Chapter 10
<Mirabilis> Entry! (1)
In an instant, I was so shocked that my tongue stiffened. Everything I felt in this moment was chilling to the bone.
A mouth that moved without my will, and mechanical noises filling my mind.
Even the person in front of me, moving without their own volition as if possessed by a ghost or demon, devoid of reason.
‘This is exactly why I don’t watch paranormal shows…!’
But I quickly composed myself.
Whether I truly regained my composure, or whether the world itself was forcing progression for the sake of the story, I couldn’t tell. Anyway.
‘I was going there anyway.’
Gulp.
I swallowed the saliva in my mouth and nodded.
Suddenly, a question arose. It was night—would it even be possible to get directions in the village?
As I glanced toward the window at that thought—
“…!”
Light was streaming through the window.
What had been a pitch-black night, then the gradual transition into dawn, had somehow jumped straight into a bright morning.
Logically, I should feel relieved when it’s bright outside—but instead, my fingertips went cold.
A force that bends the world at will. A stark sense that this place was fundamentally different from the world I came from crawled up my spine.
But…
‘No choice.’
Finishing the thought, I nodded and grabbed my bag.
Right now, my only lifeline was this and the small hole in the wall that wasn’t affected by the game. I had to keep everything carefully.
‘What happened next in the game?’
The answer came quickly.
Or rather, it was given to me from outside.
Should I follow Peritas?
▷ Of course!
▷ No! I’ll go later.
The latter option exists—but it’s a fake choice.
‘That one changes if you pick it.’
▶ No! I’ll go later.
▶ No! I’ll go later.
▶ Of course!
…like that.
Fuming at the system that pretended to offer choices while already deciding the outcome, I selected the correct option.
▶ Of course!
“I was worried because the village felt strange, but I feel relieved now that the Church is stepping in. Ah, the holy knight’s name was David, right?”
“…Yes.”
“I heard there was a child in this village with the same name.”
▷ That’s me.
‘Ugh, single option.’
▶ That’s me.
“I’m the David you’re talking about. Don’t you remember me?”
The moment I said it, a large hand grabbed the back of my head.
Startled, I widened my eyes as Peritas’s face came so close I could feel his breath. His gray eyes, slightly protruding from being opened wide, rolled over me as if inspecting me. The gaze made my skin crawl.
“Oh, now that I look at you… you had purple eyes. You grew up so much I didn’t recognize you! You should’ve come around more often!”
As he spoke, he slapped my back hard.
Even though he had just recognized me, his tone made it sound like he truly hadn’t known. I thought—
‘Terrifying…’
I really just wanted to go home.
But regardless of my desperate wish, the story continued.
Despite saying he would guide me through the village, Peritas didn’t show me around. Instead, he immediately headed up the mountain.
‘Probably because this part gets skipped in gameplay.’
For me, who already knew the flow, it didn’t matter much.
Entering the shadowy mountain path, where thick trees blocked even the morning light, Peritas suddenly turned and asked:
“How is it? Still the same as you remember?”
“….”
I don’t know.
‘I’m not David… and I never properly saw the place anyway…’
But whether or not I answered, Peritas continued mechanically:
“There’s been a lot of talk about missing persons. Hmm.”
▷ What happened?
▷ I kind of know.
▷ (Stand still and wait.)
▶ (Stand still and wait.)
“I guess most people don’t know, but I have a guess about the cause.”
“Like what…?”
“Have you ever been to the church up ahead?”
▷ Is there a church up there?
▷ The Church never mentioned that.
▶ Is there a church up there?
“Yeah. It appeared suddenly one day. It’s huge. And… strange sounds come from it.”
“And that place…”
▷ Why?
▷ ……
▶ Why?
“…No, forget it. Just go take a look sometime.”
With that, Peritas left.
I called after him, but he walked away as if he couldn’t hear me. The sight was eerie—but strangely, it snapped me back to reality.
This world was excessively “scripted” for story progression, and I had to survive here. I had to follow the rules and stay alive within the game.
After a moment staring at my feet, I slowly turned around.
Step.
Rustle, rustle…
I continued climbing the mountain.
Treading on shadows cast by dense leaves, passing scattered rocks embedded along the ridge.
Eventually, I reached the end of the familiar path I had been walking recently…
Whoosh—
Light poured down.
I shielded my eyes with my hand as sunlight broke through the leaves and looked toward today’s destination—the church.
