“Children?”
Neither Kam nor Kum responded to Egru’s call. They simply clung to his frail arms like weights.
“Just for a moment, okay?”
When he tried to gently withdraw his arms, they gripped even tighter, expressing their displeasure. Egru had no choice but to perch on the edge of the bed, unable to move either way.
“Come now, children. Egru needs to prepare to meet his kin.”
Philip rolled up his sleeves and entered the cell. However, his aged body had its limits. After trying to apply force here and there, Philip finally backed away, stretching his back.
“Good heavens, they won’t budge an inch. Such tiny things with the strength of oxen.”
“It’s fine. They’ve already had their bath this morning anyway.”
“That’s not the only issue. We should separate the children beforehand. At the very least, while meeting the elven delegation, I should keep them with me. Having them together will surely sway the decision one way.”
At Philip’s words, the twins’ eyes sparkled imperceptibly. Kam and Kum immediately pressed their foreheads against Egru’s arms and began nuzzling.
“Big brother…”
“Brother…”
The twins drooped their eyebrows into a ‘八’ shape and whimpered dolefully.
“Are you going to leave?”
“Leaving us here alone?”
Seeing their small, glistening eyes, Philip pressed his forehead and sighed.
“Oh my. Look at this, Egru. At this rate, there’s truly no way to separate them.”
“…”
“Egru?”
Philip’s call gradually faded from his ears. Egru stood frozen in time, intently staring into empty space.
“Are you listening? Egru?”
The questioning tone failed to penetrate his muffled eardrums.
<system>
Now is the only chance to eliminate the minions of evil.
The long-absent but welcome status window had appeared.
<system>
- Sudden Quest: Eliminate the twins [Kam] and [Kum].
- Recommended weapon: Fork
- Recommended method: Carotid artery penetration
Though the deranged content was anything but welcome. Egru’s expression, frozen with slightly parted lips, turned to shock.
Why, why? What nonsense are you spouting?
Egru buried his chin in his chest, shrinking his neck. The content was too horrific to look at.
<system>
Clear Rewards: Heart of Gluttony, Large-scale Self-Destruction Magic Scroll
Caution: Must disable [Auto Transfer] connection before delivering the fatal blow. Otherwise, the item [Heart of Gluttony] will be lost via teleport.
<system>
Please wait. Measuring quest level…
<system>
This quest does not match user’s level.
<system>
[High-performance Body] required for safe progression. When proceeding with [Temporary Body], system’s [Remote Combat] is recommended. However, power mismatched with user level causes [Rebound].
Caution: During [Remote Combat], body transformation, organ reconstruction, or permanent physical damage may occur. Depleting both [HP] and [MP] will result in random penalties.
<system>
Enter temporary dormant state and begin remote control? (Y/N)
(Y) will be automatically selected after 10 seconds. 10, 9, 8…
Egru tried to quickly select (N), but failed due to the twins hanging on his arms.
No, I absolutely won’t do it!
Having no choice, he shouted swiftly in his mind. The status window’s timer, which had been counting down, finally stopped around 4 seconds.
Huh?
But before he could breathe a sigh of relief, blink, the status window reappeared.
<system>
Enter temporary dormant state and begin remote control? (Y/N)
(Y) will be automatically selected after 10 seconds. 10, 9…
No, I said I won’t! Absolutely not!
The status window that disappeared popped right back up. No matter how many times he refused, it returned instantly. As if possessed of its own will and forcing him, the text even began to draw closer.
(Y) will be automatically selected after 10 seconds.
The message that supposedly appeared for user convenience suddenly began to feel terrifying.
If-if I’m even slightly slow to respond and can’t make a selection…
Didn’t that mean the system could control his body at will?
<system>
Enter temporary dormant state and begin remote control? (Y/N)
(Y) will be automatically selected after 10 seconds. 10, 9…
Stop it! No!
Egru refused again and again. Only when the status window that had been forcefully lingering finally disappeared could he catch his breath.
“Is something wrong, Egru?”
