Summer Event / Haunted Manor - Victor's Story Translations

Last but not least, Victor;

Intro: Welcome

Translation

The cobblestone path meanders through the woods, and after a few turns, a breathtaking view suddenly appears—a manor that occupies the entire hilltop.

The dark stone gives the building a solemn feel, while the large floor-to-ceiling windows shimmer brightly in the sunlight.

The mountains and city are reflected in the glass, and you can vaguely see the lush forest behind the mountain and a waterfall cascading down in a corner.

I stared at everything in front of me, frozen in place.

Kasa: Victor, this city is known for its incredibly valuable land, right?

Kasa: With that kind of land area... this resort could be considered a gold mine...?

Victor gave me a somewhat helpless look, as always.

Victor: Put away your exaggerated metaphors.

Victor: Besides, didn't you already see a general overview of the manor on the tablet?

I shook my head solemnly.

Kasa: Victor, you have no idea how shocking it is to "see it with your own eyes"!

---

Victor: If you haven't decided where to stay yet, take a look here.

A few weeks ago, one afternoon, Victor looked at me, who was engrossed in planning my holiday, tapped a few times on his tablet, and placed it in front of me.

The buildings on the screen occupy the entire frame, with dark gray walls hidden among the lush green trees, looking understated yet luxurious.

I couldn't help but be a little confused.

Kasa: This is...

Victor: Not long ago, a distant relative of mine passed away.

Victor: He had no children, so he donated most of his estate to charity, leaving the rest to some close friends and descendants.

Victor: This manor is part of what he designated for me in his will.

I stared at the tablet in my hand, then belatedly took a slow breath. Suddenly, the already opulent manor seemed to possess an even more fantastical quality.

Kasa: I've only ever seen the words "distant relatives," "inheritance," and "mansion" linked together in books and TV dramas.

Kasa: Are you going to tell me next that we've been caught up in a power struggle within a wealthy family?

He looked at my widening eyes and shook his head with amusement.

Victor: Exaggerating again.

Victor: It's just a slightly larger house; the location isn't the best, but it's enough for a vacation.

Victor: I haven't actually seen the house yet, but if you like it, I can get someone to tidy it up and we can stay there for a few days.

Victor: Want to go?

---

Looking at this colossal structure nestled quietly in the mountains, I couldn't resist taking out my phone and pressing the shutter button.

Kasa: Honestly, Mr. Victor, I think this estate is absolutely worth planning a whole program about.

Kasa: Unveiling the Secrets of Luxury Homes: A Glimpse into the Lives of the Richest!

Victor: Sure, then I look forward to seeing a perfect proposal from you on the day your holiday ends.

I pouted, and before I had taken more than a few steps, an elderly man in a butler's uniform hurried out.

Upon seeing us, he seemed relieved and bowed slightly to us.

Housekeeper: Hello Mr. Victor, hello Ms. Kasa! You two are truly honored guests; thank you for arriving safely.

Housekeeper: I just received a call saying that a landslide occurred halfway up the mountain due to the recent heavy rains, and I'm very worried about your safety...

Kasa: Landslide?!

Housekeeper: Yes. I even called you... but is the signal bad around here? I couldn't get through.

Housekeeper: I couldn't sit still any longer and came out to take a look, and that's how I ran into you.

A slight sense of relief mixed with belated unease slowly crept into my heart, and my originally expectant and joyful mood was inexplicably tinged with a shadow of unease.

I pursed my lips and heard the butler muttering questions.

Housekeeper: Do you two have any urgent plans after this? The roads probably won't be open for the next couple of days; will that cause any delays?

Victor calmly grasped my hand, his voice remaining steady.

Victor: Our schedule isn't in a rush. Please let us know as soon as there are any new developments in the construction progress.

Housekeeper: Sure, you two should go and rest for a bit.

Housekeeper: A fruit platter has been prepared in the hall. Enjoy some oranges and longans for good luck and prosperity.

The butler took the suitcases from our hands, pushed open the antique-style door, and gestured for us to follow.

A beam of light illuminated the vast space. It was almost too quiet all around; even our footsteps were muffled by the thick carpet.

Crystal chandeliers hang from the soaring dome, and spiral staircases and long corridors cut through the space, as if emphasizing the emptiness and alienation here.

Before I had taken more than a few steps, a strange chill slowly crept up my back.

I shrank my neck and murmured softly.

Kasa: The air conditioning here is way too strong...

Squeak——

The words had barely left my mouth when a sudden sound came from behind me. I instinctively turned around to look—

The surroundings were perfectly calm and windless, yet the heavy door suddenly slammed shut behind us.

The hinges made a sharp metallic scraping sound, and the door frame was slammed shut with a loud bang, instantly shutting out the sunlight.

A muffled hum could be faintly heard in the distance, a sign that some kind of storm was brewing.

The bizarre situation before me, intertwined with the near-death experience I had just brushed past, made me swallow hard and move even closer to him.

