NT veRse - Bad End Guide 21 - Underworld Alley (Patreon)

Your first move was to read through the whol guide in order to figure out all of the ways in which you ended up running into a wall. As practical as it was, calling it dying was far too strange and disheartening. You would prefer to not have to think about a version of you that had to experience these things at all, so decided it would be best just to refer to it as looking into a future that never happened. You closed the guide.

'All in all, just by deciding to enter this alleyway I've exposed myself and my friends to numerous bad ends. The scary part is, the only points in which a bad end is noted down are where I am directly involved. That means I can screw up in a way that I can get out of, but they'll suffer... I can”t let that happen.' You looked up at the far-away rooftops of the Underworld Alley.

'I know from a few of the bad ends that Sun is actually close by and is looking out for me from afar.' You glanced over at Milk waiting patiently beside you.

'Milk always sticks close to me, so she is involved in the greatest number of bad ends in the guide, aside from myself.' You exhaled and shut the book.

'Nina is involved in a few just by being tied to us. Technically she doesn't matter, but she”s basically one of my people while we”re here so I can”t not protect her... The Difficulties in this place are broken down into area hazards. If I go into a certain spot I am naturally going to have to contend with the dangers. However... In terms of overarching dangers that need to be avoided there is-'

“What are ya reading?” A chipper male asked in a singsong tone. You stood up quickly and covered Milk's mouth before she could say anything, then answered.

“Why do I have to answer that?” You gritted your teeth.
'Unlucky...'

The curious man standing in front of you was quite beautiful with long, full blue-ish silver hair. He wore white and blue robes befitting a dignitary in the region, though to your knowledge the man had no station or status. He held a closed fan and smiled coyly at you as he tapped his chin with it. The main feature of him that had you terrified stared at you with a deceptive level of innocence.
“Whaaaat?”

You kept your hand over Milk's mouth. “Why do I have to answer that question?”

“Huh?” He closed his eyes and cocked his head inquisitively.

“Why do I have to answer that question?”

So far as you could gather, there was an unspoken rule in Underworld Alley. Don't answer any questions unless it is with another question. The reason was the man in front of you. As far as you knew, he was never written about directly and was only mentioned in sprinklings around the guide where it concerned Underworld Alley. That is because failing to heed most warnings and rules resulted in an instant loss. Answering his question meant that one would immediately lose their wits and become a moron. You whispered such to Milk, who nodded slowly.
“This is so strange...” The man lamented.
“Have you been here before?”

“Why do I have to answer that question?” It was the perfect response and was the most commonly heard sentence out in the open within Underworld Alley.
“Let's go.” You began to walk away with Milk and Nina in tow. Nina was sweating. Milk was simply confused, but followed directions easily.
“As soon as we lose-” You glanced back and noticed the man following at a steady pace with an idle grin on his face.

“Why are you running?” He asked. You looked carefully and saw his mischievous eyes pointed at Milk.
“You have to answer the same way I did.”

Milk shrugged. “Why do I gotta answer?”

You nodded. “Good enough.” Not answering a question directed at you was a slower death than answering with a question. At one junction where you were writing concerning the strange man, you did attempt to just ignore him. The passage after that shows that you slowly went completely and irredeemably mad.

The figure's grin widened. “Interesting! Hoho!”

You start jogging. He begins jogging after you all. You began running. He began running. “What's your name.” As soon as he said that your eyes widened. You looked to Milk and ordered her with a look to keep going with Nina. Reluctantly she kept running. The man stopped in front of you. As you opened your mouth to answer he opened his fan and raised it to hide his lips. You stopped yourself.

“Why do I have to answer that question?” You breathed a sigh of relief. He had almost caught you in a trap. Proper introductions were different from questions. But his was not a proper introduction, since...

“I'm Sphinx. What might your name be.” He closed his fan and waited for your response excitedly.

You took a breath. “I... Am Eve. A pleasure to meet you.” You bowed.

Sphinx was overjoyed by the introduction. “Wow, Neat! You seem to know your way around, Eve.”

You paid close attention. 'That wasn”t a question so I should be safe.'

“I'm curious how you know so much about me. You wouldn't happen to be-” He blushed and began fanning himself.
“A suitor sent by my mother?”

You were sick of him already. “Why should I answer?”

“Sorry, I'll turn it off so we can speak freely. Are you my new suitor?”

“Why should I answer such bullshit?”

Sphinx pouted. “Eve, no... Forgive me!” He wavered and wilted before you in a flamboyant display of acting.

