Chapter 87

**Episode. 87 What Happened in the Guest Room**

**[Baek Harin SIDE]**

Following the guidance of the vampire, Siwoo and I arrived at the manor.

‘Somehow, I feel uneasy…’

On the way to the mansion, Siwoo and I talked about various things.

And he asked the vampire about information regarding the ‘land of humans.’

I couldn’t understand a single word.

Could it be because he used terms I didn’t recognize rather than different languages?

I think I heard him say ‘Ring Guard’… honestly, I have no idea what that means.

“Ah, I am Han Siwoo… and this is Baek Harin.”

While I was lost in thought, Siwoo introduced me without me saying anything.

I quietly nodded, not saying a word.

There’s nothing I can do right now.

‘Activate sensory sharing with entity Han Siwoo.’

– Whirr…

What I can do is simply connect sensory sharing to monitor the situation.

“Hmm… That’s an unusual name. Anyway, welcome to Violet’s manor. The reason I called Young Siwoo is that I have a request.”

“What kind of request—”

“Could you stay at our mansion for a few days?”

“Excuse me?”

Does that mean I have to spend a long time inside the gate?

If it’s with him, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to live here for a lifetime.

“Hmm… I’ll get straight to the point as a lengthy introduction can be boring. Marry my daughter. It’s not a request, it’s an order.”

Huh?

‘W-what is this person saying?’

I was able to see the appearance of a girl who looked like she was in response to Siwoo’s reaction to those words.

‘Siwoo is… marrying? That girl… a kid?’

A massive chair.

A condescending gaze looking down on us.

A hairstyle that appears to be long black hair.

Eyes shining like a “vampire” from a story, with a bright red hue.

And a figure that, at first glance, seemed impossible for marriage.

‘Daughter… did he say…? He seems to care little for his own daughter.’

No matter how you look at it, she looked too young.

But the killing intent felt outside the door, along with the intimidating aura coming from that person, gave the impression that someone like us would have no choice but to comply with his orders.

Did Siwoo feel that too? He followed a maid with light purple hair that seemed to hold many secrets without any resistance.

‘That person also has long hair… is long hair the trend here…? Luckily, I also have long hair, so I won’t fall behind in fashion.’

Oh no, that’s not the important thing right now.

‘I need to hurry and follow Siwoo.’

“Wait… why are you ignoring me…? What—no matter how much I gesture, you’re not following… are you a blind guest?”

A woman’s voice in her mid-forties spoke as she grabbed my arm.

“Ah… um, I…”

Because my arm was suddenly grabbed, my sensory sharing with Siwoo was cut off.

“Hmm… you there, Mero?”

“Yes, Steward.”

A girl named ‘Mero’ responded.

From her voice, she seemed to be in her late teens… a youthful yet not quite youthful tone.

“Please guide this young lady to the ‘guest room.’ It seems she can’t see, so be careful.”

“Yes… if it’s the ‘guest room,’ chains will be necessary.”

‘Chains?’

There were many suspicious points, but… in my position with no combat ability, I couldn’t do anything.

I followed the girl named Mero.

It was in the opposite direction of Siwoo, so I felt a bit anxious.

**********

Having spent two days in the guest room guided by ‘Mero,’ I hadn’t been able to step outside this windowless place.

As soon as I entered this room, I scanned the walls to determine the layout and the position of the windows.

Despite the medieval atmosphere I had seen earlier, there was a bathroom inside the room.

‘And the furniture is…’

A bed and a small table.

One ordinary wooden chair.

But there were no ‘windows’ anywhere.

Well, it doesn’t matter since I can’t see anyway, so being in darkness all the time is fine.

The most concerning thing is… Siwoo, who was taken away by them.

Surely, nothing bad will happen.

Still, I believe I will meet Siwoo again soon.

Because my connection with you hasn’t ended.

**********

It’s now felt like a week since I was trapped in the guest room guided by ‘Mero.’

I can talk to others only four times a day.

… And I also have the chance to access the door leading to the outside world four times.

The maid attending to me, Mero.

When she brings my breakfast.

“Guest, I have brought your breakfast.”

“Mero… right? Why don’t you let me leave here?”

“… It’s the Steward’s command. Please do not break his orders if possible.”

