2. The Kind Heroine in the Horror Game
Chapter 9
Gripping Holloway’s hand—a veritable time bomb—I cautiously wandered in search of an escape route.
My soles throbbed, but I deliberately avoided looking for slippers.
They’d only slip off while fleeing monsters anyway, so I roamed barefoot.
Speed was crucial here.
“Sis, what exactly are you looking for?”
“Just… Maybe clues to get out of here. And find the others along the way.”
I couldn’t reveal it was a game, and he wasn’t a demon I’d trust with that anyway.
It had to stay secret, but my current actions only made me seem suspicious to Holloway, leaving me in a bind—unable to do this or that.
I’d fudged an excuse, but Holloway seemed to buy it.
No Danger Gauge increase window popped up. A relief, for now.
“Why the others…”
Before Holloway could finish, a soft voice echoed.
“M-Miss Evelyn?”
Click.
The door opened, revealing none other than Moran.
Her utterly disheveled appearance plainly showed she’d barely escaped the monster.
“Moran.”
At my call of her name, she burst into tears and flung herself into my arms.
I released Holloway’s hand and patted her back.
That soothing seemed to melt her tension, as she hugged me even tighter.
“Miss Evelyn! I-I was so scared…!”
A window appeared behind the sobbing Moran.
‘Moran Eleanor’ has joined. Gathering companions (1/2)
Great. By chance, but I’d gathered one.
“Shh. It’s okay.”
For now, I led Moran into the room.
With the tagger around, staying in a room wasn’t ideal, but no nearby noises suggested it was far off.
I sat the still-trembling Moran on the sofa and asked for details.
“Moran, what happened?”
“W-well…”
Moran clutched my hands tightly, refusing to let go, her body quivering.
Her pitiful crying stirred an unexpected urge in me to protect her.
*‘Is this the heroine’s power?’*
In the game, Moran’s popularity had soared sky-high.
Her beauty went without saying, and even trembling in fear, she’d step up to protect everyone.
Of course, she’d embrace even the frustrating characters, leading to late-game complaints that Moran herself was frustrating and irritating.
But Moran, who embraced them, wasn’t at fault…
Holloway, seated beside me, glanced at Moran before looking away.
Did she look pretty to him too?
If so, a favorability window would’ve appeared in the game at least once?
Maybe since she wasn’t prettier than him, favorability didn’t rise for beauty.
“We tried opening the exit door, but like you said, Miss Evelyn, it wouldn’t budge. Then suddenly a monster appeared… Sir Werner and Lord Cleta tried protecting me and…”
“They died?”
My question made Moran gasp and wave her hands frantically.
“Wh-what? N-no! They got separated!”
Then why trail off…
“No one died, right?”
“When we separated, everyone was alive…”
I calmed Moran as she sniffled and wiped her tears.
“So you’ve been on the third floor the whole time?”
“No. I just came up. I heard voices and hid quickly, but luckily it was you, Miss Evelyn!”
Saying how fortunate, she hugged me once more.
I quietly pondered in her embrace.
If she’d just ascended, the game system applied only to me.
I couldn’t go up or down, but Moran casually reached the third floor—meaning I alone was trapped.
Why me, of all people!
The silver lining was no emergence of those maddening early choice windows.
They popped in absurd situations, but please, stay away.
Afraid another frustrating window might appear, I soothed the still-dazed Moran.
“Let’s find the others first.”
I said that since I couldn’t mention evading the tagger to find the escape.
But Holloway, displeased, tugged my sleeve.
“Sis, do you like crowds? Isn’t this woman enough?”
This woman…?
Did he even intend to hide his identity?
In the game, he’d say things revealing himself, but his ‘child’ appearance deflected suspicion.
People brushed it off as just a kid.
In this world, adults had no reason to mimic children, and no developed magic or tech for it.
Demons were different, but not common sights.
Summoning circles for demons required substantial sacrifices anyway.
No one had that capability.
From what I knew, game Holloway was a demon from the start, living on this island forever.
Nothing known about the island or hotel.
Except the game’s initial window.
“More people mean better survival odds.”
“But we saw that man. Tried using you as bait. What if this woman does too?”
Holloway… Starting to sow discord already?
“Huh? Sis! I trust you—you protected me in that crisis—but not this woman. Let’s not go with her. I’m uneasy, okay?”
…Hey, you’re the most uneasy one to me.
“What are you saying, Holloway?”
Moran looked a bit startled but soon smiled, crouching to eye level with him.
In the game, Moran cared most for Holloway.
Her compassionate nature kept the child close, pampering him.
Yet one bad ending had Holloway personally beheading Moran with a sword.
In that gruesome illustration, Holloway showed no pity for her death.
He was simply vacant.
All an act, so natural, but in every bad ending illustration, Holloway’s face betrayed no emotion.
