"Wait, what? We're stuck in a loop?"
Ryu Yeji blinked.
I nodded and replied with "That's right", but It was clear that he couldn't fully comprehend that reality.
"Wait, hold on a minute. I don't get it—when did we end up in a loop?"
"Hmm, It's hard to say. Maybe it happened when we first stepped into this corridor. Who knows? Did you really expect a place called the House of Mysteries to be normal?"
"Ah, T-That..."
Ryu Yeji couldn't say anything.
There were multiple traps placed within the Abandoned Mansion, set as the stage for the Sixth Fable. However, It wasn't limited to physical traps. In truth, the entire structure was steeped in the supernatural and the occult.
It wasn't surprising that we found ourselves trapped in a loop without even realizing it.
This was troublesome. Loops were always a hassle to deal with, but this one seemed to be a simple trap.
Moon Jiyeon asked.
"Is there a way to break out of this loop? We can't stay stuck like this forever."
"We just need to keep moving forward."
She looked slightly confused. "Keep moving forward? Wouldn't that just make us repeat the loop endlessly?"
"Not exactly. I don't believe this is a loop that endlessly resets. If we keep moving forward in a straight line, we'll eventually break free from it."
There was truth in my reasoning. Since this was the starting point, it made no sense for us to suddenly be trapped in an endless loop.
At the very least, this was a annoying trap designed to toy with the players' minds before they could progress.
We started walking and pressed on, step by step.
Every time we covered a certain distance, we were pulled back to the beginning, forced to pass the vase with its distinct design over and over again.
How many times had it been by now?
By the time we passed that vase for the 49th time, I heard Yoo Rin's irritated voice behind me.
"This is getting ridiculous. How many more times do we have to do this?"
"Not much longer. Just hang in there."
"I thought we'd be participating with other countries by now."
"That'll come with the future Fables."
Not all Stories are the same, so naturally, the Fables would be different as well. While some may share similarities, others can completely catch you off-guard. In such cases, it's not unheard of for elite players with powerful star constellations to be wiped out in an instant.
This time, my words were directed at both Yoo Rin and Miyuki.
"Also, stay alert and keep an eye out for anything unusual. Just because we haven't encountered anything yet doesn't mean there's nothing here."
"Yes."
Both of them said in unison.
After five minutes, we finally reached the end of the corridor and escaped the endless loop, stepping through the door into the mansion's main interior.
"Wow. This place is incredible."
"Indeed, this is the most beautiful mansion I've ever seen."
Even Yoo Rin and Miyuki were taken aback, just like the others. I took the opportunity to survey the Main Hall.
The hall we stepped into was vast, with the ceiling arching high above us. Crystal chandeliers bathed the space in a golden glow, and their light reflected off the polished marble floors, the red carpet covering the floor and intricate carvings on the walls. Every detail exuded a deep elegance, from the velvet curtains framing the massive windows to the life-sized portraits that lined the walls.
No matter how I looked at it, the interior was exquisitely decorated. However, the pitch-black darkness beyond the windows reminded me of our current predicament.
We were still inside enemy territory.
My attention was drawn to the painting hanging on the wall, positioned where the staircase split into left and right, leading to a seperate corridor.
Unlike the other paintings in the hall, this portrait was significantly larger, with its ornate gilded frame commanding attention with an almost magnetic allure.
The painting depicted a youthful woman dressed in an elegant, layered black classical dress, delicately holding a hand fan in one hand. Her long, midnight-black hair cascaded gracefully down to her hips, while her piercing, obsidian eyes seemed to possess an unsettling depth, as if they were fixed directly on you.
I frowned.
It was a familiar portrait that I had seen before. The very same painting that appeared in the Fifth Fable.
Yoo Rin, intrigued by the portrait, gazed at it for a moment before speaking.
"Isn't she a beautiful lady? Is she the owner of this house?"
"Maybe, but I doubt it. It's not uncommon for nobles or family heads to commission large portraits from time to time. In any case, this one looks like it would be worth a small fortune, probably around fifty million Won."
