I’m a Young God, Won’t You Raise Me? — Chapter 42

Chapter 42

I lowered my gaze to the metal⁠ hand resting against‌⁠ my chest and then looked back‍ at Lieutenant Colonel⁠ Je Hyuno.

“Are⁠ you saying the‌ Butlers lied to⁠ me?”

Instead‍‌‍ of answering, Lieutenant Colonel Je Hyuno‍‌ walked into the‍‌ room.

I closed the window‌‌‌ behind him.

He‍‍ calmly walked around⁠‍ the guest room.‍‌‌

His⁠‍‍ movements were so‌⁠ relaxed that it⁠‍ looked as though‍ he had simply‌ come to pay⁠⁠ me a visit.‌

He‍ gave no indication‍‍‍ whatsoever that he‌ intended to answer‍⁠ my question.

While⁠⁠ Lieutenant Colonel Je⁠ Hyuno inspected the‌‍ room, I tried‍⁠ to understand what‍ he had just‍‌ said.

But⁠ it wasn’t easy.‍‌‌

Up‌ until now, every⁠ time I entered‌⁠ a Trial, I had always assumed‍‌ it was the⁠ real world and⁠ that it could⁠ be different from‌ the game I had played.

However,‍⁠ this time was‌ different.

They‍ were the very‌ same NPCs from‌ the game I had played.

I had spoken with them over and‍‍‍ over again after completing CCC countless‍ times.

Neither‍‍ the Cat Butler‍‌ nor the Rabbit⁠‍ Butler was the‍⁠ type to lie.⁠‌

Nor⁠⁠ did they have⁠‌⁠ any reason to‌ do so.

Why⁠‌⁠ would they lie‌ to me just‍ to keep me‌ in the mansion?‌‍

No‌ matter how much they liked me,‍⁠‍ that was an⁠‌ entirely separate matter.‌‌

‘They’ve always known how‌ to separate personal‌‍‌ feelings from work.’‍

I decided to keep⁠ those thoughts to‌⁠‌ myself.

If‍⁠ I could get‍ through one week‌ safely and leave‍‌‍ CCC, everything would become clear on‍⁠⁠ its own.

I didn’t want to‌ argue with Lieutenant‌‌ Colonel Je Hyuno⁠ only for him⁠⁠ to end up⁠ treating me like‌ an idiot.

Just‌‌‍ as Lieutenant Colonel‍‍⁠ Je Hyuno finished‌‌ looking around the‍⁠‍ room.

Thump!⁠

Thump!‍

Thump!

Heavy‍ footsteps echoed from‌⁠ the other side‌‍⁠ of the door.‍

After those sounds, as‍ though a giant were walking down the hallway, someone’s⁠ bloodcurdling scream rang⁠‌ out.

“Aaaah!! Help me! No! It hurts! Aaaagh…!”‍‍

The scream was abruptly cut short.

In its place came‌‌ the sound of‌‍ crunching, as though someone were chewing‌⁠‍ flesh.

The‌ Creatures had begun‌‍‍ to move.

The‌ Creatures were beings‍ created by the⁠ mansion to consume⁠ its sacrifices more⁠ efficiently.

The‌‍ more cleaners they‍⁠ devoured during the‍‌ night, the more⁠‌ brilliantly the mansion‍‌ shone the following⁠ day.

Sometimes too many Creatures‌⁠ appeared, and then‍⁠⁠ the Butlers either⁠ dealt with them‌‌ personally or assigned‍ that task to‌‍ the players through a quest.

That‌‌‌ was precisely the⁠ purpose of defeating‌‌‌ the boss monster.⁠‍

Apparently,⁠‌ the cleaners assigned‍‍‍ to the third⁠ floor of the⁠⁠‍ East Wing were‍‍ being swept away‍⁠ by the Creatures‌‌ like dry leaves.‍‍

It⁠ sounded as though they were trying⁠‍‌ to fight back,⁠ but it wouldn’t‌‌ be easy.

At‍ night, the cleaners’⁠‍ vision was reduced,⁠⁠⁠ making everything much‌ darker.

