Chapter 40

Game Category [Post][Casual Chat]

~Paranormal Class~
“The Judge’s Law”
Grade: Arkhon

(Excerpted)

You guys are probably wondering.

You’ve figured out how to detect contradictions and choose the right options. As long as you persuade properly, it should be smooth sailing, right?
What kind of trap is left? What else is there to solve?

Everyone thinks that—until they die. I was the same… lol.

But what if the final trap lies in the ‘hostages’ you’re supposed to rescue?

The moment you encounter the hostages in the last area, you’ll start seeing the interaction button pop up. You know—the kind only major NPCs get.
Why would that be? You think the devs coded that in just for fun?

Hell no. These bastard devs never waste their time.

Remember:
Among the hostages you’re supposed to rescue, at least one is a trap card.
The moment you let your guard down, they’ll strike you in the back. And then what? Restart the game, of course. Lol.

Just remember.
Minimum of one. Maximum? All of them.
They’re monsters disguised as hostages.

For the record, I’ve never seen a run where all the hostages were monsters.
If there’s any player who’s actually experienced that ultra-rare hellspawn scenario, please post proof! LMAO.
Congrats! You just rolled lottery odds right here. Lol.

There’s only one way to identify the monsters hiding among the hostages:

They don’t act like humans.

But goddamn—figuring it out is hard as hell.

Say it with me:
Screw the devs!!!

‘Dammit… I really rolled those lottery odds, huh?!’

After thousands of hours of gameplay, I had never once encountered this. So of course it had to show up now—when the game became real.

‘Freaking fantastic.’

I looked up.

After sacrificing one hostage to boot out Usher…

I sacrificed two more to send out the last of our remaining team.

“Wh-why are you doing this to us?!”

“W-we didn’t do anything to deserve this!”

“Aaaaaaagh!!”

Of course they were outraged.

The hostages reacted just like real humans—screaming, pleading, cursing me.

And honestly, if this weren’t a game, I might’ve been fooled too.

‘Goddamn, seriously…’

The chills I got when they clapped the back of their hands together in praise after I released the first hostage from Team One…
Still gives me goosebumps.

Thank goodness.

Clapping the back of their hands was one of the few easy tells when identifying monsters among the hostages…

Truthfully, I made it through mostly unscathed.

But looking back? This chapter was insane from the start.

It started with solving that brain-melting quiz from Usher, then catching the contradictions in that damn Judge’s words to unlock dialogue choices…

And now I had to closely watch the hostages to filter out the monsters too?

‘Even knowing all this—it’s not easy to pull off.’

There’s a reason players always curse out the devs in this segment.

Game Category [Post][Casual Chat]
Title: Guys!! I saved a hostage in Chapter 3 and…

THE HOSTAGE KILLED ME WTFㅠㅠ!!!
Why is this even a thing???

❤️ Likes: 119

Comments

👤 Savior 1
(Captain) Alright, lads, we sail here today!!
└ Sayver 3: Aye, Cap! (This one’s a big catch!)

👤 Savior 2
Another poor sacrifice…
└ Sayver 1: F in chat
└ Sayver 3: Don’t quit the game ㅠㅠ if you do, our game dies too

👤 Savior 3
Come forth! Into the loving embrace of the Evil God!!!
└ Original Poster: WTF I was about to clear the stage and died!! WHAT IS THIS!!
└ Sayver 3: Time for a strategy thread! (link)

👤 Savior 1
Weren’t you the guy who posted about Tosher’s Curse? Lol
└ Sayver 2: How do you know? It’s an anonymous board??
└ Sayver 1: Your writing style gives you away

Proof?

There’s always someone crying their heart out on the forums after hitting this chapter.

If you fail to spot the monster among the hostages, you die.
And to outsiders who don’t know the truth? You just look like a psycho Pope candidate killing civilians.

And yet…

Laura, of all people, gave me a complicated look—then quietly wished me luck.

“…There must be a reason, right? I believe in you. Please come back safe.”

And as for Antonio, the fake-named spy who left with her?

“When you make it out, please let me repay you properly!”

Hard pass, buddy.

You were memorable, but I’m never seeing you again.

“Haa…”

Now there were only three hostages left out of the original six.

And the only teammates left were me and Daddy.

— Then we can proceed with the next trial, yes?

— You’ve already sacrificed three!

Sacrificed, huh?

As if those things weren’t the same kind of monsters as you lot.

I raised my hand and put on a dramatically sorrowful face.

“Respected Judge, if I may… I’m so overwhelmed with grief from sacrificing the hostages that I… I just need a moment to collect myself. Just five minutes. Please?”

Honestly, I didn’t expect this emotional appeal to work.

But when I offered to continue the next trials without any more breaks, the Judge surprisingly granted it.

The moment the break was announced, Daddy rushed over to me.

“Nemesia.”

“Daddy, listen carefully. We don’t have much time.”

I whispered while hugging him tightly.

Daddy quickly moved us into a corner and raised a divine barrier around us.

Nice going, Father. You’ve got the instincts of a seasoned player.

“At this rate, neither of us is getting out of here.”

I got straight to the point.

“But don’t worry—I have a plan.”

There was no way I could sacrifice another hostage to send Daddy out.

I needed at least one person to protect me.

‘Besides, the Judge probably wouldn’t even let me go by sacrificing a hostage in the first place.’

Which meant sending Daddy out first would’ve been idiotic.
We needed to escape together.

“Let’s… take a special route home.”

Daddy hesitated briefly before placing a hand on my shoulder.

“Hmm?”

“…If we share the burden, it’ll weigh less.”

Oh.

“If it’s too much for you, I don’t mind switching roles.”

I shook my head.

Daddy may be clever, but he wasn’t a good match for handling the paranormal.

“Daddy, remember? If one of us dies, we both die. Right?”

“I haven’t forgotten.”

Even without having undergone the formal Guardian Rite, Daddy answered without hesitation.

“Daddy, I… I think we can’t leave until we solve the puzzle in front of us. But… the method I’m about to use might be a little… painful and hard for you—”

“Nemesia.”

He cut me off.

“Do what your heart tells you.”

Oh, Your Holiness.

He said it with solemn lips.

My reflection shimmered in his somber eyes.

“I am your blade.”

“…Not my dad?”

“Well, that too. I multitask.”

I let out a small laugh.

‘He’s serious, but it’s so funny I can’t help it.’

“Then Daddy… in a little bit…”

I leaned in and whispered my plan.

Moments later—

“Aaaaaagh!”

One of the remaining hostages suddenly rose into the air as if on cue.

I quietly raised my hand and asked with feigned innocence:

“Respected Judge, while the sinner is being lifted… may I ask a quick question?”

— What is it?

— What now?

“It’s nothing major!”

I beamed brightly.

No more fanatics breathing down my neck. No more spies or teammates hovering. I had no reason to hold back.

“This trial… if I defend a sinner and save them, I get to go home as payment, right?”

That’s what the law said.

One of the dog-heads tilted its head, clearly suspicious.

‘Yes!’ another head replied for it.

— Why do you ask?

— No more objections.

— We do not permit further queries.

“Ah, no, I was just curious! Thank you for confirming it.”

‘Thanks for sealing the deal.’

I bowed respectfully.

Yet one of the heads was still watching me closely with a sharp, distrustful gaze.
 

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Translator: Japchae