Reluctant Hero ✔️

Fifteen

TIMESKIP 5 DAYS

"Okay so hopefully it doesn't snow as much today like the weather said."

"My mom insisted that she'd pick us up after we're finished too. She's just driving around the area so it doesn't look suspicious."

Hanni shivered, looking around the desolate and dark street, "jeez I know it's like... twelve in the morning but I've never seen Korea look so... empty during Christmas time."

The group of five were walking down the street at the dead of night, and unlike the previous years, there were no decorations strung up, no trees, no colorful lights...

Only the dim lighting of streetlamps showed them the way...

"Wait... How are we going to get in?"

Minji glanced back at Haerin, "through the back, there's no security in this place since it's not a popular spot."

The cat grumbled as they went into an alleyway, "I can't believe we're breaking and entering..."

Danielle mumbled the same way as they waited for Minji to get the back door open.

"You can say that again..."

"Don't worry unnies, it's not like we're going to steal anything."

The backdoor opened with a little bit of effort, the inside of the building dimly lit as they entered a rather clean looking staff-only area.

Haerin looked around the lobby as they left the room, "why is the last piece in here anyways?"

"It's the triforce of wisdom, if it's in an escape room, I'm going to guess that you're well... Going to escape using puzzles."

"This is the final piece right?"

Hyein spoke softly in replace of Minji as the eldest began to open a spiritual gate at the start of one of the rooms in the escape room lobby.

"Yes, after this you'll have all three pieces of the triforce."

The four glanced over as one of the doors that'd usually be the beginning of an escape room shifted to show a wavering view of the other side.

Minji nodded at Haerin to go on, "good luck. Don't worry about time since this place opens really late in the afternoon."

The cat took a deep breath, "see you guys in a bit..."

She walked into the room, the atmosphere completely different from the real world, signifying that the "gate" Minji created worked.

Haerin looked around, there were no monsters, and there was a lone door with a padlock holding the handle into place.

'Is this trail just finding keys?'

She began to rummage around, a thought in the back of her head itching her brain as she easily found the small key.

'This is too easy...'

As soon as she entered the second room, the door behind her immediately slammed shut, and a familiar screech could be heard.

Haerin's eyes dropped in annoyance as she met eyes with a Bokoblin, a handful of them.

"There we go."

She picked off the gremlin monsters one by one, the final one that turned to ashes dropping a key.

"So that's what's happening..."

Haerin mumbled to herself as she dusted off the key, opening the next room. Unlike the previous door, this one stayed open, and she stared in confusion at the stone slab gate that blocked her way to the next room.