Trapped in a Game That Flopped

Chapter 42

Episode 42

"What... Huk."

Understanding his words a step too late, I couldn't help but gasp.

'Crazy, why is he saying that all of a sudden?!'

Could it be, that time... he knows it was me?

I stared at his face in horror, searching it.

But his expression was far too indifferent for someone who was trying to sound me out.

'No way. Surely... it can't be.'

I desperately ignored the creeping chill up my neck and played dumb.

"Ah, no! What kind of crazy person would throw an expensive healing potion?!"

"That's what I'm saying."

"..."

"I'd love to peel back the face of whatever psycho it was... but there's nothing I can do for now."

His unreadable, blood-red eyes lazily scanned the area around my face.

My breath caught, wondering if he had figured everything out and was pressuring me.

But all I could do now was desperately change the subject.

"A-anyway, there might be another way...!"

I was about to shout that I'd go get ice water this time, but I couldn't finish my sentence.

Kugugugung!

Because suddenly, with a loud roar, the earthquake I had experienced earlier shook the Tower.

The timing was so perfect, I couldn't tell if it was helping me or screwing me over.

"Uwaaak!"

The old Tower shook frighteningly, as if it would collapse at any moment.

The vibration was much stronger than what I'd felt at the estate, probably because the site right under the Tower was where the monster was sealed.

I covered my head and curled up as stone fragments rained down from the ceiling.

'Am I going to be crushed to death by a collapsing tower before I even see the monster?!'

Just as the incessant shaking gave me an ominous premonition.

The ear-splitting roar gradually quieted, and at the same time, the intense vibration that shook the earth began to subside.

Kurrrrr...

With a final sound, just like a monster's cry, the earthquake stopped as if it had been washed away.

"Hey."

I, who had been pathetically crouched with my head covered, sheepishly raised my head at the voice calling me.

It had shaken as if it would collapse, but the Tower I now saw was perfectly fine.

Kassel, too, was sitting in the exact same position as before.

'Hmm. I guess they built it pretty sturdily.'

I pretended not to notice the pity in his gaze and replied nonchalantly.

"Yes."

"...How much did the Count agree to pay you to take this job?"

I widened my eyes for a moment at the unexpected question.

"Well... just some gold coins."

Of course, it wasn't "just some," but I blurred the details.

I had already extorted one million coins alone, and I planned to extort a ton more by tacking on all sorts of extra pay once this was over.

But it wasn't a plan I intended to broadcast, so I glared at Kassel with suspicious eyes.

"Why are you asking? The gold coins are my rightful compensation."

Potions, maybe. But he wasn't getting a single penny of my money.

'If you want to extort someone, go extort that bastard Adam!'

That was the meaning I was trying to convey, but he said something completely random.

"You said you weren't given any hint from the Count about what happens if I fall asleep."

"Yes."

"If I fall asleep, you won't even see the shadow of the Count, let alone those gold coins you were promised. The entire Hailey domain will burn and disappear."

"..."

"I wonder if you'll be able to keep that pathetic life of yours, should that happen."

I only half-listened to Kassel's words, recalling the disaster that befell Hailey Village.

I'd only seen the video of the disaster a few times since it was the same as a "Game Over."

But I knew the contents better than anyone.

An unknown wildfire spreads from the middle of the village, and a horde of monsters, unaffected by the fire, appears and slaughters the humans.

And without any time to react, the Hailey domain is instantly annihilated.

In any other game, it would have just been a few lines of text and done.

This game, however, just had to show those scenes as a post-credits clip.

And rendered them quite vividly, at that.

"...Why no answer? Did you get scared?"

Kassel, mistaking my silence as I was recalling the disaster for being speechless with fear, suddenly let out a sneer.

I couldn't be branded a coward, so I quickly replied.

"I'm moved that you're so worried about my life."

"Shut up. Who said I was worried about the likes of you..."

"Then why are you saying such things?"

Come to think of it, it was random and strange.

He had no reason to tell a mere apothecary top-secret matters like the disaster.

At my question, Kassel's expression hardened frighteningly, as if I'd hit a nerve. He soon unleashed a torrent of curses.

"Why don't you just admit it. You failed to follow the Count's orders to keep me from sleeping."

"...Failed?"

"Instead of risking your life for a few gold coins, finding an escape route right now would be the wiser decision."

It's not like it was my fault he developed a resistance.

Feeling wronged at the word "failed," I suddenly looked back at Kassel with fresh eyes.

'...You little... you are worried about me.'

Just because he's seen me for two days, he's warning me of the danger.

The moments I'd struggled to humor him flashed before my eyes like a panorama.

I was a little touched, staring at him silently.

The Lord of Nightmares feels strong displeasure at your gaze.

A system window popped up, as if he was embarrassed.

But embarrassment was embarrassment. His words, declaring my failure, were a separate, unpleasant matter.

"I haven't failed yet."

"What?"

"You said it yourself just a moment ago. That we have to try until we can't anymore."

"Then what do you call a potion with a duration of less than five minutes, if not a failure?"

As if it were time to drink a potion, he picked up an insomnia potion himself.

Gulp. I shrugged, watching him down the purple liquid in one go.

Once I'd decided he was "worried," his curses felt much lighter.

"Unfortunately, from where I'm standing, it seems more likely you'll die at the hands of the monster when the seal breaks, rather than burning to death because you fell asleep."

"You're not scared."

Tossing the empty bottle he'd finished drinking toward me, he suddenly spat.

"Ack! You crazy...!"

Clang!

I dodged just in time, and the potion bottle he threw hit the wall next to my face, making a loud noise as it fell.

"Agh, did you eat something bad? Why are you suddenly acting like this!"

It didn't break because it was reinforced glass, but I snapped and shouted.

