How a Nuisance Character Survives a Horror Game Chapter 40

7. I Know What You Did During Our Last Swim (2)

I could vaguely feel it.

I was wrapped tightly in the arms of someone whose body was firm yet warm.

For some reason, that warmth seemed to lessen the brutal pain throughout my body.

I forced open eyes that refused to move.

Someone blurry appeared.

At the same time, a sharp female voice rang out.

“Don’t make me laugh! She’s human! She—us……!”

“Be quiet.”

The firm command immediately silenced the furious woman.

The blurred figure holding me had been looking elsewhere.

Then he turned toward me.

Before his face could come into focus, a large hand covered my eyes.

“Sleep a little longer.”

Leaning into that gentle voice, I unconsciously slipped back into deep sleep.

***

Flash!

The first thing my wide-open eyes saw was Holloway’s cute, handsome face.

I only blinked without speaking.

Holloway muttered seriously,

“……Has she not returned to her senses?”

What the hell does that mean?

“No. She shouldn’t return to her senses.”

Since I didn’t answer, Holloway continued mumbling to himself.

“If big sis were sane, she wouldn’t be big sis.”

You really do have a remarkable talent for speaking rudely.

“I’m sane.”

“Big sis!”

Holloway’s face brightened.

He immediately threw himself at me.

I patted his back.

“You just said I couldn’t possibly be sane if I were your big sis.”

“People who aren’t sane always insist that they are.”

“…….”

Making me want to hit you the instant I wake up is a talent too.

I pushed Holloway away and started sitting up.

Then froze.

I definitely died.

No.

I nearly died.

The instant the memory of death looming right in front of me returned, my body began trembling like a leaf.

“Big sis, what’s wrong?”

Holloway shook me and asked.

His voice barely registered.

Being toyed with by Sellir.

Nearly dying.

Those memories crashed over me one after another like relentless waves.

Tears began falling.

“Big sis.”

Calling me softly, Holloway cupped my cheek and wiped them away.

Without thinking, I hugged him tightly.

When I trembled uncontrollably with fear, Holloway silently patted my back.

As though he understood everything.

I buried my face against his shoulder and leaned into that gentle comfort.

The warmth told me I was alive.

That blood was still flowing through me.

For a long time, I remained inside Holloway’s small embrace and sobbed silently.

Only when the heartbeat where our bodies touched slowly calmed—

and my own mind settled—

did I release him.

Even for someone like me, after experiencing something like that, acting cheerful without even a moment of fear would’ve been impossible.

Fortunately, my mental recovery was faster than most people’s.

I touched my throat, which felt hoarse from crying.

I needed to confirm what had happened to me.

Smooth skin.

Not even one puncture.

I hurriedly climbed out of bed and checked myself in the half-broken mirror.

There were no wounds anywhere.

I felt all over my body.

Nothing seemed injured.

“How did this happen?”

I had been certain I would die and see a Game Over screen.

“Big sis, are you okay?”

Holloway repeatedly stroked my hand and looked concerned.

“W-What happened to me?”

“What do you mean?”

If I’m here with Holloway……

did he find me just before I died?

While I stared around in confusion, an icon shaped like a note appeared in front of me.

The number ‘3’ was written over it.

They must be messages that appeared while I was unconscious.

I pressed the note icon.

[Holloway’s firmly closed heart has opened!]

[All values increase explosively! Emotional values have reached 30%!]

[Holloway now recognizes you as ‘an adorable and special comedian’!]

That damn comedian thing is what now?

My name?

More importantly—

30% all at once?

I was overwhelmed.

Then immediately became suspicious.

Did it break?

I stared at the system window with reasonable doubt.

[You have checked the messages!]

[Current Hotel Difficulty: ‘Under Holloway’s Protection.’]

[Because all Holloway’s values have reached 30%, hidden function ‘Obsession’ has been activated!]

[‘Future Conqueror of This World’ Holloway’s Emotional Values!

Affection: 30%

Attachment: 30%

Possessiveness: 30%]

[‘Future Conqueror of This World’ Holloway’s ★★!

Jealousy: 5%

Anxiety: 15%

(=Linked Emotion: Possessiveness)

Obsession: 20%]

[If Obsession becomes high, ???]

Why hide the important part?!

What am I supposed to do?

Cry or not cry?

It was probably something bad with high probability……

Obsession had already passed 20% despite me doing absolutely nothing.

Looking at that broken-brake stat, I decided to pray for my own soul.

“Big sis, answer me.”

[Obsession increased by 2%.]

From now on, I’ll answer properly.

“I-I was definitely with Sir Werner……. Then suddenly someone hit the back of my neck and I fainted. Then I was chased by some woman and man……”

For now, I couldn’t reveal that I knew anything about Holloway.

So I babbled deliberately.

“Ah! Someone saved me!”

“……Someone?”

“Yes. An incredibly handsome and incredibly tall man.”

Hmm.

You……?

Are you asking me to say you?

“A man big sis would fall in love with if she saw him.”

