How a Nuisance Character Survives a Horror Game Chapter 16

My eyes widened at the system windows appearing one after another.

Don’t tell me, Holloway……?

Holloway had never appeared in his true form even once before reaching the end of the story, so I couldn’t help wondering whether that man really was him.

Judging from the status window, it definitely seemed to be Holloway.

But I couldn’t exactly ask him here whether he really was Holloway.

What if I asked and he went, ‘How did you know? Die.’

I’d be sent straight to the afterlife with no way out.

I could feel his solid body through my back where we were pressed together.

To be perfectly frank, I’m flustered.

As if seeing the adult version of Holloway, who was only supposed to appear after the ending, wasn’t enough, the final boss himself was hugging me tightly from behind?

Fucking terrifying.

It wouldn’t even be strange if Holloway planted an axe in the back of my head and leisurely walked away.

How could I quietly get out of this without offending him?

I kept biting my lip while agonizing over it.

[Holloway thinks, ‘She might be fun to raise.’]

Is this bastard insane?!

Who the hell are you planning to raise?!

I was so irritated that I tried to whip around, but his large hand lightly enveloped the back of my head and stopped me.

“You really don’t listen.”

“I’m sorry.”

The apology slipped out automatically at the pressure of his huge hand against the back of my head and his threatening words.

He chuckled behind me, then cleared his voice.

“I’m leaving now.”

Please do.

Quickly.

Go already.

“After I move away, count to ten before turning around.”

“What happens if I turn around before then?”

“You’ll die, probably?”

“One, two…….”

“I haven’t moved away yet.”

“…….”

He ruffled my hair once.

The arm that had been firmly wrapped around my waist slowly slipped away, and the oppressive presence behind me disappeared.

Only then did I obediently begin counting.

“O-One, two…….”

I steadied my trembling voice, counted to ten, and slowly turned around.

As though none of that had ever happened, the child version of Holloway was lying there pretending to be unconscious.

I walked over to him and clenched my fist.

Should I hit him once or not?

I probably shouldn’t.

If I do, my head might go flying.

“Holloway! Holloway!”

Pretending I knew nothing, I shook him awake.

Holloway skillfully acted as though he were regaining consciousness after fainting.

So annoying.

“Big sis?”

“Are you okay? You’re not hurt anywhere?”

“Yes……. What about you?”

“I’m okay for now. Someone saved us. Did you happen to see who it was?”

I needed to ask at least this much so he would believe I didn’t know that man and Holloway were the same person.

At this point, maybe my acting skills were on par with Holloway’s.

“No. I didn’t see anyone.”

“Really? I think that person must have saved us. There must be someone else in this hotel besides us.”

I pretended to reason through it seriously.

Holloway played innocent and agreed.

“Since he saved us, he must be a nice person, right?”

No.

He’s an extremely wicked and cruel demon.

I gave an awkward smile and avoided answering.

I couldn’t bring myself to call him nice even as empty flattery.

Instead, I changed the subject.

I needed to increase his Attachment if I wanted to avoid the confinement ending.

Since I currently had no idea how else to raise Attachment, I needed to narrow the gap through this quest first.

Even though we had encountered a monster, I had to reach the dining room somehow.

“Holloway, I know this isn’t exactly the best situation for it……. But people need to eat properly if they’re going to accomplish anything, right?”

As though he had been waiting to hear exactly that, Holloway grabbed my hand.

“Of course. It’s unfortunate, but I suppose I’ll have to eat the food big sis makes all by myself.”

……I feel like I’m dancing in the palm of Holloway’s hand.

Ah.

I actually am.

Unable to resist much, I clasped Holloway’s hand and headed toward the dining room.

At this point, holding hands had become natural between us.

This time, no monster blocked our way, so we easily reached the lounge bar.

The lounge was silent.

We walked deeper inside, avoiding overturned chairs and tables, until we spotted a door bearing a sign that read ‘AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY.’

Holloway and I opened it.

As expected, a kitchen appeared beyond it.

Just in case, I crept inside and made sure there were no monsters before searching for ingredients.

Even in the game, the protagonists hadn’t starved to death, so although the kitchen wasn’t overflowing with food, all the basic ingredients were stocked.

It was clean too.

No matter how many monsters and demons lived in this hotel, the kitchen should at least be clean.

“Big sis, is there anything I can help you with?”

“Sit still?”

“I’ll help. I at least know how to prepare ingredients.”

Wouldn’t I need to do everything myself for the quest to count as complete……?

I didn’t want to leave any potential failure condition unresolved, so I firmly refused and sent Holloway out of the kitchen.

“Let’s begin.”

The quest to raise Holloway’s Attachment!

***

“For something you made such a big deal out of……”

Holloway trailed off while looking at the modest meal.

I wanted to tell him to shut up and eat, but I needed to avoid the confinement ending.

So I forced a smile, scooped up some soup, and held the spoon to his lips.

“What did you expect under circumstances like this? Hurry up and eat.”

Holloway alternated his gaze between me and the spoon.

Then, looking strangely delighted, he opened his mouth.

I delivered the soup into it.

“Oh? It actually tastes pretty good.”

Holloway’s eyes widened as though genuinely surprised.

