Chapter 91

>Warning!<

>Issuing warning<

A voice came from the ceiling.

When I looked up, I saw a wide, torn-open mouth.

The voice was so loud it felt like it was splitting my ears.

>20 minutes elapsed in one room!<

>Immediate relocation recommended!<

>The Tagger is appearing!<

Some of the kids wore frightened expressions, but thankfully, none bolted.

“I’ll start now.”

The children were holding hands, forming a circle.

And in the middle of that circle… was me, holding a doll.

A little distance away stood Daddy. When our eyes met, his expression was complicated.

‘It’s okay.’

When I nodded, Daddy nodded back.

Srrrk—!

— Hide, hide, hide away, or I’ll see your hair. Hide! Hide!

From the cracks in the wall, shadows began to seep out like liquid—and just like when they swallowed Emmet, black water started pooling on the floor.

“Hurry and start!”

The kids began to spin in a circle around me.

— Found you!

— I’m the tagger~!!

— Taaagger!

Meanwhile, the shadow shuddered and began to rise.

Unable to swallow a human, it failed to take on any form—a shapeless monstrosity charging toward us at terrifying speed.

Crash!

The creature collided with a massive greatsword.

‘Nice one, Daddy!’

“Kids, go!”

The children, tense, opened their mouths to speak.

I’d made sure they didn’t look anywhere but at me—so far, not one had been paralyzed by fear!

“Kids, let’s call the name.”

Just like when we first entered this place, Flora began the ritual first.

“L-let’s… do what we did earlier again.”

Mel’s trembling voice followed.

I saw a pitch-black glow spreading across the floor.

‘Good. They’re starting properly.’

Game Category [Post][Casual Chat]
‘Project Shadow Host’ Speedrun

◆ If you find a weird ‘pattern’ in the room, this is where it starts. The kids will begin talking to each other, and under the MC’s lead, start the ‘ritual.’

You have to know what this ritual is, but don’t let your guard down—be ready for a jump attack!

If you lose control, it’s a bad ending.

Because this ritual forces the Tagger to target the MC and attack them directly.

Just like in the game, when I persuaded the kids to start the ritual, things progressed the same way.

“Let’s pick the tagger.”

“Once we pick, we start.”

“Really?”

“Okay.”

The children spoke their assigned lines in turn.

It was finally my turn.

“I’m the tagger.”

The moment I said it, I felt the doll in my arms twitch violently.

The kids surrounding me lost focus in their eyes. They were looking at me, but not seeing me.

A chill ran down my spine at the eerie sight.

The doll in my arms heaved.

“Tagger~ tagger~”

“Shadow, you’re the tagger.”

“Are you hiding in the darkest corner?”

“Go find the deepest darkness~”

“Hide, hide away!”

“If we can’t find you, we’ll take you away~”

The kids began to sing a song I’d never taught them.

I’d known about this, but seeing it in person was a different story.

“Who will find who~!”

“Who will disappear tonight!”

And then—

Burst!

I felt the doll in my arms rip apart, and from the tear, shadows burst forth.

I instinctively looked toward Daddy.

The amorphous creature he’d been fighting shrank down.

It was coming my way.

“Nemesia!”

There was one thing I hadn’t told the kids or Daddy.

I’d made it sound like all we had to do was complete this ritual and the exit would open.

But there was one more thing—

“Nemesia!!”

I had to personally destroy the Shadow Tagger rushing at me.

It would’ve been nice to shout that to Daddy, but unfortunately…

“Got you!”

“Hiding doesn’t help.”

…The shadow that shot out of the doll took on my face, smiling grotesquely.

— Did you think you’d already won?

The creature’s hand covered my face.

— Poor child! It’s okay now!

— Let’s become one!

At that moment, I lifted the corner of my lips into a sharp grin.

“I know. This is the final round.”

And my vision went black.

When I opened my eyes, I was standing in a familiar room.

A place I knew, but slightly warped. My old home.

I wasn’t even surprised, having already seen this same place earlier in the room with Usher.

‘Just as expected.’

The Shadow Tagger shows the target what they fear the most.

Meaning, everything I fear was here.

Daddy appeared beside me, just as he had back when we were in Korea, holding my now-younger shoulders with a look of disbelief.

“Why were you even born? Well, we were too young… guess it was a mistake.”

Mom appeared next to him and sighed.

“When someone makes a mistake, they have to take responsibility. You’re… the result of that.”

— Poor child!

— It’s okay, we’re together now.

“What day is it today? …Oh, your birthday? I’ve been so busy lately, I forgot.”

“But that’s fine, right? It’s not like you ever wanted anything special.”

The shadow at my feet rose into hands that wrapped around my legs.

From all around, faces identical to mine appeared, smiling brightly as they reached out to me—as if saying I’m on your side.

— It was hard holding it in, right? You don’t have to hide anymore.

— I’ve never met anyone as dark as you.

My hands were definitely shaking now.

The creature’s voice sounded so gentle, so kind—so much that I could lean on it right now.

We’ll love you forever. Only we can.

Because those were words I’d always longed to hear.

Game Category [Post][Casual Chat]

Comments

👤 Savior 1
That jobless loser thinks they’re somebody now?

👤 Savior 2
Always the unloved ones who get obsessed with games lol. Caught you, didn’t we?

👤 Savior 3
Hope that parentless orphan’s life is ruined.

👤 Savior 4
What the hell is wrong with the comments above? Sayver, don’t mind them. You did well reporting it—this should’ve been patched ages ago. Those jerks are just taking it out on you. Ignore them.

The comments from the day I’d been flamed worse than ever in-game—thrust before me like a blade.

Hundreds, thousands of replies saying the world didn’t need me.

What was it that I feared?

In the game, this is where the protagonist’s trauma plays out, and they must escape before breaking down.

But this wasn’t the game, this was reality, and it was my deepest trauma being laid bare.

My greatest fear that nowhere I belonged would ever need me.

Perhaps it was a life where I’d never received the parental love that others took for granted.

A time where, without throwing myself into a game, I couldn’t bear to keep living.

‘But…’

If I already knew all this in advance, things were different.

The reason I’d deliberately taken on the most dangerous role, letting the Shadow Tagger devour me—was one thing.

I knew my fear, and in this moment, I also knew the answer.

To escape the Tagger, you have to overcome your greatest fear.

I called the Tagger’s name.

“Mom, Dad.”

The ones who had trapped me in this trauma.

“Unfortunately for you, I am useful here.”

Crack—!

Cracks split across Mom and Dad’s faces as they whispered endlessly.

And not just their faces—

“And that’s why I’m not afraid of you.”

Cra-cra-crack!

Even the space around us began to fracture.

“I also have the certainty that I’ll be fine.”

“Liar!”

“That’s not true!”

“You’re scared!”

“No, you’re not!!!”

The Tagger screamed, but I clasped my hands together like in prayer.

“Nope, you’re wrong.”

[Use ‘Purification’ skill?]

“Do you think anyone else here is as needed as me?”

I slowly opened my eyes and gave my dead parents a bright smile—one I’d never give them again.

“Without me, the world ends.”

[Hidden Skill ‘Purification’ activated!]