Trapped in a Game That Flopped

Chapter 23

Episode 23

Of course, I had an inkling when I heard Adam had summoned me, but I didn't think he'd throw such a straight ball without even a greeting.

But the system window that popped up was even more flustering.

Thankfully, the hood I wore served perfectly as my mask.

"I was by the Prisoner's side all night."

"..."

"Did you have a reason to call for me during the night?"

When I answered nonchalantly, Adam went silent for a moment.

Then, he moved straight to the next interrogation.

"...Why did you lie about selling sleeping potions to the Head Maid?"

I was a little surprised by the follow-up question.

'He really has no filter.'

The Adam I'd seen in highlight videos and user posts seemed to be the very model of a polite high noble.

It was to the point where people said you should date Kassel, but marry someone like Adam.

But maybe that, too, was a privilege for users who held the 'Hero' title.

Adam Hailey feels some disappointment and skepticism toward you.

To a measly commoner apothecary, he was truly merciless.

"It wasn't a lie, Count."

Jinu knew it, and I knew it. The person I really had to explain myself to wasn't Madam Lena, anyway.

It was nothing new, so I repeated the same words like a parrot.

"If it's someone's first time taking it, there can be a side effect of amnesia..."

"Sleeping potions may have side effects like nausea or dizziness, but I doubt they include amnesia."

But Adam cut off my rambling.

"I personally sought out a tight-lipped apothecary to procure them for my own use. You think I wouldn't know that?"

My eyes flew open.

'Adam is taking sleeping pills?'

Although the quest notification didn't pop up for me, I knew the content well.

New Quest: Find the Apothecary

Count Hailey's estate is secretly searching for an apothecary who can craft sleeping potions.

Find an apothecary in the village and bring them to Count Hailey's estate.

But I'd dismissed it as no big deal and hadn't paid it much mind.

I thought it was just a small trick to confuse the user.

I had no idea there was such a detailed backstory set up.

It was a huge relief I was wearing the hood.

If not, my face, painted with shock, would have been completely exposed.

While I was briefly organizing my thoughts over this unexpected event, Adam stared at me, his face cool and composed.

"Unlike yesterday, your answer is slow."

"..."

"What did you do to the servants in the dining hall? Depending on your excuse, I will decide whether to summon the Knight Commander."

He meant he'd throw me in prison this instant if I slipped up.

He was already convinced I had lied, so unfortunately, I couldn't just brazenly push past this as I'd planned.

Should I be glad he was at least giving me a chance to make an excuse?

'That bastard Jinu is definitely going to laugh at this.'

I had planned on revealing the Darkness-Eating Centipedes to Adam only after I'd caught and killed every last one.

I thought that would be more believable.

But under his silent pressure, I had no choice but to confess the truth.

"I was catching the parasitic monsters that were attached to the servants and gathering Essences of Darkness."

"...Essences of Darkness?"

In an instant, Adam's gaze turned sharp.

'Just as I thought. He already knew.'

According to the original scenario, Adam only finds out when the user informs him after catching the Darkness-Eating Centipedes.

At that point, most users haven't even found the leader, let alone gathered 99 Essences of Darkness, so the story flows in a direction where he ultimately resolves it...

'Is it because I'm not acting like a normal Hero?'

Overall, the situation was progressing a little faster than usual.

"When I previously asked if you had defeated the intermediate-level monsters that appeared in Dover Village, you replied that it couldn't be."

But I didn't even have time to organize my thoughts about the game under Adam's fierce, non-stop interrogation.

"I'll ask again."

"..."

"Are you a Hero?"

"..."

"Or, as my Adjutant testified, are you a witch who came to inflict harm on this estate?"

Adam Hailey shows a very high level of interest in your identity.

It seemed this was a sort of qualification test, changed to fit my situation.

Users also had to prove their usefulness by discovering the Darkness-Eating Centipedes, after all.

Adam already knowing about them must also be a variable that occurred because of me, who wasn't a 'Hero.'

'If you take out the constant bugs, it really is a masterpiece.'

Only the situation had changed slightly. The core was the same as the original story, so it wasn't hugely confusing.

"I am..."

However, I couldn't help but be a little nervous, now that I was in a situation I had to resolve myself, not just watch in someone else's video.

"...neither."

"What?"

"I'm just a simple apothecary."

It wasn't the answer he wanted. Adam's expressionless face distorted slightly.

"A simple apothecary, you say, took down 12 servants alone?"

"Took them down?"

I felt wronged.

I had, in fact, just beaten down two, but yesterday, I hadn't used violence. I'd knocked them out in a humanitarian way.

'Against people holding knives, I just gently put them to sleep. I'm pretty gentle.'

I stated the facts as they were.

"I modified a monster tranquilizer gun and fired potions in an area-of-effect."

