Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Gooongpo's Mansion
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Gooongpo's Ghost Mansion.
That's literally the name of the event.
As the name suggests, it's a mini-event created purely for entertainment by the developers.
And here's the most important point.
There is no clear condition for this mini-event.
If you get lured by the NPC's promise of giving you the mansion and enter with a character...
—You'll get trapped in Gooongpo's Mansion, and the variety show event unfolds!
The game's explanation of the clear method is to solve all the tasks that appear.
They could be quizzes, specific actions, keys, or anything.
But in the end, you can't clear it no matter what.
All you get is the event CG with the character you brought along, some tantalizing scenes,
and a boost in affection.
Back when I played, I'd bring characters with low affection to participate.
So for me now, who doesn't need affection boosts, there's no reason to join.
But that's only true for me, the possessor.
"Wow! Are you really giving us that mansion?"
True to her protagonist nature, Emily fell hook, line, and sinker for the promise of the mansion.
"Ken, what do you think? Should we give it a shot? The old man looks troubled."
"Troubled, so troubled... Oh dear, isn't there any kind young soul who'll help an old man out...?"
"Grandpa, what do you need help with?"
"That mansion's a real headache. ...A few years back, something weird attached itself. Every time I go in, strange rooms pop up. If I could check every last one, it'd probably be fixed, but I just can't manage it. Can't even sell it like this... If you solve it, the whole mansion's yours."
"He says so! What do you think? If it's you, Ken, you could do something about it, right?"
Excited, Emily sparkled as she urged me for an answer.
Hmm, how do I explain this?
It's an impossible-to-clear event anyway. Wasting time and energy seems pointless.
"...Hey, Emily."
I pulled Emily away from the old gentleman and whispered softly.
"We don't know what's inside, and no one's ever succeeded despite the promise, so probably no one's solved it."
It's impossible anyway.
Explaining the real reason is tricky, so I fudged it.
But that didn't convince Emily; she pouted dissatisfied.
"...Hmm, maybe? But I feel like you could do it, Ken."
Her thick trust in me is a bit of a problem.
"And Ken, I just thought of something..."
Emily, looking scheming, whispered back to me.
"If we can claim it anyway... why not just smash the doors?"
She confidently pitched her idea.
Smiling proudly, but such a brute-force approach?
"No way it'd be that simple."
Clearing an uncleared event... that'd be...
...Wait.
Hearing Emily's words, a flash of insight hit me.
Not about the mansion, but info on another impossible-to-clear labyrinth.
'If I can clear this mansion... maybe that labyrinth too...?'
I'd vaguely assumed it was impossible.
But thinking back, the game had impossibilities, but in this real world, plenty were possible.
Like Rafne's pendant.
An item that didn't exist in the game at all.
Not in Item Creation's categories, but I made it by combining similar ones.
And the rune seal stone I shattered for the subspace pouch.
Impossible without enough strength, but persistent hammering did it.
So then.
'...I can test if this mansion can be cleared.'
After a moment's thought, I smiled at the waiting Emily.
"Yeah, sure. Let's give it a try."
"Yay! Really?"
My positive response thrilled her more than expected.
Is it that great?
"I've always wanted to live in a mansion! Oh, but it might be too big for two."
"Huh? For what?"
Definitely big for two.
But ownership comes after clearing, so worry later.
Two?
Someone else involved?
At my puzzled look, Emily blushed and averted her eyes in a fluster.
"Ah, haha. J-just thinking out loud."
Anyway, she's hyped about getting the mansion.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ To challenge Gooongpo's Mansion, we need to gather people first.
In the game, it's a two-person event with Emily and another character.
But the mansion's interior favors more heads for finding hidden keys, etc.
My goal isn't the mansion anyway.
Just confirming if it's clearable.
So I gathered as many as possible.
"Wooow! Mansion exploration? Sounds fun!"
First, the idle-looking Alicia.
"Need help? Understood. I'll assist."
"Sounds fun! Count me in!"
Siegfried and Elis agreed readily when asked.
"If-if Ken needs it, I'll do anything... B-but we're not living there, right...? I-if we are, you have to take me too!"
"I-I don't know if I can help, but I'll do my best."
Rafne and Mary joined, making seven including me and Emily.
"Ken! I brought Adrian!"
"Heard it looked fun. If it's okay, I'll help too."
Emily and Adrian approached, waving, as we waited at the academy gate.
No way... What brings such a busy guy here.
