Trapped in a Game That Flopped

Chapter 112

Episode 112

So that's what he meant.

A conversation with Adam from the past, one I had completely forgotten, came to mind.

"Do you think he is in any position to grant you a reward?"

"What do you think, Count? Do you believe the sinner can, in fact, grant me a reward?"

"Why ask me that?"

"I believe it depends on you, Count."

Back then, I'd said it out of concern for the harsh treatment Kassel was receiving as a sinner and for Adam, who had half-resigned himself to stopping the disaster...

Being reminded of it now by the man himself, after everything was over, felt strange.

Unable to withstand Adam's gaze, which was staring intently at me as if waiting for an answer, I mumbled a reply.

"Yes. Well..."

Reward my ass. The only things I got were unwanted forced headbanging and suspicion.

But for some reason, Adam looked slightly relieved.

"Thanks to you, Count, I received it just fine."

I muttered the answer he would want to hear.

[Adam Hailey temporarily withdraws his suspicion of you.]

A rather positive system window popped up, as if it were the correct answer.

"It has gotten quite late."

As if he finally intended to let me go, Adam glanced toward the window and said something to end the meeting.

Naturally, I shot up from my seat.

"If you're finished saying what you need to, I'll be returning to my room."

"Stop by the estate sometime. Serina heard your story and wanted to see you."

"Me?"

"Yes. The Head Maid and several of the employees feel the same."

Figuring he was just saying it to be polite, I also observed the proper etiquette.

"I will, if I get the chance."

And just as I was about to turn around.

"They were clamoring to have you instated as the exclusive apothecary."

"...Me?"

At his words, I froze and could only stupidly ask the same question again.

As I stared at Adam with strange eyes, wondering if I'd heard him wrong, he nodded once and added.

"When is your work at the Temple scheduled to be finished?"

No, he was just interrogating me about running away and stealing. What kind of transition is this?

I was so dumbfounded that I stammered and asked back.

"Count... do you trust me?"

At that, he suddenly gave a faint smile.

And denied it flatly.

"No."

"You could at least pretend to think about it..."

"Did I not say it before? I am one to believe that those mad for money will stop at nothing."

He completely ignored my request to at least feign consideration and spoke.

Of course, I immediately adopted a serious expression.

"I am not that materialistic of a person."

"I am well aware that you're the type to run away, then come back when you remember things to grab."

"..."

Ugh! It's infuriating, but I created this situation, so I have nothing to say.

Finding my trembling appearance amusing, Adam chuckled once more before getting to the main point.

"How much payment do you require?"

He seemed serious about hiring me as the Count's estate's exclusive apothecary.

I was still bewildered, but I answered at once.

"It's a grateful offer, but I refuse."

As if he hadn't expected such a quick refusal, Adam's blue eyes wavered for a moment.

"...What is the reason? It should be a good offer for you."

How could I, after finally finishing that dreadful Hailey quest and escaping.

Unless I'm crazy, I would never return to the Count's estate of my own free will, even if I died and came back to life.

And working with a boss like Adam Hailey, who's terminally suspicious, terminally quick to resign, and terminally averse to debt, is a surefire way to go crazy yourself.

But since I couldn't say that, I had no choice but to sell Kassel out.

"I've already received sufficient compensation from His Highness the Crown Prince. Did you not hear that His Highness said he would hire me as his exclusive apothecary?"

"..."

As if he hadn't heard, Adam's eyes widened once before returning to normal.

Of course, he wouldn't have heard.

That bastard Kassel did say something like that, but it was only to threaten me.

But it wasn't entirely wrong either, seeing as he was using that excuse with the Pope and priests to work me like a slave.

Therefore, even if Adam brought this up, it wouldn't be too out of place.

It was then.

"This is for the best."

Adam, who had been lost in thought for a while after hearing my words, suddenly spoke.

"What... is?"

"Because I'll be able to keep a close watch on a suspicious bastard like you."

"..."

"If I kept you at the Count's estate, there's no telling when you'd run away again. His Highness the Crown Prince's exclusive apothecary is better."

Have their personalities started to rub off on each other from hanging out?

Seeing Adam spout words with a similar logic to Kassel's made me feel anxious for some reason.

I clenched my teeth and forced the words out.

"...I'm not going to run away."

"..."

"Really."

Adam didn't respond, as if he didn't believe my words at all.

Of course, I wasn't being sincere in the slightest either, so I didn't care.

'The moment this Temple Quest is over, I'm gone.'

As I was thinking that.

He suddenly muttered awkwardly.

"...In any case, it's a relief to have confirmed you're alive."

"...Me, you mean?"

"Yes. I thought you had been swept away by the monsters and died."

I don't know why he'd think that after sending his knights so relentlessly.

Figuring this was also just something to say, I replied appropriately as a final farewell.

"I'm relieved that you are also safe, Count."

"We'll be seeing each other often for a while."

"Th-then I'll be going now."

I felt like if I stayed any longer, I'd tell him to stop spouting such X-rated nonsense, so I hurriedly turned around.

It was that moment.

[Adam Hailey feels a certain level of affection or more for you.]

For some reason, a positive affection system window popped up.

Looking back and forth between Adam, who was as expressionless as an NPC, and the system window, I was suddenly overcome with a complicated feeling.

'It's good, but...'

I just can't figure out the affection points for these damn AI.

Dalkak.

Only after closing Adam's door was I able to let out the sigh I'd been holding.

"Hoo..."

As if Kassel wasn't enough, another person had been added to the list of those who would torment me.

'I'm already losing my mind just progressing the main quest. Can I really handle these crazy bastards?'

Of course not.

The only way was to avoid them, holding my breath.

Compared to Kassel, Adam was at least more moderate and rational, but that didn't mean he was easy or comfortable to deal with.

After talking with him at length today, I found he had a tendency to push and interrogate until he was satisfied, especially if something didn't meet his own set standards.

That point was somewhat similar to Kassel.

No, in some ways, he seemed even more persistent than Kassel...

Also, compared to what was passed around through user word-of-mouth and praise, he seemed like a person with severe compulsions and a need for cleanliness in many areas.

"We have some things to settle, I believe."

Just as he said, the conversation just now was really nothing but settling accounts.

'They said he was upright and thorough in everything! This is just being stingy!'

I stood blankly in the hallway in front of Adam's door for a moment, swallowing my indignation, before finally turning toward my room.

'Hah... this game. Let's just see how far this goes.'

The moment I clenched my teeth and took a step.

Beolkeok.

Suddenly, the door across from me opened.

"Why are you coming out of there?"

Bright red eyes burned as they locked onto me.

Crown Prince Kassel Ludwig

"Are you close with Adam Hailey?"

The moment our eyes met, the interrogation began relentlessly.

I felt like I had just barely beaten the mid-boss, only to run into the final boss with no time to recover.

[Crown Prince Kassel Ludwig feels strong displeasure toward you.]

On top of that, the guy seemed to be in a very foul mood for some reason.

"Why aren't you speaking? Since when were you and Adam Hailey on such intimate terms that you're in and out of his room?"

"..."

"You'd better answer by the count of three. Three, two..."

At the guy's behavior, hounding me without a moment's patience, I just wanted to cover my ears.

This game, I take back wanting to see how far it goes.

Please, just let me not see anything!