Surviving as a Crazy Evil Spirit in a Horror Game Chapter 46

Krius raised a hand to his mouth as if suppressing a retch.

 

“Ugh. What kind of nonsense is that….”

 

Woooo—.

 

Once again, a strange sound came from above the stairs. Krius gripped the Flamberge tightly.

 

“By the way, which direction should we go?”

 

“The less scary one.”

 

“That doesn’t help. The atmosphere in both directions is no joke.”  

 

Unable to take Krius’s word for it, I peered into each set of stairs myself. Both staircases were identical in internal appearance and the direction they stretched. Even the dank atmosphere and the damp air felt exactly the same.

 

“Me, me! Let’s go this way.”

 

Just then, Havel stepped forward and pointed to the right-hand stairs.  

 

“Is there a reason?”

 

“Just because. I smell something delicious.” 

 

“Something tasty?”

 

Come to think of it, this guy Havel had an uncanny knack for finding food.

 

“Trust him on this. His food detection skills are insane.” 

 

“Just because there is food does not mean it is safe.”

 

“And is there any guarantee the left side is safe?”

 

Krius, seemingly unable to find a counterargument, decided to go along with Havel’s opinion. 

 

“Understood. Let us take the right stairs. But Havel, if things go wrong, you take responsibility!” 

 

Krius threatened him as though he intended to dump all the blame on Havel.

 

“Krius. This guy’s brain is completely filled with thoughts of tasty food.”

 

“My goodness…. Listen, if you die, you will not be able to eat, you know.”

 

Krius spoke to Havel as though scolding a fool.

 

‘Those are the exact same words I said to Havel before.’

 

“Uuu…. Don’t be angry. Let’s just go left.”

 

Havel shrank back and pointed at the left staircase.

 

“That would be wiser. What if we were lured by the smell of food and walked into a trap?”

 

“Do whatever you want.”

 

In the end, Krius took the lead again and climbed the left staircase.

 

Step— step—.

 

The stairs stretched endlessly. Krius and I were still fine, but Havel was growing tired.

 

“Huff… this is hard…. Uu….”

 

“Havel Akron. When we get out of here, I will find you some cake. Just hold on a little longer.”

 

It was not because I liked him—absolutely not—but because I worried he might suddenly die from the shock of not being able to eat.

 

“Cake?”

 

“Yes, cake!”

 

“Waaah! Cake!”

 

Havel pulled out a piece of bread he had hidden in another pocket and began chewing it noisily.

 

“You have been pulling out bits and eating them for a while now. Where exactly do those keep coming from?”

 

Krius looked at Havel the way one might look at an astonishing eccentric.

 

“Emergency rations.”

 

Having finished yet another piece of bread, Havel resumed climbing the stairs. After going up a little further, a faint light began to appear near the top.

 

“Oh, looks like the stairs finally end up there?”

 

Havel’s entire body was soaked with sweat, leaving damp footprints behind with every step he took.

 

“Just a little more strength, please.”

 

Krius offered a soulless cheer. Waiting for Havel’s slow pace felt like we’d all turn into old men before we finished.

 

“Hey! We’re almost there, so move it already!”

 

“Cake…. I’ll endure….” 

 

At my scolding, Havel made an effort to move his body faster. Finally, we managed to reach the top of the stairs.

 

“We made it!”

 

At the same moment, Havel collapsed to the ground where he stood.

 

“Rest… just a little. Tired.”

 

“Uh…. I don’t think we can rest.”

 

The sight waiting for us at the top of the stairs was something moving. Not just one or two, but dozens of them.

 

“Ar-aren’t those skeletons?” 

 

Their identity was that of moving skeletons. 

 

“Monster friends that usually inhabit the area near graveyards, but how are they here….” 

 

Krius looked troubled. Skeletons were monsters that often appeared in the mid-to-late stages of the game when progressing through the Ravenwood Duchy.

 

‘These feel different.’ 

 

As I observed the slowly moving skeletons, a status window appeared.

 

Unidentified Skeleton: Unable to become a ghost due to 〈Soul Erasure〉.

Unidentified Skeleton: Unable to become a ghost due to 〈Soul Erasure〉.

Unidentified Skeleton: Unable to become a ghost due to 〈Soul Erasure〉.