On⁠‍ top of that,⁠ they seemed to⁠ have no idea⁠ how to deal‍ with the Creatures.‌⁠‌

Simply‌‍ attacking them was‍‍ useless.

Unless⁠ you used the‌‍ proper method for each Creature, they⁠⁠ regenerated health far faster than they‌ took damage.

Of‌ course, none of‌ that mattered if‍‌ you possessed enough‌ offensive power to‍‌ crush them outright.‌

‘Like Lieutenant Colonel Je Hyuno.’

As I stared at⁠ the door, I turned my gaze‍ toward him.

He‍ was slowly clicking⁠‍‌ his metal hand.‍‍

He‌ seemed to be⁠‍‍ suppressing the urge‌ to dash outside‌⁠⁠ and tear every‍ Creature apart.

After⁠ staring at the⁠‌ closed door for‍⁠ a moment, he slowly shifted his‍ gaze back to⁠‍ me.

“What‌ should we do,‌ Goyo?”

His⁠ voice, mixed with‌⁠ the faint sound‌ of metal, posed⁠⁠⁠ the question.

“Do‌ you want me‌ to get you⁠ out of here?”⁠‌

“…And‌⁠ how exactly would⁠‌ you get me‌ out?”

“Kill⁠‍ all the Butlers.”‍

“……”⁠⁠‍

“And‌⁠ if necessary, the⁠⁠ Creatures too.”

It‌‍ certainly was a very Lieutenant Colonel‌ Je Hyuno way‌⁠ of “rescuing” me.‍

Using⁠ his method, we’d‌‍ probably manage to⁠‌ clear the Trial somehow.

But‌ it would never‍⁠ be the True‌‌ Ending.

To begin with, rescuing me had absolutely⁠ nothing to do‌⁠ with the world⁠‌ of CCC.

And‌‌ yet.

I still wanted to achieve the True‌‌⁠ Ending.

No.‌‍

I had to achieve⁠‌ it.

If‌⁠‍ we failed CCC,⁠ it would become‌ physically impossible to⁠ close the remaining two Trials within‌⁠⁠ the time we‌ had left.

After‌⁠ all, the Special‌ Mission Team was⁠‌ only assigned Trials‍⁠ rated four stars⁠⁠ or higher.

A phantom pain ran through arms and‌ legs that had never actually been‌‍ amputated.

Unconsciously,‍‌ I rubbed my⁠⁠ wrist before speaking.⁠‌

“I⁠ think it’s still‌‍⁠ possible to achieve⁠‌ the True Ending.”⁠

Lieutenant⁠⁠ Colonel Je Hyuno⁠‌⁠ narrowed his eyes.‍‌

“I’ve⁠‍ learned some things‌‌ from talking to the Butlers. I’m⁠⁠ not completely certain‍‌ yet, but…”

“You‍⁠ want me to‍‍ wait?”

“Yes.‌ Give me three‌‍ days.”

Calmly,⁠⁠⁠ I tried to persuade him to‌‌ set aside the⁠ rescue quest and‌‌ focus all our‌ efforts on achieving‌ the True Ending.

Lieutenant‌ Colonel Je Hyuno‍ looked at me‍ as though saying,⁠‌ Go on.

So‍ I continued explaining.⁠‍⁠

“Could‍ you deliver a message to the‍⁠ Captains for me? Now that I’ve‍ become a Butler,‍ it’ll be very‌⁠‌ difficult for me⁠ to contact either‍⁠ you or them.”‍‌

During‌‍ the day, the⁠ other Butlers would‍ most likely remain‍ by my side.‍⁠‌

Besides,‍ I had work‍ to do.

And at night, I’d‍ have to stay⁠⁠ quietly in my room to avoid arousing suspicion.

After‍‌ bringing him up‌‌ to date on‌‌ my situation, I explained what I needed him to‌ do.

“Kill⁠⁠ the cleaners. Or rather… let the‍‌⁠ Creatures kill them.”

