Trapped in a Game That Flopped Chapter 15

Episode 15

'Suspicion?'

I had no idea why the person who was just mugging for potions was suddenly suspicious.

I couldn't figure him out at all.

Of course, seeing my precious potions get kicked, I lost it for a mont and raised my voice...

But who wouldn't lant seeing their belongings, their precious, money-making products, get rcilessly kicked for no reason.

Thinking back, my reaction was well within the normal range.

But Kassel's suspicion seed to imply my behavior didn't fall into either of the two categories he ntioned, so I quickly added.

"I... am also afraid of you, Sir."

I ant it sincerely, but as if it wasn't convincing, one corner of his mouth quirked up.

"The way you've been talking back while still maintaining a line... It's as if you know what kind of being I am."

"T-Talking back? When did I..."

I felt a prick of guilt.

To think that in that short ti, he had grasped and analyzed the words and actions of a re apothecary.

It was just like the misanthropic sociopath who supposedly lets no one in.

Amazed at the sharp insight of the AI given to the Male Lead, I quickly resud my act as a naive apothecary.

"And... I was given a hint by the Count that soone noble from the capital was here in temporary exile."

It ant, wouldn't I naturally be careful, even if he was a prisoner.

At my seamless retort, the guy, who had been smiling coolly just a mont ago, suddenly hardened his expression like a demon.

Then he abruptly thrust his face in front of my hood and whispered sinisterly.

"...You're not lying about having more potions, are you."

My legs trembled at the Male Lead's face suddenly so close, and I swallowed dryly.

'Only operators can ss with an NPC's inventory.'

Even knowing that, my heart sank, afraid he'd steal the potions filling my pocket.

His looks, which I had thought were the epito of handso when he was tied up with his mouth shut, now felt demonic.

If Kassel's fans had played the ga, they must have all experienced this kind of terrifying situation at least once.

I have no idea what state of mind they were all in to stan this complete psycho...

"O-Of course. How could I dare lie to you?"

As soon as I cleared my throat and answered, he shot back.

"Then why can't I see your face?"

"Excuse ? My face... you ask?"

"I don't like it."

"What don't you..."

"I'm over here, naked and tied in chains. What am I to know if you're a quack or a swindler, shouting for to trust you in that beggar-like getup, all bundled up."

My mind went blank again, just like when I was being mugged.

So all that crap, kicking the potions and threatening , was just because he didn't like my getup...?

'Your getup is even more beggar-like!'

...I had no ti to make that retort.

Because the guy abruptly reached his large hand toward .

Hwook.

When the hand reached right in front of my face in the blink of an eye, I cringed, thinking I was about to be hit.

"Euk...!"

But as his hand passed my face and roughly grabbed the hood covering my head, I realized what he was trying to do.

'Ah, no! It's coming off, my head...!'

Then, a strong force was applied to the crown of my head, as if grabbing all my hair and flipping it back.

"Uh..."

But even after a mont, nothing happened, aside from the feeling of my head being pulled back forcefully.

When I peeked my eyes open, I saw Kassel's slightly stiffened face right in front of .

The hood, which wouldn't co off my head as if it were coated in superglue.

That's right.

As a developer's provision to save even a little bit of effort on character design, the NPC-exclusive robe could also only be removed by an operator.

The guy's hand, which was gripping the hood tightly as if exerting strength, trembled.

My relief was brief.

"What did you do to the robe?"

"Ah, ah! Just a mont!"

My neck was bent back as if I were being dragged by the hair, so I hurriedly grabbed his hand.

"I had to put a spell on it for... reasons!"

"What reasons?"

"Well..."

As I was desperately racking my brain for what excuse to make this ti.

I suddenly felt it was unfair.

'Seriously, why is this bastard so insistent on seeing my face?'

Even Adam, the client, didn't check and let it go...!

"It seems it's ti to re-oil that tongue of yours. Maybe you'll answer properly if I choke you again?"