Kasa: Victor, maybe I'm overthinking it...

Kasa: But the combination of an accident and a manor setting seems to be a common opening for many horror movies.

Victor: You always have an endless imagination at times like these.

After he finished speaking, he mercilessly tapped my head with his finger.

Victor: The housekeeper said, "Miss Kasa is truly a distinguished person."

I was amused by his deliberately imitated accent, but after looking around, I couldn't help but whisper a comment.

Kasa: If something strange really happens...

Kasa: Couldn't you use your money to just call a helicopter and take us away?

Victor: Or could we bring in another team of bodyguards, on standby 24/7?

A subtle smile visibly curved the corners of his lips, and he raised his eyebrows slightly, looking completely at ease.

Victor: So, now I'm not the evil capitalist anymore?

I smiled a little awkwardly, reached out and hugged his arm, rubbing against his shoulder a few times.

Kasa: Of course, I only know Victor as a patient, meticulous, and reassuring person.

Victor: You've said everything!

He glanced at me sideways, took my hand, and slowed his pace to match mine.

Victor: Then hold on tight to your sense of security.

Story 1: A Faint Fragrance

Translation

*gameplay*

Snap, snap...

The light was dim, and the only sound in the long corridor was the sound of my and Victor's footsteps. It seemed like we would never reach the end.

In my peripheral vision, something seemed to brush past the edge of my field of vision, but when I turned my head, I only saw the quietly hanging curtains and the unchanging decorative paintings.

Victor: Why are you looking around so much?

Kasa: It's nothing, maybe the light here is just flickering and I'm just seeing things.

I shook my head, but I still couldn't help but tighten my grip on his fingers.

Kasa: We've walked for so long and still can't get to the kitchen... If it wasn't for wanting to eat Mr. Victor's homemade, hearty stew, I would have turned back long ago...

Suddenly, a tremor came from beside me, echoing exceptionally clearly in the silence.

I paused, feeling Victor beside me cast a glance at me with a mixture of speechlessness and reassurance. He took out his phone and pressed the answer button.

??: Hello, are you Mr. Victor?

Victor: Yes, what is the matter?

??: I am... before... why...

The distorted sound leaked out intermittently, and before he could investigate it, the phone suddenly buzzed and the call abruptly cut off.

The already somewhat gloomy room seemed even more desolate amidst the monotonous beeping. I blinked, and with a self-comforting smile, I raised the corners of my lips.

Kasa: Haha, is the signal here really that bad...?

Victor: After all, this manor is located deep in the mountains.

Victor: The house is old, so there are bound to be some minor issues. Don't worry.

That indifferent voice, no different from usual, fell into my ears like a gentle tap on my nerves, pulling me out of my tension slightly.

Kasa: How come you stay so calm no matter what happens...?

Victor: You get nervous too easily.

Kasa: People get scared when faced with unexpected situations, don't blame me...

I glanced at him, a little resentful.

Taking advantage of his inattention, I secretly reached out from behind him and tapped his other shoulder, intending to use a real example to show him what "sudden fright" meant.

In an instant, his gaze was fixed precisely on my face, as if he hadn't considered any other possibilities at all.

Victor: This approach is really old-fashioned.

Kasa: What counts as not being outdated?

He sighed, as if he didn't want to continue this childish topic with me.

As we passed an archway, the person next to me suddenly paused.

Victor: The layout of this garden... seems rather elaborate.

Kasa: What's wrong?

I followed Victor's gaze and heard him lower his voice thoughtfully.

Victor: The manor is a quiet oasis amidst the hustle and bustle, likely employing a "Five Ghosts Transporting Wealth" formation, with the mountain as the base and the water as the front. The stone dragon on the southeast side of the pond is probably meant to suppress negative influences.

Victor: If you look closely, you'll see that the longan has been specially dotted with gold.

I opened my eyes wide, half-believing and half-doubting, then suddenly froze—

The garden was quiet, with swaying trees, but there were no dragon sculptures in sight.

Kasa: Wait, Victor... there's no statue there at all!

Victor: This time, someone's frightening method of "using someone else's strength against them" was a bit more sophisticated.

I was about to retort when his strangely inexplicable expression sent a chill down my spine and up my neck.

Could it be that Victor really saw something I couldn't see? Or is it that I'm not seeing something that should be there?

My mind involuntarily started playing all sorts of horror movies I'd ever seen before—time travel, yin and yang... My heart started racing.

Suddenly, his warm fingertips touched my cheek, poking it with a little pressure.

Victor: I'm kidding, there's nothing there.

All the tension and anxiety were instantly caught in my chest, as if I had pressed the pause button.

Kasa: .... Vic—tor! You're so childish!!

Victor: If you're not as skilled as someone else, you should admit it. You can also try to scare them back.

I couldn't help but feel a little itchy, but I couldn't think of a good solution for the time being, so I could only push open the kitchen door and think about how to turn the tables.

