HH Chapter 9
by Geli Cake‘It’ll be so embarrassing if they find out.’
I can already imagine how much the guys would tease me.
By the way, compared to when I first saw it, this shop has become incredibly dazzling. I can’t take all the credit, but it’s undeniable that I played a part.
“I received the blueprints! I’ll gift you one when it’s finished.”
“Huh? No, it’s okay….”
“Don’t look so serious! I’m just kidding. Here, take your share of the last sales.”
I grinned, accepting the thick envelope.
‘With this much, I can die four more times without worry.’
─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───
I started calling the guidebook, which had transformed into something like a game interface, the “system.” The system’s quest window still contained the unresolved main mission.
[<Domination of the Worldview> will bind you and slowly lead you to death.]
The system diligently informed me that there were two years left until the start of the original storyline, slowly acclimating me to this place.
[You have more ‘compatibility’ than anyone else, and the original storyline has chosen you!
Will you be able to see the end of this story?
*Objective: Achieve the True Ending]
‘So, what is the True Ending?’
And how do I get it…?
For two years, I’d been agonizing over how to reach the branching point for the “True Ending,” but no matter how much I thought about it, there wasn’t anything I could prepare for right now.
The game’s setting was limited to the inside of the mansion. And I didn’t have the resources to learn more about the characters in the game.
‘Haa. Totally a minion’s life.1’
I had no choice but to spend my time diligently focusing on the tasks at hand.
During that time, I steadily learned magic, became relatively close with the mercenary guys who treated me like their son, and blew up about ten more doors.
Then, one early morning;
[The tutorial has been completed.]
“……Tutorial?”
The familiar notification sound woke me up. Half-asleep, I mumbled, reading the words that appeared before my eyes.
It meant that the two-year preparation period was over, and the original storyline was finally beginning.
However, before I could fully grasp the meaning of the system window, someone suddenly barged into my room and woke me up. It was the Captain of the mercenary group.
“Just wash your face and come out quickly.”
“Huh?”
I was dragged out early in the morning and made to sit in the reception room, still half-asleep.
“Oh my, the mage looks younger than I expected….”
A woman with short red hair was sitting across from me, covering her mouth with her hand and giggling.
‘Whoa, is this real?’
For a moment, I thought I was dreaming.
The woman before my eyes was the NPC who initiated the game’s introduction. I felt like I was meeting a celebrity in person and couldn’t close my gaping mouth.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Christine.”
[‘Christine’ has been added to the Character Encyclopedia.]
The client, Christine. The catalyst that leads the player to the haunted mansion.
She’s a reincarnator who remembers her past lives every time she dies. Now, diagnosed with a terminal illness, her past life memories had returned.
She would leave this world soon.
‘Terminally ill, huh….’
Knowing the characters’ fates made me feel a little uneasy. Christine, seemingly oblivious to my inner turmoil, explained her reason for seeking me out.
“I came to see you because I need your help.”
“Yes? Oh…. I’m Chahyun.”
I bowed my head and introduced myself, then glanced at the man sitting next to her. Christine smiled and introduced him.
“This is Odin. My husband.”
I know. I even knew this man’s true identity.
[‘Odin’ has been added to the Character Encyclopedia.]
‘Whoa, whoa, whoa.’
I was just amazed that the two characters in front of me seemed even more real than I had imagined.
“Keep your eyes to yourself.”
What’s wrong with you today?
The Captain, noticing my behavior, whispered a warning in my ear.
……Ah, yes. I finally realized that I’d been staring at them too intensely.
“I heard you’re the most skilled mage in this city.”
“Oh, no, hehe…. It’s not to that extent!”
Who’s been saying that? Thanks, though.
I suppressed a grin and cleared my throat. Christine chuckled at my reaction and then got straight to the point.
“I’ll get right to it, as I’m in a bit of a hurry. By any chance, can you perform tracking magic?”
Clink.
With the sound of metal clashing against each other, a necklace with a pendant was presented before my eyes.
[A new quest has occurred!]
[Main Quest: The Necklace’s Owner
The client, Christine, wants to know the location of the necklace’s owner.
