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I’m a Young God, Won’t You Raise Me? Chapter 3

Chapter 3

‘Since‌‌ Smiley is a toy too, maybe⁠‍ this can help​ heal him?’

It‍ was a kind⁠ of insurance.

Since⁠‍ I was trying​‌​ to fulfill the​​⁠ conditions for the⁠‌ True Ending, I couldn’t afford to‌‍‌ let the toys⁠⁠ develop too much⁠‌⁠ hostility toward me.⁠​‌

“What‍​ are you doing?”⁠

“Ah,‌ sorry. I was​ tying my shoelaces​‍​ for a moment.”‌‍‌

I hurried to catch‌ up with Park​​ Seonggyeon while discreetly⁠ glancing back.

“……”‌⁠

The⁠⁠‌ candy was still⁠​⁠ resting on Smiley’s‌‍ hand.

The‌‍‌ only thing that‌‌⁠ had changed was‌‍ that the mechanical​​‌ noise coming from⁠‌ him had stopped.​​

It⁠ didn’t seem to‌‍ have had much⁠​​ effect.

After‍ passing through a long corridor decorated⁠ with murals that​ simply explained the​ toys of Happy​ Smile Factory, we‌ arrived in front‌ of a massive‍ plastic door.

On‍‍⁠ the walls and‌​ ceiling on both‍⁠​ sides of the⁠ door were dozens‍ of small levers⁠​ in different colors.‍

“Lieutenant‍⁠‌ Park, right side.”‍​

When​ Mo Haein extended‌⁠​ her claw hand,‍ a plastic chain‍‍​ shot out with​ a snap and⁠⁠‌ grabbed a lever‍‍ on the ceiling.‌​​

She‍ quickly pulled down‌‍​ the colored levers‌ on the left⁠‌⁠ wall and the‍‌ ceiling.

Park​ Seonggyeon did the​ same with those‍⁠ on the right‌ wall and the⁠ ceiling.

Normally,‌‍ it was necessary‌ to observe the⁠‌ color patterns drawn​ on the floor⁠⁠‍ in order to‍ operate the levers⁠​‍ correctly, but from‌‍‌ the ease with​‌‌ which they acted,‍ it was obvious⁠⁠​ they already knew​ the sequence by‍​⁠ heart.

Clack.‌​‌

When‍‌⁠ they pulled the​⁠ final lever, cheerful​⁠ music began to⁠ play and the‌⁠ plastic door opened.⁠

Mo​ Haein and Park‌‌⁠ Seonggyeon entered without​⁠‌ hesitation.

This‍‌⁠ was the place⁠ where players began‌ their first shift‌‌‍ as factory employees.​‌

The‌‌ task consisted of⁠‍​ sorting the toys​‍ arriving on the‍⁠⁠ conveyor belt, and​‌​ since it was​⁠ the first job,‌⁠ the difficulty was⁠‍ low.

However,​⁠ unlike them, I subtly slowed my⁠ pace.

Because—‌‍

“C-Captain.”‌‍⁠

“…The⁠​‌ pattern changed.”

Clack.​‍ Clack. Clack.

The​ lights began turning‌​ on from the‌​ entrance inward, gradually‌ revealing the dark‍‍​ space.

Music‍​ that should have⁠ sounded cheerful filled​ the area, but‍ it only felt‍‌ unsettling.

All‌ the toys that‍​ should have been‍​ quietly moving along‌​ the conveyor belt‍‌ were on the⁠ floor.

Staring‌ directly at Mo​​⁠ Haein and Park⁠‌‌ Seonggyeon with their⁠⁠ shining plastic eyes.​

Ding!‍

A system window appeared⁠⁠ along with a notification sound.

◆ Main Mission: Survive​​‌ the killer toys.⁠‍​

The⁠‍ toys do not‍ forgive the adult⁠⁠⁠ who attacked Smiley.‌

You​‍​ believe you must⁠‍ survive while escaping‍⁠ from the enraged‍‌ toys.

‘That’s​⁠ what they get‍‍‍ for hitting Smiley….’⁠‌

I sighed inwardly as​ I slowly moved‍ toward a safe⁠‌⁠ area.

As‌⁠‌ a government organization,⁠⁠ the Trial Response‍ Agency enforced very‍ strict rules inside‍⁠ the Trials.

The⁠​ most important one‍‍ was.

“No⁠‍‌ unnecessary contact with​‍ NPCs.”

The‌​ reason was to‌⁠‌ minimize the risk⁠ of infection.

The‌ Trials brought from⁠⁠​ outer space possessed​‍ a very peculiar‌⁠‍ virus.

