Trapped in a Game That Flopped

Chapter 29

Episode 29

"Ha..."

Kassel was looking at me, but I couldn't hold back the sigh that escaped.

It was different from the normal game progression I knew, but it seemed this was indeed the Resistance Route.

'Is it a relief that I at least have time to prepare?'

It would have been a nightmare if the potions suddenly stopped working, as if hitting me from behind, while I was feeling secure.

Of course, I had already made a huge number of potions in advance, keeping the Resistance Route in mind.

'Remaining time, about 36 hours. Six per hour. Potions needed from now on: 216.'

The potion quantity was still over 900, so it wasn't a big deal.

However, I couldn't rule out the possibility of Kassel's body being harmed or becoming addicted from excessive potion consumption.

The setting is that potion addiction, like a drug, makes proper thought impossible, and one's extremities slowly necrotize while only seeking potions.

'...Should I start making an antidote right now?'

I glanced at Kassel and pondered for a moment.

To make an antidote, I had to go outside Hailey's domain.

This was because the monster needed for the ingredients was in the far-off "Forest of Darkness-something-or-other."

Hunting and crafting wasn't a problem, but I didn't know if time would allow it.

'Aargh. I'm already scheduled to be busy as hell tonight at midnight.'

After thinking for a moment, I decided to put the antidote on hold for now.

Anyway, if I successfully stop the Disaster, Kassel's curse will subside for a while.

And he will immediately lead Adam's knights, go up to the Imperial Capital, kill everyone who dragged him down, and be reinstated.

Since the Disaster that everyone insisted must be stopped didn't happen at all, there would be no justification to sanction him.

'That's why I'm turning over all the achievements I've built up to you guys.'

Originally, it's something a user who has built up a lot of rapport with Adam has to do, persuading him to help Kassel, but...

'Whatever, it doesn't matter how it happens. As long as the result is good.'

To get back to the point.

The fact is, even if Kassel gets addicted to potions, he'll soon receive treatment from a Royal Palace apothecary, who is on a much higher level than some borderland apothecary.

Of course, "much higher level" was the kind of thing that bastard Kassel would say.

'Because I'm the number one genius apothecary in the world rankings.'

It was then.

"Uuugh..."

A sudden groan from below pulled me from my long train of thought.

I turned my gaze to the source of the sound. The bastards I'd knocked out were squirming naked.

"Ah."

I'd forgotten. I had to deal with these guys.

Sensing they were about to regain consciousness, I hurried over and kicked each of them hard, one more time.

Thud!

"Urk!"

"Euk!"

Even without using a skill, my maxed-out stamina must have had an effect, because they thankfully quieted down quickly.

"What are you doing?"

"Just a second. Nngh!"

Kassel looked at me, dumbfounded, but I was busy rolling the bastards with all my strength, dragging them out of the prison.

Finally, after practically flinging them out the door, I hesitated for a moment.

'Ban?'

It was hard enough just sucking up to Kassel; I didn't want to deal with these small fry, too.

Honestly, from my perspective, just banning them would be easier, but...

'I'll let it slide this once, for Adam's sake.'

Even if banned people are recognized as having left on their own, if the two knights in charge of Kassel's meals disappeared at the same time, it might arouse Adam's suspicion.

Besides, when he returns to the Imperial Palace later, it'd be better for even bastards like these to be part of his forces.

Slam!

Having made my decision, I immediately closed the prison door.

How the naked bastards would get back was none of my business.

When I stepped back inside, Kassel stared at me with a strange look.

"...Has this been happening every time?"

I asked, gesturing with my eyes to the wound, which had stopped bleeding but was still an open red gash.

He was a guy with a rotten personality, but still, he'd lived time as a noble Crown Prince...

Even if it was a game, seeing him stripped of his rank and suffering all sorts of insults and harassment was a little pathetic.

"None of your business."

But all that came back was a rude answer.

Pity, canceled!

Because of that snout, there's a 99% chance he brings the harassment on himself.

"I was going to give you a Healing Potion, but I guess you don't need it."

"I don't need it."

"Ah, what's the big deal? Just tell me."

I was getting so frustrated with this guy being difficult over nothing.

I unconsciously pounded my chest and said, annoyed.

"If I know, I might be able to help, wouldn't I?"

"What in the..."

The Lord of Nightmares is flabbergasted by your sudden action.

Along with the system window, the bastard asked back, dumbfounded.

"A hired apothecary at best. What the hell can a runt like you do?"

"Forget it."

I gave up quickly. Right, rapport? For someone like me?

Dealing with a guy sick in the head and body is just a waste of my breath.

"Just treat your wound."

I took out a Healing Potion, crouched on the floor, and rolled it.

Rooooll, thud.

The potion bottle, which had been rolling smoothly, finally stopped at Kassel's foot.

Perhaps because I'd given it to him so easily after making a fuss about not giving it, he stared at it with slightly widened eyes.

Use it or don't. I turned my head away, signaling I was done dealing with him.

It was then.

"...A prisoner's lot is the same everywhere, I suppose."

"..."

"Playing with food is nothing compared to torture."

I thought he'd use it right away.

