Surviving as an Idiot in a Horror Game

Chapter 6

“Let’s decide by majority vote. How to proceed.”

The Crown Prince finally made his decision.

“What do you all intend to do?”

According to my memory, we were supposed to enter the dungeon here.

In the game, it seemed to depend on Yeniel’s choice, but during the first playthrough, I chose the forest without much thought and got killed miserably.

‘I want to suggest going to the dungeon, but if I try to persuade them properly, wouldn’t my suspicion level rise again?’

Hadn’t it risen by 10% just because I knew the word ‘valid’?

“Hmm, I think Lady Yeniel is really smart! So clever and amazing, indeed.”

I clapped my hands and laughed merrily, acting just like the idiotic lady.

Ding!

[Yeniel’s favorability has slightly increased.]

Compliments also raise the female lead’s favorability.

“I think the forest is the right choice!”

The attendant, Max, shouted first.

“Honestly, how are we supposed to enter the dungeon? Who knows what’s in there! There would be a lot of monsters lurking on the fifth floor and the like. We should go to the city! I’m scared…”

“We have to go into the dungeon.”

The strategist, Sian, suggested calmly to the group.

“I believe there’s a demon sealed inside that dungeon. The Archmage said he’s never encountered a dungeon where a demon wasn’t sealed.”

“Isn’t that dangerous? And you’re still suggesting we go in?”

Max glared at Sian.

“But that also means it’s a path created based on the Archmage’s memories. Even though it’s distorted, at least the space itself should be stable without collapsing. Don’t make decisions based on emotions. We need to judge with reason.”

If you only know the game content superficially, you don’t foresee the situation beforehand, but instead, when you encounter it, you go, ‘Ah, right, this was it!’ Just like now.

“Are you implying that I’m being emotional right now?”

The moment I thought I remembered reading about who disliked whom.

Creak, screech. Creak. Creak.

A bizarre scraping sound was heard, and the group turned their heads.

A boy with a grotesquely twisted posture, eyes wide open and bleeding tears, appeared in a strange manner, creaking and creaking.

On closer inspection, it was a puppet made of metal.

‘Ah, this was a thing too.’

…That’s what it was.

It didn’t look like a living person at first glance, but when the group realized it was a puppet, their expressions worsened even more.

“Why is there such a puppet here….”

The Crown Prince frowned.

Drrrrk!

A blade-like object emerged from the puppet’s mouth, making a chilling noise. On closer inspection, there seemed to be dried blood on the blade.

“Wow, it’s a puppet, but it’s moving! Hello? Hello.”

I waved my hand energetically, just like April would.

Sian looked at me with an indescribable expression, as if he were staring at an utterly incomprehensible being.

“…Can’t the Lady read the atmosphere?”

“Yes! Father said I don’t need to know such things because I’m cute.”

“…….”

[Sian the Strategist’s favorability has slightly decreased.]

Sian’s favorability silently dropped.

The automaton creaked as it raised a finger, pointing to the entrance of the dungeon on the right.

Everyone’s faces stiffened. Even the Crown Prince’s expression hardened as if he were tense.

“Is it telling us to enter the dungeon? Sian, what do you think it means?”

“If we don’t go in, it might mean we’ll die. That’s a torture blade, Your Highness.”

“Y-Your Highness! I can’t do this anymore!”

At that moment, Max screamed as if he were shouting.

“Sir Isengriff! You should do something! How can you remain so calm! You’re both a spiritist and a mage! How can you just tell His Highness and me to enter that place! If you want to go in so badly, why don’t you go by yourself! Get rid of that puppet immediately!”

“Don’t be foolish.”

Sian’s face turned icy.

“If you don’t know, just stay quiet. We don’t have a choice. Ever since the Archmage died, there hasn’t been a single Archmage in the empire for a thousand years. No matter which current mage or spiritist we bring, they won’t find a different solution than I have.”

“And you want us to walk into that dangerous dungeon ourselves? I’m going to the city alone! I thought you were competent, but you’re utterly useless!”

“Are you insane? Sir Max? You’re walking to your death.”

Even though the two were arguing, Yeniel remained silent, observing the situation. It was, in a way, a wise attitude.

‘Is this why she’s the heroine?’

She didn’t seem to have any intention of intervening and creating enemies.

“Move aside! Oh, by the way, do you know? There’s no one who likes Sir Isengriff! Now I see why! Acting all high and mighty, as if you’re something special, bossing people around irritates everyone, even the other imperial faction members!”

Max turned his body furiously.

The city was out of the question. It might be mixed with memories from other bad endings, but going to the city meant hundreds of mechanical puppet monsters would appear and brutally tear people apart alive.

“No, look at that! He’s at it again! Max is so annoying. Whenever we follow his stubbornness, we end up dying every time. He’s such a bully.”

I remembered my brother cursing Max from the side when loading the save file.

‘Well, whatever.’

I approached Max nonchalantly and raised my hand high.

Whether the real idiotic lady, April, would’ve done this or not, I didn’t know, but survival was more important than suspicion.

“No, you can’t!”

Smack!

I smacked Max on the back of his head.

It made a very light sound, and it wouldn’t have hurt. It was just annoying.

“Lady April? Have you lost your mind! Idiot la—.”

Max, who was taken aback at first, looked around when he realized what was happening and tried to hide his anger.

The House of Sharon, where April came from, might have low intelligence, but it didn’t lack power.

Even though April often made strange remarks and actions, people still respected her as ‘Lady April’ in front of her.

“Tsk! Tsk, Sir Max. Friends shouldn’t fight.”

I pouted.

“Did I say something wrong? Everyone knows that Sir Isengriff has a terrible reputation! He has flaws in his character….”

The moment tactless Max grumbled, I changed my expression to a subtle pout and grabbed the crown of his head. I yanked it down forcefully.

“Did you say something bad?”

Huh, that’s strange. As I grabbed and shook him, it strangely fit in my hand.

“W-Wait! How are you so strong… Ahhh! Aaaah! What are you doing! Do you think you’ll get away with this! I’m the next Chief Attendant! Ahhh! Lady, no, Lady April! Let’s talk, please! I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! Aaah!”

Rustle. Clumps of hair were pulled from his crown.

The serious atmosphere had vanished, and the rest of the group looked at us with dumbfounded expressions.

When Max started begging outright, the Crown Prince covered his eyes.

Yeniel, who seemed to be seeing such a scene for the first time, was at a loss for words.

In the meantime, good news appeared.

[Everyone is convinced by the Sharon Marquessate’s tendency to grab people by the hair because they don’t know where else to hold! Suspicion has disappeared!]

[Suspicion level has decreased by 1%!]

[Current total suspicion level: 0%]

I wonder what the Sharon Marquesate actually does.