Chapter 65: The Test of Nerve

[Now commencing the test of nerve. To pass, you must complete every course from the start to the finish.]

“Huh? Suddenly, what a random…”

Before Elina II could even grumble, all the lights went out and the entire mansion set was plunged into darkness. Once their eyes adjusted, the four of them moved forward in search of any light.

When they opened the door at the starting point, a long corridor stretched out before them. The hallway was pitch black, far more terrifying than the room they’d just left.

“Should we just go back…? Hey, Elina II? Elina I…?”

Lara felt as though she couldn’t take another step. As she stared desperately at the two, she heard footsteps nearby—and they weren’t from just one person. Lara pressed her lips together to stifle her breath.

Her heart began pounding irregularly and swiftly. The sound of her rapid heartbeat echoed louder than the approaching footsteps. Suddenly, the sound seemed to be right in front of her. In fact, it truly was just a breath away.

With terror in her eyes, Lara peered around a corner. A shadowy figure slowly emerged—a man, though his features were shrouded in darkness. Soon, another figure appeared behind him.

It was a headless man. On closer inspection, even the man ahead had his neck grotesquely twisted.

“Aaaah! Aaaaargh!!”

On the verge of fainting, Lara let out a bloodcurdling scream. Unlike Lara’s horrified expression, Elina I silently shed tears. Elina IV clutched her book as if frozen, while Elina II wore an unusually tense look.

Then, the twisted-neck man lunged at Elina I, who stood furthest to the left. As his strong grip seized her arm, a stifled moan escaped her.

“Ugh…!”

Tears streamed down, soaking the floor. The twisted-neck man flinched and released his grip. Elina I, covering the red, bruised marks on her arm with one hand, looked up at the man’s back.

“…So, you two were together at this hour…”

Elina I’s gaze shifted to the headless figure hovering over the man’s shoulder. Even without a head, she recognized the person as a woman—she could clearly see the outline of a chest.

“I’d rather not dwell on your unsightly relationship… I never wished to.”

Resisting his attempt to grab her again, Elina I protested fiercely, her eyes brimming with desperate tears.

“I always knew that headless women were more my type… and men like me—with necks—are barely noticed.”

Her heart ached. Elina I felt an unfamiliar self-reproach. All the time she had spent trying to catch his eye now seemed utterly pointless.

“But even with a neck… I still wanted to love you… Sigh.”

Struggling to speak, tears streamed down Elina I’s cheeks. At that moment, the twisted-neck man’s hand reached out and gently wiped away her tears. Her long eyelashes trembled softly, like the delicate flutter of a small blue butterfly.

“…”

Taking advantage of the distraction, Lara quietly slipped away with Elina IV and Elina II. She wasn’t sure what had just happened, but felt relieved to have passed a major hurdle—until Elina IV abruptly stopped in her tracks.

“What’s wrong?”

Lara, concerned, turned back and asked. When she wondered if fear had taken hold, Elina IV replied in a flat tone.

“Believing in ghostly apparitions without substance is utterly foolish. In fact, every paranormal researcher admits in their memoirs that ghosts are nothing but illusions.”

Her tone was calm and logical. Watching Elina IV, who clutched a thick book in one arm and stood perfectly still, Lara thought her friend no longer belonged in this foolish test of nerve.

“Then Elina II and I will go ahead. If you change your mind, even if it’s late, meet us at the checkpoint…”

Before Lara could express her gratitude, a hand gently grabbed the hem of her dress. Turning back, she saw Elina IV, head bowed, holding onto her with a trembling hand.

“…Hey?”

“I don’t recall ever saying you wouldn’t come along, Lara. I only mentioned that being afraid of this is foolish. But there’s a small problem—I’ve got a cramp in my leg and can hardly walk.”

Though her tone remained composed, her eyes flickered with unease. Then, a spine-chilling, ghostly scream erupted from the seemingly empty corridor ceiling.

“Aaaaaaah!”

“W-what was that?!”

Lara jumped and looked up, while Elina II let out a startled shriek. Their relief was short-lived; Lara noticed how unnervingly silent Elina IV had become and quickly turned back.

All that remained was Elina IV, frozen like ice. Her face, tinged a disturbing shade of blue, unmistakably spoke of sheer terror.

“Are you scared…?”

“Suspicion without reason never does any good. Psychologically speaking, an overly suspicious person is diagnosed with paranoid personality disorder. Its roots can often be traced to abusive parenting in childhood… [snip] All I’m saying is, my leg is cramping up and I can barely walk. Just wait a moment, please.”

‘So, what are you trying to say to me…?’

Had this occurred in front of the male lead, he would have smiled charmingly, either scooping her up or letting her lean on him. But here, it was only the two female leads and an extra.

Lara knew she had to get them through this test, but carrying Elina IV was impossible. As she pondered how to move her, a bright idea suddenly struck.

“How about we lighten the mood with a game? Let’s play Rock-Paper-Scissors—the winner gets to ride on the human litter!”

“Human litter?”

Elina II interjected, her face showing genuine surprise.

“It’s a game where two people interlock their arms to lift one person. In other countries, it’s called the human palanquin.”

“So one person gets carried? Perfect—I was just complaining about my sore legs. Let’s do it, let’s do it!”

Elina II’s excitement grew as Elina IV explained further, while Lara shot her a stern look.

‘You’re not getting carried—I’m carrying Elina IV. Understand?’

With a determined look, Lara fixed her gaze on Elina II and subtly formed a scissors gesture. Elina II understood, nodding quietly.

“Alright, Rock-Paper-Scissors!”

At Lara’s cue, all three extended their hands. Both Elina IV and Lara chose scissors, while only Elina II boldly threw out a fist.

“Wow, I won! Seriously, Lara—I never expected you to throw scissors. Anyway, thanks!”

“You really have no sense…”

“Eh?”

“Never mind… nothing.”

One of the delightful traits unique to a bright female lead is a knack for catching on quickly. Tired of being upset, Lara thought that if a trace of malice made its way onto her face, she’d be labeled a villain—yet Elina II’s face remained cheerfully radiant.

“Hehe, sorry about that. But since it’s a bet, don’t blame me too much, okay?”

With a casual shrug, Elina II crossed her legs over intertwined arms. Carrying both a stiff Elina IV and Elina II proved exceedingly difficult. Just as Lara tentatively stepped forward, something began to stir at the corridor’s exit.

In that moment, as if her legs had given out, Elina IV’s body started to tip forward. The base of the litter wavered, and Elina II, riding atop it, lost her balance.

“Aaah!”

In an instant, Elina II’s head crashed onto the hard marble floor.

“…Eh, Elina II?”

“…Elina II!”

At first, even Elina IV—who hadn’t moved—seemed to take it lightly, but soon her expression turned grave. As the atmosphere darkened, a part-time ghost stationed at the far end of the corridor hurried out to summon the palace attendants.

“Oh dear, Elina II…”

“Yeah…”

Later, Lara explained the situation to Elina I, who waited at the exit. She mentioned that the dignified Elina II had been taken away and had yet to awaken. Though as the female lead she wasn’t likely to die, Lara worried this might turn into a vegetative ending.

As despair settled in, an announcement rang out cheerily over the waiting room.

[Now announcing the first-round passers: Numbers 27, 35, 39, 111, 113, 114, 158, 197…]

“…So we passed, huh?”

Elina I clasped her hands to her chest and looked upward.

“I’ve made up my mind. I’m determined to fight for Elina II’s share…!”