I’m Trapped in a Bloody Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 125

Familiar scenery began to come into view.

<The Saintess Is a Spy – Third Playthrough>

<Proceed with caution.>

<The time ratio between the game and reality is 1:1.>

<During gameplay, your body in reality will remain in a sleep state.>

There was also a warning message I had never seen before. For some reason, it reminded me of the employee I had met in reality.

A 1:1 time ratio? That meant I had to move quickly.

Closing the system window marking the start of the third playthrough, I glanced around.

What was the situation right now? When exactly had I completed Orias’s capture?

The game had started in a dark temple corridor. There was no one else around. As I surveyed the corridor, a familiar voice called out to me.

“Haniel, what brings you here at this hour? Are you unable to sleep on your last night?”

Orias was watching me.

A sudden chill seeped through my outer garment. Only then did I realize whose clothing I was wearing. The oversized coat, reaching down to my thighs, belonged to Ardal.

The open office door, Orias standing there watching me, the cold wind, and Ardal’s coat.

Checking the embroidered gold trim symbolizing the commander’s position, I recalled the situation.

This was the last night in the Holy Kingdom, just before I had fully maxed out Orias’s favorability.

“If you can’t sleep, let’s have some warm tea together.”

The Orias before me was subtly different from the one I knew. He extended a hand toward me. I stared blankly at his hand, hesitating.

What had I done back then? Had my curiosity gotten the better of me, leading me to ask about his younger sister?

I looked at Orias’s hand and opened my mouth.

“Orias?”

Just calling his name sent an eerie shiver down my spine. It felt as if something was warning me not to ask any questions.

Now that I thought about it, I had felt this same sensation before.

Hearing the change in my tone, Orias bent slightly to meet my gaze, examining me with a concerned expression.

<Administrator mode activated.>

<Administrator mode special item ‘Clue’ is now available.>

<Remaining uses: 5>

A clue?

I glanced at the system window hovering in front of Orias’s face and made a decision.

‘Use Clue.’

<Using special item.>

<Clue obtained: ‘Ending Branch.’>

• If you ask Orias about his ‘younger sister,’ you will be locked out of the perfect ending.

<Remaining uses: 4>

<If a bad ending is triggered, information regarding [Orias]’s status will be inaccessible.>

<Proceed with caution.>

Ah, so this was an important point.

I bit my lip as I looked into Orias’s concerned face. In the second playthrough, this was the moment I had asked him about his younger sister.

“Haniel? Is something troubling you…?”

A sharp, cutting wind howled past my ears.

And then—I had been dragged into his office and nearly triggered a bad ending.

This time, the system was helping me avoid that outcome.

Was it really trying to help me?

I eyed the system window suspiciously, then noticed something in its message that made me refocus on Orias.

The last line of the system notification: Proceed with caution in your ‘actions’.

It was encouraging me to act rather than ask questions.

If a different question was necessary, the system would have advised me to be cautious in my ‘questions.’

Now that I was back in Haniel’s body, I was starting to understand the system’s intent more clearly.

Closing the system window, I wrapped my arms around Orias’s neck. His body tensed at the unexpected embrace.

“Haniel. Say something.”

After a brief hesitation, he wrapped his arms around my waist. Lifting me up effortlessly, he carried me into the office. Unlike the previous playthrough, his touch was gentle this time.

After carefully shutting the door, Orias gazed at me intently. He asked in a quiet, steady voice, “What’s really going on?”

“Orias, I…”

“Yes, go on.”

“I don’t want to leave.”

“What?”

He had been about to set me down but blinked in surprise, as if he had misheard me.

“I don’t want to go to the Empire.”

“That’s…”

He frowned slightly, looking troubled. Furrowing his brows, he examined me for a moment before speaking again, his tone soothing.

“Haniel, that’s not something you can simply refuse. You must go to the Empire.”

“Orias, I…”

“Can you tell me why you don’t want to go?”

After some hesitation, he asked again, his voice kind.

Since I was touching Orias, the system window remained silent. I wanted to use another clue, but stepping away from him now would seem unnatural.

What should I say?

Ugh, I don’t know.

I should just say something—anything—to create some distance, then use another clue for guidance.

Lowering my head, I murmured hesitantly, “…I just want to stay by your side, Orias.”

“Ah.”

“I’m sorry. That’s the only reason.”

“No, there’s no need to apologize…”

Orias, who had been observing me closely, trailed off with a dazed expression.

“Orias.”

I lifted my head and clasped his hand. In Orias’s golden eyes, I saw the reflection of myself—Haniel.

Good, I had put some space between us. Now, I just needed to find the right moment to let go of his hand and open the system.

“Don’t send me away.”

Hearing the plea in my voice, Orias bit his lip. His grip on my hand tightened.

The fingers that had momentarily slackened now clung to mine, holding on tightly.

Wait… this isn’t what I meant.

I needed to let go so I could open the system.

“If there’s anything you want, I’ll give it to you. Just… please, cancel my departure to the Empire.” I shook his hand desperately as I spoke.

Sensing my distress, Orias tightened his grip even further and said, “Calm down.”

Orias, who told me to calm down, didn’t look very composed himself.

His expression was filled with joy.

