Oh, my head. It feels like someone is pounding my neck with a rubber mallet. My head hurts so much that I was nauseous before passing out, but this pain is incomparable. If only I could pass out again just enough for it to go away, but where am I, and why do my hands and feet feel so heavy?
I managed to open my eyes, and my vision flickered with a green tint.
I'm still not feeling well. Alright, I'll just sleep again. I'll feel better when I wake up.
「You are poisoned with a deadly toxin. Please detoxify immediately!」
「Natural recovery rate decreases due to poisoning.」
「All beneficial buffs are removed due to poisoning.」
「Health is continuously decreasing.」
Ah, that's why my vision is green. The system is kindly explaining the reason... wait, what? Why am I poisoned?
"Finally awake, are we?"
The eerie voice echoed off the walls, snapping me to attention. Oh no, this voice... Please let it be a mistake, or that I'm just so out of it that I'm hallucinating.
"I thought you were dead since you wouldn't wake up, servant."
"You... how are you here?"
"Before that, let me check something I couldn't last time."
What is he checking? Hearing Harrison's voice made my head throb. Ugh, if only this headache would go away. As I tried to clear my mind and opened my eyes, I almost screamed.
Harrison was pointing a revolver directly at my left chest.
"Wh-what... What are you doing..."
I tried to back away in panic, but my hands were bound and tied to an iron pillar, rendering me immobile. No way, he wouldn't shoot at this close range, right? He only kills criminals. He should still think I'm just a regular servant.
I kicked at the ground, desperately trying to put some distance between us, but the click of the hammer being cocked sounded like a death sentence.
"A girl interrupted me last time, but this is better. I can check properly at close range."
"W-wait. What are you doing..."
This lunatic actually pulled the trigger. With a bang, it felt like my left rib was shattered.
Ah... ack. All the air was squeezed out of my lungs at once. I couldn't even scream as I collapsed, the bullet clattering to the side. The pain was excruciating, just enough to make me wish I was dead.
"So, you're human after all."
"Ugh... huff..."
"Don't exaggerate. This holy bullet, I tested it on my own foot. It doesn't even scratch a human, but you're putting on quite the act. Anyway, it proves you're human."
"W-what are you doing..."
This... this crazy bastard. Poison and bullets, he really did intend to kill me...
"I wasn't sure about these holy bullets at first, but they turned out to be quite effective. I should have bought more. It's annoying to use them one by one. That small girl from last time got injured by it, so is she a demon too? Do you know anything about that?"
「The demonic blood in your body reacts to the holy water bullet.」
「Penalties applied.」
「Natural recovery rate decreases by 30% for a certain period.」
「Physical/magical defense decreases by 60% for a certain period.」
「Strength decreases by 40% for a certain period.」
"Heh, well. It doesn't matter now. I just need to shoot that great Count Paltsgraf. Or should I say Earl now?"
In the midst of my dizziness from lack of oxygen, white text flickered green in my vision. Holy water bullet, where did he even get such a thing?
If he means the small girl, it must be Rosie. The bullet grazing her and causing burns was concerning, and now I understand it was a holy water bullet. I hope Rosie's okay. I worry her wound might have worsened.
First, I need to detoxify myself. I have to survive.
Still unable to breathe properly, I glanced around. The 'Universal Antidote' I received as a dungeon clear reward was glowing, urging me to use it. My hands were tightly bound, so I nudged it with my chin, pretending to squirm. The familiar normal text appeared before me.
「Used Universal Antidote.」
「Debuffs due to poisoning are removed.」
「Health is low. Use a potion or rest to recover.」
The green tint that had thickened my vision gradually faded until it was completely gone. I could finally catch my breath and take in my surroundings with my peripheral vision.
A dark stone chamber underground. No sunlight reached here, suggesting it was deeply buried, not easily found from the surface. The only sound was the drip, drip of water hitting the floor. This place was meticulously prepared for a kidnapping.
"If you're waiting for the police, forget it. They're busy examining a body I prepared to look exactly like Harrison Ridgemont. They might even be celebrating now."
"That's... cough, there's no need to tell me all this. Just tell me why you brought me here."
"Ah, that. I need your help to meet the Count."
"...Why me?"
"Help a fellow human out. You wouldn't want to work under a master who turns out to be a demon, would you? The Countess called the current Count a demon. Isn't that suspicious?"
"Where did you hear that?"
"Is that important right now?"
"Yes, it is. That's a baseless rumor created to tarnish the Paltsgraf family name. Demons, holy water... Do you really believe in such baseless superstitions as a former inspector?"
"Well, we'll find out if I shoot him. But it's not easy. I got bitten by a dog when I tried to approach him."
Harrison grumbled, showing his right leg wrapped in bandages.
A dog... could it be Sniffles? Did Sniffles do such a commendable job without me knowing? Sniffles, well done! If only he had reported it, he would have deserved at least ten treats and all the praise. But, well, he can't speak.
Come to think of it, unlike the commendable Sniffles, Kazimir had done nothing throughout the trip. When I get back, I should get a detailed report on his achievements aside from writing love letters to Avril and give him a hard time.
"There was actually one opportunity, but when I finally met him, I was too excited to shoot. I had so many questions, but there wasn't enough time."
What is this, the way he talks while huffing and puffing, it's like he's a pervert. Given his persistence in following us, he’s more than just an ordinary pervert.
"Maybe I just wanted to believe. That I had a comrade. This path is quite lonely, not recognized by the world. But I'm right. In the end, everyone will know that I'm right. The only way to execute criminals is... justice."
"......"
"But even comrades must die if they've executed without qualification. That's justice, and I'm right..."
Harrison gritted his teeth, his eyes gleaming with the ferocity of a predator about to pounce on its prey. The sheer intensity of his madness sent chills down my spine, though his logic was laughably flimsy. 'I'm right because I'm right' is all it amounted to.
Hmm, to sum it up, it's like this. Given that he had Isaac testify instead of himself, he must know about Adrian's murders. The problem is that he over-interpreted the reason for the killings. He thinks he's implementing justice by punishing criminals, but happened to witness Adrian killing someone and assumed he was a kindred spirit. Now he wants to test if Adrian is truly a comrade by seeing if he can qualify as such...
What is this? It's just plain delusion. They say a madman with conviction is the scariest thing in the world.
"So, uh? You have to bring the Count here."
"Why would I do that?"
"You feel your body stiffening, don't you?"
"..."
"Don't worry, just lead him to the designated place. I'll handle the rest. Then I'll give you this antidote."
A small vial filled with a transparent liquid dangled before my eyes. Coupled with a villainous smile.
Ugh, you dirty bastard. So that's why I'm poisoned, to blackmail me. I cursed him silently, using every foul word imaginable and feeling guilty for cursing innocent animals in the process.
"How about it? A small price for your life. Even a loyal servant to the Count would value his own life."
Harrison grinned annoyingly.
What an idiot. I already detoxified myself a while ago.
I wanted to spit in his face and watch him squirm in shock, but I held back. There's no need to reveal anything advantageous to the enemy. Besides, my hands were still tied.
"That's right, now that I think about it."
"Are you accepting my proposal?"
When I nodded, feigning ignorance, Harrison's eyes sparkled.
