How a Nuisance Character Survives a Horror Game Chapter 82

“…….”

What is this?

Soft.

Firm.

Warm.

Heavenly……

“Big sis, how long are you planning to keep your lips there?”

“Ah. Sorry.”

He isn’t doing anything.

I’m the only one constantly getting seduced by him.

Then again—

I’ve always been ridiculously weak to beauty and chests.

I tried pulling my face away.

Pressure came from the back of my head.

A large hand wrapped around it.

Then pressed down.

My lips were squashed even more firmly against his chest.

“Wh-What are……”

“You looked like you wanted to stay like this.”

Was it that obvious?

“A-Ah. I see.”

His voice sounded faintly amused.

Then he said obnoxiously,

“So this is why you didn’t come out?”

What the hell is he talking about?

My lips were stuck against him.

Talking was difficult.

I gathered strength and turned my face sideways.

My lips became free.

Now my cheek was flattened against his chest instead.

That was a problem.

No.

Actually, it wasn’t.

“It wasn’t because of that. More importantly, why did you take so long opening the door?”

“You don’t look injured.”

“Of course. Would you only be satisfied if big sis had broken a bone somewhere?”

I continued struggling.

Then suddenly noticed something strange.

“Wait. That form……”

It felt so natural I had forgotten.

Holloway was in his true form.

“Lady Evelyn knew?”

Moran’s voice reached me.

I rolled my eyes.

My cheek was still smashed against Holloway’s chest.

His hand hadn’t loosened even slightly.

I couldn’t move.

“No.”

Playing dumb first.

“Why wouldn’t you know, big sis? You did all kinds of things with me while I looked like this.”

Why are you suddenly acting like this?

“What ‘all kinds of things’?”

“We really don’t coordinate well.”

I have absolutely no desire to coordinate with you about something like this.

More importantly—

Holloway revealing himself wasn’t the urgent issue.

“Moran! Give me the sword! And you, move this hand for a second!”

“For a second?”

“That doesn’t mean I want you to press me again afterward.”

Holloway finally removed his hand.

I snatched the sword from Moran.

Then ran back inside.

―You…… you……!

I have no intention of listening to you.

Before the black mage could regain more power—

I tried driving the sword back into the statue.

A transparent barrier stopped me.

Then hurled my entire body backward.

“Aagh!”

I squeezed my eyes shut, expecting to slam into the wall.

Instead—

something comfortable caught me.

“Got you.”

Holloway took the sword from me.

Still holding me, he moved toward the statue in an instant and tried inserting it himself.

CRACKLE―!

Black smoke and white smoke collided.

Powerful sparks burst through the air.

Wind whipped Holloway’s long hair around.

The contest didn’t last long.

Holloway’s hand was thrown away.

The sword failed to enter.

I stared at him with shaking pupils.

Impossible.

Nothing inside this hotel should be capable of stopping Holloway.

A shocked sound escaped me.

“Why……”

Had I been right?

Had they sealed this thing because even Holloway couldn’t suppress it?

―Khehehe……

Holding my shoulder, Holloway glared coldly at the statue.

“Why is God helping you?”

“God?”

Rattle-rattle-rattle!

The statue began shaking violently.

The remaining swords were slowly being forced outward.

Before either Holloway or I could react—

a barrier formed around us.

We couldn’t move from where we stood.

“What do we do?”

“Nothing, apparently.”

“Why are you so calm?”

“…….”

He glanced at me.

Then said nothing.

If you’re relaxed because even if the seal breaks, that bastard can’t leave the island—

you’re a bad child.

Know why?

Because I’m not safe!

“Why are you glaring at me like that?”

I was practically snorting smoke through my nose.

Holloway covered his mouth.

Then turned away.

“You’re funny even with your face.”

“……You bastard.”

How is this funny?

I glared viciously.

Then shouted toward Moran.

“Moran! Put the sword back!”

―Do not interfere……!

A massive whip struck toward me.

I dramatically extended the hand wearing the Blue Ring.

“The time has come to break open my hidden seal.”

“…….”

Holloway stared at me like he couldn’t believe something like me existed.

Maybe his favorability just fell straight through the floor.

Before I could activate the Blue Ring—

Holloway casually slapped aside the incoming whip.

He had only defended.

Yet the black whip reflected backward and struck the statue instead.

SMACK!

―Ghk!

The statue sounded like it was in enormous pain.

“Pfft!”

I laughed at how pathetic it looked.

Apparently enraged, the statue trembled violently.

Now.

“Moran! The sword! Put it back, hurry!”

“Y-Yes!”

Moran rushed forward.

She raised the sword high.

Before she could reach the statue—

black energy condensed.

Then blasted her away.

“Aagh!”

“Moran!”

TING!

I tried running after her.

Then slammed into the invisible barrier.

I nearly fell.

Holloway effortlessly supported my waist.

It’s transparent.

I keep forgetting it exists.

Holding my aching nose, I groaned.

“You really like pantomime.”

