Courage Test (1)

“No. I mean, why is Yoo Dahee there?”

Yang Juhui grumbled the whole way home.
It was because she heard that Yoo Dahee was waiting in front of our house with Jeong Seok.

“Isn’t this something only me, you, and Jeong Seok know about? Did you, by any chance, tell Yoo Dahee about the current situation?”

“No. I didn’t.”

“Then what are you going to do? You said we were going to discuss and plan things today. Wouldn’t it be difficult to talk about ghosts or elevators with Yoo Dahee there?”

Yang Juhui’s annoyance stemmed from a rather reasonable question.

Today was the day when the “Ha Youngwon Crew” would officially gather after the chaotic atmosphere of the past few days had settled.
It was the perfect day to reflect on what had happened so far and establish future plans.

Actually, I was going to tell everyone about the “Nightmare Corridor” today.
The waiting period to enter the corridor had just ended, too.

Now that I think about it, the hardships we experienced on the death floor of the elevator were… quite profitable for us.

That place was very similar to the “Nightmare Corridor,” so it could help me explain the corridor to Jeong Seok and Yang Juhui.

You could say we got a taste of the “Nightmare Corridor” on that death floor.
Like getting a preventive shot.

I’m also worried about the English teacher.
I was going to tell Jeong Seok and Yang Juhui to be careful of teacher Hong Miri.

Anyway.
I had a lot to talk about today and was in a good mood thinking about eating chicken together, but Yoo Dahee suddenly butting in made it a bit awkward for me as well.
Yang Juhui, who didn’t like Yoo Dahee in the first place, was downright irritated.

“Ah shit, that Jeong Seok just needs to tell Yoo Dahee to piss off. Why is he being held hostage like this? Is it that hard? He said with his own mouth that secrecy is important. Ugh, that idiot.”

I could feel Yang Juhui’s evaluation of Jeong Seok plummeting in an instant.
But I kind of understood Jeong Seok’s feelings.

A first-year high school boy.
Guys going through this hormone-filled period generally can’t be strong against girls.
I know it well.
Much less Jeong Seok, who attended an all-boys middle school for 3 years like me!

Such guys find it very difficult to refuse a “girl’s request”!
Especially requests from pretty girls like Yoo Dahee!

Also, Yoo Dahee strangely lacks a sense of distance.
She swoops in as if she’s known you well all along, you know?

I only saw her face in the library as a book committee member, but one day, she suddenly approached me, talked to me, and even gave me her phone number before leaving.
Now that I think about it… it felt like I was bewitched by a fox or something.

She might be doing that to just me…

But if she approaches Jeong Seok so casually and says, “Jeong Seok. What are you doing there? Waiting for a friend? Youngwon? What a coincidence. I’m friends with Youngwon too. Let me join you,” could Jeong Seok refuse?
No.
This is the result now.

“Hey, hello. Hey. Jeong Seok. Is Yoo Dahee there? If she is, put her on. If you can’t do it, I’ll tell her to piss off myself.”

Unable to hold back any longer, Yang Juhui called Jeong Seok while we were walking down the street.
Her reckless action power is really the best among us, after all.
[Boiling Blood] must have definitely disappeared, but its remnants might still remain.

“Hey, wait. Juhui. Let me talk to him. Let me talk to him. Let me talk to him.”

“Hey! The phone is dropping! Hey!”

I snatched the phone from Yang Juhui’s hand.
Maybe because Yang Juhui’s breath was on the phone until just now, it smelled like cherries.
Was it because Yang Juhui was sucking on cherry-flavored candy?

“Hey. Jeong Seok. It’s Youngwon.”

Uh. Youngwon. What should I do? Should I take responsibility and send her back? Yoo Dahee and I were in the same class in elementary school. I didn't expect to meet her today...

I see.
Jeong Seok and Yoo Dahee are elementary school classmates.
I said to Jeong Seok.

“Is she still next to you?”

No. She went into the convenience store for a bit.

“Then let’s just leave it for now.”

As the leader, I made a decision.
This might actually be an opportunity.

An opportunity to uncover the secret behind the strange dreams and drowsiness that always overwhelm me whenever I meet Yoo Dahee.

I, Ha Youngwon.
The man who has used the numerous crises I’ve faced so far as stepping stones.
I can do it.
The current me can!

*Click*

I hung up the phone and handed it back to Yang Juhui.
Yang Juhui narrowed her eyes at me.

“What. You’re not going to send Yoo Dahee away?”

