[Synchronization has been released.]
“Haaah……!”
Evelyn sucked in a desperate breath and shot upright as though she had been flung by a spring.
Her face had gone white as paper.
Her breathing came so rapidly that it looked as though she were hyperventilating.
‘How many times do I have to see things like this?’
A terrible heat wrapped around her body.
Unable to endure the pain that felt as though her heart were being torn to pieces, Evelyn buried her face in her palms.
She didn’t want to see it.
It hurt.
Watching that utterly broken boy weighed down her heart like a block of lead even though none of what had happened was her sin.
Rather than wanting to run away, all she could think about was somehow freeing him from this place.
She wanted to hug him.
She wanted to firmly hold the hand of that emaciated boy who looked as though he might collapse at any moment.
The boy had been betrayed by the person he trusted most and lost the people precious to him.
Yet even while suffering such cruel torture, he had never lost the radiance of his heart.
And despite that—
God had abandoned that boy……
No.
God had abandoned all of them.
Left them in this place for a thousand years.
Even though the boy and the others were unquestionably the victims.
Even though they were the ones who had lost everything.
Even though none of them had wanted this.
The desperate memories of that day remained embedded inside Evelyn’s chest, cutting at it like a sharpened blade.
Her heart hurt as though someone were ripping it apart.
The tears refused to stop.
At the same time, another question emerged.
‘……But why does no one know about this?’
There was no way an incident of this magnitude could have remained unknown.
Countless nobles and commoners had disappeared.
Even the Emperor of an entire Empire had died.
Yet the incident had been quietly buried.
Not one line about it existed in any history book.
‘There’s something else.’
Evelyn lowered her hands from her face.
Holloway silently watched her soaked cheeks.
She still seemed unaware of him.
He simply watched as tears rolled continuously from her deathly pale face.
Holloway, who had returned to his child form, saw Evelyn’s eyes suddenly widen.
He guessed immediately.
‘That weird thing appeared again.’
[LOADING=͟͞(๑•̀д•́๑)…….]
Evelyn scrubbed her tears away so roughly it looked as though she might scrape off her skin.
[Completing ‘????’s Past’=͟͞(๑•̀д•́๑)…….]
[Completing ‘Albrecht’s Past’=͟͞(๑•̀д•́๑)…….]
Albrecht was the surname of Balone’s imperial family.
Since the boy had been the Emperor’s child, the surname itself wasn’t particularly surprising.
Cynthia’s surname was Albrecht too.
What Evelyn wanted to know was the identity of the boy who had gone berserk.
Was he really……
‘Holloway?’
As though answering her question, the system displayed another window.
[‘Holloway Albrecht’s Past’ story complete! (•̀ᴗ•́)و]
The tears she had barely managed to stop immediately gathered again.
Those occasionally hollow eyes.
His fondness for warmth.
Holloway was the boy from the story Evelyn had just witnessed.
He had never wanted to become a demon.
Circumstances had simply driven him into something unbearably cruel.
There had been nothing Holloway could do in that merciless place.
Only now did Evelyn finally understand everything.
Why Holloway hated humans.
Why he had tried hiding the truth of himself and this hotel.
Why he trusted no one.
Why even a single hug had increased his Affection.
Why, without even realizing it himself, he had sought warmth by hugging her and holding her hand.
‘Holloway couldn’t have been any other way.’
Of course he couldn’t.
For the first time, Evelyn felt guilty for deciding he was merely a horror-game character and arbitrarily judging and avoiding him.
Her shoulders shook as she openly sobbed.
Holloway could no longer simply watch her cry herself into exhaustion.
He reached toward her and placed one hand against her cheek.
Tap.
Startled by the sudden touch, Evelyn’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s.
Only then did she finally realize Holloway was there.
Holloway quietly examined her face.
Her swollen eyes.
Her bright-red nose.
Her wet cheeks.
The corners of her mouth drooping miserably downward.
Finally, when his gaze met Evelyn’s round eyes filled with surprise—
laughter escaped him before he could stop it.
But Evelyn didn’t scold him.
She couldn’t say anything.
She knew that whatever she said wouldn’t be enough to reach him.
Instead—
Evelyn stretched out her arms and pulled Holloway firmly into her embrace.
She locked the boy, who pretended he was fine even though he feared this laboratory, tightly against her.
So that he would stop trembling.
Hoping that her warmth and comfort would reach Holloway.
Evelyn’s earnest wish wrapped around him like a spring breeze.
After hesitating, Holloway’s arms came around her body.
[Attachment increased by 1111%.]
‘……Huh?’
What kind of breach of etiquette was this in the middle of such an emotional moment?
It was as if someone had grabbed Evelyn by the hair and violently dragged her back into reality.
