落とし穴１４９堀：夏の怪談リバイバル 気が付けば廃旅館 (Part2)
Taiki-kun finally seemed to understand after hearing me mention a "furoshiki" (wrapping cloth).
In this day and age, it’s rare to even hear that word.
A furoshiki is a large cloth that has existed in Japan for ages, used for carrying luggage.
It dates back to the Heian period, where it was called a "hiratsutsumi" (flat wrap). However, as public bathhouses became popular, people began spreading the cloth out to stand on while changing, then using it to bundle up their clothes afterward—which is supposedly how the term "furoshiki" (bath-spread) became widespread.
Well, to put it simply, it’s a way to carry things around.
"Alright, we’re heading out. Given the environment, it wouldn't be strange for some kind of monster to appear, so we’ll move quietly. Understood?"
When I said that, Taiki-kun and Taizo-san nodded as if they understood the gravity of the situation.
Unfortunately, magic is forbidden here, so we aren't using physical enhancement either; we’re just ordinary, flesh-and-blood humans.
I want to avoid combat with monsters in this state. Or rather, I’d die.
Well, I’d like to believe the setting isn't *that* cruel, but I wouldn't put it past them to throw in a serial killer for kicks, so I don't feel like wandering around the ruins carelessly.
With that, I quietly and slowly opened the room door, peering outside through the narrow gap.
"How is it?"
"Any abnormalities?"
"No, nothing in sight. I’m going to open it fully now. Stay alert."
"Understood."
And what spread out before us as the door opened was... indeed, a dilapidated inn.
"...Wow, they’re really committed to this, aren't they?"
"It seems so. Still, we don't have definitive proof that Luna-dono caused this situation, so it would be dangerous to blindly believe it’s safe and just walk through."
"You’re right, Taizo-san. Taiki-kun, whatever you do, don't let your guard down. I don't want to have to bring your corpse back and get scolded by Airi-san, Soel, or Ruth."
"Hey, please don't assume I’m going to die."
"Haha, as long as you can make jokes like that, we’re fine. Come on, let’s go."
Thus, we began making our way through the inn toward the entrance, but I noticed something strange.
"...This might be closer to an abandoned house than a ruin."
"You're right. Usually, when you think of ruins, the roof or the floorboards have rotted away."
"True. It feels more like the place was left behind after a sudden flight in the middle of the night. It’s definitely been neglected for a long time, given how ragged everything is, though."
Yes, the building was sturdier than I had expected.
As Taiki-kun said, the ceiling and floor were far too solid to be called a ruin.
I’m grateful for that, as it means we likely won't suffer a major injury or a fatal fall from a collapsing floor, but...
"All the windows facing the outside are boarded up tight. You could call it 'atmosphere,' but..."
"It doesn't feel like they were just boarded up for show. It feels like someone was desperate to seal the windows shut."
"...Hmm. Regardless, let’s head to the entrance. We have zero information about this inn right now. Thinking about it here won't help."
Taizo-san’s point was valid, so we headed toward the entrance and arrived without incident, but...
"Paper? There’s an awful lot of paper scattered here."
Indeed, the entryway was littered with what looked like flyers.
"What could these be?"
I had the feeling that once we stepped out the front door, it would be over, so I didn't stop Taiki-kun from picking up one of the papers...
"1923... 1923!? A massive earthquake? Huh? Wait, what? This is an old Japanese newspaper!?"
"!?!"
At those words, Taizo-san and I hurriedly peered at the newspaper Taiki-kun had picked up.
It was indeed dated September 25, 1923, and contained articles regarding the Great Kanto Earthquake that had occurred earlier that month.
"What does this mean? Why is a newspaper like this in a place like this? No, I suppose you could just chalk it up to Luna’s theatrics."
"Perhaps it has some connection to the state of this inn."
"That seems likely..."
"But there’s no reason to play along with Luna’s intentions. First, we get out of this inn."
The entrance was right in front of us, so I thought we’d just walk out and be done with it.
But when I opened the door, a massive pile of earth and sand had poured in from somewhere, completely blocking the exit.
"Ah, looks like we can't get out because of the landslide."
"...Hmm. I see where this is going."
"We have to escape from this inn buried in the landslide, huh?"
What a troublesome situation.
And honestly, what is Luna enjoying about this scenario...?
*Creeeeak... Creeeeak...*
A gloomy sound echoed from the depths of the hallway, and from around the corner, a woman in a bright red dress drifted into view.
The horror segment is dragging on longer than expected, but the story is about to take a sharp turn here.
It’s shifting rapidly into Japanese horror.
Now then, how will Yuki and the others escape this place?
And what is the true identity of the woman in the red dress?