Maruki blinked at Hamuko, caught off-guard by her remark. His lips parted slightly, a mixture of surprise and curiosity playing across his face. Did she just imply that she might share a connection with whoever’s mind had formed this place? Or was it related to Nyx and the moon and god knows what- He wasn’t sure what surprised him more—the insight or the casual way she dropped it.

Before he could fully process it, Hamuko turned to him.

Maruki let out a soft huff of a laugh. “I think I’m more ready to face whatever’s behind this rope with a peashooter than I am to hear anything else coming out of your mouth,” he teased lightly, shaking his head.

With that, he instinctively backed away a step, his gaze flicking from the rope to the fog beyond. His expression grew more serious. He could feel Azathoth stirring deep within him—the Persona’s presence almost overwhelming, as if it were trying to reach out and grasp the unseen force beyond the barrier.