Her eyes widened in confusion.
When she blinked, the tears clinging to her large eyes spilled down.
[Affection increased by 2311%.]
[Po※!~ ss@$! ess▶.]
[At§%!)*]
Evelyn tilted her head at the corrupted system windows.
What’s wrong with it?
[Attempting to understand ‘Future Conqueror of This World’ Holloway’s feelings ( ఠ్ఠ˓̭ఠ్ఠ)…….]
[ERROR! ERROR!! ?(°Д°≡°Д°)?]
[ERROR! ERROR!! ?(°Д°≡°Д°)?]
[As Holloway’s demonic energy has become more refined, it is no longer possible to determine ‘Future Conqueror of This World’ Holloway’s Emotional Values or ★★ values!]
[Fortunately, his thoughts can still be roughly interpreted! Accuracy: 85%.]
Holloway had blocked the system’s energy that had seeped into his body.
He had prevented the system from interfering with him as it pleased.
Evelyn, unaware of that, couldn’t process the abrupt development.
What?
Why did his demonic energy suddenly become stronger?
Don’t tell me he’s going berserk……
[Holloway’s Emotional Values and ★★ values have been deactivated!]
[Condition for reactivation: ????]
What is that supposed to mean……?
[Even if the activation condition is fulfilled, they may remain inactive depending on circumstances!]
What kind of irresponsible system is this……?
[As Holloway’s demonic energy becomes more refined, he is now able to control his enchantment.]
Originally, Holloway had been unable to control the enchantment naturally leaking from him.
But as his power increased and he gained finer control over his demonic energy, Holloway became capable of controlling the enchantment created by his appearance.
He didn’t want to seduce Evelyn through something like enchantment.
That desire had contributed greatly to his ability to control the violently surging demonic energy.
[People will no longer become enchanted merely by seeing Holloway.
However, his beautiful appearance and presence will still naturally draw admiration.]
Even while Evelyn was still confused about the system suddenly losing access to its functions—
she stiffened.
Something about the Holloway she was hugging felt strange.
His body, which had been small enough to fit neatly inside her arms, seemed to be growing.
‘……Am I shrinking?’
While she was thinking something completely absurd—
his body became large enough to engulf hers entirely.
Their positions reversed in an instant.
Now Evelyn seemed buried inside Holloway’s embrace.
She stiffened briefly before trying to pull away.
His powerful arms stopped her.
Trapped by thick, solid arms, she couldn’t move.
Long silver hair tickled Evelyn’s cheek.
The only part of her that remained relatively free was her face.
She tilted her head upward.
The instant she confirmed who was holding her—
her eyes grew enormous.
Features that looked as though someone had carved each one with meticulous care.
Deep-set eyes.
Rich crimson irises.
A beauty so brilliant and unreal that no words could possibly describe it.
Even without enchantment, Holloway’s appearance was breathtaking enough to make someone stare blankly.
He possessed an intoxicating beauty—
sensual and mysterious at once.
“……Holloway?”
As though he had been waiting for her to say his name, his eyes curved beautifully.
His red lips parted.
“Yes. It’s me.”
A low, deep voice.
Holloway smiled.
Then pressed his lips in succession to the back of Evelyn’s hand—
her fingers—
her palm.
Finally, he rested his cheek against her palm.
“Surprised?”
His eyes curved gently like a fox’s.
The expression was dangerously seductive.
“You’re Holloway……?”
She already knew.
At least, she knew what his true form was supposed to look like.
But the illustrations had failed miserably to capture his beauty.
Evelyn couldn’t stop herself from asking again.
Holloway brushed the still-damp corners of her eyes.
“Every time I look at you, you’re crying.”
“More like every time you look at me, I’m doing something idiotic.”
I don’t cry that much.
Holloway fell silent at Evelyn’s brutally objective self-evaluation.
Then, apparently unable to endure it, he hurriedly covered his lower face and bent forward.
His back shook.
“Kgh, khkh……”
I can hear you laughing.
Evelyn muttered, but Holloway couldn’t stop.
Only after barely regaining his breathing did he look at her again.
He played with her cheek and complained quietly.
“I don’t like receiving the same pity everyone else would give me.”
“The salt concentration is different, I guess……”
At Evelyn’s pathetic excuse after all that thought—
Holloway finally burst out laughing.
Even while memories of his past replayed inside his head—
he was laughing.
A single sentence from Evelyn somehow made everything feel lighter.
An indescribably good feeling spread throughout Holloway’s body, almost like intoxication.
He had long ago become numb to ordinary words of comfort.
If she had offered him some generic, meaningless consolation—
Holloway might actually have been disappointed in her.
He had stopped needing hollow pity and empty words long ago.
