episode_0001

Rain pours down like a waterfall. The unprecedented downpour obscures vision and weighs down our bodies.

“Haa, haa…”

The sound of horse hooves mixed with the sound of breathing and seeped into the puddle. The woman in the red robe urged her horse on, even though she felt the limits of her physical strength. Then, the horse, running powerfully on the muddy ground, let out a heavy breath.

How did it come to this?

She was the daughter of the emperor who ruled the empire. Thanks to this, she only saw the beautiful things in the world and enjoyed a life where she wore only valuable treasures. However, the world soon thrust its wolf fangs at the innocent girl.

One day, the emperor died suddenly.

It wasn’t just a case of losing a father. It was like a huge wall protecting a child who didn’t know anything about the world had collapsed.

The time when the splendid palace became a palace of fortune arrived quickly.

The princess, who was soon exposed to various assassination threats, escaped with the help of a sympathetic nobleman.

But who knew that it was also a plot by his older brother.

The princess who set out on a journey alone ends up dying at the sword of a vagabond. This was the scenario set up by the snake-like men coiled around the palace.

“Catch it! It’s over there!”

“If we miss, our necks will be cut off!”

The assassins shouted until their throats were hoarse. Even amidst the thick raindrops beating down on their bodies, their merciless shouts could be heard clearly.

Purrr!

At that moment, as if they had communicated telepathically, the horse’s hooves pounded the ground even harder. Then, they changed direction without warning and began to head towards a strange place.

“Oh! You, you?!”

Although she was momentarily flustered, it was rather a stroke of luck. Thanks to her wit, the princess was able to momentarily escape the sight of her pursuers.

She felt a strange sense of destiny and let herself be carried away by the words.

As she ran and ran through the heavy rain, a huge mansion caught the princess’s eye. And as if she had made a promise, the horse galloped toward the mysterious mansion without hesitation.

“Is there such a large mansion in the imperial decree I received? And the garden is surprisingly well-maintained… It might be nice to hide away for a while.”

The princess stopped what she was saying and came down to the ground. Then she carefully knocked on the door of the mansion that was in front of her.

“Excuse me…”

He used awkward formal speech. It was the minimum defense mechanism to hide his identity.

In this way, the protagonist of this world stepped into the abyss where the monster resided of his own free will.

◇

Meanwhile, the assassins were adept at tracing the princess’s footsteps. They followed the faint hooves of the horse and took the same route as the princess.

The mansion was revealed to their view, but the group of assassins stopped in front of the open gate.

“Stop!”

Everyone looked obviously embarrassed. One of them, who had been looking at each other, opened his mouth.

“The princess… did she come in here?”

“If that’s true, is there no end to it or am I stupid…”

“You’re going to commit suicide in the most haunted house in the empire? ”

The muttering lasted only a moment. One of them raised both hands and said:

“… Then are you just going to leave? What about the aftermath?”

“Are you telling me to die?”

“No, but… Even if you say it’s a haunted house, isn’t it just a rumor in the end? If it’s really a dangerous place, why would you leave it in the imperial territory? It’s even the land of the late emperor’s favorite gold mine.”

“Well…”

It was a valid argument. The mansion in front of me was full of rumors, but I had never actually met anyone who had set foot there.

In the first place, who would dare to step foot on the royal family’s property out of curiosity?

It was more logical to see it as a result of a delusion, like other fake listings that claim to be haunted houses and have a good reputation.

“… Okay. Let’s go in and continue the mission. Anyone else have any objections?”

This time, no one raised a hand.

Everyone entered the mansion known as the most haunted house in the empire with one mind.

At that time, the people of Salsu were completely embraced by Jangwon.

Squeak… Kwung!

A sound that shouldn’t have been heard came from behind.

The assassins turned their heads in confusion and looked.

The reality is that the main gate of the mansion, which had been firmly locked, was firmly shut as if it had never been closed.

“What, what is this…?”

A question like a terminal word.

That was the last one.

When the garden finally fell into complete silence, the gate stood open as it always had, welcoming guests.

Only the sound of the rain falling decorates the atmosphere of the manor.

In fact, the mansion in front of us had no name, but it had a nickname.

It was simply dismissed as a ghost story and became part of folk beliefs, but those who know know.

That the ghost story is not a lie, but the truth.

◇

I don’t remember the details of my previous life. I just vaguely realize that the new life I was given was a world within a game.

The genre is horror. The title is .

Playable Character – The game’s protagonist aims to uncover the hidden truth of the mansion and escape.

And a long time ago, I was reincarnated into this world as an NPC.

The only butler and ghost of the mansion. His role is to assist the heroine in exploring the mansion.

I accepted it up to that point, but it had been too long. During those long years, my body moved automatically and did the housework in the mansion, and I was given a routine.

It’s not that I can’t go outside the mansion, but my body is only materialized when I’m inside the mansion.

Outside, I couldn’t touch anything, not even the bitter taste of grass. This numbness drove me madder, so I returned to the inside of the mansion.

