After reading the runes, Rico halted his approach toward the dark tunnel and stared over at the one lined with glowing gemstones.
"If I think about it, the odds of the sparkling lane being true are extremely low…"
For a few minutes, he thought carefully about the decision he had to make. Either path could be the correct one, so there had to be something he was missing—something that could help.
If this is a trial… what could it be testing?
Rico glanced back and forth between the entrances, and as if something clicked, he headed toward the tunnel on his right—the gemstone one. He stopped at the entrance before stepping inside.
The first thing he noticed, apart from the sparkling gems, was a massive table. It stretched deep into the tunnel, covered in a wide, mouthwatering array of food.
Rico rubbed his hands together as his stomach growled at the sight of everything. His attention was immediately drawn to a roasted turkey, glazed with a rich, appealing sauce. Beside it sat a massive white cake, decorated with cherries and strawberries. Just behind the turkey was a large jug of juice, cubes of ice floating inside, giving it a refreshing look.
"This has to be a trap… right?"
Quickly, he walked back over to the dark, foul-smelling tunnel and peered inside. All he saw was darkness. The stench pouring from it was unbearable. Occasional screams echoed through, followed by a sharp, lashing sound he hadn't noticed before.
'One is true… the other is a lie…'
"Okay… I've made my decision. I just hope I don't regret this."
Rico turned and walked back toward the gemstone tunnel, stepping inside without a second thought. Once he stepped inside, the gemstones flickered for a moment, losing their glow as the entrance sealed shut behind him.
"I knew it was too good to be true,"
He frowned, kicking at the dust beneath his feet. However, the gemstones flickered again — then shone even brighter, illuminating the space once more. He paused for a brief moment before finally deciding to move.
Slowly, he approached the table and scanned the food laid out before him. Using his hand, he carefully touched and inspected everything.
'Seems… pretty okay to me. That does look like a normal turkey… it would only be right if I confirm by taste, right?'
Rico paused after the thought and tilted his head up, staring at the ceiling of the tunnel.
"Why am I even worried about dying? I don't even know if I'm alive. Pfff… if I'm already dead, how much deader can I get?"
He looked back at the turkey.
Then—
He tore into it like a savage, ripping off a drumstick with one hand while grabbing the large jug of juice with the other.
'Forget table manners. I'm a shameless glutton.'
For the next ten minutes, he worked his way down the table, devouring cake, ice cream, fruits, chocolate bars, and meat he wasn't even sure he could identify.
"BERP!!!" — he unleashed a devastating belch, rubbing his belly.
"Well… only two things can happen from here,"
He chuckled to himself as he rested on the floor beside the table.
"Either this food was real and I made the right choice… or I'm about to be eaten from the inside out by that turkey I devoured so gracefully."
Rico inhaled slowly, then stretched his arms overhead as he let out a yawn.
"I guess it's time to sleep and find out if I ever wake up,"
Drowsiness began to slowly take over. After a few minutes, he drifted off.
Three hours later, he woke. Immediately, he ran his hands over his body, checking to make sure everything was still intact.
"Okay… two hands, two feet…"
Then slowly, he peeked into his pants.
"Phew… it's still there."
After confirming everything was in place, he got to his feet and continued down the tunnel. Staying on guard, Rico occasionally glanced behind him. Though he wasn't sure what was coming next, he knew one thing —
It wouldn't be this easy. It never was... for him.
Now, Rico's decision on choosing this path wasn't as complicated as it seemed.
The sign said one path showed the truth, the other a lie. Naturally, most people would assume the same thing — the appealing path was the trap, and the foul, unbearable one had to be real.
But that was exactly where the answer lay.
If the unpleasant path truly was the truth… then everything about it — the darkness, the stench, the screams — was real.
That wasn't just truth. That was suffering being accepted knowingly.
Most would reject the appealing path immediately, assuming it was a trick, and walk straight into the other without thinking twice. But Rico hesitated.
What if the unappealing path really was the truth? That meant choosing it guaranteed pain. So why pick it? If the appealing one was a lie… how much worse could it really be?
And with that —
He chose the path that seemed too good to be true.
The bastard was pretty smart when it came to puzzles — and, deep down, he had a bit of a gambler in him.
As he exited the tunnel, he came upon two new paths. Unlike the earlier entrances, these weren't open. Instead, they were sealed behind closed doors, each marked with intricate designs. Rico stood there for a moment, staring at the doors, tapping his foot as he waited.
"Where is that glowing sign? It should've appeared by now… Should I just choose one?"
He glanced around a few times and waited a bit longer. Still, nothing.
Becoming impatient, Rico decided to check for himself what was behind each door. Then, almost as if approaching the door triggered something, the sign appeared again.
"One path takes, and the other gives."
As usual, it vanished.
"Okay… sounds pretty straightforward. The only question is… what does it take or give?"
Slowly, Rico approached the first door and pushed it open. As it swung fully open, he braced himself for something to jump out at him — anything was fair game at this point.
But instead —
An old lady sat in a chair, quietly knitting. The room looked like any ordinary home. A sofa rested against the wall, a small TV sat nearby, and a radio played soft jazz in the background.
The old lady turned and gave Rico a gentle smile.
"Please, come have tea with me."
Rico didn't know what to make of it. Quietly, he closed the door and stepped back.
