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I belatedly felt a slight pain in my hand.
“…Ouch.”
Only then did I remember his character setting that strongly avoided contact with others.
‘-174’
[HP 826]
‘Did I really lose 174 HP in one blow?’
I wouldn’t die even if I get pummeled by monster mobs all day long, but I’m now taking nearly 200 damage from just being brushed off?!
This is truly an absurd game balance.
Furthermore, it couldn’t be anything but a ridiculously OP character scam because a portion of his power was still sealed at this point.
Feeling a bit unjust, I quickly equipped the glove item from my pocket to block any contact.
It was an item that most players would obtain after grinding through the quests of killing monsters. However, they usually ended up regretting it after selling it at the store.
“I’m sorry. I’ll make sure to wear gloves before coming in from now on… Sir.”
Since I can’t afford a game over just yet, I politely apologized, nodding my head.
I thought about what to call him, but I decided to go with something safe.
Because I knew exactly what happened to those early players who arrogantly called him a ‘sinner’ or ‘Lord of Nightmares’.
“…”
However, there was no response even after a while.
I slightly lifted my lowered head and saw a system window floating in the air.
「 [The Lord of Nightmares] is unable to move beyond its current state. 」
Looking back at Cassel, I noticed that the threatening gaze that seemed like it would tear me apart was gradually losing strength.
It seemed like he was exhausted, and the chains binding his limbs severely limited his power.
‘Did he use up all his remaining strength to threaten me a little while ago?’
I remembered an incident that could happen where the apothecary NPC, who was brought by the player, was injured.
‘There were even some cases where the apothecary’s wrist or arm was broken and a penalty was incurred…’
As someone who resided in the game as an NPC character from the starting point, I handled most of the complaints during this period.
Perhaps that’s why I remembered even the smallest details, despite not actually playing the game.
The protagonist of this game showed extreme aggression towards those who touched his body without permission.
Cassel Ludwig, who was brought here as a prisoner, was actually the Crown Prince of the Empire. He was cursed inexplicably since childhood.
He had nightmares where monsters killed humans and calamities and disasters endlessly occurred, plaguing the world until it burned to ashes.
His curse allowed the nightmares he dreamed of to be reproduced as reality.
The Emperor, nobles, and ministers worked together to lift the Crown Prince’s curse and protect the world.
One day, however, Cassel’s nightmares led to an advanced swarm of monsters attacking the Imperial Capital, leading to a massacre.
Since then, he had been called [The Lord of Nightmares] and treated as a sinner, subjected to various abuses and contempt.
Despite all that, he didn’t resent the people who mistreated him.
Not only that, he continued to strive until the very end to save the world from destruction.
‘…It’s a bit pitiful.’
Even though I already knew all this information, seeing the man lying there covered in wounds didn’t make me feel any better.
“Sir, can you come to your senses?”
「 [The Lord of Nightmares] is unable to move beyond its current state. 」
The ‘Disaster Prevention’ quest required the player and the Apothecary NPC to simultaneously accomplish several tasks.
I was worried about how it would progress since I was alone…
But there was no need to worry. Until he regained his strength, I had no choice but to feed him the potions directly.
‘That’s my pitiful fate as an NPC who is also a player.’
With a bitter feeling, I mumbled nonsense and carefully recalled the character settings of the protagonist.
Cassel had an extreme aversion to physical contact due to trauma from abuse and repeated self-harm.
In fact, receiving unfavorable impressions at this very first encounter was highly likely to lead to a game over.
For this reason, I agonized over this point more than any of the other quests in Count Hailey’s manor.
‘What did the players do when the apothecary NPC got hurt at this point?’
Dirty and familiar methods came to mind first.
A few overly immersed players who were infatuated with Cassel’s appearance fed him potions through kissing, but it immediately resulted in a game over.
「 [The Lord of Nightmares] is disgusted. 」
「 [The Lord of Nightmares] feels extreme revulsion. 」
「 [The Lord of Nightmares] feels a strong urge to kill you. 」
「 [The Lord of Nightmares] rises with superhuman strength and reaches for your neck… 」
Of course, anyone would be uncomfortable if a stranger suddenly tried to feed them a potion through a kiss.
But Cassel had an irritable personality, even for a main character.