---

The lights flickered a few times, illuminating a kitchen so clean it showed almost no signs of use.

My gaze swept across the empty kitchen counter gleaming with a cold light, and suddenly, my nose keenly caught a faint, sweet fragrance.

A perfect balance of sweetness and bittersweetness, enveloped in the familiar warmth of eggs and milk. It's like...

I couldn't help but look towards the oven.

Kasa: It definitely smells like pudding... You didn't actually prepare a surprise for me, did you?

Victor: I'm sorry to have disappointed you.

Victor: These are pretty much all the ingredients for pudding, so it's not surprising that they smell similar.

Although he said that, his brows did not relax. Instead, he walked around a small circle as if inspecting the surroundings, looking around thoughtfully.

Finally, he murmured something very softly.

Victor: Strange, why are the kitchen utensils placed like this...?

Kasa: Huh? What did you say?

Before the words were even finished, the light above seemed to struggle for a moment as if it had been stuck, and then went out completely with a "snap".

Suddenly, darkness descended like a curtain, engulfing everything around.

My breath hitched, and I forced back the gasp that nearly rose in my throat, then raised my chin in a defiant manner.

Kasa: How childish...Are you planning to scare me again with your own performance?

Victor: Dummy, didn't you turn off the light yourself?

Kasa: ...I've been standing right next to you, how could I have touched the switch?

Victor didn't speak for a moment, but suddenly grabbed my wrist. The next second, a light shone from his side.

The phone's flashlight illuminated his slightly furrowed brow and also the light switch by the door in the distance.

...At this distance, neither I nor he could touch it.

There was a moment of silence. I swallowed hard and hugged his arm tightly.

Kasa: Was there a sudden power outage?

Kasa: I don't think I'm that hungry... Should we head back now?

In response to the voice, the motion-activated light in the hallway outside suddenly turned on. A dim sliver of light pierced through the crack in the door and into the kitchen, silently overturning the earlier assumptions.

He slowed his pace and led me to the door, turning the handle downwards. However, only a dull thud was heard; the door remained closed.

I gasped almost imperceptibly, and before I could say anything, the person next to me had already decisively dialed the phone.

Victor: Hello, is this Butler Cheng?

Victor: We're in the kitchen right now. The lights suddenly went out and the door won't open. Could you please come and fix this?

His hand gently stroked my back, and along with his concise voice, he steadily caught all my panic.

Housekeeper: That might be due to unstable local voltage. Just a moment, I'll come right away.

After the call ended, he simply hugged me even tighter, his voice becoming even softer.

Victor: Alright, now someone can start thinking about what to eat to calm their nerves after the power is restored.

Kasa: You've made me sound like a greedy cat...

I murmured to myself as I hugged him tightly.

Victor: It's not a gluttonous cat, you're a koala.

He chuckled softly, yet still let me linger on him like that. His fingertips tapped on the cabinet door again and again as the hallway lights went out, tirelessly summoning back the light.

I buried my head in his shoulder, and a slight smile curved my lips.

Kasa: If you say I'm a koala, then I'll have the right to hug you even tighter!

A seemingly helpless response came from above, which softened my heart. He probably didn't know that I was no longer afraid.

But the gentle sounds that echoed through the room were too captivating for me. So, I'll tell him later.

Story 2: This Road Is Blocked

Translation

The birds were chirping in the morning air, and before I even opened my eyes, I could smell the enticing aroma of food.

Kasa: Bagels, bacon... and scrambled eggs?

Victor: The person wasn't awake yet, but their nose was very sensitive.

Hearing Victor's voice, I opened my eyes in a good mood and saw him gently pushing the food cart in my direction.

Kasa: How can one let down delicious food?

I sat up abruptly, my gaze instantly drawn to the plate of pudding made by the manor's head chef.

The small pudding sat shakily on the silver plate, its color pale, but with a heavy use of caramel; it was clear at a glance that it wasn't made by Victor.

I subconsciously sniffed the pudding aroma in the air, and it was indeed completely different from what I had smelled in the kitchen before.

...That's strange. Where did that delicious smell I noticed in the kitchen come from?

Victor: What are you going to do today?

He suddenly threw out a question, casually forking up a piece of bacon and holding it to my mouth.

As I savored my delicious breakfast, I decided to put aside this "unsolved mystery" for the time being and start thinking about today's plans.

The lush green mountains outside the window looked even more magnificent under the blue sky, and the vegetables garnished on the plate in front of me looked exceptionally crisp and delicious.

I couldn't help but recall the butler's smiling introduction during dinner yesterday.

"This manor is self-sufficient, with not only a small vegetable garden, but also plenty of wild vegetables on the hill behind it."

I snapped out of my reverie and flashed a bright smile.

Kasa: Why don't we go for a walk in the back mountains? Who knows, we might just stumble upon some delicious wild vegetables!

