Chapter 178
Chapter 178
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: Even If Scared, I Won't Give Up! That's Lulu-chan!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Even though I got some hate in the middle...
I managed to push through the terror and make it pretty far somehow.
Well, actually, I have no idea if it's really far.
Because I know where Chapter 1 ends, but Chapter 2? No clue.
Still, based on how long it's felt, I figured I must be close, so I was holding onto some hope.
My hands, having endured countless horrors, were still trembling.
"Lu, Lulu-chan. You okay? Your hand on the mouse is shaking..."
"Uuu... I-I'm fine..."
"Just a little more. From what I see, you're almost there."
Even Yuna, the one who made me play this horror game, looked worried.
I swallowed my emotions and nodded at her concerned words.
Yuna placed a hand on my shoulder, cheering me on.
Our room bans major spoilers by default.
But hints like progress updates are fine.
So the Cherries started cheering me on in unison.
Uuu, is this what they mean by giving poison and then the antidote?
Thinking about it, the reason I ended up playing Poppy's Time...
Started with Yuna, but was completed thanks to the Cherries.
Still, hearing those words gave me a bit of courage...
Ah, whatever. Focus on the game now.
The Cherries aren't evil enough to lie in a situation like this, so it must be close.
With that thought, I took a step forward, and an old construction site-like passage appeared.
Turn left here, right?
No other exits... Huh?
"Eh, ehh? Dead end...?"
I followed my instincts, but hit a wall.
Did I take a wrong turn? Or do I need to wall-jump up?
I looked up...
Slide-
[Aaaahhh!]
"Nyaaaaah?!"
The final boss, Mimi, used her tentacle-like long arms to cling to the wall, emerging from the endless darkness beyond the ceiling for a sudden jumpscare. A scream like tofu hitting water burst from my mouth.
But surprisingly, Mimi didn't lunge at me right away.
Just like our first encounter, she started reciting her lines.
Wait, hold on.
Hide-and-seek?!
Meaning from now on, I have to run for my life from Mimi?
Creak-
The iron grate blocking my retreat swung open.
The moment Mimi's count started echoing, I bolted without looking back.
"Nooooo!"
Mimi's eerie voice kept ringing in my ears.
'I can't hear you,' I chanted inwardly, fleeing as far as possible.
Before I knew it, the chase BGM faded.
A lever for in-game puzzles appeared ahead.
Whoosh-
"Huh? No reaction...?"
"Means go somewhere else, right?"
"Y-Yeah."
The first big lever did nothing when pulled.
So I headed another way, and four levers of different colors appeared: red, blue, green, yellow.
Maybe pull them in a specific order?
Looking around, I spotted a small hole in the ceiling.
I reached up, grabbed it, and peered inside...
"Whoa! It's a puzzle!"
"Huh? That's the puzzle?"
Inside were small box-like things labeled 1, 2, 3, 4.
Each connected by a line to a color-coded lever.
So pull the red one connected to 1 first, got it.
Yuna and the Cherries didn't seem to get it.
But I dropped down and pulled them in the order I memorized.
Whoosh- Whoosh- Whoosh- Whoosh-
Red, yellow, blue, green.
Creak- The iron grate blocking us rose.
"Wow! Lulu-chan, how'd you know?"
"J-Just a hunch. These usually mean pull in order. Figured there'd be a hint somewhere."
Sh-Shut up.
Good at puzzles is good enough.
And people who are good at horror games are the weird ones.
How can you see monsters like that and not flinch?!
Hehe, the praise felt nice, lightening my steps as I passed the exit...
Thud-
"Kyaaaaah?!"
Mimi burst from the darkness again, blocking my path.
Naturally, a scream that could shatter sound barriers erupted from me.
Wh-What the hell is she?! Why is she everywhere I go?!
Obviously the game design, but still!
No time for complaints—run first.
I spun around to backtrack.
"Lu, Lulu-chan! But the lever room exit—isn't it blocked?!"
"Gasp...!"
Yuna's question hit me like a gut punch.
R-Right.
When we pulled the levers, the way we came closed, only the opposite grate opened.
Even if I get there, how do I escape?
At least a spot to hide...