"I have no choice. My life is on the line; do I have any other options? I'm just a servant living day to day. I'm only with the Count's family for the money, but what use is that if I'm dead?"
"Good, you've thought it through."
"So, untie my hands first. Quickly fetch the Count and get the antidote. I don't want to die because we delayed."
I shook my hands bound behind me urgently, causing the chains to rattle against the pillar. Harrison scrutinized my face as if trying to read my mind, then went behind the pillar and untied my hands. Ironically, being poisoned by him turned out to be a stroke of luck. He wouldn't have released me if he only had my word to go by.
Once I was fully freed, I stood up immediately and stretched my wrists. Although I wasn't in peak condition, getting shot had snapped me into clarity.
Let's see. My PVP skill is "Balance for a Decisive Blow." Combined with the spell scroll I bought at the general store earlier, I'm pretty well-equipped. Should I try the skill that's currently at the top? I selected one of the glowing skill icons on my right and pressed it.
"You have two hours until the poison fully spreads through your body. If you move quickly, you can bring the Count within that time. The meeting place is...”
Thud. A burning baseball came out of nowhere, hit his head, and vanished. He nearly dropped his cherished revolver but managed to catch it just in time.
Wow, is that a Fireball? It really is a burning ball! Using skills is definitely the best. As I kept pressing various icons, Harrison, who had been hit several times, turned to look at me, bewildered by the five hits he took without me even getting close.
"What just... What is this? Are you giving up on the antidote? Do you want to die?"
Looking into his bloodshot eyes filled with murderous intent, I smirked.
"Try to kill me. It won't be easy. I'll kill you first."
"…Ha, this is getting interesting."
Despite his calm voice, Harrison's expression morphed into that of a demon. It reminded me of the time he was choking Kazimir with brutal strength. The madness that shattered everything in its path, the directionless drive...
I knew instinctively. This time, if he met Adrian, he planned to put a holy bullet in his heart. Just like he did to me earlier.
Kill him. I had to kill him. This man would relentlessly follow me no matter what. It was a fight that wouldn't end unless he was dead.
I pressed down on my still aching chest and glared at him. Adrian's image, covered in holy water and burning all over, flickered like a nightmare and disappeared.
The moment our eyes, glowing with murderous intent, met like lights in the darkness.
**[Main Quest]**
Huh?
**[Kill the Nemesis]**
......
**[As a helper of the demon, you will have a nemesis like the demon.]**
**[The alliance system is not supported this time.]**
**[Your nemesis to eliminate is 'Harrison Richmond.']**
**[Main Quest - Kill the Nemesis has begun.]**
The final main quest appeared in red text, clawing at my eyes like blood trickling from a wound.
Even with a killer glaring at me right in front of me, I couldn't help but be momentarily stunned. The third quest I'd been trying to delay at all costs had now appeared in an inescapable form. The years I'd spent trying to avoid triggering the final quest flashed before me, leaving me feeling hollow.
Wait, so what happens now? Adrian can't kill Harrison, because the curse that ends his world will activate the moment he kills his nemesis. But if I let Harrison live, he'll shoot that holy bullet at Adrian. And if I kill him, the game ends. And if the game ends, I...
"Why are you so quiet all of a sudden?"
"Whoa! You scared me!"
I reflexively dodged to the side at the unwelcome voice coming from right in front of me, and a steel pipe swished past where I had just been. If that had hit my head, I would have at least been knocked out again. It looked like there was already blood on the end of that steel pipe.
"You said you'd kill me. You said you'd kill me before I killed you."
His head tilted to the side slowly. He looked like a snake coiling before striking its prey, making me involuntarily flinch.
This is a deadly action thriller. Isn't this too immersive?
"That... That was just talk. I thought you'd be scared and run away if I said that."
"Oh, really? It didn't sound like that at all."
No, seriously, give me some time to think. Usually, villains wait patiently while the protagonist transforms or monologues in deep thought, but there's no sense of honor here.
"Inspector, let's not do this. Let's talk it out calmly... Whoa!"
"Sorry, but now that we're here, I can't let you leave alive."
As I attempted to initiate a social interaction belatedly, the steel pipe rushed towards me again. Clang! The brutal metallic sound of it hitting the floor gave me chills. Talking as if he was in some unavoidable situation, yet he was the one who knocked out someone in the village and dragged them here.
But I really didn't want to complete the main quest if I could help it, so I didn't give up and shouted.
"Hey, calm down and listen to me. I don't know what you saw in the shrine, but it's all a misunderstanding. It looks like you want to be allies with our Count, but if you shoot him on sight, he'll just get mad and leave."
"I can't accept someone who hasn't proven themselves as an ally."
"No, this whole ally thing is just your one-sided desire! The Count doesn't even know, so what's the point of qualifications or whatever?"
I tried to convey through tears, "Even if you shoot him, it will only hurt our relationship, Adrian doesn't even know he's a candidate for an ally, and he wouldn't be interested anyway, so let's go our separate ways." But Harrison didn't listen at all.
"Hey, listen to me... Whoa!"
**[Your current health is below one-third of your total health.]**
**[There is a significant difference in health between you and your enemy.]**
When the end of his swinging steel pipe caught my arm, my upper health bar turned red and started blinking.
My current level is 44, with total health of 1332, down to 420. Harrison's level is 81, with total health of 1546, currently at 1076... My health dropped drastically because of the poison, but this is really unfair. Harrison's health only dropped because I used a few spell scrolls; he was almost at full health initially.
Fighting PVP with such a health disparity? If you truly stand for justice, let's meet again after I've healed, you coward!
Even as I grumbled incessantly to myself, I managed to dodge Harrison's attacks at least five times. I should have worn a dodging dress. Dodging and taunting while looking for an opening is my specialty!
"I didn't expect a mere servant to be so loyal. Willing to throw away your life for your master... It almost brings tears to my eyes."
It didn't sound convincing at all coming from someone who looked like they wouldn't bleed even if you pricked them.
"If threats don't work on you, it's better to eliminate you here."
His eyes looked cloudy like a dead fish's. I am right, it's better if I kill you. If society doesn't judge you, then I will... He muttered like someone possessed, and he no longer looked like the sharp, competent inspector from the past. No matter how hard I tried to persuade him, he wouldn't listen, so it seemed like he was beyond saving, but I had to try.
"Hey, what happened to you? You didn't become a cop with this intent from the start, right? Why do I, a regular citizen, have to... urgh, die here?"
"What's the point of explaining? No one understands the feeling of seeing criminals get away without proper punishment, no matter how many times you catch them. Who would understand that feeling?"
"That's an internal matter for the police force to resolve...!"
"For the greater good, sometimes small sacrifices are necessary. Hesitating over minor sacrifices can ruin the big picture. I just need to verify with the Count."
I was hoping for a conversation where we could end up like workers at a company, sharing grievances over a drink, saying, "Yeah, the world is tough, but you survive somehow. What can you do?" But it turned out to be a deeper problem. Well, I get why you're disillusioned, but what does that have to do with me and Adrian?
[-67]
[Critical! -80]
[Critical! -93]
Even as he lamented pitifully, Harrison continued to deliver effective attacks, steadily reducing my health. This is dangerous; my health dropped to the 100s in an instant. Due to the holy water penalty, my health wouldn't recover... If I took more hits, I might be in serious trouble.
