I Think I’m a Horror Game Villain - Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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“What nonsense! How am I supposed to do that?”
“Rose, your voice is too loud.” I put a finger to my lips and shushed her, then explained in a low voice, “You’re in your dream, Rose. And you know it’s a dream. Shouldn’t you be able to control what happens here?” Perhaps Rose, the dreamer, could banish these ghostly figures.
“If I could, they’d be gone already! Are you saying I want to be chased by these things?”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“Then why are they chasing me? I don’t want them to.”
“Because this isn’t just a dream, it’s a nightmare.”
The opulent ballroom, the beautiful gown, the laughter and chatter… the dream’s setting was Rose’s happiest memory. Even if the conversations were superficial, Rose had seemed happy amongst the other young ladies. But the moment I revealed the dream’s illusory nature, it warped into a nightmare—a nightmare of being pursued by the terrifying ghosts of Clarence Manor.
“Don’t… go… outside…”
“It’s… scary…”
“Don’t… go…”
The words uttered by the shambling, shadowy figures outside mirrored Rose’s own desire to remain within the dream. Was her fear of waking, of returning to the horrors of Clarence Manor, the source of these monstrous creations?
“The more you fear them, the more they multiply. And… look closely. They resemble the ghosts we saw in the manor.”
“They look like nothing!” Rose muttered uncertainly, lifting the tablecloth slightly. Then…
“Eek!”
The shadowy masses shifted and reformed. Several now bore the likeness of the Seeker from the first floor and Jessie from the escape room.
‘I was right!’ Seeing their transformed shapes solidified my conviction.
“Rose, the way to get rid of them and escape this place lies with you.”
“…What… what do I do?”
“Imagine them all disappearing.”
“.…” Rose bit her lip and murmured, “The monsters are all gone. All gone. All…”
But despite her fervent whispers, the figures remained.
“It’s not working!”
“I wonder why…”
Had I missed something? As I pondered, Dekir spoke cautiously, “Perhaps Rose isn’t imagining it clearly enough?”
Rose glared at him. “Are you saying this is my fault?”
“No, that’s not what I meant… I apologize if it sounded that way. I just meant that it might be difficult to imagine these monsters simply vanishing in a situation like this.”
Dekir’s words sparked a realization. That’s it! Rose was easily frightened. Forced imagination wouldn’t erase the fear rooted within her.
‘The monsters aren’t disappearing because of Rose’s subconscious fear.’
How could I dispel that fear? …What if, instead of simply vanishing, someone defeated the monsters?
“Rose, let’s change our approach!”
“How?”
“Imagine someone appearing and destroying all the monsters.”
“…Who?”
“Well…” Now that I’d suggested it, I couldn’t think of anyone. Someone Rose trusted and relied on, someone strong enough to vanquish these creatures… who could that be?
“Achoo!” Rose sneezed.
“Rooooose…?” The monsters, alerted by her voice, began shuffling towards them.
‘Of all times…!’
“Run!” I darted out from under the table, Dekir close behind. Rose was next.
“Huh?”
“Rose, come on!”
Rose’s face was pale. “My… my dress is stuck!”
I rushed to her side. She was right. Her dress was snagged on the table leg. How did that even happen?
“Dekir, help!”
“Okay.”
Dekir and I struggled to free the entangled fabric.
“It’s not coming loose!” The embellishments were hopelessly intertwined with the frills.
Meanwhile, the monsters closed in.
“Stay back! Disappear!” As Rose’s terror intensified, the monsters swelled in size.
“Rose, calm down! They grow bigger when you’re afraid!”
“I know! But… how can I not be afraid?!”
The monsters now scraped the ballroom’s ceiling, their inky forms merging into one gigantic, gaping maw.
“Scared… no…”
The guttural roar reverberated through the room.
“No…” Rose trembled, clutching my sleeve, her face drained of color.
‘Damn it! There’s nothing I can do!’ This wasn’t my dream; it was Rose’s.
A flurry of thoughts raced through my mind. What would happen if the monster attacked? Would we die? I’d already lost one life in the elevator crash; I only had one left.
I had to run. But what about Rose? What would happen to her? Since it was her dream, she might be safe. But what if I was wrong?
Survival instinct and reason screamed at me to abandon her. At the same time, my heart cried out against it. So, I…
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