Chapter 81

Nemesia was just an extra in the game—one of those nameless characters who died in the very first Labyrinth chapter.

So how the hell…?

‘Who was that supposed to be?’

I glanced toward the kids, but they all had their eyes covered, either breathing in quick little gasps or huddling in on themselves.

…Think about it later.

As soon as I stepped forward, a stone tablet with a question floated up, like it had been waiting for me.

There were two of them.

The questions here were basically O or X multiple choice—pick one of the two options.

Which of the following is true about Pope candidate “Emmet”’s family?

‘A question about Emmet?’

I blinked, then smiled to myself.

1. Has a younger brother.
2. Has a younger sister.

Since those who got the answer right couldn’t speak, I quietly pointed to one side.

‘He’s got a younger sister.’

The moment I answered correctly, my body automatically moved up to the next step. Three steps per correct answer.

That’s how I breezed through questions about Emmet’s hometown, his favorite food, and so on.

He was one of the people who clashed endlessly with the protagonist in-game, so it wasn’t hard.

‘Wow, the more I think about it, the more ridiculous it is. How are you supposed to get these right when they’ve made you lose your memory?’

And if everyone failed and ran into the Shadow Host…

Only then would this paranormal phenomenon return everyone’s memories, forcing them to die thrashing about in a storm of injustice and guilt.

Yeah. Sadistic. That’s what this was.

We were nearly at the end. Probably the final question.

The stone tablet that had been giving questions so far vanished, replaced by one in a slightly different shade.

A tablet of the same color floated up in front of me too.

This question is short answer. Please write your answer directly.

‘…That’s a new one.’

I took the chalk they gave me, frowning. The moment the question appeared—

What is Emmet’s true identity?

“…!”

Why the hell is that a question?! No time to think.

Scritch…

BOOM!

I turned to see a smashed door.

And through it, a great wall of fire…

— There you are~!

A doll, now the size of a seven-year-old child, came through.

— I’m it~!

When it smiled, I could see the sharp teeth that hadn’t been there before.

My stomach tightened.

Rumble—!

Every movement it made shook the ground.

‘I have to get to the next room, now!’

The kids who could hear the sound panicked at the vibration under their feet.

“Wh-what?!”

“What’s going on?!”

“Huup… I can’t see, I can’t see…!”

I hurriedly moved my chalk.

‘Royal spy.’

The moment the brief answer was written, the tablets vanished, and my body shifted on its own.

That was it—the last answer. I’d climbed all the way to the top.

The cloth blindfolds over the kids’ eyes had long since disappeared.

“Run, now!”

But the problem was, the fire and the doll were faster than I’d expected.

Hey, you weren’t this fast in the game!

‘This is cheating!’

“Hup…!”

Mel tripped while running. Before I could act, Gidehme surprised me by scooping the kid up onto his back.

“What are you doing? Everyone run!”

I hadn’t expected that—he was usually selfish and full of complaints…

But the doll and the fire had already caught up close behind us. I clenched my teeth.

“Emmet, Flora…!”

I caught the two as they passed me.

“In the next room, some kid’s worst fear or trauma will show up. You have to deal with it!”

“…What? Why are you telling us this now?”

“Be super nice! Got it?”

Without waiting for an answer, I shoved them through the doorway with all my strength.

They barely made it through before the door, and I fell right in front of it.

‘Ah, damn. Here comes the loop again.’

I got up fast.

Just in time for the doll and fire to arrive.

Bang!

The door shut.

Strangely enough, the flames vanished with it—probably because they came from Mel’s fear.

‘So once Mel was gone, the fire disappeared?’

The doll, however, was still there, not far away, mouth stretched wide.

— Come out, come out, wherever you are! I’ll see your hair~!

Up close, its teeth were crusted with blood. I didn’t want to know what those chunks were.

‘…Stop reminding me this is a horror game!’

— I’m it~! And if I catch you…

‘You die.’

Of course I knew that when I pushed Emmet and Flora ahead.

I stayed because I had something to rely on.

To blind or stop that monster, you have to erase the fear.

Even if I was out, I trusted that Emmet and Flora would earn the kids’ trust and handle it well.

‘Their memories will start coming back more clearly too.’

I’d be the problem.

But I wasn’t too worried. I had an idea.

‘It’s a gamble, but…’

I reached out.

[Danger detected!]

[Would you like to use “Purification”?]

The moment I accepted, I felt divine power surge—

[❗ Due to Status Effect “Loss of Control,” skill activation failed!]

‘Damn it.’

I’d hoped it might amplify instead, but the gamble failed…!

The doll grinned in a warped, unnatural way.

Then, as it reached out, a human finger sprouted from its cottony hand.

“Urk!”

The grotesque sight startled me—

And then that hand gripped my throat.

“…!!”

— Got you!

The rows of teeth gaped wide. Deep, deep darkness. Drool dripped down.

‘Get a grip, Nemesia!’

I gritted my teeth.

[Would you like to use “Purification”?]

[❗ Due to Status Effect “Loss of Control,” skill activation failed!]

Figures my bad luck would hold.

Was this seriously the end?

‘Like hell. Even in the game, I’ve never died on a measly chapter like this!’

Pride—that’s what I had left. Even I found it funny that I was clinging to it now.

Ironically, it helped.

One person came to mind.

Fighting against the tightening grip on my neck, I shouted with everything I had.

‘Da…ddy…!’

[“Daddy” cannot be summoned in this area! (Location: Unknown Paranormal Phenomenon)]

You rotten sign…!!

Then, a new white sign popped up in front of me.

[❗ Status Effect “Loss of Control” amplification effect triggered!]

[A miracle will occur!]

[…Attempting incomplete summon!]

[Call with love!]

“Khoff, D-Daddyyyyy!”

Even as my breath caught, my desperate cry drew a gathering of blue light.

In this darkness, it shone so brilliantly that even my tear-blurred vision saw it clearly.

[Incomplete summon successful! (Time limit: 3 minutes)]

Bzzzt! Crackle!

It hadn’t even been that long since I last saw him, but… I’d missed him so much.

Daddy was there. And when he saw me, he looked horrified.

“Nemesía!”