How a Nuisance Character Survives in a Horror Game – Chapter 78

Author: lipzoldyck

Since I’m alone, I should find out if there’s another way to destroy the Emperor, but I don’t know anything about it.

Holloway doesn’t seem to want to tell me about the seal either…

In the end, I have to figure it out on my own, and the only one who can tell me is the system.

I’m almost 90% certain that it’s our ancestors.

[Would you like to accept the quest to find a way to kill the ‘First Emperor’?]

Look, it came out just right there.

[Take care of the uninvited guest.]

The unfriendly explanation was soon revealed by an evil spirit who burst through the door.

What would have happened if I hadn’t sensed something strange in the first place?

Nothing is solved in one go. Really.

—Guts for the Master.

Emmm, nope.

—Fingers for the Master.

Is the Master Suriel, by any chance?

The evil spirit, wearing a blood-soaked apron and wielding an axe, approached me menacingly, its sharp teeth constantly gnashing.

Kiiiiik, kiiiik.

The large axe dragged along the floor.

—Human.

The evil spirit raised its axe, and I quickly dodged to the side, spear in hand.

Thank goodness it was slow.

With a crack, the ground split open, and I swung my spear.

I slammed the axe into the evil spirit’s head, and it melted and remained motionless.

[The spear’s effectiveness was truly remarkable!]

So you’re praising yourself.

I was taken aback by how easily I handled it.

I expected a bit of a struggle.

[A glass bottle will be given as a gift.]

A glass bottle appeared in my bag. I touched it, and spears appeared one after another.

[The ‘First Emperor’ is weak in bloodless hands. If his heart is trapped in the blood of such a human, he will suffer endlessly until eventually disappear.]

…Blood?

Bloodless hands mean hands that haven’t killed a human.

Blood that hasn’t killed a human.

…My blood?!

Werner and Cleta are knights, so they’ve probably killed one or two humans.

That leaves me, Cynthia, and Moran.

I said I’d step forward and end this, so I couldn’t ask for Cynthia and Moran’s blood.

Moran isn’t guilty in the first place, so why should she?

I don’t want to be accused of just swearing at the demons. It’s not my nature to ask others for help.

But bleeding is scary!

How could I possibly injure myself?

‘So the evil spirit was a trick.’

I examined the vial. It was just big enough to hold a heart.

I need to pour more than half of my blood into it for the heart to drown in that.

If I fill it too much, the blood will overflow, and it will be a waste so ain’t no way. If I draw that much, I might become anemic from lack of blood.

So, let’s draw it just enough…

I held the dagger and opened my palm. Unlike when I was killing a monster, I hesitated. I hate pain so much, what can I do.

As I sobbed and my hand trembled, the door opened and Holloway entered.

He looked at the vial before me, the dagger, my outstretched palm, and finally my face. Then, on his long legs, he strode within striking distance and stopped.

Holloway looked puzzled as he wiped away the tears that were barely hanging.

“Why are you crying? I don’t think it’s because of evil spirits. Where did you get that vial?”

“I’m going to put my blood in here.”

“You were asking for a drop of our blood, and now yours?”

“Yours, you say… why do you call me that?”

(p.s.: the word used here, ‘자기’, can refer to ownership in a more formal context, also can be used as an endearing term)

“…”

I couldn’t say I’d kill the Emperor, so I answered, but that murderous look made my stomach churn.

“It’s a joke.”

“You’re going to cut your palm and draw blood?”

I guess he hated ‘honey’ himself.

“It’ll flow better if you cut the veins.”

Right. Then who’s going to stop the bleeding?

I had to save the potion until we fought the Emperor.

Seeing me growing more and more thoughtful, Holloway unceremoniously interjected.

“I’m just joking.”

“You should never joke.”

“Think about it. Do you have to bleed, Sister?”

He’s getting used to calling me ‘Sister, Sister’ now, even with that size.

Honestly, we’re about the same age, so it didn’t feel awkward.

“Yeah, it has to be my blood.”

He didn’t ask, but he seemed to vaguely sense what I was up to again.

“I’ll do it on a blood vessel.”

“Stop the bleeding…”

“Don’t worry, I’ll do it for you just this once, as a favor.”

He then grabbed my wrist.

“It’ll hurt.”

“Hngggg.”

“Pffft.”

Is my crying that funny?

Holloway, who had been serious, lowered his head and laughed, his face becoming bright.

He then pulled me into his arms and pressed my head against his chest.

It was because my mouth couldn’t reach his shoulder.

“You can bite if it hurts.”

Gnaw!

“It shouldn’t hurt yet.”

“Oh? Weawwy?“

My pronunciation was completely slurred because I was biting my inner mouth. He stroked the back of my head.

Soon, I groaned in excruciating pain.

“My blood…”

The wound was fine, as Holloway had immediately treated it.

The only strange thing was that a thin scar remained.

Holloway stroked my wrist. Then his eyes narrowed.

“Holloway?”

“…The scar won’t go away.”

“Really?”

I guess there’s nothing I can do. It’s not even that noticeable.

Holloway stared at me, unmoving.

“Why?”

“There’s a scar left.”

“But?”

“I left it.”

“It couldn’t be helped.”

I even asked him to do it.

“Is that really all?”

“You’re not a healer… It’s only natural that there’s a scar.”

On this island, Holloway could do anything. He could even heal, something demons couldn’t.

But he doesn’t have true healing powers. Holloway said he doesn’t heal wounds, but rather returns them to a time when they never existed.

So, these side effects are possible.

“I’ll find the potion.”

