落とし穴１４３堀：夏の怪談リバイバル (Part1)
Pitfall 143: Summer Ghost Story Revival
Summer Ghost Story Revival
Side: Deryu
It was that night when I woke up from the sweltering heat, having apparently forgotten to turn on the air conditioning.
“...Ugh, it’s so hot.”
In the pitch-black room, the sensation of my shirt clinging to my skin, soaked in a thin layer of sweat, was strangely unpleasant. I knew the heat was the culprit, so I reached for the remote to turn on the AC, but then...
*Chill.*
A cold breeze blew from somewhere, though I hadn't turned the unit on yet. Why was this coldness creeping in?
*Step.*
The moment I thought that, along with the cold air, I heard the sound of someone walking.
“...”
I tried to ask who was there, but for some reason, my voice wouldn't come out, and my body wouldn't move. Could this be what they call sleep paralysis? I was terrified by the experience. I couldn't do anything. Even I, a Demon Lord, was rendered a helpless human, unable to move or resist.
“A... ah...”
I couldn't even call for help. Meanwhile, I could feel the cold air drawing closer and closer. No, I could hear footsteps.
*Step, step...*
The sound of bare feet. And finally, those footsteps reached right behind me...
*Whoosh!!*
A terrifying face slid into my line of sight. Deep, sunken, dark eyes that reflected nothing, an expression that seemed to harbor a deep grudge against everything, and pale, ghostly skin. There was no way that thing was alive. I felt like I was going to faint from sheer terror, but...
The entity grabbed my hand with a grip so icy that it shocked me out of my faint, leaving me with no choice but to stare at the ghost.
“Um, I don’t think keeping it that cold is a good idea. You should at least set it to 25 degrees.”
“...Huh?”
Caught off guard by such a bizarre remark, a vacant sound escaped my lips.
“I’m saying, just because it’s hot doesn’t mean you should blast the AC. I died of hypothermia from air conditioning, you know.”
The ghost was actually complaining about my temperature settings. I was bewildered, but then I realized the face looked familiar.
“...Are you Noriko Suzuki?”
“Hm? Yeah, but why are you asking now? Oh, wait, you didn’t realize?”
“Of course I didn’t!! Why are you in my room!! You idiot!!”
“Ouch—!?”
That shout echoed through the late-night air.
“I came to see what the commotion was, and it turns out Noriko is here.”
“Oh, that’s a relief. I was worried something terrible had happened.”
“Indeed. I’m glad Yuki and the others didn’t wake up. Since I’m sleeping with Seraria and Eris tonight, Noriko, you were about to be exorcised.”
Those words came from Labyris, Ratz, and Milly, who had gathered after hearing Noriko’s scream. Well, even if I shouted, the soundproofing in this inn is perfect. Even if the sound reached the hallway, it wouldn't penetrate other rooms. We have to be careful with many things, after all.
Regardless, the main issue was Noriko.
“So, care to explain why you came to the inn at this hour?”
“Well, I finished my manuscript, so I just came to deliver it. Look, like Milly said, Yuki is doing great with Seraria and Eris, right? Seeing that ‘real-life’ happiness in person... I couldn't help but feel a surge of negative emotions...”
So that was why she was in ‘vengeful spirit mode.’
“Honestly, Noriko, your mental state is so fragile.”
“Shut up!! A ghost is supposed to be jealous of other people’s happiness!!”
“...Ugh, I hate that it actually sounds like a fair point.”
“So, is the manuscript for a manga?”
“What else would it be? I’m a best-selling author in Weed’s manga magazine, *Tomo-Tomo*, you know.”
*Tomo-Tomo*. It was the manga magazine Noriko started after coming to Weed. Though, aside from Noriko, the other authors were all locals of Weed, and their art was still quite amateurish. In that environment, Noriko, who had been doing *doujin* work back on Earth, quickly became a star.
“...Though it doesn’t mean much when you’re dead.”
“Guh!?”
“Well, at least you’re in another world because you died, so it’s not all bad. So, you came to give the manuscript to Deryu, who happened to be awake?”
“...Yeah. And since the AC was set to 20 degrees, I turned it off out of kindness, and for some reason, you were surprised. Here. Give this to Yuki later.”
“Very well. I’ll take it.”
I checked the manuscript I received. Hmm...
“A horror episode this time?”
“Yeah. It’s summer, after all. This kind of thing is perfect.”
...It seems that in the Japanese mindset, summer is synonymous with horror. Yuki likes it, too. But to be surprised by it every single time... I thought, wouldn't it be nice if Yuki were the one to be surprised for once?
And then, it hit me.
“That’s it!!”
“Eek!? W-what’s with the sudden outburst!?”
“Why are you surprised, Noriko? Aren’t you a ghost?”
“...Labyris. There’s no rule saying ghosts can’t be surprised. Manga is freedom.”
“Well, manga being free is one thing, but Deryu, you suddenly shouted—what’s wrong?”
“Indeed. You had a look like you’d just thought of something brilliant.”
“Exactly. As Ratz said, I was thinking about the summer horror theme. How about we turn the tables and surprise Yuki, Taiki, and Taizo for once? They’ve been scaring us enough as it is.”
It might be a bit mean-spirited, but Yuki has scared us plenty of times. I thought it would be a fair retaliation, but the others’ reactions were...
“Oh, I like that. Can I help, Noriko?”
“Sure. I’m all for scaring Yuki. He’s always too composed. I want to see him genuinely startled for once.”
Labyris and Noriko agreed immediately, but...
“Hmm. Scaring the Master... I don’t know.”
“I do want to see Yuki-san like that, but...”
“What is it? Are you two against this kind of thing after all?”
Ratz and Milly’s devotion to Yuki is immense. No, I love him too, but those two prioritize Yuki above all else. If Yuki were to sulk and stop working, the damage would be catastrophic, especially for those two. Just as I was thinking that...
“Oh, no, I think it’s fine. I just wonder if the Master would even be scared by a ghost.”
“That’s true. Even when Noriko approached him, he didn’t react at all, did he?”
“...Yeah. Kagura and the others were terrified, but he remained completely calm.”