Surviving as a Crazy Evil Spirit in a Horror Game Chapter 26

Adolf’s words were logical.

 

“So it’s thanks to the fact that I’m not on good terms with ghosts and monsters that I avoided your suspicion.”

 

When I let out a hollow laugh, Adolf began watching me carefully.

 

“Hmph. Something about you… feels different from usual?” 

 

Adolf circled around, observing me.

 

“It doesn’t seem like it’s just because of what you went through earlier. Don’t tell me something happened with the young master?”

 

“…You’re sharp.”

 

When I didn’t answer, Adolf began pressing me.

 

“I might let other things slide, but I won’t stand for anything involving the Young Master. He already seemed so troubled today as it is.” 

 

“We didn’t fight or anything like that. I openly mentioned the evil god, and Basileon nearly threw up…”

 

“Oh dear… To openly say such a sensitive word. You really are a thoughtless evil spirit.”

 

Come to think of it, Adolf seemed perfectly fine even when talking about matters related to the evil god.

 

“I thought it was okay to treat it like that because you seemed fine with it!” 

 

“I’m a bit of a special case, so let it slide.”

 

After this incident, I found myself trusting that I could say just about anything to Adolf.

 

“Anyway, aside from that, he said he couldn’t stop me from getting close to the survivors—but he told me to stay away from the platinum-blond human. There’s a survivor named Evan.” 

 

“Platinum blond… I remember seeing him once during the day. He looked quite sharp.”

 

Adolf seemed to recall Evan’s face and bounced lightly in front of me.

 

“It’s jealousy. The young master is jealous of that sharp-looking human.”

 

“As expected? I kind of expected as much.”

  

“From what I see, the reason the young master hasn’t been paying attention to humans lately is probably because of you.”

 

“I once told him not to kill humans. I said it’s hard to watch, too. It’s probably because of that.”

 

Adolf tilted his body and gave me a sidelong stare, as if expressing his curiosity and confusion with his entire being.

 

“…Why?”

 

“Evil spirit. Do you really think the young master would refrain from hunting humans for such a simple reason?”

 

I instinctively avoided Adolf’s gaze.

 

“That reaction of yours… Have you guessed what I’m about to say? From what I see, the young master seems to have fallen in love.”

 

“That’s not true yet!”

 

“He digs the ground because of you, endures you openly calling the evil god by name, and even refrains from hunting humans. The young master’s mind is completely filled with thoughts of you!” 

 

Adolf shouted loudly.

 

“Still, there must be some room for other things to slip in, right?”

 

“It doesn’t matter. You’ll find out eventually.”

 

Because of Adolf, my mind wandered back to the conversation I had with Basileon.

 

“What are you spacing out for with your mouth open like that?”

 

“Wh-what…”

 

“Judging by your reaction, has the young master already confessed or something? If so, he’s quite bold…”

 

“No. That’s not it.”

 

I avoided Adolf’s gaze and tried to change the subject.

 

“Let’s drop that and focus on what’s urgent right now. Do you have any guesses about the ghost and monster disappearance?”

 

“Well… I was actually investigating that matter myself. For now, I don’t know either.”

 

What I learned today: Krius believes I’m the culprit—and he wants me dead. The other ghosts and monsters might not think any differently from Krius. After all, there’s a good chance he’s been going around stirring them up, claiming that I’m responsible.

 

‘So, if I want to turn this situation around, it’d be best to catch the real culprit myself.’

 

I jumped to my feet.

 

“Adolf. Come with me. Let’s go catch the culprit.”

 

“Well, well. What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?”

 

“I need to uncover the truth behind this case. Being framed as the culprit is… something I absolutely can’t tolerate.”

 

Apparently finding my words reasonable, Adolf nodded.

 

“…Not a bad idea. With the ghosts who manage the ducal castle and the monsters who protect the territory gone, order has been thrown into chaos.”

 

Since those who are supposed to perform their duties have disappeared, it’s natural to be concerned.

 

“On top of that, the underground area with the armory is being messed up! Fine, fine. Let’s do it your way.”

 

‘The other matters are secondary—Adolf only cares about the armory.’