However, he recited with a perfectly calm face.

"You don't even look surprised at the thought of dying soon."

"I'm asking what you're doing, what's with the random nonsense...!"

"Hearing something like that, most people would be shocked and run away, forgetting about any reward."

The only thing I want to run away from is your rotten personality!

Those words, which rose to the tip of my tongue, couldn't be spat out.

The Lord of Nightmares holds a very high level of suspicion toward you.

Warning! If the suspicion level increases, your reliability will drop, and you may be classified as an 'Assassin.'

Resolve this character's suspicion and raise your affection level!

It was because of the system window that immediately popped up.

'Ha. Assassin? What kind of assassin?'

I was dumbfounded by the sudden suspicion.

While I was stammering in disbelief, Kassel glared at me coolly.

"Who sent you? Adam Hailey, that bastard, doesn't know how to pull strings, so it wouldn't be him."

"..."

"Did they order you to cut my throat in my sleep?"

I had no idea what kind of thought process could lead from "she's not scared" to "she must be an assassin."

I had given up on gaining affection from Kassel long ago, but I thought the situation was improving, just a little.

'Worried? My ass.'

This bastard, who's busy sounding me out every chance he gets.

Was it because I was relieved that my relationship with Adam had improved?

I had forgotten that I'd almost never received a good "evaluation" system window from Kassel.

I muttered, feeling a little dejected.

"...I told you, I'm just an apothecary."

"And you expect me to believe that now?"

"Didn't you just say I should be thankful I wasn't beaten by the employees?"

When I sharply pointed out the contradiction, he shut his mouth, looking as if he'd been punched.

'Damn bastard. Damn game!'

I'm not even working as an operator anymore, so why can't I escape this feedback hell!

But there was no other way.

Staring fiercely at the system window, which remained, as if his suspicion hadn't been lifted, I slowly opened my mouth.

"To be honest, I don't really believe it."

"...What?"

"You fall asleep, the Hailey domain burns and disappears, blah blah... It just sounds like a ridiculous story."

"..."

"And even if it is true, a poor commoner like me... is so desperate for those few gold coins you scoff at that we're bound to stick around until the end, not even knowing we're about to die."

"..."

"So just stop..."

I was about to say, "trying to chase me away," but I shut my mouth at the system window that popped up.

The Lord of Nightmares temporarily sets aside his strong suspicion of you.

It seemed my "excuse" had worked again, 'temporarily.'

I looked away from the air and snorted dismissively.

He'd been making a fuss about assassins and whatnot just a moment ago.

He was staring at me with a strangely complex expression.

Then, he suddenly said something completely random.

"...Have you ever seen a novel or a play?"

"No. How could a poor commoner like me."

I didn't want to talk to him anymore, so I feigned ignorance sharply.

What followed was a masterpiece.

"Come to think of it, in all the novels and plays I've seen, people who say stupid things like you are the ones who die first."

"Just curse me to die, why don't you."

"If that's the kind of thing you're into, I'll keep it in mind."

'Agh, that son of a XX. He just won't lose a single word.'

Of course, I didn't want to hear curses from this rampaging Male Lead.

Swallowing my anger, I glared at him and retorted.

"And. If that's true, shouldn't you be the one who's most afraid?"

"What do you mean?"

"You said a whole village might disappear and people might die because of you. For someone who said that, you don't seem scared at all, either."

"..."

For a moment, he clamped his mouth shut, as if I'd hit a nerve.

He didn't seem to have a comeback, now that he was on the receiving end of the same suspicion he'd given me.

The blood-red eyes, which had been glinting with venom as he framed me as a spy, gradually clouded over.

"...Fear."

"..."

"I think there was a time when I definitely felt such a thing."

He suddenly looked down at his own hands and laughed hollowly.

The healing potion had healed the wounds, but the blood that hadn't been wiped away had dried, and his hands were still a mess.

As if he had murdered someone with those hands.

His expressionless, empty face seemed to, on the contrary, clearly show his long-held pain and agony.

If this were one of his fans, they might have felt pity at this point, listened to his story, and tried to comfort him.

But.

'I don't feel sorry for him at all!'

I wasn't the least bit curious about the Male Lead bastard's backstory.

The most pitiful person here is me, trapped in this game for no reason.

"Anyway, I'm not leaving until I get my reward, even if I die, so just know that."

Whether Kassel was reminiscing about his miserable life or not, I informed him coolly.

At that, he lifted his gaze from his hands and glared at me, his brow deeply furrowed.

The Lord of Nightmares doubts your emotional intelligence.

Hearing that I'm a psycho from a real psycho didn't faze me at all.

As I silently ignored the system window, he muttered in irritation.

"I gave you enough of a chance in exchange for the healing potion."

"If the 'chance' you're talking about is interrogating me every time, then I refuse."

He must have had a shred of conscience, because he averted his gaze slightly at my words.

"...If you're on the verge of death, blame your own lack of tact and poor judgment."

"That won't happen, so you can stop worrying about me."

"Who said I was worried about the likes of you..."

"Aaaah! No, it's not that! It's just that I'm so pitiful and upset, going through all this trouble because of you, that I'm going crazy?! I'm overwhelmed with gratitude!"

I didn't want to hear any more, so I plugged my ears and shouted. He glared at me, his face filled with rage.

"Childish and vulgar. You just won't lose a single word."

While he criticized my behavior, he couldn't bring himself to act like me. He soon turned his head sharply away.

'Ebebe, why don't you try being childish and vulgar, too?'

Having won my first battle of wills against the bastard after three straight days, I mocked him to my heart's content.

It was then.

Thump, thump, thump!

Suddenly, the sound of someone knocking on the prison door echoed.