Strategy Guide for a Merry Bad Ending

“But it’s dangerous for only you and the slave to remain…”

The soldiers exclaimed urgently, and Dia furrowed her brows, seemingly annoyed. At this point, there was no one in the palace she could trust. The physician might also be a spy planted by Ahotep.

In the end, after a silent battle of gazes with Dia, the defeated physician and soldiers stealthily withdrew.

Once the door closed, Dia began inspecting the vials. She had to check each one carefully before giving them to the slave to consume.

“Sigh…”

A sigh escaped her lips. It felt like just yesterday the tutorial had ended, yet Dia had already died four times.

Was this game really a dating simulation, or was it just a horror game designed to scare players? She was starting to get confused.

Dia took another deep breath. But then, she heard a whimper from the slave lying down.

“D… don’t…”

Dia forgot to breathe and immediately rushed to the slave. Kneeling in front of him, she checked the bandages covering his wounds. There didn’t seem to be any problems, but…

“Run…”

The slave repeated the word repeatedly. His voice was small and faint, but eventually, a complete sentence formed.

“Run… away…”

Run away…

Dia’s lips darkened. She had known.

Dia wiped the sweat from the slave’s forehead. Despite being drenched in sweat, he didn’t look dirty.

The slave knew what would happen at the arena. That’s why he had told her to run when she turned away from him.

Dia whispered softly to him, accepting the guilt creeping up on her.

“It’s okay.”

With her words, the slave’s breathing gradually calmed. Dia gently held his hand, comforting him.

“You saved me.”

At that moment, the anxious look in the slave’s eyes softened. As if reassured by her words, he soon drifted off to sleep.

* * *

Tarek encountered the miseries he had experienced in his dream once again.

He refused to eat the meat served to him, leading to severe punishment from the caretaker. He was forced to eat the meat, but his body rejected it, resulting in him vomiting.

He remembered vividly the other caretaker’s insults and the derogatory words he had used.

‘Even though I got expensive aphrodisiacs to rape a woman!’

Tarek couldn’t understand everything the man said, but he knew for sure that the meat was drugged.

Tarek curled up in a corner. But as soon as his nerves calmed down, the angry caretaker grabbed Tarek by the neck and started to assault him indiscriminately.

Thump! Thump!

To make matters worse, the caretaker spat on Tarek’s face and asked, “Are you a new dog that understands commands?”

Tarek didn’t respond. If he reacted to the man’s words, he might reveal that he could understand Hittite.

The caretaker spat on Tarek’s unresponsive face.

The man thought. It didn’t matter if Tarek didn’t eat the meat. If he couldn’t be used for mating, he could be used to frighten women.

So the man took out a knife and ruthlessly scratched Tarek’s skin. It was a rough touch as if handling an animal, not a human.

When Tarek finally passed out, the man picked up a small hook from the corner. Soon, the hook was inserted into a shallow space where the knife had been.

“Save me…”

Tarek screamed from within the rotten cage. But there was no one to save him. In his weakened state, he couldn’t save himself, let alone the woman the caretaker talked about.

― It’s okay.

At that moment, a whisper from a woman echoed in his nightmare.

― I will save you.

She spoke gently, as if worried Tarek might wake up. She comforted him, a mere puppet desperate to die. The seemingly endless nightmare died away.

Her voice pulled him up from the depths of unconsciousness, allowing him to breathe in his consciousness.

Eventually, Tarek’s eyes opened. Darkness surrounded him. Luckily, he was always familiar with darkness.

“Ugh…”

His body felt heavy. Just moving his fingers slightly made him breathless. He felt a heavy pressure and dizziness, as if his center of gravity was shifting to the side.

He reached out with his hand to find water.

“Ah.”

But instead of a water bowl, his fingertips touched smooth skin.

Tarek immediately withdrew his hand out of fear. Was it a noble? Would they hit and intimidate him as usual?

“Ugh…”

He pressed his lower lip hard to hold back his tears. He didn’t want to get hit. He didn’t want to starve. He didn’t want to go to the arena and kill his comrades. But at the same time, he didn’t want to die.

If he had to kill someone to survive, he would do it willingly. If he could survive, he could use any cruel method.

Tarek raised his elbows to take a defensive posture. But the body covered with bandages didn’t move as he wished.

He wanted to shut his eyes tightly to avoid the torture. If he couldn’t see, it wouldn’t hurt. If he couldn’t see, it wouldn’t hurt as much…

Then, Dia, who had awakened with his touch, gently wrapped her fingers around his wrist.

“You’re awake.”

