How a Nuisance Character Survives a Horror Game Chapter 83

Even though Moran tried not to—

she kept glancing at Holloway.

The shock of seeing him for the first time refused to fade.

Silver hair that shattered like moonlight.

Mysteriously glowing crimson eyes.

A sharp jaw.

Deep-set eyes.

Red lips like flower petals.

Exceptional height.

A firm body.

A refreshing, intoxicating scent flowed from him.

He was more beautiful—

and more dangerous—

than anything Moran had seen in her life.

Inside the horrifying basement where no road seemed visible—

that man alone shone like the only guide through the darkness.

“Did you return to your real form just to rip off the door?”

For one brief moment—

Moran and Holloway’s eyes crossed.

His indifferent gaze softened dramatically the instant it moved to Evelyn.

And when his eyes rested on her, the faintly red corners curved seductively.

“Of course not. Why would I return to my true form just to break one door?”

The person receiving that look remained completely oblivious.

Instead, Evelyn sternly criticized him.

And somehow—

that expression was merely adorable.

Moran smiled faintly.

Then suddenly flinched and erased it.

‘No……. Father will be disappointed in me again……’

Stubbornness appeared in her tightly pressed lips.

“You need to fix that way of speaking first.”

“Then teach me, big sis. I’ll try very hard.”

Evelyn already knew that when Holloway’s eyes curved and he smiled fully—

nothing in the world looked more beautiful.

She could never get used to that smile.

Instead, she hardened her expression to hide her reddening face.

“All talk. You’re all talk!”

That reaction.

Every time Holloway saw Evelyn react as though it were the first time—

his face naturally softened without him having to force anything.

When had it started?

At some point—

wherever Holloway looked—

Evelyn was always at the end of his gaze.

***

The basement became even darker.

Only the lamp in my hand illuminated our path.

The underground chill was enough to make me shudder, almost like we had entered a cave.

Occasionally, we heard the vengeful spirits.

Then the sounds suddenly vanished.

That silence somehow made it worse.

Moran and I walked stiffly, tense enough to feel frozen.

She clung tightly to my arm while scanning our surroundings.

“But why did Holloway deliberately stay in child form?”

To gather all of us and kill us at once.

Holloway apparently had no intention of returning to his child form anymore.

He calmly walked beside me in his true form.

He didn’t answer Moran.

So I answered instead.

Though Moran had probably asked me because she already realized that.

“There are a lot of bad people around. He needed to be careful. By looking like a child, he could determine whether people were kind or not.”

Moran looked at Holloway sympathetically.

“I suppose trusting people would be difficult……”

After everything he experienced.

Her mutter made me solemn.

Holloway looked at me.

Then gave an obnoxious little snicker.

[The successful clear reward for <The Fate of Those Who Participated> will now be announced.]

[Tell us what reward you desire.

However, you may not request Pandora’s Box itself or ask for its location.]

If they won’t give me Pandora’s Box……

Could they give me the ability to sense the divine power needed to find it?

[You temporarily gain the ability to detect divine power in order to locate ‘Pandora’s Box.’]

I only asked casually.

I didn’t expect it to work.

Then I wouldn’t need to find a priest.

I no longer had to desperately hope Moran was secretly a priest either.

[Divine Power Detection: Objects or people containing divine power will glow golden.]

I’m glad I don’t need a priest……

But why is absolutely nothing given to me easily?

The remaining quests were—

find Pandora’s Box.

Complete the remaining stories.

Pandora’s Box would probably appear while I moved around.

So first—

raise Suriel and Dilaf’s favorability and complete their stories……

“I don’t want to……”

Seeing the past was exhausting.

Just remembering it made my heart ache as though someone were poking it with needles.

I already understand how much they suffered.

Can’t I just not watch?

Every time synchronization occurred—

all the victim’s emotions from that moment came flooding into me.

For a while afterward—

I couldn’t even think clearly.

And seeing more stories didn’t make me accustomed to it.

It accumulated.

So even though I looked innocent and energetic on the outside—

my insides were slowly rotting.

“What don’t you want to do?”

Moran blinked her large eyes.

“……Just. Various things.”

[Your progress has slowed since entering the latter half of <The Child’s Secret>.]

I’m clearing this faster than anyone!

Also—

I literally entered the latter half just now!

[To accelerate your pace and encourage continuous completion of Main Quests, quests will now appear consecutively.]

Excuse me.

I’m already running so hard my feet are sweating!

[Sub Quest <Raise Dilaf’s Favorability!>]

[Objective: Increase Dilaf’s Favorability and quickly view his story.

Time Limit: 20 hours.

Clear Reward: None.

Failure: Imprisonment in the abandoned hotel.]

Isn’t that a little cruel?

You don’t even give rewards anymore?

[You will now be transported directly to Dilaf for quest progression!]

Whoosh!

Before I could even say goodbye to Holloway—

I appeared directly in front of Dilaf.

“Aagh! Has this pervert lost her mind?!”

And directly after he had finished showering.

I stared at him, genuinely fascinated.

“……Demons shower?”

“Because being dirty is unpleasant, obviously……. Wait, why did I answer you so naturally? Hey! You crazy woman! Why did you suddenly appear here?!”

Dilaf crossed his muscular bronze arms over his equally muscular bare chest.

Then fled back into the shower room.

[‘Demon of Wrath’ Dilaf’s Feelings ( ´罒`*)✧: That crazy woman is after my body now……!]

I didn’t choose this……

Dilaf’s clothes sat blatantly on the sofa.

Soon—

his desperate voice came from inside.

“H-Hey! Give me my clothes……!”

“You want them?”

There’s underwear too.

Am I supposed to touch it?