*To Do: Find the owner of the item
*Reward: 1 Quest Point, 100 Solra]
The quest window obscured my vision before she could finish speaking. After I confirmed it, the white window faded away, revealing Christine with a faint smile on her face, who then continued,
“I want to find where the owner of this item lives.”
I already know that person.
There are a few conditions for the tracking magic to work:
- The owner must have lost the item recently.
- The owner must be relatively nearby.
So, if the item was lost not roo long ago, it’s very easy to find the owner. However, in the same vein, things are a bit different in the following cases;
When the location is already too far away, or when the item has been separated from its owner for too long.
‘And the owner of this necklace falls into both categories.’
This was an item that had been abandoned decades ago, and the owner would be living very far from here.
‘So, magic won’t work.’
This wasn’t an excuse for my incompetence. Even a grand mage wouldn’t be able to locate the owner using tracking magic.
I cleanly gave up on tracking the location. That doesn’t mean I refused the request, though….
‘I already know how to reach that place, thanks to the original storyline buff.’
I accepted the necklace, omitting the real reason. This would serve as proof to ‘that person’ that Christine was looking for him.
─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───
“What? You’re going alone? Does the Captain know?”
On the same day I received the new request, I informed Ryzen, the only one lazing around in the mercenary group, that I was leaving. When he asked where I was going, I replied, “To the train station,” and got chewed out for it.
“Get the Captain’s permission before you go.”
“Huh? But I already bought the train ticket.”
“What? Do you think you can do that by yourself?”
“What are you talking about…. I really have to go. The train leaves in 30 minutes.”
I’m not nineteen anymore; I’m twenty-one. Thanks to being dragged around and rolling around, I’ve grown taller… and I even have abs, the symbol of manliness!
It’s only a few months until I get another year older, but Ryzen, not to mention the other mercenary guys, still treat me like a kid. I’m probably the only guy my age with a curfew.
“But… It’s not like I’m going out to play; it’s work, a job. It’s my social life.”
“You don’t usually go out and play anyway? You’re the type to just stay cooped up and read books.”
“Anyway, the client said it’s urgent. I’ll be back!”
“When will you be back?”
“……I don’t know. Eventually?”
“How dare you casually announce you’re running away?! Get back here!”
Ryzen lunged at me. I quickly ducked to avoid him and simultaneously scribbled a binding formula on the floor with my foot.
Fwoosh!
The magic circle activated.
“What the…… Ugh!”
I bound Ryzen’s legs together, preventing him from moving, and immediately turned and ran.
“I’ll be back!”
“Hey, you!”
I flung open the front door and tossed a memo with another formula written on it at Ryzen. Then Ryzen’s voice cut off abruptly.
“Finally, some peace and quiet….”
I muttered, delivering a villainous line towards Ryzen, who was now silently groaning and swinging his fists at me.
‘I’ll probably get a good smack when I get back.’
A flicker of fear ran through me belatedly.
I’d only done it because Ryzen’s loud send-off would have attracted the other mercenaries. They would have been even less likely to let me go so easily.
─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───
And now….
“…….”
I approached the early part of the game a little differently than I usually do, and now I was in this predicament. Staring down at the barrels of several guns pointed at me, I raised my hands.
‘This wasn’t in the script.’
Cold sweat trickled down my back in the tense atmosphere.
‘What on earth is going on?’
I’d envisioned about ten different scenarios on my way here, but this kind of development wasn’t one of them.
‘As expected of a game with dozens of discovered bad endings….’
Of course, I was partly to blame.
‘I didn’t think deviating from the standard route would change things so drastically!’
If it had been as it was, I should have rung the doorbell and entered the mansion through the front door. But the thought of potentially being trapped inside forever sent shivers down my spine, so I…
This house is nothing but a giant booby trap. The trap starts at the front door, the moment you ring the doorbell.
[Magic detection successful! This object is enchanted with a ‘One-Way’ spell.]
Just as I thought.
I lingered by the door, using magic detection, and as soon as I confirmed my suspicions, ‘d made a hast retreat. Then, I found another entrance, cleverly hidden out of sight.