“I tried to trick you.” He shrugged. Suddenly his eyes narrowed.
“But, if you were sent by that person, and you were told all the tricks I should probably just kill you.”

“I-I wasn't. Can you tell?”

“How would I be able to tell?” He wondered out loud.

“Why should I answer?”

He hid his mouth with his fan. “I see.”

“Wait... Something just happened.”

“What do you mean?”

“Can you fuck off?” You asked angrily.

He laughed. “You meant something.” He corrected.

“I don't know yet. I haven't figured it out.”

“The fact that you haven't figured everything out tells me you weren't sent by mother... Which means you aren't trying to bring me home.” He brightens and closes his fan.
“I like you! I wont try to hurt you for the time being.” It sounded menacing, even though he cotninued to wear a cheery expression.

“Swear on something else... You obviously dislike that person.”

He smiled in a way that seemed more genuine than before. As you got a glimpse of it you saw him quickly open his fan in front.
“I really like you.”

“Is that so?”

“Do I seem like a liar?” He asked.

“Why should I answer?”

“Well, that's fine. You seem to have some type of mission here.”

“I'm looking for any of the three Travelers. August, The Cappadocian or...”

“Or Maggie. I'm actually quite a fan so I would like to know that as well. As for the other two...” He leans forward and stares at you enticingly.
“Quite bold of you to ask about other men in front of your future husband.”

You stared at him blankly without saying a word. Suddenly you felt two strong arms pulling you away. You glanced up to See Sun clutching you to him jealously.
“The hell are you talking about?”

Sphinx looked annoyed. “Why do I have to answer that question?” He hid the bottom half of his face with his fan.

“Why are you pretending to be composed with a fan over your mouth? Everyone can see the vain on your head, idiot.”

You whispered to Sun as he held you close. “You know the rules?”

Sun nodded. “From what I gathered you answer any question directed at you, and you answer with a question.”

“If he introduces himself properly you can introduce yourself back. If you don't I assume something bad happens.”

“Whats your name, then, whelp?” Sphinx asks while fanning himself.

“Why don't you introduce yourself properly? Bastard.” Sun smirked.

Sphinx's eye twitched. “Don't wanna.”

-

Once things settled you began exploring again, only the two boys were in tow. 'How the hell did this happen?' You remembered that Sun rejoined you once Sphinx got too close, but you had no idea why Sphinx was following and acting so obedient with you.
“Are you aware of where August's office is, Sphinx?”

“How would I know something like that?” He responded.

“Why are you still trying to kill me despite pretending to act nice?” It was starting to annoy you.

“It's a secret.” He winked.

“If you figure it out I'll give you a prize.”

“You will give me a prize? Something useful?”

Sphinx bit his bottom lip gently with a long sharp tooth and pulled slightly at the chest of his robe to show part of his pectoral.
“How about I give you 'me' as a prize?”

“Not interested.”
“She's not interested!” You and Sun spoke at the same time. You looked at Sun and smiled.

'He”s so flustered. It”s cute.'

“Enough jokes.” You sighed.

Sphinx chuckled to himself. “I see. It was a joke.”

“Should we try and find Milk?” Sun asked.

You shook your head. “Things will get confusing if there are more than a few of us with that guy around.” As you looked back, Sphinx was just smiling to himself in the background.
“Milk has Nina who will keep her out of overt danger. Plus... she's Milk so she'll handle anyone that bothers her. I would be more worried if she was alone and Sphinx was out of sight.”

“I wish you would stop treating me like a hazard...” Sphinx complained.

You shot back with. “The hazard should stop complaining that he's being treated like one.”

“I am trying...” He insisted.

You nodded slowly. It seemed that he had been avoiding asking questions, even with Sun, except in the case where- Your eyes widened.
'Except in the case where he is asked a question.' You glanced back.
“You have to follow your own rules.” you stated.

He hid his mouth with his fan. “Who knows.”

“Also... you hide your face because you have no ability to hide your emotions.”

“Aha...” You could see his nervousness in the way his eyes closed even while he had his fan over the bottom half of his face.

“That is quite a guess.”

As you walked through the alley with the two hansom men in tow you felt safe but all around you you could still see potential pitfalls. A seemingly kind potion seller.

'That person sells curses disguised as potions... In one end I was apparently captured and made into a slave. I was then used for him to get his hands on Milk so he could harvest her like a cow...'

The man smiled. “Would you like a free sample, young lady? Elixirs to improve your Aura and you Soma.”

