Chapter 12
Aaaah!
A dance of sheer desperation!
“Khh!”
“Mi-Miss Evelyn, stop! Why are you doing this?!”
Why is this happening, Moran?!
It’s your fault!
I had now fully realized that it was possible to misclick a selection because of someone else’s interference.
Next time, I’d never make that mistake…
Unable to stop my dance filled with my resentment, they looked on, bewildered.
At first, that is.
Moran scolded me to stop, but Halloway had his mouth covered to prevent laughter from escaping.
I glared at the rising gauge.
The more violently I danced, the faster the gauge filled.
With only 1 minute to fill it, about 30 seconds remained.
[Gauge ■■■■■■■■□□]
Just two more bars…!
“Huuh!”
“Heh heh…”
My vigorous dance continued, and with 14 seconds left, the gauge was completely filled.
[Gauge ■■■■■■■■■■]
[Gauge fully charged!]
I—I burned out completely…
[You have distracted the hunter!]
“Th-there’s no one here? No one?!”
Nearby, Alhulp’s frightened, trembling voice could be heard.
The hunter reacted, snapping its head around.
…Wait, the distraction meant using someone else as bait?
I hadn’t expected this, and suddenly the normally playful system window gave me chills.
This hadn’t turned into a comic—it was still a horror game at its core.
The bizarre, grim hotel and ridiculous choice options had lulled me into false comfort.
The essence of the brutal horror game hadn’t changed.
“Wait… that voice just now…”
Moran’s face went pale, and at the same time, the hunter screamed and ran out like a child.
―Found a human!
―Found it!
Two other voices suddenly merged as one.
―I could tear it apart!
The chilling voice made Moran and me inhale sharply.
After the hunter left, the room was silent.
The silence was broken by Moran.
“Miss Evelyn, let’s go save him!”
“Not now.”
“Alhulp didn’t harm you, Miss Evelyn. It’s not good to be stubborn!”
I furrowed my brows.
Was she implying I’d leave someone to die like Friedel?
I opened the wardrobe and glared at Moran.
“Moran, maybe you should watch your words. It’s better to listen fully to others.”
My voice was full of irritation, and Moran narrowed her eyes, refusing to back down.
“Watch my words? What are you trying to say? Do you know, Miss Evelyn? While we’re having this pointless conversation, Alhulp is in danger.”
“Then go first. I’ll find a useful weapon and catch up.”
Moran seemed surprised.
“…What?”
“I said go first if you’re worried. Why stay put while criticizing me? What are you doing?”
Her tone and expression were soft and gentle, trying to reason with me, but the more we talked, the more Moran’s speech annoyed me.
It felt like she was blaming me for everything.
“Go on. I won’t leave someone to die while I run ahead.”
I tried to leave holding Halloway’s hand, but Moran grabbed his other hand, shaking her head resolutely.
“Leave the child. I won’t let him be tainted by your bad intentions, Miss Evelyn!”
…What’s wrong with her? Seriously? Possessed?
At first, I could excuse it as her character, but her current tantrum-like behavior was truly strange.
“Moran… you’re very different from the person I know.”
“That’s what I’m trying to say.”
No arguments there.
…Wait.
I stared hard at Moran.
There’s no guarantee that I’m the only player in this game, right?
Could Moran also…?
Then—
“Aaaah! Save m-me…!”
“Alhulp!”
Startled, Moran screamed and grabbed Halloway’s hand, running out of the room.
Our loosely held hands fell apart.
“Sis!”
“…Huh?”
I helplessly watched Halloway being dragged along by Moran.
If she was going to save Alhulp, shouldn’t she at least have left the child behind, as instructed?
I couldn’t understand why Moran brought Halloway along.
In any case, I was left alone.
The effort I had put into raising Halloway’s affection felt wasted.
Being alone when I wanted to be together had always been hard.
Should I be happy?
Or follow?
Following now to raise affection might help, but going unprepared was basically suicide.
Finding the goal point was ideal, but impossible in this urgent situation.
“Then I need a weapon.”
I needed something to stall the hunter, even briefly.
Separated from Evelyn.