Apparently the brief silence made Dilaf uneasy.

He snapped,

“You’re staring at my underwear, aren’t you?!”

“I am not! Humans have basic etiquette. I was wondering what I should do!”

I’m not interested in other people’s underwear.

Dilaf cautiously poked his face out.

He clearly didn’t believe me.

Profanity poured out.

I let it enter one ear and leave the other.

Then stared vaguely at him.

He wears his blindfold even while showering.

Impressive.

“You’re not listening again.”

“I’ll leave first. Call me when you’re dressed.”

Dilaf answered primly,

“I don’t call perverts.”

Why not?

I need to play the favorability game with you.

[At this rate, Dilaf may run away from you. You must prevent Dilaf from escaping.]

[➤What should you say?]

I could simply apologize and this would end.

Why are you appearing and making everything difficult?

[1. If you don’t call me, I’m taking these clothes and running!

ε=ᕕ(ꐦ°᷄д°᷅)ᕗ

1. I’ll rip these clothes into pieces and feed them to the monsters!

(ꐦಠہಠ)]

Those options would basically tell him to run from me immediately.

[3. Aagh! Your body is a complete mess! Demon bodies disgust me!

ヾ(((;ꈡ▱;)))ﾉ]

I stared at the suddenly aggressive third option with my mouth open.

How could anyone say that?!

System.

Reflect on yourself.

Do you think I’m crazy enough to press number three?

The favorability I worked so hard to raise would crash through the floor and pierce the Earth’s core.

Better to become a pervert who steals clothes……

“If you don’t call me, I’m taking these clothes and running!”

Reaction came immediately.

Dilaf screamed in horror.

“Aagh! Get out! Get out! Go outside right now! I’ll call you!”

“Are you embarrassed? Even though you’re a demon? Demons get embarrassed too?”

“I can hear you!”

I said it so you would hear.

Since Dilaf looked ready to turn as red as his hair if I continued teasing him—

I graciously stepped outside.

I closed the door with a firm click.

Then obediently waited.

I could hear him grumbling inside.

Probably changing clothes.

Most of the grumbling was insults directed at me.

Hey.

Did I appear because I wanted to?

What am I supposed to do when the system does this?!

While I was feeling wronged—

the door creaked open.

Dilaf poked his head out.

“What is it, pervert? Why did you suddenly appear?”

“This is unfair. I was transported here without warning.”

“Don’t believe you, pervert.”

“Fine. Why were you showering?”

Dilaf looked stunned.

“Is it really that surprising that I shower? You asked twice?!”

“Yes! It was somewhat surprising! That’s why I wanted to ask twice! Why?!”

I finally revealed my true feelings while veins bulged along my neck.

Dilaf opened and closed his mouth.

Then seemed to surrender.

He opened the door completely.

“Come in……”

“Excuse me.”

“Sure.”

I marched inside.

Then sat on the sofa.

Unlike other rooms, this one was exceptionally clean.

No dust.

No broken marble floor.

If this weren’t an abandoned hotel—

I might’ve mistaken it for a luxury hotel suite.

After inspecting everything, I looked strangely at Dilaf.

“Hey, stop staring. Even if my body is magnificent……”

“Does living too long increase delusions?”

“You haven’t lived long, so why are you like this?”

“What did I do?”

“You’re insane.”

Do you seriously think I’m insane?

“Does my insanity harm anyone?”

“I don’t like it!”

Why should I care whether you like it?

Dilaf narrowed his eyes.

“You’re insulting me internally.”

“Stop reading minds.”

“Your face looks like that and you’re telling me not to?”

What do you mean, ‘looks like that’?

Apparently seeing me while naked had deeply shocked him.

I decided to stop yelling for now.

“Calm down.”

“I’ll calm down when you leave.”

“Did you forget your brain?”

“Why are you suddenly picking a fight?!”

“No. I have your item. Dilaf’s item.”

Shouldn’t you be grateful I appeared?

Even if seeing me right after showering startled him—

now that it was over, shouldn’t he at least ask for his item?

Instead, all he cared about was whether I was a pervert.

“Maybe it isn’t important?”

“N-No! It is! Right! The item. You had it!”

Only then did Dilaf’s face brighten.

He confidently held out a hand.

It irritated me.

“I should throw it away.”

“Why……”

“You called me a pervert. If I get annoyed, maybe I’ll break it in half.”

I mimed splitting the wooden sword.

Dilaf stared at me.

“Are you a thug?”

“I learned from Holloway.”

“Boss doesn’t say crude things like that!”

What exactly did I say that was so crude?

You’re hurting my feelings……

Anyway—

I needed to develop a positive relationship with Dilaf.

“I’ll give it to you.”

Exciting present-opening time!

Dilaf had originally held out one hand.

Apparently worried I would do something weird—

he now politely held out both.

I moved the wooden sword toward him.

Then pulled it back.

Offered it again.

Pulled it back.

“Stop playing around.”

“Why?”

“…….”

I repeated it until Dilaf finally became annoyed.

He flicked my forehead hard.

THWACK!

It sounded like a watermelon breaking.

My entire brain shook.

I doubled over while clutching my forehead.

“F-Fuck……”

Ignoring my pain—

Dilaf snatched the wooden sword from my hand.

His expression brightened.

“Found it!”

It fucking hurts!

Rubbing my throbbing forehead, I glared.

“To be fair, you deserved that. Admit it.”

Mm……

“I admit it.”

[‘Demon of Wrath’ Dilaf’s Favorability increased!]

Oh!

[Dilaf’s favorability toward you has not yet reached ‘Maybe it would be nice if Evelyn survived?’, so his story remains locked.]

Giving me hope only to snatch it away.

Is that my ancestors’ specialty?