Trapped in a Game That Flopped

Chapter 14

Episode 14

But it's not like I just went in for a kiss or contact like those pervert users.

I racked my brain and used a method that minimized the physical contact he so extremely loathes...

So why do I have to be treated the same as the users who failed!

"But, but it's not like you'll die from drinking an Insomnia Potion! And it's something that's over in just five seconds..."

"Which is why I also choked you for only five seconds."

"Don't lie! What do you mean, five seconds...!"

"Why? Should we try it again, see if it's really just five seconds?"

"...Ah, no. I must have been mistaken, Sir."

I quickly agreed, recalling the feeling of being choked earlier.

It wouldn't have been strange to say it felt like five minutes, but since my health dropped by half, maybe it really was about five seconds.

In a devastating mood, I sniffled a little and fumbled in my pocket, pulling out a potion bottle.

Maybe the 'Catch 100 Lizards' quest, which should have been for users, was all foreshadowing for a time like this.

Using one Recovery Potion Containing Lizard's Vocal Cords.

HP recovery speed is temporarily increased, and vocal cords are strengthened.

I had felt skeptical while making it, wondering what I would even use something like this for, but now that I had it, it was perfect for this situation.

I couldn't just drink my health potion in front of the guy who tried to kill me after drinking my health potion...

I was huddled down, carefully drinking the potion, avoiding Kassel's glaring gaze, when a pathetic look suddenly fell on my head.

"What are you doing?"

As if he didn't even like me drinking a potion, the guy couldn't stand it and picked a fight.

In a surge of anger, I wanted to snap, 'Can't you tell by looking?', but I obediently lowered my hood and bowed my head.

"My throat hurts, so I'm drinking a potion..."

"A health potion?"

"No. It is a Vo. cal. Cord. Re. co. very. Potion containing Lizard's vocal cords."

"Ha, this is driving me crazy."

When I answered, emphasizing 'vocal cord recovery' in case he tried to snatch it, Kassel ran his hands through his hair, annoyed.

A system window suddenly popped up.

The Lord of Nightmares is dumbfounded by your actions.

'I'm more dumbfounded.'

It was just as I was muttering that inwardly and taking out another vocal cord potion to drink.

"Are you alone? The others."

If he was so dumbfounded, he could have just ignored me, but the guy kept digging.

I desperately wanted to ignore him.

But until I stopped the disaster, I was just a lowly NPC who could be killed by Kassel's hand at any time if he got upset.

With no choice, I spat out sullenly, "Eh."

An ambiguous sound, somewhere between 'Uh' and 'Yes', like formal-informal speech.

It was an answer that contained all the rebellion I could muster.

Just then, I had a sudden feeling of déj vu.

'Wait, didn't Adam ask this too?'

"...Alone?"

"Yes. I am alone."

I tried to gauge if this line was originally in the script, but I didn't remember anything special.

Of course, even if I did remember, it didn't mean much.

The AIs in this game, especially the main characters who were given a higher level of artificial intelligence than the extras, just spouted whatever they wanted depending on the situation.

Thinking about it that way, I got a little annoyed.

'Do I look that unreliable coming here alone? I may look like this, but I have the character setting of a world rank number one, unparalleled beauty, genius apothecary!'

I definitely hadn't heard any news of other operators playing as an apothecary NPC before I got trapped in the game, so it was true I was still world rank number one.

I seethed with indignation, but it couldn't be helped.

In his eyes, I was just a small, pitiful, ordinary citizen wearing a shabby robe...

"You look like a beggar."

...not just ordinary, but a beggar.

The guy suddenly held out a hand to me, still sitting on the cold floor.

Then, like a king commanding an offering, he intoned, extremely grand and dignified.

"The health potions you have. Hand them all over."

"..."

"And the potions that induce insomnia."

Is this what it feels like to have your mind go blank?

'A Male Lead who not only chokes a user but also mugs them?'

I'd been in the game industry for a while, but this was a crazy character I'd never heard of or seen before.

'...Should I just ban this bastard and try living in the game for a bit?'

For a moment, I considered it.

But I quickly shook my head.

I couldn't ban the Male Lead, of all people.

Besides, in an emergency where I might starve to death, it's not like it's a big deal to get mugged for some game items.

"Are you not handing them over?"

Jeol-geu-reok!

The sociopath bastard couldn't stand the wait and menacingly shook his chains, pressing me.

"Ah, no! I am, I'll hand them over..."

I finally fumbled in my pocket, hesitating.

When I calmed my anger and used my head, it wasn't a bad development.