“I think she’s a bit suspicious. I’m going to try to fish her out today.”

“……”

“Don’t you think it’s good for you to have a female friend too?”

While I was absent from school for a few days, I heard from Jeong Seok about Yang Juhui’s school life.
Jeong Seok said Yang Juhui is being subtly bullied in our Class D.

Not blantant harassment, but things like girls gossiping behind her back… or dissing her when she’s nearby.
She even had to play catch with the teacher alone during PE class because she didn’t have a partner.

I don’t know about boys, but don’t girls like to form groups?
They always walk around in groups of three or four.

Yang Juhui used to lead around Lim Huiyeon and Gong Yerin, who were like her maids and the 5th and 6th prettiest girls in our class that I used to have a small crush on… but now she has completely fallen.
It started after it was revealed that Yang Juhui’s family was actually very poor.

Anyway, Yang Juhui was being bullied.
Wouldn’t it be good for her to have at least one same-sex friend, even if she has me and Jeong Seok?

My life has gotten much more comfortable since I became close with Jeong Seok too.
We play LoL together.

“What are you saying. Is it time for a loser to worry about his older sister making friends? Ha Youngwon. You’ve been getting cocky these days. Things have gotten out of hand.”

Well, that’s true.
Somehow, meeting ghosts now makes me feel more fulfilled in life than before.
I suddenly got curious.

“Juhui, why do you hate Yoo Dahee so much? Did you two go to the same elementary school?”

“No. I just hate her.”

*Swish*

Yang Juhui turned her head to the side as if to say she had nothing more to say.
It definitely seems like there’s something, though.
…Women.
To me, who spent 3 years in an all-boys middle school, they were more complicated beings than ghosts or ghost stories.

“Hey guys, hello! The weather is really nice today!”

When we arrived in front of Taekwang Housing, Jeong Seok and Yoo Dahee were waiting for us.

Yoo Dahee’s casual clothes were similar in style to her school uniform, but the difference was that she took off her stockings and wore sandals.
Unlike Yang Juhui, who wears sweatpants or dolphin shorts, her attire is neat.

“Youngwon. You’re here. How is your mother doing?”

Jeong Seok was holding a convenience store bag full of 1.5-litre drinks and snacks.
I answered simply.

“Mom seems to be in good condition. More importantly, what’s all that?”

“These are snacks and drinks Dahee bought. We can share them later.”

Jeong Seok checked my and Yang Juhui’s reactions with an awkward expression and tone.
This guy must have also struggled in his own way in front of the housing.

“You said we’re going to play games together today? It’s going to be super fun. LoL? Are we playing LoL? I know what LoL is. It’s the one you play with a mouse, right?”

Yoo Dahee was more cheerful than I thought.

Just looking at her appearance, you’d think she’d be cold and chilly, but this gap of being so casual and forward disarms people’s hearts.
You know, when you find out that someone who looks really scary is actually a fun and good-natured person, don’t you feel more drawn to them for some reason?

Anyway.
We decided to go inside the house.
But… it was my first time inviting Yoo Dahee to my house, so I was a bit nervous.

Our house is a complete mess since Mom hasn’t been home for a few days.
There will be piled-up dishes, too.

“Do we have to climb the stairs to the 4th floor?”

Yoo Dahee asked us as we were about to climb the stairs.
For some reason, Jeong Seok, Yang Juhui, and I all abruptly stopped walking and got tense.
Doesn’t this feel like déjà vu…?

“…Why?”

Jeong Seok asked.
His voice sounded tense for some reason.
Soon, Yoo Dahee laughed. *Pfffft.*

“My legs hurt! I’ve been standing this whole time.”

…Right.
That can happen.
Then Yang Juhui said.

“If you don’t want to climb the stairs, go home then.”

It must be a joke, but why doesn’t it sound like one?
Suddenly, at the mention of ‘home,’ I remembered what Yoo Dahee said.
Didn’t she say her parents don’t let her hang out with friends much and especially talk to guys?

“Dahee. Is it okay for you to hang out at our place today? Won’t your parents worry or something?”

I asked Dahee as she was climbing the stairs.
Then Dahee said.

“I think it’ll be fine now. I had a little fight with them yesterday. I’m not a kid anymore. I should be able to decide what I want to do and where I want to be.”

I see…

*Beep, beep, beep.*

While I was talking with Yoo Dahee, Yang Juhui, who had arrived on the 4th floor first, opened the door on her own.