A low sigh fell beside my ear, yet it carried a familiar sense of helplessness and indulgence.

Victor: Then eat quickly.

---

The mountain path was surprisingly clean, as if it had just been swept, with even the fallen leaves scattered evenly and softly.

Before I had taken more than a few steps, I spotted a bright green.

Kasa: Is this an edible wild vegetable? I think I saw it at dinner yesterday!

Victor: Yes, and someone even raved about its taste, thankfully they didn't "turn their back on the dish."

Victor spoke without any mercy, but he still loosely tied a knot in his coat, forming a pocket shape to hold the wild vegetables I had picked.

Together we stepped onto the soft soil and followed the path worn into the mountains and forests. Before long, we had a variety of wild vegetables in our pockets.

As I stretched, I noticed a wooden fence in the distance, silently indicating a boundary.

Kasa: We've actually reached the edge of the manor? Let's turn back...

Before I could finish speaking, some blurry images suddenly flashed through my mind.

The corridor seemed to have no end.

Victor's indistinct voice was in my ears, and vision, there seemed to be clusters of indescribable things bobbing up and down.

Kasa: ...?

Victor: Wait, don't wander off.

Victor: There is something strange next to you.

Victor: Why did you only say half of what you wanted to say? Kasa, what's wrong?

The familiar voice, like a constant fixed point, pulled me back from my daze.

Kasa: ...I think I just...saw some strange things.

Kasa: Victor, we're in a corridor of the manor... there are some small, dark things around us...

I shook my head, trying to shake off the feeling of fog in my mind, and looked up to meet Victor's puzzled gaze.

Victor: What are you talking about?

I paused for a moment, finding it somewhat difficult to explain myself.

He looked at me quietly, as if trying to find some clue in my eyes, and his grip on my hand tightened a little.

Victor: Why don't we go back first?

Kasa: ...

I took a deep breath, nodded, and let him lead me forward.

---

I don't know how long I walked, but I suddenly felt the person next to me pause.

Kasa: Um?

I looked up in confusion, and a somewhat familiar fence came into view, with several fresh, shallow pits around it.

Nearby, a few small, withered leaves lay scattered, clearly indicating that they had just been picked.

Kasa: This is not...

Kasa: Victor, haven't we just been here?

Victor: ...I guess I misread the road sign.

Victor frowned slightly in confusion, pondered for a moment, and then led me out again.

But all around were still layers of trees, and the path leading to the manor, which should have been clean and conspicuous, seemed to have been quietly erased.

After climbing a gentle slope, the fence surrounded by shallow pits appeared again ahead.

I stared blankly at the recurring scenery before me. The sunlight was unknowingly obscured by thin clouds, and the originally beautiful mountains and forests seemed to have gained a somewhat gloomy feel.

Kasa: We're not going to keep going in circles, are we? What's the next step?

Victor: Find a prominent landmark, then call the housekeeper to come pick us up.

Victor: Or, as someone suggested, just send a helicopter over.

Kasa: Pfff...

Kasa: It seems that in the face of the omnipotent Victor, all obstacles are just temporary stumbling blocks.

Victor: The mouth is quite sweet.

His voice remained calm as always, as if all his worries were insignificant.

Kasa: Of course, I'm your loyal supporter!

I reached out my hand, intending to show him my "loyalty," but unexpectedly my foot slipped and my center of gravity suddenly tilted backward.

He grabbed my wrist with lightning speed, but by sheer coincidence, he also stepped on the muddy ground I had just trod.

The world seemed to turn upside down, and as we looked at the scattered mud spots on each other's bodies and faces, the air seemed to stand still for a moment.

Kasa: Hahahaha—Victor, you've turned into a cat with a painted face now!

Victor: I don't know who's to blame for me ending up like this.

Victor: It's rare to see you so composed lately; I almost forgot you're the king of tripping over yourself and the expert at falling flat on your face.

He glared at me irritably, but still took a clean sleeve and wiped the mud off my face.

His gaze paused slightly when it fell on what was behind me.

Victor: But this time you fell with some skill; you even managed to create a path.

I followed his gaze and peered out, only to see a familiar stone path faintly visible through the lush grass.

Kasa: I was so scared! I thought something really strange had happened...

Victor: It's not impossible.

Victor stared at the road, his eyes slightly narrowed, as if he were pondering something.

Victor: Haven't you heard of people who got lost in the mountains, followed what they thought was a familiar path, only to be led to even more unfamiliar places...?

Victor: I can no longer find the way out.

The dappled shadows of the trees fell into his emotionless pupils. His dark bangs brushed against his profile, making him look like a character from a book living in the mountains.

Victor: Do you think this is really the way back?

I swallowed hard and reached out to grab the hem of his shirt.

Kasa: Victor? Are you alright?

A clear smile suddenly curved his lips, a smile that clearly showed he had succeeded in teasing someone.

