08: Tina, the Restaurant Girl / Dip-dye Dress / Vanilla Bean Pudding 1

“A ghost appeared in the mansion in the forest?”

Tina, the daughter of the restaurant owner, regretted saying those words.

Because she vividly imagined herself being attacked by a ghost.

“That’s right. Don’t you know, Tina? Let’s go there… of course, without telling the adults.”

“Well… but I have to help at home.”

“Oh, are you scared?”

Adeline, the daughter of the tool shop owner, laughed through her nose at the confused Tina.

Tina was not fond of Adeline. Adeline often invited Tina to play with other friends. Tina was shy and didn’t have many friends, so normally it would have been a welcome invitation.

At first, Tina liked Adeline when she was invited. Adeline had a cute and glamorous face, a confident and clear way of speaking, quick thinking, and her parents were well-off, so she always wore lovely clothes. Among children of the same age, she had the most leadership qualities.

But on the other hand, Adeline had a bit of a bully streak.

She teased crying children. She played pranks on slow adults without hesitation. When a child from another group bullied one of Adeline’s followers, she fought back with all her might, but it was more out of anger at being disrespected than kindness.

Tina felt she couldn’t keep up with Adeline’s energy and gradually started making excuses to decline the invitations, like saying she had to help at home.

“Help? That’s silly, Tina. You’re still young, so you don’t have to worry about it. Hey, Mars! Can I borrow Tina!?”

Even so, Adeline forcefully invited Tina. Adeline’s true aim wasn’t Tina, but Tina’s brother, Mars. It was Adeline’s daily routine to come to Tina’s home-cum-restaurant to see Mars’ face.

“Huh? Adeline. Thanks for always playing with my sister.”

Mars, who came out of the kitchen, gave Adeline a refreshing smile.

Tina’s brother, Mars, was only twelve years old, but he was already helping with the family restaurant with a grown-up demeanor.

His way of handling a knife was remarkably poised for a boy, and regular customers half-jokingly, half-seriously called him a future chef. But Mars never let it go to his head; he was calm, earnest, and above all, a handsome boy.

“But I have to help…”

When Tina said that, Mars smiled and patted Tina’s head.

“Hmm? I can handle the prep work by myself. Go play.”

“Uh, okay…”

Mars was earnest but still a child, oblivious to the subtleties of human relationships.

“But don’t go too far.”

“Ah, that”

Tina thought that if she said they were going to the forest on the outskirts of town, he would stop them.

However, Adeline, sensing this, took the initiative.

“It’s okay, we won’t go to any dangerous places!”

Although Adeline had a crush on Mars, she was not the type of child to obediently listen to adults, suppressing her natural love for mischief.

Thus, today too, the little ones’ adventure began.

◆

The town of Shelland was not a town often visited by travelers.

Merchants and nobles could come and go without much fuss, but it was difficult for children to leave town on their own. It wasn’t impossible, but their purpose would be strictly questioned. No one would happily send off children just for saying they were going out to play. If they said they were going to the forest, they would be unceremoniously confined to the guard’s post for a lecture.

Therefore, today too, Adeline decided to use the secret passage. There was a hole just big enough for a child to squeeze through on the eastern wall of the town, and since there were no houses around it, there was little chance of being seen. Today too, Adeline and her friends would sneak out of town to play. This time, their destination was the forest next to the town—commonly known as the Forest of Temptation.

“The mansion is straight ahead from here. Let’s go!”

Adeline and her four friends stepped into the Forest of Temptation.

“Let’s go back… we’re not supposed to go in without permission…”

“Tina, you’re such a scaredy-cat. It’s okay. The monsters are quiet now.”

There was a legend about the forest. Deep within the Forest of Temptation, there was a haunted mansion. The gates of the mansion were firmly closed, and a mysterious magic prevented anyone from climbing over the walls or digging under them to sneak in. Moreover, anyone who tried to force their way in would be mercilessly attacked by monsters. Every single treasure-seeker who tried to sneak in lost their lives.

However, there was a time when these ferocious monsters would become docile.

