Chapter 51: Together in the Flames

After putting all the mixed-up beings to rest, I was able to obtain a weapon in a cave.

The weapon was a brightly burning holy flame.

It could be created by combining the light source from the disassembled flashlight with a torch in the cave.

There were many hints from the beginning that it was a magical flashlight.

Demons popped out of the cave, but I could move forward by defeating them with the holy flame.

“I like this weapon.

It can attack demons while also illuminating the surroundings.”

-You can avoid them, but you never run away lol

-You beat them all with stones, so

-It’s hardcore, so there are many of them and their health is high, is this right…

In the cave, I found an altar and learned that 666 sacrifices were needed.

When I came out of the cave, a maze that restricted the path with dense trees and vines appeared.

Throughout the maze, there were more clues about the forest.

Among them, there was something a little strange.

Today, I lost her.

The vines swallowed her.

I tried to hold on to her… but I couldn’t reach her.

That cold feeling, I’ll never forget the moment her hand slipped from mine.

She believed in me.

That I would protect her.

But I failed.

I will bring her back.

No matter what this forest demands, no matter the cost, I will get her back.

It was written on an old piece of paper that looked like it had been torn from a notebook.

“This handwriting.

It’s mine.

The tilt, the curves.

there’s no doubt.”

“Wait… I wrote this?

But I don’t remember.

Not a single word.”

“He wasn’t in the forest for the first time.

This guy had lost his memory.”

-It’s not just a game that surprises you with graphics

-There is a bit of a story

-I’ve been watching since the cave, has Ria ever been surprised?

Why are you so calm?

-Never~ This is the waiting room for screams^^

-You’ll be waiting forever..

-Is this the waiting room for the new year?

After getting the clues and dealing with the beasts in various places, I escaped the maze.

This time, a fairly quiet place appeared before my eyes.

Suddenly, moonlight poured down, and no enemies popped out while I was taking steps.

“There’s no sign of active life here.

There isn’t even a single blade of grass, only trees.

Is there something in the trees?”

I approached and examined the trees with the holy flame.

The pattern of the bark was not normal.

In the smooth grain of the wood, there was a certain shape.

That shape was…

“…a person’s face.”

Here, next to it, over there.

Everywhere I looked.

The faces of people with wide eyes and wide open mouths.

It wasn’t carved as a sculpture, but rather as if the facial features were embedded in the bark.

It was as if they were trapped inside the tree.

“Melanie!”

The man suddenly cried out in agony as he examined the tree.

This is the face of Melanie that the man was looking for.

It was the same woman I saw in the photo.

Her eyes were desperately looking somewhere, and her mouth was open as if to say something.

But it was just embedded deep in the grain of the wood.

It was then.

Without any warning, the woman’s face suddenly turned its head and glared.

“Run!”

-Ah, I got startled!

-Ah, really!!!!

-Wow, I was startled even though I knew it was coming.

-I spilled all the ramen on my desk…

-Lol

Dudududu.

Along with the creepy background music I heard before, the sound of chasing footsteps came again.

It was the monster with its face and limbs twisted and bent.

With its ripped mouth wide open like a smile.

“The chasing speed is much slower since I upgraded the flashlight to a holy flame.

It would be harder not to escape.”

-How can you think of running while looking at that face…

-Ah Ria, please

-Stop running backward

-I wasn’t scared because Ria was so calm, but my heart is forced to pound now.

“If the speed is that slow, the holy flame must be able to deal damage.”

I deliberately waited for it to come close and brought the holy flame to it.

It was effective.

The monster flailed its long limbs.

The problem was that the man also staggered with a painful expression, so he couldn’t continue the attack.

“It seems to reflect the pain.

I can’t control it well.

Then I’ll just keep my distance.”

I put distance, and wait for it to approach again.

And then I swing the holy flame again.

The man and the enemy stagger at the same time.

Repeat the process.

Unfortunately, the man’s mental state reached its limit first.

There were no herbs left, so I had no choice but to run away.

“The opponent seems to be taking real damage, but he only feels pain.

This guy missed a great opportunity because he lacks patience.”

-This is the first time I’ve seen someone try to clear it like that..

-Oh, a thought that suits someone without emotions.

-Ria is scary now..

“Judgment is always important in battle.

If I were this man, I would have gladly endured the pain.”

But this man can’t… so I had no choice but to keep running away.

Then, at some point, the monster stopped first.

And it trembled, and its abnormally stretched limbs made cracking sounds as they bent in all directions.

And then it suddenly stopped all movement.

And then, the black smoke that came out of the monster’s frozen body began to envelop the man.

There was no avoiding it.

Because the man was not being controlled at all.

The screen changes.

It was a production that seemed to read the tracker’s memory through the black smoke.

The secret of the forest and the man’s identity are revealed.

The whole forest was an evil being that grew its power through human sacrifice.

When 666 sacrifices were completed, it could be reborn as a terrible evil that brings disaster to the world.

All the creatures, demons, and beasts that came out of the forest.

The people trapped in the trees were all victims of human sacrifice.

The lover, Melanie, was the 665th.

The man was the 666th sacrifice.

The man’s soul, the last sacrifice, had the noblest and strongest will.

So he couldn’t protect his lover, but he was able to resist the will of the forest and escape.

As a price, the man had to give up a part of his soul.

The forest gave a body to a part of the soul, which was the tracker that was chasing him until a while ago.

He was another version of himself.

The escaped man lived for a year without any memories, but he returned once again to the call of the forest through his dreams.

Now that the forest has lost its control and retrieved a part of his soul that it had let go, the man had a chance to choose.

1. Escape the forest once again (nothing happens)

2. Burn the forest with the holy flame (he has to sacrifice his life to exert that much power)

3. Promise to become the 666th sacrifice and wait until the 665th sacrifice comes (he can revive and release Melanie, who was the 665th)

4. Just become the 666th sacrifice right now (he can become part of a great evil and be with Melanie forever)

“Hmm… what should I choose?”

-111111

-You have to live first…

-44444

-Just create a great demon?

-33333

-3 is too much of a simp ending

Various opinions came out in the chat, but in fact, my decision was already made when I saw the choices.

“I’ll go with number 2.”

At my choice, the man uttered in a determined voice.

“If this fire means we both go, then so be it.

At least you’ll finally be free.”

The flames engulf the tree where the man and Melanie were, and the screams of the forest echoed as the game came to an end.

* Achievement unlocked!

“Together in the Flames”

-Boring ending

-I like it because it’s a happy ending

-Is it… happy?

-But didn’t you choose something that seems too righteous?

lol

-What would you have chosen if it were actually you?

“Even if it were me, my choice would be the same.

I can’t let such a great evil be born.

That’s the responsibility of a hero.”

-Karen isn’t a hero, lol

“I think heroism is more about mindset than ability.

Well, if you graduate early from the psychic academy, your abilities aren’t bad either… It’s a good choice for me, Karen.”

-Karen chose 1 yesterday, lol

-You should live after going through so much trouble, lol

-She also said you can find another lover outside, lol

“Ah… that was really a shameful choice.

I reflected a lot.

That’s why I said I’d show you a different side of me.”

“What’s shameful!

It’s natural to escape!

Ria, are you really confident that you’ll sacrifice yourself?”

The door next to me burst open.

“I thought the game was over… but it looks like there was an epilogue.

I hear the hallucination of a doppelganger.”

“How long are you going to keep doing that!”