Chapter 70

After about twenty minutes, I finally calmed down, rinsed my mouth, and was able to leave the bathroom.

Sitting on the bench, catching my breath, Sena handed me a water bottle she had gotten from somewhere.

“Here, have some water.”

“Thanks.”

I took a sip, and it was lukewarm water. My throat stung a bit, but thanks to that, I could swallow it easily. She must have done it on purpose.

“…Are you sure you don’t need to go to the Health Room?”

Her eyes were still filled with concern. I hadn’t had the energy to care earlier, but now that I felt better, it felt a bit burdensome.

Well, it’s understandable. The whole incident was just me being cocky and getting caught. If I had gone to the Health Room over this, the teacher would’ve asked if I was out of my mind.

“I’m fine. Who goes to the Health Room over a little motion sickness?”

“It didn’t seem like just motion sickness…”

Even if it wasn’t just motion sickness, what does it matter?

Well, since Sena didn’t know the details, I brushed it off with a laugh. She still looked a bit uneasy, but the conversation quickly moved on to deciding our next destination.

“When we were planning, I included a few things similar to what just happened… Maybe we should take them out.”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

I nodded quickly. Once was enough; I don’t want to go through that again. Just thinking about it makes my stomach churn.

Seeing my reaction, Sena’s expression darkened again.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were sensitive to those kinds of rides.”

“Don’t be sorry. It’s my first time, so I didn’t know either. We just won’t ride them next time.”

I smiled and stretched. My back, which had been hunched over for twenty minutes, finally straightened out.

“So, where to next?”

“Hmm… The morning is mostly filled with attractions, so we have some free time before lunch. Is there anywhere you want to go?”

“Let me see the list.”

“Here.”

As I scanned the neatly organized list, one name caught my eye.

“How about the Haunted House?”

“…?”

Her eyes changed when she heard my suggestion. It was like she was questioning my sanity.

I tilted my head.

“What’s with that look?”

“Are you sure…?”

“About what?”

“You, going to the Haunted House? Are you sure you won’t be carried out this time?”

“What are you talking about? No way.”

This is a bit unfair.

It’s true that I’ve become more fragile compared to my past life, but that’s due to my physical condition. Mentally, I still have some confidence in handling psychological fear.

Well, except when people approach me. Strangers are scary. That’s a trauma rooted in experience, so there’s nothing I can do about it.

“What I’m scared of is the kind of stuff that physically shakes you around. I have some tolerance for psychological fear caused by non-human things. Well, sudden jump scares are a bit much.”

Actually, I think I’d be more scared if it were a Western horror movie with demons instead of ghosts. Even though I’m about to die soon, ghosts are like kin to me, but demons would still mess with me even after I die.

Despite my confident display, Sena still looked uneasy.

“But… you’ve never been to one before. How do you know if it’ll be scary or not?”

“I’ll know when I see it. Let’s go.”

“……”

She still doesn’t seem convinced.

Do I really look that unreliable? It’s true, but it hurts my pride a bit. Feeling a bit competitive, I deliberately put on a mischievous smile.

“Hmm. Why, Sena, are you scared of places like this?”

“No, it’s not that. I was just worried about you, and now you’re turning it around on me?”

“But I’m fine, and you keep making excuses for me…”

I trailed off and blinked slowly, trying to look as annoying as possible with my sly smile.

Seeing me like that, Sena let out a dry laugh.

“Fine, let’s go.”

“Great, it’s decided.”

In the end, she was the one who gave up.

Well, when I put my mind to it, this much is easy. Though I do feel like I’m only strong in the most useless areas.

With a victory that wasn’t really a victory, I casually turned towards the Haunted House.

***

Not long after, we arrived at the Haunted House booth, which was a large, shabby-looking mansion made of tin. A sign that read “Monster Park” hung at the top of the somewhat flimsy building.

What an interesting name. Is the theme monsters?

There was already a bit of a line, so we had to wait about ten more minutes before we could enter.

“Welcome to the Haunted House, Monster Park! Please enter slowly from the front.”

“It’s really dark in here. The atmosphere is great.”

“Well, it is a Haunted House.”

The interior was completely devoid of light, making it impossible to see even an inch ahead.

A male student approached us as we fumbled in the dark and began explaining in a friendly tone. The setting of this booth was exploring an abandoned mansion in the forest and finding the exit.

Why is it called a park if it’s a mansion?

That was the part that bothered me the most while listening to the explanation.