Victor: Fooled again?

Kasa: If you keep going like this, I'm going to break off our friendship for three seconds!!

Victor: Three, two, one, time's up.

He disregarded my threats and leisurely led me on the way home.

The sun reappeared from behind the clouds, casting a warm glow, but then a breeze blew by, as if reminding me that the cold sweat on the back of my neck hadn't yet dissipated.

In the distance, the shadows of the trees appeared even deeper under the light.

It seemed as if everything had been left behind, or perhaps it had merged into our shadows, following our footsteps along the path leading to the manor.

Story 3: Whispering at Night

Translation

Victor: It's almost time, hand me the gloves.

Kasa: Okay, let me look...

The enticing aroma of cake filled the kitchen. I habitually opened the drawer next to me, and there lay the gloves that Victor had asked for.

I was stunned for a moment, then handed them over in disbelief.

Kasa: I always thought everything in this manor was placed so conveniently!

Kasa: The order in which the shower gel and shampoo are placed in the bathroom is exactly the same as my habits at home... I can even find things in the kitchen successfully every time.

Kasa: Do you think we might have lived here in our past lives?

I smiled, scooped up the first bite of cake, and brought it to his lips, then smiled and enjoyed it.

Victor: If that's really the case, then you've been bothering me for quite a while.

Victor: It would be best to maintain this in the next life as well.

Kasa: Who will be the one clinging to whom in the next life is hard to say!

Kasa: Besides, I have a long "life" ahead of me so that Victor and I can live a life of luxury~

Victor: I'll wait and see.

As he spoke, he calmly turned on the tap, and almost habitually reached for a sponge to tidy up the kitchen.

Victor: However, the reason why the items are easy to use... might be related to Evol.

Kasa: Evol ?

Victor: Hmm. There's a slight time discontinuity here, but it doesn't seem to be caused by the effects of time-based Evol.

Victor: In short, there may be residual Evol nearby, leading to these unusual circumstances.

Seeing that I was a little nervous, he softened his tone and added a sentence.

Victor: I have contacted a professional team, and they will come to do a full inspection once the road is repaired.

Victor: Just in case, stay close to me during this time and don't wander off on your own.

Kasa: I don't know how.

I stuck my tongue out at him, feeling that some vague guesses had been explained at that moment.

Kasa: But why are the remaining Evols accumulating here?

Kasa: Could it be that... this place is actually a geomantically auspicious location, which is why it easily accumulates energy and wealth?

Victor: I hope your kind words will bring great success to LFG's financial report next quarter.

He raised an eyebrow and glanced at me, but the corners of his lips had already honestly curved into a smile.

---

As night deepened, I went back to my room and snuggled into his arms in a comfortable position. I scrolled through my phone for a while, but I still wasn't sleepy.

Perhaps noticing that I was tossing and turning, Victor tightened his grip on my arm.

Victor: Can't sleep?

Kasa: Hmm... I feel like it's a bit of a waste to just sleep on such a beautiful night.

After I finished speaking, a thought flashed through my mind, and I turned to look at him with great interest.

Kasa: How about we do something more exciting for adults?

Kasa: Like... tell ghost stories!

Victor remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

Victor: Sure.

His unusually cooperative attitude made me vaguely feel that something was wrong, but the words had already been spoken, and there was no reason to take them back.

I cleared my throat, intending to find a suitable story from the horror movies I'd seen, when suddenly everything went dark.

Victor reached out and pulled the blanket over our heads.

The blanket blocked out the light, and the field of vision suddenly became narrow. In this small space, his presence became particularly distinct.

A breath brushed against my cheek, as clear as my heartbeat.

Kasa: What are you doing...

Victor: Since you're going to do something exciting, I'll help you create some atmosphere.

He tightened his grip around my waist slightly, drawing me closer to him, rhythmically.

His breath touched my lips, and those dark eyes seemed so close even through the blur.

The already low-pitched voice flowed through the small, warm space, sticking to the ear even more tightly than usual.

Victor: Tell it.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my pounding heart and get my mind working again.

Kasa: The story goes like this.

Kasa: Xiao Xu lives in a smart apartment building. The main gate requires facial recognition, and the apartment door also requires a password to unlock.

Victor: Well, what then?

Kasa: One evening, as he was scrolling through his phone, a notification suddenly popped up on the screen—

Kasa: "At 0:44, password successfully read from unknown device."

Kasa: Before he could react, he heard his own voice coming from the living room—|

I deliberately prolonged my voice, mimicking a cold, electronic tone.

Kasa: I—opened—the—door—!

I had barely finished speaking when a distinct creak came from the doorway.

Kasa: Aaaa!

Almost instinctively, I hugged Victor tightly and buried my head in his shoulder.

Our skin touched, and I could feel his body becoming tense.

After a long pause, his slightly teasing voice brushed against my neck with a soft laugh.

Victor: This Dummy's story is quite vivid, and it even has background noise.

