The Servant in the Horror Game is Suspicious Chapter 14

Jade stared blankly at the text in the system window and muttered to himself. Seeing as he had acquired a new skill, it seemed that “flu” hadn’t been a simple illness, but a sort of growing pain.

More importantly, “The Developer’s Consideration”? As if someone capable of showing “consideration” would throw a guy into a horror game like this! And after giving him nothing but pathetic items like cleaning tools, no less!

“Consideration? How the hell is this consideration?”

Steam practically rose from his head. What Jade needed right now wasn’t some mystery skill, but food and supplies that would actually help him survive.

Above all, it was infuriating to think he’d been miserable for two days straight just to receive a skill like this. He had been burning up with fever and aching so badly he couldn’t lift a finger.

“This is total bullshit. God, I’m pissed.”

[ System

Would you like to acquire the skill?

YES or NO ]

As Jade vented his frustration with a string of curses, the system window in front of him began to flicker rapidly. As if it were angry at Jade, it suddenly imposed a time limit and started flashing through the numbers.

[ System

Would you like to acquire the skill? (3) ]

[ System

Would you like to acquire the skill? (2) ]

[ System

Would you like to acquire the skill? (1) ]

“Fine! I’ll take it! I’m taking it, alright?!”

Since it was a skill, he figured he might as well have it. Before the three seconds could run out, Jade frantically pressed YES.

The system, lacking even a shred of actual consideration, didn’t even give him time to inspect the skill properly. It was only after pressing YES that Jade read through the warning notes.

[ Warning

Using this skill results in damage; the type of damage is unknown. ]

“Is this even a good thing?”

Calling it a “skill granted by the developer’s consideration” was all well and good, but the fact that there was a risk involved every time he used it was deeply unsettling. The point about the type of damage being unknown was particularly bothersome.

Then again, what did a guy who had already died once have to fear?

[ System

You have successfully absorbed the skill ‘Ghost’s Obedience.’ ]

“Oh.”

With the next message, a green light flowed out from the system window. The green glow shimmered for a moment, touching Jade’s fingertips before shattering and scattering into the air.

Soon, he felt a surge of vivid power in his palm before it vanished. It seemed the skill had been properly learned.

‘What a ridiculous name for a skill.’

Ghost’s Obedience. It sounded like a name someone had come up with without putting in any effort—the kind of childishness you’d find in a kid’s cartoon.

When he used to play Night of Blood, the skill names had been quite impressive, but this was no different from a children’s action show. Still, he supposed he should be glad it sounded more dignified than something like “Cleaning Apprentice’s Handiwork.”

“Ghosts, huh…”

More than that, he suspected a skill called “Ghost’s Obedience” wouldn’t exist for no reason. If the skill existed, didn’t that mean ghosts existed too?

“Makes sense.”

Ever since dropping into this world, he’d been so focused on housekeeping—cleaning the villa and picking mushrooms—and then dealing with that fever, that he’d naturally forgotten. He’d forgotten that this world was inside a horror game.

Night of Blood was a horror game that featured not only monsters but also ghosts and bizarre NPCs. For example, there was the “Old Man Dragging the Grandfather Clock.”

He was one of the ghosts, endlessly wandering the villa with a grandfather clock strapped to his back. Based on the name alone, one might expect him to have the eerie ability to rewind time or distort space-time, but that wasn’t it. Expecting such grand settings in this world was a mistake.

The old man was simply a ghost who swung the grandfather clock around to hit people. The game was like that. Important elements were often disappointingly flimsy.

Because of this, Jade had thought back then that the developer was quite peculiar. Many parts were poorly made, yet they had poured their heart and soul into character settings and storytelling.

Why else would Ian, the final boss, be the most popular character in a horror game rather than a monster or a beast? He was so popular that the novels focused on Ian’s perspective sold out every time.

Jade had even borrowed a copy from a friend and read the beginning of the novel. Although he hadn’t finished it, he knew the novel had sold far more copies than the game itself.

“I wonder what kind of ghosts are here?”

The ghosts usually appeared inside the mansion, but since Jade had always died before entering the mansion in the game, he didn’t know the different types. Even when he searched the fan forums, it was just a long stream of Ian fans swooning and geeks reviewing the setting guides; there was no useful information.

