Chapter 25
This bastard definitely has self-awareness.
No doubt about it. Otherwise, this makes no sense.
Annoyed, I couldn’t hold back and punched the system window.
I knew my fist would just go through it anyway, but—
Swish—
“…?”
Something brushed against my hand.
Startled, I waved at the system window a few more times, but nothing brushed me again, as if to say it had been my imagination.
Still, it didn’t feel like a simple mistake.
What the hell is this system?
It talks to me like it’s alive, and…
There’s something weird going on here.
I couldn’t put my finger on it, so I bit down hard on the shoulder of Cletta, who was still holding me.
After all, I was pretty sure he was the reason for Halloway’s jealousy.
“Ugh.”
He groaned and pulled away from me.
[Halloway’s jealousy decreased by 6%.]
[Jealousy: 10%]
…Does it decrease that easily?
I couldn’t tell. A 6% drop wasn’t much—it was kind of awkward, not a lot but not nothing.
Still, one thing was certain.
‘Halloway himself is a walking landmine.’
It was hard enough just surviving around him, let alone earning his favor.
And now, on top of everything else, I had to worry about jealousy too?
His possessiveness alone was suffocating—now I had to monitor his jealousy levels?
“It hurts, Evelyn.”
I glared at Cletta, rubbing his shoulder.
“Don’t touch me without permission. Have some manners.”
“I was just so happy to see you. Are you mad?”
“What’s ‘mad’ supposed to mean?”
I’m someone who doesn’t even know how to get angry.
That’s what I meant—but Cletta took it differently.
“Well, anger is when Evelyn feels upset or unhappy about something.”
“You idiot. You think I asked because I didn’t know that?!”
“Haha, you didn’t know what sarcasm was earlier, so I figured maybe…”
Agh! It’s all because of that damn system window!
My sarcasm didn’t even register—that’s just tragic.
When I staggered a bit, Cletta tried to steady me, but I slipped out of his reach.
“Are you alone? Where are the others?”
“No idea. We got separated again after running into a monster.”
“Again?”
“Yeah, I was originally with Sir Verner and Moran.”
Even though it was just conversation, Halloway didn’t look happy.
[Jealousy increased by 3%.]
[Jealousy: 13%]
Fine. From now on, I’m not talking to Cletta.
Clearly, that jealousy stat was appearing because his possessiveness was off the charts.
He must’ve been fuming that I could make another guy laugh.
Seriously.
Halloway’s personality is the worst.
“But…”
Cletta suddenly froze, glancing around.
He was staring at Suriel—who stood there in his ridiculous outfit, striking pretentious poses—and actually looked… moved.
“…Um.”
Was it that moving? He looked like he’d lost his words.
But something felt off.
Suriel was too quiet.
Normally, he’d be rambling about my hair or obsessing over Cynthia, but now—
Then I remembered a line from the game’s narration:
“Suriel was silent. Because he was deciding which of Moran’s fingers to cut off first.”
If that’s true, then right now, this quiet Suriel is…
When I hurriedly looked at him—
[Halloway and Suriel are negotiating.]
What…? Why…?
I turned toward Halloway, eyes trembling, and he just smiled at me—sweetly, like a snake.
[Suriel says if he can’t have your hair, he’ll take your thumb instead.]
My thumb?
He’s insane! Tell him no!
Halloway wouldn’t allow that. He wouldn’t.
I trusted him. He wouldn’t betray me—
[Halloway says that much should be fine.]
I was betrayed.
And what the hell does “that much” mean?
He could’ve said “cut her hair,” but my thumb?!
You know what? Hair grows back.
Thumbs don’t.
I wanted to scream that out loud—but if I did, it would reveal that I could understand what they were saying. So I swallowed it, furious.
Suriel smiled darkly the moment he got permission.
Then, without hesitation, he started walking toward me.
Panicking, I shouted, “He’s coming! That psycho’s coming!”
“…Sister.”
Ah.
I’d been so startled that I accidentally said it out loud.
Suriel doubled over, laughing.
“Ha! She’s hilarious.”
Sure, you’re amused. Everything probably looks beautiful when you’re about to steal someone’s thumb.
