How a Nuisance Character Survives a Horror Game Chapter 80

I need to press harder!

Especially after what he did to Holloway.

I couldn’t let this end easily.

I stabbed the halberd directly into the Emperor’s remaining eye.

―M-My sight…… Aaaaaagh!

Watching him suffer, I inhaled deeply.

His movements had slowed.

Now all that remained was attacking.

Legs.

Arms.

Torso.

One by one—

I hacked and stabbed with the halberd.

I deliberately tried making everything as painful as possible.

Maybe because he looked more like a monster than a human.

Maybe because I had already grown accustomed to attacking creatures like this inside the hotel.

Maybe because of the halberd itself.

Whatever the reason—

I didn’t hesitate.

The corridor filled with the Emperor’s tearing screams.

The movements my body performed could never have been mine.

Ancestors.

Keep it up!

Pain still spread through me.

But thanks to the halberd, even with my slowing body—

I successfully cornered the Emperor.

I rotated the weapon.

Then drove it into his legs.

System windows became noisy with messages saying my Attack Power and Evasion had increased.

I ignored them.

I destroyed both legs.

With nothing left to support him—

the Emperor collapsed.

I aimed precisely.

CRUNCH!

His head rolled across the floor with a brutal sound.

But I couldn’t relax.

When I approached the severed head to split it—

the flesh instantly raised spikes like a hedgehog.

I hadn’t expected it.

One spike grazed my thigh.

“Ugh.”

“…….”

I endured the pain.

Then slammed the raised halberd downward.

CRACK!

The head split.

A heart appeared inside.

Thump.

Thump.

A charred-black heart still beat.

There was no time to feel disgusted.

I grabbed it.

Then moved far away from the Emperor’s remains.

“If you leave it too long, his body will regenerate around the heart.”

Had I lost too much blood?

My head spun.

If he regenerated—

I wouldn’t be able to fight again.

I had to permanently kill him now.

Panting, I opened the bag with trembling hands.

Holloway reached toward my bleeding thigh.

“Big sis is busy. I’ll play with you later.”

His hand was directly over the wound.

It bothered me.

But dealing with the heart mattered more.

I pulled out the glass bottle.

Then Holloway suddenly pressed hard against the wound.

Pain exploded.

“Aagh!”

“…….”

What the hell is wrong with this bastard now?

I didn’t have time to push him away.

The heart was already twitching.

New flesh began oozing from it.

Ugh.

Disgusting.

I opened the bottle.

Without hesitation—

I dropped the Emperor’s heart inside.

Then sealed the lid so it couldn’t escape.

My blood began violently bubbling.

I grabbed Holloway’s cheeks.

Then turned his face toward the bottle.

“Watch carefully. This is how he ends.”

Stop obsessing over my thigh.

Holloway and I met each other’s eyes.

His expression barely changed.

But his pupils trembled slightly.

Of course he was shaken.

This was the Emperor’s real death.

His family.

And simultaneously—

the person responsible for turning him into this.

I couldn’t say anything after seeing Holloway’s complicated expression.

―S-Save me……. Save meeee……. I-I want to live……

A man’s voice emerged from inside the bottle.

The voice of the founding Emperor from the memories I had witnessed.

―I…… your father……. I beg…… forgiveness……

Holloway squeezed my hand.

Ow!

My hand is going to explode!

Tears leaked out.

I patted the back of his hand.

A little less strength, please.

He squeezed harder.

Hey!

Do you not understand the meaning?

No—

understand?

I’m so flustered even my words are tangling.

―I am begging you! Why?! After turning your father into this, how dare you!

No remorse.

I gripped the bottle lid.

Then slowly swirled it so the heart became more thoroughly coated in my blood.

―It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!

That’s the point.

―I…… I wanted eternal life……!

“You failed to obtain it.”

Holloway rested his face against my head.

Together—

we quietly watched until the Emperor’s heart burned away completely.

The strength in Holloway’s hand gradually loosened.