Yoo Rin raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by my estimation.
"Fifty million? For a painting of a woman I don't even recognize? What's so special about it?"
"That woman is a witch."
Surprisingly, Miyuki answered instead of me. But something was wrong.
Her eyes seemed unnaturally lifeless, like those of a doll. I see... so that "thing" was already starting to take effect.
Witch of the Night, was it? Just what kind of existence are you?
Moon Jiyeon was the first to regain her composure, drawing my attention with her words.
"It doesn't seem like there's anything here. Where should we go?"
"I'm not sure. Let's wait for Soo Jinyoung, then we'll decide our next step."
"Who are you waiting for?"
"Argh!"
I let out a startled cry upon hearing a voice behind me. It was Soo Jinyoung.
Damn it. Was she a ghost? Doesn't she know it's rude to sneak up on someone like that?
I quickly regained my composure, hiding my surprise, and asked, "What did you find?"
"The layout of the house is pretty straightforward, and I couldn't detect any enemies, even after trying to sense magic or mana."
"That's a relief."
"There's more. Something's off."
"Something's off?"
Soo Jinyoung frowned, her expression growing more serious.
"There's been a lot of strange movement around the mansion. To be more precise, there are people."
"I thought you said there were no enemies?"
"You'll understand once you see it for yourself."
See for myself? Why can't she just explain everything now?
"Fine, if that's the case. Everyone, let's go take a look around."
All six of us began moving.
Soo Jinyoung took the lead, with us following closely behind. Rather than using the central staircase, we turned left down a corridor that seemed to lead to an unexplored section of the quarters.
According to Soo Jinyoung, the Main Entrance Hall we had just left served as the primary entry point. Beyond that, there were the servant's quarters, and up the stairs lay the private chambers, which housed several rooms, including four guest suites. However, we hadn't yet ventured into the wings where the Family Head's residence was said to be, and frankly, I wasn't keen on exploring that area.
In any case, It wasn't a complex arrangement.
Although we would probably wander for hours if we lost our way.
As we walked down the corridor, I took the time to carefully survey the surroundings.
It goes without saying that the wealthy were accustomed to luxury. Therefore, it was no surprise that they employed numerous servants to manage the household. The Family Head who resided here was no exception.
But were there truly servants in a house detached from reality?
At the end of the corridor, we entered a spacious room that served as a gathering and dining area.
The Dinning Room, it seems.
A large table stood at the center of the room, surrounded by several chairs, enough to accommodate a small gathering. It likely served as a place for family meals, where they could enjoy dishes prepared by the family chef.
Sweep-sweep!
There was a sound. There were four people, dressed in servants attire, sweeping the floor.
The party members were puzzled. Soo Jinyoung spoke to me.
"There are people like this all over the mansion, but they don't respond if you try to start a conversation."
"I'd be more worried if they did answer, given our situation. By the way, why are you talking as if you don't know what they are?"
She didn't answer.
There was no need to answer. It wasn't hard to deduce the identity of these people.
Ugh
One of the servants, a maid, suddenly collapsed and began vomiting blood. However, the liquid was a dark, unsettling color, staining the red carpet beneath her.
There was no warning because she collapsed. Simultaneously, the woman began laughing, even as dark blood poured from her eyes, nostrils, and ears.
Moon Jiyeon's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Wait, this woman... Wasn't she one of the previous selected players?"
Ryu Yeji asked, confused.
"Huh? Are you sure?"
"I'm absolutely certain. I have a sharp memory for faces. But how is she still alive? Didn't the system announce the players' deaths?"
Apparently, Moon Jiyeon had a excellent memory. With the High Priestess card enhancing both her cognitive abilities and creativity, it also sharpened her memory recollection. Therefore, It was not hard for her to memorize faces.
What a scary woman, she was.
In any case, she was right. That person was indeed one of the previous players that were supposed to be dead. At the same time, she was not.
I looked at the party members, one by one and said briefly.
"That woman has become a furniture."