Trapped in a Game That Flopped

Chapter 71

Episode 71

'As expected.'

I silently watched the HP window that had been slashed in one go.

I knew well it would turn out this way, even if a system window didn't pop up.

It's because there's a quest later called 'Defeat the Puppet Doll Possessed by Ballakk's Thought-Form', which is another section where users go ballistic.

Because of the black magic curse, the HP of whoever cuts the strings drops by 80 percent without any warning.

On top of that.

[A health-drain penalty will occur every 10 minutes due to the black magic curse.]

'HP -20'

HP 172

Because of the continuous health-drain penalty, there were countless cases where people died, unable to drink a health potion in time.

'Insane balance-breaking flopped game. Of course the complaints would pour in...'

Of course, it was an unavoidable scenario, as you eventually have to head to the Temple to resolve this kind of curse.

But as potion consumption was high in this section, complaints flooded in, and the operators eventually distributed S-grade Health Potions as compensation.

'I'm going to raise hell for compensation when this is over, too.'

Of course, I have plenty of potions, so I'll demand it in cash instead.

It was then.

"Unbelievable... to cut the cursed strings in one go..."

I looked up at the sudden lament, and the prostrated Ballakk was staring at the doll and strings in my hand with a devastated face.

Elaine blinked his wide eyes and asked me.

"...What was that?"

"What was what?"

"That pitch-black smoke... it came from the strings just now. By the way, I've been meaning to ask for a while... how can a woman be this strong?"

"Do you want to get hit again?"

Elaine looked back and forth between my fine hand and the separated pieces of the broken string, his eyes full of wonder.

'Glad I'm wearing gloves.'

I hadn't prepared for this, but the bare skin inside my glove was probably turning black from the curse right now.

Of course, it's not like this psycho bastard would be particularly surprised even if he saw it.

[Lv.200 Soul-Reflecting Cursed Doll]

[Lv.200 Soul-Connecting Strings]

The doll and control bar, which had been connected like a set, were crushed in my hand.

Just then, my slowly regenerating mana recovered enough to use a minimal skill.

"Annihilate."

I muttered softly toward the doll.

Lv.999 Annihilate skill has been activated.

MP 1

Fwoosh!

A demon of fire bloomed in an instant and swallowed the doll's body.

It was certainly a paltry effect compared to the Annihilate skills I'd used so far, probably because I'd squeezed out what little mana I had.

However, it was enough to burn the small scrap of cloth on the doll, which was made in Ballakk's likeness.

Hwarurururuk!

And at the same time, the giant Ballakk, who was prostrated next to that bastard Ballakk, was engulfed in large flames.

"Ugh!"

Ballakk, who had momentarily avoided the rising heat, soon snapped his eyes wide open.

"Ah, no! Please stop! Please, just spare my body...!"

Was it because he was watching his fake body, which had reigned over the dark organization for so long, turn into a handful of ashes?

He instantly forgot the restraint on his head, shot up, and ran at me.

"Die."

"Aaaaaah! It hurts! Aak!"

But he was stopped by Elaine before he could even take a single step.

By then, the other elves had also approached the burning giant Ballakk.

"Uuugh... no, my body... how long I've worked on it...!"

Tadak, tadak.

The terrifying giant, which had killed people for years and ruled the underworld, collapsed easily like a straw dummy and burned away.

In front of it, a single, shabby, overweight middle-aged man sat collapsed, shrieking, unable to even think of extinguishing the roaring flames.

The elves' reactions to the downfall of the Dark Society's leader, who had oppressed them for so long, were varied.

"To think it was just a stupid puppet..."

"Sob, hiks! Maria! Kein...! If only we'd been a little faster..."

"We're... really free."

There were those who were furious at the true nature of the fearsome Ballakk.

There were those who sobbed, missing those who died at his hands.

And there were those who rejoiced at their final liberation, roughly tearing off their restraints and throwing them into the fire.

Amidst it all, Elaine stared blankly at the shrieking main body of Ballakk with an expressionless face.

As if contemplating how to kill him most painfully.

His wheat-colored eyes were frighteningly serious, without a hint of wavering.

It was a little creepy.

'He can be such a fool, but at times like this, he's a bit chilling...'

I observed Elaine, who I could never quite figure out, and turned my gaze away as the flames I'd conjured with my skill began to die down.

The massive, hulking Ballakk puppet had vanished without a trace.

I looked down at what I was holding.