The‍‌ moment I said‌⁠ it, it sounded‍⁠‍ far too cruel.‍

So‍‍ I hurried to‌‍ explain.

“Ah‌‌ all the cleaners⁠ brought here are‍ dangerous criminals. In the story of CCC, the protagonist⁠‍ is the only‍‌ one who ends‍‍‌ up here after being deceived without‌ knowing anything…”

But⁠ while trying to‌ justify myself, I realized something.

Neither‍ Lieutenant Colonel Je⁠ Hyuno nor the‍⁠‍ Captains, who weren’t⁠‌ here right now…‌

would⁠ have any problem⁠‌‌ killing NPCs, whether they were guilty or innocent.

To⁠ them, an NPC‌ was still just⁠‍ an NPC.

“…In‌ any case. So⁠⁠ please do it‍ without worrying. In‌ the end, the only cleaners who‌⁠⁠ should remain alive⁠⁠ are you and‍ the Captains.”

“Until‌⁠ when?”

“Until‍‌‍ the night after tomorrow, if possible.”⁠

If⁠ the cleaners died‍ too quickly, that would also raise⁠‍ suspicion, so I planned to spread‌ their deaths over‍ the course of⁠‌ three days.

Meanwhile,‌ I would gather as much information⁠ about the Master⁠ as possible.

This⁠⁠ was already a game whose endings⁠⁠ had all been‌ completed.

My‌‍‍ goal was to⁠ create a DLC⁠ for CCC with‍ my own hands.‍

In‌⁠ other words.

An‍‍⁠ expansion.

And‍⁠ if it truly⁠ was possible to‍ create that DLC.⁠

I was convinced that‍‌ the Master, who‌‌ never returned to⁠‍‌ the mansion, would‌⁠‍ be the key⁠‍ to the new‍‍⁠ ending.

“Which‍‍ area were you⁠⁠ assigned to, Lieutenant⁠ Colonel Je Hyuno?”‌

“The‍‍ East Wing garden.”‌

Apparently,‌‌ he had been‌‍⁠ assigned to maintain‍‌‍ the ornamental trees.⁠‍

Pruning⁠‍ trees was something he could easily‌‍⁠ do with his‍‌‍ metal hand.

Footman⁠‌ Zeta had truly‍⁠‍ assigned him an⁠ area that suited him perfectly.

‘As‍⁠ expected of a Footman chosen by the Butlers.’

“He‍ definitely knows how‍ to do his⁠‌‌ job.”

In any case, the⁠⁠⁠ East Wing garden⁠ would make it‌ much easier for us to stay‌ in contact.

“I’ll‌‌⁠ send you a Message every night.⁠ Please come whenever‌ you receive it.”⁠

The‌⁠ plan was to‍⁠⁠ communicate with the⁠ Captains through Lieutenant Colonel Je Hyuno and pass along⁠ any instructions if⁠‍ something came up.‌‌

It⁠ seemed like the⁠ simplest method.

After‌ outlining the overall‍‍ situation, I told‍ him where the‌ Captains had been⁠ assigned and asked⁠ him, if possible,‌⁠ to check on‌‌ Mo Haein first.‌

“Is that all?”

“Yes. That’s all.”

No‌ matter how safe‌‌⁠ we might be‌⁠ inside the room,‍ staying there for⁠⁠ too long was still dangerous.

Just‍ as I was⁠ about to send‍‍ Lieutenant Colonel Je‌⁠ Hyuno on his⁠⁠ way, I remembered something that had‍⁠ been bothering me‌ ever since we‌ entered CCC.

“Lieutenant‌‍‌ Colonel Je Hyuno.⁠‍ Would you mind‍ if I touched the metallic part‌ of your body‍‍⁠ just once?”

As though he found⁠‍ the request amusing,‍‍ his eyes curved slightly.

Then he extended his‌⁠⁠ hand without the‍⁠⁠ slightest resistance.

Careful⁠ not to touch⁠ the blade, I very gently held the tip of‍‌ his metal hand.⁠

It⁠‍ felt cold and⁠‌‌ completely solid.

