Trapped in a Game That Flopped

Chapter 86

Episode 86

"U, anyway, I drank it, so I'm leaving. P, please let me go."

As if having roughly judged that I wouldn't harm her, Nise awkwardly tried to push the blanket aside and stand up.

"Not yet."

I pushed her back down with my fingers, blocking her.

"I have to check if the medicine is working properly."

It sounded like an excuse, but it was true.

Although, unlike the Saintess, Nise didn't really have an allergic reaction aside from a slight cough.

But she had fainted, so that could have been part of respiratory distress or shock symptoms.

Compared to reactions like coughing or rashes, it was on the dangerous side, so it was better to observe her progress for about a day.

'Dammit, why don't those developer bastards tell me this stuff.'

I was furious, but I decided to just be grateful they'd given me a hint for getting a 'job' at the Grand Temple.

"Wh, why... You said you weren't going to kill me..."

Nise naturally protested, dissatisfied with my actions stopping her from leaving.

"I, I'm fine. I have to go back right now...!"

"For your information, the Saintess is still in Berun Village."

"L, Liv! Is Liv okay?"

"Yeah. She seemed fine?"

Except for the rash.

Naturally, I hid that last part.

Before Nise woke up, I had gone to Berun Village, played the part of an apothecary, and handed over an 'Inky Cap Mushroom Allergy Remedy' to the Saintess's side as well.

However, it was a potion that had been diluted several times compared to the original, a 'watered-down' potion, to put it crudely.

Because of that, the effect would be minimal, and since they had a large party, they would surely return to the Temple around tomorrow.

"The Saintess hasn't even arrived yet. Don't you think it'd be bad if you went to the Temple first?"

"..."

When I added that, Nise, who had been restless, finally slumped her shoulders.

She seemed unable to refute my words.

As the Saintess's only sibling, she had been taken in as well and was living at the Grand Temple, but.

No one would welcome her, a nuisance who possessed an ominous power.

Her rail-thin body was pitiful compared to the Saintess, who was sleek and well-fed.

'She's definitely... being discriminated against, compared to her sister, isn't she?'

Unlike the other main characters, perhaps because of the burden of having to choose one of the twins.

Until it was implicitly revealed that Nise, not the Saintess, was the main character, that backstory hadn't received much attention from users.

'Then again, what character isn't like that.'

I thought cynically.

People didn't pay much attention to game characters' narratives.

They were too busy being interested in the character's stats or unique skills.

I might not be much different, either.

'If I hadn't chatted with the developers, I would have never known...'

Things like him having high pride as royalty despite his prisoner status, or him having a younger sister with a rare chronic illness.

Or that she got a mushroom allergy because she experienced a poor childhood.

Honestly, it was true that the hints or character backstories the developers occasionally tossed me were helpful.

If I had been clearing the game all by myself, I would have gotten a Game Over a long time ago and lived out the remaining four years just digging up herbs.

'Horrifying...!'

It was the moment I shivered, unbeknownst to myself, at that thought.

Ding-dong!

"Food's here!"

The hotel room's bell rang, and Elaine suddenly shot out to the door like an arrow.

Afterward, a feast was set up on the table by the employee who brought in the tray.

"I was hungry, so I ordered a lot. That's okay, right, noona?"

He asked while already seated and holding a spoon.

I glared at the bastard, dumbfounded, then obediently held out gold coins for the bill the employee was holding out.

"You, come here and eat, too."

I said to Nise, who was still sullen, and walked toward the table.

She'd made such a fuss about letting her go, I thought she wouldn't even eat.

Surprisingly, she obediently followed and sat down.

She was suspicious of medicine from her kidnapper, but food must be fine.

"I'll eat well, Teacher Apothecary-noona!"

As soon as everyone was seated, Elaine immediately began to inhale the food.

Nise, who had been hesitating and not eating easily even after sitting down, suddenly looked at me.

"I, is your name Teacher Apothecary-noona?"

"What are the chances of that? Just eat."

"I, I'll eat well...!"

When I snapped at her, glaring, she quickly lowered her gaze and finally began to eat.

She looked like she would just peck at her food and be done, but, very surprisingly, the amount Nise ate didn't lose out to Elaine.

When I came to my senses, the two of them were clearing the dishes that filled the table, as if in some kind of competition.

Seeing that, I didn't even have the heart to touch the food.

I pushed the food in front of me toward the middle, and Elaine asked.

"Noona, you're not eating?"

"You eat a lot."

"Thank you."

The bastard didn't refuse, just gladly pulled the plate toward himself and cleaned it out.

He was a bastard with no tact or shame to begin with, so it wasn't particularly surprising.

Nise was more amazing. She ate as if she were possessed by a starving ghost.

'For her body size... she really eats a lot.'