Clang!
As the steel pipe barely missed my hair and hit the floor, I seized the opportunity to trip him, but Harrison anticipated it and quickly backed away.
"Where do you think you're going!"
But anticipating the dodge, I swung my leg wide, and Harrison, who anticipated that, widened the distance on the opposite side. Expecting him to increase the distance, I quickly pressed the spell icon, and Harrison, like a ghost, dodged the flaming baseball.
However, recalling my youthful arcade experience, I pressed the icon repeatedly. With a series of satisfying hits, I managed to pummel Harrison.
「-20」
「-11」
「-32」
「-5」
「-46」
Phew, that was a tough fight. I used up all my Fireballs in the process. I should have bought more spell scrolls. Glancing at Harrison's rapidly depleting health, I saw him suddenly charge at me from his crouched position. With a thud, my vision went dark as I was knocked back, hitting the back of my head against a pillar.
「Critical! -89」
Barely managing to open my eyes, the system informed me I was in deep trouble. My remaining health was just 91. The sense of danger made me want to complain about this unfair battle.
Putting aside the pain, why does he have such high normal attack damage and such frequent critical hits? Could he also have a sleep skill? Is he wearing a lucky dress under that big coat?
"Hey, are you really going to end it here?"
"Yes."
"What about the others… what about Sergeant Jeffrey? Huh? You always stuck together, and even though he grumbled, it was clear how much he followed you! Do you know how much trouble you caused him with your false witness? Can you call that a minor sacrifice for the greater good?"
Surprisingly, at that moment, Harrison's fanatical eyes wavered. He had been unfazed by anything I'd said so far, but now he was shaken. I didn't have time to savor the moment, so I quickly selected 'Body Slam' from my skill window and charged at him without hesitation.
Whether he was stunned or dropped his belongings, either outcome was fine. Here I come, here I come, crash, ahhh!
"Ugh!"
With a heavy thud like mountains colliding, Harrison slid down and hit the wall. My first priority was to knock him out, second to make him drop his holy water gun, and third to take his iron pipe. Unfortunately, it ended up being the third.
I quickly grabbed the iron pipe and aimed it at his neck as he tried to get up.
"Sit back down before I drive this in."
Pressing it against his neck as if about to impale him, Harrison slid down the wall, slowly raising his hands. Seeing this, I inwardly sighed in relief and jerked my chin.
"Hand over the holy water gun you have hidden. And all the bullets."
"You're quite relaxed. If it were me, I'd ask for the antidote first."
"Stop talking and hand it over. If you don't want to die."
Holding the iron pipe in one hand and pressing a skill icon with the other, a formless arrow appeared in the air, aiming at Harrison. Even though the sharp arrowhead was pointing at his heart, making him feel threatened, he smirked.
"Why? Just kill me and take it."
"......"
"Hey, servant. Bluffing won't help. With that hesitation, you'll never kill anyone. Killing is not for everyone, after all."
Harrison chuckled, leisurely pulling out a cigar. This madman was sharp even in this situation. Grinding my teeth inwardly, I tightened my grip on the iron pipe.
Despite appearances, I wasn't in an advantageous position. Tragically, one critical hit would finish me off, while Harrison still had over 900 health left. He might seem relaxed, thinking I'm hesitating because of the poison and my reluctance to kill, but it's only a matter of time before he notices.
I need to settle this quickly.
With only a few scrolls left, there was only one way to face him. Using the 'Balance for a Single Strike' skill would leave us both with 1 health, making it a fair fight where whoever hit first would win. This was the perfect opportunity with my hand on the skill icon, but as if Harrison saw through me, I continued to hesitate.
Killing Harrison would end the game.
My heart pounded. If it were just about killing, I would've done it already. But thinking about parting with Adrian made me pause. I desperately searched for another way.
Could there be another solution besides persuading Harrison? Could the quest change, or could Adrian's curse be completely lifted before then? But everything was vague and uncertain, nothing as clear as the main quest glowing red before me.
I was frustrated. Murder, massacre, and now killing a nemesis. Why does this game keep making me kill people? There are plenty of other quests! Is this just a horror game? Who knows if I can even return once the game ends…!
"Hah, your expression is priceless. See, not everyone can kill so easily."
I bit my lip to stifle a scream. My hand trembled with anger, but Harrison laughed, misinterpreting it.
Glaring at Harrison with bloodshot eyes, I replayed the main quests echoing in my mind. Murder, massacre, killing a nemesis... Main quests usually align with the game's objective or story, but this game seemed different. Maybe the story planner did a poor job...
No, wait. Is there really no connection?
This game was originally a horror game. A game that makes you regain demonic powers by killing...
"What's wrong? You were so eager to kill, but now that you have the chance, you can't do it?"
"......"
"Your hand is shaking badly. It's pitiful. Why don't you give up and bring the Count? You don't have to kill, just confirm it. If he's innocent, he won't die."
Now I understand. The reason I had three main quests...
The first quest to kill saved Adrian's life. The second massacre restored all his power, and the last quest to kill the nemesis... It was to eliminate the final obstacle, the nemesis, achieving the game's goal.
Harrison was never important; it was about ending the curse, no matter who it was.
Even if I avoid this now, it will resurface in some form. Whether it's to kill a nemesis or face an even harsher quest.
To align with the game's original purpose, until Adrian becomes whole...
"Hilda."
Adrian, I came into this game to save you.
Finding her was easy. Thanks to the blood I'd fed her earlier, I just had to follow the trail. He could even retrace her steps to see what she did at various points, but now was no time to savor the moments.
It was unthinkable that Hilda left on her own. The Hilda he knew would've said goodbye face to face. So, someone else must have taken her... how should I deal with this? Adrian was deep in thought all the way to finding her. She would die anyway, but how cruelly he should end it was the question.
Recalling every cruel torture method he knew, none seemed satisfying. He wanted to make her regret every breathing moment. He would ensure it.
Finally, he arrived at a dark underground chamber. It seemed abandoned for a long time, as the musty smell hit his nose the moment he opened the door. Inside, he sensed two presences. Rushing down the stairs, he saw Hilda with an iron pipe. The man leaning against the wall was Harrison, whom he'd met at the police station... his nemesis, but for now, he didn't matter.
Since the massacre at the shrine, the external force that had always been steady had noticeably strengthened. Unlike the past when it circled Hilda like a dark cloud, now it clung to her as if they were one. He instinctively knew she had been given the third and final mission set by the system.
I must trust Hilda. The suppressed anxiety tried to consume him, but he forced himself to think positively. Amidst the ever-changing circumstances, Hilda had chosen to stay by his side and had proven herself many times.
Even with the external force circling her, he didn't confine her because of the hope that her past choices would remain unchanged in the future.
"Hilda."
But the Hilda now was different. The eyes that always showed strength and certainty were now filled with profound sadness, as if tears would spill any moment.
Why, Hilda? You said you'd always be by my side, so why do you look like someone about to leave...?
Had she made some decision? He felt the external force around her growing stronger, her world increasingly diverging from his.
His hands trembled. I can't let you go, I need only you.
Please, don't let go of my hand.
‘Then kill her and take her.’
A terrifying voice he'd heard before whispered in his ear. Even as he gasped, the whisper continued.