Feeling a little proud, I straightened my shoulders and fed him another spoonful.

After obediently accepting several bites, I eventually offered him the spoon.

He shook his head innocently.

“Big sis, salad.”

“Don’t you have hands?”

“Salad.”

Fine.

Fine!

Please stop lowering your voice while smiling like that.

I obediently stabbed a tomato and some salad with a fork and put it into his mouth.

Of course, I didn’t stop eating either.

You can’t accomplish anything while hungry.

After that not-particularly-enjoyable meal finally ended, I desperately waited for the quest completion window.

Please let me become happy.

Please!

Apparently my desperation reached the system, because a cheerful notification rang out.

[Special Quest Complete!]

[Reward: ‘Attachment +10%.’]

[Attachment increased by 10%.]

[Affection: 5.5%

Attachment: 12%

Possessiveness: 12%]

[The difference between Possessiveness and Attachment has fallen below 10%. The ‘Unhappy Confinement Life’ ending has been withdrawn.]

Finally……!

Only then could I breathe again.

But this was merely the beginning.

The biggest problem was that Possessiveness rose surprisingly easily.

The confinement ending hadn’t disappeared forever.

If Possessiveness ever exceeded Attachment by at least 10%, the Unhappy Confinement Life ending could come crashing down on me again at any moment.

So I had to carefully maintain the balance……

But I have no idea how to raise Attachment.

Would treating him warmly like this increase it?

“Big sis, I’m sleepy now that I’m full.”

Did you come here on vacation?

I envied the final boss, who had absolutely nothing to worry about.

Since he was the owner of this hotel and stood at the top of the food chain, there probably wasn’t anything here he needed to fear.

“Should we go back to that room from earlier?”

Since it was a safe zone, I should at least be able to sleep comfortably there.

Obviously, any room was safe for Holloway.

But it matters to me.

What if I get torn apart while sleeping……?

“Let’s just use a nearby room.”

When I hesitated instead of readily agreeing, Holloway stretched before wrapping his arms around my waist.

“I’ll at least let you sleep.”

Does that mean you won’t let me do anything else or something……?

I desperately tried to stop my thoughts from spiraling negatively.

“You’ll stand watch for me?”

“Yes.”

“No. I can’t make a child suffer like that.”

At my hurried refusal, Holloway smiled faintly and lightly covered his nose.

“Well……. Let’s go to a room first. Big sis, you smell strongly of blood.”

“Ah.”

So much had happened that I had forgotten.

I was basically walking around covered in the dead Friedel’s blood.

I was a little grateful that Werner and Moran hadn’t been frightened by me despite how terrifying I must have looked.

If it were me, I probably would’ve fallen over screaming that I’d seen a ghost.

Once I became conscious of it, the filthy sensation suddenly overwhelmed me.

“Do you think there’ll be clothes?”

“Let’s go check.”

Even in my current state, Holloway happily held my hand and clung to me.

Then again, he was a demon.

Blood probably didn’t frighten him.

Holloway took my hand and led the way.

[Holloway has decided to show you ‘favor.’]

Favor?

[Restricted Room No. 12, Room 201 ‘Something Is Sleeping’ has been unlocked!]

‘Something Is Sleeping’?

Is there a corpse sleeping in there?

Holloway went up to the second floor and opened Room 201, located almost at the very end of the corridor.

Once we entered, Holloway skillfully opened the wardrobe.

Quite a lot of clothes were scattered inside.

Holloway pointed toward them, sounding relieved.

“There are clothes, big sis!”

It’s great that there are clothes, but why is everything a negligee?

They were easy to move around in, but since they were sleepwear, they were far too thin and light.

At least there were cardigans.

That gave me some reassurance since I could cover my translucent clothes.

No shoes, though……

Expecting shoes too would probably be greedy.

I had only been wearing slippers for a short while, and somehow I was barefoot again.

“Thanks, Holloway. While I wash up, keep a close watch in case any monsters come.”

I don’t want to become the idiot who dies in the shower.

After pondering for a moment, Holloway’s face became full of mischief.

“Want to wash together?”

I stared flatly at Holloway for spouting nonsense.

“We are very clearly different sexes.”

“That’s right! Big sis is a woman, and I’m a man.”

Uh…….

Why does he look happy about that?

Holloway firmly clasped both of my hands and repeatedly emphasized,

“Don’t forget that. Okay?”

The strange gleam in his eyes was chilling.

Overwhelmed by his intensity, I stammered,

“Y-Yeah.”

“Go wash up, big sis! I’ll wait for you.”

I kept glancing back at Holloway while cautiously heading toward the bathroom.

Our eyes met in midair.

Holloway lightly waved at me.

Almost like he was seeing me off.

I don’t like that.

Seeing Holloway for the last time was practically the same thing as dying.

Why does that look like a final farewell?

“I’m just going to shower and come back.”

I’m not going anywhere.

“I know.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

I’m not going to the afterlife.

When I anxiously repeated myself, Holloway covered his mouth and laughed.

“Yes. Don’t go.”

[Holloway finds you adorable.]

I don’t like that.

[Attachment increased by 1%.]

Thank you very much for finding me adorable.