Chapter 2

‘Shit, what happens if I die here?’

The moment that thought crossed my mind, a powerful force yanked me backward.

Thud!

I was thrown helplessly to the ground.

“Haa… haa…!”

My breath came out ragged from the sudden adrenaline.

“…Are you okay? That was dangerous!”

A brusque but urgent voice.

It was definitely the voice of the protagonist, Khan, the same one I heard just earlier.

‘I seriously almost died just now…’

I was lying on the ground, tangled up with the protagonist.

More than the shock of escaping death, it was this situation that left me reeling.

‘Oh my God! Oh my GOD! I actually got caught in my fave’s arms!’

Eyes wide, I stared up, completely wrapped in Khan’s embrace.

This… This was why I couldn’t help falling for this game.

The protagonist Khan was my absolute favorite.

‘That otherworldly face! That pure heart shouting for justice in a broken world! That flawless personality!’

This boy right here… he was the younger version of that character from the illustrations.

“I was really surprised. You’re so small, yet you ran in to save someone even bigger… That’s amazing.”

Sorry, but I barely heard what he was saying.

“Anyway… how did you know that thing was going to fall?”

“Well…”

Still sitting down and trying to catch my breath, I glanced over.

A huge boulder now sat in the spot where I had just been standing.

Next to it, the child from earlier was frozen in fear, pale as a ghost.

‘At least I stopped the first kid from dying.’

But this was far from over.

The labyrinth was packed with traps.

And the danger would continue… until only one candidate for pope remained.

‘Still, that doesn’t mean there’s no way out.’

A flurry of thoughts rushed through my head. I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration.

‘…But if I do that, then I’ll have to—’

Trying to gather my wits, I started furiously rubbing my face like a squirrel washing up, forcing myself to focus.

And just as I tried to lift my head—

“Wha—?!”

My body lifted off the ground!?

“The floor’s cold.”

Khan had picked me up like it was nothing.

I blinked. The surprise was so great, I couldn’t even scream. Soon after, he set me gently back down.

“Grandpa always said girls shouldn’t sit on the floor.”

‘Wow… he’s so strong.’

As soon as the daze wore off, I turned my head.

Khan was already checking on another child. I hadn’t even noticed he’d moved.

Even now, he was looking after others. Classic protagonist behavior.

Watching that stirred something in me.

Of course, it felt different seeing it in person compared to through a monitor.

“Haa…”

I’d kept playing this game for so long because I loved the protagonist.

But after watching him die a hundred times, I seriously wondered what kind of game this even was.

‘I never thought I’d end up living it.’

All that talk about separating fiction from reality? I take it all back.

“H-hyung. What do we do…?”

A boy who looked about the same age as Khan trembled as he spoke. It seemed like everyone had naturally come to see Khan as the leader.

Khan went quiet, clearly deep in thought, and then said:

“First, we get out of here. There’s gotta be an exit somewhere inside this labyrinth.”

“No.”

I sighed and stepped in front of him.

This wasn’t the way.

Then it hit me.

‘Why’s he so tall?’

He couldn’t be more than seven years old, yet standing in front of him, I barely reached his chest.

Determined not to lose ground, I tried to sound dignified.

“F-first, thank yoo for shavin me.”

Khan looked at me for a moment, then shook his head.

“You’re the one who saved that kid first.”

Yeah. I just didn’t want to see someone die right in front of me.

…Though if I’d realized I’d nearly died in the process, I might’ve hesitated.

“My neck hohts. Move bahk a little.”

“…”

Khan frowned slightly but took a step back without complaint.

“Dis is not da way.”

Shit. What’s wrong with my pronunciation?

My cheeks puffed up in frustration. My brows furrowed deeply.

Then, pointing with my tiny hand, I made sure to enunciate clearly.

“Go dat way.”

I once posted a guide to Black Salvatore on the game forums that made it to the Best Posts board.

Back then, I was deep into speedrunning the chapters.

That’s also when I discovered a certain bug, completely by accident.

“This way.”

I knew this place like the back of my hand. I could find my way even with my eyes closed.

Leading the children, I guided them all the way to the labyrinth’s entrance.

It was the same gate the soldiers had thrown us through.

As we approached the giant doors, one of the kids suddenly yelled at me.

“Wh-what are you doing?! That door’s locked!”

“Wai fo it. Impashunt much?”

…Even I couldn’t stand my own pronunciation.

Did my tongue get cut in half or something?

Just as the older kid said, the massive door we’d entered through was firmly shut.

But I wasn’t aiming for the door.

I was aiming for the wall right beside it.

I started pulling away the vines covering it.

And sure enough, I found it.

‘Ha, I knew it’d be here.’

I picked up a loose rock and threw it five times at a certain brick.

Then gave the wall a solid kick.

Shwoop!

Magically, my foot slid right into the wall.

‘Just as I thought.’

I calmly pulled my foot back and turned around.

Khan and all the other kids were standing there, mouths hanging open.

“A… hole?”

“I-I can see outside!”

This chapter was originally meant to show how hopeless the game world was.

The forum post that popped into my mind now was:

‘I’m not gonna stand by and watch the protagonist die here.’

It wasn’t just him. These kids too… I had to watch them die one by one.

I tilted my head stubbornly.

“Go in hewe.”

“…What is this?”

Khan’s voice was wary.

“Exit.”

He looked surprised. I just shrugged and added,

“As far as I kno, it only stays open fow thiwty seconds. Run!”

“…”

“Hey, you! If you wanna see yer mom again, this is yer last chance. Go!”

I shouted, and the kid who’d flinched earlier darted into action.

Kids are simple like that. Once one moves…

“W-wait! I’m coming too!”

“M-me too!!”

…the rest follow.

One of the older kids yelled, “Mom!” and bolted, triggering a domino effect. The others rushed in behind him, disappearing through the hole.

The only one left was Khan.

He stood there, not even glancing at the exit, just staring at me.

Like he was weighing something.

“…Why aren’t you going?”

“Wha? Don’t you trus me? I don’t lie.”

“I know. That’s not it…”

I knew, too.

That frown on your face is because you’re worried about me.

A boy who never lost his kindness, even in this world filled with despair.

‘I really liked that about you.’

But you know what?

I worry about you even more.

I reached out my tiny hand and tugged on Khan’s sleeve.

“Den le’s go togeher.”

In the end, Khan gave in and stepped toward the hole.

And the moment he reached the edge, I shoved him in with all my might.

“Didn’ tell you, but I’m stayin here.”

Someone has to stay behind.

Otherwise, the guards will get suspicious.

Honestly, this was half out of duty, half out of principle.

I knew this chapter better than anyone.

And I was confident I could find my way out, even alone.

But above all—

“Bye~!”

I wanted to see it.

The protagonist I loved so much…

…Getting a happy ending right from the very beginning.

“I’ll be the crusader of justice in yer place!”

I grinned wide.

“Go live a happy life!”