‘If she returns to her world, she'll soon forget someone like you. Mortal hearts are that light and fleeting. How pitiful.’
‘She'll soon meet other humans, mate with them. You'll remain a forgotten existence. You'll be left alone, trapped in trivial emotions for life. Pathetic...’
‘Can you allow that? Will you let a mere human dominate you?’
‘If you don't want to lose her, you have to kill. If you can't have her, break her. Keep her corpse and live with it. That's our kind of love.’
‘I love you, Master. I love you, I love you.’
‘Now you finally understand me completely.’
I thought this game was urging me to kill, but it wasn't that. Killing was the only way to save you.
Only at the end did I realize this truth, and though it was confusing, seeing Adrian’s face made everything startlingly clear.
Harrison will chase Adrian until the end. Even if it's not this time, with that astonishingly insane persistence, he'll end up shooting a holy bullet through Adrian's heart. Adrian's powers won't work on his nemesis, leaving him defenseless. Whether Adrian falls at Harrison's hands, kills Harrison himself fulfilling Lilith's curse, or lives in constant fear of an invisible enemy ready to shoot, hiding and suffering through another bout of illness... As long as Harrison exists, Adrian's end will be tragic.
Maybe I could ignore the third main quest and just live my life. The system won't go easy on me, but if I'm lucky, I might never finish the game until I die. But if Adrian's end is such a tragedy... there wouldn't be any reason for me to desperately cling to this world. What's the point of living alone in a world without you?
If I get rid of Harrison, Adrian will be safe. I'm the only one who can kill Harrison.
I felt empty. I thought I had choices, but in reality, there was only one option from the beginning. The answer was set from the moment I entered this game, and I never had the right to choose. Maybe it was from the moment I met Adrian.
I had thought of countless reasons not to end the game. After committing murder, what's left for me if I return, but being a social misfit? How much would Adrian cry if I'm not here? What if he goes around killing innocent people in rage? I thought I should stay for world peace... But all of those were excuses. I only needed Adrian. I just wanted to live where he was.
I wanted it so desperately.
“If we have to part anyway, I want you to live in your world.”
I'm not ending the game to leave Adrian. I have to end the game to save him.
Adrian's eyes widened in shock. It seemed my faint voice, which might disappear at any moment, reached him clearly despite the distance. Perhaps he couldn't trust me all along, knowing this moment would come someday.
Does Adrian understand that this is an unavoidable choice? I hope he doesn't feel hurt, thinking he's been abandoned.
Sorry, now I see why you couldn't trust me.
“I'm sorry, Adrian.”
I smiled weakly, possibly for the last time.
Sorry. Sorry for not protecting you until the end. Sorry for leaving despite saying I love you. Sorry for not keeping my promise.
“Still, I hope you won't hurt anymore.”
Someone might say there's another best option. That I could make a better choice. Maybe in the future, I'll look back on this moment and regret it, but for now, this is the best I can do.
In the brief moment I organized my thoughts, Harrison suddenly pushed me away and stood up, pulling a gun from his coat. As I was pushed backward and fell, my skill struck the air, and Harrison's gun aimed precisely at Adrian.
The sound of the hammer clicking down echoed, but Adrian didn't try to avoid it. He couldn't take his eyes off me. I quickly opened my skill window.
「Used the skill ‘Balance for a Decisive Strike.’」
「Health is now 1.」
It looked like Harrison was about to shoot Adrian, so I grabbed anything within reach and threw it. Only after throwing it did I realize it was a small stone.
Thunk! Bang!
The sound of the stone hitting Harrison's head and the gunshot rang almost simultaneously.
「Critical hit! -1」
With the loud gunshot, the bullet barely missed Adrian's shoulder, hitting the door and bouncing off. Harrison collapsed, and his remaining health of 1 turned to 0, flashing red.
I wanted to say a final goodbye to Adrian, but the system notifications flooded my view.
「Main Quest – Nemesis Elimination complete.」
「Congratulations! You have completed all main quests.」
「The game is ending, returning to the login screen.」
The moment my vision turned white, I was ruthlessly thrown out of the game.
'Take it by killing, that's our instinct.'
Lilith's laughter endlessly teased my ears. Normally, I would have ignored it, but not now. The intense temptation shook my heart and made my throat dry.
I gasped for breath. Living while holding onto your corpse would be better than letting you go. Really? I'd do anything to be with you. Because demons can truly live happily even that way.
Rather than losing you, yes, I'd...
When I looked at you, driven by an instinctive urge to kill, ah. My resolve broke. All the cruel thoughts that had filled my mind dissipated at once.
I thought... I understood. It was only after having someone I loved that I realized feelings like attachment and anxiety. I had already found a terrifying obsession with Lilith in my feelings toward Hilda. So I thought that maybe one day, I could understand Lilith, who I had always hated.
But no. I...
'What are you denying? You desperately want it!'
A voice screamed desperately.
No. No... He slowly shook his head.
I want you by my side. I don't want you to be afraid of me. I don't want to let you go. But more than that, I don't want you to die. I don't want you to cry or be sad.
If you could be happy without me...
“I hope you... can be happy.”
More than how you trusted and loved me.
A voice that barely reached out faded like a blown-out candle.
He had been crying for a long time. Genuine tears without any pretense or disguise poured out uncontrollably. His vision blurred as if covered in mist, and he couldn't see her.
Maybe, for thinking this way, I'm unqualified to be a demon. I don't belong anywhere, a flawed grey. Wherever I am, I'm always incomplete.
“If we have to part anyway, I want you to live in your world.”
Me too.
“I'm sorry, Adrian. But still, I hope you won't hurt anymore.”
Me too, Hilda...
I hope you're happy. As warm as the love you gave me, and as much as I love you.
I couldn't do anything. Even after regaining all my power, not feeling pain as before, I was still horribly powerless. All I could do was wait for her decision, like a death sentence.
At last, the gunshot signaling the end of everything rang out, and Hilda disappeared before my eyes.
At that moment, all colors vanished. Only a body covered in ash remained, once again.
When I killed my nemesis Harrison, the curse was finally lifted. The pain that had been like a prison for so many years gradually disappeared without a trace. The rope that had tightly bound my heart snapped, and I could breathe freely.
The curse was completely lifted, but his world shattered into pieces.
There's no way my world could be anything but you.
I lived countless long lives, but I was happy for a brief moment. In the short time that felt like a fleeting moment, I was blissfully happy.
In a world that only looked black and white, being with you wasn't bad. It even felt beautiful. I felt the spring river and the summer sunlight for the first time. I wondered what autumn and winter would be like with you. I hoped this winter would be colder, so I could warm your cold hands. With thoughts so ticklish, I eagerly awaited the remaining time.
All of it had meaning only because you were there.
“...”
Without a sound, tears fell.
I lost you, Hilda. Because I couldn't follow, because I couldn't trust, you left. It wasn't your fault at all, only mine. So please look at me again. Take me with you. Save me from this cold darkness, as you always have...
So I must find a way, somehow. Because I... lost you. Because I couldn't follow...
I searched for her with all my might. Though it was just a faint trace of blood, it was barely detectable. I pursued the nearly erased trace relentlessly. It was like trying to catch the sound of a sleeve brushing in a crowded hall where an orchestra played, but I scanned every tiny sign without missing anything.
