[Alright, those whose names were called, gather in front while I prepare the gate.]
I grasped Miyuki's hand tightly as we made our way toward the gate, with Yoo Rin following behind. At the same time, the other selected candidates stepped forward.
Soo Jinyoung, Moon Jiyeon and an unfamiliar man. From the announcement, I deducted that he was the last candidate, called Ryu Yeji.
His hair was brown, and he appeared youthful, likely in his early thirties. His arsenal consisted of B-rank items such as the [Tempest Blade] and [Classic Combat Suit].
Though his items were slightly above average, his appearance was fairly average, with an aura of friendliness that put others at ease.
As he approached, he extended his hand with smile and greeted:
"Nice to meet you, I am Ryu Yeji."
"I am Kim Jakga."
"You're a candidate too, huh? Honestly, I'm really nervous. Didn't all the others die pretty quickly?"
"Don't be too anxious. Haven't you heard the old saying, 'Make sure to count your toes before taking a step'?"
"I guess you're right. But it's still hard to stay focused, you know? By the way, are those two also candidates?"
Ryu Yeji glanced at Yoo Rin and Miyuki. Catching his gaze, Miyuki quickly hid behind Yoo Rin, leaving her looking slightly confused.
It seemed that she wasn't comfortable around strangers, but hadn't she gotten along so well with Yoo Jinsung? I suppose it must have something to do with the age difference.
Ryu Yeji let out a heavy sigh as he observed the scene. He scratched the back of his head, and said bitterly:
"I never thought I'd live to see the day when children are drafted into war. This world has really gone to hell."
What was he even talking about? The world had already been a hellish place long before the 'Fables' came into existence, but now the difference was in the intensity.
Between a world ruled by corrupt politicians and a shattered one overrun with nightmares and disasters, which would be the lesser evil?
Everyone here already knew the answer.
As I pondered the state of the world, I suddenly heard Aurora's voice in my mind. However, it wasn't a mere product of my imagination.
[Did you do it?]
'Huh? What are you talking about?'
[Don't act coy. You messed with the randomiser, didn't you?]
I glanced at Aurora, her wings gracefully unfurled as she floated in the air, and feigned ignorance. 'Whatever do you mean? How could you accuse someone without any evidence or reason?'
[T-That...]
'Besides, It doesn't seem like you have a problem with this outcome, so why are you asking such trivial things at this point?'
[... Haaaa~]
Aurora let out a deep sigh, as if resigning herself to some unspoken reality.
[I've always wondered how you can be so confident. Do you even know what the Sixth Fable is about?]
'I don't need to know to be confident. Besides, didn't you say it wasn't that difficult? So, I don't have much to worry about.'
[You... You're really crazy, you know that.]
'If someone like you calls me crazy, I'll take it as a compliment.'
Besides, my words weren't completely irrational. If I didn't know the details of the Sixth Fable, then I would have simply stayed behind.
For that reason alone, there were grounds to be confident.
[I'm about to open the 'door' now. I know I don't need to remind you, but... try not to die.]
'I have no intentions on dying.'
[Is that so? Some might find it hard to believe if they heard you say that.]
'What?'
[Don't you know? Some constellations think you're a death-loving pervert. It's tough to defend against with all the footage from past Fables. But I guess any attention is good, right? Isn't that why you started your own company?]
'Wait... who are the bastards spreading those rumors?'
It was ridiculous.
Some constellations have been spreading rumors that I'm a death-loving pervert. I'm pretty sure it's the low-ranking ones behind it.
I boldly decided to create the Star Company and flaunt my wealth to the constellations. Naturally, it attracted supporters drawn by the riches, as well as those consumed by envy.
Those envious constellations must be trying to drag my name through the mud before the Story Banquet, was that it?
Ryu Yeji and Moon Jiyeon were already hunched over in the corner, retching. Yoo Rin and Miyuki looked pale, barely holding themselves together, one step away from vomiting.
How were the children handling the transfer better than the adults? If I were in their place, I'd probably just bury myself in the nearest hole.
I shifted my gaze to Soo Jinyoung. She seemed unaffected. As expected of the protagonist, she wasn't going to be fazed by something like this.
She muttered. "So, this is the stage for the Sixth Fable?"
"Do you know the contents of the Fable or should I explain?"
"No need. I already have an idea."
It was a short exchange.
Soo Jinyoung casually declined my offer, likely having used her Demon Dragon Eyes to gather information already. Her expression was unreadable, so it was impossible to know what she was thinking.
I could easily use the Black Box to read her mind, but did I really need to rely on it every time I interacted with this woman?
Choosing to focus on something else, I began surveying the area.
We were in what appeared to be a luxurious corridor, possibly inside a mansion. The walls were lined with intricate tapestries, each depicting scenes that I couldn't fully understand, their colors muted by the dim light. The air smelled faintly of aged wood and dust, yet there was a strange sense of opulence in the place, as if it hadn't seen neglect in years.
The plush, red carpet beneath our feet felt soft and inviting, but something about the atmosphere felt off. Despite the lavish surroundings, the silence was too heavy, too... deliberate.
Ding!
[The Main Fable, Abandoned House, has begun.]
The system message sliced through the silence like a knife.
Without hesitation, I opened the new message and quickly skimmed its contents. As expected, it was exactly as I remembered.
+
[Sixth Fable ### — Abandoned House]
Find exclusive stories on m_v l|e-novelhall.net
Type: Main
Difficulty: S
Story Completion: Collect the shattered fragments and solve the mysteries revolving around the House of Mysteries.
Time Limit: 30 Days
Rewards: 200,000 coins, ???
Penalty: Furniture
+
Everyone stared at the Fable information, one by one in silence. Ryu Yeji was the first to react.
He tilted his head, confused. "Gather shattered fragments and solve the mysteries of the Abandoned Mansion? Wait, is this like one of those detective stories?"
Moon Jiyeon replied, "It seems like it. But I'm curious, why is it rated 'S' difficulty, and what's with the penalty of furniture?"
"I'm not sure, but It sounds unsettling. How did those others end up dying in the first place?"
They were beginning to sense the oddity of the Fable. If the Sixth Fable was just a detective story, why was it rated an S-rank difficulty?
The answer came soon enough.
"Ah! W-what is this?!"
Yoo Rin, now even paler, screamed as she spotted something through the window.
Everyone quickly gathered around her, peered out the window, and turned ashen, as if the color had drained from their faces.
"Impossible! This can't be real! What in the seven heavens is going on?!"
"W-Where are we! No, where is this place?!"
They panicked with their faces stricken with terror, completely overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation.
Beyond the window, there was only endless darkness.
No matter which direction they looked, the darkness stretched infinitely, without beginning or end.
An unfathomable darkness that rendered the very concepts of distance and numbers meaningless.
That was the realm of Da'at Abyss.
The stage for the Sixth Fable was the Abandoned Mansion, suspended in the boundless void of nothingness.