夏のスペシャル ２０２５年度 夏の怖い話 その２ (Part2)
The house, designed for a standard nuclear family, feels cramped with so many of us crowded inside. In truth, the hallway is so narrow that we’re practically tripping over one another.
"For now, let's head to the living room in the back."
There’s no point in standing around here, so we move toward a space where we can actually breathe. Even without looking at a floor plan, it’s a universal rule that the living room sits at the end of the hall. As expected, we reach it without issue. It’s a spacious area, furnished with pristine pieces, looking every bit the model home.
"Oh, so they’ve even provided the furniture."
"Well, if you’re showing off a house, that’s to be expected. Though, I suppose I anticipated a bit more of a lived-in feel. This is surprisingly sterile."
"You’re right. It doesn’t have that 'country village' vibe at all."
Indeed, the place managed by Suzuhime and the others—which we currently use as a summer retreat—still retains a strong sense of daily life. Cleaning that place up was a chore in itself. This, by contrast, is entirely devoid of such history.
"It’s certainly beautiful. It’s easy to see this is just a display piece."
"It really is. Such a pretty house. Though, it’s strange to see a refrigerator and a television just sitting there."
As Hovis noted, a fridge and TV are placed right in the living room. I suppose they went through the trouble of outfitting it. No, that’s not quite the right way to look at it.
"These are basic staples for a typical Japanese household. Back in the early to mid-Showa era, they were called the 'Three Sacred Treasures' of home appliances."
"Um, what are the 'Three Sacred Treasures'?" Riel asks, tilting her head.
"Ah, the term originally refers to the three legendary items used by the gods in Japanese mythology. People borrowed the name to describe the three essential appliances that symbolized a wealthy, convenient life. Taiki, do you know what they were?"
"Suddenly, we’re having a pop quiz? Let’s see... if I recall, it was the black-and-white television, the electric washing machine, and the electric refrigerator. Though, I suppose those have since evolved into air conditioners, flat-screen TVs, and mobile phones."
"Exactly. Spot on."
"I see. They certainly are convenient. Are they widespread in Weed as well?"
"Only through magical substitutes. I’d love to make a practical television, but..."
"We lack the personnel to produce actual television programs," Prol interjects. "It’s still too expensive, so there’s no point in selling them yet. For now, we’ll have to settle for radio."
As Prol says, we don't have the manpower to create content. Furthermore, while Zargis has been leading the effort to turn recording media like cameras into magic tools, the unit cost remains prohibitively high. I’d love to lower the price, but we’re stretched thin on labor there, too.
"Still, looking around, there don't seem to be any clues for our escape. All I see on the table is a letter—or is it a catalog? A flyer?"
"Ah, you usually find those in these kinds of model homes."
Following Taiki’s lead, I turn my gaze to the table. Sure enough, it’s just a folder containing brochures detailing construction costs, garage options, and building materials. Nothing here offers a hint for our escape. I have to wonder if I should be searching more thoroughly, or if this place is simply a dead end.
"On the bright side, it looks like we can at least rest here. The fridge is stocked with food and drinks, and there are pots and oil in the kitchen."
Taiki had wandered off to check the kitchen and was now reporting his findings.
"The only question is whether we can actually sleep. I’d prefer to avoid a war of attrition, but we can’t go without rest either."
"Shall we check the second floor? If there’s a place to sleep, it’ll be up there. Plus, there are parts of the first floor we haven’t seen yet."
"Good idea."
With that, we finish inspecting the model home. It’s a 4LDK—four rooms, a living room, dining room, and kitchen. The fact that there are exactly ten sets of bedding is suspicious, but since there’s no way for them to know how many of us would arrive, it’s likely just a random number. Regardless, it seems we have enough space for the seven of us to rest.
"Alright, let’s take a break and figure out our next move."
And so, having secured a foothold, we begin drafting a plan to systematically explore this small town. In stories like this, the first step is always establishing a base—a safe room. Of course, in these types of scenarios, safe rooms usually become increasingly dangerous as time passes.
How will it play out this time? I haven't the slightest clue!