“N-no, nothing’s wrong, Philip.”
“Are you sure you’re alright? Don’t give this old man a heart attack. Look here. How many fingers am I holding up?”
“Three.”
Philip lowered his fingers that had been waving in front of Egru’s face, apparently satisfied with the correct answer. Even the twins wore uncharacteristically worried expressions.
“It’s okay, children. It’s okay.”
Even as Egru comforted them, he felt hesitant looking down at the twins. What did it mean by ‘minions of evil’? These children were so sweet and lovely.
“Hck.”
Suddenly his throat tickled. He seemed to have gotten something caught in it out of nowhere. Egru cleared his throat with several coughs.
“And here I was scared when you suddenly went blank and started staring into space…”
Philip’s joke cut off abruptly. Before anyone could ask why, Philip cried out in shock.
“No, Egru! What’s happening!”
“Pardon?”
“Tissues! Towels! No, no! Children, come out for a moment!”
Kam and Kum, who had been clinging so tightly, instantly dashed to the table. Each grabbed tissues and towels before rushing back just as quickly. Meanwhile, Philip retrieved a kettle of hot water from the food cart outside the cell.
Before he could properly understand the urgent situation—
“Cough.”
Egru coughed lightly once more. Then looked down.
Strange. Blood was pooling between his thighs. When he touched his chin, it felt wet and slippery.
“Philip, am I having a nosebleed?”
“If it were just a nosebleed, would I be making such a fuss! Did you eat something wrong overnight? Why are you suddenly coughing up blood!”
“Coughing up blood?”
That’s when the status window appeared again.
<system>
Refusing the system’s proposal beyond a certain number of times will result in paying a corresponding [Price].
Price?
Before he could grasp the meaning, his vision went black. One thing was certain though. The status window was not an absolute ally. If it wanted, it could drive him to the edge of a cliff at any time.
If there was any consolation, it was that unlike before, this wasn’t coercion.
Kam and Kum hurriedly pressed wads of tissue against Egru’s face.
No, this isn’t right…
Egru squeezed his eyes shut, concentrating to avoid passing out. His spinning head made him feel like he could collapse at any moment.
“Taking a teleport portal in this condition is out of the question. A carriage would be even more insane…”
Philip spoke while placing a hot, damp towel in the twins’ hands.
“It seems today just isn’t the day, Egru. I’ll call for the royal apothecary. Just hang in there a little longer.”
Philip’s footsteps faded as he ran to the end of the corridor. Kam and Kum supported the swaying Egru, at a loss for what to do.
“Don’t worry, children. I’m fine.”
How much time passed as he comforted the visibly frightened children?
“Start with a blood test.”
“Yes, Lord Felmus.”
The phrase “when it rains, it pours” seemed fitting for this situation. Though he hadn’t heard any footsteps in the corridor, multiple voices could suddenly be heard as people approached.
Egru barely managed to open his stinging eyes. Several men were entering through the cell bars Philip had left open.
“How convenient that blood has already been spilled.”
It was the elven delegation. The man who appeared to be their leader approached holding some kind of potion.
“Let’s first verify if he’s truly an elf.”
The man called Felmus stood proudly before Egru. The moment he began pouring liquid onto the pooled blood, the twins warily grabbed Felmus’s arm.
“Don’t do that, children…”
When Egru intervened with labored breaths, Kam and Kum hesitated briefly before letting go.
Egru felt newly convinced his choice had been right. Children this obedient couldn’t possibly be minions of evil.
Even if they truly were…
Pure children always had potential for redemption. That’s what Egru believed.
“Tch.”
Felmus turned away, brushing off his arm where the twins had touched him with obvious distaste. Only one person’s labored breathing echoed in the cell. None of the elven delegation paid any mind to Egru’s poor condition.
At least, not until the blood test results gradually emerged.
Starting from where it met the potion, the blood turned transparent like spreading raindrops. Felmus’s voice, filled with surprise, rang through the cell.
“…A pure-blooded elf.”