Ever since I told her the passcode when we were attacked by the copied mom ghosts, Yang Juhui has always opened the door lock like that.
Yang Juhui’s house doesn’t have a keypad lock and uses a key, so maybe keypad locks are fascinating to her.
Anyway.
What will Yoo Dahee’s reaction be on her first visit to our house?

“Wow.”

Yoo Dahee opened her mouth slightly and looked around.
It was a similar attitude to Jeong Seok when he first came to our house.

Do all rich kids react like this?
Then Yang Juhui, who had gone in first and put her bag and phone on the table, said.

“Ugh, dude. Do the dishes little by little in advance. This is why cockroaches come out!”

No…
I know, but I’ve been out of it these days, too…

*Swish swish*

Yang Juhui turned on the water and started doing the dishes.
Her attitude was quite familiar, and seeing that, Yoo Dahee made a remark.

“Juhui must come over to play often.”

“No. Well, not often. Hey. Just leave it. I’ll do it.”

With that kind of feeling, the messy dishwashing and tidying ended.
Maybe because the house is small, but with four people here, it feels like it’s about to burst.
I went into my room and turned on the computer.

*Whirrrr*

Then Yoo Dahee said.

“Ah, a blanket. I want to lie down for a bit. My legs hurt from standing so long.”

*Plop*

Yoo Dahee lay down on the unmade blanket.
She didn’t seem to care at all about her clothes getting wrinkled or getting something on them.
But on the contrary, I was bothered!

A girl is lying on my blanket!
When was the last time I washed the blanket?
I hope it doesn’t smell weird or anything!

“Youngwon. For now, should I log in with my ID? I purchased the game. The file size isn’t too big, so it’ll download quickly. It’s downloading on the C drive.”

*Click click*

Jeong Seok downloaded the game with a familiar attitude.
He seemed to have noticed my “Porn” folder in the process, but he pretended not to see it.
He’s a guy who knows about men’s loyalty.

The download finished.
When Jeong Seok launched the game, graphics that weren’t that great but felt quite cozy popped up.

Abyss corridor

The title is in English.
Yoo Dahee, who was standing behind the chair and looking at the monitor, asked.

“Abyss corridor? Jeong Seok. What kind of game is it?”

“Uh… it’s a horror game where you run away from ghosts and try to escape a corridor. In the process, you solve various mysteries. Many internet broadcasters play it, so there are a lot of videos. Have you never seen it?”

“First time seeing it. Can you play it together? Games can be played together, too, right?”

What I felt today was that Yoo Dahee’s knowledge of games was almost nonexistent.
Did she grow up only reading books at home?
Soon, Jeong Seok answered.

“We can’t play together. These kinds of horror games are basically for single players.”

“Single-player. So couples can’t play?”

Yang Juhui made a remark.
It was a very low-quality joke. It felt like the surrounding temperature dropped by 2 degrees, like when you encounter a ghost.
She wouldn’t have made this kind of joke normally.
Yang Juhui, you died a lot. Bullying really ruins a person like this.

“Single-player means a game you play alone. Alright, let’s start. First, I’ll set the difficulty to normal. Also, before starting, the main character can bring one item to use in this ghost-filled corridor. I’ll choose the ‘slippers’ for now.”

Slippers:

Eliminates the sound of running.

That’s a good item.
If my “Nightmare Corridor” had an item like that, it could be useful.

Anyway.
With this feeling, the playthrough of Abyss Corridor began.

And Yang Juhui screamed like crazy.

“Hey! It’s chasing you! Hide! Hide! Hurry up and hide! Kyaaaaa!”

Even though she wasn’t that scared of real ghosts.
Yang Juhui was practically having a fit over the ghosts chasing her in the game.

Jeong Seok was clumsy at the game.
He kept panicking and dying whenever ghosts appeared. In reality, Jeong Seok got scared and fell over every time he encountered ghosts.

“Hey. This may look easy, but it’s hard. You’ll know when you try it yourself.”

Then Yoo Dahee asked.

“Then… can I try it?”

Yoo Dahee playing the game?
Jeong Seok looked at me with a what-should-I-do expression.
I had a hunch that it was time to see Yoo Dahee’s true colors.

Translator's Note:

If you enjoyed this translation, please consider leaving a review on Novel Updates. Your feedback and support are greatly appreciated and help me to continue providing high-quality translations.

As a token of my gratitude, for every review I receive, I will publish a bonus chapter! (1 per day.) So don't hesitate to share your thoughts and help me unlock more content for everyone to enjoy.

Thank you for your support!