Surprisingly, the bastard left the Healing Potion I gave him alone and gave a belated answer to my question.

As I listened quietly, I suddenly became puzzled.

"Count Hailey didn't seem like such a merciless person."

"What the hell would a runt like you know about him?"

"I go to report about you all the time, and we know each other well enough for him to entrust me with the Essences of Darkness."

"..."

He shut his mouth, perhaps having nothing to say to my answer.

Then, suddenly.

Rooooll.

He did something bizarre, rolling the Healing Potion I gave him back toward me.

Thud.

The bottle, which always stopped at Kassel's foot, this time stopped at my knee.

"...What do you think you're doing?"

I was dumbfounded and asked immediately.

Then, an even more dumbfounding reply came back.

"From now on, you bastard will come over and offer it with both hands."

"Why? You hated it when I made contact!"

"The way you bastard do it, like you're playing around throwing potions, is unpleasant."

"Who plays around by throwing these expensive potions!"

"Someone does. Some crazy bastard."

Kassel, who'd been spouting nonsense with a straight face, suddenly flashed his eyes murderously and spat out.

Just as I was tilting my head at the sudden profanity.

"Come to think of it... I think they were dressed similarly to you."

He muttered meaningfully, scanning me up and down as I sat by the door.

For a moment, a chilling sensation ran down my spine.

'...Crap, that's me.'

I remembered something I'd completely forgotten.

My past, when I threw potions at a passing prisoner transport procession because I didn't want Jack and the other village thugs to take them...

"Th-Throwing expensive potions. It might not be a prank, m-maybe there was a reason."

Because it was about me, I defended it desperately. But.

"A reason? I'm not curious, and I doubt I'll have time to listen. When I find that bastard..."

"..."

"I'll kill them on the spot."

And with that, I now have two secrets that will get me X-ed if Kassel finds out.

Trying hard to hide my trembling insides, I struggled to change the subject.

"...A-Anyway, I don't want to get close to you. What if you get pissed off and try to kill me again?"

Kassel, who had been radiating killing intent toward an unknown enemy, finally turned his attention back to me.

"...I promise I won't choke you anymore."

"Just... my neck? What about breaking my arms and legs, or kicking my solar plexus, or crushing my temples?"

"You see me as some homicidal maniac."

He looked displeased, his expression hardening.

'Are you not?'

The things I listed were all the various stories I'd seen and experienced on the forums about being killed by Kassel.

When I didn't pay any mind to his stern face, he sighed and relented.

"...I swear I will not threaten you while I am in this prison."

"Fine."

After all that fuss he made about me touching him.

He was as fickle as porridge, making him hard to please, but I was the subordinate, so I had no choice.

I picked up the Healing Potion, got up, and trudged toward him.

While doing so, I didn't forget to take gloves from my pocket and put them on.

It was an act purely out of consideration for Kassel.

Finally, I stood blankly in front of him and handed him the Healing Potion.

The Lord of Nightmares is displeased with your actions.

He made an indescribable expression, glared at my hand, and then reluctantly accepted it.

'What? Why.'

I had no idea what was going on and felt wronged.

But I was relieved to see him immediately pour the Healing Potion on his wound.

"Ah, have this, too."

Then, suddenly remembering something I'd forgotten, I handed it to him.

It was the bread I'd grabbed from lunch.

Thankfully, not much time had passed, so it was still warm.

Kassel, as expected, just stared at the loaf of bread I held out and didn't take it.

"...Is this pity?"

"No."

It was a line I'd never seen in user videos, but I had enough sense to know I shouldn't say yes.

And in truth, I didn't particularly feel any pity.

"I didn't know there were people bringing you meals separately. No one came yesterday either, so I brought it, wondering if it was my job."

"..."

Kassel was silent for a while at my straightforward words.

The sudden silence felt awkward, so I glanced at him, trying to figure him out, but I couldn't tell what he was thinking.

After what felt like a long time, he finally spoke.

"...In any case, I can't expect a proper meal here. The order was probably to starve me as much as possible."

'You dragged this out just to say that?'

It was a bit anticlimactic, but it wasn't like his words didn't make sense.

He, the prisoner who cannot sleep.

If he felt full, he'd just get sleepy, so Adam's order was reasonable.

However, he probably didn't know that because of that order, even the one meal a day he got wasn't being delivered properly.

"Eating one piece of bread won't make you sleepy."

I swallowed a sigh and urged him to take the bread.

"Besides, wasn't I hired to prevent that? If you look like you're falling asleep, I can just wake you up."

"Like just now?"

"Yes."

I'd been preventing him from sleeping by giving him Insomnia Potions this whole time, so I answered nonchalantly.

At that, Kassel finally took the bread from me.

'Haa. It's so damn hard to get him to eat one piece of bread.'

I was just thinking that.

Kassel, who was slowly biting into the loaf of bread as if it were a piece of meat, suddenly smiled, his lips pulling wide.

"That's..."

"..."

"Not a very trustworthy thing to say."

The Lord of Nightmares feels a certain level of fondness for you.

'...What?'

I was bewildered by the system window, which contradicted the insolent bastard's words.