with a hint of laziness.

"Hey?"

Chapter 0025: This is a test for you, solve it, or die

Hearing the calm, calm "Hello" from the other end of the line, Eriri felt as if an invisible hand were squeezing her heart. She took a deep breath, forcing down the surging fear and the dizziness from the fever. She tried to sound calm and professional, imitating the efficient tone she imagined Kasumigaoka Utaha using at work.

"President, this is... Trainee Investigator, Sawamura."

When she said the word "trainee investigator", her cheeks still felt hot involuntarily.

"I've just confirmed a suspected 'rule-based' anomaly. Based on the description of my friend, the 'victim', the code name for this anomaly is very likely the urban legend - 'Miss Mary'."

"Currently, three civilians have been severely contaminated and are in an extremely unstable mental state, vulnerable to collapse at any moment. Based on your previous instructions, I believe this incident is extremely dangerous, and conventional methods are completely ineffective. I request... I request immediate assistance from the agency!"

She spoke her prepared speech in one breath, each word stiff with nervousness. After finishing her report, she gripped her phone tightly, holding her breath, waiting for the all-powerful "chairman" on the other end of the line to offer a reassuring, foolproof solution.

She expected him to say, "I know, I'll be there right away," or "Don't be afraid, just do as I say."

However, there was a long silence on the other end of the phone.

That silence, like a huge rock, weighed heavily on Eriri's heart, making her attitude, which had already been humbled by her request for help, even more humble.

Just when she thought the signal was interrupted, Lin Qing's calm voice finally sounded again.

"understood."

Just three simple words to express receipt.

Then, without waiting for Eriri to ask further questions, he said something in a cold, unquestionable tone, as if he was issuing a final judgment, which made her feel like she was falling into an icy cave.

"This case will serve as a test for you to transition from a 'trainee' to a full-fledged investigator."

"You are fully responsible."

"By...by me?!" Eriri was completely stunned. She couldn't believe her ears at all and retorted anxiously, "But...but I don't know anything! I'm just a painter! I can't even control my own strength!"

She was telling the truth. Faced with this legendary curse, she didn't know what else to do except to feel fear and scream.

On the other end of the phone, there was a hint of obvious impatience in Lin Qing's voice.

"Then go and learn."

"Solve it, or..."

His voice paused, and in a colder, crueler tone, he gave her another choice.

"...Watch your friend get killed by it."

"Beep...beep...beep..."

After saying that, he hung up the phone without mercy.

Listening to the cold, mechanical busy tones coming from the phone's receiver, Ying Lili stood there in a daze.

Her hand holding the phone drooped weakly, and her whole body seemed to have been drained of all her strength and soul. She leaned against the cold wall and slowly slid down to the ground.

ended?

Is it...over just like that?

He just...left everything to me?

A huge feeling of abandonment and despair, like cold sea water, instantly drowned her completely. Then, from the depths of that despair, an uncontrollable, raging rage ignited.

That bastard! That devil! That capitalist who took advantage of the situation!

How could he do this? !

Could it be that in his eyes, his friend's life was just a dispensable prop used to "test" him?!

Anger, fear, helplessness, grievance...all kinds of negative emotions, like a flood bursting through a dam, rushed wildly into her heart, almost completely destroying her sanity.

But just as she was about to be swallowed by the whirlpool of emotions and was about to burst into tears, she caught a glimpse of the crack in the bedroom door out of the corner of her eye.

She could see her three friends huddled together like frightened little animals, secretly looking at her through the tiny crack in the door with eyes filled with fear, dependence, and a final hope.

They are waiting.

They were waiting for her, the only person who knew the "truth" and promised to "find an expert to solve it", to save them.

Seeing their eyes, all the anger and grievance in Eriri's heart instantly disappeared without a trace like a popped balloon.

She knew she had no way out.

She couldn't cry or break down.

Because from the moment she took on this burden, she was no longer just Eriri, she was the only support and hope in the hearts of these three desperate girls.

She slowly stood up from the ground.

Although fear and confusion still lingered in those golden eyes, what was more was a desperate determination that emerged after being forced into a desperate situation.

……

And at this moment.

On the rooftop of a building not far from the Sawamura family villa, Lin Qing was sitting leisurely on the edge of the guardrail, holding a strawberry milk-flavored lollipop that he had just taken out of the [storage space] in his mouth, swinging his legs, overlooking the brightly lit mansion below.

His extraordinary vision, which was enhanced by [Soul and Body Unity], could easily penetrate the barrier of the wall and clearly see the whole process of the girl with golden twintails in the villa, from being full of hope when answering the phone, to despair after being hung up, and finally, rekindling her fighting spirit after seeing the eyes of her friends.

His [heart network] could clearly "hear" every struggle and curse in her heart, as well as the tragic determination when she finally made up her mind.

"not bad."

The corners of Lin Qing's mouth curled up into a playful smile, as if he was observing his own little white mice undergoing an experiment.

"She's worthy of being the one I've chosen. Her mental qualities are much stronger than those of the average heroine."

Of course, he didn't really want to let Eriri die.

The reason he did this was simply to force her and inspire her through extreme pressure, so that she would try to use the 1% of power that was shared and dormant in her body without even knowing it.

Tall trees cannot grow in a greenhouse.

Only after experiencing real despair and hardships that he faced alone, can the seed he planted with his own hands break through the soil and grow healthily.

Of course, as a "responsible" gardener, he will naturally provide an absolutely safe "novice protection period" for his "experimental subjects".

He had already used his [Heart Net] to lock onto the cursed energy belonging to "Ms. Mary" that was gathering in Eriri's house. While that energy was strange, its intensity was even less than that of the human-faced dog. For Eriri, who already possessed 1% of her talent, as long as she could overcome her fear, she would definitely be able to cope.

Even if she really couldn't handle it, he could appear on the scene within 0.1 seconds and solve all the problems with a slap.

But now, he just wants to be a quiet audience who enjoys the show.

"Let me see how much potential you can unleash when you're forced into a desperate situation..."

Lin Qing bit the lollipop in his mouth, making a crisp sound, his eyes full of anticipation.

"…My trainee investigator."

He saw that Eriri in the villa paced back and forth in the room like a headless fly for a long time, and then, as if she had finally made up her mind, she walked into her bedroom, which was full of various figures and comics and full of "otaku" atmosphere, and called her good friend, Itamaki Motoyu, who was almost scared to death, in with her.

Chapter 0026: Don’t be afraid, I will keep your nerdy secret a secret for you!

Faced with immense pressure and responsibility, Eriri's brain, which had become confused due to a high fever, suddenly burst out with unprecedented clarity of thought.

She knew she couldn't protect three friends in different locations at once. Gathering them all under her watch was the only viable and correct option. Her own home was undoubtedly the battlefield she was most familiar with and the one she could best control.

She first looked at Itamaki Kiyo, who was in the most serious condition. As the first person to make the call, she was undoubtedly the most important target of the curse called "Mary."