Victor: Okay, look up for yourself.

I reluctantly peeked out from under the covers and cautiously looked around.

The screen window was slightly raised—it turned out that a crack had been left in the window.

Kasa: I didn't expect there would be such an environmental factor...

Kasa: But Victor, tell me the truth, weren't you scared just now too?

I forced myself to look at Victor, but to my surprise, he sighed softly and pressed his forehead against mine.

Victor: Hmm, I didn't expect that Dummy actually has a talent for storytelling.

Kasa: I thought you'd find my story childish...

Victor: The story was fairly standard, but someone was just too good at manipulating my emotions.

I leaned against the crook of his neck and couldn't help but smile.

Kasa: So you can be influenced by me too?

Victor: Didn’t you already know that?

He chuckled softly, a laugh deeper than the night and gentler than the moonlight.

Victor: Of course I'll feel puzzled and helpless because of your absurd ideas.

Victor: I also feel inexplicably happy and fond of those little things that are related to you.

Victor: Dummy... I've been biased towards you for a long time, and it's not just a little bit.

Kasa: Hehe, even though I told you a ghost story, it seems you gave me a really sweet bedtime story in return!

Victor: Then let's have a sweet dream together.

Beside the slightly ajar window, the white gauze curtains still fluttered, casting swaying shadows.

The door creaked softly, sounding like the gentle whispers of the night lulling me to sleep.

In a daze, a soft touch landed on my forehead.

Victor: Good night.

Story 4: Midnight Invitation

Translation

The automatic mahjong table in front of me was shuffling the tiles with a clattering sound, the crisp noise creating a strange symphony with the pattering rain outside the window.

White, green, and red cards fluttered endlessly, blending into a soothing hue under the warm yellow lights of the entertainment room.

I looked at the neatly arranged cards in front of me, then turned to look at the branches of the trees bent by the wind outside the window and the thick dark clouds overhead, and casually played a six of coins.

Kasa: Victor, I feel that the world is full of all sorts of coincidences and adventures.

Victor: Indeed. The fact that we encountered a typhoon is truly "unbelievable."

Victor: Bump.

As he spoke, he ruthlessly took my cards, his voice sounding colder than the typhoon outside the window.

This morning, a sudden gale and torrential rain abruptly disrupted our return journey.

The road repair work, which was almost finished, had to be postponed due to the weather, so Victor and I had to stay at the manor.

After careful consideration, we decided to huddle together in the recreation room and play two-player mahjong.

Victor drew a card, twirled it in his hand a few times, and then played it, glancing out the window as well.

Victor: Although the weather makes it impossible to call in a helicopter, I can think of other ways to leave if you want to.

Kasa: No, that's not necessary, really. These past few days have passed, and I'm getting more and more familiar with this place.

Kasa: Let's just say this was destined to be a very special holiday!

Victor looked up at me and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

Victor: Your adaptability has always amazed me.

Kasa: After all, Mr. Victor has always been by my side.

Kasa: Besides, even if any problems do arise, they can be addressed one by one.

As I spoke, I gestured in the air with my hand.

Kasa: Just like before, it was done in one swift motion with a "ah!"

Victor: What nonsense are you spouting now?

Victor frowned, his eyes clearly showing his confusion. Meeting his gaze, I was momentarily stunned.

...Strange, why would I want to do something like this?

But I inexplicably felt a certain sense of certainty, as if it had been repeated many times before.

Victor: Have you decided which card you want to play?

Across the mahjong table, Victor didn't give me much time, tapping the table with his fingertips in a somewhat oppressive manner.

Kasa: Don't rush...

I forced myself to pull myself back to reality and quickly glanced at the cards.

Kasa: Oh! I've got a winning hand!

Kasa: This is a rare opportunity, how about we place a "bet" to add some fun?

Victor: ...I've never seen a bet added at the very end like this.

Kasa: Our private card games don't have to be so formal~

Victor: Tell me first, what are you betting on?

My mind raced, going from "Don't complain, do something with me" to "Twenty puddings"...

Finally, my gaze fell on the teacup beside Victor, and my eyes narrowed—

Kasa: How about the loser unconditionally drinking the beverage prepared by the winner?

He played a card, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Victor: Alright.

I don't know if it was just my luck turning around, but I miraculously kept winning at cards all afternoon.

---

The joy of victory and the satisfying clatter of mahjong tiles seemed to echo from reality into my dreams at night...

I opened my eyes groggily.

The surroundings were pitch black, yet a sliver of light streamed into the room from outside the door.

The sound of heavy rain pounding against the window could still be heard outside, but there seemed to be something different mixed in with it.

I turned over and suddenly realized that the blankets next to me were empty.

Kasa: ...Victor?

I squinted at the 4:23 mark clearly visible on my phone, and my doubts grew stronger.

Where did he go at this time?