[Sub Quest <What Could Be Inside the Underground Vault?> Complete!]

[The ‘Underground Vault Key’ is located in the front pocket of your bag.]

Holloway released my hand.

Then began poking the scorched bottle.

The hand he had crushed was trembling.

I opened the front zipper.

Then took out a key.

[Obtained ‘Underground Vault Key’!]

[Underground Vault Key

Feature: Key to the black mage’s Laboratory 1 underground.]

The black mage’s laboratory.

I hadn’t seen it once despite wandering around down here……

The Emperor’s destruction had also caused the halberd to disappear.

Now my only weapons were the shuriken and dagger.

I put the bag back on.

Then snatched the bottle out of Holloway’s hand.

“How long are you going to stare at it?”

“It’s fascinating.”

“Feel relieved?”

“I don’t know.”

He pushed his hair backward.

Then lightly furrowed his brows.

“Happy……? Maybe. Even though I know why he did everything, part of me still wants to ask why.”

Holloway looked complicated.

I asked him instead,

“So do you regret permanently killing him?”

“No.”

That answer came without even a second of hesitation.

At least that much was certain.

Of course the feeling would be strange.

The shadow of his father had been wrapped around his ankle for a thousand years.

Now—

for the first time—

he was free.

Until today, Holloway could kill the Emperor as many times as he wanted.

But he always returned.

Even if Holloway tried forgetting him—

the fact that the Emperor remained alive never changed.

Maybe Holloway had unconsciously cared about that.

A lot.

So I hoped he felt even a little lighter now.

The one who created his nightmare was gone.

He still hadn’t escaped the nightmare itself.

But even simply destroying its cause……

“I hope you feel relieved.”

Holloway silently stared at me.

Then his mouth softened slightly.

“Yes. I will. It definitely doesn’t feel bad.”

“Then you do the finishing touch.”

“Finishing touch?”

“Break the bottle. End this long relationship yourself.”

I wondered whether he might hesitate.

He lifted the bottle with one hand.

Then released it without any attachment whatsoever.

CRASH!

Glass shattered.

Black liquid spread across the floor.

It slowly hardened.

Then crumbled away—

until not even a trace remained.

Holloway silently watched.

Maybe he doesn’t feel relieved after all?

I carefully watched him.

Holloway released a deep, refreshing breath.

Then—

a faint smile slowly spread across his face.

Clear laughter echoed through the basement.

It sounded genuinely relieved.

His bright face seemed to lose at least a little of the shadow that had always covered it.

[Holloway’s heart becomes more peaceful.]

[Holloway has escaped from his ‘father.’]

[Your words seem to contain magic. Warmth settles inside Holloway’s heart.]

Holloway slowly met my gaze.

“You were right.”

“…….”

“I feel relieved. Maybe because he’s finally truly dead.”

His half-lowered eyelashes cast long shadows.

He looked relieved.

And bitter at the same time.

I rose onto my toes.

Then stretched as far as possible and stroked his hair.

His lowered eyes moved toward me.

His crimson pupils burned with strange heat.

Something impossible to identify in the depths of that darkness seemed to wrap itself around me.

I unconsciously stepped half a pace backward.

Holloway reached out.

He gently caught my hand before it could leave his hair.

“Evelyn was right.”

Um.

Ancestors?

Something seems wrong with Holloway.

His hand was hot.

The more I tried pulling free—

the more I felt myself becoming tangled in him.

I had stepped half a pace away.

Holloway took one full step toward me.

The distance vanished immediately.

Our noses almost touched.

His hand left mine.

Then wrapped around my neck instead.

His thumb slowly stroked my skin.

His eyes were half-closed as he looked down.

The graceful curve of his lips was so beautiful I almost wondered whether I had entered a dream.

“Um……”

“From now on, I can cover that memory with good ones.”

He tilted his head.

His lips moved slowly.

“Right?”

His deep gaze.

His gentle voice.

