~Chapter 40~
Game Category [Forum Post]
Paranormal Phenomena Edition
“The Judge’s Law”
Rank: Archon
(omitted)
You’re probably wondering now:
“I’ve figured out how to spot contradictions, I know the types of choices I’ll get, and as long as I can persuade them, I’m fine. What other trap could there be, and why do I have to deal with it?”
Everyone thinks that way—until they die. I did too… lol
But what if the final trap is hidden among the “hostages” you’re supposed to rescue?
From the moment you find the hostages in the last area, you’ll see constant interaction buttons pop up with them.
That’s a feature usually only available for major NPCs.
Why would it be there? Just because the developers felt like wasting money?
Nope. These damn developers never made anything useless…
Remember this:
At least one of the hostages you’re trying to save is a trap card.
The moment you let your guard down, they’ll go straight for your back.
And what happens then?
Right, you restart the game. lol
Etch it into your brain:
-
Minimum: 1
-
Maximum: every single one of them.
One or more of those “hostages” are actually monsters hunting you.
By the way, I’ve never seen a case where all the hostages were monsters.
If anyone’s ever experienced that level of pure hell, please report back…
Congrats, you basically hit the lottery odds, lol.
There’s only one way to tell if a hostage is a monster:
These things… will act just a little off.
But here’s the real kicker:
It’s incredibly hard to notice.
Say it with me:
THE DEVELOPERS ARE ABSOLUTE BASTARDS!!!!!!
How humiliating…! The odds of winning the lottery have manifested here of all places!
Thousands of hours of playtime, and not once had I encountered this situation. Yet now, when the game had become reality?
Truly exquisite.
I lifted my gaze.
After sacrificing one hostage to send that bastard Usher out, I immediately sacrificed two more hostages in succession to send the remaining two teammates outside as well.
“Wh-Why are you doing this to us?!”
“What have we ever done?!”
“Gyaaaaah!”
Naturally, the hostages protested as though they were truly human—grieving, resisting, and cursing me.
Had this not been reality, even I might have been deceived.
Damn… seriously…
The moment they praised me and clapped with the backs of their hands when I sent the first hostage out in Team 1—how utterly chilling it had been.
The only saving grace was that clapping with the backs of their hands was one of the easier tells to spot among the conditions for identifying the monsters hidden as hostages…
Honestly, I’d gotten through this reasonably well so far, but look at this chapter. Just how much work had there been from the start?
First came those mind-numbing puzzles I solved with Usher.
Then I had to pick apart contradictions in that damned judge’s words and choose the right options.
And now, on top of all that, I was expected to meticulously observe the hostages to weed out the monsters?
Even if you knew the trick, it was impossible.
No wonder everyone cursed the developers as bastards and worse at this stage.
Game Category [Post][Casual Chat]
Title: Guys!! I saved a hostage in Chapter 3 and…
The hostage killed me, ffsㅠㅠ!!!
Why does this even happen???
❤️ Likes: 119
Comments:
👤 Savior 1
(Captain) “Kids, this is the spot today!!”
└ Savior 3 “Aye, Captain! (It’s a big catch!)”
👤 Savior 2
“Another sacrifice…”
└ Savior 1 “RIP”
└ Savior 3 “Don’t quit the game ㅜ if you leave, our game dies ㅠ”
👤 Savior 3
“You have arrived! Into the warm embrace of the Evil God!!!”
└ Original Poster “ffs I was so close to clearing it and I died!! What the hell!!”
└ Savior 3 “Go check the strategy board ㄱㄱ (link)”
👤 Savior 1
“Aren’t you the same Savior who posted about Usher’s curse before? lol”
└ Savior 2 “How would you even know? It’s an anonymous board.”
└ Savior 1 “Their writing style is a dead giveaway.”
As proof of this, the forum was always filled with the wails of someone who had reached this chapter.
Either way, if a beginner couldn’t figure out which hostage was actually a monster, they had to die.
And to the eyes of others who didn’t know the truth, I would only look like a crazy pope candidate sacrificing civilians.
But surprisingly, despite her conflicted expression, Lora wished me luck.
“…You must have a reason, right? I believe in you. Please, return safely.”
Meanwhile, Antonio—the spy with the fake name who had left with her—
“When you get out, please let me repay your kindness!”
No thanks, buddy. He was memorable until the end, but I have no intention of seeing him again once we’re out.
“Whew…”
Now, out of the six hostages, only three remained.
And the only ones left on our team were me and Dad.
-Now we can start the trial, right?
-You already killed three of them!
Killed? Please. They’re monsters just like you.
I raised my hand and made an overly sad expression.
“Honorable Judge, please… I just sacrificed the hostages and my heart hurts so much… Could you give me a short break? Five minutes will be enough.”
I didn’t think an emotional appeal like this would work.
But when I suggested that we could continue the trials for the remaining hostages without any breaks, the judge accepted.
The moment the break started, Dad rushed over to me.
“Nemesiah.”
“Dad, listen carefully. We don’t have much time.”
I whispered quietly in Dad’s arms.
Clever as always, he moved us into a corner and surrounded us with a barrier of holy power.
Nice, Dad. Your awareness is really top-tier.
“At this rate, one of us won’t make it out.”
I quickly got to the point.
“But don’t worry, I have a plan.”
I couldn’t sacrifice a hostage to send Dad out either.
I needed at least one person to protect me.
‘Besides, the judge won’t let me go out by sacrificing hostages anyway.’
So sending Dad, my protector, out was a stupid idea.
We had to go out together.
“Let’s… go home in a special way.”
Dad hesitated for a moment before placing one hand on my shoulder.
“Hmm?”
“…If you split the burden, it gets lighter.”
Ah.
“If it’s too hard for you, we can switch roles.”
I shook my head.
Dad was certainly smart, but he wasn’t well-suited for dealing with this supernatural phenomenon.
“Dad, you haven’t forgotten, right? If one of us dies, we both die.”
“I haven’t forgotten.”
Even though he hadn’t gone through the formal protector ceremony yet, Dad immediately answered yes.
“Dad, I… think we can’t leave without solving the problem in front of us. But… the way we’re about to do it might hurt you a bit—”
“Nemesiah.”
Dad cut me off.
“Do whatever you want to do.”
My Pope, Dad said solemnly with just his lips.
His somber eyes reflected my face.
“This body is your sword.”
“…Not my dad?”
“That too. I’m multitasking.”
I let out a small laugh.
‘He’s serious, but it’s funny.’
“Then, Dad… later, you know…”
I whispered something to him.
A little later.
“Arghhhh!”
As if waiting for it, one of the remaining hostages started floating into the air.
I watched quietly, then slightly raised my hand.
“Honorable Judge, can I ask a question while the prisoner is being lifted up?”
-What is it?
-What?
“It’s nothing big!”
I smiled brightly.
With no fanatical cultists, spies, or teammates left to watch me, there was no need to tremble anymore.
“This trial… is about defending the guilty human, saving them, and as a reward, I get to return outside too, right?”
That was the rule.
One of the dog-head judge’s three heads tilted, its expression doubtful.
‘Gotcha!’ Another head answered in its place.
-Why?
-We will not accept any more objections.
-We do not allow it.
“Yes, oh no, I was just curious. Thank you for clarifying it.”
Thanks for confirming?
I bowed politely.
One of the dog heads still looked at me sharply with suspicion.
She yeeted Usher out and now planning a get away 🤣 thank you for update!