Only I Can See The End

Chapter 17: Fortune × Misfortune

Back then, I was far too naive.

The notion that I'd lost everything and nearly met my end, all because of a single act of kindness haunted me.

"Never again!" I resolved firmly.

"I won't trust anyone in this messed-up world. To survive, you had to look out for yourself. If I ever encountered another survivor, I had to keep in mind that there was definitely some conflict of interest."

The only person I could trust was myself.

"As long as the possibility of betrayal exists, I won't go out of my way for anyone!" Survival was my top priority.

Thanks to <Nightmare>, I'd been granted a second chance, and I was determined not to waste it.

'The drugstore stocked a variety of supplements and enough food to keep me going for a week. There should be supplies in the back too.' I was aware of this because the pharmacist, who also happened to reside within the store, had shared this information with me.

'There's no way he didn't stock the essentials I need.'

I believed that, with careful planning, surviving the remainder of the allotted time for the Tutorial wouldn't be too difficult.

As I settled on the ground, I sighed with both relief and dissatisfaction.

The cause for the latter was a nagging thought that kept eating me up from within.

'Why didn't I just end it back then? I could have killed them.

Yet...'

It seemed I still couldn't take a life, even when I thought I was dreaming.

I didn't know what to make of this weakness of mine.

Did I do the right thing by letting those monsters escape unscathed? What if I encountered them again after the Tutorial?

'How should I handle it if we meet again?' And what about future human adversaries? Would I show them mercy too?

These thoughts swirled in my head like a storm, and I felt an unsettling sensation churn in my stomach.

'Why am I so weak? What should I do now to—'

~DING!~

A ping echoed within my head, and I noticed the appearance of a System Window.

'Huh?'

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

<You Have Received 500 Currency>

{Sufficient time has elapsed since the death of five Participants. Since User was the last to come in contact with them, you have been allotted their Currency}

<Total Currency in User's possession: 600 C >

"What? This is... unexpected." My eyes widened as I read and reread the content of the Panel in front of me.

"Five Participants? Don't tell me..." My thoughts turned to the five friends who betrayed me at the hotel.

'Are they dead? It can't be. How?'

Despite how desperately I wanted to seek revenge, I was certain I hadn't killed any of them while using <Nightmare>.

In addition, they didn't strike me as the type to leave the hotel before the Tutorial's allotted time had been exhausted.

'Besides, it hasn't been that long since I left there. It's only a couple of minutes before Eight. How did they die?'

Suddenly, memories of my time in <Nightmare> became clearer, and I recalled a specific detail that must have led to the current situation.

'The door! I didn't close the door.' Those nasty demons that were prowling the hallway must have gained access to the suite and found the group.

"Ahh..." A smile formed on my face as I considered what might have happened.

"Well, I totally didn't do that intentionally"

It was strange how I couldn't kill them myself, but now that I knew they were most likely killed in a gruesome way by hungry demons, I felt immensely thrilled.

Was I a hypocrite? Was I secretly a terrible person? Was I merely confused? I had no idea. However...

"It feels good!" My grin grew wider, and I was sure my eyes narrowed as I formed a pleased expression, my brows curling upward.

"It feels so good!"

Slowly, laughter welled up within me, the echoes of my satisfied chuckles and ecstatic laughter filling the entire drugstore.

"You bastards! It serves you right! It serves you all right!"

They deserved it.

This was the universe's punishment for what they did to me.

This was karma!

In the end, I managed to survive, and they all perished. I had every reason to laugh at their misfortune—their grisly fates.

And laugh I did.

"Hahahahaha... hahahaha... HAHAHAHAHA!!!"

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{A Couple Of Hours Earlier}

<Day 5 of the Tutorial>

[12:00 AM, Thursday 4th of May, 2023]

~CREAK~

"Hmm...?"

Lisa's words were slurred as she felt something cold and firm grab her hand.

She slowly opened her eyes, greeted only by a blurry view of the darkened room.

She had turned the lights off the night before, so she and her friends could sleep comfortably.

Suddenly, a cold, liquid-like substance fell on her face, smelling strange.

Lisa had a terrible suspicion about what it could be, but her thoughts were still disoriented and groggy since she had only just woke up .

'Jake... are you really doing that on me right now?' She sighed, as her mind drifted towards dirty thoughts.

The grip on her hand tightened like a vice, growing stronger and coiling around her delicate skin, almost crushing her.

"Jake... is that you? Stop it already... ow!" A sharp, bone-rattling pain finally jolted her wide awake.

But what she saw wasn't Jake.

"Grrrr..."

It wasn't any of her friends either.

"A-ah...?!"

In the darkness, the creature's glowing red eyes fixated on her, its drool dipping onto her exposed skin as it bared its teeth.

"H-h-how...?"

Low growls from the demon interrupted her thoughts, and the echoes of others of its kind filled the room, rendering her mind blank.

She felt as though the room was closing in on itself and her chest constricted painfully.

She glimpsed them through her peripheral vision, a multitude of demons lurking in the room.

Their primal delight was evident as they watched her and her friends, their eyes gleaming with malevolent hunger.

"W-wait a minute..." The monster's mouth drew nearer, closing in on her paralyzed skin. She couldn't break free from its grip, fear sapping every ounce of strength she could muster.

In the end, she realized with terror that they were trapped.

Desperation clawed at her as she screamed, "J-Jake! Jake!! Jake!!! Wake up! Wake u—!"

~SQUELCH!~

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[A/N]

Let the official nightmare begin.