And wait, I did.


    As the group went further into the tunnel and became closer to the end of the path that I had perceived earlier, I followed behind, aware of any movements from Alya.


    At this point, it was pretty easy for me to determine that...


    Alya wasn''t necessarily Alya.


    Now, that may sound like an oxymoron, but it is true.


    Alya isn''t the one in control of her body; whether she knows it or not doesn''t make a difference.


    She was simply a puppet being controlled by the spirit.


    Now, that didn''t necessarily mean that Alya didn''t have control of her body, but it was also possible that the spirit was manipting her, swaying her actions and emotions through his words.


    From her rush to reach the end of the path to her asion nces at the corrupted figure of Ren, someone who she wouldn''t pay any attention to earlier, and her unusual manner of walking.


    "can''t have a heroine dying, can I..?"


    Sighing, I continued following, getting a bit closer as I heard a conversation spark off, breaking the awkward silence.


    Trailing at the behind of the group with his sword ready, Kevin angrily asked.


    "Look, princess, I know you said that this path is the way out, but it really doesn''t seem like it anymore."


    As Alya turned around to face Kevin, not slowing her pace a single bit, she was about to reply when Zach suddenly interrupted.


    "Kevin, we''ve always trusted each other to the end, so what good would not trust each other now do? If she''s wrong and you''re right about this not being the way out, then so be it, but we''re a team."


    Nodding from beside Kevin, Liam also chimed in.


    "I mean, what else were we supposed to do this in the tunnel, Kevin? If you have any suggestions about how to get out, let''s hear them!"


    Shaking his head, Kevin ceased hisining before speeding back up to catch up to Alya''s increasing pace.


    However, just as Kevin sped up to catch up with Alya and the rest of the group, Liam halted, immediately falling behind.


    Thinking for a moment, Liam seemed to be staring at the green particles with his eyes nted.


    This time, everyone was much more alert due to Lily''s previous disappearance, so within a few seconds, the rest of the main cast had stopped, staring at Liam''s stationary figure.


    *TAP*


    Tapping her foot rapidly, Alya coldly asked.


    "Got something to say?"


    It was quite obvious that Alya, or "Alya," wanted to rush to the end of the cave, but she wasn''t going to outright force everyone.


    Whether it was because the spirit controlling Alya wanted to seem less suspicious or because the real Alya wasn''t a bad person, I did not know.


    Raising his hand and jumping into the air, Liam''s hand passed through one of the many green particles in the air.


    Landing swiftly on the ground, Liam managed to gather his words as he turned to the main cast and pointed at the green particles in the air.


    "Look, don''t get me wrong, I''m not agreeing with Kevin or not trusting Alya, but does anyone not find it suspicious that this path of green particles is the only way out?"


    Walking towards the main cast, Liam continued.


    "I mean, this is a cave, isn''t it? Shouldn''t there be multiple paths diverging, not just one long and twisting one?


    Almost immediately, the temperate of the cave began to drop as, unbeknownst to the others, a smallyer of ice formed on the de of Alya''s sword.


    Shivering, I looked at Alya, whose eyes were sparkling with a dangerous aura, and her stance had changed to one preparing to fight.


    The spirit''s maximum power would be that of Alya''s as Alya was its only contractor, so it definitely couldn''t kill or majorly injure Liam, especially with the rest of the main cast here.


    But... the spirit could disappear and leave us.


    That would be detrimental.


    If the spirit disappeared, we would be trapped in here until it reappeared.


    Our only way of escaping was killing the spirit, as it was the end condition and the only way to terminate the loop.


    Tensing myself up, I stared at Liam before giving an order to my corrupted figure which was standing next to Lily.


    Thankfully, I had prepared for this situation as I knew that the main cast wasn''t stupid and that one of them would most likely figure out the abnormalities in the cave just like Lily and I.


    As Alya''s legs tensed, my corrupted figure opened its mouth, which, though blocked by the face cover, was still noticeable as the cover twitched upwards.


    At the same time, from behind a nearby rock, I ced my hand over my mouth, making it as seem as if something was covering my mouth.


    "mmph, I don''t see any way besides forward, even if mmph is suspicious."


    your m,v,l,e,m,p,y,r story


    Remembering his words earlier, I continued in a mocking and sarcastic tone.


    "If you have any suggestions, I''m sure we''d all be d to hear them."


    Seeing the room''s temperature slowly drop, I turned to Lily, prompting her to continue.


    Even if my point was correct, I was just an outsider in this main cast group, so no matter what I said, my points would be irrelevant and ignored.


    I just needed to build a base for Lily to continue off on.


    Meeting the corrupted figure''s gaze, well, where she thought it was, there was cover blocking the figure''s face, Lily replied.


    "As much as I hate to say it...he''s right. We have no other options, and this is probably the closest we''ve ever been to escaping."


    "...if you all say so."


    "*PFFT*"


    As Kevin chucked, Liam returned to the main cast, his sword already drawn and presumably reading to attack at any moment.


    Well, at least I knew the spirit''s first target when we arrived now!


    But was using the main character as bait really a good idea?


    "Well, when has anything I''ve ever done been a good idea!"