Those‌​‌ who became infected⁠ suffered physical mutations‌‍ and developed intense‌ aggression toward humans.⁠‍

As⁠​ an Agency soldier,⁠ Mo Haein always⁠⁠​ followed the rules​‌ to the letter.‍⁠

This‍‍​ was probably the​ first time she‌ had attacked an⁠ NPC ahead of‍ schedule.

She‌‌​ had likely expected‌ some changes in⁠​ the story, but​‌ she had never‌​ imagined the situation‍‌ would deviate this​ much.

The​ route she was‍‍ following now was​⁠ the most difficult​ of them all.⁠⁠

The​‌ Collapse Ending route.‌​

By​‌‍ attacking Smiley, the‍ first NPC in⁠‌ the game, every⁠⁠ toy in the‍ factory became the​⁠ player’s absolute enemy.‍⁠

Throughout‌‍ every stage, the⁠⁠ toys would constantly​‍‍ attack the player,​ and in the​‍‍ end, the player⁠‌‌ would escape from‍ a factory engulfed⁠‍⁠ in flames.

The‍ final line of‌ the Collapse Ending‍‍‌ was especially chilling.​‌‍

It‌‌ has collapsed.

Smiley‍‍ was torn apart‌‌ and thrown into​ the flames, yet‍‌ even so, he‌​‌ could not die.​

Smiley‌⁠ will return to​‍ find the player⁠⁠ once more, transformed⁠ into a terrible⁠ nightmare.

It​‌‌ was an ending⁠ I still remembered‍⁠⁠ perfectly.

‘But‌‌ the Collapse Ending‌​ route is also‌⁠ connected to the⁠⁠‍ True Ending route.’‍

If‌⁠​ I handled things​ correctly, I could‌⁠ maintain my role‍ as an ignorant⁠‌ civilian and still⁠ obtain the True​​​ Ending of Happy​​​ Smile Factory.

As‍⁠⁠ I recalled the​​⁠ Collapse Ending, a child’s voice began‌⁠ to sound along‍​ with the music.⁠

“It’s‍⁠​ the adult who‌​⁠ bothered Smiley. An‍‌ aduuult. A boring‌‌‌ adult.”

Hundreds​‍ of toys stared‍‌ at Mo Haein‌‌ and Park Seonggyeon‍ while swaying their⁠ bodies to the‍ rhythm of the‌ music, as if‍‌‌ doing warm-up exercises.‌

Left.​ Right. Left. Left.‍​‍ Right….

“We⁠⁠ want to make‌⁠⁠ the adult fun.”​⁠

“But⁠‍ it’s already an​⁠ adult. Adult. Aduuult.‌​‌ No good. We​​‍ don’t like it.⁠⁠‍ It’s boring.”

“Ah!”⁠‍

The‌‌‍ sound of cymbals‌‍ rang out, followed⁠ by the cheers⁠ of children.

“We⁠​⁠ found the answer!‌​ Let’s make the‌⁠ adult smaller!”

“Smaller.⁠‌‍ Smaller. Smaller. Like‌⁠ a child. Li-like‍‍​ a child. Smaller.‍⁠​ Smaller.”

“Pieces.​ Pieces. Pieces. Pieces.‍ Pieces.”

Mo​ Haein shouted.

“Civilian!”⁠‍

Park⁠​​ Seonggyeon, who had‌‌ been moving his‌ head from side‍​ to side just​‌ like the toys,‍‍‌ suddenly came back‍⁠ to his senses.​‍​

Letting​ out a curse,​​‌ he extended his‌​‍ claw hand and⁠ grabbed me around​⁠ the waist.

The⁠⁠ next instant, he‌ placed me on⁠​‌ the conveyor belt.​‌

“If‌‌ you don’t want​⁠‌ to die, stay​‌ still here!”

In⁠‌ other words, he‍​ wasn’t going to‌ save me no​ matter what happened.⁠​⁠

“Yes!”‍

I answered energetically while‌‌ sighing inwardly.

The‍‌ conveyor belt classified​⁠ the player as​‌ a toy.

It‌⁠‌ was a safe‌ zone used to⁠ avoid attacks in​⁠ Happy Smile Factory.​

However,‍​​ there was something‍ neither Park Seonggyeon‍ nor Mo Haein​⁠⁠ knew.

On‍​ the Collapse route…‍

The​‌ conveyor belt was​‍ useless.

“Let’s⁠​‌ begin turning adults⁠⁠ into children!”

Children’s‍ laughter echoed along‍‌‍ with the end‍‌ of the announcement.‌‌

The​​ toys that had⁠ been swaying began⁠​​ popping up like‍⁠‌ popcorn and launched‍⁠⁠ themselves into an⁠‍‌ attack.

Mo‍‌​ Haein extended her‍⁠‌ toy arm toward‍‌​ the ceiling.

