The Servant in the Horror Game is Suspicious Chapter 56

The carriage turned into the forest path and reached the villa in no time. It was a distance that usually required an entire day’s trek, but moving by carriage made it feel like a stone’s throw away. Though they had departed in the late afternoon, night had not yet fully fallen. A faint evening moon hung dimly in the hazy sky.

“Thank you for your hard work, mate. You haven’t forgotten my request, have you?”

“Aww, don’t you worry about a thing, sir.”

The coachman winked, holding up the gold coin he’d received before they set off.

Before leaving town, Jade had made a specific arrangement with the driver. He requested that the man come to the villa once a month so Ian could travel to the village. He also asked him to look around the villa while he was there and, if the boy seemed ill, to take him to a doctor.

In fact, he had made a similar request to the innkeeper before leaving the village—asking her to send along bread and a few food items on the days the carriage headed to the villa. Fortunately, both the driver and the innkeeper had readily agreed.

Jade intended to leave a note for Ian about this as well. He wanted to ensure the boy wouldn’t be startled by a stranger’s visit and would know he could ask for help whenever he needed it.

With the money Jade had provided, the coachman would bring food to the villa ten times over. Jade promised to send more money once a month if the man did his job properly. It was a safety net, just in case.

The fact that he had to rely on strangers worried him slightly, but it was better than leaving the boy entirely to his own devices.

Ian was a bright child; he would be able to handle things himself after that. Since Jade was leaving money for Ian too, the boy could even choose to take that carriage and move somewhere else.

Whatever it was, Ian would make the right choice. Jade was certain of it.

“I’ll be going now.”

“Safe travels, sir.”

The coachman, having unloaded the luggage, waved and departed. Jade began moving the purchased supplies inside the villa first. Even though they had only been gone for two days, he had lived so closely within these walls that it felt as if they had been away for an eternity. He felt a strange, nagging sensation.

“…Huh?”

It seemed it wasn’t just his imagination. Even after bringing all the luggage inside, Jade didn’t close the door.

Something was wrong. The air felt different. It wasn’t the same feeling as when they had left. The cold wind of dusk blew hollowly into the villa.

“Jade.”

Ian felt the change in the atmosphere too. He moved close to Jade’s side, his gaze sweeping coolly over their surroundings.

Before leaving, Jade had filled the lamps with whale oil. He had left a few lamps lit in the hall and hallway so the villa wouldn’t be too dark for the Mop Ghost and Bluey. Even when they departed in the early hours of the morning, he had confirmed the soft glow of the lanterns.

“…”

“…”

But now, it was pitch black. Only the evening moonlight streaming through the windows illuminated the interior.

Without a word, both Ian and Jade silenced their breathing. The villa was quiet. Far too quiet. Normally, the Mop Ghost would have come running out with Bluey on his back, but there wasn’t even the sound of them.

Perhaps they were sleeping somewhere. But an ominous premonition kept gnawing at him.

“Stay behind me. Buster, go to the carriage. Stop it. It would be better if you could bring it back here.”

“Meow…”

“Try to hide your wings as much as possible. Hold this gold coin in your mouth.”

Jade whispered in a tiny voice, ushering Ian behind his back. At Jade’s command, Buster gave a small reply and flew off. Since the coachman had just left, the carriage wouldn’t have gone far.

He was worried the driver might find a winged cat suspicious, but under the circumstances, there was no other choice. Since he’d sent a gold coin as bait, the man would surely return.

Jade scanned the interior, relying on the moonlight. Scuff marks in the dust, a toppled pile of firewood, a scent that didn’t belong.

An intruder. Someone had been here. Or perhaps, they were still inside.

Should they run? Would it be wiser to grab Ian and sprint toward the carriage right now?

But Bluey and the Mop Ghost were still inside. He couldn’t just abandon them and flee on his own.

Above all, if the intruder was still inside, they would surely chase after the fleeing pair. If it was a professional, they would be caught in no time.

“Kieee…”

“…!”

While his mind raced, agonizing over whether to flee or find the intruder and strike first, he heard a familiar sound. It was the Mop Ghost. Turning his gaze toward the sound, he saw the Mop Ghost hiding behind the fireplace.

“Kieee…”

Bluey was clinging to the Mop Ghost’s back, silent tears streaming down his face, while the Mop Ghost pointed a tassel toward a specific spot.

Upward. Jade’s gaze followed the tassel. Someone was on the second-floor banister. A bunched-up shadow protruded just a bit further than the shadow of the railing itself.

“Ian.”

“Someone is in the house…”

Ian had spotted the same thing. He whispered from behind Jade’s back. Jade cut him off, reaching back to push Ian further away.

“Run.”

“What?”