But not to me!
Please, I begged silently—give me a weapon. Anything! Something to fight that demon!
Instead of a weapon, Cletta stepped in front of me. I smacked his back without thinking.
“Ow, Evelyn.”
“Move. What are you doing?”
“Protecting you. That guy’s about to do something.”
“I can protect myself. I always have, and I always will. So move.”
If I just stalled long enough, I’d be forcibly transported to the 5th floor.
All I had to do was survive until then.
I glanced at the remaining time.
[Time remaining: 01:32:11]
Damn it, still too long.
“Move.”
“Threatening a lady? Aren’t you ashamed?”
“Not at all.”
Of course not. That guy’s got a face made of reinforced steel.
“Evelyn…”
Cynthia clutched me, trembling, terrified I’d end up like her.
Honestly, I’d thought she’d run when I became the target, but instead, she clung to me tighter.
Suddenly, I saw her in a new light.
Alhulf tried to back away from me, but when our eyes met, he froze, clasped his hands, and started tearing up.
“I didn’t expect anything anyway.”
“…”
His tears spilled down, but I didn’t feel the slightest bit sorry.
“Cynthia, if something happens, don’t try to save me—just run, okay?”
“What are you talking about? I can’t do that.”
“You have to. You’re too weak.”
“…”
Better for me to lose a thumb than for Cynthia to die.
…
Actually, no. On second thought, losing my thumb sounds awful.
I’m not that fond of Cynthia yet.
Sorry, Cynthia. But as long as you’re near me, I’ll do my best to keep you alive.
“Move.”
[Suriel is getting irritated because he still hasn’t gotten the thumb in front of him.]
“I don’t want to.”
Suriel glared sideways at Cletta and stepped closer until their feet almost touched.
At this rate, they were about to kiss.
From that dangerously close distance, Suriel grinned darkly.
No way…
Sensing the danger, I started to reach out to Cletta—but Halloway stopped me.
“Halloway?”
“It’s dangerous.”
“No, more than me—”
Then it happened. Suriel grabbed a fistful of Cletta’s hair.
He clearly meant to hurl him across the room, but Cletta didn’t even budge.
At this rate, his scalp was going to peel off…
“Still not moving?”
“Let go.”
“Then I guess I’ll just take your hair instead.”
You psycho!
I grabbed Suriel’s wrist and yelled,
“Let’s be reasonable and leave everyone’s scalp intact, okay?!”
But Suriel only grinned.
Yeah, this guy’s a demon.
But even demons don’t mess with hair!
Oh, right. He’s a demon who collects hair.
“Well. If you give me your thumb, maybe I’ll let him go.”
At that, I released his hand and looked at Cletta.
“Sorry, Cletta. Hair grows back. My thumb doesn’t.”
“…”
He didn’t seem to understand, so I kindly clarified,
“I mean you’re just going to have to endure it.”
Better his hair than my thumb.
Gesturing for him to get on with it, I pulled Halloway to my side.
Of course, I didn’t actually plan to let Cletta get ripped apart.
I just needed to keep the most dangerous one—Halloway—close while figuring out how to separate Suriel from Cletta.
Then—
“Let go.”
“I said I won’t—”
Before Suriel could finish, Cletta’s elbow shot forward, striking him square in the cheekbone.
“Argh!”
Suriel staggered back from the pain, releasing Cletta’s hair.
Cletta shoved him off and stepped back.
“My… face…”
Hearing Suriel mutter darkly, I swallowed hard.
Oh no.
This is bad. Really bad.
I pulled Cynthia and Halloway closer and signaled to Cletta with my eyes—run.
There was one thing Suriel hated above all else:
anyone putting a mark on his beautiful face.
“…You hit me. A mere human dared hit my face.”
“Human…?”
Cletta frowned, clearly confused.
It must’ve sounded strange—like Suriel didn’t consider himself human.
“What, are you saying you’re not human?”
He didn’t answer.
Instead, a red aura began to swirl around him, centered on his body.
Even to ordinary eyes like mine and Cynthia’s, it radiated pure danger.
It was the sign—
Suriel was about to lose control.
