Gohongpo's Haunted Mansion.

That's actually the name of the event.

As you can tell from the name, this mini event is created purely for entertainment purposes by the producers.

Here’s the most crucial point: There is no way to clear this mini event.

If you get enticed by the NPC’s offer of giving you the mansion and enter the mansion with any character…

You get trapped in Gohongpo's Mansion, and the fun event begins!

The game explains that to clear the event, you must solve all the tasks presented.

These tasks could be quizzes, certain actions, or finding keys.

But ultimately, you can never actually clear it.

What you gain are event CGs with the character who joined you and some flirtatious scenes.

Also, your affection level with the character will increase.

When I played, I used to take characters with whom I had low affection levels to participate in the event.

Since I don’t need any affection points now, there’s no reason for me to join this event.

But that’s just me being the transmigrator.

“Wow!

Are you really giving us that mansion?” As the protagonist, Emily was immediately charmed by the idea of getting the mansion.

“Ken, what do you think?

Should we try it?

The old man looks like he could use some help.”

“Ah, such trouble, real trouble.

Oh, isn’t there any good young folk to help?”

“Grandfather, what do you need help with?”

“That mansion is a thorn in my side…

A few years ago, something strange must have latched onto the house because strange rooms keep appearing when you enter.

I feel like if those rooms are fully opened, the situation might be resolved, but I can't do it myself.

I can't even sell it like this...

If you solve the problem, I'll give you the mansion."

"Wow!

What do you think, Ken?

Don't you think you could do something about it?" Emily, intrigued, urged me to answer with her eyes sparkling.

Hmm, how should I explain this?

It's an event that can't be cleared anyway, so isn't it a waste of time and effort?

"...Uh, Emily." I pulled Emily away from the old gentleman and whispered softly.

"We don't know what's inside.

And considering no one has succeeded despite the offer of the mansion...

it seems no one has been able to resolve it." This is impossible to succeed in any case.

Since it was hard to explain the reason, I gave a vague answer.

But it seemed that wasn't enough to satisfy Emily as she looked disappointed.

"...Hmm, is that so?

But I think you could do it, Ken." Her trust in me is a bit burdensome.

"And Ken, this is an idea I came up with...." Emily whispered back to me with a thoughtful expression.

"If we can get the mansion anyway...

Can't we just break down the doors?" Emily confidently presented her idea.

She smiled proudly, but what a reckless approach.

"No, it's not going to be that simple." Clearing an event that's designed to be uncleared...

No way....

No, wait a minute.

For a moment, Emily's words sparked a thought in my mind.

It wasn’t related to solving the mansion's problem, but about another unsolvable labyrinth.

'If I can solve this mansion's problem, could I also solve that labyrinth?' I had vaguely thought it was impossible.

But reflecting on it, there were several things that were deemed impossible in the game, yet achievable in this real world.

The most notable is Raphne's Pendant.

That item didn't even exist in the game.

It wasn't listed in any item creation category, but I managed to make it by combining similar items.

And the Rune Sealing Stone, which I broke to obtain the Subspace Pocket.

Normally, it would be indestructible unless one had a certain level of strength, but I managed to destroy it after persistently attacking it.

If that's the case...

‘…I can test if I can clear this mansion.’ After a brief moment of contemplation, I smiled and answered Emily, who was waiting for my response.

"Yes, let's give it a try, shall we?"

“Wow!

Really?” Emily’s reaction was one of sheer joy, even more than I had expected.

Is she really that happy?

“I've always wanted to live in a mansion!

Ah, but isn't it a bit large for just the two of us?”

“Huh?"

Indeed, this mansion is too big for just the two of us to live in.

But owning it is something we must think about after clearing it first.

The two of us?

Is there someone else involved?

As I wondered, Emily blushed and looked around nervously.

“Oh, haha.

I was just talking.” Anyway, it seems she’s excited about the thought of acquiring the mansion.

First of all, if we are going to challenge Gohongpo’s Mansion, we need to gather people.

In the game, it’s an event where Emily and one other character challenge it alone.

However, inside the mansion, finding hidden keys and such works better with more people.

In any case, my goal isn’t to own the mansion.

I just want to verify if it can be cleared.

So, I gathered as many people as I could.

“Wow!

Exploring a mansion!

It sounds fun!” First, I recruited Alicia, who seemed to be free.

“Do you need help?”

“Got it.

I’ll help.”

“This sounds fun!

Count me in!” Siegfried and Elise also agreed enthusiastically when asked.

“If Ken needs it, I’ll do anything… but we’re not really going to live in that mansion, are we?

If we are, you’ll have to take me with you!”

“I’m not sure how much help I can be, but I’ll do my best.” With the addition of Raphne and Mary, there were seven of us, including Emily and myself.

“Ken!

I brought Adrian too!”

“Heard there's something fun going on.

If it's okay, I'll join in.” Emily and Adrian waved as they approached us, waiting at the Academy entrance.

Why would someone as busy as him be here?

Could it be to keep an eye on Raphne leaving the Academy… or did it really just seem fun to him?

Well, the more people, the better it is.

Besides, having an even number makes it easier to pair up than an odd number.

So, with Adrian, our party to challenge the mansion totalled eight members.

“Is this the mansion?

Wow, it really looks like it might be haunted!”

“Don’t say ominous things before we even go in.”

“Eek, Sieg… what if we get lost?

Or if we trip or fall…?”

We showed various reactions upon reaching the mansion, with the women mostly displaying fear.

