Chapter 11
Seduce him…?
Me, who’s never seduced a guy in my life, never even dated—how the hell am I supposed to pull that off?
I couldn’t even guess why his favorability had gone up.
It couldn’t be just from a simple compliment; no way a bloodless, tearless demon would get moved by something so trivial.
And we’re talking about a demon here? The same one who’s killed me over and over?
I just couldn’t believe it.
So, I had to test it. See if it really rose from a single conversation—or not.
If words alone did it, or if it was a buildup finally bursting out.
“Holloway, don’t leave my side. I’ll protect you no matter what. Got it?”
“Yes, Sis.”
And I gripped his hand tight. At the same time, a window popped up.
Favorability increased by 0.5%.
Favorability: 2.5%
Words and actions!
Compared to that initial 0.1%, a 0.5% jump—looks like the longer you talk and get to know him, the bigger the boosts get.
So, if I just keep cranking up this favorability, maybe I can get out of here quick?
Rooms unlocking, and if I snag the final boss’s affection on top, dodge the death routes…
‘Total win!’
In that case, no need to shake off Holloway while his favor toward me is on the rise.
Just toss out some sweet nothings like this, add a touch, and it’ll stack up bit by bit.
Like I said, in a horror game, the escape gate’s never gonna be in some easy spot.
Gut feeling says it’s in one of those locked rooms—or the basement.
No, I’m sure of it.
Judging by the system’s vibe, it’s not letting me out easy.
But was Holloway’s favorability always this… doable?
Sure, compared to other games, it’s barely a blip, but the fact a final boss even has favorability is wild.
After that first 0.1%, it’s been climbing pretty smooth.
Hugging him early on must’ve kicked it off easy.
The second I hugged him, his favorability—something I figured didn’t exist for a final boss—unlocked.
Did he react to human warmth because I held him tight?
Come to think of it, in the game’s early parts, no one ever hugged Holloway.
Held hands, sure, but…
So, I got lucky!
Now that it’s unlocked by chance, no way I’m wasting it.
“…lyn. Miss Evelyn!”
“Ah.”
Lost in excitement, I’d zoned out without realizing, snapped back by Moran’s voice.
She peered at my face, asking with concern.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good.”
“…What? Good? In this situation?”
Nearby, the monster was still smashing doors, the noise booming loud.
The approaching sounds were right up to our cabin door now.
We all held our breath at once.
The tagger’s ragged breathing cut clear into our ears, even hidden in the wardrobe.
Click, clackclackclackclack!
The teeth-chattering racket blared, followed by a massive crash as the door flew off, stinging our eardrums.
Moran and I clamped our ears shut on reflex.
Crash!
Thudthud, thud…
Debris rained down, gray dust seeping through the wardrobe cracks.
Careful not to make a sound, I shifted to peek through the slit.
In the ashen haze, the tagger’s form slowly emerged.
It looked just as grotesque as the first monster I’d seen.
Huge head on a tiny body—like a child’s.
Short hair shrouded its face, and no mouth.
No mouth, but it talks…
What the hell was that clackclackclack? Where’d it come from…!
Waddling in, the tagger scanned the room, cocking its head side to side.
—I saw hair!
—Saw it, but where?
Muttering to itself, it grabbed the bed and hurled it effortlessly at the ceiling.
The chandelier up there shattered miserably against it, plummeting down.
Who checks for people like that? So brutal.
Wish I could scold it like Moran did me for being a rude ghost or something.
But Moran was shaking, hands clamped over her mouth.
Confirming nothing under the bed, the tagger tilted its body left and right.
—Nothing! Nothing under bed!
…Which leaves only here.
Its neck started twisting 360 degrees.
The freakish display almost brought tears of awe to my eyes.
=͟͟͞͞ =͟͟͞͞ ﾍ( ´Д`)ﾉDanger!!
=͟͟͞͞ =͟͟͞͞ ﾍ( ´Д`)ﾉDanger!!
At this rate, you’ll die soon!
Yeah, no shit.
Only after seeing the monster did I realize how dumb my plan was—wait for the wardrobe to open, then bolt.
‘Can I outrun that brute strength?’
It might not be agile, so maybe.
I’m having a pretty nimble day, unlike that thing.
But it’d probably smash my whole day to bits with raw power.
