Chapter 1 part1 (1/2)

99th vampire princess Chapter 1 Part 1

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CHAPTER 1 - LORE OF THE “ONE-MAN HIDE-AND-SEEK”

PART 01

“Erm, big brother Jin…… Do you know about the ‘one-man hide-and-seek’?”

It was breakfast time when my beloved little sister asked me hesitantly about this lonely-sounding game.

“My dear s.h.i.+gure. Your big brother’s name may be written with the kanji for ‘Jin’, but that’s not how it’s p.r.o.nounced……”

“Really? I just thought ‘big brother Jin’ sounded really cool, so—”

“Well, if you think it’s cool, then it’s fine.”

With that, I forgave my beloved little sister for mistaking the name of her own brother.

Besides, the real p.r.o.nunciation did sound a little like a girl’s name.

So it was true that ‘Jin’ sounded more manly.

“Anyway, do you know about the ‘one-man hide-and-seek’?”

“No, I don’t. It sounds like a lonely game for a lonely person.”

“I guess. It’s an occult game that was trending on the internet just a while back.”

My little sister s.h.i.+gure said as she spread margarine on a piece of bread and bit into it.

I smiled, watching as she nibbled on a corner of the bread with her tiny mouth. Then, I thought back on her words.

“What do you mean, an occult game?”

“Well……”

s.h.i.+gure seemed at a loss for words, even though she was the one who introduced this topic.

Swallowing a mouthful of bread, she looked at me with worry in her eyes.

“……It’s more commonly known as ‘urban legends’.”

I froze.

Urban legends.

It was a forbidden topic between myself and s.h.i.+gure.

“Actually, a cla.s.smate tried the game out, and she’s been missing for the past 3 days.”

s.h.i.+gure’s expression was grim.

I could tell that this was going to be a serious discussion.

“My cla.s.smates are currently obsessed with occult games. Urban legends, haunted locations, they all love it so much. Then, my friend Yumie decided to try the game out…… After that, n.o.body was able to contact her.”

s.h.i.+gure might be a real beauty, but she always gave off a cold, aloof aura. Thus, I was glad to hear that she’d managed to make friends with someone. However, the fact that said friend was now missing was a disturbing thought.

“Does this ‘one-man hide-and-seek’ story warn about people going missing? For example, players being unable to come back home after visiting a place?”

“No. It’s a game you play at home. But she’s really gone.”

“Hmm, I see.”

I reached out for my usual cup of morning coffee.