The Trial of the Horror Box
Entered the Horror Box Room.
“Wh-what the hell is that box--!!!”
“Ugh….”
Shae wore an expression like she was staring at the filthiest, most repulsive thing on earth, recoiling in genuine disgust, while Kaya ground her teeth as memories from before resurfaced. That box didn’t just inspire revulsion—it triggered some primal rejection deep in the gut.
To pass through the Horror Box Room, all must pass the Horror Box's trial.
To take the trial, you must put your hand into the Horror Box.
A moment later, the same message appeared again. Nothing had changed.
Since it reset from 1-1 and there was a fork in the path, the dungeon has definitely reset. But the patterns are the same. Can I call that coincidence?
In the second loop, 1-1 broke the national rule with two popping out. In 1-2, we pierced truly rotten luck twice and an elite monster appeared. We one-turned it in two turns and died pathetically, but if we hadn’t killed it instantly, it might’ve messed with the hero party’s mentality in a powered-up state worse than the Horror Bird from the first loop.
So what about that grotesque box?
In the first loop, we got hit with the unknown “Forced Expulsion” gimmick, clueless and booted from the dungeon. But now, with suspicions that the difficulty might’ve ramped up?
First off, the shitty stuff from the old high-difficulty roulette….
Max HP -20%, Mentality -20, random status ailments stacking up to triple (minimum 3 turns), random monster summons including elites. The problem was, in the long terror runs, you only spun it once. But here, everyone has to spin, so if luck sucks, we could eat three penalties worse than those.
Obviously, there’s no way to ignore the box and pass. We had to spin it, win or lose.
No way it hits Forced Expulsion again, right?
Not a loop, and pulling that would be no fun. Might as well give us a regression—or game terms, a load—if it’s gonna do that.
Memories of the first loop kept me from approaching rashly. I naturally turned my gaze elsewhere.
“L-Leader?”
“Shae.”
“No way, right? You’re not thinking what I think you are, right?”
I approached Shae and rested my chin on her shoulder. She shook her head frantically. She was even backpedaling.
“Simple. Just put your hand on that box. Too easy. I did it last time, remember? Right, Kaya?”
“Yes, Leader.”
“You want me to, put my, hand, on that?”
“Our lucky Shae can do it.”
Shae’s face paled. The crusader who’d boldly flexed her combat prowess at powerful heretic worshippers and even the hideous Horror Bird without flinching was genuinely grossed out.
“Is that box really that scary?”
“Scary? You think I’m a coward?!”
“Then?”
“It’s just… ugh. How do I put it? Anyway, it’s instinctive revulsion! Sis! You feel it too, right?”
Kaya glanced at me briefly but nodded.
“Still, no choice. From what I know, everyone has to touch that box to get past here.”
“…Ugh.”
Shae’s reaction seemed less fear and more fundamental rejection. Kaya wasn’t saying it, but she clearly dreaded getting close.
Both priestess types… Does that make them more sensitive?
No helping it—I’d go first. The Forced Expulsion from last time bugged me, so I’d hung back, but with my comrades like this, I had to lead. At minimum, prove it’s “safe” by not dying on touch.
I offered a prayer to Raella, my prayer target, and lately added Justitia, not sure if it’d reach.
Please, no Forced Expulsion or monster summons…!
Two Forced Expulsions in a row? Bullshit. No fun, no drama, pure nonsense. Better a new gimmick I don’t know.
I ignored my heart pounding double-time, touched the box, and forced the lid open.
Kreeeeak—
Nothing visible inside. But I knew the roulette was spinning unseen right about now.
Please. Please. Please!
Small Hope that Overcomes Fear
All heroes' Mentality recovers by 10.
Gulp—
Who was that? Who just swallowed!
It was me!
Nice!!!!!
Inside, I was screaming with joy, but outwardly, hand on chest, deep breath. My whole body, hands included, trembled violently, face slick with cold sweat. In that short time, I’d poured out massive energy, body and mind.
“Leader…?”
“Leader?”
“Hoo. Anyway, I’m good. Feel anything? Like the creepy feeling eased up?”
They tilted heads, checked themselves, then brightened.
“Yes. Astonishing. The suffocating tightness around my body has loosened considerably.”