I hesitantly pushed open the bedroom door, and the sound became much clearer. A ray of light shone from afar, like a lamp luring moths in the night.

Is it Victor?

The corridor was empty, save for my own footsteps and the rustling sound.

Seeing that the light was coming from the entertainment room, I belatedly realized that what I was hearing was clearly the clanging sound of mahjong tiles being shuffled.

My palms were sweating, but I took a deep breath, suppressing the surging confusion and unease, and slowly pushed open the door.

Victor sat alone at the table, his eyes lowered, mechanically stroking a card in his hand, seemingly unaware of my arrival.

The sound of clattering tiles filled the air as the automatic mahjong table stacked four piles of tiles, and a wall of tiles was arranged on the table, as if a game of mahjong was about to begin.

Kasa: Victor, what are you doing? Who are you playing mahjong with?

Victor didn't speak, glanced at the empty chairs around him, and then looked at me with a deep gaze.

I swallowed hard, and a chill ran down my spine for no apparent reason.

Victor: ...What a stupid question you're asking.

Victor: Of course I'm playing alone. Is anyone else here?

His voice carried a hint of disdain, yet it reassured me somewhat. I breathed a sigh of relief, and another question belatedly popped into my mind.

Kasa: But why are you playing mahjong here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?

He deftly drew a card and played it, then stood up and walked to the player opposite him.

Victor: I don't know who it was, but this afternoon she made me a masterpiece that combined coffee and a sports drink, and even "supervised" me to finish it.

Victor: Otherwise, I wouldn't still be awake at this hour.

Victor: Since I'm awake anyway, I might as well practice a bit, so I don't have to see that person's "arrogant" face for the next few days.

A somewhat bizarre conclusion came to mind, and I tentatively spoke up, a little incredulous.

Kasa: ...You didn't lose to me, so you're secretly practicing here alone in the middle of the night, right?

Victor: .....

This time, Victor did not answer, but simply looked away quietly.

I couldn't help but chuckle; the fear and tension I felt earlier had completely dissipated.

Kasa: You should have said so earlier—if Mr. Victor is so competitive, he can always call me his sparring partner!

I pulled out a chair and sat down opposite him, as if I had finally returned to a familiar rhythm.

Kasa: If you feel I've won too much, I can let you win a little more, okay?

Victor: No need, you were just lucky today.

Kasa: Let's have an overtime game! I'll show you what I'm made of!

The manor was quiet, save for the clatter of mahjong tiles mingling with the howling wind and rain outside the window. But now, it sounded like a light and cheerful concerto.

He picked up another card, glanced at it briefly, and then a smile suddenly appeared on his lips.

Victor: Let's raise the stakes again. The loser must unconditionally submit to the winner for one day, how about it?

Kasa: Mr. Victor, are you sure this bet won't be too big?

Victor: Since someone kept me up all night, it's only fair that I take up her entire day.

Under my watchful gaze, which I sensed was about to misfortune, he pushed the cards aside and smiled with a pleased expression.

Victor: Your tomorrow is mine.

Story 5: See You Later

Translation

The long-awaited sunlight climbed back to the treetops, and the ivy on the wall lazily stretched its leaves. Along with the sunlight came the news that the road had finally been repaired.

I happily took a sip of my perfectly warmed black tea and was about to pick out a pastry when, before I could even reach out, the macaron tower in front of me suddenly collapsed.

It felt like being suddenly pushed by an invisible hand.

I quickly reached out to support it, and also popped one into Victor's mouth.

Kasa: Hehe, luckily I reacted quickly!

Victor: The person is no longer suspicious.

He naturally took a bite, put the remaining half on the plate, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

Kasa: After these past few days, I've come to accept that strange things can happen here.

Kasa: Moreover, I am fully aware that as long as the great CEO Victor is in charge, everything will proceed smoothly and without incident.

Kasa: So, I can now accept everything and wholeheartedly enjoy the present moment with you.

I leisurely reassembled the macaron tower, looked around the manor where I had stayed for almost a week, and sighed with a touch of emotion.

Kasa: But I didn't expect that when the day of departure actually arrived, I would feel a little reluctant to leave.

Victor seemed to have expected me to say that, and took a sip of tea without flinching.

Victor: If you really like it, you can wait until the relevant team has thoroughly investigated the Evol residue here before coming back.

Victor: The holiday is already halfway over.

Victor: If you don't finish your remaining sightseeing plans soon, someone will probably lament about wasting their vacation again.

Kasa: That's not necessarily true. As long as Victor gets a vacation, that's perfect!

Victor: Yeah?

Victor: If we were to end the holiday now, you wouldn't have any complaints, would you?

Kasa: ...You can't say that. Of course, the longer I spend with you, the better!

Victor: Her words were sweeter than macarons.

As he spoke his complaints, his eyes were already slightly upturned, and the curve of his lips had already betrayed his mood.

The afternoon sunlight was lazy, as if foreshadowing that the weather would remain as good as it was now.