Do they starve her at the Temple or something?

At some point, Nise had forgotten to hide her face with her hair and was eating frantically, her lower face completely exposed.

I felt strangely disturbed and was staring blankly, when our eyes suddenly met.

"Hic."

As if feeling guilty for no reason, she flinched and quietly put down the spoon she was holding.

'After she's already finished it all...'

Looking at the empty, empty plates in front of her, I had an ominous feeling that perhaps she wasn't in her right mind, either.

'No, she's the Female Lead! There's no way.'

I shook my head back and forth, shaking off the useless thought.

Then I called the employee to clear the table.

It was the same person who had brought the food, and his face looked quite bewildered as he cleared the empty plates less than 10 minutes later.

Once the employee also left the room, an awkwardness lingered between the three of us.

I glanced at Elaine, but he seemed to have no intention of returning to his room.

On the contrary, he was leaning in uncomfortably close, examining Nise, so I reluctantly spoke up.

"First... do you want to wash up?"

At that, she startled like a rabbit, then answered in a mousy voice.

"...Yes."

It seemed she felt just as uncomfortable about her grubby body from the commotion earlier in the day.

I nodded and turned to look at Elaine.

"Then, Elaine. You can go back to your room now."

"Why?"

Unlike the obedient Nise, a voice full of defiance returned.

The hotel's suite was spacious, but the bedroom and dining room weren't really separate.

In my eyes, he was just a brat, but in any case, Elaine was still male, so it was obvious Nise would be uncomfortable.

Because of that, I answered irritably to Elaine, who was questioning the obvious.

"What do you mean, why. She said she's going to wash up."

"What does it matter if she washes up... You should be the one to leave, noona."

"Why should I leave my own room?"

"She said she's washing up. Obviously, noona, you should...!"

"I, I'm fine!"

It was then. Nise urgently cut in between me and Elaine, who were bickering again.

"I, I don't mind either way, so please don't fight because of me..."

"Argh, my ears have been itching like crazy!"

At that moment, Elaine scratched hard at one of his ears and shouted.

"What kind of guy is so slender and answers so softly..."

The bastard scowled and glared at Nise with displeased eyes.

I was shocked and hurriedly blocked his outrageous behavior.

"What are you talking about. She's a girl!"

"Eh?"

At that, Elaine tilted his head to the side, as if he'd heard something bizarre.

"Noona, are your eyes broken?"

"Do you want to get hit again?"

"N, no, it's not that... This bastard is a man. It's obvious he's a guy."

Elaine pointed at Nise and confidently denied her gender.

At that shocking behavior, Nise's face began to turn pale.

Even if we'd just met today, she was still a main character I had to drag along, kicking and screaming.

And on top of that, the game's Female Lead.

"Elaine Griselda."

I could no longer tolerate Elaine's rudeness and warned him in a low voice.

"She is a guest I brought. Don't be rude."

At that, Elaine made a very wronged expression.

"When was I rude... I was just telling you he's a man, so why are you getting mad, noona."

"I told you, she's not a man. If you're going to act like that, go back to your room."

"Tch. Noona only ever picks on me!"

Pouting, Elaine shot up from his seat and stomped to the door.

System windows popped up in a line behind him.

[Elaine Griselda now feels strong disappointment toward you.]

[Elaine Griselda is now convinced there is a problem with your intelligence.]

'That little...'

I was raising my fist at the bastard, who was pissing me off to the very end as he left, when I flinched at a gaze I suddenly felt.

I turned my head, and Nise was staring intently at me.

"Are you okay? Sorry. You had to see something unpleasant."

I apologized with an awkward laugh.

To show the Female Lead such a childish argument when we hadn't even known each other for a day. A sigh escaped me, worried that my level would be seen as the same as that bastard Elaine's.

At my apology, Nise's lips twitched for a long time.

Then, finally.

"I, I'm sorry, but..."

"Hm?"

"C, can you leave, too."

A sudden order of eviction was thrown at me.

"Eh? Why?"

I was very flustered by her incomprehensible words.

I had gone to the trouble of kicking Elaine out for her, so I really couldn't understand Nise's attitude, suddenly acting distant as if she were shy.

However, she was now glaring at me, her face strangely red.

Unlike a moment ago, her gaze toward me was not favorable, but sharp.

"R, right now... I, I don'T want to see your face. Please, I'm asking you."

[The One Forsaken by God now holds a faint disappointment toward you.]

I couldn't exactly stay when she was saying that and a system window was popping up.

I was kicked out of my own room with a bewildered expression.

"Fucking... what is it. Was there something wrong with the food..."

Where else was there for me to go, even if I came out?

In the end, as I trudged toward Elaine's room, I still couldn't understand why Nise had kicked me out.