How a Nuisance Character Survives a Horror Game Chapter 46

8. The Nuisance Character With Outstanding Empathy

A faint floral fragrance drifted in on the light breeze.

It was an extremely out-of-place scent inside this cursed hotel.

Almost as out of place as Holloway’s fragrance.

Flowers, in a place that normally smelled only of blood.

I was absentmindedly enjoying it when a heavy thud suddenly sounded from above.

My shoulders jerked.

I stiffened and rolled my eyes around nervously, but fortunately, no further noise followed.

Before some monster appeared, I opened the map to figure out my location.

“Huh? This is……”

The first-floor lobby.

Directly in front of an exit leading outside.

I hesitated, then closed the map.

……There’s no way it’ll open.

Still, should I at least try?

I’d be happy just to discover some hole that let me escape this abandoned hotel.

I stretched my hands forward, searching for the door.

As I inched ahead—

Creeeak.

The door opened by itself.

Faint light spilled through the crack.

Is it luring me?

In horror movies, checking something like this usually gets you killed.

But still.

That was outside.

I felt like I’d only be able to give up after checking at least once.

Maybe this is why people in horror movies go investigate despite knowing they’ll probably die.

I took a deep breath.

Then carefully poked my head through the opening.

Cold outside air filled my lungs.

Dense mist.

Cool air completely different from that inside the hotel.

The scent of dawn and the chill of moisture-soaked rain brushed across my skin.

“It really is outside……”

Beyond this door was definitely outdoors.

Maybe the escape gate the system mentioned was somewhere out here.

Even if it wasn’t, just leaving the hotel seemed like it would bring some relief.

Joy swelled inside me.

Hope.

Hope that I could escape this abandoned hotel.

With my chest tightening emotionally, I pushed the door fully open.

The thick mist parted.

Unlike the colorless hotel, vivid flowers appeared within the fog.

The atmosphere was completely different from the horror-filled interior.

Despite opening the door boldly, I stepped outside cautiously.

The rain-soaked ground was cold against my bare feet.

The damp smell of bushes.

The heavy floral fragrance carried by the breeze.

The open sky.

The low mist.

The fresh outdoor air entering my nose.

“E-Escape……!”

Finally!

I’m finally escaping!

I frantically searched for an exit without even looking behind me.

Then—

I made direct eye contact with a man.

That familiar face crouched beside a flower bed, staring directly at me.

“…….”

“No.

It’s an illusion.”

Unless the universe had gone completely insane, there was no way I’d encounter that bastard when the exit was right in front of me.

I deliberately ignored him and continued searching.

But no matter how thoroughly I looked—

even after pounding on the walls—

there was no exit.

Only massive, fortress-like walls stood firmly around the area.

“Don’t tell me……”

Because this isn’t the escape ‘gate’?

The hotel is right beyond this wall.

But I’m supposed to stare at it without being able to cross?

I looked miserably up at the sky.

Something suddenly flew into my face.

Splat!

“…….”

That bastard.

A rain-soaked flower stuck flat against my cheek.

“Did that flower grow wings?”

Why is everything in my life fucking annoying?

I muttered while doing my best not to look toward him.

As I peeled the tiny petals off my face—

Splat.

Again.

I engraved the word ‘patience’ into my heart while staring at the demon silently picking a fight with me.

Because the person throwing the flowers was—

Extenron.

That man had merely watched while Sellir drove me to the brink of death.

No.

He had even held me in place so I couldn’t escape.

“…….”

Don’t cry.

If I cry, I lose.

As I fumed, Extenron started looking nervous.

“I’m leaving. Fine, I’ll leave! And stop recklessly picking the flowers.”

This is the only place in the hotel that looks remotely normal.

I made it obvious with my entire body that I was angry and tried leaving the garden.

Extenron immediately moved in front of me and blocked the way.

I flinched and quickly backed away.

Extenron scratched his cheek.

According to the game setting, Extenron could barely speak because of the muzzle covering his mouth.

Meaning this bastard had blocked my way despite being unable to explain anything.

What?

Are we supposed to play twenty questions?

No thanks.

I’d barely managed to keep my tears in.

But the instant I saw the huge sword on his back, my eyes became wet again.

Even though I had no wounds left, my body suddenly felt as though everything still hurt.

I wrapped my arms around myself.

Extenron’s hand hovered awkwardly as though he didn’t know where to put it.

Then, out of habit, he touched his sword.

I immediately clenched both fists.

“I’m a crazy magical girl whose baseless confidence and guts suddenly awaken whenever death gets right in my face.”

My greatest flaw was that my mouth remained active enough to shorten my own lifespan.

“…….”

“I possess an overwhelming desire to live. And I become extremely merciless toward anyone trying to interfere with that desire.”

Especially someone who already tried to kill me.

In other words—

don’t come at me carelessly.

Extenron rolled his eyes around.

Then his expression brightened as though he had understood something.

Clap.

Clap.