Not only did he not show any mercy to his subordinates who used their abilities to serve him, but he also occasionally attacked players for reasons he found unsatisfactory.
‘It was quite thrilling when the protagonist lost all his companions and turned to darkness towards the end…’
Even if it brought about the world’s destruction.
Unlike the somewhat difficult Adam, who was simply hard to get close to, Cassel would immediately lead to a game over if he became annoyed. So I had to be careful, very careful.
While I wouldn’t die like the players since I was automatically summoned, I couldn’t reset.
This meant that I would get stuck in the game for four years with no way out.
On top of that, if the automatic summoning point, [Dover Village], were to disappear…
‘It’s terrifying!’
Shuddering at the ominous thought, I hastily took out a potion from my pocket.
“Sir, I’m sorry, but you must drink this potion under the Count’s orders.”
Considering his lofty pride first, I handed him the potion bottle so he could drink it himself.
Of course, I didn’t forget to avoid physical contact.
But…
Thunk, roll―
「 [The Lord of Nightmares] is unable to move beyond its current state. 」
It seemed that even holding onto something properly was really beyond his capabilities as the potion bottle rolled weakly.
“Unfortunately, it seems that you don’t have the strength to hold and drink it right now, sir.”
I mimicked a regretful tone as best I could, trying not to get on Cassel’s nerves.
I inadvertently sounded like an operator dealing with a player, but it didn’t matter.
The conventional method was to go to the Count and request for a spoon or a syringe-like tool to feed him little by little until he regained his strength.
However, as someone who had to play both the role of an NPC and a player simultaneously, I didn’t have time for that.
“Sir, if you’re okay with it, may I help you?”
“…”
That’s when it happened.
Cassel’s crimson eyes, which had been directed into empty space, slowly moved towards me.
The gaze that met mine was clearer than before.
‘Is he giving me permission?’
To avoid direct contact, I extended a gloved hand and cautiously parted his tightly closed lips, raising his head slightly.
It was a regrettably flawless face even in that posture, devoid of any humiliation.
I pulled something out of my pocket.
[Monster Tranquilizer Gun]
It was a transparent, gun-shaped magical tool used to subdue pet monsters, equipped with a sedative dart.
Clank.
However, instead of loading an sedative dart into the injection port, I attached a potion bottle.
“This is not a tranquilizer gun, sir. As you can see, it’s a magical tool for administering medication. It’s similar to a syringe.”
I explained slowly and carefully, making sure not to cause any absurd misunderstandings.
I immediately inserted the muzzle into his open mouth.
For a moment, Cassel’s pupils trembled.
“It’s completely safe.”
I smiled softly, though he couldn’t see it through the hood.
Naturally, I had adjusted the pressure to be safe even when used on a human.
Though it may be a bit inhumane…
‘Open your mouth, here comes the potion!’
I immediately pulled the trigger.
Psssh—
The sleeping potion shot into Cassel’s throat like a water gun.
“Cough…!”
In an instant, he jerked unexpectedly, perhaps because the liquid blocked his airway.
“Don’t spit it out!”
I covered his mouth and gently pinched his nose to make it easier for him to swallow.
Anyway, there was no risk of death; the potion would be absorbed eventually.
‘1, 2, 3, 4, 5…’
Gulp.
As expected, after about five seconds, Cassel swallowed the remaining liquid, indicating that some of the potion had been absorbed.
“We were short on time, so this was the only way… I’m sorry, sir.”
I immediately withdrew my hand from the man who stared at me as if he could tear me apart and politely apologized.
‘I had gloves on, too. A mere five seconds of contact shouldn’t be a big deal.’
Indeed, it was a wise decision to think it through and agonize over it.
The [Monster Tranquilizer Gun] was a common item that could be easily and affordably purchased at the general store.
It allowed for minimal contact, and I could solve the problem quickly and cleanly like this.
I should stick to this method until Cassel could hold and consume the potion on his own.
‘ Maybe I’m truly a genius?’
In any case, the situation was resolved better than I had worried about. It was time for me to leave now.
“I will come back when it’s time for you to drink the potion. Please rest well.”
I stood up from my seat without hesitation and prepared to leave the room.
However…
「 [The Lord of Nightmares] feels a slight urge to kill you. 」
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