“Ugh…”

Tarek’s black face became even messier with tears. Dia, who had been watching, smiled softly. His ability to cry like that, though slow, was evidence of his recovery.

“Come closer.”

Dia cautiously pulled Tarek’s trembling hand. It was deep in the night. If she left him trembling like that, he might catch a cold.

“Ugh…”

But Tarek, without recognizing Dia’s face, continued to shed tears like chicken droppings. His swollen face made him look more pitiful than miserable.

Dia gently wiped away Tarek’s tears, ignoring his sudden change of attitude.

“It’s okay. The nobles who tormented you are not here.”

Tarek sniffed and sobbed, his sudden change in demeanor almost making Dia laugh. But instead, she hugged him gently, offering comfort.

“You survived.”

And Dia kissed his forehead.

“You’re brave.”

Tarek’s grip on her hand tightened. The slight distance between them, which was more like contact than a hug, narrowed.

Tarek pressed his nose close, taking in Dia’s scent, a faint fragrance that seemed to have emerged from tossing and turning just after waking from sleep.

A shiver ran down Tarek’s spine at the tender aroma, spreading throughout his body.

“Now, you should lie down again,” Dia gently pushed Tarek’s shoulders to calm him. As the distance between them increased, they caught each other’s gaze under the moonlight.

Tarek’s pupils trembled.

Dia, making Tarek’s spot flat again, glanced at him sideways. His small, round nose was cute, contrasting with his fair cheeks and plump lips, making him look mature yet childlike.

His black hair cascaded down to his collarbone, tempting Tarek to touch it. But he restrained himself, knowing his hands were tainted from killing countless comrades. He didn’t want to tarnish Dia’s purity.

Darkness enveloped them again. Tarek’s body leaned into the bed, and only the rustling of his movements filled the quiet space.

Dia gently patted Tarek’s chest to help him sleep. As if in response to her warm heart, Tarek closed his eyes.

Nightmares fled as if chased by the rhythmic patting.

* * *

The next morning, Dia summoned Rohard to the palace. Now that she knew he was a spy for Ahotep, she might be able to interrogate Ahotep using him.

Dia anticipated Rohard’s trembling at her actions. He knew what was happening in the arena, yet he didn’t advise her to recommend Idaelus Tugenshag.

However, contrary to Dia’s expectations, Rohard entered her room with a brazen face. He seemed calm and composed, as if he knew nothing.

“You called for me,” he said.

Dia was seething with anger but forced a smile. The only pawn she held was Rohard in front of her.

She needed Rohard to draw out Ahotep’s intentions.

So, Dia casually commanded Rohard as she passed him.

“Let’s go to the assembly hall. Lead the way.”

Rohard remained expressionless. Dia intentionally made loud footsteps as they left. Rohard followed silently.

The long silence continued until they reached the assembly hall.

“Rohard.”

Finally, when they reached the main gate of the assembly hall, Dia called him. Rohard paused behind Dia and responded.

“Please speak.”

“Where is the spokesperson’s office?”

“The leftmost room.”

Dia nodded and entered the assembly hall directly. The guards greeted them silently.

In fact, it was Dia’s first visit to the assembly hall. She never dreamed she would be involved in politics before the tutorial. But now the situation had changed.

She had returned from the tutorial as a successor candidate, and her enemy Ahotep was here.

Dia passed through the chilly central corridor and headed to Ahotep’s office. Unlike other doors she had seen, this one was made of ebony, solid and black.

Is that it? It suits Ahotep, Dia thought sarcastically before addressing Rohard.

“Open the door.”

“Do you intend to enter without permission?”

Rohard’s wooden question made Dia chuckle.

“I’m Meskenet.”

She lightly tapped Rohard’s shoulder with her finger and smiled silently.

“I don’t need anyone’s permission.”

Rohard was taken aback. Dia ignored his reaction, grabbed the door handle, and opened it.

Ahotep paused his work and looked straight at Dia. There was no visible disturbance in his expression. On the contrary, he maintained a calm and peaceful demeanor, almost unnaturally.

There was no doubt he had anticipated this visit. After all, he was the one who had been in the middle of that game arena.

He looked at Dia quietly before getting up leisurely and bowing slightly. The greeting seemed to border on arrogance.

Dia raised an eyebrow and spoke with an irritated tone.

“Were you waiting for me?”

“Did it seem that way?”

Dia’s sarcastic remark was met with Ahotep’s shameless acceptance. Dia snorted at the audacious response.

“Your attitude is different from last time.”

“Is it?”

Ahotep smiled lightly, dodging her sharp attack.

“My actions then, I apologize.”