It was no wonder, considering the mansion, while grand, was surrounded by vines, had cobweb-covered windows, and the ground was littered with uncollected leaves.

The atmosphere truly felt like an abandoned manor seen in horror movies.

It seemed to get chillier ever since we came through the main gate.

"Ken, I'm scared…" Raphne, who was equally frightened by the atmosphere, clung to my right arm.

"R-Raphne, seriously.

…You sure are a s-scaredy-cat.

This isn’t even b-bad though."

"Mary, you're trembling a lot."

"I-It's just because it's cold.

…Stay close to me, Ken.

It’s dangerous." The Frost Mage clung to my left arm, shivering.

Even though we weren’t fully in yet, entering this scary place revealed her cowardly side.

"I-I'm scared too.

Let's stick together." Then Emily’s voice came from behind.

She tugged lightly at the corner of my shirt, as I already had both my arms occupied.

Having three people clinging to me was quite uncomfortable.

"Hehe, see, I knew coming here was the right choice.

What a thrilling sight."

"How does one become like you?

I respect you as a man."

"So, it’s true you managed to entice three women."

“…womanizer.” Alicia, Adrian, and Elise, who were watching this ridiculous scene, each chattered joyfully.

If I had known it would be like this, I would have chosen a smaller, elite group to come.

“Alright, I’m opening the door.” Siegfried, the bravest among us, took the lead as we entered the mansion's interior.

Creeeak...

As the door, which hadn’t been opened in a long time, made its characteristic noise, stale air and dust came pouring out.

“Ptooey!

Eugh!

D-Dust got into my mouth!” Alicia, who wasn’t paying attention, started sputtering and exaggerating her reactions.

The mansion's eerie atmosphere was revealed.

“…Ah, it’s cleaner than I thought inside?”

“Please don’t say ominous things.”

“W-Why!

What’s ominous about it!

Ken, please stop scaring us!”

Elise protested while trembling.

But indeed, as she said, the inside was cleaner than we expected.

Could the dust have only been on the door?

No, there was another reason the inside was clean.

“Is this really the inside of the mansion?

The structure looks different from what we saw outside.” This was Emily's reaction after we stepped inside.

Yes.

Originally, we should have been greeted by a grand hall befitting a magnificent mansion, but what awaited us was a long, straight corridor.

Without windows or frames, only strange wallpaper and somewhat dim lighting.

And at the end of the corridor, there was one single door.

“D-Do we have to go there?”

“Yes, since there’s only one door.”

“Sob, K-Ken.

Don’t ever leave my side.” We might be regretting coming now.

If I had known they would be this scared, I would have warned them in advance.

For someone like me, who is quite immune to horror games, this kind of event was just like exploring a mansion.

At least we wouldn't get hurt or die, so it should be fine.

Clack, clack.

The sound of eight pairs of feet stepping on the smooth marble floor echoed down the hallway.

Some of them were nervously swallowing their dry saliva.

Before long, we reached the end of the corridor.

“Nothing happened, after all!” Alicia, no longer afraid, instead showed curiosity with a cheerful smile, bouncing on her feet.

This time, unlike before, I stood at the front before the door.

“Well, I’m going to open the door and go in now.

No matter what happens from here on, don’t be alarmed, and if you get too scared, you can turn around and leave.” As I explained how to quit the event, I looked around at the others.

Adrian and Alicia were smiling.

Siegfried had a blank expression.

And the rest were tense or trembling.

After confirming everyone's state, I turned back and grabbed the doorknob.

Now, opening this door marks the official start of the event.

The challenge is that we don't know what the first task will be.

It's random.

It could be a quiz or a scavenger hunt.

Feeling a bit anxious about it, I slowly opened the door and went in.

The rest of the group followed me into the room one by one.

Passing through, it felt like there was an eerie barrier at the threshold.

As the light grew brighter, we squinted our eyes for a moment.

Soon, the surroundings became visible.

“…K-Ken.”

“Raphne?

…Where are the others?” Raphne and Ken were the only ones left in the room.

Ken felt a bit confused at this unexpected turn of events.

In the game, this event required two people, so he hadn't anticipated the rest disappearing.

‘It’ll be fine, right?’ Since this is a two-person event, the others must have also paired up and entered different rooms.

Just as Ken had thought.

“M-Mary?

Where are the others?

Where’s Ken?”

“E-Emily… Sob, I-I don’t know either… P-Please don’t leave me…”

Mary was sobbing while Emily embraced her.

“Whoa!

Everyone disappeared!

…And now I’m left alone with this handsome guy.

Oh my!

What am I supposed to do?”

“It’s a bit unsettling.” Alicia was making a fuss, while Adrian stroked his chin and examined their surroundings.

“S-Sieg!

Everyone’s gone!

Isn’t this bad?

What if we can’t go back?”

“Ken said that if you’re scared, you can move back.

And I’m here, so don’t worry.”

“Uh…” Lastly, Elise and Siegfried paired up and entered another room.

Although everyone arrived in separate rooms, each room had the same layout.

A bed was against one wall, along with a small table.

On the wall opposite the entrance, there was a solitary door.

"...Th-this is." Ken looked towards the exit door and his face contorted in confusion.

The others were no different.

Above the exit door, the method to escape the room was written.

[A room you can only leave by doing ◩.]

NEXT CHAPTER | DISCORD | Read More! | Idol | Apocalypse | Mesugaki | Saintess | Villainess

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