His flushed cheeks looked as if crushed rose petals had been sprinkled over them. Like a child with their hands full of gifts, he was visibly overwhelmed with emotion. Orias patted me gently.

“Alright. I’ll find a way for you to stay. You’re not the only one who can obtain those documents, so it will be fine.”

His touch as he patted the back of my hand was warm and affectionate. Looking at me with tender eyes, Orias added, “So now, just calm down.”

As he released my hands, his face wavered between happiness and uncertainty. He smiled with a complicated expression.

“Your body is cold. Wait here for a moment—I’ll prepare some tea.”

Orias didn’t bring up the topic of the Empire again and guided me to a chair.

Over Ardal’s coat, he draped a thick blanket. Carefully wrapping it around me, Orias spoke with a rare, unguarded expression.

As he turned away to make tea, his body trembled slightly. It looked like he was shaking from joy.

The moment Orias moved away, a system window appeared.

<Orias’s favorability has greatly increased!>

<Maximum favorability reached.>

<Favorability>

Pope (Orias): ♥♥♥♥♥ (Maximum favorability reached)

• Once maximum favorability is reached, it will no longer decrease.

<The player has voluntarily abandoned the move to the Empire!>

<All events related to the Empire have been nullified.>

<All events involving un-captured characters have been nullified.>

<From now on, only events related to Holy Kingdom characters will occur.>

<There are no more capturable characters. Favorability updates have ended.>

<Viewable Favorability>

• Ardal: ♥♥♥♥♥
• Orias: ♥♥♥♥♥

<Entering Orias’s single route: ‘Master of the Name.’>

• This route does not allow multiple captures.

<Route Progress: 10%>

<Entering Route ‘Master of the Name’>

• Mandatory route events will be generated.

<Mandatory Event: ‘Erased Memories’>

• An event that provides information about [Orias].
• Success Reward: Fragment of [???]’s Memory + Obtain [????].
• If failed, all of Orias’s routes will be destroyed.
• Entry Conditions: Viewing conditions not yet met.

<The prerequisite event for ‘Erased Memories’ has occurred.>

<Event! ‘The Priest’s Secret’ – First Part>

• A priest connected to [Orias] holds fragments of [???]’s memory.
• Currently collected [???] memory fragments: (0/3).
• The information must be obtained before the priest (???) dies.
• Time remaining until the priest (???)’s death: 72 hours.

Wait a second. That can’t be all the information, right?

Even after reading through everything displayed on the system window, I had no idea what I was supposed to do next.

A priest? Who? Who is this priest, and why is the system not giving me any information while telling me I have only 72 hours to find them?

72 hours until death… that meant they were already on the brink of dying!

I clenched my jaw at the system’s lack of further information, but I quickly composed my expression.

While I was reading the system messages, Orias had already returned with the tea and taken a seat across from me.

“There was no real reason it had to be you who went… So why did I believe I had to send you to the Empire?”

Pouring the tea into a cup, Orias murmured, furrowing his brows. His expression showed that he truly didn’t understand.

Well, of course—it was a core setting of the game. But right now, Orias wasn’t aware of that.

Instead of answering, I silently took a sip of the tea he handed me. A familiar aroma filled my mouth.

“Do you feel a little calmer now?”

Orias propped his chin on the table and asked quietly. His narrowed eyes gleamed playfully, making him look almost mischievous.

As I savored the tea, I squinted back at him and smiled.

Damn it.

I had forgotten to check what kind of tea this was.

The tea Orias had given me was the same one I had refused before entering the game.

I had let my guard down because he had been smiling so innocently when he turned to make the tea.

I had completely overlooked the fact that Orias frequently laced my drinks with aphrodisiacs.

After tormenting me so much in reality, was he planning to do the same here too?

It seemed best to cut things off at this point.

Maintaining eye contact with Orias, I set my teacup down. Ignoring his blank stare, I slowly leaned forward and rested my head on the table.

“Haniel?”

Orias’s startled voice reached my ears.

Feigning exhaustion, I exhaled deeply and thought—

‘Logout.’

As I logged out, I saw Haniel’s body slump lifelessly.

The last thing I saw before returning to reality was Orias’s bewildered face as he looked at my limp form.

***

The dull ache in my lower back made reality feel tangible.

Groaning slightly, I held my waist and stretched, still keeping my eyes closed as I reached out.

“…Huh?”

Where is Orias?

As I patted the spot beside me, I felt the cold sheets beneath my fingers and opened my eyes.

After scanning the room, I let out a sigh.

“Ah.”

I’m screwed.

The space around me was familiar.

It was the same room I had seen in the first playthrough—the confinement ending with Orias.

I felt a weight around my ankle. When I looked down, I saw it—shackles attached to a thick chain, fastened around my foot.

I wiggled my toes and sighed in resignation.

So I had been imprisoned. I had barely spent any time in the game before this happened—when had he managed to do all this?

I tried to sit up, but a wave of drowsiness washed over me, making me lean back against the pillow.

Why am I so sleepy?

<You have inhaled sleep-inducing incense.>

• Entering forced sleep state.

As if answering my question, the system window popped up with an explanation.

The system warning was the last thing I saw before my consciousness faded into darkness.