As I came to, a dull, throbbing pain pulsed through my chest—sharp and intrusive, like a claw pressing against my sternum. My limbs felt like lead. The ceiling above me was unfamiliar. So was the room. Wooden beams, rice paper windows, a scent of citrus lingering faintly in the air.
Where…?
My thoughts, still sluggish, circled back to what had disturbed my dreams.
"Another… distressing dream," I muttered aloud, my voice brittle, barely above a whisper. But I wasn't sure I believed it. The number echoed ominously in my mind.
444 trials.
Just saying it aloud sent a chill crawling down my spine.
"Four hundred forty-four trials… Am I losing my mind?"
There was no mistaking it. The weight in my chest wasn't just pain—it was dread. The trials had begun, whether I was ready or not.
I didn't want to face it. But I couldn't turn back either.
I've come too far.
There was no save point. No reset button. The only path left was forward.
With some effort, I pushed myself upright on the futon, the floor cool beneath my fingertips as I steadied myself. I drew in a long, slow breath, trying to center my thoughts.
Growl~
A sudden, undeniable growl from my stomach broke the tension.
"…I'm starving." I rubbed my abdomen sheepishly, a flush creeping onto my cheeks. "Guess I'll go find the kitchen first."
A fresh set of clothes lay folded beside the futon. Someone had prepared them while I was out cold. I reached for them and started dressing—still sluggish, still half-dazed.
Click—
The door burst open.
"WAAAH!" I screamed, nearly tripping over my own clothes in panic.
There stood Lady Nozomi, leaning casually against the frame with a mischievous smile tugging at her lips.
"Such good lungs you have, young lady Llyne. Master will be pleased."
I scrambled to cover myself, half-dressed and wholly embarrassed. "K-Knock first! Ever heard of privacy?!"
Nozomi only pouted, clearly enjoying the moment. "Oh, come now. We're all ladies here. What's there to be shy about?"
"That's not the point!" I snapped back, cheeks burning. "It's called basic decency!"
Her smile thinned just a little. "Well, I don't really feel like being decent after what happened yesterday."
"…Yesterday?" I echoed, a sinking weight dropping in my gut.
"You fainted. In the guest room," she said, voice quieter now. "I had to carry you to your room all by myself."
My blood ran cold.
"…So it wasn't just a nightmare?"
Her fist clenched. "Nightmare? Hmm…?"
I backed away instinctively. "Oui— I mean, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to cause trouble!"
Then, just as suddenly, she brightened again. "I'm teasing. Relax."
Teasing?
The look she gave me just now wasn't "teasing." That was the face of a predator ready to pounce.
Still rattled, I gave a shaky smile. "Right… teasing."
With an elegant clap of her hands, she changed the subject. "So! Are you ready for your first trial?"
"Eh…?" My confusion returned in full. "Trial? What kind of trial?"
"Don't worry," she said with a lilting giggle. "Nothing dangerous. Just a little test—to assess your current capabilities."
Before I could object, she grabbed my wrist.
"H-Hey—! Wait, what?! Where are we going?! Save me!"
"You'll find out soon enough. Trust me, it'll be an interesting experience." she said with a smile far too bright to trust.
Why does everyone I meet have a vice grip like a dungeon boss?
I struggled against her hold, but she dragged me down the corridor like it was the most natural thing in the world.
The world around us had transformed.
What was once a simple hallway now opened into a courtyard brimming with life. Mikan-shaped houses lined the pathways, their roofs a patchwork of vibrant colors. Stone bridges arched over winding streams. The air buzzed with warmth and the soft whisper of cherry blossoms.
And at the heart of it all stood a tree—tall, proud, ancient. Petals drifted from its branches, swirling gently as if time itself moved slower here.
Even in my anxiety, I couldn't help but pause. It was beautiful.
Then I was shoved forward. Thud.
"Ouch! What the—?" I pushed myself off the floor, now inside an unfamiliar room. Empty. Bare. Sterile.
Only a table in the center.
Two cups sat on it. One clear, one dark.
"Huh? What kind of trial is this?"
I turned to see Nozomi's silhouette in the doorway.
"Lady Nozomi! Wait—what is this? What am I supposed to—?!"
Her gaze pinned me like a blade through silk. She didn't answer.
Then, with a whisper too soft to be comforting:
"Good luck."
The door shut.
For a moment, I found myself enveloped in an unsettling silence.
I pounded on the door, frustration mounting. "Hey! This isn't funny!"
No response.
"Seriously?! You're just going to leave me here? At least tell me what the damn trial is about!"
No answer. No voice. No guidance.
I slumped to the floor, my back pressed to the cold wall. Silence filled the room like fog, thick and oppressive.
Is this really a trial?
Is it psychological? Symbolic? Poison?
My eyes moved back to the cups.
One was filled with a clear liquid—pristine, almost glowing.
The other, dark and opaque, thick like ink. Mysterious. Ominous.
This is a test.
But what was the right choice?
Logic? Instinct? Luck?
Logic...
I have none.
Instinct...
Probably the best option—except Shorty keeps insisting I don't have any.
Luck…
Aah, yes. My worst stat. The one that's always in the negatives.
I stared at the two cups again.
One shimmered like mountain spring water. The other looked like melted shadows.
They might as well have been labeled:
Certain Death and Mystery Death.
Great. My favorite genre.
Life is like a survival game...
But mine?
Mine's set to Asian Difficulty Mode—
no matter what option you choose, pain is unavoidable.
The real decision?
Which one gives you less trauma.
"Sigh..."
My hand hovered between them. Thoughts warred in my mind, but my body moved before I could second-guess.
I grabbed a cup.
And drank it.