The‍ plastic chain latched​‍​ onto a pipe​⁠ running across the⁠ ceiling, and she‌​ hung suspended from‍ it.

With‌‍ her human hand,‌⁠ she sliced through⁠‍ the air.

An‌​ obsidian guandao appeared​⁠​ out of nowhere.‍

It‌⁠‍ was Mo Haein’s‌​ item, the Black‌​ Moon Blade.

The‍‍ Trial Response Agency‍⁠ recommended clearing each‌‍⁠ Trial using only‌​ the items obtained​​‍ within that same‌⁠ Trial.

Using‌⁠ items acquired from​ other Trials greatly‌​ increased the likelihood⁠⁠‍ of generating unexpected‌​​ variables.

But⁠‍ since this was‍⁠‌ an emergency, it​‌ seemed she had​ decided to bring‍​ out the Black⁠‌‍ Moon Blade.

‘Woah….!’​​⁠

Even‍​⁠ in the middle‌⁠ of that critical‍‍‌ situation, I couldn’t⁠ help but be⁠‍ amazed.

I was seeing Mo‍​‌ Haein’s Black Moon‌⁠ Blade with my⁠‍⁠ own eyes.

And‌⁠‌ from this close.⁠

I watched her fight​‌ as though I were hypnotized.

Park​​ Seonggyeon pushed away‍ the toys with​ his claw hand​​​ while holding a flashlight in his‌‌ human hand to‌‌‍ shine its light‍⁠ on them.

The‌ toys caught in‍⁠ the flashlight’s beam⁠‌ froze for an⁠‌ instant.

Mo⁠​​ Haein did not‍‌​ waste that opportunity⁠⁠ and cut them‍​​ down with the‍​‍ Black Moon Blade.‌​

The⁠ toys split apart‍‌⁠ by the long⁠ blade let out‍​ screams resembling those⁠ of small children‌​ while spilling multicolored‌‍‍ blood in rainbow​​⁠ hues.

I would have liked‌ to keep watching,‍ but unfortunately I didn’t have time.‍

With‍ great effort, I tore my gaze​‍ away from Mo​‌ Haein.

Then​‍ I ran across‍ the conveyor belt,‍ dodging the toys‍‌ that lunged at‍​‌ me.

I didn’t have any‌⁠⁠ items equipped, but‌‍‍ avoiding their attacks‍‌⁠ wasn’t difficult.

Because⁠​‍ I knew their‍ attack patterns.

The‌ movements the toys​‍ made while swaying⁠⁠‌ when the music‍⁠‌ started were clues⁠‌ to those patterns.‌

Since‌ I had seen⁠⁠ every ending in​‍‍ HasFac, I knew⁠​ every pattern by​ heart.

As‍⁠ I sprinted along⁠ the conveyor belt,‌‍⁠ I quickly inspected‌⁠ the toys thrashing​ around everywhere.

New​‌‌ toys kept coming​‌‌ out of the⁠‍​ production pipes, turning‍​‍ the place into‍‍⁠ complete chaos.

However,⁠​ finding what I was looking for⁠⁠ wasn’t difficult.

A mass-produced 15-centimeter Smiley‌ doll.

Black​​‍ Edition.

Among⁠⁠‌ all the brightly‌⁠ colored and fluorescent‍​‌ toys, that completely​⁠ black doll barely​⁠⁠ stood out.

But⁠⁠‌ it was an​ indispensable item for‍⁠ obtaining the True‍‍ Ending.

I stretched my arm‍​ into the crowd‌‍​ of toys.

“Ugh…!”‌‌​

A burning sensation grazed⁠ my arm.

A pony doll wearing​ an apron had​ slashed my forearm⁠‍ with the plastic​ knife it was​ holding.

Even​‍​ so, I managed‌ to grab the‍ black Smiley.

Smiley​​⁠ Black Edition: The‌​‍ only Sad Smiley​⁠‍ that exists in‌​​ the entire world.‍‍

I ran along the‌ conveyor belt again⁠‌‍ and arrived in‌ front of some⁠ packing boxes stacked‍‍ behind the production⁠‍ machines.

Among​ them was one‌ that was especially‍⁠ large.

It‍‍ was the box‌ where the NPC⁠ Smiley was originally​ supposed to be​⁠ stored.

Now‌ it was empty​⁠⁠ because of the‍‌‌ attack Mo Haein‌⁠⁠ had launched against​‍ him.

Since​⁠ it had been​ designed to contain‌‍​ a one-meter-tall doll,‍‍ an adult could​‍ easily fit inside.‌⁠

I climbed into the​‌‍ box and curled​⁠ up inside it.⁠⁠​

It​ was a rather​ pathetic sight.