“That’s not it! There’s a barrier!”

Holloway raised his index finger.

The sword in Moran’s hand floated.

Before the barrier could react—

it shot into the empty slot.

Click.

For some reason, the white power didn’t interfere.

No—

more accurately, Holloway simply moved too quickly for it to react.

―N-No……!

The overflowing black smoke faded.

I cautiously reached toward the barrier.

It was gone.

I immediately ran toward Moran.

“Moran, are you okay?”

“Y-Yes……. I was only startled.”

I was the one helping her up.

Why are your eyes on Holloway?

I understand, but still.

Once Moran stood, I looked toward the statue.

It was completely motionless again.

As though nothing had ever happened.

Holloway approached from behind me.

Then asked Moran,

“Why did you pull out the sword?”

Because she thought it might be a clue……

I opened my mouth to answer for her.

Holloway’s huge hand covered my mouth.

It concealed nearly half my face.

Moran nervously rolled her round eyes around.

“I thought it might be some clue……”

Apparently that wasn’t the answer Holloway wanted.

He looked coldly down at her.

His gaze was completely different from the one he used on me.

There was nothing inside it.

Exactly like—

one of those game illustrations.

“Why did you pull it out?”

“She answered…… mmph.”

He covered my mouth more firmly.

Moran fidgeted with both hands.

Holloway apparently reached the end of his patience.

He asked again in an icy voice.

Even though it was only a question—

Moran paled and took a step backward as though crushed by fear.

“Should I ask again?”

Um.

That’s terrifying.

Moran’s lips trembled.

Then, with tears gathering in her eyes—

she finally told the truth.

“It b-begged me to pull it out……”

“Who did?”

“The s-statue……”

“So it possessed a will and spoke.”

I lowered Holloway’s hand from my mouth.

Apparently he had finished.

He didn’t resist.

“Then it can do that again. Can’t we stop it somehow?”

“Probably useless. Divine power keeps blocking me.”

Divine power.

A powerful holy force demons couldn’t overcome.

“Then eventually, the black mage’s seal……”

“Will break.”

Fuck.

No!

“You sealed the black mage because you couldn’t beat him?”

“Not because we couldn’t beat him……. That bastard kept trying irritating tricks.”

“Irritating tricks?”

“He’s a black mage. He can use demonic energy.”

“Ah……”

This place overflowed with demonic energy.

Even if the black mage himself wasn’t stronger than the demons—

he could manipulate that energy enough to irritate and provoke them.

And they couldn’t permanently kill him.

So they sealed him instead.

Then I needed to find the escape gate quickly.

I still had to view Suriel and Dilaf’s pasts too.

Fine.

From this moment on—

I would live each day with incredible speed and dramatic momentum.

“I need to meet Suriel and Dilaf.”

“Business?”

“Yeah.”

“Ulterior motives?”

“Hehehe.”

“…….”

I cut him off with an ominous giggle.

I expected Holloway to say something.

Instead, he stared at me.

Not with the cold eyes he used on Moran.

But warm crimson eyes.

Holloway slowly lifted a hand and caressed my cheek.

“…….”

“Why?”

“It’s nothing.”

Are you sure?

I narrowed my eyes.

Before I could inspect him further—

Moran grabbed my hand and shook it.

Apparently she had already forgotten about being threatened.

She looked hurt.

“Lady Evelyn said you didn’t know, but you did! Don’t even think about lying!”

“What?”

“Holloway……”

You mean I knew about adult Holloway?

Moran glanced toward him.

Her cheeks turned faintly pink.

A completely natural physical reaction.

Just blushing was actually mild.

When I first saw him, didn’t I practically lose my mind?

Honestly, I still feel like losing my mind and throwing myself at him.

I can still feel the chest that touched my lips……

Wait.

I said that backward.

The firm texture of his chest against my lips.

I unconsciously rubbed my lips together.

Holloway laughed quietly.

“Want to do it again?”

“No!”

Yes!

“Lady Evelyn!”

I flinched, thinking my inner thoughts had somehow been exposed.

Holloway covered his mouth with the back of his hand and laughed quietly.

At this point, hiding it seemed pointless.

So I told Moran the truth.

Partly because I was embarrassed and needed to talk.

“I knew. At some point, he suddenly revealed his true form and threatened me that if I didn’t keep it secret, he’d pop my head off and use it as a ball. So I’ve been protecting the secret with my life.”

Holloway listened.

Then tilted his head with an amused expression.

“Did I really say something that cruel?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

“That time. You know. That time.”

“Which time…… Ah. When big sis and I……”

Why are you trailing off?

Why are you stopping there and making it sound weird?

Why?

“Ah. Holloway and Lady Evelyn……”

“No.”

I dragged Holloway and Moran out of the laboratory.

If the seal was destined to break eventually no matter what I did—

better block the room off entirely.

Except……

there’s no door anymore.

It’s an open-concept laboratory now……

“What if someone goes inside?”

“Wish them a pleasant visit.”

Good luck, everyone.