He applauded.

Like an audience member at a comedy show.

Extenron had just delivered humiliation directly to my soul.

“……Seriously, what is wrong with you?”

You’re making me so damn irritated.

Unable to withstand the embarrassment, I buried my face in my hands.

“…….”

“…….”

Surely he’s left by now.

I slowly removed my hands.

He was standing exactly where he’d been.

He didn’t leave.

Fuck.

The instant our eyes met, Extenron began desperately gesturing with his hands and feet.

I tried my best to interpret him.

What the hell is he saying?

I don’t understand any of this.

“Are you saying that now that I’ve entered this place, you’re going to take my life?”

Extenron’s eyes widened.

He vigorously shook his head.

His behavior didn’t look as though he wanted to kill me.

I watched him cautiously and asked quietly,

“……You’re going to let me live?”

He nodded furiously.

That was when I vaguely noticed how red and swollen Extenron’s throat looked.

It seemed painful.

What happened?

Did he hit his own throat?

There shouldn’t be anything here capable of injuring a demon.

Or did the demons fight among themselves?

I examined Extenron with every spike in my guard raised like a hedgehog.

He genuinely seemed to have no intention of hurting me.

He was unusually docile.

Come to think of it—

even in the game, it had sometimes looked as though Sellir pressured him into killing.

I’d never seen the two separated in the game, though……

Still, I didn’t lower my guard.

“Can I leave?”

He looked like he had something to tell me.

This atmosphere……

“You want to apologize to me?”

Apparently he had been waiting for those exact words.

Extenron’s face immediately brightened.

You nearly killed someone and think one apology makes everything fine.

Whoever taught these demons basic manners deserves a severe scolding.

Your students have become involved in a character controversy!

I didn’t want to accept the apology.

But I also couldn’t exactly slap him.

That left only one option.

Doing whatever I wanted in front of a demon might cause him to change his mind and kill me.

So it was better not to provoke him unnecessarily.

Was there anything in this hotel harder to predict than a demon?

Even if Sellir pressured him—

even if he felt forced—

he was still a demon who killed humans.

And while I was running away, this man had seriously considered cutting me in half.

“I’ll accept your apology. But in exchange, I’d rather never see you again. I can leave now, right?”

Just this once.

I’ll accept it just this once.

One day, I’m going to make all of you regret everything so deeply you’ll cry blood.

Warnings are best delivered internally.

“…….”

His expression darkened slightly.

Then he moved away from where he had blocked me.

He began collecting the flowers scattered across the ground and returned to the flower bed.

Then he started digging the soil as though intending to replant them.

If you’re going to do that, why did you throw them at me in the first place?

Even if he wanted to apologize, there was no way someone who almost died because of him would immediately speak kindly.

I avoided the strangely bothersome man.

The moment I opened the door—

my grip slipped.

BANG―!

Wind slammed the door shut with a loud noise.

Startled, Extenron looked at me.

I immediately defended myself.

“The wind closed it.”

Sounds like the world’s worst excuse, but it’s true.

Before Extenron could change his mind, I hurriedly tried the handle.

It didn’t move.

Ah.

Please!

I’m tired of constantly crossing between life and death!

If this keeps happening, I feel like I’m going to recognize the Grim Reaper’s face!

[You are more than 100 meters away from Holloway.]

[Possessiveness rises rapidly!]

[Possessiveness increased by 11%.]

[Obsession increased by 12%.]

[Anxiety increased by 15%.]

[Possessiveness is 17% higher than Attachment!]

[‘A Miserable Life Being Envied by Demons’ Ending: 05:59:59 remaining.]

[Meet Holloway quickly and prevent Possessiveness from going out of control!]

“What kind of ending is that? You seriously call that an ending?”

There was no answer.

Only the timer continued ticking.

Anyway, to stop the explosion, I had to reunite with Holloway.

I grabbed the handle again and tried everything I could to open the door.

[You cannot leave this area because a quest is in progress.]

A quest?

Nothing appeared.

[12th Story ‘Extenron’s Flower Garden’ begins.

Objective: Extenron’s flower garden is filled with beautiful flowers.

Correctly identify the names of 5 flowers to clear!

※If you threaten Extenron into telling you the flower names, Demon Extenron will disappear immediately.]

[Clear Reward: Blue Ring.

(Can block any attack exactly 3 times.)]

It wasn’t a weapon, which was disappointing.

But if I encountered Sellir again and she tried killing me, this defensive item could be vital.

[Failure: Extenron will break both your legs and turn you into a new flower.]

……Do you really have to phrase it that violently?

A new flower?

You think dressing the words up makes it okay?

This is exactly why you’re a problem.

[Welcome to Extenron’s Garden.

He enjoys planting flowers in this barren and gloomy hotel garden.

That way, the dark and sorrowful hotel looks just a little brighter.]

[You speak kindly to such a warmhearted Extenron.]

All right.

Time to go speak to him violently.