I Think I’m a Horror Game Villain - Chapter 133

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Chapter 133

“Zion, I don’t like you.” I drew a firm line, determined to stop Zion’s runaway fantasies. “I’ve never thought of you as anything more than a friend. I don’t know how you got such a mistaken impression, but I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t misunderstand any further.” The playful smile vanished from Zion’s face at my blunt words.

“You don’t like me?”

“No.”

“So, this is all a misunderstanding?”

“Yes.”

“….”

Even after hearing my words, Zion’s favorability level remained unchanged, as if he couldn’t accept them. If his favorability level doesn’t go down, he’ll just spout more nonsense. I decided to take a drastic measure to lower Zion’s favorability.

“To begin with, Zion, you’re far from my ideal type.”

“…Didn’t you say your ideal type was someone dependable?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Does that mean I’m not dependable at all?”

“Yes. And an ideal type doesn’t just refer to personality, does it? I care about looks quite a bit. Your face isn’t my type.”

“….”

Objectively, Zion wasn’t unattractive. With his dazzling, golden hair, characteristic of royalty, and brilliant gold eyes that seemed to hold the sun, Zion was the quintessential, pampered prince. Sorry, but I’m more of a Northern Duke kind of girl. Dark hair over blond. A cold Northern Duke, tender only to me, over a spoiled prince. Someone like Dekir, to be precise…

“It was all… a misunderstanding…” Zion murmured in a low voice.

[‘Zion’s’ favorability level for ‘Heyna’ has decreased by 1.]

Saying his face wasn’t my type seemed to be quite effective, as his favorability level immediately decreased. After muttering darkly for a while, Zion forced a smile. “It seems there’s been a misunderstanding between us.” The corners of his mouth trembled noticeably as he forced them upwards. Unlike his curved lips, his eyes weren’t smiling. That damned pride of his. It wasn’t a misunderstanding ‘between us.’ It was just you misunderstanding. …Of course, I didn’t say that out loud.

“I apologize for the trouble.” Zion’s tone returned to normal. Judging by his gloomy expression, he still seemed a bit upset, but… at least his affection level had dropped, so he wouldn’t try confessing again. Thank goodness. That’s one problem solved.

“It’s okay. I’m glad the misunderstanding is cleared up. More importantly, Zion, let’s finish the conversation we were having earlier. You said the reason you tied those two up was to protect me?”

Zion glanced in Dekir and Rose’s direction and nodded. “Yes, that’s right. Those two are ghosts. You never know what they might do, so I tied them up while they were unconscious.”

“…Ghosts? What are you talking about…?” Before I could finish, something struck me. That’s right! Zion and Tommy didn’t enter the Room of Truth. I had forgotten for a moment, lost in Rose’s dream, that Zion and Tommy’s memories hadn’t returned yet.

“Deki and Rose aren’t ghosts!”

“Not ghosts? Isn’t that man, Dekir, the ghost who tricked you, Heyna, and took you to the forbidden room?”

“There’s a reason for that.”

I explained the whole story to Zion: that we had lost our memories of Dekir and Rose because of Napolitan, and that they were our friends who had journeyed with us, not ghosts. After listening to my explanation, Zion simply said, “I see.”

Thank goodness. I thought he’d be more suspicious. Relieved that things were going smoothly, I moved to untie the two. But Zion blocked my way.

“Zion? Move, please.”

“You’re going to untie them? You can’t.”

“What? Why?”

“We don’t know what they’ll do if you untie them.”

“No, Zion…! I told you, they’re not ghosts.”

“Yes, that might be true. But think about it, Heyna. What if my memory isn’t wrong, and it’s your memory that’s wrong because those ghosts have bewitched you?”

“….”

Right. I wondered why he was being so agreeable. He had no intention of listening to me after all.

“Let’s leave them here for now and go look for Tommy.”

Rose, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, gasped. “L-Leave us here?! Zion, are you crazy? Untie us right now!”

Since Zion believed Rose was a ghost, he ignored her completely. “Heyna, let’s go.” He extended his hand to me.