Alhulp looked foolish, staring blankly after losing her hand.
‘Hmph.’
Maybe this was my chance to escape.
The promises to protect him were reassuring but human hearts could change anytime.
Halloway wouldn’t trust Evelyn simply because of her words.
The slowly growing affection was so subtle that Halloway didn’t even notice.
“My hand hurts.”
I shook Moran’s tightly gripping hand.
“Oh, sorry. Did it hurt a lot?”
Moran relaxed her grip apologetically.
“I had no choice but to hurry and save Alhulp.”
Halloway looked up at her, still innocent and oblivious.
“This isn’t the Evelyn I knew. If only she’d thrown a tantrum. To behave like this in front of a child… Even if she pushed you away, Evelyn… sigh.”
He muttered and sighed, but Halloway heard everything.
He didn’t understand the human woman in front of him.
Claiming life is precious yet leading him toward monsters made no sense.
Pretending to be good for others, but always prioritizing herself.
Moran seemed no different.
Such humans were among Halloway’s least favorite types.
They speak as if their justice is the law, yet they never actually intervene.
Halloway acted the part of a good child faithfully.
“Evelyn was trying to save me! That man was bad. She didn’t kill him—the monster did!”
Even after saying that, Moran had already assumed Evelyn had killed Friedel.
“…Halloway. Whatever it is, that behavior is wrong. They should live to pay for it.”
Halloway sneered inwardly.
How many humans actually pay for their sins alive?
Even in prison, they wouldn’t change.
“Let’s go. Save Alhulp first, then regroup with others and find a way out. I’ll protect you.”
Moran gently caressed Halloway’s cheek to reassure him.
Disgusted, he coldly dodged her hand.
Humans who say such things were everywhere.
Those who never acted on their words were as well.
‘Evelyn actually protected me, though.’
Would Moran do the same?
In the same situation, would she save both the man and herself as she claims?
Either way, the stage was set.
The same scenario would repeat. Moran would choose like Evelyn.
Save herself or not.
‘Either way, let them both die.’
I decided to think positively.
As long as Evelyn lived, we could meet again.
At that moment, Alhulp started running toward us.
Halloway looked at Moran.
Would she act as righteously as she spoke?
“Hey, monster!”
“Call me Moran!”
Moran grabbed Halloway’s hand and started running.
Alhulp chased after her, waving.
“Mo-Moran!”
“Alhulp! Are you okay?!”
“Yes, yes…!”
Relieved, Moran gestured him to run toward them.
“We need to find a hiding place first!”
“You came to save me?”
“Yes…! Every life counts!”
“…Moran!”
Tear-stained Alhulp was moved.
Halloway saw him reacting completely differently from Friedel—still unsure how he might betray them.
―So many humans!
―Two of them!
“…Two?”
Moran tilted her head, puzzled. Halloway coldly scanned the monsters before speaking.
“I guess they didn’t include me because I’m a child.”
“Could be. The monsters look like children too…”
Moran accepted that easily.
“Th-thank you, Moran.”
Panting, Alhulp ran alongside Moran.
His arms were wrapped with torn clothes, and minor scratches covered him from previous captures.
“Alhulp, are you hurt?!”
“Haah… got caught when escaping… sniff… but I’m okay…”
Alhulp ran ahead of Moran, then stopped abruptly.
“Alhulp?”
Facing the running Moran, he spread his arms.
“You came to save me, right? I won’t miss this chance!”
He pushed Moran aside. Halloway, holding Moran’s hand, fell from the recoil.
‘Of course.’
Humans use any means to survive.
―The human in front first!
―The human in front first!
The hunter targeted the fallen Moran. Shocked, she reached toward Alhulp, shouting.
“Wait, Alhulp!”
“Kind Moran, please sacrifice yourself for me! I-I’m too scared!”
Alhulp cried, fleeing without looking back.
Moran, stunned, helplessly watched his shrinking figure.
“What… should I do?”
Halloway called, and Moran flinched like she’d been burned.
The woman who had preached the value of life now looked quite… amusing.
The hunter closed in; Moran got up and ran, but tripped, closing the distance.