I tried applying a little pressure with‌ my fingers, but‌ it didn’t give even a millimeter.‌⁠

It⁠ felt completely different⁠ from the Rabbit‌ Butler’s metallic ears,‍‍⁠ which bent easily⁠ when touched.

I let go of⁠‍ his hand and⁠‌⁠ said honestly,

“The Butlers’ heads seem‍‌‍ to be made⁠ of the same metal as you.”‌

Lieutenant‌ Colonel Je Hyuno’s‍ eyes curved even‍ more.

“It’s‍ not the same.”⁠

So‍ it only looked‌ similar?

I wanted to ask‌‍‌ more, but Lieutenant⁠ Colonel Je Hyuno put his glasses‌⁠ back on.

ㅇ <

Then‌ he gave me‌‍‌ a wink and‍ abruptly opened the‍⁠‌ room’s door.

Standing‍ in the hallway‍⁠‍ was a porcelain‍⁠ doll shaped like‍ a little girl‌ wearing an elegant‍⁠ dress.

The‌ adorable doll turned⁠ its head one⁠ hundred and eighty‌‌ degrees to look⁠ at Lieutenant Colonel Je Hyuno.

The⁠‌‍ moment it identified‌‍⁠ its target, it‌⁠ began walking backward‌‍⁠ toward him.

Thump!

Thump!⁠‍

Thump!⁠

Thump!

Every⁠‌ time its tiny⁠ feet touched the‌‍ floor, the entire‌‍‍ hallway rumbled as‌ though a giant‌⁠⁠ were running through⁠ it.

And‌⁠‌ just as the‌⁠ porcelain doll rushed‍‌ toward him at‌‌⁠ full speed, Lieutenant‌ Colonel Je Hyuno⁠⁠⁠ charged at it‍ even faster.

He‍ shot forward like⁠‍ an arrow and‍‍ cheerfully swung his‍ metal hand.

Only‌‍ once.

Crash!⁠

With‍‌ a single strike,‌ the doll was‌ shattered into pieces.‍

Crunch.‌

As‍‌ he stepped over‌‍ the porcelain fragments,⁠‍‌ Lieutenant Colonel Je‌ Hyuno made a couple of motions‌‍ through the air,⁠⁠⁠ as though regretting‌⁠‍ that it had‌ ended so quickly.‍⁠

‘Maybe⁠‍ I should’ve told‌ him not to⁠ kill too many‌ Creatures.’

But‌‍ Lieutenant Colonel Je⁠ Hyuno also needed‍‍ to indulge in‌ his hobby a little if he‌ wanted to keep‍ his sanity in‍ a place like this.

So‌‍ I didn’t try⁠⁠ to stop him.‌‍

Even‌ if I had, he wouldn’t have⁠ listened anyway.

He‍ would probably enjoy‍‍ himself for a while before going⁠‍⁠ to find the‌‌ Captains.

I closed the door‌⁠⁠ and returned to‍‌ the room.

Suddenly,‍‌ all the exhaustion⁠⁠ I had been‍‌ ignoring hit me at once.

I flopped face-first onto⁠ the bed and‌ slowly blinked as‌‍ my eyes were‍‌ already beginning to⁠ close.

‘I’ll just close my‍ eyes for a moment, then I’ll‍‍‌ get up.’

I still had to‍⁠ check the item‍‍ Samra had given⁠⁠ me.

But I fell asleep‍ instantly.

***‍‌

When‌‍ I opened my⁠ eyes, it was already morning.

I jumped out of⁠ bed and straightened‍‍ my rumpled clothes.‍‍

After hurriedly getting ready, I opened the‍‍‌ door and found⁠⁠ the Rabbit Butler‌ waiting for me.‌‌‍

He⁠‌ looked as though⁠⁠⁠ he had been‌⁠ about to knock,⁠ one hand already‌⁠ raised.

“Gunbam.‌ Good morning.”

Without⁠ lowering the hand he had raised,⁠‌ he gave me a gentle wave.

“Good‍⁠ morning.”

I replied with a smile.