“Me too—the sticky feeling of being watched has lessened! No way, Leader and that box?”
“Got lucky.”
Really. It was an unfair roulette from the start. Good prizes vs. shitty penalties, more and worse of the latter. Odds and severity tilted worse with higher difficulty.
That’s the game. No penalty was huge luck.
Inspired by my example, or relieved, Shae stepped up next—but Kaya went first.
“Sis?”
“I’ll go first.”
“Sis, uh.”
“If we all have to anyway, better brace for the bad early, no?”
Getting hit early hurts less? Nah, hurts more when the hitter’s fresh….
Bitter experience aside, Kaya moved without hesitation. Because it was inevitable? Face stiff, but she endured, flinging open the now-closed lid in one go.
Seeping Fear
“L-Leader!”
All heroes' Mentality...
**
“Han Yujin! Get out here!”
“I-I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”
“Open this door now! Before I smash it!”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, forgive me. Please! Please!”
“You little shit, to the end…!”
Someone pounded the door like they’d break it any second, while in the corner of the room inside, a boy—maybe ten—huddled, trembling violently.
“I’m sorryI’m sorryI’m sorryI’m sorry….”
Tears streamed from his puffy eyes, snot from his red nose a mess. Bruises dark and light, scabs peeked where clothes didn’t cover. In his short life, facing the massive terror closest to him, he desperately stared at his one shield: the door.
Please, please. Hold just today too! Please!
He knew that door had been replaced five times, each time the terror pouring on him growing stronger. Still, he had nothing but that thin barrier.
…Huh? It’s… over?
The noise cut off suddenly. The furious pounding vanished, and the boy lifted his head slightly, a sliver of hope. Tonight might pass “safely.” He clamped his chattering teeth, rallied his shaky limbs, staggered to the door. Pressed his ear, listening outside.
Nothing.
“Phew….”
Good. Anger’s gone. Tension easing, eyes drooping against the door.
Creak—
“…!!!”
Click!
But it was his delusion. The terror’s obsession wasn’t so shallow.
Smash the door? An option, but… waste power on a mere door when aimed at the boy?
He scrambled to the corner, but his sole shield opened futilely. His nearest, greatest terror tossed the key, raised a hand.
Crack!
“Aaaagh!”
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The terror spewing vicious words outside fell silent facing the boy. Just hit. Relentlessly. Everywhere but the face. Rage in every blow, but face eerily expressionless. Like it’d beat till death.
Sensing it instinctively, the boy waited for a split-second gap. Curled tight, gathered strength.
“Hah, hah, hah…?”
Thud—
“Y-You…!!!”
First time ever, the boy struck back at terror. Full-force body slam. Flinging open the door, grabbed what he’d thought prison-like: the front door handle.
“Don’t come out!!! Stay there?!”
No strength in arms or hands. Just pull down, nudge, and it’d open. His battered young body exhausted from slam and sprint.
The furious terror closed in. The boy cried.
“Mom….”
**
--! -------! --! ---!! ---!!
So noisy. Head splitting. Body throbbing. No strength—no, won’t move. Vision blurry. Not pitch black, so eyes open, but smeared like ink hit with water.
--! ---!
Still noisy. Body hurts, mind shredded. But… one thing. Something warm and soft envelops me. Can’t see well, but whatever. I want to cling tight.
Body won’t obey.
--.
Why. Why keep calling.
--.
…Wait. Calling?
--.
What. Who’re you.
“Lea—.”
Lea?
“Leader.”
“….”
“Leader.”
Oh. A dream, huh.
Ha. Haha. Right. That hyper-real dream or hallucination from the Horror Bird skill, again. Last time, clueless, shitty, hard but less real, bearable….
This time, less Mentality loss, but so vivid. Still wanna cry.
But. Seeing Kaya’s tear-streaked face holding me. Realized she suffered the same nightmare.
“Kaya.”
“…Leader!”
And despite it, she stayed, nursing me till I woke.
“Leader… Hic!”
Sorry, Kaya. Can’t hold back. Arm moved on its own, pressing her head down. Devoured her lips roughly.
To forget the nightmare. To consume the sadness it brought.