Chapter 92

[Status Effect “Loss of Control” reduces effectiveness!]

Purification had triggered properly, but almost at once, the status effect activated alongside it.

It didn’t matter.

[Active Skill “White Silence” activated!]

A silver, transparent veil draped over the power of Purification like lace curtains, and from within that shroud, a brilliant light burst forth.

— Aaaaaaaaagh!!!!

At the voice, growing loud enough to tear the air apart, I didn’t cover my ears—only furrowed my brows.

“You’ll regret this!”

“You think you can survive in this world?!!”

“You’ll die!”

“You’ll die horribly!!!”

The splitting shadows broke into many pieces, all charging toward me—each wearing my face, yet melting like liquid.

I only stared at the oncoming monsters.

Because I knew they could no longer harm me.

“Mkay, thanks for the pep talk?”

When I smiled sweetly, the monsters’ eyes widened. With no pupils, they were just holes—holes with an endless abyss roiling inside.

The moment the monsters opened their mouths again, a blinding light swept out, and I reflexively closed my eyes.

When I opened them slowly—

“U-ugh…!”

My body was shaken violently.

But I wasn’t surprised.

Because there was an embrace wrapped tight around me.

“Haa… Nemesia.”

“Daddy.”

Daddy held me firmly, breath ragged. I could feel his arms trembling, maybe from fright.

“You promised you wouldn’t recklessly go off alone, that you’d take me with you…”

Having lost his self-esteem, Daddy didn’t even have the heart to scold me.

That, somehow, made it sting more. I hesitated, then patted his neck lightly with my tiny hand.

“Mm… didn’t know it’d be like this.”

I decided to keep quiet about the fact I had known, just for now. Saying so would only hurt him more.

“But, I made it through. Did good, right?”

“…Weren’t you scared?”

“Mm.”

I hugged him tightly.

Daddy returned the hug and patted me gently. I grinned and spoke in a small voice.

“Nemesia saw the scariest, scariest thing in there… but I’m okay.”

I slowly lifted my head, meeting Daddy’s tear-brimmed eyes—eyes that showed just how much he’d been worried.

Now I knew.

That this was love.

And that this quiet, constant care—no matter what I said—was trust.

“’Cause Daddy’s here, I know I won’t be lonely or struggling anymore.”

“…Then, your fear…”

Daddy started to say something but closed his mouth, as if he already understood without me explaining.

He probably did.

He could guess what had happened to me when the Tagger caught me.

A shadow of pain crossed his face for a moment, but then he smiled faintly, looking at me being so calm.

“…Alright. That’s enough, then.”

His big hand stroked my head gently.

“As long as you’re alright, that’s all that matters.”

I smiled lazily in his arms.

When I finally came back to my senses, the children were lying unconscious around us, but one by one, they began to stir awake.

“Ugh, what… Oh, Nemesia!”

Flora was the first to bolt upright and run toward me.

Soon, the other kids got up too, crowding over.

“What happened?”

“Is it over now?”

“I, I don’t see an exit…!”

One at a time, please, kids.

I asked Daddy to look after them and hopped down to the floor to scan the room.

“Gasp… look over there!”

Following my gaze, one child cried out.

There—

Shhhhk!

— Le… let’s… plaaay…

The Tagger, now back in doll form, was disintegrating into dust!

“Kids, get ready.”

“Mm?”

Here’s the method I’d figured out while gaming.

In the same room where you’ve caught the Tagger, if you catch it again…

“Something’s gonna happen!”

…An escape route opens!

To be precise—

SLAM!

At that moment, every door in the room burst open at once.

“Th-the doors opened?”

“Which way do we go?!!”

While the kids panicked, only Emmet stayed calm.

“We thought completing the ritual would let us out. Now, find the door that leads outside!”

“That’s…”

“The entrance!”

Emmet shouted, Flora answered.

‘Nice, he’s growing!’

Taking a step back, I clung to Daddy’s pant leg and applauded inwardly.

“F-Flora’s probably right…!”

Pretending I’d just realized too, I nodded timidly, and the kids’ eyes lit with certainty.

“Hey, we should hurry out anywhere we can!”

Oh, they noticed that too.

— N-no… The end is…

“The doll’s regenerating!”

— Nooooooo!

Sure enough.

‘When the exit opens, a time attack starts.’

We had to return to the room where we’d first woken up before the time ran out.

“Looks like I know what to do.”

Daddy said this and hoisted me up in one arm.

“I’ll cover from the rear, run ahead!”

Nice one, Daddy.

With his shout, everyone began sprinting in the same direction.

“That way, that way!”

Sharp-minded Emmet took the lead.

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

◆ You broke through the protagonist’s high-difficulty trauma. Good job!

Now, let’s enjoy the time attack!

When obstacles appear, spam that button and test the health of your fingers, haha.

If you don’t escape in time, or if the Tagger catches you, it’s a bad ending! ㅇㅅㅇ

And by the way, the Shadow Tagger chasing you won’t be just one!

But isn’t that thrilling? This is Salvatore, after all!

Enjoy! Hahahahahaha!

By the time we were about to exit the room we’d been in, we met familiar faces.

Because with every door opening, the Guardians trapped in other rooms had escaped, too.

“Mom!!”

“Huh? Mel?”

The first we met was Laura—an all-too-familiar face.

“Gidehmeee!”

“Lady Flora, are you alright? Any injuries?”

One by one, each Guardian appeared and scooped up their candidate in a rare display of affection.

‘Gamers called this the piggyback sprint.’

Of course, there were also less welcome faces.

“Emmet! You’re alive? Wow, what’s all this, hahahhah!”

Antonio the spy, snatching Emmet up like luggage.

And that Usher guy, staring holes through me. Whatever.

“Three coming from three o’clock!”

“Kyaaaah, scary! Antonio Punch!”

“Oh, please, Antonio, quiet!!”

Shadow Taggers swarmed from all sides, but with the Guardians’ help, dodging and evading them was far easier.

‘Why are the Guardians noisier than the kids…’

There were side effects.

“They don’t disappear even with aura. Is that normal?”

At Daddy’s question, I quietly nodded.

These Shadow Taggers could be evaded or driven away, but not destroyed.

‘We have to reach the exit.’

Thankfully, our group passed through the rooms smoothly—

And finally, we arrived at the room where we’d first woken up.

“There! A portal…!”

At Flora’s shout, everyone rushed toward the white hole as if on cue.

“Haha! Going first! See you in a bit!”

Emmet and Antonio’s pair leapt in first.

Next came Gidehme with Flora.

Mel, Flora, and the rest of the kids went through one by one.

That left just four.

‘Don’t let your guard down.’

Even as the children vanished through the portal, I couldn’t relax.

Sensing my tension, Daddy asked cautiously.

“Nemesia?”

“Daddy, stay sharp…!”

The only ones left were a black-haired girl named ‘Lucy’ and her Guardian—

And us.

Oh, you didn’t all forget, right?

If you let your guard down here…

This is where the Evil God’s chosen child is born.

And if that happens?

Well.

Sayver’s gaming life is over!

“Daddy!!”

Sure enough. Just as Lucy approached the portal, I saw it.

The shadow, dropping from the ceiling.