The hopeful part was that I could faintly feel Hilda's presence, and the despairing part was that I couldn't reach her no matter what I did. She was so far away, I could lose her completely if I wasn't careful. Desperately grasping the faint sign, I recalled all the spells I knew. I drew upon the knowledge I recently gained from ancient texts.
Hilda, losing you was my fault. So if you can't come to me, I'll go to you. Just as you crossed time and space to find me, it's my turn to find you.
As long as I could meet you again, nothing else mattered.
[ hey there, sorry for disturbing your reading! I'm just here to make sure you are reading this from my website (https://tlbyviridescent.blogspot.com/p/surviving-as-maid-in-horror-game.html) and not somewhere else where it got reposted without my permission... that's it! ]
Even if it meant the world.
In the vast, endless white space known as the login screen, I sat down and wept.
Harrison... he's really dead, right? Since the final quest completion notification popped up, Adrian should be safe now, right?
Though we've been separated, with the nemesis threat gone, it's enough. He was strong originally and lived long without me, so he should be able to manage well from now on.
Given that he was more than human, I hoped Adrian would forget me as quickly as possible. Let him think of me as a brief amusement in his long life, made sentimental only by his weakening curse. I didn't mind if he resented me for leaving, as long as he wasn't sad.
"Adrian..."
But I know that won't happen. He was already crying when I left. With his power, he could have stopped me, but he watched helplessly, like a condemned man awaiting the noose. I couldn't even say a proper goodbye to him.
If I had known this was how it would end, I would have treated him better. I regretted every moment of this morning. Why did I get so angry over a little blood? I should have told him to bring a whole basin if he wanted to feed me, instead of criticizing the wine glass. I should have gone straight to the mansion after finishing my errands, instead of just promising to talk later. And on the night I said I could only do it three times, I should have gone for a fourth.
This morning, your embrace was so warm, your hands so tender that they brought tears to my eyes. I never wanted to forget it, but now it feels like a distant dream. The look in your eyes when you gazed at me with such affection now pierces my heart. I beat my chest, trying to rid myself of the pain, but it wouldn't go away. I ended up crying, lying flat on the floor.
Ding-dong.
Adrian... Adrian. Even though we've parted, I still love you. No matter how much time passes, I will never forget you.
Ding-dong!
But I wish you would forget me. Forget all the happy times we had together because if you reminisce and feel sad, I'll feel even sadder from afar.
Ding-dong-ding!
…Wait, what’s that sound? I'm trying to cry here, and it's interrupting my moment.
"Congratulations on clearing the game!"
I was about to mute the sound when suddenly, with a loud fanfare, fireworks exploded all around me. The cheerful and lively background music only made me want to cry more.
Though my vision was blurred with tears, I could still see the system acting like a sociopath, celebrating cluelessly.
Is this really a time to celebrate? Making the player cry blood and then throwing a celebration!
I wanted to grab the system by the collar and demand answers, but it continued to display celebratory messages.
"Hilda was a player character (PC) created for your game."
"Hilda's Journey
- Level: 44
- Job: Servant
- Skills: 7
- Inventory: MAX
- Completed Quests: 3
- Chosen Route: Devil's Aide"
With retro-style sound effects, white text floated up slowly. It seemed the system had been waiting to show me this ending credit. I tried to find a skip button, but of course, this user-unfriendly game didn't have one. Who even watches end credits these days?
"Titles you have earned:
- Trivial Worker
- Conscience-less Trivial Worker
- Conscience-less and Diligent Worker
- Devil’s Provisional Right Hand
- Devil’s Right Hand
- Devil’s First Lover
- Devil’s Master"
As absurd as it was to be shown my game records now, I couldn't help but get engrossed as I read through them.
Right, I was the "Trivial Worker" when I first entered the game. Got mocked for stealing a pillow and called "conscience-less." Became the "Provisional Right Hand" after refusing Adrian’s poison tea, then the "Right Hand" after committing murder. I still laugh thinking about the scuffles with Kazimir to keep my position as the right hand. And then, we even fell in love. I really did a lot in this game, didn't I?
"Sub-titles you have earned:
- Execution Helper"
Ah, that one! Providing the rope at the execution ground was quite the sweet deal for both Adrian and me.
"Your Reputation
- Reputation Level: 0
- Infamy Level: 17
- Villains Seduced by Infamy: Total 898
- Infamy Points Used for Skill Enhancement: 16"
I nostalgically remembered when the infamy system was unlocked, how Grover shook my hand and the surrounding good guys fled, glancing at me fearfully. It was bewildering back then… Now, in this situation, those days seem so happy and bright.
"People You Favored:
- Emily: (*´▽`*) Waiting for Hilda……. lv.3 (10/30)"
As I nostalgically flipped through, seeing a familiar name appear made me freeze.
"Emily..."
What should I do? Emily is waiting for me. She probably doesn't even know I'm gone. I started crying again, even before the grief from parting with Adrian had fully settled.
Emily, don't wait for me. I can't go back.
She'll hear the news of my disappearance, and knowing how kind and delicate she is, she'll be devastated. Thinking about Emily after dealing with the sorrow from Adrian made it even worse. I felt like I might suffocate from my tears.
- Kaiden: |ˬ•`๑) Waiting for Hilda……. lv.10 (MAX)
- Grover: |ˬ•`๑) Waiting for Hilda……. lv.10 (MAX)
- Rosie: (´✪▽✪`)♡ Waiting for Hilda with news that she grew 0.3cm……. lv.10 (MAX)
- Delores: (﹡ˆ︶ˆ﹡) Bought a pillow gift, waiting for Hilda……. lv.10 (MAX)
It wasn’t just Emily. Everyone I cared about was...
People You Have Ties With:
- Leticia: (｡•́︿•̀｡) Searching for Hilda…….
- Charlotte: (｡•́︿•̀｡) Searching with Leticia…….
- Kazimir: (｡•́︿•̀｡) Searching for Adrian and Hilda…….
- Sniffles: (´；⌓；｀) Searching for Hilda…….
- Three-Color: ฅ(ΦㅅΦ) Demanding snacks…….
They were all waiting for me.
I'd always wondered what happens to the game world when the player disappears. I thought the game time only flowed when I logged in, but no. Time continued to pass in the game world, and the NPCs I thought of as mere characters lived on with their own lives.
The game world was real, and so were they.
- Priscilla: （´-`）.｡oO（When will Adrian and Hilda arrive?) Waiting eagerly…….
- Olivia: （´-`）.｡oO（When will the Count and Hilda arrive?) Waiting eagerly…….
…….
The names of those I met in the game continued to scroll up, but I couldn't read them through my tears. I stifled my sobs, wiping my eyes with my sleeve, but they still filled with tears. I started to question what I was doing here alone. The people waiting for me, the people I wanted to see, were over there.
Don’t wait for me, you fools. Don’t feel hurt or cry. I can’t come to console you.
「~END~」
「Your game has ended. Did you have a good time?」
"Why, why isn't there anything about Adrian? Show me Adrian too..."
I cried and begged, but the white text heartlessly disappeared, ending the credits. Oh my god, it was the first time in my life that I watched the ending credits while sobbing like this.
「The game will log out shortly after ending. 10, 9...」
"Wait, wait! Really? Is this really the end? This is a login page, isn't it? Can't I log back in?"
