Surviving in the Cursed Mansion

Chapter 1: The Uninvited Guest of the Cursed Mansion (1)

Rain poured down in torrents, a deluge obscuring vision and weighing down her body.

“Hah, hah…”

The sound of hooves mixed with heavy breaths as they splashed through puddles. 

A woman cloaked in a crimson robe urged her horse forward, feeling the limits of her strength. 

The horse galloped fiercely over the soggy ground, its breath ragged and heavy.

How did it come to this?

She was the daughter of the emperor who ruled the empire. Her life had been filled with beauty and treasures, a daily routine of luxury. But for the naive young girl, the world soon revealed its wolfish fangs.

One day, the emperor died suddenly.

It wasn’t just the loss of a father; it was as if the massive walls that had shielded her from the world collapsed all at once.

The once-glorious imperial palace quickly turned into a den of scheming vipers.

Before long, the princess was exposed to various assassination threats. With the help of a seemingly loyal noble, she fled the palace.

But who would have guessed that the noble’s help was just another ploy by her elder siblings?

The plan was simple: the runaway princess would fall victim to a vagabond’s blade during her reckless escape. This was the script crafted by the snakes entrenched in the palace.

“There she is! Don’t let her get away!”

“If she escapes, we’ll lose our heads!”

The assassins shouted hoarsely, their voices cutting through the pounding rain.

Whinny!

As if sensing her desperation, the horse suddenly surged forward, pounding the ground with renewed strength. Without warning, it veered off in an unexpected direction.

“W-What? Hey, you?!”

Though momentarily startled, the princess realized this detour was a stroke of luck. Thanks to the horse’s instincts, she temporarily evaded her pursuers.

Surrendering to the strange fate she felt, she allowed the horse to lead the way.

Breaking through the torrential rain, she finally spotted a massive mansion ahead. As if it had been prearranged, the horse galloped straight toward the mysterious estate without hesitation.

“Was there such a large mansion within the royal domain? And the garden… it’s surprisingly well-maintained. Perhaps this would be a good place to hide for a while.”

She dismounted and cautiously approached the mansion’s door.

“Excuse me…”

Her voice carried an awkward politeness, a minimal defense mechanism to conceal her true identity.

Thus, the protagonist of this world stepped into the abyss, where the bizarre lingered, entirely of her own accord.

***

Meanwhile, the assassins had successfully tracked her trail. They followed faint hoofprints through the muddy path and soon arrived at the same mansion.

However, the sight of the estate made the group halt abruptly in front of its slightly ajar gate.

“Stop!”

They were visibly uneasy, exchanging wary glances. One among them finally spoke.

“Did the princess… really go in there?”

“If she did, she’s either desperate or stupid…”

“Entering this mansion of all places? The most infamous cursed house in the empire? She must have a death wish.”

The murmurs subsided briefly. One of them raised his hands, breaking the silence.

“…So, what now? Are we leaving? What about the aftermath?”

“You mean to go in there? Do you want to die?”

“No, but… isn’t it just a rumor? If it were truly dangerous, would the royal family leave it abandoned? Especially when it’s part of the emperor’s most cherished land?”

“…True.”

It was a reasonable argument. While the mansion was infamous for its eerie reputation, no one had ever met someone who had actually ventured inside and returned to confirm the tales.

To dismiss it as just another baseless rumor surrounding a decrepit property seemed logical.

“…Fine. We continue the mission. Any objections?”

This time, no one raised their hand.

United in their resolve, the assassins stepped cautiously into the infamous mansion’s grounds.

Just as the last of them entered…

Creeeeak… Boom!

A dreadful sound came from behind.

Startled, the assassins turned to see the massive gate, which had been slightly ajar, now firmly shut as if it had never been open.

“What the… What’s going on?!”

Their question hung in the air like a dying breath.

As silence swallowed the mansion’s grounds, the gate opened once again, as if welcoming the next visitor.

Only the sound of rain pattering against the earth remained, adding to the mansion’s ominous charm.

The estate bore no official name, but it had a moniker known to many:

The House That Devours People.

Though dismissed as a mere urban legend, those who knew the truth understood:

It wasn’t just a story.

***

I don’t clearly remember my past life. All I vaguely grasp is that I was reborn into the world of a game.

The genre: horror. The title: The Diary of Retia.

The game’s premise was for the protagonist—the heroine—to uncover the hidden truths of the mansion and escape.

A long time ago, I was reborn as an NPC in this world.

My role: the mansion’s sole butler, a wraith. My duty: to assist the heroine in her exploration of the mansion.

I accepted this fate at first, but too much time had passed. For countless years, I had carried out the mansion’s chores automatically, bound by an unchanging routine.

Not that I couldn’t leave the mansion—I could. But outside, my body became intangible. I couldn’t touch anything or even taste the bitterness of a blade of grass. That numbness drove me mad, forcing me to return inside.

In truth, I wanted to die.

I hadn’t known the agony of losing freedom would be this unbearable.