Unidentified Skeleton: Unable to become a ghost due to 〈Soul Erasure〉.

.

.

.

.

 

It was the exact same status window I had seen earlier in the late Duke’s office.

 

“No, these aren’t ordinary skeletons.”

 

“…Pardon? Then what are they?”

 

“Those skeletons are monsters with souls, but these ones… their souls have been erased, leaving only empty shells!”

 

Krius frowned deeply.

 

“Does that mean…. Could these skeletons be the family’s sacrificial victims?”

 

“Yes!”

 

The unidentified skeletons moved slowly, but they didn’t seem to pose much of a threat. 

 

“They don’t seem dangerous. Let’s just ignore them and pass through.”

 

“But Havel….”

 

Krius glanced at Havel, who sat wiping sweat from his face.

 

“Then let’s wait until Havel has rested enough before moving.”

 

The situation unfolded more smoothly than expected. In fact, Krius grew so bored waiting for Havel to rest that he even began whistling.

 

‘Was the other staircase more dangerous?’ 

 

Just then, a strange sound was heard.

 

Grrr—.

 

It came from Havel’s stomach.

 

“Uu…. Hungry.”

 

Having rested a bit, Havel clutched his stomach in hunger.

 

“You just ate bread earlier.”

 

“Stairs. All strength gone.”

 

Havel rummaged through his pockets again.

 

“How does your stomach empty that quickly?”

 

Havel eventually managed to find another scrap of bread.

 

“Grrrr….”

 

“What is it?”

 

When I turned around at the strange noise, the skeletons were making threatening sounds. Their gaze was fixed on the piece of bread in Havel’s hand.

 

“Havel! Put that away!”

 

“Okay.”

 

But instead of putting it back in his pocket, Havel shoved the bread straight into his mouth.

 

“That’s not what I meant, you idiot!”

 

“Kuwaaah!”

 

“Watch out!”

 

“Grrrrr…!”

 

The skeletons rushed at Havel like beasts chasing prey.

 

“Uu… w-what should I do….”

 

“That’s why I told you not to eat it!”

 

There seemed to be nothing else here that could attract the skeletons’ attention.

 

[Havel Akron]

 

◇ Fear Level: 10%

 

Havel’s fear level did not rise any further. Because of that, possession was impossible.

 

‘It can’t be helped.’ 

 

I swung the Death Scythe.

 

Whoosh—!

 

“Kaaaagh!” 

 

At once, the skeleton’s bones separated completely and clattered to the floor.

 

‘Good!’

 

Looking to the side, I saw Krius had also drawn his custom-made Flamberge and begun cutting down skeletons. With the Flamberge he split skulls in two while flames burst forth. Swinging the weapon was exhausting for me, but Krius looked perfectly skilled.

 

To be honest, those one or two swings earlier had just been reckless bravado. I could not handle a real battle like this. Even as an evil spirit with certain advantages, I still ran out of breath and stamina much like a human.

 

‘I’m tired now….’

 

After fighting for quite a while, I eventually lowered the Death Scythe and simply watched Krius while cheering him on. The number of skeletons had visibly decreased, yet Krius continued swinging the Flamberge at high speed.

 

Krius. Looks like you’ll have to handle the rest of these guys.”

 

But Krius’s expression was not good.

 

“That is absolutely impossible.”

 

“…What?”

 

Soon I understood why Krius had said that.

 

Creeeak— clack! Click—.

 

The separated skeleton bones were making strange noises as they began reassembling themselves.

 

“Because empty shells with extinguished souls can be revived at any time.”

 

“Oh no.”

 

The skeletons were reassembling themselves, and Havel Akron was still sitting there without even trying to run.

 

‘Right…. This is a horror game.’

 

Even without Basileon, it was a game filled with countless lurking dangers. If Havel died here, everything would surely start over from the beginning.

 

‘I won’t let that happen! Use your head, use your head!’ 

 

First, I flew over to Havel, who was sitting there blankly.

 

“Havel. Take out the bread you still have in your pockets. All of it.”

 

“Uu, but….”

 

Havel looked like he was about to stubbornly refuse again, blinded by his appetite. When I glared at him as if I might kill him on the spot, he answered in a subdued voice.

 

“Okay….”

 

Havel rummaged through his pockets and took out the pieces of bread.