“Here’s a flashlight. Please use only this to explore the mansion.”

After finishing the explanation, he handed us a flashlight.

She disappeared leisurely.

Fumbling around, I turned it on, and it was noticeably darker than the ones sold in stores.

I guess this is one of the ways to create a sense of fear.

Anyway, from a state where we couldn’t see even an inch ahead, we started to take step by step into the mansion, now able to see just an inch ahead.

We walked carefully, shining our lights around for a few minutes.

Just as the initial tension was starting to ease, the first ghost greeted us.

I was slightly startled when it suddenly popped out from the ground, but I didn’t scream.

The ghost’s appearance was very different from what I had imagined.

Short stature, green skin, long ears, and somewhat twisted facial features, with eyes filled with greed and barely clothed.

The only thing that made it identifiable as a ghost was its semi-transparency; it was clearly not human.

…A goblin ghost?

Is this what they meant by “Monster Park”?

The goblin ghost that occupied our path roared threateningly.

“Kieek!”

“Huh, it’s a goblin ghost.”

Sena shone her light on the ghost as if she had seen something interesting.

The ghost struck a pose as if trying to scare us, but its size and image made it not very threatening.

Alright, if it’s like this, I’m not scared at all.

I confidently smiled and passed the goblin ghost a few steps ahead of her.

“Is this what they meant by Monster Park?

This isn’t scary at all. It’s cute.”

“Kueeek!”

“Eek!”

And then, I froze upon seeing an orc ghost with a twisted face.

Ugh, it’s unnecessarily realistic, so something this big is a bit…

Seeing me like this, Sena, who had followed behind, smirked.

“Ah, you got scared.

Orcs are a bit tough, huh~?”

“…It’s just that it suddenly popped out.”

“Do you want to hold my hand if you’re scared?”

“I’m not scared!

Let’s just move forward quickly.”

“Okay, okay. Let me know if it’s too much.”

Sena, who seemed to have expected this, went ahead first.

I swallowed dryly and quickly followed her.

I started to break out in a cold sweat under the orc’s piercing gaze at the back of my head.

I put on a brave front for my pride, but honestly, it was a bit overwhelming.

…Will I be okay?

It’s probably just an illusion, so it’s a bit funny to be scared of this.

Yeah, let’s hold on.

Just a little longer.

I can’t hold on!

I can’t hold on!

Help me!

“Princess! Look, it’s a dragon ghost!

Is it an illusion? The realism is impressive…”

A massive figure filled more than half of the hall, a wide plaza-like space, exuding a menacing aura.

The flapping giant wings and occasional bursts of green flames made it clear there was an insurmountable gap in power.

It’s a dragon.

They released a dragon in the ghost house, something even crazier than this ghost obsessed with success.

Maybe I should have felt uneasy from the very name “Monster Park,” which sounds so much like a zoo.

“Princess?”

Sena, who was excitedly shining her flashlight, turned back to me with a puzzled look when I didn’t respond.

Of course, I didn’t respond.

I was curled up, pale, and covering my mouth to keep from screaming.

Sena, who seemed to have expected this, sighed and came over to me.

Soon, her arms wrapped around me, blocking the cold air.

Ah, that’s a bit better.

I buried my trembling body in her embrace.

“You… said you were okay.”

“Th-this isn’t just a ghost…

I feel like my life is in danger…

What’s with the frost giant ghost, and now a dragon ghost?!”

I said I could handle psychological horror, but I don’t like this in-your-face kind of horror.

If you think it’s going to be as exciting as a 3D movie, you’re mistaken.

Imagine a monstrous creature tens of meters tall, indistinguishable from reality, opening its mouth wide and shoving its face in yours!

It’s really creepy, like I’m about to lose it.

Of course, I didn’t lose it, but…

“Guess there’s no choice.”

Sena hugged me tightly once and then let go.

I opened my eyes slightly, startled, and saw her with an awkward expression.

“Um… should we go back?”

“It’s embarrassing to turn back now… Let’s just get through it quickly…”

“Sigh… Alright. Let’s hold hands.”

“Mm…”

We started moving, trying to avoid the things that popped out as much as possible.

Of course, it was impossible to completely avoid them.

After all, the theme was mansion exploration.

The only way was to cling to Sena and get comforted every time something appeared.

At first, we were just holding hands, but by the end, I was half-clinging to her, sniffling.

Don’t sigh.

It’s not that I’m scared; it’s just that the production is too cruel.

Having eyeballs popping out three times in a row is just cheating…

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