Test of Guts

Fourth day of vacation.

Evening, 10:10 p.m.

Akira and the quintuplets were at the edge of the forest, wearing thick jackets to protect them from the cold and flashlights as the only source of light other than the moon hanging in the sky.

"Hey, how about we go back?" Nino spoke in a nervous voice.

"What is Nino talking about, isn't this your suggestion? You said you wanted to test your nerves and see what ghosts are like in this land." Itsuki complained.

"There are no ghosts in this world---"

Yotsuba wanting to comfort her sister, suddenly remembered that supernatural beings really do exist.

"Do ghosts really exist?" Miku asked while looking at Akira who was in front of everyone.

"Nothing, right?" Ichika asked for confirmation.

Akira saw the quintuplets waiting for his answer, and with a smile on his face, he answered honestly: "Ghosts are real."

That simple answer gave the five girls goosebumps. They trusted their little brother so much, if he said there was, there must be a reason why he said that.

"Don't scare us, if ghosts do exist, why isn't there scientific research?" Nino refuses to believe in reality.

"Now then, since Nino-Nee is so sure, let's continue. I heard from the locals that the Alas Purwo Sacred Forest is considered a sacred place by the local people. Even though it is called a sacred forest, it is inhabited by spirits who maintain the balance of nature."

Akira's statement only added to the quintuplets' fear, but since they had already arrived, they found it pointless not to venture into the forest.

After only a few minutes, Itsuki pointed at a tree.

"Hey, look! There's plenty of food there."

Itsuki's eyes lit up when she saw the fruits neatly arranged on a plate, which was located under the tree.

"It was probably an offering someone left for the tree, Itsuki-Nee, don't eat it, or you might be cursed." Akira put on a serious expression.

"D-Don't treat me like a glutton. I wouldn't do something like that!"

"Drool dripping down your lips."

"Huh, really?"

Itsuki hastily rubbed her lips, knowing she was lied to by Nino, she puffed out her cheeks.

"Let's continue." Akira shook his head with a smile.

The deeper they went into the forest, the more tense the atmosphere.

Owls echoing in the silent forest, bushes swaying in the wind, etc., add to the horror.

Even the happiest girl, Yotsuba, didn't reek of acting recklessly.

Only Akira always looked calm, but [Universal Sense] was always active, and if something changed, he could act immediately.

"Stop."

The quintuplets immediately stopped in place

.

"What's wrong, Akira?" Asked Itsuki.

Akira didn't give an explanation. Approaching Miku who was standing near a tree, he stretched his hand forward.

Miku's eyes opened wide. She thought her little brother would hold her cheeks and show intimate acts in front of her sister, but that didn't happen.

"This snake almost bit Miku-Nee."

Akira held a king cobra snake in his hands.

"Hisss."

The king cobra hissed furiously, spewing deadly poison from its mouth.

"Snake!" Nino exclaimed in surprise.

"Be careful, Akira-chan! It's a poisonous snake." Itsuki recognized the type of snake it was and reminded him.

Miku's heart raced after she realized her life was in danger some time ago.

"Thank You." She whispered softly.

"Just throw it away, or you'll get bitten."

Yotsuba stepped forward and wanted to throw away the king cobra in her little brother's hands.

Among the quintuplets, she is the bravest of them.

"Don't touch it, Yotsuba-Nee. I'm fine, I'm even more worried about you getting poisoned."

Akira took a few steps back and refused Yotsuba's help.

"That, that, that..."

Nino pointed with a shaking hand.

Not only she, but Ichika, Miku, and Itsuki looked stiff. The pupils dilated, the forehead was covered in cold sweat, the legs trembled, and the lips couldn't get the words out.

Even the most courageous Yotsuba wore an expression of fear like no other.

"Hmm? Could there be something behind me?"

Seeing the frightened reaction of the quintuplets when they looked at him, Akira could guess the development like in a horror movie.

But none of the five girls answered, as if they had lost the ability to speak.

When Akira looked back, his guess turned out to be correct

Not far from him, there was a figure wrapped in a dirty white shroud, with fiery red eyes, a shattered and decayed face, and giving off a stench that made people want to vomit.

"Oh, it's just Pocong. I think Genderuwo or Sundel Bolong. Too bad, Pocong is just an ordinary ghost among the ordinary."

Unlike his five sisters who were frightened to the point of speechlessness, Akira shook his head like a player doing Gacha, but got the dregs.

He was very disappointed to meet Pocong.

Pocong is a mythological creature or urban legend that is popular in Indonesia. They are believed to be the spirit or soul of someone who has died but is trapped in a shroud that is still tightly bound around the body. In traditional beliefs, the shroud usually has to be removed or opened so that the trapped soul can go to the afterlife.

Maybe not happy because Akira wasn't afraid and instead insulted him, the Pocong approached him by jumping up and down.

"Fuck! How long have you not bathed! Your scent is so rotten. Go quickly, rotten ghost!"

Unable to bear the smell from Pocong, Akira threw the king cobra in his hand at Pocong. As a result, the ghost disappeared.

The quintuplets who witnessed Pocong had disappeared, they regained their mobility and hurriedly pulled Akira away.

"Quickly go, this place is scarier than the rumors."

Nino grabbed Akira's right hand.

"Didn't Nino-Nee want to see a ghost? That's just one type of ghost, there are many others that haven't appeared yet." Akira said.

"I wish they didn't show up!" Nino regretted coming to a scary place like this.

"Hi Hi Hi Hi..."

The sound of female laughter is heard in the forest.

In front of them, a woman in red clothes with flowing black hair, sitting on a tree branch, and her face as pale as if there was no blood, was staring at them.

"Why is another ghost appearing!" Nino and the others stop, as the exit is blocked by a ghost.

"After this, I will never want to take part in the dare test again." Itsuki swears, this experience traumatized her.

Even though Ichika and Miku were scared too, their reactions were calmer, because both of them knew that as long as Akira was around, nothing would happen to them.

"Everyone go, I will restrain the ghost."

Yotsuba wanted to get the ghost's attention so the others could escape.

*Pa*

"Ouch."

She winced as she held her head, which had just been hit by Akira.

"Idiot, how could we leave Yotsuba-Nee. No need to act heroically. If you ask why? Because I'm here."

Akira picked up a rock on the ground, then threw it with Third Cosmic Speed.

*Whoosh*

The rock went faster than a bullet and pierced the ghost of the woman.

"Don't just stand still, take this opportunity to escape."

Akira woke up Nino and Itsuki who were astonished to see that. After the two of them regained their senses, they left the Alas Purwo Sacred Forest.

On their way out of the forest, they were disturbed several times by ghosts, but they all disappeared after being hit by a stone.

Then they hailed a taxi and headed back to the hotel.

The experience of meeting and being disturbed by a real ghost will be a memory they will find hard to forget.