Guarding Rafne outside the academy? ...Or just tagging along for fun.
Anyway, more the merrier.
Even numbers better than odd for pairing.
Thus, our mansion-challenging team hit eight with Adrian.
"This is the mansion! It really looks like ghosts might come out!"
"Don't jinx it before we even go in."
"Eek! Z-Zeke, wh-what if we get lost? Or trip...?"
Reactions varied upon arrival, mostly girls scared.
The mansion was grand, sure.
But vines everywhere, cobwebbed windows, uncleared leaves.
Atmosphere like an abandoned school.
Felt a chill after the main gate too.
"Ken, I'm scared..."
Rafne, spooked by the vibe, clung to my right arm.
"R-Rafne, really... Y-you're so jumpy. This is n-nothing scary."
"Mary, you're shaking like crazy."
"I-It's cold, that's all... K-Ken, don't leave my side. It's dangerous."
The ice mage's claim as she trembled on my left arm.
Not wet this time, but her coward side showed in scary places.
"I'm scared too. Let's go together."
Emily tugged my shirt hem from behind.
Three clingy ones made it awkward.
"Hehe, well now. Good thing I came. Such a heart-pounding sight."
"How do you manage that? Admirable as a man."
"Y-You really have three? Playboy."
Alicia, Adrian, and Elis enjoyed the spectacle.
Should've gone with a small elite team.
"Alright, I'll open the door."
With fearless Siegfried leading, we entered the mansion.
—Creeeeak...
The old door groaned, releasing musty air with dust.
"Ptoo! Ptoo! Dust in my mouth!"
Alicia spat dramatically, caught off guard.
Thus, the mansion's eerie interior revealed itself.
"...Huh, inside's cleaner than expected?"
"Don't say ominous stuff."
"Wh-what ominous! Tell Ken not to scare us!"
Elis, accidentally chanting a blue goblin summon, shivered in protest.
But she was right; it was cleaner than thought.
Just the door dusty?
No, there's a reason it's clean inside.
"This the inside...? Structure's different from outside."
Emily's reaction after entering.
Yes.
A grand mansion should greet with a wide hall.
But a single straight corridor welcomed us.
No windows, no frames, just weird wallpaper and dim lighting.
And one door at the end.
"D-Do we go th-there...?"
"Yes, only one door."
"Hic, K-Ken. Don't let go."
She might regret coming now. Should've warned them.
To me, fairly immune to horror games, this was just mansion crawling.
No deaths or injuries, so fine, I guess.
Clack, clack.
Eight footsteps echoed on the marble floor.
Some gulped nervously.
Soon, we reached the end.
"Nothing happened after all!"
Alicia, no longer scared, bounced excitedly with curiosity.
Unlike before, I took point at the door.
"Okay, opening it. ...Whatever happens after, stay calm. If too scary, go back out."
Explained quitting, scanned everyone.
Smiling Adrian and Alicia.
Stoic Siegfried.
Tense or trembling rest.
Confirmed all, turned, gripped handle.
Opening this starts the real event.
First task unknown; random.
Quiz? Item hunt?
Tense about that, slowly opened and entered.
Others followed one by one.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Ken opened the ominous door, others following one by one.
Passing a strange sensation like a veil at the threshold.
Eyes squinted at sudden brightness.
Soon, surroundings came into view.
"...K-Ken."
"Rafne? ...Where's everyone else?"
Only Rafne and Ken left in the room.
Ken felt slight confusion.
Game's two-person event, but didn't expect others vanishing.
'...Probably fine?'
Likely two-person rooms, others paired similarly.
As Ken thought.
"M-Mary? Where's everyone? Ken?"
"E-Emily... Hic, I-I don't know... D-don't leave me...!"
Teary Mary embraced by Emily.
"Whoa! Everyone vanished! ...And I'm alone with a handsome flower boy. Kyaa! What happens to me?!"
"Hmm... A bit disorienting."
Flustered Alicia, Adrian surveying with hand on chin.
"Z-Zeke! Everyone's gone! Big trouble? Can't go back now?!"
"Ken said if scared, go back. And I'm here, so relax."
"Uuu..."
Last, Elis and Siegfried paired in a room.
All scattered to identical rooms.
Bed against one wall, small table.
Opposite entrance: lone door.
"...Th-this is."
Ken grimaced at the exit.
Others too.
Above the door: this room's escape method.
⚙ PUZZLE ROOM ⚙ [■ss to Exit This Room]