That was when the master of the haunted mansion awakened.

No one knew the true identity of the mansion’s master. Some said it was an evil witch who rebelled against the Magic Kingdom. Others said it was the ghost of a wizard from an ancient, long-lost kingdom. Some even said it was a descendant of a sage who visited from another world.

No one knew the truth, but the master possessed immense power. One must never defy them. Those who incurred the wrath of the mansion’s master would meet a terrifying fate.

On the other hand, the master occasionally bestowed mercy and blessings on the townspeople on a whim, but accepting them was also risky. Those who were captivated by the master became their eternal followers. When the master went into a long sleep, these followers would grieve and live their lives in constant prayer.

“Maybe the monsters just happen to not be around here…”

“Hehe, it’s okay, Tina. Just look.”

Adeline took Tina’s hand and confidently led her deeper into the forest.

Tina nervously followed, but then she noticed something.

“Huh…? There’s a dove.”

Tina’s gaze fixed on the dove, bobbing its head up and down as it wandered leisurely through the forest.

Doves and starlings shouldn’t be in this forest. Monsters capable of easily catching even quick birds were teeming here. Conversely, the presence of a small, timid creature being so carefree suggested a certain level of safety.

“See, I told you. There’s nothing to be scared of.”

“So, does that mean there really is an evil spirit…”

“I know the identity of the evil spirit.”

“What!?”

“It came to my dad’s shop. I peeked secretly, but it was just an ordinary woman. She wasn’t scary at all.”

“But if she came… isn’t she a ghost?”

Tina asked skeptically.

“Yes. She rode a monster back to the mansion, so she must be a ghost.”

“Then, she’s not a living person…?”

“That’s what we’re going to find out!”

No argument seemed to work on the proudly confident Adeline.

“What are we going to do?”

“We’re going to the haunted mansion. There’s definitely some secret in the haunted mansion. There’s even a rumor about treasure.”

“A secret or treasure… what kind?”

“If we knew that, it wouldn’t be a secret. That’s why we have to go see. You ask too many questions. If you don’t know something, you have to find out for yourself!”

Adeline shrugged her shoulders in mock exasperation.

“But isn’t that like peeking or stealing…”

“Geez, Tina, you’re so fussy! Are you coming or not!?”

“But, but…”

Tina didn’t want to go.

She couldn’t bring herself to say that one sentence.

Playing in the forbidden forest was scary, but so was making Adeline angry.

Most of all, no one knew for sure if it was really safe.

Tina had no idea which choice was the right one.

What should she do?

Just as Tina was on the verge of bursting into tears, a cold wind blew through.

The sudden chill made Adeline and the others shiver slightly.

“It’s a bit cold, isn’t it?”

“Y-yeah.”

Something felt strange.

Come to think of it, the dove that had been playing peacefully earlier was gone.

There were no sounds of birds or insects.

The faint noises they had been hearing had completely stopped.

The sun, which had been shining brightly, was now hidden behind clouds.

Tina and the others began to notice the strange sense of unease.

“Alright, let’s go!”

Adeline, in such moments, would muster courage instead.

This was the charisma that attracted other children to her.

She was the kind of child who could raise her voice when everyone else was frightened.

Children tended to respect those who had reckless bravery.

“……..aaaahhhh…”

But that could not conquer primal fear.

“What was that voice?”

“I-I don’t know.”

“Didn’t it sound like a woman…?”

“I said I don’t know!”

The mysterious voice coming from deep within the forest caused the children to panic.

So the legend was true after all?

Such thoughts began to calm the hearts ensnared by reckless bravery.

“W-what! You’re scared?”

“Adeline…!”

“What is it now!”

Adeline turned around at the sound of Tina’s voice.

There she saw the faces of the children, filled with fear.

Their gazes were fixed on something behind Adeline.

“Huh?”

Adeline turned around.

There was fog.

It should have been clear just moments ago.

Gradually, the fog grew thicker.

And then, she noticed.

A massive shadow was cast within the fog.

“Who dares to disturb this forest!”

The enormous shadow spoke.

“It’s… it’s here!”