 

“I’ll maintain our alliance just until we solve this case.”

 

Adolf said sternly.

 

“Alliance? That’s basically no different from being friends, well.”

 

“It’s definitely different.”

 

When I muttered to myself, Adolf grumbled irritably. Since it was late at night, we agreed to meet again in the morning and parted ways.

 

* * *

 

The next day. When I met Adolf, I was the first to voice my opinion.

 

“First of all, I find the four survivors a bit suspicious.”

 

“…Thinking about the time I got buried under a pile of trash because of a human, it makes my teeth grind.”

 

Nobility, alchemy, immortality, human experimentation—these were all terms I’d seen in the books the survivors had been searching for. Havel had said there might be a way to uncover the secret of the repeating world, and that Lilith was the one leading it. Then, when we found a glowing book on the shelf and tried to open it, a trap was triggered, wasn’t it?

 

“There’s a survivor named Lilith. It looks like she’s the one taking the lead and doing something.”

 

“If there’s a suspicious survivor like you say, then it’s worth checking out.”

 

I spread out the map, pinpointed the survivors’ location, and led Adolf onward.

 

“Look—there they are again, all gathered together!” 

 

Even though morning had already come, the four survivors were still staying inside the ducal castle. The atmosphere among them, sitting in a circle inside the spacious room, felt anything but normal. I slipped through the floor and eavesdropped from beneath where they were sitting, while Adolf listened in through the slightly open crack of the door.

 

‘This should be the time they’re out working in the territory… What are they up to here again?’

 

At that moment, Mary pressed Lilith.

 

“Hey, Lilith. We trusted what you said and did everything you asked, but we haven’t uncovered a single thing!”

 

“Just wait a little longer…”

 

“How much longer are we supposed to wait? And why hasn’t that ghost, the one who was supposed to give you information, shown up?”

 

Even Evan, unlike his usual self, questioned Lilith sharply.

 

‘A ghost that gave information?’

 

Something that could be a clue caught my attention, and I tried to focus.

 

“Zzzz—”

 

While everyone else sat seriously, Havel was lying down, snoring loudly.

 

‘Ugh, that good-for-nothing…’

 

“Please, everyone, calm down. He promised to meet us today, so he will definitely show up.”

 

Unable to contain herself any longer, Lilith suddenly stood up and began explaining. For now, I returned to Adolf.

 

“Hey, Adolf. Did you hear that?”

 

“From what little I heard, it’s still impossible to tell. There’s definitely something going on. But what I can’t stand is that the human who trapped me under a pile of trash is mixed in there somewhere!”

 

“Right. Since the ghost is about to show up, you hide somewhere else and keep watch over the surroundings. I’ll eavesdrop on the conversation.”

 

“Better that way, since there’s a limit to what I can overhear myself.”

 

Adolf and I moved to the positions we had decided on. I carefully observed the survivors, making sure they didn’t notice me. For a long while, no one spoke. Except for the sleeping Havel, the survivors simply sat quietly.

 

‘What on earth are they up to?’

 

As evening approached, Lilith checked the time and stood up.

 

“I’m going out for a bit.”

 

‘Of all times, the promised moment happens to be at sunset.’

 

I peeked out just enough, passing through the wall, and began tailing Lilith.

 

Lilith kept glancing back with every step she took, like someone deeply on edge. She bit her nails, then ran her fingers roughly through her hair. There had to be a reason why Lilith Garrett—once so composed and sharp—had changed like this. The place she eventually headed for was the prayer room located at the very end of the corridor.

 

‘That place is…!’

 

True to the Ravenwood family’s reputation for worshiping the Evil God, it was a place for offering prayers to that deity. Just like in a horror game, the room had been decorated to give off an eerie, unsettling atmosphere. And even though it was called a prayer room, I remembered seeing traces of other disturbing acts that had been carried out there.

 

‘Who is she going to meet here…?’

 

Lilith knocked on the door of the prayer room.

 

Knock, knock, knock—

 

“Come in.”

 

Then a voice—seemingly that of a woman—responded.

 

‘Wait… I think I’ve heard that voice before?’