“Go to hell!” You stared him down. Sun looked at you in shock. Sphinx chuckled.

“Th-this guy is shady.” You covered.

“Excuse-” The man began to speak, but before he could finish the two boys closed in on him.

“Do we need to beat this guy?” Sun asked you, balling his hands into fists.

“I suppose we're killing.” Sphinx closed his fan and followed suit.

“Stop stop! Not necessary. Yet.” You cringed, staring down at the terrified expression of the shady dealer.

'I feel like a gang leader all of a sudden...' As the three of you moved on and you passed a building with a familiar description you stopped.
“Hey Sphinx?” You had already written down everything regarding what you knew about him from this time around so there was another entry just in case things came to another abrupt end.

“Yes?”

You gulped. 'Here goes nothing.' You smiled at him, beginning to sweat.
“Nothing.” You waited for anything to happen. Sun looked at you in horror. Sphinx looked amused.  You breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
“It's just as I thought.” You began to write that down as well.
“You are not requited to continually go back and forth if a question is asked. It's only around a single exchange of a question and answer.”

Sun clapped his hands together. “So if he asks a question and you answer with a question he doesn't have to answer, even if he has to follow his own rules. It's the same reversed. If you ask him and he ends with a question, you do not actually need to respond with a question.”

“You are putting a lot of effort into figuring it out. Is it for that book of yours?”

“Who's asking?” You glare at him.

“Sorry! Force of habit. It's a book about me, I suppose.”

“Not about you. It's... A guide to all the bad things that can happen to someone in this world.”

“A scholar! An incredible ambition, at that. Such a woman after my own heart you are, Eve!” Sphinx gushed, gesturing with his fan as if he were doing a kabuki dance.

“You can't say we're the same when I seek answers and you trap people and destroy their lives with questions.”

“It's just two different methods of acquiring knowledge.” He argued slyly.

“I suppose you gathered information about this place before coming here, which is how you are so wise in regards to the threats.”

“Something like that.” You moved towards the building with a familiar description to a passage in the guide.

Sphinx coughed. “You should probably not go in there, darling. If you are, you might as well allow me to take your wits and knowledge first.”

Sun grabbed your arm. “If that guy is saying something, I will too. What are we doing here? It looks bad.” He stared at the mundane, reinforced door with a slot at eye-level, and another at crotch level. You looked at him, then knocked on the crotch-level window.

“I know that this place has some answers about August's room and his office. Maybe even more info about the other two.” You blushed deeply as you knelt down before the waist high slot. Sun was confused. Sphinx covered his whole reddening face with his opened fan. Suddenly as it slid open a large, floppy dong was pushed through the slot. It's sized filled out the whole hole, leaving no room to see around it into the establishment. You lifted it with your hand and kissed it gently, then lowered your head and humbled yourself before it. Once you had performed those motions the cock retreated and the slot shot. A secret door off to the left opened.  You took a deep breath, braced yourself and stepped through the entryway. As you did your clothing evaporated into nothing, leaving you with only a tall pair of heels, thigh-high stockings, thong panties, a garter belt and two tassels attached to bars pierced through your nipples. You felt it as it happened, which is why you braced yourself. Sun's face became bright red.

“Eve!”

“Relax. Believe it or not, this is the secret to entering this place safely as a newcomer. Even if you give the password, if you are not a regular you have a curse placed upon you. This clothing is also protection against hazards within.”

Sphinx uncovered just one eye to look at you. “Incredible...”

Sun, on the other hand covered his face. “I'm coming too!”

“Don't be stupid. You would have to do the same thing I did... Sphinx?”

“Why are you asking me?” He mumbled.
“I am also a newcomer to this place.”

The two looked hesitant, but you could tell that they were each just a small prodding away from performing the necessary tasks to come with you. You shook your head.
“You don't have to-”

Sun knocked on the slot and knelt down. You watched with an incredibly interested expression as the cock popped out in front of his face. He gave you one more look before lifting the member and gently kissing it on the head. The boy then prostrated himself before it, his body shaking.
“I am going to do whatever I need to do to protect you, Eve.” Sun stood up once the cock retreated into the slot and proudly sauntered over the line of the hidden entryway. He smirked cockily at Sphinx. As soon as Sun walked through his dignified robes were transformed into black assless, crotchless chaps with a small cage wrapped around his member. He yelped as his nipples also became pierced and a small collar fitted around his neck.

“Ow...”

Sphinx looked at you both stubbornly. In particular, the odd fellow looked at you like you were crazy.