In a situation with no NPC to feed him Insomnia Potions and take care of him, and with me having to clear the greatsword quest, I couldn't be expected to take care of everything forever.

But I couldn't calm the anger that was welling up from the depths of my heart.

I now understood, bone-deep, why users would rush over and denounce him every time they finished a single scenario.

'Potion theft incident. I will get my revenge. Definitely.'

I had never been more grateful for the NPC-exclusive robe hood, which was pulled down so low it made my field of vision a bit uncomfortable.

I stared at Kassel murderously and took the potion bottles from my pocket.

1 High-Grade HP Potion

5 Insomnia-Inducing Awakening Potions

98 Recovery Potions Containing Lizard's Vocal Cords

Kassel's face gradually grew colder as he watched the potion bottles lined up on the floor.

By the time I was endlessly pulling out the Lizard vocal cord potions at the end, his handsome face was completely distorted.

It seemed he thought they were only for vocal cord recovery, and seeing his expression made me feel a little refreshed.

"...Is this all?"

"Yes."

I was in a position where I had to kowtow for the sake of the ending, but I wasn't an idiot.

In a situation where I didn't even know how the disaster would progress, what if I handed over every last item I had and ended up ruined, unable to do anything?

'Just eat all the vocal cord potions and be quiet.'

Since the level of the Lizards I'd killed wasn't that high, the HP recovery efficiency and duration weren't that great.

Therefore, it was perfect for keeping him from rampaging like he was now, while also maintaining just enough health to hold a conversation.

But, not knowing my profound intentions, that bastard Kassel let out a snort and kicked the Lizard potion bottles.

"Adam Hailey has finally lost his mind."

Jjaeng! Deol-geu-reok.

The potion bottles I had worked so hard to line up toppled over in an instant.

They were made of tempered glass so they didn't break, but I was appalled at his personality, which was shocking no matter how many layers I peeled back.

"You crazy, no, Sir! What do you think you're doing!"

"How am I supposed to prevent insomnia with stuff like this?"

"My babies! If you're not going to drink them, you could just leave them alone! Why are you kicking them!"

No matter how trivial the potions were, if you left them, they'd become blood and money!

I shrieked as I gathered the rolling bottles and hurriedly shoved them back into my pocket.

"And, I was planning to make more, you know? I thought it would be easier to procure ingredients at the Count's estate, so I was going to make them on the fly! ...Sir!"

"Is a quack like you the only apothecary in the Hailey domain?"

"I was hired after my skills were recognized by Count Hailey himself, and was personally escorted to the prison. If you're so suspicious, go ask Count Hailey yourself! ...Sir!"

My vision went white, and my body trembled.

I barely held back the itching urge in my mouth and mind to shout 'Permanent Ban!'

I was miserable, desperately tacking 'Sir' onto the end of my frantic excuses to avoid Kassel's suspicion.

It seems this bastard didn't even deserve the Lizard potions.

'Just get hit with a status abnormality and go lie down again, you damn bastard.'

It was bothersome, but I had no choice but to go up and down the tower and perform both tasks, just as I had been doing.

Having made my decision, I decisively retrieved the Lizard potion bottles I had taken out.

It was then.

Do-reu-reuk... Tuk.

Just when I had picked up almost all of them, the last potion bottle rolled weakly and stopped, hitting his foot.

I, who had been scrambling on all fours to grab it, also froze at his feet.

I could see the tip of his foot, which the potion bottle had touched.

His bare feet, not even wearing shoes, were covered in wounds, and blood was trickling out.

Just as my gaze was momentarily drawn to it.

A cold voice suddenly fell from above my head.

"Your tongue is smooth, for a commoner."

When I slowly raised my head, the guy was looking down on me arrogantly, like a reigning tyrant, unlike me, who was prostrated on all fours.

But for a second, I felt a little strange.

I was definitely the one groveling on the floor to pick up potions...

But the guy's state, covered in wounds and his limbs bound in chains, wasn't so great either.

For a moment, the thought crossed my mind that it was impossible to tell which of us was more wretched.

As if he had the same thought as me, Kassel slowly bent down.

Kneeling on one knee, the guy, who was now at eye level with me, muttered as if to himself.

"To think of a mere subject who, at best, made and sold medicine to commoners in some backwater... is pretty quick-witted."

"..."

"When most people see me in this state, they either find it laughable or feel fear. One of the two."

I was a little dumbfounded at his words.

'Who would find a crazy bastard like this laughable?'

It was then.

As if he were seeing right through my hood, text appeared above the guy who was staring intently at the area around my face.

The Lord of Nightmares holds a trace of suspicion toward you.