Chapter 88

With Flora’s nod, I turned my head once more.

There was still one more person I needed to warn before rushing to stop Emmet.

“Gidehme!”

Already, several of the Emmets in the mirrors were reaching out, harassing the other kids.

It wasn’t many yet, but the more Emmet got swallowed by the Shadow Host, the more reflections there would be.

“What?!”

“Just stall them for a bit! That’s all you need to do!”

For a fleeting moment, my eyes met Gidehme’s. His expression was full of irritation.

Something about it was so childishly genuine that I couldn’t help but smile.

“Please!”

Well, that’s unexpected.

I thought for sure he’d ditch everyone and run, but for some reason, he was protecting another kid.

“There’ll definitely be a Guardian coming!”

“Damn it, how am I supposed to believe that?!”

“Believe me!”

Gidehme glared at me, then turned his head away. His lips moved—probably swearing under his breath.

Even so, I saw him swing his sword to block one of the Emmet reflections that had reached out from the mirror.

“Fine, just hurry up and fix this! If you can’t, I’ll kill the one with the shield first!”

At that, Mel, who was standing beside him with her shield, shuddered.

“Nemesia, I’m fine!”

My eyes widened.

Wait, has Mel already gotten all her memories back?

It was surprising—faster than any of the other named candidates—but I didn’t have time to dwell on it.

“Let’s hang in there! We’ll make it out alive!”

“Obviously!”

With Gidehme’s disgruntled mutter as my send-off, I took off running.

I hurried westward.

No time to waste.

Just a moment ago, I’d spotted the only reflection that looked different.

The further west I went, the clearer the image of the real Emmet—slumped on the ground—became.

And soon, I saw he was holding someone in his arms.

It was a little girl.

“You didn’t do anything.”

“You let her die.”

“And even now… you’re trying to sell her out, aren’t you?”

The Shadow Host always targeted a child’s greatest trauma, clouding their judgment and forcing them to act it out in reality.

This voice had to be the Host whispering into Emmet’s ear.

— Aha?

— Hahaha?

The closer I got to the real Emmet, the more I could feel the reflections starting to chase me.

Well, it wouldn’t be a horror game without actual horror, right?

I avoided looking them in the eyes and made it to the mirror I’d been aiming for.

Game Category [Post] [Casual Chat]

‘Project Shadow Host’

◆ If Emmet gets caught by the Host:

=> Tough luck, bad RNG. If you’re just going to kill him here, smash the mirror. Not the recommended route, though.

=> If you’ve decided to save him, jump into the mirror.

As I reached the mirror, I could see the other Emmets moving urgently.

Too late to stop me now.

Without hesitation, I jumped through.

Shvoom.

The moment my body passed through, a completely different scene unfolded.

A village.

“It’s hot…”

Under the blazing sun, the famine-stricken earth was cracked and dry.

This is right before contamination sets in.

I chose the clearest-looking hut and stepped inside.

From outside, they can see me, but they can’t hear anything I say—right?

Inside was Emmet.

He looked younger than I remembered.

In his arms was a girl much younger than him.

“You understand, right, Fel? I’m not… sending you away. I… I…”

His eyes were hollow as he mumbled to himself.

The shadow at his feet was slowly dragging him down, creeping over him bit by bit.

I grabbed his arm and tried to pull him up, but he didn’t budge.

Then—

Mirrors suddenly appeared all over the hut.

But in those mirrors wasn’t Emmet—it was a little girl.

The exact same girl he was holding.

In truth, she was Emmet’s younger sister, being held hostage by the kingdom.

Emmet had infiltrated the Order as a spy for her sake.

“Big Brother Emmet… why didn’t you save me?”

“Didn’t save me?”

“Didn’t save me?”

“Didn’t save me?”

“Didn’t save me?”

“Didn’t save me?”

“Didn’t save me?”

In the mirrors, the girl had injuries, her face twisted in pain, blood trickling down.

All a guise—the Shadow Host’s imitation, meant to provoke him.

“N-no, no… I-I didn’t abandon you…”

His words were like a broken record as he clamped his hands over his ears, trembling.

After a moment’s thought, I took his hand.

Normally, a choice prompt would pop up here.

But this wasn’t a game, so it was entirely up to me.

I crouched to meet his eyes.

“I was supposed to protect you… I had a plan… you were the one thing…”

Sweat drenched his pale face, and he shook like a leaf, eyes unfocused.

I clasped his hands tightly in both of mine.

“This is all a lie.”

“Fel… Fel, I’m sorry…”

I tilted my head.

“It’s true, it really is. Can’t believe me?”

I spoke like it was nothing.

“Felia’s living well. She was even adopted into a noble family.”

The moment I said it, his muttering stopped.

At the same time—

Ugh.

Every single mirror-girl turned to glare at me. Yeah… that was creepy.

“What… what do you mean?”

For the first time, Emmet lifted his head. His pupils were blown wide, and though he seemed barely lucid, I could feel him focusing on me.

It was my chance.

“I’m from the royal capital.”

A lie.

I wasn’t from the capital, but I knew it better than any native—because I’d memorized the world lore just to see the endings.

Felia was adopted into a baron’s family—one without any daughters.”

“… Fel… did… did they keep their promise?”

Here, they meant his superiors in the royal spy network.

I nodded.

“I see… Fel… thank God. That was… the only choice I could make…”

I knew why Emmet was calling me Fel.

The more his emotions wavered, the more my face overlapped with his sister’s in his mind.

“Yup. You kept her safe. She’s living happily.”

I answered calmly.

“But if you die here, you’ll never see Felia again, right?”

His eyes flickered.

“It’s a lie!”

“Lie!!”

“LIE!!!”

The mirror-girls shrieked, their voices growing louder and more desperate.

A sense of danger prickled at my skin.

Crash!

A blood-stained palm slammed against the glass.

Crack. Shhhh!

Fractures splintered across the mirror.

If that breaks, I won’t be able to get out of here…!!

The bad ending was right in front of me. I hurried toward Emmet.

His eyes were still trembling.

“I-I can’t leave. I… I ran away.”

“Yup, maybe so. But you ran for your sister’s sake, didn’t you?”

Even in this urgent moment, I couldn’t let a single trace of panic show.

“That’s fine. Just don’t run anymore.”

I kept my tone as even as possible.

“…”

“Will you be the big brother who doesn’t run away now?”

I smiled brightly.

In that instant, I felt the focus return to Emmet’s eyes.