He had to get Ian out first. If there was an intruder, Ian was definitely the target.

A detail from the setting guide suddenly flashed through his mind. It was the story of what happened after the three servants failed to kill Ian.

Malderic was growing anxious because Ian simply wouldn’t die, and he was suffering from headaches caused by family members who didn’t support him.

In the end, Malderic came up with another plan. He would hire someone to kidnap Ian, lock him in the villa’s storehouse, and let him starve to death.

That way, he could avoid leaving marks of foul play and craft a story that Ian had simply starved after being unable to open a broken door in the old villa.

Of course, Malderic wouldn’t be able to dodge all criticism for failing to provide enough staff, and a body dead from starvation would naturally raise suspicions.

But every other plausible method had already failed. Malderic was desperate, and he felt he couldn’t kill Ian any other way.

Fortunately, Ian survived that scheme. At least, the Ian in the game did.

But could he really survive it now? Ian’s childhood had already deviated significantly from the guide. It was because Jade had intervened.

Furthermore, the guide merely stated that Ian survived despite those cruel methods and environments. Just one line. The entire ordeal was explained in a single sentence. But the process of Ian surviving could not have been easy.

“Run. Run to the carriage.”

Whish—

It happened just as Ian took a step back. A throwing star flew through the air and embedded itself in the villa door. Jade froze, his eyes darting to the projectile. The razor-sharp edge gleamed coldly. It was a warning not to run.

“Kieee…”

The Mop Ghost held up a single tassel. One person. There was only one intruder.

From the second-floor banister, the hall where Jade and Ian stood would be perfectly visible. If they stayed still as the intruder warned, the only thing waiting for them was death. Thus, there was only one choice.

Someone needed to hold off the intruder while Ian escaped. And Jade chose to be that someone.

“Run!”

“Jade!”

Jade succeeded in shoving Ian out the door. A flurry of throwing stars flew down, thudding into the wood. Thanks to Jade blocking the way, none of them reached Ian.

“You little bastard…!”

The intruder leaped from the banister. He was experienced. Even as he jumped from the second floor, he threw stars without pause.

Several stars grazed Jade’s legs and arms before sticking into the door. Blood began to seep through his torn clothes wherever they hit. Just as he managed to swallow the pain, one of them buried itself deep into Jade’s shoulder.

“Ugh…!”

Jade twisted his body with a groan. Seizing the opening, the intruder dashed toward Ian.

He held a thick coil of rope in his hand. It seemed he had brought it because he couldn’t leave marks on Ian’s body.

“Damn it.”

Jade threw himself at the intruder. The two figures collided and went tumbling across the floor.

“Ian, go! Run!”

Jade screamed desperately through gritted teeth.

But Ian couldn’t leave. He couldn’t leave Jade alone with the intruder. He couldn’t move his feet while Jade was bleeding.

Jade was hurt. He had to kill that intruder. That single thought filled his mind. Ian instinctively felt around his body. But the ornate sword he always kept was currently with Jade. All Ian had was his own weak, childish self.

“You stupid piece of shit! Don’t you know who sent me?”

“Aaargh!”

“Stupid bastards only learn from a beating!”

The intruder kicked savagely at Jade’s head and shoulder as Jade clung to his leg. The star embedded in his shoulder tore through muscle, sinking deeper. The intruder seemed furious that Jade, who should have been on his side, was interfering.

“Go stop the carriage! That’s how we both survive!”

Jade shouted to Ian, letting the intruder know there were more people nearby.

“…!”

The intruder hesitated at Jade’s words and drew a dagger. Jade also pulled out the kitchen knife he’d tucked away for self-defense. He didn’t want to use the sword Ian had given him for something like this. Besides, the kitchen knife had a longer blade, which was more advantageous in this situation.

Clang—

The knife clashed with the intruder’s dagger. As the sharp metallic ring echoed, Jade’s arm trembled violently. He quickly scrambled up to block the door. The intruder stepped back, lowering his stance.

“Why, you…!”

He looked considerably flustered. It seemed he had assumed Jade was also sent by Malderic and would help him deal with Ian. He stared at Jade, who was opposing him, as if looking at a madman.

He couldn’t miss the chance while the intruder was off-balance. Jade lunged forward with his knife raised.

He had never stabbed a person before. This was his first time in a real brawl. But if he slipped up, both he and Ian were dead. He didn’t have the luxury of hesitation.

Whish—

The intruder spun away, dodging Jade’s lunge. As he evaded, he struck at Jade’s arm with his dagger.

“…!”

A long gash opened along his arm. Suddenly, the intruder pulled something from his waist. It looked like a small glass vial. Before Jade could even see what it was, the man smashed it onto the floor.