“I’d never betray. I don’t know that man, but I wouldn’t, Holloway.”
Pushing Moran aside, Holloway gripped my hand tight.
I tried slipping free quietly, but this small child’s strength was astonishing.
It wouldn’t budge!
Moran, hurt, sat back and looked up at me.
“Wh-what did Holloway…”
“He’s a child. Probably just scared.”
“Who’s that man? Who’d make him distrust this much?”
“Ah…”
Should I say or not.
As repeated, Moran was the heroine who’d drag along even those endangering the group.
Including me, anyway.
Her goodness disliked deaths, regardless of reason.
Even if unavoidable.
As I hesitated, Holloway spilled it all.
“The khaki-haired man came up and tried using me as bait! Sis saved me, and he became the target and died.”
As hotel owner, he knew Pridel died.
But really no intent to hide in front of me…
I’m supposed to not know that now.
“You’d do the same!”
You?
Fresh.
“I wouldn’t! Especially using a child as bait…!”
Outraged and teary, Moran’s actions suddenly halted.
Then her eyes widened, staring at me.
“You mean Pridel?”
“Y-yes. That…”
As I tried explaining, Moran covered her mouth, shocked.
Tearing up, she cried out.
“You left him to die? Miss Evelyn, how could you…”
Wait, I feel like a total villain now.
“Was there really no way to save Pridel? Even if he shoved Holloway, how could you ignore someone we’ve been with?”
Frowning at her rebuke, I couldn’t help it.
“I absolutely couldn’t…”
Knowing kind Moran well.
This line, slightly altered, was what she’d said in the game when Pridel barely survived using someone as bait.
Yet I knew she couldn’t abandon him, dragging him along.
Such righteousness made the world barely livable.
But enduring blame like this—I wasn’t that gracious.
“So you’re saying I should’ve died instead of the man who tried killing me and Holloway?”
Normally, others would’ve sided with Moran, but here, no one would.
Moreover, Holloway and I were the near-victims.
Yet worrying about Pridel over us, scolding as if I’d killed him—didn’t endear her.
In the game, hearing her say that to Pridel felt fine, but directed at me, it soured.
Surprised by my retort, Moran’s face showed shock.
Indeed, pre-past memories me was demure and quiet; here, I’d whined but never rebutted.
Licking her lips briefly, Moran calmed her excitement a bit.
Then, holding my hands tight, she gently persuaded.
“Miss Evelyn, that’s not what I mean. Anyway, a person died.”
“Saving him would’ve killed me. That’s what you’re wishing, right?”
“No, no! Why twist my words?”
Because I’m already offended!
My image with the group wasn’t great anyway, so I pressed Moran unreservedly.
“You made it twistable. How’d you feel if I said the same to you?”
“I’d realize my fault and apologize.”
What now?
Seeing her saintly side, I realized.
This way, Moran and I’d constantly clash.
I’d be the frustrated, irritated one.
Others would side with her.
For the sub quest, better Cynthia or Werner.
They were moderately selfish, striving to survive without baiting others.
Instead, they’d repay touches exactly.
Cynthia’s jealousy made her unpredictable, but without her, she judged situations coolly.
Gather two companions: Cynthia and Werner.
Werner disliked me but hadn’t abandoned me, bringing me here—showing strong responsibility.
I’d part after the quest.
“No choice then. Moran.”
“…What?”
Leaving someone to die wasn’t praiseworthy, but in this situation, I had no other option.
I had to preserve my life, at least.
Plus, the final boss was beside me.
“Moran and I don’t match. I can’t guarantee no repeats. Don’t want nagging each time.”
Moran scolded like I was an immature child.
“Miss Evelyn, I’m not blaming. But you’ve badly influenced young Holloway already. Leaving someone to die and fleeing before a child. That’s your wrong.”
If he were a real kid, would I expose him to it all…?
Of course, Moran didn’t know, so she said that.
“Sis.”
Holloway’s irritated voice reached my ears.
As I inhaled deeply, exhaled, and opened my mouth.
Holloway wants to kill Moran.
Moran says Pridel’s death is your fault.
I could see that…
The pop-up explaining the obvious left me stunned, then chilled my spine.
Wait, no way…
The situation turns bad.
➤What should someone like you say?
Ah, no…
No, no!
But I couldn’t block the emerged window.
I prayed for non-idiotic options.
But didn’t I know?
This game system hated me.
1. That’s who I am! (Pound chest boldly!)
2. Then next time, I’ll fairly abandon Holloway and run. Forgive then? (With the world’s gentlest face.)
3. Holloway! You’ll just stand there while I hear this? You wretched child! (With a face worse than a goblin.)
Gazing at the disastrously awful options, I muttered vacantly.
“…No option to not choose?”