So, I would rather die.

I never knew that deprivation of freedom could be so painful.

I prayed every moment that I would lose the light of life.

Until you came to me on a rainy afternoon.

“Excuse me… Huh?!”

As soon as I carefully opened the door, I was surprised.

“Immigrants…?”

My appearance was quite different from that of an imperial citizen. However, since it would be rude to show surprise, Asher quickly hid her agitation.

“… I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was a mansion where people lived… I was just trying to hide for a while. No, I thought the owner wasn’t there, so I was just going to borrow the roof. ”

I was speechless at the sight of the unexpected intruder. Meanwhile, the woman stood with one foot on the doorway, looking around.

The twilight that greets the evening sky is embedded in her hair. Her ruby-like eyes shake sadly.

Her dignity, which could not be hidden even by the robe covering her entire body, represented her status.

I unconsciously recited her name in disbelief.

“… Ash.”

“That’s my nickname…? No way!”

She raised her alertness with a look of surprise on her face.

“You… no, you! You know me! If you know Abamama’s nickname, you must have ties to the royal family…”

I can’t help but know.

Every day, this woman wished to visit the mansion, hoping to escape from her miserable life as soon as possible.

“Whose hand are you? Depending on your answer, you won’t be safe!”

Asher put his hand into his bosom. He must have hidden a dagger for self-defense or something.

I wish you would stab me.

So that I can dig deep into your heart and take your breath away in one go.

So, I tried to provoke her with a little bluff.

“Why should I know your nickname? Think about it yourself.”

He smiles so innocently that it’s suspicious, and slowly places his hand on the empty backpack.

The effects were immediate.

“You bastard…!!!”

Shhh!

As expected, the princess took out the dagger hidden in her robe. Then, with a rather powerful movement, she aimed straight at my heart.

“Eww!”

When she stretched out her arms vigorously, I swallowed arsenic.

I thought, finally, we are liberated.

But the world is made up of absurdities. As if to prove that, it was impossible for Asher’s blade to touch me.

[This is an indestructible object.]

Words appeared in the air. It was similar to the status window commonly used in games.

“What, what is this? I’ve never heard of such magic. Indestructible.”

“… Is this what you see?”

“Of course…!”

Ash, who was about to shout, hurriedly took a step back. It seemed as if he was overcome with fear at the unfamiliar phenomenon.

I too had complicated feelings.

I knew from the beginning that suicide was impossible, but I couldn’t believe that even murder was out of the realm of possibility. It was so absurd that I couldn’t help but laugh.

At that time, I was worrying about what I should do here to become free.

A familiar sensation washed over me. It was a horrible feeling of my body losing control and doing its job.

Then I smiled very kindly and opened my mouth without thinking.

“Welcome.”

“What, what did you say?”

“It is an honor to have you visit the Arkaden family mansion, Your Highness.”

I realized it instinctively.

The scenario of this world begins. The game is about to progress by welcoming the heroine of .

“Arkaden? That kind of family… I don’t know. I memorize all the nobles’ genealogies, but I’ve never heard of such a family!”

“It’s okay. The young lady is very kind, so she won’t mind. Rather, she will be happy to have Her Highness the Princess visit.”

“Miss…? Who is that…! I’m sure you’re my brother’s person…”

“…”

My mouth is stiff. It seems that I was forced to remain silent because Asher’s question did not fit the situation.

That was when.

Squeak… Boom!

The door to the mansion slammed shut on its own with an eerie squeak. Asher, who had stepped into the mansion with the perfect intention of stabbing me, had no time to react.

Now even the option of going back is blocked.

Until Asher unlocks the mansion’s secrets, he will be trapped in the mansion forever.

“What is this?”

Boom, bang bang!

She instinctively felt uneasy and desperately opened the door to the mansion.

Not only did he pull the doorknob with his whole body, he also kicked it with all his might, and was breathing heavily.

“Let me out! Let me out! What is this… This is strange… This is strange, this is…!”

I approached Asher, who had been screaming in front of the closed door for a long time. Then I gave her a drawn-out smile and made a gentle suggestion.

“I will guide you to your treasure trove, Your Highness. I look forward to seeing you again after recovering from your toxin.”

“You… What are you planning, you fucking crazy wizard! How dare you treat the princess of the empire like this?!”

“I will guide you, Your Highness.”

“You fucking bastard!”

Asher raised his hand roughly, probably intending to slap her cheek, but she had to witness the usual message, of course.

[This is an indestructible object.]

“Fuck, fuck, shit! What the hell do you want me to do?”

Asher, who is venting her anger while grumbling.

As I faced the face that was filled with sorrow, I felt my body soften. It was a sign that the forced words and actions were being released and my free will was being restored.

Eventually, I gave her one clear goal.

“Unravel the secrets of the mansion, Asher.”

“Secret…?”

“Yes, it’s a secret. Before that, you will never… be able to leave the mansion.”

You are locked up.