Furthermore, since it was currently before the official start of the game, he hadn’t imagined there would be ghosts yet. While monsters and beasts were part of the world-building, weren’t the horror elements inside the villa part of the game mechanics?

‘I should have read to the end.’

There might have been something different in the novel written from Ian’s perspective. The information from the setting guide wasn’t enough. But what was the use of regretting it now?

“If they’re coming, let them come.”

Technically speaking, wasn’t he, a possessed soul, no different from a ghost himself? Jade gave a snort and shrugged his shoulders. He was worried when he recalled the vivid graphics, but he figured he’d manage somehow since he now had a skill.

Jade wasn’t the type of person to dwell on worries for long anyway. To put it kindly, he was easygoing; to put it bluntly, he was thick-skinned. Thanks to his ability to brush things off, he’d often been called a “cool-headed guy.”

Above all, Jade had a more pressing concern at this very moment.

“Where did Ian go?”

Starting this morning, Ian had begun avoiding Jade in earnest. Just when Jade felt they had grown a bit closer, this happened, leaving him understandably bewildered.

Things had definitely been good up until they successfully lit the fireplace. There had been no issues even when they took an afternoon nap together.

Of course, maybe it was only “no issue” from Jade’s perspective. If he had to pinpoint the exact moment Ian started finding him awkward, it was the night they shared the bed. Things had been a bit strange since then. Ian wouldn’t even meet Jade’s eyes, and when asked something, his answers were half-hearted.

Even so, Ian had grilled mushrooms for him and stayed by his side while he was sick, only to turn cold the moment he recovered.

This morning, as soon as Jade gave him a morning greeting, Ian had just zipped out without a word. It was no different from the first day.

He didn’t think he’d made any mistakes or done anything to offend Ian.

‘Was sleeping together at night uncomfortable for him?’

Jade had stayed in Ian’s room again last night. Thanks to the fireplace, he had slept warmly and recovered his health quickly. But it seemed Ian had grown cranky during the process.

Well, from what he’d seen over the past few days, Ian didn’t seem to like contact with others very much. Was sleeping in the same bed for two nights with a kid like that a mistake? But Ian was the one who suggested they sleep together in the room first.

‘Was two nights in a row too much?’

There was no way to tell. A child’s mind was just too difficult. He felt like he had been a pretty simple child himself, but Ian was quite complex.

He’d even held back the urge to bite those soft cheeks and resisted the temptation to wash that grimy face. To be treated so coldly now—it was just too much.

“It’s hard, so hard.”

Jade shook his head and stretched. Such worries didn’t suit a man who was far from having a sensitive personality.

“Meow.”

Buster flew over to Jade just as he was about to leave after roughly tidying the bedding in the room. Perhaps because Jade was the first person he saw after hatching, Buster followed him exceptionally well. He wasn’t like a monster at all; he was more like a “dog-cat.”

“You here, Buster? Why do you look so lethargic?”

“Myaaaaa.”

Buster let out a long, weak meow, sounding like he was acting spoiled. Jade stroked Buster’s round head. Under the rough, shaking stroke—much like someone shaking out laundry—Buster’s fur ended up sticking out in every direction.

“Myaaaa!”

“What have you been up to?”

“Myang…”

Seeing Buster avoid his eyes, Jade figured he’d had another tiff with Ian. Jade, who was already curious about Ian’s whereabouts, asked Buster.

“Did you guys fight again?”

“Myaaaa!”

“I told you guys not to keep fighting. What is the young master doing?”

“Myang! Hiss!”

When asked about Ian, Buster’s eyes turned into triangles as he sulked. He flew away, kicking his back legs, looking truly offended. Both Ian and Buster were equally difficult to deal with.

“Haha…”

With a hollow laugh as he watched the pouting Buster leave, Jade began the chores he had put off for two days. Keeping the body busy was the best way to clear the mind.

“I’ve got a mountain of work to do. A mountain.”

He increased his experience points by picking edible mushrooms while avoiding the poisonous ones, and he showed off his housekeeping skills by sweeping like a madman.

And so, Jade casually forgot about the “Ghost’s Obedience” skill. It was only a few days later that he realized the skill wasn’t an act of consideration, but a warning of the minor hardships to come.