When I hesitated and couldn't answer, the guy shook my head left and right, making a nacing 'Jeol-keong, jeol-keong!' sound with his chains.

I had no choice but to shout whatever ca to mind.

"S-Scar!"

"...A scar?"

"Yes, a scar! I was badly injured as a child, and half my face beca necrotic! I couldn't get treatnt in ti, so it still hasn't healed, and if you touch it, you might catch a rotting disease!"

"..."

"If you're still okay with it, I'll remove the spell and show you."

As if the 'catching a disease' part worked, the guy stopped shaking my head back and forth.

'Damn it, my concept is world rank number one unparalleled beauty, how did it co to this...'

If my face had been forcibly revealed, would the situation have been less humiliating?

'Who is this concealnt even for…'

I definitely took on the role of an inconspicuous and insignificant NPC at first for the sake of smooth and fast ga progression...

Hiding my face in my hood, I let a single tear drop.

Insomnia-Inducing Awakening Potion Duration: 00:05

Just then, the system window floating to the side flickered, as if signaling a ti-out.

In the miserable state of still having the crown of my head held by the guy, I spoke carefully.

"Um, but, Sir... it's almost ti for your Insomnia Potion."

"Ha, you..."

I just reminded him of the danger, but as if sothing else displeased him, the guy's face twisted for a mont.

Then, before long, he slowly released the hand that had been roughly gripping my hood.

At the sa ti.

The Lord of Nightmares retracts the trace of suspicion he held toward you.

I, who had been tensed up at the guy's nacing aura, relaxed thanks to the system window that popped up next.

'What on earth am I going to do with this bastard?'

His expression and feelings were on completely different pages, so it was incredibly difficult to please him.

Is this why there were so many people who got a ga over in this situation every ti?

The protagonist of this ga, a hero who would save the world and, at the sa ti, a villain who would bring it to ruin.

I had heard of his infamy from the users who raised hell in the report chat, as well as through the community.

But the difficulty of dealing with the guy I'd experienced firsthand was truly, beyond imagination.

"You should drink the Insomnia Potion at one-hour intervals. I'll leave the rest of the potions."

Even in that situation, I grabbed the last Lizard potion that was at his feet, muttered like a rapper, and shot to my feet.

He kicked them away himself, saying he didn't need them, so he won't ask for them again, right.

"Well then, I'll be off to craft potions..."

Leaving only those words, I scrambled out of the prison, afraid he might grab .

Not forgetting to lock the prison door, I rushed down the tower without looking back.

Bbok!

As I sniffled a little, finally pulling the tranquilizer dart from my numb right wrist and throwing it.

'Is this the "Lord of Nightmares Hazing" that's so famous in the community?'

The thought occurred to .

Because of that crazy personality and the nurous variables, the majority of users clashed with Kassel from their very first eting, just like .

The few users who managed to survive without dying would tell their stories like a brag, and later it spread like a trend, and there was even a 'Lord of Nightmares Hazing Contest'.

I read a few when it was a hot topic...

'Not a single one was helpful as a strategy!'

There were plenty of stories about being choked, but I'd never seen a user who got grabbed by the crown of their head and forced to headbang like .

"No. But why is that crazy bastard making such a fuss, such a fuss, about seeing my face!"

Only after coming all the way down the tower did I stomp my feet, exploding with the anger I had been suppressing.

The more I thought back on my eting with him, the more things I couldn't understand.

There were so cases where the apothecary NPC was killed, but usually, his attention was on the user, so he never tried to pull off the NPC's robe.

But I didn't have to suffer and be frustrated all by myself over this crazy, incomprehensible ga situation.

Because I could just ask the bastards who made it.

: XX, XXX! How the hell did you make this ga that the Male Lead XX is such a XX?!

GM Ari: Heok, Shari-nim! You're safe!

GM Sera: I was on pins and needles. Your improvisation is pretty good.

GM Jinu: To think you talked back like that and survived. You seem like rotten water. Admit it? Yeah, admit it.

My mind went blank at the text that flooded in as soon as I opened the chat window.