Trapped in a Cursed Game, But Now with NPCs

 

 

  Someone just got choked, headbanged, and nearly imprisoned to death.

 

  So what’s with this lively real-time reaction?

 

  “Shut up!”

 

  I furiously typed in the chat without using honorifics.

 

  ⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋

  ― Me: Hey, you guys are unbelievable!
Are you saying the player shouldn’t even
say a word to the protagonist to please him?!

  ― [GM Ari]: (Typing…)

  ― Me: Stop pretending to type!

  ⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋

 

  Instead of Ari, who was typing, Sera stepped forward and answered my question filled with anger.

 

  ⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋

  ― [GM Sera]: Junior, when in Rome, do
as the Romans do. It’s only right to show respect
  to the Crown Prince of the Empire at all times.

  ― Me: He’s a damn sinner! He was banished and exiled!

  ― [GM Jinu]: If you can’t understand this level
of foreshadowing, then aren’t you just a gaming noob?
You won’t clear the ending!

  ⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋

 

  I was left speechless at Jinu’s response.

 

  I had momentarily forgotten why this game was famous for its bug-ridden gameplay…

 

  In other words, no matter how much of a sinner Cassel is now, he has a lot of pride in his royal birth and should be treated accordingly.

 

  It was a kind of detailed consistency, if anything.

 

  ‘They don’t even consider how confused the players might be.’

 

  The developers who were so devoted to the game’s lore were clearly not in their right minds to begin with.

 

  Getting worked up against such people would only result in losses for me.

 

  As I stared at the chat window, feeling somewhat irritated…

 

  ⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋

  ― [GM Ari]: But you can probably relax a bit
now that you’ve passed the potion quest
checkpoint, Shari!

  ⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋

 

  Ari, who had gone into hiding with ‘(Typing…),’ opened her mouth again.

 

  I didn’t immediately understand what she meant, but I soon realized that something was missing from my field of vision.

 

  The countdown window that had been pressuring me relentlessly for hours had disappeared.

 

  It was probably because Cassel, now able to consume the health potion I provided, had gained the strength to drink it himself.

 

  ‘It works like this, huh…’

 

  I lost one high-level potion, but it wasn’t a bad outcome.

 

  Otherwise, I would have had to keep climbing the tower like a madman while constantly chasing the clock.

 

  I had gained some extra time to prepare, but I couldn’t help feeling gloomy.

 

  I looked at the crimson sunset sky and realized that it had only been less than a day since all this madness began.

 

  ‘It feels like I’ve finished a disastrous quest, but…’

 

  I couldn’t fathom how my two years of playing as an NPC had passed by so quickly.

 

  ⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋

  ― Me: Ugh… Can you tell me where it is?

  ⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋

 

  – ̗̀ ˚ ·* ༊*·˚ ˊˎ– 

 

  Returning straight to the manor, I crossed the spacious hall.

 

  It was around sunset, and perhaps that’s why the hall was completely empty, with not a single servant passing by.

 

  Everyone seemed to be busy preparing dinner.

 

  ‘They said it would be in the servants’ dining hall.’

 

  I carefully opened the chat window again just to double-check the location since I wasn’t yet familiar with the Count’s estate.

 

  ⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋

  ― [GM Jinu]: It’s connected to the back of
the dining room on the west side of the first floor.

  ― [GM Ari]: Be careful, Shari! The boss will
  notice your presence and attempt to attack you.

  ⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋

 

  I was about to turn off the chat window again after reviewing the conversation we had just had.

 

  Suddenly, I remembered something I’d forgotten.

 

  ‘Oh, what was that about the ‘Chandelier that has lost its light’?’

 

  Since the chandelier itself was massive, it was easily visible from my hiding spot behind the railing. However, I couldn’t see the name, which was written in tiny letters.

 

  It was an item I hadn’t seen before, even as an Operator.

 

  It wasn’t an urgent matter, but Ari’s warning about the boss possibly attempting to attack me had me a bit concerned.

 

  ‘Knowing it in advance won’t hurt.’

 

  ⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋

  ― Me: But what’s that Chandelier used for?

  ⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋

 

  Since there was still some time before dinner, I took the opportunity to ask. These humans seemed to be watching me all day long because their responses were almost instantaneous.

 

  ⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋

  ― [GM Jinu]: Isn’t that a bit too cheeky of you?

  ― Me: Well, considering the trouble I’m going through
  because of someone, I think I have the
right to be a bit cheeky. -_-

  ― [GM Jinu]: (Typing…)

  ⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋

 

  Instead of Jinu, who used evasion skills, Sera stepped in.

 

  ⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋

  ― [GM Sera]: It’s a hidden item that can
be used when defeating the boss, Junior.

  ― Me: …Huh? But no one in the community
has mentioned using that, though?

  ― [GM Sera]: (Typing…)

  ⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋

 

  The swift replies suddenly stopped.

 

  At the same time, a faint stomping sound echoed.

 

  It seemed like someone was coming down from the second floor.

 

  ⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋

  ― Me: Hey, what’s going on? I need
  to turn off the chat, so tell me quickly.

  ― [GM Sera]: Well… that’s because no one
has discovered it yet…

  ― [GM Sera]: It was added especially during the
211-version upgrade to provide assistance!
Those foolish, short-sighted humans!

  ― [GM Sera]: Why doesn’t everyone thoroughly
  examine the map…?!

  ⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋

 

  Thump.

 

  Having obtained the information I needed, I closed the chat window without further ado.

 

  ‘…For some reason, the font looks unusually clumsy.’