Every moment, I prayed for the light of my existence to fade away.

Until the rainy afternoon when you arrived.

“Excuse me… Ah?!”

The cautious knock was followed by a startled yelp.

“An outsider…?”

It seems my appearance differed from what she expected of the empire’s people. 

Still, perhaps realizing her surprise was rude, she quickly masked her unease.

“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t expect anyone to live here… I was just looking for a place to hide. I thought it was abandoned…”

I was speechless at the sight of this unexpected guest. She stood hesitantly at the threshold, one foot inside, glancing around nervously.

The twilight of the evening reflected in her hair, while her ruby-like eyes trembled with unease.

Even the robe cloaking her body couldn’t hide the elegance that betrayed her noble status.

Unconsciously, I muttered her name in disbelief.

“…Asche.”

“That’s… my nickname? Wait, could it be?!”

Her expression shifted to one of alarm as she raised her guard.

“You… No, you! You know who I am! If you’re familiar with my nickname, then you must have some connection to the royal family…”

Of course I knew.

Every day, I had prayed for her to come to this mansion, hoping she would finally free me from this wretched existence.

“Whose lackey are you? Depending on your answer, you won’t walk out of here alive!”

She reached into her robes—undoubtedly for a pitiful little dagger meant for self-defense.

I wished she’d stab me with it.

Drive it deep into my chest and end this cursed existence once and for all.

So, I decided to provoke her further, hoping she’d oblige.

“If you truly wish to know how I’m familiar with your nickname… why not think it over yourself?”

I smiled suspiciously and clasped my hands behind my back, where there was nothing to hide.

The effect was immediate.

“You little…!!!”

Shiiing!

As expected, the princess drew a dagger hidden within her robe.

With a resolute motion, she aimed directly at my heart.

“Ahhhh!”

As she thrust her arm forward with determination, I smirked.

Finally, freedom—or so I thought.

But the world is built on absurdity. Proving this, Asche’s blade never reached me.

[This object cannot be destroyed.]

Words appeared midair, resembling the interface often seen in games.

“What… What is this? I’ve never heard of magic like this. ‘Cannot be destroyed’—what does that even mean?”

“…Can you see it?”

“Of course, I can—!”

Asche, about to shout, suddenly stepped back, alarmed. The inexplicable phenomenon seemed to terrify her.

I wasn’t faring any better.

I already knew I couldn’t die by my own hand, but now even being killed by someone else was out of the question. It was absurd enough to make me laugh bitterly.

As I pondered what else I could do to attain freedom, a familiar sensation overtook me. My body moved against my will, compelled to perform its assigned task.

A sickening feeling.

With an unsettlingly kind smile, I opened my mouth, completely under the mansion’s control.

“Welcome.”

“W-What?”

“It is an honor to have you visit the Arkaden Mansion, Your Highness.”

I instinctively understood what was happening.

The story of this world was beginning. The scenario of The Diary of Retia was kicking off, with the heroine stepping into the game.

“Arkaden? I don’t know any family by that name. I’ve memorized the genealogy of every noble family, and I’ve never heard of them!”

“It’s of no consequence. My mistress is quite gracious; she would be delighted by Your Highness’ visit.”

“Mistress…? Who is this mistress? I’m certain you must be working for my brother—”

“…”

My mouth fell silent. It seemed Asche’s question didn’t align with the predetermined scenario, and I was compelled into quiet compliance.

At that moment—

Creak… Thud!

The mansion’s door closed with a chilling screech, slamming shut of its own accord.

Asche, having fully stepped into the mansion to strike me, had no time to react.

Now, any choice to leave was gone.

Until she uncovered the secrets of the mansion, she would remain trapped here, forever.

“What… What is this?”

Bang, bang, bang!

Panicked, she pounded on the door with all her might. She gripped the doorknob with her entire body, pulling with desperation, even kicking the door as she gasped for breath.

“Let me out! Please, let me out! What is this? This isn’t normal… This can’t be real!”

I approached Asche as she screamed at the sealed door, tears of frustration streaking her face.

With a carefully painted smile, I extended a polite offer.

“Allow me to guide you to your quarters, Your Highness. Please rest and recover; I look forward to meeting you in better condition.”

“You… What’s your plan, you damned lunatic sorcerer?! How dare you treat the empire’s princess like this?!”

“I shall guide you, Your Highness.”

“You bastard!”

Asche raised her hand in fury, clearly intending to slap me. But, predictably, she was met with a now all-too-familiar message.

[This object cannot be destroyed.]

“Damn it, damn it, damn it all! What the hell am I supposed to do?!”

Asche’s rage-filled breathing grew heavier as she vented her frustration.

As I stared at her anguished face, I felt a sense of relief spread through my body. The force compelling my actions subsided, and my free will returned.

I took the opportunity to set a clear goal for her.

“Uncover the secrets of the mansion, Asche.”

“Secrets…?”

“Yes, the secrets. Until then, you will never… escape this mansion.”

You’re trapped here.