「8, 7, 6」
"I want to keep playing the game. There are games that let you continue even after seeing the ending!"
「5, 4...」
"You threw me into that world at your whim and now you want to bring me back at your whim! I don't want to go back!"
「3, 2」
I kneeled and begged, tried to reason, even got angry, but since my opponent was the system, nothing worked. Oh no, this really seems like the end.
Sorry, Adrian. I'm sorry for leaving without even saying goodbye. I hope you won't be too hurt thinking I abandoned you. Since I disappeared right in front of your eyes, you must be crying so much. But what can I do? I don't think I can stop crying either.
I was sniffling with my head down, thinking it was all over, when a noise like a broken radio came from somewhere.
Crackle, crackle.
The annoying sound of what seemed like a radio interference made me lift my head slightly, and the white text that wouldn't stop no matter how much I begged froze at "1."
Crackle, crackle... As the sound grew louder, the letters fluctuated in size and distorted like a bad signal. Blink, blink. The irregularly flickering numbers disappeared, and new letters urgently appeared.
「Adrian is trying to manifest his world in your world.」
「Quickly stop Adrian's madness」
「Merging two different worlds will cause great chaos. Save the world with your sense of justice!」
It seemed so urgent that the first message, filled with genuine intentions, was quickly erased and a more proper second message appeared.
「A hidden quest has been unlocked.」
「Hidden Quest – Prevent Dimensional Chaos
Grade: S
Feature: Must be cleared as quickly as possible」
"What? What's this?"
「Feature: Must be cleared as quickly as possible」
As I was dazed by the sudden situation, the last line of text grew huge and came right up to my face.
Manifest... So, does that mean Adrian's world and mine will merge? The Palzgraff mansion next to Seoul Station, and a village next to Myeongdong? Seoul Special City, Palzgraff?
Oh my god, what is Adrian doing? I didn't think he'd stay still forever, but I didn't expect him to act this quickly. And I certainly didn't expect him to do something as grand as overlaying one world onto another.
「Feature: Must! Be! Cleared! As quickly as possible」
As I remained lost in thought, the system enlarged the text to a size I couldn't ignore.
Wow, it sure is pushing. If it had hands, it would have shoved me by now. Even without thinking much, I could tell Adrian's actions were nonsensical, and that it would cause great chaos between the two worlds.
"Why should I clear this? Isn't it actually a good thing for me? If the two worlds merge, I can live with Adrian without ever being separated."
「Merging two different worlds will cause great chaos. Save the world with your sense of justice!」
"I don't have a sense of justice. You made me commit murder, and now you're talking about justice?"
Just then, a sound like a mountain collapsing could be heard from far away. It seemed that Adrian's actions were so large-scale that they were affecting this place too. The system, seemingly flustered by my indifferent response, erased the message and put up a new one.
「Your loved ones are...」
"Not really. I have no family in Korea, and no one waiting for me."
「The two worlds might collapse if left unchecked. Save the world now!」
"Why should I care when I just broke up with my first love? If everything is going to collapse, let it. It won't be as unfair if everyone goes down together. Yeah, let everything collapse."
「;;;;」
"What is this hidden quest? Do you think players will just do it because you label it a quest? Even with rewards, I'd still think twice, but you expect me to do it without any reward just for justice? Is this even a game?"
「Reward: ?」
"Forget it!" I said, lying down on the floor, and the system quickly added a reward notice in front of me.
Good, now we're talking. How honest and nice it is to communicate with the user?
"A game in this day and age without pre-stated rewards? Last time you showed a hidden dungeon or whatever with question marks as the reward, and after all that hard work, it was nothing special. You expect me to risk my life for a quest with unknown rewards again? No way, forget it."
「Reward: Mythical Dress Set」
My indifferent hand wave made the system erase the question marks and offer a new reward quickly.
Mythical Dress? Not just one piece but a set! I didn't expect them to come out this strong from the start. How much would that sell for? My capitalist brain quickly started calculating, but I regained my reason quickly.
"For a quest to save the world, you offer mere cloth? How much does a dress cost anyway? If I go back to Korea, there'll be no use for any items. What kind of game offers trash as a reward?"
Clicking my tongue and pointing my finger, the system erased the message again. It seemed to be contemplating seriously, as it took more time than before.
「Reward: Mythical Dress Set」
「Reward: 」
「Reward: Server Selection Ticket」
"What is a server selection ticket? Don't be vague, give me a proper explanation."
「Reward: Server Selection Ticket (Allows login to either Adrian's world or your world)」
That's more like it. Considering they dragged me into the game and ended it at their whim, a choice ticket is the least they could offer. I was about to accept right away but hesitated. My capitalist brain whispered that I might be able to squeeze more out of them.
"I'll take it, and the Mythical Dress Set too. Since 0 enhancement items are useless, give me the guaranteed enhancement materials for +10."
「Reward: Server Selection Ticket + Mythical Dress Set + Guaranteed +10 Enhancement Materials」
They agreed without hesitation. They must know I'm the only answer.
"I'll take it and add 10 billion gold."
「…….」
"Think about all the money you've taken from me so far. If you add the compensation for the mental distress I've suffered and the legal interest, 10 billion is nothing."
Of course, that would never be the case, but bluffing is all I need. This time it took even longer, suggesting they were really pondering over it.
「Reward: Server Selection Ticket + Mythical Dress Set + Guaranteed +10 Enhancement Materials + 7 Billion Gold」
"Forget it, I'm not doing it."
「Reward: Server Selection Ticket + Mythical Dress Set + Guaranteed +10 Enhancement Materials + 10 Billion Gold」
"I'll take it, plus a permanent double EXP buff. Since I started the game, I should at least reach max level."
「No further rewards can be added.」
"Take it or leave it. Whether the world collapses or not is up to you. Do you think Adrian will listen to you if you try to stop him? Right?"
「Reward: Server Selection Ticket + Mythical Dress Set + Guaranteed +10 Enhancement Materials + 10 Billion Gold + Permanent Double EXP Buff」
「No more rewards can be added.」
「Extortion is no longer tolerated.」
Calling it extortion is unkind. Call it diplomacy.
I was planning to stop anyway, so the timing was perfect. As I made it clear that I usually wouldn't move for this much, the system remained silent, seemingly stunned. As soon as I got up, a message appeared.
「Re-logging into the game.」
「Loading resources... (1%)」
It must have been urgent, as the loading jumped quickly from 1% to 10%, 32%, and 51%. The sight of a maid's silhouette running across the loading bar was cute enough to be entertaining. 69%, 88%... Finally, as the loading bar filled to 100%, the screen lit up brightly.
As the light gradually dimmed and I took in the cold air, I realized I was back where I belonged.
The place I fell to upon re-login was the underground stone chamber where I had been before logging out. My eyes stung from the bright light, so it took a while before I could see clearly.
I need to find Adrian first. As soon as my vision cleared, I frantically looked around, but everything was the same except Adrian was nowhere to be seen. Did he go upstairs?
Rumble.
In an instant, an enormous roar shook the ground so violently it felt like the world was ending. Dust and sand trickled from the ceiling. This place is going to collapse; I need to get out of here fast. As I hurried towards the stairs, something caught my eye and stopped me in my tracks.
