CHAPTER 186: TEST OF COURAGE

Night had fallen in Nagano, enveloping the mountains in a blanket of darkness and silence.

The stars shone brightly in the clear sky, far from the city’s light pollution.

Ren had just finished soaking in his private onsen. Wearing a yukata provided by the inn, he strolled leisurely in his luxurious room.

*KNOCK!* *KNOCK!* *KNOCK!*

A loud knock on the door shattered the night’s tranquility, followed by an enthusiastic voice from outside.

"Rokuhara! You in there? Hello, answer me if you’re still alive!"

A second voice, slightly exasperated, tried to calm the commotion.

"Ryōhei, watch your words. That sounds like you’re cursing Rokuhara with bad luck."

(That voice... that guy hasn’t changed, huh.)

Ren recognized both voices instantly. With a small sigh, he walked to the door and opened it. Two young men stood before him.

On the right, a tall youth with short, spiky light brown hair and large, energetic yellow eyes.

This was Yamanouchi Ryōhei, a cheerful, spirited guy always brimming with wild ideas.

Beside him stood a youth of average height and build, with short, spiky black hair and clear, large green eyes. This was Narumiya Minato, a quiet and reserved individual.

"What’s up, Ryōhei? You didn’t come just to bother me, did you?"

Though Ren wasn’t fond of getting too close with guys, he didn’t mind their presence too much. They were clubmates, and as long as they didn’t annoy him excessively, he could tolerate them.

"Of course not! I’m here to invite you to a test of courage! You up for it, Rokuhara?"

"A test of courage, huh..."

Hearing Ryōhei’s words, Ren rubbed his chin.

(If I don’t join, I’m worried this test of courage might turn into a real tragedy.)

Ren and the women around him might seem to live peacefully. But that only applied to someone with power like him.

In truth, supernatural phenomena had been rising sharply across Japan, causing many casualties.

The Divine Enforcers—a secret organization tasked with handling supernatural incidents—had been working tirelessly to cover up recent events, preventing mass panic.

"Where’s this test of courage?"

Ren decided to join, though he wasn’t particularly interested. It was better to be there to keep an eye on things.

"In the forest behind the inn! They say there’s a creepy old shrine there! We’ll go and take... uh... a piece of cloth from the altar as proof!" Ryōhei answered enthusiastically, his eyes sparkling.

"..."

Minato, who had been silent, spoke up, his tone hesitant.

"Ryōhei, I heard there are a lot of weird stories about that forest. Isn’t it dangerous?"

"Come on, Minato! Don’t be a coward! I’m here! I’ll protect everyone!"

Ryōhei slapped Minato’s shoulder with enthusiasm.

"So, you’re in, right, Rokuhara?"

"Sure."

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Ren followed Ryōhei and Minato out of the inn, heading toward the back.

The night air felt cold, carrying the damp scent of earth and leaves. The sound of crickets filled the eerie silence.

"Oi, I brought Rokuhara!"

Ryōhei waved at a group waiting at the forest’s edge.

Seven other Archery Club members, apparently lured by the test of courage, stood there.

The Archery Club president, Takehaya Seiya, stepped forward. The faint moonlight glinted off his black-rimmed glasses, giving him a mysterious aura.

"Thanks for joining, Rokuhara. With you, we have an even number. Now we can pair up."

"So I’m just a filler? Whatever. Who am I paired with?"

Ren glanced at the nine others standing before him.

There were Umi, Nanao, Noa, and a few club members whose names he barely knew. Naturally, he hoped to pair with his cute junior, Sonoda Umi.

"..."

Standing among her friends, Umi felt Ren’s intense gaze on her.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head in embarrassment. She knew what that look meant, and it made her heart race.

(Rokuhara-senpai’s too obvious, isn’t he? Everyone’s watching!) Umi complained inwardly.

"To keep it fair, let’s decide by lottery."

Nanao broke the sudden tension, holding out ten small pieces of paper clutched at the ends.

"People with the same number will pair up. Fair, right?"

"Good idea, Nanao." Seiya commented, and the others agreed.

"One, two, three...!"

Nanao gave the signal, and everyone drew at once, unfolding their papers to see the numbers.

"..."

Ren opened his. The number ’5’ was written on it. He glanced around, looking for his partner.

There were whispers and small cheers as some pairs found each other. Minato paired with a girl named Hanazawa Yuna, and Ryōhei paired with a rough-looking guy, Onogi Kaito.

"Umi, what number did you get?"

"Number five. What about you, Rokuhara-senpai?"

Clutching her paper, Umi secretly hoped to pair with Ren.

"What a coincidence, I got 5 too."

"O-Oh, please take care of me, Rokuhara-senpai."

Umi tried not to look pleased, bowing slightly to Ren, her flushed cheeks now more noticeable under the moonlight.

Once everyone found their partners, Nanao stepped into the circle’s center.

"Alright. Before we start our thrilling adventure, let me share a story I heard from the inn’s staff."

His eyes glinted mischievously as he began, his voice deliberately creepy.

"They say this forest was once sacred. Hidden within is an abandoned old shrine dedicated to an angry mountain god, ignored by locals who neglected offerings and disturbed the forest’s peace."

"Then, one night, a thick fog descended. Not ordinary fog. It carried whispers, the sound of a child’s cries, and shadows dancing among the trees. They say anyone lost in that fog never returns."

"Their souls get trapped, becoming part of the whispers, ghosts forever searching for a way home but never finding it."

"Some say, if you listen closely at night, you can hear them crying, begging for help, or sometimes, just a cold laugh that sends shivers down your spine..."

Clearly, Nanao’s attempt to set a spooky mood worked. The girls—Umi, Yuna, Shiragiku Noa, and Rika—looked pale.

Noa crossed her arms, trying to appear tough.

"That’s nonsense, Nanao! You’re just making it up to scare us!"

"It’s a local tale I heard straight from the inn staff! They even warned us not to enter the forest at night!" Nanao raised his hands, denying her accusation.

Standing beside Ren, Umi unconsciously gripped the edge of his yukata, visibly terrified.

"Hm?"

Ren felt the slight tug on his clothes. Glancing at Umi, he saw her frightened expression. He gently patted her back, a small gesture to calm her.

"Don’t worry, Umi. Everything will be fine."

He knew that while Nanao’s story might be exaggerated, there was some truth to it. The forest had a negative aura.

"..."

After Nanao’s spooky tale set a tense mood among the Archery Club members, Seiya brought out a small cloth bag and pulled out flashlights.

"Alright, everyone. You’ll each get a flashlight."

He began handing one to each pair, ensuring everyone had light.

"Remember, we’ll enter in order based on your lottery numbers. Pair 1 goes first. Each pair enters ten minutes after the previous one."

"Me and Hanazawa-san are number 1! Let’s go, Hanazawa-san, we’re first! Maybe we’ll see a ghost!"

"I’d rather not see one."

Unlike Ryōhei’s cheerful enthusiasm, Yuna regretted joining the test of courage. She should’ve stayed in her room playing UNO with the other girls.