“Where are you going?”

It’s not even noticeable, though!

I can always find the potion later.

I lost blood, and maybe from all the screaming. My head is spinning, but Holloway brought me some precious chocolate and gave it to me, so I feel a little better.

You’re so kind, yet so unkind.

I wonder if someone will say this isn’t a horror game.

I was craving something bloody. I felt uneasy and carefully placed the vial of blood in my bag.

“Hollaway, can I ask you a favor?”

“Is it difficult?”

“No. If someone attacks the blood behind me, block the first hit.”

“And the second one?”

“The first hit from each different evil spirit.”

“I will.”

Then my blood is safe for now.

As soon as I opened the door, another child suddenly sprinted past me.

“Huh? That kid!”

As I frantically tried to chase after him, Holloway grabbed me and stopped me.

“There’s a kid!”

“There are a lot of people underground.”

“…?”

“They wander around, not knowing they’re dead.”

“Ah…”

“And no one touches them. Not even evil spirits with nothing left but malice.”

These lores…

I covered my mouth, held back tears, and walked down the hallway in silence.

To imprison even souls that don’t turn into evil spirits. What standards does this god have?

Ah, it’s so frustrating. Frustrating…

I want to quickly lift the curse on the island and destroy this cruel place.

“Why aren’t you asking any more?”

“Even if I ask, there’s nothing I can do about it… I told you not to expect anything big from me.”

“You already went soft just because you saw a kid. Even now, you’re doing that too.”

“Oho.”

What’s with that tone.

“Do you find it easy to cry?”

“I do.”

“But the saltiness is different, right?”

I’m getting mad!

I forced the corners of my trembling lips to lift into a smile.

“Of course.”

“…”

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“It’s just… I didn’t really have any intention of doing anything.”

What do you mean?

But he remained silent after that.

If you act cute like you did when you were a kid, what am I supposed to do, huh? Even though there’s nothing I can do for you…

Still, I’m curious.

I glanced at Holloway, who pressed his thumb against my cheek.

“You’re blushing.”

“Why?”

“Why are you asking me that?”

“I’m just talking to myself.”

He seemed lost in thought for a moment. Then, out of the blue, he asked me.

“Sister, how do you feel when I’m gone? Do you feel anxious?”

“No?”

How did you know. You’re a ghost.

A mischievous smile spread across his face, as if he’d instantly realized I was lying.

“That would do.”

“What?”

He gave a wicked smile, and a window popped up.

[Holloway decides to raise the ‘Cute Comedian’ well and keep her by his side.]

[There is no prediction on what kind of ending this will be!]

[Error, error!!?(°Д°=°Д°)?]

[Error, error!!?(°д°=°д°)?]

[Holloway’s exact thoughts cannot be read!]

[Trying to read

૮ ◞ ﻌ ◟ ྀི३ა… ]

[But failing miserably

ค(= ◻ ㅈ ◻ =) ∫

Ancestor! Try harder!

[Gathering strength and trying again

(งಠ_ಠ)ง… ]

[Oh no! A complete failure

༼ ,΄◻ ۝◻‵༽… !]

Am I really domesticated?

[It is 99% true.]

…It’s so true.

[Holloway’s thoughts are particularly powerful!]

It seems the system becomes more aware of Holloway when his emotions become stronger.

“Let’s go.”

He grabbed my hand and pulled me along, a smile etched across his face, as if he truly intended to breed me.

Even though I knew what he was doing, I couldn’t escape.

I was involuntarily captivated, unable to take my eyes off his face.

[Holloway is pleased.]

Damn it. What the hell is that beauty trick?

I shook my head from side to side, trying to clear my dazed mind.

Holloway, who rarely uses his looks, was beginning to show signs of using them. It’s like this, but if he starts using them in earnest, I’ll be in big trouble.

Am I not going to be domesticated too much?

Before that happens, I need to hurry and avenge this place.

For now, I recalled the lab numbers I’d passed, and only visited places with numbers I hadn’t seen.

Even the Emperor could wander, but it would be far more beneficial to go to places I hadn’t been before.

“Come to think of it, Dilaph’s gone, right?”

“He’s gone.”

“Where?”

“At home.”

I was trying to force myself that this must be his house.

As I walked along, looking at him suspiciously, Holloway said just one thing.

“Sister, in front of you.”

“Ouch!”

As soon as I looked ahead, I slammed into the wall and almost fell backward, but he grabbed my bag and saved me.

“I-It hurts…”

Then there was a clanging sound of something falling.

What is it? A sword?

It was a training wooden sword. When I picked it up, Holloway asked, seemingly intrigued for the first time.

“How strange. Something really is pulling you, Sister.”

“Huh?”

As Holloway spoke incoherently, a window appeared above his face.

[Remaining Footprints (4)

Characteristics: Someone’s precious training wooden sword. The owner of a lost wooden sword can roughly locate the chest where it was found if someone finds it. They’ll be very grateful if you help them find the owner.]

A wooden sword? Is it Dilaph’s?

I should pack it in my bag. With two stories left, there’s not much left to finish.

“I didn’t know objects would come out when you hit a wall.”

“Me too.”

Just keep giving it to me like this.

And if I hadn’t bumped into him, it would have been a disaster.

My actions weren’t calculated, so it couldn’t have been a coincidence. Then maybe it was luck.

“Why are you taking it?”

“It’s a weapon. Just in case…”

Taking a weapon wasn’t unusual, so Holloway didn’t suspect anything else.

“But don’t step there.”

“I told you to tell me quickly…!”