Harrison... lay there, dead from being hit by a stone. What should I do? If I leave him here, he'll be crushed when the stone chamber collapses.
After a brief moment of hesitation, I went back down the stairs, picked him up, and headed towards the surface. Though he had been a villain who tried to kill Adrian and me, Sergeant Jeffrey would probably want to find his body. Besides, I didn't want to witness the grotesque sight of someone I knew being completely crushed. It was relatively easy to carry him since rigor mortis hadn't set in yet, but his weight felt like it was dragging me down to the ground, and the coldness that didn't seem human sent a shiver down my spine.
“What... what is this?”
As I struggled up the stairs and laid Harrison down, I could see the ominously dark sky, just like in the stone chamber. The ground and sky were dominated by vibrations that shook my spine to my heels. When I looked up at the swirling black vortex, an even more astonishing sight came into view.
A cityscape, like what you'd see from an airplane, was hanging upside down in the sky, getting closer and closer. The wind roared so fiercely it hurt my ears, and the city descended slowly. It seemed like it would collide with this village any moment now.
Wow... This is the most fantastical thing I've seen since entering the game. The scale was so massive it felt unreal. So that's the world I used to live in. Without the system's explanation, I would have stared at it for a long time, wondering what it was. There was a reason the system warned me so vehemently to stop it.
The massive storm surged. Adrian stood alone before it.
“Adrian!”
I wanted to run to him and hug him immediately, but he was floating too high to reach. His gaze, turning slowly, was blurry. The eyes that always shone brightly were now dull, like watered-down ink. This isn't a good sign.
“Adrian, I'm here! Aren't you glad to see me? Come down here and let's talk!”
“...”
“Adrian, Adrian! Can you hear me?”
I waved my arms wildly and jumped up and down, but Adrian just stared, showing no particular emotion.
“Stop that right now and listen to me!”
“Hilda... you're back.”
“Yes! I'm back! Now stop that and come down here!”
“No, no, Hilda. I can't stop this.”
Though he recognized my return, Adrian shook his head firmly. Oh no, I could hear the sound of my hefty reward flying away.
“Why? Why can't you stop it?”
“The pain of losing you once was enough. If I do this, I'll never have to fear losing you again. If I miss this chance, there won't be another.”
“No! That's not it! I'll explain, just stop and come down here first!”
“It’s my fault for not following. It’s my fault...”
This is bad. It seems Adrian has lost his mind again, likely because we had been separated once before. My words might have spurred him on, as the black smoke engulfed the sky like a nightmare, and the speed of the world's merging began to accelerate. How could this be? Instead of completing the quest, I might have just hastened the world's end!
“I’m here! I came back so quickly! Adrian! Aren’t you coming down to see me?”
“Because I couldn’t follow, you...”
“No! It’s not your fault! Just look at me once more! Do I still seem to have any external power on me? Do I still look like I’ll disappear alone again?”
“...”
My desperate shout seemed to reach him as Adrian's gaze lowered again. His eyes trembled like ripples on water. The pain, like flesh being torn apart, poured out. I felt a lump in my throat and my stomach churned at the sight caused by my own choice.
“Please, just believe me this once. This time I promise. I won't disappear, and even if I do, I'll come back just like now!”
“...”
“I’ve never broken a promise, have I?”
I hoped my eyes shone with the same firm resolve as before, even stronger now. I wanted to show an unwavering trust that he couldn’t ignore and make him hold my hand again.
“Please, come here.”
I cautiously extended my arms as if talking to a wounded baby animal. From afar, I could see his blue eyes faintly rippling. He was always like this. Cruelly weak, seemingly resolute but never harsh. I hoped he’d be like that now too, believing in my choice just one more time, making my heart burn with anxiety.
“Please, Adrian...”
“...”
Rumble... The ground-shaking vibration slowly subsided, and the descending sky stopped. The cityscape, which had been reflecting like a mirror, became transparent as if dissolving in water, and soon the sky returned to its original color. And Adrian, who had come before me at some point.
“Hilda.”
His head gently drooped onto my shoulder. His breath trembled faintly.
“Hilda... is it really you? Have you really returned?”
“Yes, it’s really me. It’s truly me. So... please stop trembling.”
“It’s really you...”
Tears fell uncontrollably. His cold hands, devoid of any warmth, traced my arm as if confirming my presence.
After desperately sweeping, rubbing, and gripping my arm several times, he finally let out a ragged breath.
“When you disappeared, I... I thought I would die.”
“I’m sorry.”
All I could do was apologize. I’m sorry, I’m sorry. As I whispered repeatedly, his back heaved with great sobs.
“I almost went crazy.”
“You must have been shocked when I suddenly disappeared. I’m sorry.”
“I thought I’d never see you again, I...”
“I’m really sorry, truly... I’m sorry.”
「You have completed the Hidden Quest.」
「Quest completion rewards are being given.」
「The server selection option is being used.」
As I gently stroked his trembling back, a white text appeared over Adrian's shoulder. A small ticket icon popped up below it, splitting in half to indicate it had been used.
「Select a server.
Adrian’s World / Your World」
As the server selection option was automatically used, two choices lit up before me. Adrian’s world and the world I originally lived in.
Faced with the moment of choice, I thought I might hesitate even a little, but this time, there was no hesitation. I clung to Adrian’s back with both hands and widened my tear-filled eyes.
You already know my choice.
「You have chosen ‘Adrian’s World’.」
Even though I didn’t explicitly press anything, my world was cleanly erased, leaving only Adrian’s world. This world, which I had entered unwillingly and always wanted to escape from, was now a place I chose to stay. Strangely, I felt no regret.
「Your game will continue.」
A notification signaling the end of everything appeared and then vanished. The scenery that came into view without the notifications blocking my sight was surprisingly beautiful.
The clean sky as if a storm had passed, the quiet village streets. Curtains fluttering through open windows. The sound of leaves rustling in the refreshing breeze. And the warmth clinging to me, as if afraid of disappearing again.
In this new reality, I hugged my beloved as tightly as I could.
I intended to hug him tightly, but a system alarm blared loudly, turning my vision red.
「Your HP is 1.」
「Your natural recovery rate is low. Increase your natural recovery rate to restore HP quickly.」
“Hilda... are you really here with me, truly?”
“Wait! Wait, wait! No, no! Stop!”
I desperately stopped Adrian, who was sobbing pitifully and trying to hug me. If the alarm hadn’t gone off, I might have missed it. Right, I only had 1 HP left.
If I hugged Adrian now, I would die. Hugging him tightly in my emotional state would trigger a critical hit. I’d end up following Harrison, who died from a stone. Stay calm. Stay calm... I need to recover my HP first.
Should I buy a health potion? The potions should be available at the general store, right? If I buy ten high-grade potions and chug them, I should be able to avoid immediate death.
「Due to the Holy Water penalty, health potions have no effect.」
What! No effect from potions? The only thing left is equipment. I need to go to the equipment store and get the highest-grade gear.
Step by step, carefully. I had to think of the whole world as my enemy now. At this moment, I was weaker than a passing mosquito (HP: 10/10), so I needed to be cautious not to touch a single leaf.
“Hild...a? Where are you suddenly going?”