When⁠‍ it was pixel⁠ art, it didn’t‍​ seem that strange,‌ but doing it‌⁠‍ in real life⁠⁠ was somewhat embarrassing.‍

In​ any case, once⁠‍⁠ I had settled​‍ inside the box,​‌​ I watched Mo‌⁠ Haein and Park‌‍ Seonggyeon through the⁠ transparent plastic.

By‍‍ then, they had​​ almost finished off⁠‍ all the toys.‌‍⁠

If​‍ I took any⁠ longer, obtaining the‌⁠ True Ending might⁠ become impossible.

I quickly examined the‌ Smiley doll.

Every‌ second was valuable,​⁠⁠ but I froze.​​‍

‘Is‌​ it smiling?’

The‌‌ Sad Smiley doll‍‌ was smiling.

Just​ as its name⁠​‍ indicated, Sad Smiley⁠⁠ should have had⁠‍‍ a sad expression.​‌​

But‌​⁠ I couldn’t have​​ picked up the‌ wrong doll either.​

In​⁠‌ the entire colorful⁠ toy factory, Sad‍⁠ Smiley was the⁠ only toy without‍⁠ colors.

As‌⁠‍ I stared at⁠‌ it, I realized‍ it was stained⁠‌ with my blood.‍​⁠

When​‍⁠ my arm was⁠ cut, a few‍​‍ drops had splashed​⁠ onto the doll,‌ but because it⁠​⁠ was black, I hadn’t noticed.

I quickly wiped away‍​‍ the blood.

Even​⁠‌ so, Sad Smiley⁠⁠‍ continued smiling.

It​⁠‍ was a suspicious​‌⁠ situation, but I didn’t have time​‍‌ to think.

I firmly pressed Sad‍​ Smiley’s belly.

A recorded child’s voice​​⁠ sounded from inside.⁠‍

“Please⁠​ make Sad Smiley​​ happy.”

In⁠ the original game,‌‌ two choices would⁠⁠ appear.

— Ignore it.

— Ask how to‍⁠‍ make him happy.​⁠

But⁠ there were no‍​‍ dialogue options here,​‍‍ so I had‍‍‌ to speak directly.‌⁠‌

“What‌⁠ do I have​ to do to‍ make you happy?”⁠

In​‍ the game, Sad⁠ Smiley was supposed‍‌​ to give a clue related to⁠⁠ the hidden secret‍​ of the toy⁠⁠⁠ factory.

“Please‍⁠ become Sad Smiley’s‍ owner.”

Did‍ it just tell‍‍‍ me directly…?

“Let’s‍‌​ stay together forever.‍‍‍ Being together is⁠⁠​ fun. If it’s⁠ fun, it’s happy.⁠​⁠ Forever. Foreeeeever. Forever.‍⁠ Forever. Forever. Foreveeeer….”‌​

Crack!⁠

The​ Sad Smiley in‌ my hand split​​​ in half.

Black​ blood splattered across​ my face.

“I‌ told you to‍‍ stay still, civilian.”⁠⁠

Mo⁠ Haein was staring​‍ directly at me‍‌​ while holding the‍⁠‍ Black Moon Blade‍‍⁠ stained with rainbow-colored‍ remains.

Holding​⁠‌ half of the⁠⁠⁠ Sad Smiley, I climbed out of​​‌ the box.

The​​‌ transparent plastic of‌ the box where‍​‍ I had been‍‍ hiding had also‍‍​ been sliced in​‌ half, so getting​ out was easy.‍‌⁠

Everything‍​ around me was​‍​ stained with rainbow‍⁠ colors.

“I‍​​ told you not‍‍ to move on⁠‌‌ your own!”

Park‌​ Seonggyeon frowned and⁠ shouted at me.‍⁠⁠

I was still stunned‍ by Sad Smiley’s‌‌​ strange behavior, so‍ I reacted a little late.

“Sorry.‌⁠​ I was on‍ the conveyor belt⁠⁠ like you told⁠⁠⁠ me, but the⁠⁠ toys attacked me,‌ so I had‌‍ to dodge them….”⁠

“They​ attacked you even‍‍ though you were‌ on the belt?”⁠

Mo⁠‌‌ Haein’s and Park‍⁠​ Seonggyeon’s expressions instantly⁠⁠ turned serious.

While‌ they briefly discussed⁠ it between themselves,​ I found the​‌ other half of‌​ Sad Smiley that⁠ had been sent‌ flying away.

I placed it next‌ to the half‍⁠ I was holding​‍ and set a Nut Candy on⁠ top.

I stared fixedly at‍ Sad Smiley’s smiling‌⁠‍ face.

Wow,⁠​​ this was a completely unexpected situation.‍⁠​

My‍ heart was pounding‌‌ with excitement…!

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