---

In the afternoon, we packed our luggage, said goodbye to the butler who had come to see us off, and left the manor once again along the stone path.

Kasa: I don't know when we'll be free to come over next time... how about we do it during the next long weekend?

Victor: The plan was quite well-organized.

Victor: Don't let it turn into a situation where you're working overtime and going on business trips, and you can't even see the person.

He casually replied to me, but then paused in his steps.

I took a small step forward, puzzled, but before I could even ask a question, a slight dizziness washed over me...

Some vague memories surfaced in my mind, like a layer of mist that had always shrouded the past gradually dissipating.

I blinked blankly, fragmented memories flashing through my mind involuntarily—

Grayish-black pom-poms, a teapot in the restaurant, the melodious sound of a shawl...

Kasa: What are these...?

I hesitated and looked at the person next to me.

Kasa: Victor, I have this feeling... it's like we've actually been here for a long time.

He pinched the bridge of his nose with a hint of confusion, seemingly pondering something just like me, before slowly speaking after a long while.

Victor: ...It should be caused by the Evol that I told you about before.

After he finished speaking, he pulled me to sit down on a bench by a flower bed not far away, then opened his tablet and quickly clicked a few times.

Victor: I'm not taking the car. I'll contact a helicopter right now and leave as soon as possible.

Victor: Before I get a more definitive conclusion, I will also have the management close the manor.

Seeing that his movements suddenly paused for a moment, I curiously leaned closer.

A push notification caught my eye—

"Dear Mr. Victor, your reserved helicopter service is temporarily unavailable because you did not arrive at the designated location on time."

"To ensure your travel can proceed as planned, please call the contact number promptly after receiving this message."

Kasa: ...You've already booked the helicopter in advance? When did that happen...?

Victor: I don't recall it, but the timeline shows it was six days ago.

Kasa: Six days ago? Weren't we just here...?

The person next to me seemed to remember something, brought up the phone's call interface, and opened a record from six days ago, where the call lasted only a few seconds.

I blinked slowly, recalling the phone call that had been answered intermittently and then abruptly ended.

Could it be that the call was made by airline personnel trying to contact us?

As if accompanying my words, another wave of dizziness washed over me, and more memories gradually surfaced in my mind...

Victor and I were making pudding together in the kitchen, laughing and seemingly sharing it with the few shadowy figures beside us.

At the manor's swimming pool, under the blue sky, we had a fierce water gun battle with the exotic goldfish;

Before the waterfall on the back mountain, someone gently said "goodbye" to us.

Everything, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle being put into place, slowly reveals a different picture.

I stared blankly at Victor, feeling as if everything from the past few days had become surreal, and couldn't help but murmur in a mix of amazement and joking.

Kasa: I feel like I can use this trip as a basis to make a TV show when I get back.

Victor: I don't recommend you go to the estate to gather materials until I've completely confirmed that it's safe here.

Even though he knew it was a joke, he still inadvertently revealed a hint of tension. My eyes flickered, and I deliberately spoke.

Kasa: Even if you come with me, it won't work?

Victor: I was always going to stay with you anyway.

He said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world, then paused.

Victor: ...However, I won't be foolish enough to step into this place again.

His resolute answer made my eyes crinkle into a smile. I moved closer to him and uttered the same joke he'd made to me when we first arrived at the manor.

Kasa: If Mr. Victor is nervous, could you please call a team of bodyguards to be on standby 24/7 for protection?

He gave me a knowing, silent look, then raised his hand and lightly tapped me on the head.

Victor: Dummy, this isn't about being nervous or not.

Victor: Since it concerns you, we can't be too careful.

I couldn't help but laugh and throw myself into his arms, where he caught me steadily. The faint chirping of birds and the swaying shadows of trees filled the air.

The manor where we lived for so long was hidden in a sea of green, like a story packed into a suitcase, its lid closed and its lock locked by the sunlight and the sky.

My comments

Victor's story was fun to read, and I'm really starting to like the dynamic between these two more and more!

Ahaha, I love these moments when MC tries to scare Victor to no avail, only to end up even more scared herself when Victor turns the tables on her! But even he knows when it's not the right time for jokes. When something strange happens, he just keeps his cool, calls someone to deal with it, and reassures MC while holding her in his arms at the same time. <3

I loved this suggestive little opening: "How about we do something more exciting for adults? > Tell ghost stories!" xD It was a nice callback to their camping trip during the Cape Holiday event. Apparently, MC still gets scared by her own stories lol, but this time even Victor admitted that he was worried—well, not because of the story itself, but because of MC's reactions. And after that, we even got some rare soft words from him. Hihi. 😘

I also loved the running joke about MC suggesting that Victor could use his money to hire a helicopter to rescue them, and how they kept coming back to the same discussion throughout their stay at the manor. And in the end, Victor was so concerned that he actually tried to call the helicopter. xD