Even though it had always been a large and gloomy structure, today it felt even more ominous.
The massive building loomed like it was suffocating anyone who looked at it, and vines like tangled spider webs crawled over its white walls.
Gazing up at the enormous angel statue staring down from above, I tightened my grip on my bag.
I reached into my coat, feeling the items stored inside. Something… soft was there. Warm.
A strange thought crossed my mind.
‘…I didn’t wear anything furry.’
I quickly looked down.
And then.
“….”
“….”
Blink. Blink.
Inside my coat, a tiny-eyed weasel was blinking at me.
Frozen in shock, I stood there like a statue. My jaw loosened involuntarily. I touched my chin. My mouth wouldn’t close properly.
After a moment—
The weasel placed its soft paw on my shoulder.
Before I could even process how strange it was—
“I am indebted to you, traveler!”
“…AAAHHHHH!”
A scream echoed across the mountainside.
Of course, it was mine.
* * *
Have you ever entered a horror game?
I have.
Have you ever been beaten up by a chef in a horror game?
I have.
Have you ever seen a talking animal, excluding parrots?
I have.
“…Ha.”
Is life supposed to be this full of content? It was exhausting.
I pressed my hand to my forehead and looked ahead.
Rustle rustle.
Chomp chomp chomp.
The weasel—who insisted it was a ferret—was happily eating the apple I took out of my bag. I watched it and thought:
‘You idiot weasel… ferrets aren’t omnivores, they’re carnivores…’
You’re… probably just a weasel…
But I didn’t say it out loud.
I wasn’t a veterinarian, so my credibility was questionable—and it’s not like eating plants would kill a carnivore anyway.
Besides, what did it matter? If it says it’s a ferret, then it’s a ferret.
‘And besides…’
This is a world where bear dolls cook and talk, where ghosts and monsters roam at night. A talking weasel—ferret—whatever—it’s actually kind of cute.
…Not something I particularly wanted to encounter, though.
Chomp, crunch.
After finishing its meal, the ferret spoke:
“Mmm. I’ve been thinking this for a while, but the apples in this place are really good!”
“…You’ve been stealing them often?”
“Huh?”
Its reaction surprised me.
The ferret tilted its head.
“The traveler gave them to me, didn’t you?”
“…Me?”
As I thought about it, I recalled what happened earlier.
During my escape from the monster in the village, I had been thinking about going home. I ran with all my strength toward that destination. During that chaotic escape…
‘Something got in the way, and I… reflexively grabbed it and put it in my coat…’
I had taken it.
“….”
This was my fault.
No point arguing.
I questioned the ferret about everything—its life, and the village situation.
According to it, it had once been the pet of the village chief’s owner (now missing), and after the chief disappeared, the chief’s son stopped treating it properly, so it wandered outside.
Since then, it had been searching for the chief while surviving in the area—and it believed the church was where the disappearance happened.
It couldn’t properly explore the church alone, so it was looking for a partner.
“Then I saw you, traveler—you looked quite… generous. So I wanted to join you!”
“Generous?”
“Oops. I think you misheard! Maybe clean your ears!”
“….”
I was annoyed enough to throw it away right there and leave, but I didn’t—for a few reasons.
- It seemed to know the local geography well.
Not just general routes, but hidden paths and internal passages.
That was valuable.
Getting lost in that terrifying church would be disastrous.
- It could help with story progression.
Being small, it could move through tight spaces and structures, providing useful assistance.
It might be dangerous, but it was quick and perceptive enough to avoid trouble.
‘Still, cooperation is uncertain…’
Squinting at it, I said:
“…If you betray me, I’m leaving you behind.”
“Hey now, betrayal? Never…”
“And no more apple pie.”
“…!”
“And I’ll eat all the village apples myself.”
“W-we would never betray you! We’re already friends, aren’t we?! Don’t be so suspicious!”
I don’t know when we became friends, but whatever.
‘And finally… reason number three.’
This was the biggest one.
If not for this reason, I would never have entered that place with this creature.
I took a deep breath and looked at the ominous church.
‘I’m scared to go alone.’
Seriously. I really can’t do this alone.
Reminding myself of that fact, I placed the long ferret around my neck like a neck pillow and started walking.
Then—
Ding!
A mechanical sound echoed.
The story had begun.
map #002. Mysterious Church
A massive church that seems to have existed for a very long time. Somehow, it feels unsettling.
▷ Enter.
▷ Do not enter.