So you mean yourself.

“He was huge and had an amazing body too.”

Yes.

So……

Aren’t you embarrassed to say all that yourself?

“I can’t lie!”

Did you just read my mind?

“Where is this handsome, huge, amazing-bodied man?”

“I didn’t say his body was amazing.”

“From the way Holloway describes him, he sounds very amazing. I’d like to thank him, at least……”

“I don’t know. He only treated big sis and disappeared.”

So this was what the system meant by Holloway unconsciously saving me?

Thank God.

I had been absolutely certain I was dead.

Instead, my life had been rescued.

My life begins again.

I opened my arms wide to celebrate this new life.

Holloway tugged my skirt with an amused expression.

“Big sis, you’re grateful, right?”

“Yeah. I’m grateful.”

“Even though you’ve never seen him, you suddenly feel lots of affection toward him?”

“Of course. Tons.”

I agreed with everything.

Holloway smiled brilliantly.

[Holloway is extremely satisfied.]

“So don’t worry anymore, big sis.”

Maybe his mood was simply better.

Or maybe reaching 30% had changed something.

Either way, Holloway’s gaze had become noticeably softer.

Then he did something he never would’ve done before.

He rested his cheek against my palm and rubbed against it.

“I’ll protect you from everything. Understand?”

“……Yeah.”

Holloway smiled adorably.

Then, finally, he even kissed the back of my hand and hugged my arm tightly.

“I like big sis.”

[Holloway finds you so adorable he’s going crazy.]

Uh……

“Me too.”

[Holloway’s mood begins soaring!]

[Affection increased by 1%.]

[Attachment increased by 3%.]

[Possessiveness increased by 7%.]

[Obsession increased by 10%.]

Why is something that shouldn’t rise rising too?!

[Obsession has reached 30%. From now on, if you are separated from Holloway by more than 100 meters, Possessiveness will sharply increase.]

I immediately grabbed Holloway’s hand tightly.

“Holloway, from now on you’re not allowed to leave me. Okay?”

“Yes!”

Maybe because so many messages had appeared in such a short period—

I felt slightly dizzy.

[You raised Holloway’s values beyond 30%!

A special gift awaits you!]

Suddenly?

I never refuse gifts.

I carried Holloway toward the sofa.

“Let’s rest for a little while. Okay?”

“Of course.”

I sat Holloway on my lap facing me and looked at the window.

Holloway watched my eyes.

The tips of his ears reddened slightly.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Because the system window is directly in front of your face……

“Because Holloway is cute and handsome. Just looking at you is relaxing.”

[Holloway cannot take his eyes off the lips that only say nice things to him.]

Hey.

You’re a child.

Tsk.

Anyway.

Give me my gift.

[★A Super Special Gift List Just for You!★

Choose a special gift and Holloway’s mood goes UP!

But if you choose a land mine, Holloway’s mood will worsen, so choose carefully. ( • ◍ ﹏•)]

You really love gambling, don’t you?

If you’re giving me something anyway, why can’t you just give me what I want?!

[Perform the described action on the body part corresponding to the gift you want to obtain! ( ) ᕦ ᐛ ᕡ]

……Body part?

The area around Holloway’s face flickered.

Different gifts appeared over individual parts of his face.

[Eyes ― Hotel Map: A function allowing you to view the entire hotel at a glance!

(Stroke Holloway’s eyelashes 5 times with your fingers! Both sides.

(˘ ˘)) ▾]

Well, yes.

If it’s a hotel map, obviously it allows you to view the hotel.

But what’s with the instructions in parentheses?

The system ignored my sweetly murderous thoughts.

[Nose ― Ring Set with a Red Diamond: Can deal a blow to Sellir and Extenron. (5-use limit)

(Press down firmly on Holloway’s nostrils and make a pig nose!

( ) ) ╯ ▽ ╯ ✧ ✧]

I want that.

I really want that!

At some point, my mindset had become exactly like someone shopping.

[Lips ― Key to the Underground Vault: Opens a hidden vault in the basement. (If acquisition fails, it can be obtained later through a ‘Difficult’ quest.)

(Press Holloway’s lips firmly!

♡( ˘ ･𐩅･˘) ) ♡]

That one is tempting too.

If I chose the nose, I could humiliate Holloway while also gaining a chance to hit the man and woman who had pushed me to the brink of death.

But if I selected a land mine, Holloway’s mood would worsen.

And anyone could see the nose was the land mine.

You bastard……

You always make things unnecessarily tempting.

I can’t even choose everything.

Yet you make me regret what I’m giving up!

[Which body part do you want?]

No.

I don’t want any body part.

[Which gift do you want?!]

[ヾ(´• • 👅 ｀)ノヾ(´• • 👅 ｀)ノヾ(´• • 👅 ｀)ノヾ(´• • 👅 ｀)ノ]

People say familiarity breeds affection.

Then why do I only want to punch you more the longer I look at you?

I’m going to hit you one day soon.

Seriously.