Even spinning positives, negatives kept popping up to block them.
Think hard.
Can’t die this early.
Use Holloway as bait? Then die after?
Nah, scrap that…
Hands clasped tight, eyes glued to the monster.
Racking my brain for the best shot when Holloway punched my knee.
“…Ow.”
That hurt.
“You didn’t answer when I called.”
“When’d you call?”
“I kept calling.”
“In your head?”
“You got time for pointless arguments?”
Well…
For starters, it’d be nice if you at least pretended to hide your identity.
“Sis, you hate losing, huh?”
“Better to win if you can.”
“That’s just like me!”
Holloway found a commonality with you.
But you feel nothing special.
(―‸―,)(―‸―,)(―‸―,)(―‸―,)(―‸―,)
Talk about rubbing it in…
I blocked Holloway as he went to smack my knee again, looking at him.
“Sis, what do we do?”
“Don’t ask me…”
Then I whispered to him softly.
“But did Pridel die? I didn’t see.”
Gotta ask sometime, or he’ll wonder why I didn’t suspect.
“Yeah. I looked away for a sec, and the monster…”
Good, that’s enough.
I nodded gravely.
You must disrupt the tagger.
Disrupt…?
Unease crept up at the system’s sensible window.
Haven’t seen it work right since getting here.
To disrupt, choose and complete one of three options. Pick to fill the gauge.
…Please, please.
Options not up yet, but some nasty vibe had me clasping hands, praying.
Then the window appeared.
- Dance passionately.
₍₍ (ว ˘ω˘ )ง ⁾⁾
Screwed from the first one.
Dance in this state?
Far as I know, The Child’s Secret is a super gory horror game—how’d it turn into this?
If it’s ’cause of the nuisance protag, shouldn’t the options lean that way…?
Is Evelyn the type to die of shame? Is that why?
- Win rock-paper-scissors against Moran 10 times.
१✌˚◡˚✌५
…What if Moran refuses?
In this mess, she’d probably chew me out for not reading the room.
Somehow I’ve ended up in the spot to get scolded by her, but even I hate getting lectured.
Don’t wanna be that oblivious idiot either.
- Dodge the tagger’s attacks 5 times.
|д･)
Dodge that tagger’s attacks? The one flinging beds one-handed? Me?
If you don’t choose in time, the wardrobe door opens.
Aah, aaaah!
Still, 2 seemed least bad—I raised my finger to pick it.
“Miss Evelyn! What do we do!”
Suddenly Moran grabbed and shook me—my finger jabbed 1 instead of 2.
“Huh?”
No, no way!
Cancel, cancel! I meant 2!
Frantic, I tapped 2 repeatedly before the window vanished.
But fate’s a bitch.
It faded smoothly, like job done, and popped a new one.
Ding!
Option 1 ‘Dance passionately.₍₍ (ว ˘ω˘ )ง ⁾⁾’ selected!
“Moraaaaan!”
How could you do this to me!
I called her out hard; she flinched and clamped my mouth shut.
“Mmph! Mmph!”
“Quiet, Miss Evelyn! What are you…”
Then she eyed my face seriously.
“Why’s your face like that…”
Did you just call out my expression?
That’s when it hit.
The window, dead set on no despair time, lit up the gauge with glee.
Gauge □□□□□□□□□□
Dance passionately to fill it all!
When full, the tagger leaves for elsewhere.
1-minute limit. Fail, and you’re caught.
No time to brood. I stood up.
Thank god the wardrobe was huge.
Room left even with two adults and a kid inside—what luck.
Didn’t even shake when I shot up. This comfort.
Like it was made for my dance; I wanted to flail in a sea of gratitude.
No choice. Gotta dance to live.
I’m the type with zero regrets about clinging to life.
But will dancing really make the monster vanish? What’s the connection?
Whatever—let’s go!
I wanna live. Desperately.
My sudden rise drew puzzled stares from Holloway and Moran.
I looked at them, pleading earnestly.
“Keep your eyes shut till I say open. You too, Holloway.”
That way, less embarrassing for me.
Hoped they’d just do it without questions—but nope, like they’d befriended some contrary frog; they ignored.
“No way. What’re you up to?”
“Me neither, Sis.”
Fine, watch then, fuck!
I started moving my body slowly.