The‍‌ Rabbit Butler intended‍⁠‌ to take me to the dining‌⁠ room.

“Come‌‌ eat.”

“Ah,‍⁠ there’s no need.⁠ I think I ate too much‍‍ last night.”

I wasn’t hungry at‌ all.

In⁠ fact, I felt‍ like I could‍‌⁠ even skip lunch.‍

“Then⁠ do you want‍ to go to‍‌‌ work?”

“Yes!”⁠

I answered enthusiastically.

The‍ Rabbit Butler led‌‌ me toward the⁠‍ main building.

Although‌⁠ the Creatures must⁠ have devoured quite‌‍ a few cleaners⁠⁠ during the night,‌ the mansion hardly‍ seemed to have changed.

It‍‌‌ should have been‌‌ gleaming brilliantly.

That⁠‍ was rather strange.‌

When‌ we reached the⁠‌ central hall of⁠‌‍ the main building,‍ all twelve Footmen⁠ were gathered there.‍‍⁠

Standing⁠‍‍ before them was‍⁠ the Cat Butler.⁠

The‍ twelve Footmen stood‍‌ in two rows‌‌‍ of six, and every single one of them looked‌ exactly alike, as‌ though they had‍‍‌ been copied and‌‌ pasted.

‘The‍⁠ Footmen are shorter‌‌ than the Butlers.’‌‌

The⁠ Footmen stood at‌ around seven feet⁠⁠ seven inches tall.‍

The‌‌‍ Butlers were about‌ eight feet two⁠ inches tall.

And‍ judging by the proportions of the⁠‍ mansion, I estimated‍⁠ that the Master‌‌‍ had to be‌ around ten feet‌‍ tall.

‘Could‍ it be that‌‌ the higher your rank, the taller‍‍ you become?’

I wondered whether I would grow taller‌‍ as well if⁠ I ever became‍ an official Butler.‍

At⁠‍ my current height,‍ working in the‍ mansion was rather‍‌ inconvenient.

The‌‌ Cat Butler, who⁠ had been pacing‌ back and forth‌‍⁠ with his hands‌‌ behind his back‍ while inspecting the⁠‍ Footmen, spotted me‍ and hurried over.‍‌

“Gunbam!”‍‍‌

He‍⁠ handed me a newspaper.

Surprised to see such‌‍ an old-fashioned medium,‍ I glanced at‌ it out of⁠⁠⁠ habit.

‘Day⁠ News?’

The⁠ first thing that⁠ caught my eye‌ was the newspaper’s name, which felt⁠ strangely familiar.

Below‌ it was a large headline accompanied‌‌⁠ by an article.‌‌‍

“Huh…?”‍‍

But⁠‌ almost all of‌⁠‌ it was covered‌ by black blocks.‌‍

While‌ I was still⁠⁠‌ confused, the Rabbit⁠‌ Butler pointed at⁠ a small article⁠‍ in one corner⁠ of the newspaper.‍‍

That‍ one I could‍‍ actually read.

<Cleaning‍ Company Ship Shot Down by an‌ Unknown Attack!>

The spacecraft belonging to‌‍ the cleaning service⁠ company “Clean! Clean!‌‍ Clean!” was shot down while traveling‍ along its regular⁠‍⁠ flight route.

The⁠ ship was struck‍‍ by a high-energy⁠⁠ missile that could‌ not be detected.⁠ Immediately after the⁠ impact, it exploded‍ and was reduced‌‍‍ to fragments. All‍‍‌ employees aboard the‍ vessel were killed.‌⁠

At‌‍ this time, the‌ party responsible for⁠‍ the attack remains‌‌ unknown.

“Clean!⁠⁠ Clean! Clean!” has‌ currently suspended all‍ new cleaning reservations‍ and has also‍⁠⁠ canceled the dispatch⁠ of ships to‍ retrieve the cleaners⁠‌ currently deployed.

It‍‍‌ was an article‍ reporting that the‌ spaceship that was‌ supposed to come‍‌ and pick us‌ up had been‌‌ struck by a missile and blown‌‍ to pieces.