Of course, I completely left out the part about using a skill.

Adam's expression turned strange at my words.

"...Potions?"

"Yes. I used a light-attribute potion as a test, and the monsters died, so I've been using it quite well since then."

"A mere apothecary, for what reason are you gathering Essences of Darkness?"

"I'm not doing it of my own free will."

"Then by whose will... Perhaps, is there someone else here with you?"

"No."

The moment I answered, the exact same situation as last night unfolded.

Adam Hailey feels strong doubt about your words.

Adam Hailey finds your words suspicious.

'I'm not even getting angry anymore.'

I had to accept it.

Whether it was the game's settings or what, these bastards all found me untrustworthy.

"The Prisoner you entrusted to me gave the order."

"...What?"

He must not have expected that in the slightest, because Adam's eyes went wide.

It made sense, since he'd know Kassel's identity better than anyone.

Seeing a change of expression on that doll-like face for the first time, I was the one who felt strange.

"He... Why?"

"I don't know the reason, either. He just said it was to restore the sword stuck in the prison, and I was only told not to tell the Count."

"And you accepted, knowing what that entails?"

It was a fairly insightful question. I nodded.

"Yes. They're Darkness-Eating Centipedes. It's my first time actually exterminating them, but I've seen them in a monster manual before."

"I'm sure he was introduced as a traitorous prisoner. I don't understand your motive for helping him."

"I'm not helping him. I was promised a reward, so I'm just doing as I'm told. It's not like it will harm the Count's estate..."

"..."

"Catching low-level monsters is something I've done my whole life. I get almost all my potion ingredients from monsters, after all."

Adam's mouth pressed into a thin line. Just like Kassel yesterday.

'He's got nothing to say.'

They were perfect answers, making further suspicion meaningless.

'Now you two can dote on each other, thinking so highly of one another!'

It was a little earlier than I'd thought, but my big picture was proceeding smoothly according to plan, and I smiled in triumph.

If someone else heard this. No, just looking at the developers' reactions, they might shower me with criticism, asking what I'm doing.

'Will they mock me as a liar for handing over my hard-earned achievements to an NPC?'

But that's just because those bastards are watching my game progress like they're watching a fire.

If they were in my situation, no one would be able to mock me.

I wasn't interested in piling up achievements in the first place.

All I want is a speed run, and the ending.

There were countless quests to complete before reaching the ending, but in principle, it was simple.

'Coax the main characters into becoming the Male Lead's companions, form a party to beat the final boss, and stop the Male Lead's darkening right before the ending.'

But in that journey, there was no need for me to be included as a 'companion.'

That was the reason I'd cleanly given up on rapport.

'I just have to make them team up, one way or another, and drag them by the hair to the ending.'

The unexpected variable here was the Male Lead's darkening, but come to think of it, there was an easy solution for that, too.

Just as I was staring at one of the people I'd have to drag by the hair, his eyes cold and composed.

Creeaak.

"Follow me."

Adam shot up from his seat.

He walked around the desk, approached me, and walked right past me without any further explanation.

"Uh, uh..."

Thanks to him, I let out a dazed sound and turned around.

Adam, having crossed the office to the giant bookshelf that took up the entire opposite wall, suddenly pushed the wall open.

'What? Don't tell me, a secret room?!'

Looking closely, it wasn't a wall, but a proper door.

It was positioned so naturally among the oak-colored bookshelves that I was completely fooled.

"What are you doing?"

Finding it strange that I wasn't moving, Adam looked back at me, his hand on the doorknob.

"Ah, nothing. Coming."

Embarrassed, I quickly moved my feet.

At the same time, I tilted my head at this new development.

'Was there a space like this in the Count's office?'

A hidden route.

Thinking that might be it, the back of my neck prickled for a second.

'Nah. It's probably nothing.'

Even if it wasn't related to game progression, it wasn't strange for a noble's office like this to have an adjoining room, like a reception room...

But the room I entered wasn't a reception room, but a spacious, luxurious bedroom.

However, unlike the office on the other side of the door, this room had a strong, bitter smell of herbs and the sharp tang of potions.

"Count, where is this?"

Instead of answering, Adam walked quickly to the large bed in the room.

He pulled back the airy curtains on the canopy and, without hesitation, sat down on the edge of the bed and whispered.

His face was soft and relaxed, like a snowflake melting in spring.

It was the first time since I'd "joined the company" that I'd ever seen such a human expression on Adam.

"...Serina, your brother is here."

Taking advantage of the opening, I quickly peeked inside the curtain.

On the bed, a blonde girl covered in reddish burn marks was lying as if dead.

That bad feeling is never wrong.

Serina Hailey, the Count's daughter.

It was a hidden route I had never seen or heard of.