[Lv.??? Soul-Reflecting Cursed Doll]

Unlike Ballakk's puppet, which had vanished with the flames, the doll was fine, except for a few scorch marks.

Only the level display had disappeared, as if it had been reset.

I wasn't particularly surprised, as it was just like in the game.

Only the holy attribute could overcome a cursed attribute weapon.

As the situation gradually wrapped up, I took two teleport scrolls from my inventory.

Both were scrolls to the capital's back alleys.

'I'm glad I packed extra, just in case.'

I then neatly tucked the doll and the control rod into the empty slot.

"Here."

At my low call, Elaine, who had still been watching Ballakk with chilling eyes, slowly turned to me.

"First, take that guy and go back to the hotel."

I said, motioning with my chin to the bastard who was now Elaine's slave.

"What about you, noona?"

He finally checked what I'd handed him and asked, puzzled.

'HP -20'

HP 152

My HP dropped right on cue.

'I have to go all the way to that damn countryside and back.'

There wasn't much time left until the auto-summon, so I answered, mocking myself internally.

"I still have some things to do."

"Things to do...?"

At my words, Elaine's eyes suddenly narrowed as he looked me up and down.

"What's going on with that man?"

"Man?"

"He's been staring at only you since a while ago."

"Ah."

At those words, I quickly turned my head.

Not far away, Kassel was still standing tall.

Just as Elaine said, his crimson irises were glaring at me.

'Why is that bastard still standing there instead of leaving?!'

Since the leader, Ballakk, was as good as dead, the 'Dark Society Annihilation' quest that would come later was effectively resolved.

That's why I was flustered by the presence of the man I'd expected to either go eliminate the remaining small-fry or leave immediately.

It was at that moment.

[Elaine Griselda is curious about you.]

[The Lord of Nightmares feels a trace of curiosity toward you.]

I gaped like a goldfish at the system windows that popped up simultaneously.

"There is, there is something."

Misunderstanding my expression, Elaine clicked his tongue and spouted nonsense.

I glared at him, my conscience pricked.

"What do you mean, 'there is'? I've never seen him before I came here."

"Hmm..."

"What's with that look? You want to get hit again?"

"Oot! Slave-abusing master-noona!"

At his still-suspicious gaze, I raised my fist. He covered the spot I'd hit earlier with both hands and shouted.

I was burning up inside from the fact that Kassel was watching this whole thing.

"Stop talking nonsense and get going."

I practically shoved the teleport scroll into Elaine's arms.

Because of that, I ended up close to him.

"And, just in case."

I leaned my head close to him and added quickly in a whisper.

"You can take as much revenge as you want."

"What..."

"That bastard. Go ahead and beat him, or whatever... if you want to, you can."

I motioned with my eyes to Ballakk, who was miserably crumpled.

Elaine was probably holding back from running at him and venting his anger because of his family.

Especially since Lucy was watching.

But I couldn't even begin to guess what he was really feeling.

"...As long as you don't kill him, I can fix him with potions later."

As long as he was breathing, I could restore him with potions.

"But I'm not good at watching brutal stuff, so try to do it somewhere hidden. And clean up all the blood before I get back."

At the end of my words, I immediately straightened up.

Elaine was staring at me blankly, a dumbfounded look on his face.

It was unexpected. I thought he'd be gleefully vicious, even if I told him not to.

That's why I thought if I gave him permission, he'd naturally...

'Be overjoyed.'

I tilted my head and asked.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Elaine then answered in a slightly hollow voice.

"Normally... wouldn't you tell me not to?"

"Why would I?"

"Noona, you're really... weird, but you're cool."

[Elaine Griselda questions your ethical philosophy.]

[Elaine Griselda feels slightly touched by your words.]

I was tired of reacting to every one of his incomprehensible ramblings and contradictory system windows.

I waved my hand dismissively, telling him to hurry up and go. Only then did Elaine smile brightly and run toward his brethren.

"See you later, slave-abusing master-noona!"

"That brat."

I watched the elves split into two groups and leave through the teleport scroll, then immediately turned around.

I didn't have much time left.

I quickly returned to the place where I had fought Ballakk's puppet. A pool of blue liquid was collected on the floor.

It continued in a sparse trail, leading somewhere.

I hurriedly followed it.

Before long, I reached a remote corner of the cave wall, and the trail stopped.

And there, tucked in a crack in the wall, I found a large, round egg.

"...Cheondung!"