For a moment, I forgot we were inside this horrifying basement.

“Evelyn.”

For the first time—

the way my name sounded from his lips carried an unfamiliar emotion.

My heart pounded.

My face and ears heated.

“When big sis said everyone was pitiful before, I felt disgusted. But I didn’t know why.”

“Maybe it would be better for both you and me if you never figure it out?”

I don’t think I can handle this.

He gave a low laugh.

Then shook his head.

“I think I already know. I just don’t think I can keep pretending otherwise.”

“…….”

“I’m getting stranger and stranger.”

They say love starts with—

‘You’re so weird.’

Did I say that aloud?

“Stranger……?”

His red tongue briefly wet his lips.

Then disappeared.

“I want big sis to pity only me. Even if it’s only sympathy, I want that feeling directed at me alone.”

Obsession filled the words.

Along with unmistakably intense possessiveness.

I couldn’t answer.

Then—

[Holloway’s Possessiveness intensifies!]

Possessiveness?

[Unable to determine Holloway’s Affection!]

[ERROR! ERROR!! ?(°Д°≡°Д°)?]

[ERROR! ERROR!! ?(°Д°≡°Д°)?]

Why is Possessiveness increasing?!

I killed the Emperor for you!

At least say thank you before acting ungrateful!

One slight relief—

Holloway himself didn’t seem to understand his feelings yet.

Judging from his words.

He didn’t understand why he was becoming like this.

He merely wanted me.

That’s even more dangerous.

If he becomes aware of it……

I couldn’t even imagine.

And if Holloway became like that……

‘Would I actually be able to reject him?’

That worries me the most.

“Holloway. Listen. I feel sorry for everyone equally. Abandoned animals on the street. You. Everyone.”

I had to suppress his possessiveness.

I needed him to understand that my feelings were common as weeds.

That they weren’t something I could direct only toward him.

I couldn’t be cruel.

But I could at least say this.

“You thought words like that would hurt me?”

“Want me to be harsher?”

“Try.”

“Better not.”

I’m very socially perceptive.

Holloway had become much quicker to laugh lately.

He stepped even closer.

Then—

“Is anyone there?”

Moran’s voice echoed through the corridor.

Holloway’s expression instantly darkened.

He clearly disliked the interruption.

Probably because she ruined this moment.

That was my guess.

But considering how far gone Holloway seemed—

it was probably accurate.

If not—

whatever.

I was basically trapped between Holloway’s arms.

I requested,

“Turn back into a child quickly.”

“Do I have to?”

“Really? You want to stay like this?”

You don’t mind Moran finding out?

Holloway stroked my hair.

He appeared to consider it.

Then withdrew his arms.

“I’ll change.”

Apparently he still didn’t want Moran seeing this form.

The instant he became a child—

Moran appeared from the left corner.

Her face brightened when she saw me.

“L-Lady Evelyn! You were here?”

“Why are you down here? Where’s Cletta?”

“Lord Cletta and I discovered the basement you mentioned, so we came down to investigate, but……”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“What is this place? It’s terrifying……. The monsters upstairs aren’t even comparable.”

Dark-red blood splattered her trembling body.

“L-Lord Cletta lured a monster away to protect me, and we got separated……”

[Holloway’s mood rapidly worsens.]

Is it because I might meet Cletta?

Even if I do, I won’t talk to him.

There was no reason to provoke Holloway.

Why does the difficulty increase over time instead of becoming easier?

Not to mention Holloway’s emotions becoming a complete disaster.

“What about everyone besides Cletta?”

“I don’t know.”

Dilaf and Suriel would probably arrive soon too.

To retrieve their items.

I still needed to raise their favorability.

What if Holloway becomes jealous?

Moran sniffled.

Then looked at Holloway and me with a slightly envious expression.

“Even though Lord Cletta and I entered together, we were separated. Lady Evelyn and Holloway are always together……”

“Holloway is basically a stalker.”

Not my fault.