 

  In the haste to fulfill their mission, it was impossible to find a player who would meticulously inspect every decoration hanging from the ceiling.

 

  I had discovered it by sheer luck while checking the map, given that I was an Operator.

 

  ‘Hiding something the size of a dot and hoping that someone finds it. What a trickster.’

 

  Whether the insane developer behind this had planned it or not, cutting off the chat was the right move.

 

  Thump, thump.

 

  “…Why are you here right now?”

 

  It was because the person who had been coming down the stairs stopped in front of me, who was hiding behind the railing.

 

  [Count Hailey’s Aide] Bill Kendrick

 

  You couldn’t tell if a parasitic type of monster was the boss until you killed it, so there was no way to confirm if the aide was the boss. 

 

  Besides, the sunlight potion I was making do with wasn’t sufficient to defeat a monster of a fairly high level.

 

  So, my plan was to secretly assassinate the boss once I figured out who it was around the time the quest was about to end…

 

  “Why aren’t you answering? What are you doing hiding here like a rat?”

 

  Perhaps I irritated him by standing there silently without responding, but the aide scolded me angrily.

 

  If this guy was indeed the boss, it would be quite troublesome.

 

  If he was a significant character within the manor, then it wouldn’t be easy to kill him while avoiding Adam’s gaze.

 

  Frustrated with the game’s luck which didn’t comply as much as I wanted, I replied irritably.

 

  “I was hiding. I was looking for the servants’ dining hall.”

 

  “Behind the railing?”

 

  “I got lost.”

 

  “What nonsense is this…?”

 

  The aide continued to grumble, apparently unable to fathom my illogical explanation.

 

  But I just shrugged my shoulders.

 

  ‘What can you do if that’s how it is?’

 

  The guy who had been grunting around for a while finally glared at me with sharp eyes and said, “Follow me. I’ll show you around.”

 

  I wanted to believe otherwise, but it seemed highly likely that this guy was the boss.

 

  I followed the aide down the hallway to the west side of the manor.

 

  The guy who had been leading me suddenly slowed down and walked beside me before asking. 

 

  “Are you doing well with the tasks assigned by the Count?”

 

  “Yes.”

 

  “How many insomnia-inducing potions do you have left?”

 

  “Well… enough to prevent a catastrophe.”

 

  He wasn’t a main character like Adam or Cassel, so I didn’t feel obligated to answer sincerely.

 

  Seemingly noticing my diminishing enthusiasm, the aide shot me a stern look.

 

  “Tomorrow at midnight, bring all the remaining insomnia-inducing potions you have and meet me in the railing behind the central staircase where you were hiding earlier.”

 

  “Tomorrow at midnight?”

 

  The rendezvous was earlier than I had anticipated.

 

  Naturally, the lingering presence of the sealed monster in the mansion was meant to bring about a catastrophe.

 

  As the magic grew stronger and the human defenders of the mansion died off, the seal would naturally weaken.

 

  ‘Usually, such events happen right before a catastrophe occurs…’

 

  I felt that things were progressing a bit faster than I had expected.

 

  Well, the faster it progresses, the closer we get to the ending, which was fine by me.

 

  As I gathered my thoughts, the aide looked at me with an impatient expression.

 

  “If you do as you’re told, I’ll turn a blind eye to the dubious things you were planning to do in the County.”

 

  What dubious things could I possibly be planning behind a railing? 

 

  It was as if he could run to Adam and badmouth me at any moment, and his attitude was exasperating.

 

  However, I needed to grasp his intentions somewhat, so I calmly asked without resisting.

 

  “And then what?”

 

  “Hand over all the potions to me and leave. I’ll make sure you get paid handsomely.”

 

  “Well… I need some time to think about it.”

 

  “Even if you sold potions for the rest of your life, you probably won’t get the money we’re talking about… Wait. Why are you talking informally with me?”

 

  He had just realized it now. Apparently, he was even more dumber than I had thought.

 

  ‘Do you think I should go the extra mile?’

 

  It’s bad enough that I’ve just been groveling to Cassel, and my mental state was in shambles.

 

  We had reached the door that presumably led to the servant’s dining room, located in a remote corner of the dining room.

 

  I paused for a moment and calmly replied to the aide.

 

  “I can’t even speak informally, and it’s depressing. I reject your proposal.”

 

  “What… What are you…! You… aren’t you afraid of what I might tell the Count? I could easily blame you as a witch and have you burned alive!”

 

  “Then do it.”

 

  My nonchalant response made the aide’s face turn red in an instant.

 

  A black smoke began to emanate from his flared nostrils, a sign of possession by the monster’s magic.

 

  ‘Is it trying to attack me already?’

 

  I hesitated, preparing for the impending attack.

 

  “Do you think I’m just playing around with you?”

 

  The aide suddenly twisted the corners of his mouth and laughed wickedly.

 

  Then he swung the door wide open.

 

  On the dining table was a large pot and various dishes, as if a meal had just been served.

 

  In front of it, about fifteen or so employees stood in a lifeless posture, each holding forks and knives in their hands. Their eyeballs were completely blackened, and they stared at me intently.

 

  Their eerie appearance sent shivers down my spine.

 

  “I won’t kill you right away, but if you don’t follow orders, you’ll experience what happens. This is a good opportunity to personally experience the consequences of not obeying.”

 

  Cackle—

 

  Laughing wickedly, the aide pushed me further inside the dining room.

 

  If this was how things were going to be…

 

  “I actually prefer it this way.”

 

  “…What?”

 

  “Stun.”

 

  「 The [Lv.999 Stun] skill is activated. 」

       

 

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