If I touched anyone, I would die. If I even brushed against them, I would die. Moving step by step as if running a 100-meter dash without extinguishing a candle, Adrian asked, still teary, as he followed.
Oh right, I hadn’t explained anything to Adrian.
“I have some circumstances, but I can’t explain now, so please don’t touch me and just follow.”
“Why. Why are you doing this?”
“Ugh, I’ll explain later.”
In this situation where even the wind brushing against me was dangerous, I had no time to
explain why my HP was so low. The sight of me walking cautiously, worried about tripping over a stone, followed by a puzzled Adrian, was quite a spectacle.
After a long and arduous walk, I finally arrived at the armor shop. The various types of armor and shields hanging on the walls greeted me reassuringly. There had to be something among them that could save my life.
"Welcome, customer. Please take your time and look around."
"Chain Armor - 200G, made from interlinked metal wires, easy to move in. Increases natural recovery rate by 2x, specialized for survival."
Double the natural recovery rate! Specialized for survival! This was exactly the equipment I was looking for. Desperate, I quickly shouted, "I'll take it!" to the merchant and brought the chain armor. Of course, I had to be very careful while putting it on to avoid getting scratched or hit critically by the metal wires, which could lead to an untimely death.
"Chain Armor effect: Doubles natural recovery rate. Natural recovery rate: 0.1/sec → 0.2/sec."
"Natural recovery rate is low. Increase natural recovery rate to restore HP quickly."
Oh no. My natural recovery rate was only 0.1? Even doubling it only made it 0.2? Wearing the armor made no difference! Even if I waited all day, my HP wouldn't be half restored.
Forget increasing the natural recovery rate. I had to raise my critical resistance or defense to avoid critical hits.
"Hilda... are you feeling unwell? Can I help you?"
"No, it's fine! Sorry, but please don't touch me right now!"
"..."
Adrian looked bewildered as I tried to take off the chain armor again, but he waited patiently, probably still moved by our reunion. It took another 20 minutes to carefully remove the armor and lay it on the ground. I should give Adrian a reward for his patience later. Now, where can I find armor with a defense option?
"Plate Armor - 300G, made by the best blacksmith in the village from steel plates. Boasts the best defense. Increases defense by 600. Plate Boots - 200G, made by the best blacksmith in the village from steel plates. Boasts the best defense. Increases natural recovery rate by 300."
This is it! This is exactly what I was looking for!
Once again, I handed the merchant my money and began to struggle into the plate armor. I also bought the plate boots. I should have bought this from the start instead of wasting 200 gold on chain armor.
"Plate Armor effect: Increases defense by 600. Defense: 312 → 912. Plate Boots effect: Increases natural recovery rate by 300. Natural recovery rate: 0.1/sec → 300.2/sec."
"HP is recovering. You are no longer in a critical condition."
After another 20 minutes of putting on the plate armor and boots, my HP, which was flickering red at 1, began to slowly fill. 1, 301, 601, 901... Thankfully, it was full soon. Phew. Though the armor was effective, the clanking of the steel plates was annoying, and it restricted my arm movements.
"Hilda, where are you going now?"
"The alley! Just follow me quietly."
I waddled out of the shop and into the alley, then spun around to face Adrian. I patted the chest part of the armor and shouted at him.
"Adrian, come here and hug me!"
"..."
Now that I was fully armored, I wouldn't die from a hug!
Spreading my arms wide to invite him, Adrian stood still, staring at me for a few seconds. After gauging the best way to hug me, who now resembled an ice hockey player, he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close. Oh, a textbook hug. The clanging sound of steel plates colliding was annoying, but Adrian didn't care.
"Critical Hit! -200"
He hugged me so tightly that it triggered a critical hit. See, see? I'm glad I bought the plate armor and boots. With increased defense, I didn't have to worry about minor injuries, and thanks to the boots, my HP quickly recovered.
"When you disappeared, I... I thought I was going to die."
Just as I was feeling pleased with my purchase, his trembling voice brought me back to reality. It seemed he wanted to finish our previous conversation. Feeling sympathetic, I placed my hand on his neck and gently patted it.
"I'm sorry."
"I almost went crazy."
"You must have been shocked when I suddenly disappeared. I'm sorry."
"I thought I was trapped in an inescapable nightmare."
"I'm sorry..."
He was trembling as if he were extremely cold. The sadness overwhelmed me too, just from listening to him.
"I thought that was the end for us... that we were really going to part ways. That I couldn't do anything..."
"..."
"I could have stopped you from going. I could have, but I couldn't bring myself to do it..."
"Adrian."
"I let you go."
Buried in deep despair, he sobbed. I had worried he might resent me and feel abandoned, but that wasn't the case. Adrian blamed himself for not being able to follow me, hating and reproaching himself. It was heartbreaking.
"You know, I always tell you to believe in me? But honestly, sometimes I lose confidence too. I wander, feeling helpless."
"..."
"This time was like that. I was blocked by a huge wall I couldn't overcome, and I almost couldn't come back. I wanted to see you so badly, but I couldn't. It made me sad, angry, and... scared. I thought I might never see you again."
As I gently cupped his cheeks, his head, which had been resting limply on my shoulder, lifted. Even after being apart for a short while, his face was filled with longing. His tears soaked into my palms. His blue eyes were as beautiful as waves crashing.
The joy and happiness of reuniting are always greater than the sorrow of parting. At least, that was true for me, so I smiled at him. I might never be as pretty as Adrian, but I hoped my smile conveyed all the happiness I felt.
"But this time, it was different. Even though it was pitch dark, suddenly a path opened up. I just walked along that path."
"..."
"Thank you. For calling me so earnestly."
As I continued speaking brightly, Adrian's hand slowly traced down my face. His eyes, heated and starving for affection, followed his hand. From my forehead, down my nose, over my tear-soaked eyelids, my slightly flushed cheeks, and finally to my lips. His hand lingered on my lips, as if doubting this was a tangible illusion.
"...Hilda, may I kiss you?"
"If you don't, I was going to."
"Oh no, I want the kiss you're going to give me too."
"I'll give you so many kisses from now on that you'll get sick of them, so..."
Our lips met and then merged. When I extended my tongue first, he eagerly devoured it. The kiss was as rough as his desperation. He sucked on my tongue so hard it ached, and inhaled my breaths.
Supporting my neck as I leaned back, he delved deeper, deeper. Maybe because of our tears, the kiss tasted salty, but it felt sweet.
Our bodies heated up, and our mingled gasps didn't belong to either of us but blended and dispersed. His hot hands stroked my legs, heating my desire. When his tongue swept across my palate, I clutched his waist. He laughed contentedly and then pressed harder, hungrier.
With my back against the wall, trying to catch my breath, Adrian followed and kissed me again. His hands stroked and caressed my legs, waist, and neck with a burning passion, more to confirm my presence than to excite me. Several times he tried to remove the clanging armor, only to get lost in the kiss again.
Take me, touch me hotly. Let me go deeper. Let us meld together until we can't tell if you're me or I'm you...
His hot breath teased my ears.
This kiss would take a long time to end.
I'm crying because it's over. I want more. I can't live without them😭💔
Thank you so much! I’m crying 😭 I love them
Thank u smmmm!!! (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)
They’re so sweet! I’m so happy that they r finally 100% together
You’re an angel!