That kind of โhaunted houseโ attraction is scary when you go in alone, but not so much when you go in with a friend. With three people, you can all encourage each other, and the spooky atmosphere is completely diluted.
Often, people just joke and chat as they walk out.
After all, everyone knows deep down that itโs all fake.
Test of Courage events are much the same. Especially in this Group B, which is actually quite โlivelyโโClara not only has Sista by her side, sheโs also got Nyx chattering in her head, and even in the distance, Lucia is happily hugging the rabbit combat unit.
So for her, thereโs really nothing scary about this event.
Even if she drew the solo lot, as long as Nyx keeps her company with endless chatter, she wonโt feel afraid. No matter how terrifying it gets, can it really be scarier than the dreamworlds created by Chessia?
Sheโs actually a little bored, so she suggests,
โHow about we chat about something to liven things up?โ
โArenโt you not scared?โ
Sista, however, thinks Clara is only saying that because sheโs scared.
โHey, of course Iโm not scared! I just think we should say something, or the viewers in the livestream will get bored!โ
Clara lifts her chin and puts her hands on her hips as she says this.
Sista nods and asks,
โThen what should we talk about?โ
The drone is filming them the entire time, and theyโre both wearing microphones, so they canโt talk about recent eventsโsince the resortโs crisis hasnโt been made public yet. Theyโre left to awkwardly discuss things like โWhat do you like to eat?โ or โWhat hobbies do you have?โ
Thenโ
โMiss Clara, you can draw?โ
โHeh, you could say itโs a hobby of mine. Iโll draw you a portrait sometime!โ
Since sheโs never had a series successfully serialized, she can only call it a โhobby.โ
โOh! Thatโs amazing!โ
Sista praises her, and Clara smugly stands with hands on her hips.
But what Clara doesnโt realize is that the picture in Sistaโs mind is of Clara sitting at a childโs desk, her head bobbing as she uses colored crayons to doodle on paperโa scene full of childish funโฆ
Usually, loli + drawing can only lead to that kind of image.
To enhance the horror atmosphere, the streetlights along the mountain path have all been switched off, replaced with old-fashioned lanterns. But theyโre really just lantern-shaped lightsโafter all, they need to prevent forest fires.
Even so, the lanterns swaying in the evening breeze do add a strange, eerie mood.
โThey really went all out with thisโฆ Waa?!โ
Suddenly, a wisp of ghostly blue fire flickers on the distant stone steps.
Before Clara can even react, it vanishes into thin air.
โHmph! T-Theyโre just playing these little tricks!โ
Though her heart skips a beat, she tries to act tough.
[Your heart rate is rising.] Nyx exposes Clara.
[Donโt run your mouth. No one will think you donโt exist just because youโre quiet.]
Clara is exasperated, and Nyx simply shuts up and enjoys the show.
Sista looks at Clara with some confusion.
Since she doesnโt know Nyx exists, Sista canโt tell who Claraโs talking to. In the setting of a test of courage, her behavior actually seems a bit possessed.
Could she have seen something unclean?
So Sista, too, gets caught up in the atmosphere.
Since the mountain is man-made, it isnโt very tall.
The two of them climb a few platforms and soon reach the halfway point. Looking back, they can see the night beach illuminated by landscape lights.
The cool breeze soothes Claraโs slightly uneasy heart.
โMiss Clara, look over there!โ
On the way up, sheโs been searching for collectibles hidden around.
She finally spots something and instinctively grabs Claraโs hand.
Following Sistaโs finger, Clara looks up and sees a teddy bear, completely out of place in the surrounding woods, hanging from a tree. That must be the collectible the Western Dharma Master mentionedโafter all, itโs not like thereโs a tree that grows teddy bears, right?
But the tree is a bit tall.
Even on tiptoes, Sista canโt reach it. For Clara, itโs even more out of reach.
Using an exoskeleton or squid broom would easily do the trick, but that would break the rules set by Okata Dharmaโsheโd forbidden anyone from using Hero powers during the game.
โIโll climb up and get it,โ Sista says, glancing at Claraโs swimsuit. It really doesnโt look like climbing attire, and the rough bark might scrape unprotected skin or tear her swimsuit.
Clara doesnโt object, just reminds her,
โAlright, but be careful.โ
Although Sista looks slender, she is an artificial human after all. Her physical abilities far surpass those of ordinary peopleโsheโs the perfect human specimen.
Next.
Climbing the tree goes smoothly. Sista quickly grabs the teddy bear hanging at the treetop and throws it to Clara, but just thenโ
Crack.
The thin branch under Sista gives a dangerous creak.
Thereโs hardly any time to react. Instinctively, Clara spreads her arms and even stretches out little tentacles from her hair, trying to catch Sista, who is much taller than herself.
โOuchโโ
But she canโt manage it at all. Clara is crushed to the ground like a human cushion, but she still manages to soften Sistaโs fall. Neither of them is hurt.
โMiss Clara, Iโm sorry.โ
โItโs nothing. As long as youโre okay.โ
Luckily, Sista is light. If it were Red General Star, Clara wouldโve lost half her life from the impact.
Wait, if it were Red General Star, she wouldnโt bother to catch her at all. Even if she smashed the stone steps, sheโd be fineโthe muscles on her body are like steel rods.
โEh? Hold on, donโt get up just yetโฆโ
Clara notices a problem.
Sistaโs T-shirt under her sun jacket was torn by a branch in the fall, ripping a huge hole and exposing her bandeau underneath. She canโt show that on camera.
So, they maintain their poseโSista pressing down on Claraโso that from the livestreamโs angle, it looks like theyโre hurt and canโt get up for the moment.
Sista is at a loss, realizing her situation canโt be exposed.
Clara reassures her, โDonโt panic, Iโll think of something.โ
Nyx, quickly tell Okata Dharma to cut the camera feed!
[Microphones are blocked.]
Clara urges silently in her mind. After a moment, Nyx replies,
[The audience is watching you right now. Cutting the feed would be suspicious. Besides, the livestream is delayed, so if something really goes wrong, the director will handle it right away.]
So what do you suggest? Create a new outfit for her?
[Canโt create new items. I can only temporarily restore the data of her current clothing to perfect condition.]
Then do that!
Nyx falls silent for a moment, then says,
[Nyx needs three minutes.]
Three minutes? Donโt you usually create things in an instant?!
[Repairing and creating are different. Mending a porcelain vase is much more complicated than firing a new one. I hope you understand.]
[Please keep covering her for three minutes. Best to just keep holding her like this.]
Clara canโt let Sista be exposed here.
Even if Okata Dharma has safeguards on her end, Clara doesnโt know whatโs happening at the directorโs station. If they slip up and broadcast this, it would be a disaster.
โSistaโฆโ
Clara whispers softly into Sistaโs ear,
โFor the next three minutes, hold me tight.โ
Well this is a sticky situation