“But the owner here is not the Steward, is he?”

“… The Steward’s orders are the same as the master’s words.”

For some reason, they don’t allow me to leave at all.

When she brings my lunch.

“Guest, I have brought your lunch.”

As she opened the door and entered with the meal, I thought perhaps I could sneak out, but.

Ultimately, it would be obvious I would just be caught and brought back here.

There’s no point in doing something useless; it would only make me suffer.

“Another same food…”

The same food is served every day.

Luxury steak, a bit of salad, and cold water.

“You’ll just have to deal with it.”

The utensils are a fork and knife.

The knife is sharp enough that it seems to easily slice through the meat.

‘Yeah, it’s sharper than a cutter knife.’

“If you have no further comments… I will see you later.”

With that, Mero exited the guest room.

Once again, the door leading outside closed.

**********

When Mero brings my dinner.

“Guest, I have brought your dinner.”

“What happened to my companions?”

“I’m sorry, but I have no way of knowing. For now, please eat.”

“… Just leave it there.”

And finally, when it’s time to collect the dishes.

“You hardly ate your dinner.”

“It’s my choice to eat. I had no appetite.”

“If you skip meals, you won’t be able to be a good sacrifice—”

“… Sacrifice?”

“No… I apologize, I meant to say that if you skip meals, your companions will be sad.”

“I see… please take it away quickly. I want to be alone for a while.”

Sacrifice.

Mero had undoubtedly mentioned the word ‘sacrifice.’

‘If I’m not mistaken…’

**I won’t be shaken no matter what happens.**

**Because I believe in you.**

**********

I don’t know how much time has passed since I was trapped in the guest room directed by Mero.

What is one sacrificed for?

I have thought a lot about this sacrifice, but my conclusion is one.

It’s that knowing about this ‘sacrifice’ doesn’t help me in any way.

‘There’s nothing I can do but wait for Siwoo… right?’

Unfortunately… no, fortunately it seems I still believe in him.

… What’s happened to you?

What kind of trouble are you in?

Or did you really abandon me as a sacrifice?

Please… if you’re safe, come to rescue me.

At this rate, I feel like I might truly go insane.

I’ve thought so many things on this bed where time flows slowly.

I want to go outside to find you.

Being oppressed of my freedom makes me feel increasingly desperate.

Why.

**Why do I have to suffer this pain again?**

**Once was enough.**

**I thought I could finally be saved now.**

**Like when I was in an orphanage…**

‘Siwoo… Siwoo…’

Did you abandon me?

‘No… it can’t be…’

More than anything, more than anyone.

I needed you.

You were precious to me.

“… It can’t be.”

If that’s not true, then why haven’t you come?

‘Why…?’

Surely that little girl with black hair caught your interest.

‘So you’re going to marry her soon… and leave me here…’

Maybe, you’ve already done everything with her.

‘If that’s the case… no, Siwoo likes girls with big breasts… girls with that figure wouldn’t please him…’

What evidence do I have that he likes big breasts?

“No… that’s not true!”

I felt I was denying my inner voice, but in reality, it was my inner voice itself… denying it was almost the same as accepting it strongly.

Now, it seems I can’t trust anyone.

“Ugh… sniff, sniff…”

It’s sad.

‘Sad…’

I feel depressed and sad… but I can’t shed any tears.

How can I cry when I don’t have eyes?

I have no way to release this emotion.

If only you had been by my side, I might have at least been happy.

‘I need… medicine.’

Endorphins… dopamine… adrenaline… anything would do.

No, right now I need endorphins.

‘The stress is too much…’

I want morphine, I want morphine.

“Cough cough, cough cough!”

As my throat got hot and I coughed, a metallic smell of blood rose.

I vomited blood.

The situation is indeed tragic.

Or rather, I wanted to sleep with propofol until Siwoo finds me, but I left the drugs behind.

I want to escape from here.

‘If… the chance comes to be by your side again… I will always be with you.’

This time, until the very end… If we part again like this… I can’t forgive myself for having done nothing.

‘If there’s a way to release this emotion…’

If that happens… yes, **I will have to punish myself.**

“… When it’s mealtime…”

**And punish me for doubting Siwoo.**

**”With that knife.”**