"Who was that? And what's a room doing in a place like this… does she live here?"
He dragged his hand down his face and sighed. He had more questions than answers. Shifting his gaze to the next door, he approached it.
"So what should I expect now? Santa Claus?"
He reached his hand towards the knob and turned it.
"Oh… my… gosh!"
Rico's jaw fell to the floor as his eyes froze open.
"Please, come in. Come stay with us. We promise to treat you well."
"Here, you can have this —"
A bra flew toward him and landed on his head.
"H-h-harem?"
Rico stuttered, staring at the ten beautiful girls before him, each wearing nothing but panties. Their eyes were striking — almost unreal — and their hair flowed gently over their shoulders, barely covering their exposed chests.
Their skin came in different shades, as if each of them had been taken from a different part of the world and placed together in one room. Behind them sat a large jacuzzi, filled with water and scattered with floating petals.
And the smell? He couldn't even begin to describe it.
"Please, come stay with us, Rico. We promise to treat you right,"
One of the girls bit her lips and tilted her head with a seductive smile.
"We've been so lonely, Rico… come stay with us… forever."
Rico stood frozen, unable to react. Their voices pulled at him — soft, inviting — like invisible hands drawing him forward. Slowly… his thoughts began to blur.
"M-me? You want me to c-come inside?"
They giggled. Then in unison they spoke.
"Yes, Rico. Come stay with us. We'll all have your babies."
Rico's face flushed red. His hands clenched. Even his toes curled.
"M-my babies? A-all of you? But for that to happen… wouldn't we have to —"
His breathing grew sharp, uneven, his heart pounding harder with each second.
"Come to us, Rico. We need you."
Like a puppet caught in invisible strings, he stepped forward — slow, unsteady. Their hands reached out toward him, stretching like vines, eager to pull him in.
'One gives… the other takes…'
The words from the rune flashed through his mind. But they didn't stop him.
He had fully surrendered to the pleasures before him, his thoughts reduced to a blank page.
Then — something clicked.
"Wait a minute…"
His eyes widened as realization struck like lightning.
"…I never told them my name…"
Rico shook his head violently, trying to break free from the trance. Quickly, he steadied himself and stopped — just inches away from stepping inside. He began to step back slowly.
As he did, the expression on the girls' faces twisted, their forms beginning to distort. Rico rubbed his eyes, trying to make sense of what he was seeing.
Their once-beautiful hair turned into writhing green snakes, hissing in unison. Their eyes narrowed into slitted pupils, like those of predators. And their hands… stretched into something grotesque — tentacle-like, lined with jagged suction cups. Rico staggered back in horror.
The girls let out a menacing laugh — then the door slammed shut on its own.
A moment later, the door slightly creaked open before closing once more — a single skull rolled out from beneath it, coming to a stop at his feet. Rico froze.
He leaned back against the wall behind him, staying there for a few minutes, his eyes locked onto the skull.
"No… way. Of course that was too good to be true. I can't believe I almost fell for that."
'That's why I always hated stories with harem… just authors and their childish fantasies.'
Embarrassed, he dragged his feet along the ground as he made his way back to the door with the old lady inside. Slowly, he opened it and stepped in.
"W-what flavor tea do you have?"
His tone was flat and defeated.
She invited Rico to take a seat as she went to prepare the tea. A few minutes later, she returned with two cups and handed one to him. She settled into her chair and said nothing, slowly sipping her tea as she watched him.
A little unsettled by her gaze, Rico kept his focus on the cup and took a careful sip.
'Man… this lady gives me the chills. But still… she seems pretty nice... so far.'
Trying to break the silence, he spoke.
"Thank you for the tea, ma'am. Could I have your name?"
She smiled at him — but didn't answer. Instead, she slowly stood and gestured for him to follow. Rico hesitated for a moment, then got up and followed her.
She led him to the back of the room, where a single door stood waiting. Without a word, she handed him a key… then leaned in and placed a small smooch on his jaw. Rico froze, his cheeks turning an embarrassing red.
She turned, giving him one final glance before walking away, leaving him standing there.
"Wait —" Rico called out.
But she didn't stop. She simply raised her hand and waved goodbye. Rico stood there for a moment, unsure of what to make of it all. And yet… something about it — the tea, the key, the quiet gesture — left him feeling strangely grateful. A faint, unknowing smile formed on his face.
Turning back to the door, he used the key and stepped outside. He found himself in a long, empty hall. At its center stood a massive door. From behind it, he could hear loud cheers — mixed with the steady pounding of drums.
Then, the sign from before appeared again.
"The key which thee has been given opens the door before you."
"Go henceforth, where a final choice awaits."
As usual, the sign vanished. Rico shook his head, a small smirk forming.
"So the path that gave… was the old lady…"
"Tsk… those damn harem."
Clenching his fist, he walked toward the door. Reaching it, he used the key. The massive door slowly parted, a blinding light pouring through the gap. Rico raised a hand to shield his eyes, unable to see what lay beyond.
Then —
A voice echoed from within.
"Welcome our next combatant. He will surely make a great meal for Taruntula."
Rico froze, his gaze darting from side to side. His mouth parted slightly, caught between confusion and realization.
"…Wait."
"…Meal for who now?!"