But when he told her she was crying again—
he never expected that answer.
Evelyn constantly defied his expectations.
“Hahaha……”
Looking at Evelyn’s irritated expression made him laugh again.
Inside this hellish laboratory—
he was laughing.
For this one moment—
Evelyn was the only thing Holloway could see.
Enough for everything else to disappear temporarily.
He was happy.
Watching Holloway laugh continuously, Evelyn’s cheeks reddened faintly from embarrassment.
“Stop laughing……”
Those endearingly flushed cheeks.
Holloway cupped and stroked them.
“Maybe my punishment finally ended.”
“What?”
“I was wondering why someone like you was sent to me.”
How—
to me.
Someone this bright.
Someone whose mere existence could entertain him.
“What are you talking about?”
Holloway smiled gently at Evelyn’s grumbling.
The smile was so mesmerizing that Evelyn couldn’t look away.
[Holloway begins to waver because of you!]
***
I couldn’t say anything after the sudden turn of events.
Holloway stepped half a pace away.
For the first time, I was seeing his true form face-to-face.
I couldn’t stop looking.
My beauty just took a serious hit to its self-esteem.
If I wanted it to survive, I should probably call Alhulf over.
More shocking than anything was how tall Holloway was.
Almost as tall as Extenron.
Maybe even slightly taller……
His build needed no explanation.
It was completely different from his child form.
The decision to wear clothes that modestly exposed his chest had been excellent.
Should I praise him?
“What are you thinking about so seriously?”
“Whether I should compliment your choice of clothing.”
“Ah……”
[Holloway thinks it’s impressive that you’re still staring at his chest at a time like this.]
“Didn’t you leave it open to be looked at?”
Holloway simply stared at me.
The words had slipped out without thinking.
I realized too late and shut my mouth.
I expected him to question me.
Instead, Holloway simply smiled peacefully.
“Yes. I left it open to be looked at. Look as much as you want.”
“Can I lick it?”
“Want to?”
“I’m joking.”
One of his fingers suddenly slipped between my lips.
He caught my tongue between his fingers and tilted his head.
“Your tongue keeps flicking out.”
“Le’go. (Let go.)”
Holloway smiled and released my tongue.
Then he brought the same finger that had touched it to his own lips and licked it like a cat.
……Something’s strange.
My face heated violently.
I pressed both palms against my cheeks and avoided his gaze.
He had been staring directly through me this whole time.
At this rate, I’m going to get enchanted.
You said the enchantment disappeared.
That was a lie, wasn’t it?
His hand gently slipped between my palms and stroked my cheek.
“You’re still crying, big sis.”
“I told you…… already.”
Why—
why can’t I speak casually to him anymore?
“Did you say you empathize easily with other people?”
I nodded.
Especially because I had synchronized with the past I’d been shown.
That unbearable pain and those emotions had been conveyed directly into me.
It wasn’t something I could simply shake off.
Then I realized something.
‘Holloway isn’t trembling.’
Even in this laboratory.
Even though he had suffered such horrific pain here……
I rubbed the back of Holloway’s hand and spoke sincerely.
“I’m glad you didn’t go insane.”
“Do I look sane?”
“I’m glad you went insane.”
Still as rude as ever!
I quietly withdrew the hand stroking his.
“Do you even know what you’re saying?”
“Of course.”
My confident response only deepened the disbelief in Holloway’s eyes.
As our conversation reached its end and the playful atmosphere returned—
[Would you like to share ‘Holloway Albrecht’s Past’ with the others?]
[Yes] / [No]
Are you insane?
Obviously no!
I firmly pressed ‘No.’
The Secret of the Island had been shared automatically.
But Holloway’s personal secret was something I had no right to reveal unless he told them himself.
If he wanted to hide it—
he probably didn’t want anyone else to know.
Unless Holloway personally brought it up, I would never even ask whether I could tell anyone.
Holloway closely watched the movements of my hand as I touched the window.
Feeling strangely guilty, I bent my index finger and pretended nothing had happened.
Ding.
It’s not over?
[Story Collection (2/7)]
[You will receive a hint about escape.]
[Hint: It is somewhere inside or outside the hotel.]
That’s your hint?!
Of course it’s either inside or outside!
[New story created!]
[The final story of Holloway and his friends!]
[Please hurry and complete every story!]
[◈Story List◈
- +Secret of the Island
- +Holloway Albrecht’s Past
- +????
- +????
- +????
- +????
- +????]
[It will not be long until you can escape this rotten place.]
[Please do your best.]
[― ̗̀(๑ᵔ⌔ᵔ๑)― ̗̀(๑ᵔ⌔ᵔ๑)― ̗̀(๑ᵔ⌔ᵔ๑)]
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