A Horror Game Steeped in Immorality - Volume 1 - Part 4
[You do not have to undertake surprise missions as they appear. However, these missions drop important items that can aid in gameplay, so choose wisely.]
[Oh dear, I’ve spoken too much. Master Lionel’s birthday party is about to start. We can save the rest of the explanations for later. Let’s leave it at that for today.]
[Now, player, I must ask one last question. Are you ready to uncover the truth of the Albert family?]
[YES / NO]
‘NO’ was grayed out and inactive. ‘YES’ was the only option available to me.
[You’ve made an excellent choice, Miss Leah. One cannot attend the youngest master’s birthday empty-handed. I have prepared a gift on your behalf; please take it with you. If you need my assistance, feel free to call on me anytime.]
-You have acquired a ‘box with a pink ribbon.’
My body, once floating like a handful of air, felt like it was being pulled down to the ground by gravity. The light that obscured my vision dispersed, and gradually, the colorful shapes of something caught my eye.
“…Thank you, sister.”
Lionel said, his cheeks flushed like a peach. The face of a man, no longer a boy was mixed with shyness and joy.
…Damn, it’s reset again. This is already the seventh restart. I’m trapped in a game that I can’t escape unless I clear it.
I barely managed to hold my contorted facial muscles in place and lifted the corners of my mouth.
“Happy birthday, Lionel.”
On the white marble dining table, dishes crafted with care by the chef were arrayed in variety. Lionel sat in front of a five-tiered cake, placing the gift I gave him on his lap as if it were precious. He didn’t even glance at the other gifts piled up like a mountain behind him.
“Lionel? You should open the gift now. It’s from Leah.”
Daymond Albert looked at the gift I gave for a long time. To others, it might seem like a father curiously glanced at a gift his daughter gave to his son and thought nothing of it, but I felt a strange chill from the gaze that lingered for a few seconds.
Lionel hid the gift behind his back.
“I’ll open it alone in my room later.”
“I’m curious what kind of gift my daughter has prepared.”
Daymond swirled the wine glass filled with red wine lightly as he spoke.
“I’ll open it and tell you about it later.”
“Lionel.”
“It’s my gift. The one sister gave to me…”
“Are you still not over your puberty?”
Lionel particularly disliked being treated like a child. Everyone knew he compulsively tried to act maturely to appear grown-up, including Daymond, Lycan, and all the servants. During the first round of the game, the son of the Count of Retheran had given Lionel a fencing manual as a gift, only to lose his wrist to Lionel’s sword.
Clutching his severed wrist and convulsing as if he was about to faint, the young Count lay there while Lionel said coldly,
“Do not insult me with something a b@by would enjoy.”
…That kid is definitely not normal.
But even Lionel couldn’t unleash his anger freely at his father, Daymond. He only bristled like a hedgehog, on guard.
“Act more grown-up, Lionel. Even if you’ve just reached adulthood, you need to mature on the inside.”
Lionel’s face flushed with blood. Watching his long eyelashes tremble, I felt a moment of pity. Daymond seems just as immature. Arguing with his much younger son like this.
Lionel always had to be the first among his peers. Unlike Daymond and Lycan, who were above average in development, Lionel was small and looked like an ugly duckling. His delicate facial features and pale, b@by-like skin often led to him being mistaken for a girl.
However, thanks to going through puberty exceptionally well, his body became as sturdy as his father Daymond’s, and he grew taller than 190cm. His relentless training resulted in a physique that couldn’t be called childish, except by his family.
Daymond always picked on Lionel’s complex about his young age. Lionel’s face was on the verge of exploding.
“Go on, open it.”
Daymond gestured with his chin while bringing the wine glass to his lips.
Lionel slowly untied the ribbon with his beautiful, long fingers. The fine ribbon fluttered down. Lionel glanced at Daymond and bit his lip hard.
“You’re slow in your actions.”
When Lionel opened the box, Lycan, sitting across from him, blatantly laughed out loud at the gift inside. A cute bear doll dressed in a lace dress was inside the box.
…Damn this f*cking system.
Since the system’s gifts were always different, I had no idea what was inside until Lionel opened it. Last time it was a black horse, and now suddenly a bear doll!
“Leah gave you the perfect gift.”
“Ah, Lionel, you see…”
I pressed my throbbing forehead with my palm and called out to Lionel. He was looking down at the bear doll, head bowed. Considering the Count’s son lost his wrist for giving a fencing manual… what happens to me for giving a bear doll suitable for a five or six-year-old?
“Lionel…”
“Sniff, sob.”
Instead of a cold, angry voice, sobs were heard. I stared at Lionel with wide eyes.
“Thank you, sister. I’m so happy.”
“…What?”
Lionel carefully took out the bear doll with both hands, as if holding a fragile chick, paying full attention.
“This birthday is the best in my life. I will never forget it.”
Lionel with a face filled with tears, said this. Lionel had never shed tears over my gifts before. Somehow… as the game resets, Lionel’s reactions seem to become richer. I scratched the back of my head and smiled awkwardly.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“Really. I really like it. I’ll take good care of it, thinking of it as Leah.”
“Well, you don’t have to go that far…”
Boom! Crash! A sharp cracking sound caught everyone’s attention. Lycan, who had punched the table, was looking at me and Lionel with a stiff face.
