Chapter 22
4. Be Strong, Evelyn (1)
Evan-day.
He’s the one who moved the sofa—so why the hell am I the target?
Why is he so damn short-tempered?
Shouldn’t a good kid at least give his big sister time to explain?
[To interfere with “Our Happy Family,” all stats must be above 30%.]
If you’d told me that earlier, do you think I’d have touched it?
This system window that always comes in after the fact is driving me insane.
Just one peek under the sofa, and now I’m about to get my head chopped off.
…Then again, didn’t he get this sensitive in the game too?
I remember—every time I tried to uncover the hotel’s secrets, he’d kill me on the spot.
Before I could even begin to find anything out.
So that means this painting must be something connected to the hotel’s mystery.
Now that I think about it… this painting—
There’s no guarantee it’s about one of the demons, right?
What if it’s about the hotel’s original owner?
There’s definitely some connection between the demons and the people in that painting…
Could it be that the demons overthrew the hotel’s original owner?
And were then punished by being sealed inside here?
According to the game lore, the demons couldn’t leave the island.
They were trapped here forever.
There were even rumors of human experiments being conducted in the hotel basement.
But in the game, nobody actually knew that.
The lore was always vague, nothing ever fully explained.
If those experiments were real, did the demons kill all the guests and the hotel owner?
And got punished for it?
That theory fits the best.
Of course, the others wouldn’t be able to deduce that just from one painting.
I’m only guessing because I know the game settings.
Morán’s group doesn’t know anything about this island.
Still, if another item turns up later, and we can use this “Our Happy Family” painting to figure it out,
it could end up being a threat to the demons.
They really hate it when the hotel’s secrets are exposed.
So of course, they wouldn’t be thrilled right now.
For them, this must be as nerve-wracking as when your parents find your secret phone.
Now I get why Halloway wanted to kill me right away.
I mean—sure, he’d want to.
But I don’t want to die.
Looking at that impatient, heartless demon, I held back tears.
What a heartless bastard…
Can’t he show a shred of mercy for old times’ sake?
Apparently not—since I’m his chosen prey now.
I steadied my trembling breath, placed a hand over my chest, and said:
“Listen, Halloway. I didn’t move that sofa to find the painting. How could I? My legs are too weak.”
I limped dramatically, then pointed accusingly at Alhulf.
“He’s the one who pushed the sofa and forced me to look at the painting!”
Because—yeah—it was him.
And blaming someone else is the easiest way to survive.
Not even an excuse—it was true!
He really did do it.
Seeing me so desperately pleading my innocence, Alhulf blinked and nodded awkwardly.
He looked between me and Halloway, completely oblivious to the tension.
“Uh, yeah… I did that.”
Goodbye, my friend.
That should get me off the hook.
“I saw something shiny under there, so I wanted to check it out,” he added.
“Right, exactly. Alhulf did it,” I chimed in.
I didn’t do anything.
Halloway frowned.
“You looked under the sofa just to see something shiny? Really?”
That’s exactly the kind of thing people look at!
But since he wouldn’t understand, I answered seriously:
“He said he was looking for his lost sanity.”
“…What? I said it was something shiny! I even found this blade under there!”
“Anyway, Alhulf moved the sofa and saw the painting,” I said firmly.
I didn’t do it.
Whether Alhulf protested or not didn’t matter.
I looked at Halloway, heart pounding—not from excitement, but sheer terror.
He smiled faintly.
“Then why are you explaining all this to me?”
Do I look like I have a choice?!
I forced a sweet smile. I needed to play nice.
“Well, you seemed curious, that’s all.”
He looked between us again, then nodded.
[Halloway decides to hunt both of you.]
HEY!!
What part of my explanation wasn’t good enough?!
He clearly still wanted me dead.
I reached for my revolver out of habit, then froze.
Right—this gun is useless now. He made sure I ran out of bullets.
If I shoot, I’ll explode before the bullet even leaves the barrel.
Abort mission.
“Halloway, why are you so angry?” I asked carefully.
“Am I?”
Even Alhulf looked confused.
Of course he didn’t get it—he didn’t know Halloway was a demon.
“I’m not angry,” Halloway said with a tilt of his head, feigning innocence.
Alhulf bought it immediately.
“Right? I thought so!”
