Lucien did not think it would go this far. He was the best at pretending, so why not just go with the flow this time? This woman can't tell whether he was lying or not anyway.
"Yes." He answered honestly.
"I see. Hope you have your fun because any time now, lunch will be ready soon."
"Okay!" The children answered in chorus. They giggled excitedly and turn to rest under the tall trees beside the outside furnace.
Lucien went to join the children. Aiden too, as he found a comfortable spot to nuzzle with Lucien as they sat on the tall tree.
"Today was fun!"
"Yes! Lucien play with us tomorrow too okay?"
"Yes."
In pretending, the people who you tell lies to can't differentiate how much truth your words hold. Having a neutral face is an advantage. He can easily convince the enemy that he knows nothing. He can also deceive these innocent children.
They don't know… they don't get to live tomorrow to play and breathe fresh air again. For the last two days Lucien spent living with them, he grew a little closer to these children, to the point where he was tempted to secure a passageway to save them.
But if he did save these children – the plot will change. The system will issue punishment. He had read too many novels to know what the consequences were of trying to change the plot.
[Reminder, dear host. The crucial plot of demon attacking the orphanage will begin at 12:30pm.]
[Your task, dear host, is to ensure the children are inside the house within the next forty hours and participate in the game of hide and seek the demon instigates.]
"Make sure they participate? Only that? If I want to save them -"
[That is violation dear host. These are the children who will perish in the middle of demon instigation.]
Images of children, girls and boys, toddlers and healthy six years olds – they all flash in Lucien's mind. He counted them off. There are twenty – five of them. A heavy lump got stuck in Lucien's throat.
Does that mean only five children will survive?
[If you stick to the task of keeping the protagonist and these five children alive in the next forty-eight hours then you can complete your task. One point will be awarded if you succeed.]
Another images flash and this time, it was the faces of the five children.
"Hey! Don't be ridiculous –"
[Three points will be awarded if you manage to escape from the demon with only the protagonist and five children after forty – eight hours.]
"What? Wait, isn't that the same thing?"
[The system urge you to escape the town after that. Regardless of whether the other children are alive, as long as you manage to get the five children and the protagonist out, that's five points. The remaining children will die in the hands of the demon thereafter.]
.
.
.
[System updating]
[One task has been added.]
[A special task has been issued. You are welcome to not do the task, or you can take it to increase your points. Are you willing, dear host?]
"That's all the same thing… Either I get one or five points, I still need to cruelly feed the children to the demon. "
[A special task has been issued. You are welcome to not do the task, or you can take it to increase your points. Are you willing, dear host?]
"Fine, what is it?"
[Dear host -]
"But let me make myself clear. I am welcome to refuse if it gets too difficult for me, alright? "
[The points will accumulate if you are successful in the special task, dear host. Completing the special task the system will grant you 1 point, 3 points, and 5 points, respectively. Multiply the added points by 2 and that's the total points you will receive.]
Those words made Lucien falter. At first, he saw no sign that he would get out of the situation of letting the children die on purpose. One or three points are too small and require such great sacrifices.
But this special task tempted him. He still can't shake off the guilt. But he needs to stick to the belief that this is all a fantasy world, that he is in the world of his favorite anime. There's no reason for him to feel guilty. Since this is not the real world he lives in.
"What's the special task?"
[Uncover the secret in St. Louis Church and exterminate the demons.]
His body went frigid. Demons? Are there other demons in the orphanage? Who are they? A memory jugged in his mind.
"I told you not to come back! What if you transformed?!"
"I can't! My body's deforming! I need a place to hide!"
All the while Lucien is having a monologue and complicated thoughts in his head, Aiden is staring intently at him. The unconscious unsettled glances, the absentminded scratching of Lucien at his nape. It was all registered in Aiden's mind. This man is nervous. He guessed. Aiden immediately hugged Lucien's torso, resting his head on his chest.
Are you that uncomfortable being here? " Aiden wanted to ask Lucien. You really want to get away from this place? Aiden purposely reach out his left hand to Lucien's nape.
Lucien's eyes are glazed over, staring at the children, happily sitting with them under the tree. He did not notice Aiden placing his hand on his nape, caressing his skin with his fingertips.
'I will always be with you, Lucien.' Aiden closed his eyes and breathed in Lucien's scent. Aiden buried his nose on Lucien's nape.
'If you want to leave this place, I will go with you.'
'You can't shake me off now. You can't leave me alone. You saved me. So you better take responsibility for it. '
Lucien did not notice the curious actions of Aiden and his thoughts. Lucien is more worried about what to do. The time is already 12:15pm. Fifteen more minutes and the demon will come.
What was he supposed to do to defeat the demon? To defeat it at its own game?
"If I successfully kill the demon, does that mean I don't need to sacrifice the children?"
[No. But the children that will survive after you kill the demons will be spared.]