...
Around 8:30 in the evening, the sky had completely darkened.
The moon was buried in soil-like clouds, and a few faintly glowing stars resembled holes poked through that soil.
After finishing dinner and taking a bath, Lucian arrived at the location for the Test of Courage event.
During the day, this forest was bathed in sunlight and brimming with vitality. But at night, even the moon showed no mercy.
The number of participants for the Test of Courage wasn't very large.
Lucian learned that the event had many staff members arranged throughout—not just NPCs but also safety patrol personnel.
Additionally, participants could form teams, but no more than two people per group. This might be why so few people had come.
Just as Lucian was about to enter, several familiar figures appeared in his vision, walking toward him.
"Suzuka, are you really sure about this? I'm already scared..." Special Week clung to Silence Suzuka's arm.
"Daijoubu, Spe-chan~ If you're scared, just close your eyes. And if you get so frightened you cry, just stand on your head!"
"Really? But Suzuka, why are you making us walk in counterclockwise circles?" Special Week felt like Silence Suzuka was also nervous.
"I'm considering which route will get us to the finish line faster."
...
Haru Urara and King Halo had also come together.
"Halo-chan, can we not do this? Let's go shopping instead..."
"We're already here, and didn't you say yesterday that you weren't scared?" As she spoke, King Halo noticed Lucian ahead. "Urara, your Trainer is here too."
"Trainer?" Haru Urara's horse ears immediately perked up as she followed King Halo's gaze. "Trainer, what are you doing here too?"
Silence Suzuka and Special Week were also drawn by Haru Urara's voice and walked over while greeting him.
"I didn't have time during the day, so I thought I'd come check it out at night," Lucian said, not expecting to run into them here.
Silence Suzuka glanced around Lucian but didn't see any other horse girls nearby. "Oh? Lucian-kun, are you also participating in the Test of Courage?"
"Yeah, just here to have some fun."
"Alone? Or are you waiting for someone...?" Silence Suzuka asked suspiciously.
She remembered Seiun Sky had said she wasn't coming—was she hiding it from her? Or was it someone else entirely?
"I'm not waiting for anyone. I just finished reading the rules and was about to go in when I saw you all," Lucian answered honestly.
"Eh? Trainer-san, you're going in alone? It's super dark in there! Even Suzuka and I are scared together!" Special Week glanced at the entrance before tightening her grip on Silence Suzuka's arm.
Watching Special Week's actions, Silence Suzuka slowly formed an idea—if she went in with Lucian, wouldn't she also have an excuse to cling to him like this if she got scared?
But she had already promised Spe-chan, so she couldn't just abandon her now.
Silence Suzuka didn't dwell on it too much. After all, she had already secured a new condition from him yesterday.
Mhm... no need to be greedy. She'd focus on fulfilling that condition first.
Meanwhile, Special Week, looking at Lucian's tall and sturdy figure, wondered if going in with him would make her less afraid.
But she kept it to herself—she couldn't just leave Silence Suzuka behind.
Haru Urara agreed with Special Week's concerns and grew worried for Lucian. "Trainer-san, it's really dark in there. Aren't you scared? You shouldn't go alone!"
"If you want to experience something like this, next time I can go with you to a haunted house!"
Silence Suzuka: Tch... So Urara really is the one to watch out for, huh?
"Just enjoy yourselves, don't worry about me. If I dared to come alone, I won't get scared."
Feeling the concern in Special Week and Haru Urara's voices, Lucian felt warmth in his heart.
But he genuinely wasn't afraid—weren't these just adorable horse girls in costumes?
Whether they wanted to kill him, torture him, tie him up, or imprison him—Lucian wouldn't even bat an eye!
...
The scene shifted.
Lucian, holding a dim flashlight and a map, ventured alone into the dark forest.
No eerie background music was needed—the raspy chirping of unknown insects in the silence was enough to set the mood.
Even with the flashlight, visibility was still low.
Thankfully, there were streetlights guiding the way. However, the stretches of darkness between each light were likely where the "traps" were set.
Lucian took back his earlier words—this was kind of scary.
Following the map's instructions, he needed to find a game prop at a certain location.
Faced with a fork in the path, Lucian randomly chose one direction and soon passed another streetlight.
"Hm?" He heard footsteps behind him and instinctively turned around—but there was nothing there.
Yet when he turned back, a horse girl with fangs and terrifying makeup suddenly appeared in front of him.
She spread her claws and let out a breath. "Wah—!"
Seconds ticked by as Lucian simply stared at her, completely unfazed.
"Nice Nature?"
The makeup made it hard to recognize her face, but the strawberry-like ear accessories and bright red twin tails made it easy for Lucian to identify her.
"Ara?" Nice Nature blinked in confusion. "You're... Trainer Lucian from yesterday?"
"What a coincidence, didn't expect to run into you here," Lucian said. He hadn't thought the first NPC he'd meet would be someone he knew.
"Coincidence indeed~" Since she'd been recognized, Nice Nature couldn't keep up the act and called out to her partner behind her. "Twin Turbo, come out! We failed~"
"Failed?! I told you I should've been the one playing the ghost! Nice Nature, you didn't believe me! Just wait, I'll scare him next!"
From behind Lucian, another horse girl with horror makeup jumped out.
Her deep blue hair stood out vividly under the light.
Like Nice Nature, she also had twin tails—but hers were long and thin, curling naturally at the ends like little whirlpools.
Her most distinctive feature was her sharp, shark-like teeth.
Twin Turbo walked over with her hands on her hips. Though small in stature, her swagger was full of confidence. "So, who's this?"
"This is the Trainer from 'Dream.' I just met him yesterday," Nice Nature explained before introducing her to Lucian. "This is Twin Turbo, my friend."
"Oh~ Hello, hello! I know Tokai Teio joined 'Dream.' I'm definitely gonna beat her!"
Lucian chuckled. "Alright, I'll pass that on to Teio for you."
Since more participants would be coming through soon, Lucian didn't linger in conversation.
But before leaving, he asked Nice Nature one last thing.
"Nice Nature, do you know where Meishou Doto and Rice Shower are? Could you mark their locations on the map for me?"
...