I laughed along, pretending to relax—just before the temperature around us dropped sharply.
The air grew freezing cold, like being thrown outside in winter wearing only a t-shirt.
“Maybe it’s just me, but it’s kinda cold, isn’t it?” I said, shivering and hugging Halloway tightly.
Just act clueless…
“But Halloway, what’s with that painting?” I asked softly.
“Did you already know it was there? Is that why you didn’t want us to see it?”
He said nothing.
I kept pressing questions, to make sure he knew I was totally ignorant.
If I stayed silent, he’d get suspicious. Humans are curious by nature.
Finding a painting in a creepy hotel and not saying anything? Way too odd.
“I don’t know anything, Halloway,” I said earnestly.
“Why not? I’m practically spelling it out for you.”
Wait—was he doing that on purpose?!
Even if you hint at it, I can’t act like I know!
“I don’t know,” I said flatly. “Because I’m an idiot.”
[Halloway immediately understands.]
What does he think of me, exactly?
If I can’t make him pity me, I’ll have to intrigue him somehow.
Then—an idea struck me.
“Oh, by the way, Halloway—you wanted to know about the nobles of the Vallonne Empire, right? Want me to tell you something else?”
Not about our party’s surnames, of course.
Even the game never revealed that much.
I had to stall as long as possible.
But with Halloway glued to me like this, I couldn’t warn the others not to reveal theirs.
If I said anything in front of him, it’d be game over.
So instead, I pulled him onto the sofa, sitting him on my lap and hugging him tightly.
Maybe, just maybe, if I smothered him with affection, he’d postpone killing me.
I forced a cheerful smile.
Flattering the final boss was exhausting work.
“Please, tell me,” he said.
Oh! Then maybe I’m safe for now—
[Halloway decides to kill you after hearing it.]
Never mind.
I loosened my arms and slumped back on the sofa.
He tilted his head. “You’re not going to tell me?”
You think I’ll say anything when I’m dead either way?
Tears started streaming down my face uncontrollably.
He blinked. “…Why are you crying?”
“Because the world’s too cruel.”
Sniffling, I wiped my tears on his shirt. Thought about blowing my nose too, but restrained myself.
He frowned at the wet imprint of my face on his clothes.
“You look like a monster,” he muttered.
I couldn’t flip him off, so I raised my index finger instead.
He stared at it, puzzled, while I racked my brain.
If begging didn’t work, there was only one option left—run for it.
But… why isn’t he killing me yet?
Puzzled, I looked up at him. He didn’t look away.
I stood up.
That’s when—
CRASH!
A huge axe slammed into the floor right beside my feet.
The blade gleamed menacingly. I froze.
“…Oops,” Halloway murmured casually. “Missed.”
Yeah. I can see that.
So it begins.
The kill-Evelyn game.
Damn it, Halloway. I got complacent when my stats rose a bit.
Now they’re probably back to zero again.
“W-waugh!”
A scream came from behind me. I turned—
A spear had slammed into the spot where Alhulf was standing.
It hit so hard the handle vibrated.
He fell to the floor, sobbing.
“I-I think this place is dangerous!”
You don’t say.
I clung tightly to Halloway—no, I outright hugged him.
Maybe he wouldn’t attack someone holding him.
But he asked, confused,
“Why do you keep protecting me?”
Because being near you is the only way not to get hit, you idiot.
[All stats exceed 5%. Halloway gives you one final chance to speak.]
[Depending on your answer, you may survive.]
Yes! My affection-building finally paid off!
I thought I was dead for sure—but there’s still hope.
[Warning: There will be no second chance if you answer incorrectly.]
What if I say nothing?
[Halloway’s patience is not long-lasting.]
Got it, got it!
So this was the key all along—raise the final boss’s affection to survive.
The only real way to live was to make him like me.
[You must calm Halloway’s heart.
➤ What will you say?]
Even when the stupidest choices appeared, I stayed calm.
One of them had to be right.
Still… please, let it not be too stupid.
Holding Halloway tightly, I waited as my heart pounded.
[1. You’re so tiny and pitiful, I just couldn’t leave you alone.
(|￣^￣|)]
[2. Taking you hostage is my new survival strategy.
((￣_,￣ ))]
[3. Because… you are my he. art.
((・ωｰ)～☆)]