That thought sparked an idea.
Yes! I could hang from the ceiling there for the puzzle!
Wait for Mimi to pass!
"Jeez!"
Whatever, go for it.
I reached the lever room, looked up, and extended my toy hand to the spot.
My arm stretched, stuck to the ceiling, pulling my body up.
Clunk- Clunk-
Watching from above, Mimi chasing me didn't check the ceiling and ran past to the other side.
Just as I thought!
There was a poster on the way in: 'No hanging from equipment in this factory.'
Meaning Mimi, as a factory toy, wouldn't think of hanging from the ceiling.
"Hehe, dummy! I'm right here~!"
I mocked the vanished Mimi and leisurely turned back.
A dark space draped in spiderwebs greeted me.
Walking along, another dead end.
To the left, a huge lever my size.
Pull that and the exit opens?
"Endgame soon?"
"Yeah, looks like it!"
Chatting excitedly with Yuna, I reached out.
Just pull this lever, and a bright exit beyond will welcome me...
Thud-
"Nyaaaaah?!"
The moment I grabbed the lever...
Mimi appeared from the darkness to the left.
Looking furious, I turned and sprinted again.
Wh-When do I get the ending?!
"Kyaaaaah! Save meeee!"
She's right on my tail or something.
Unlike before, Mimi's voice came from nearby.
Terror surging, I ran sobbing and spotted a small door on the left, flinging it open.
Bam-!
Dropped under the railing, then dashed to the sewer grate at the back since the front felt like a trap.
Ziiing-
A massive hand—probably Mimi's—emerged opposite the sewer.
No choice, ignored it, turned left, and escaped through.
"Nyak! Nyaaaaang!"
"Lulu-chan, you're a full cat now?"
I ignored Yuna's quiet jab and focused.
Dead end—looked up, hung from ceiling, moved to second floor, bolted right.
Midway, broken bridge—grabbed structure, jumped.
Then dove into a pit.
Finally, reached out to the last lever and pulled.
"Whoa! Insane!"
Cleared every section flawlessly, no hesitation.
Admiration poured from Yuna and the Cherries.
H-Honestly, I don't even know how I did that.
I practiced Chapter 1, but this? Zero prep.
Maybe like that Cherry said, sheer terror made the optimal escape route crystal clear.
Creak-
"Gasp! Yu-Yuki-chan! This is really the end!"
"Oh, for real?"
The lever opened a heavy door, revealing a long exit bathed in bright light.
The first bright background since starting—I grinned like an idiot from joy.
"Hehe, hehehe..."
The Cherries teased this look, but it didn't faze me.
I just need to escape this hellhole!
Whatever you say doesn't matter!
Whirr- Click!
Reached for the recognition device above the final door.
Phew, made it somehow.
At least the end is chill—the dev has some conscience...
Thud-!
...Huh? This BGM?
Watching the lock disengage and door rise slowly...
The heavy BGM hit my ears—goosebumps everywhere.
No wonder: it's Mimi's appearance theme.
Meaning...
"Nyaaaaah?!"
Dreading it, I turned...
At the far end of the long passage I'd just crossed, Mimi charged wildly, tentacles flailing.
Th-That crazy monster!
She chased me all the way here?!
No, just let me see the ending in peace!
Do you have to go this far, you evil dev?!
Hop- Hop-
"Pl-Please open! Hurry! Monster behind meeee!"
I prayed for the door to open faster, hopping in place.
But it didn't speed up.
Just closed the gap with Mimi.
Right before she reached me, the door opened.
I dove in—but dead end again.
Is this really it? Despair rising...
"Lulu-chan! Lever! Lever!"
"...!"
Yuna's urgent voice—glanced aside.
Terror blinded me to the lever.
Pulled it instantly—Mimi charging after me...
Whirr- Shred!
Her arm got sucked into the shredder I activated, body disintegrating from the fingers up.
Finally, the final boss fully shattered.
Relief crashed over me—I couldn't hold back...
"Puuueeeeng...!"
"Lu, Lulu-chan...?! You okay? D-Don't cry! No more chasers!"
Just like before, I burst into tears and got comforted by Yuna and the Cherries.