TFWSDW 02

Chapter 2

‘Ugh, what happens if I die here?’

As soon as I thought that, a strong force yanked my shoulder.

Thud!

I was thrown to the ground helplessly.

“Haa, haa…!”

I was breathing heavily from the tension.

“…Are you okay? That was dangerous!”

A blunt but urgent voice.

It was definitely the voice of the main character, Kahn, the same one I’d heard earlier.

‘I really almost died just now…’

I was lying on the ground, tangled up with the protagonist.

More than the shock of escaping death—
this situation right now was even more overwhelming.

‘Crap! Crap! I just got hugged by my favorite character!’

I was wrapped tightly in Kahn’s arms, eyes wide in shock.

That’s right. The reason I was obsessed with this game—

It was because the main character, Kahn, was my absolute favorite!

‘Amazing looks! A good heart that calls for justice in a broken world! Perfect personality!’

This boy here—he’ll grow up to look like that adult illustration…

“I was really surprised. Even though you’re small, you tried to save someone bigger… That’s amazing.”

Sorry, I couldn’t really hear what he was saying.

“Anyway… how did you know that thing was going to fall?”

“That’s…”

Still sitting on the ground catching my breath, I glanced to the side.

A giant rock had fallen exactly where I was standing.

Next to it, the kid I saved was sitting on the ground, pale and terrified.

‘I stopped the first kid from dying.’

But this isn’t over.

The maze is full of traps.

The danger won’t stop until only one candidate for Pope is left alive.

‘Still, it’s not like I don’t have any options.’

A bunch of thoughts raced through my mind. I shook my head with a complicated expression.

‘…But if I do that, I’ll have to—’

Trying to focus, I rubbed my face quickly like a squirrel to gather my thoughts.

Just as I started to raise my head—

“Eh?!”

I was lifted off the ground!?

“The floor’s cold.”

Kahn had picked me up in his arms.

I blinked. I was so shocked I couldn’t even scream. Before long, he sat me down.

“My grandpa said girls shouldn’t sit on the ground.”

‘Wow, he’s strong.’

As soon as the shock wore off, I turned my head.

Kahn was already helping another kid, moving quickly.

Even in a time like this, he was helping others—so like a main character.

It made my heart flutter.

Naturally, it felt very different seeing him in real life compared to just on a screen.

“Haa…”

I loved the main character so much I kept playing this game for a long time.

But watching him die over and over made me wonder what kind of messed-up game this even was.

‘I never thought I’d actually experience it in real life.’

I used to laugh at people who couldn’t separate fiction from reality… I reflect on that now.

“B-Brother. What do we do…?”

A kid around Kahn’s age trembled as he spoke. He must have seen Kahn as the leader.

Kahn went silent, thinking, then finally spoke.

“First, let’s get out of here. There must be an exit in this maze.”

“No.”

I sighed and stepped in front of him.

This isn’t the right path.

Then I suddenly realized—

‘Why is he so tall?’

He’s only supposed to be about seven, but standing in front of him, I only reached his chest.

Trying to act serious, I said firmly:

“Thanks for saving me.”

Kahn stared at me for a second, then shook his head.

“You’re the one who saved that other kid first.”

Yeah. I just didn’t want to watch someone die.

…If he knew I almost died instead, he might’ve felt differently.

“My neck hurts. Move back a bit.”

“….”

Kahn frowned slightly, but stepped back.

“This way not right.”

Ugh. What’s with my pronunciation?

I scrunched my chubby cheeks and forehead in frustration.

Then I pointed with my tiny hand and said clearly:

“Go that way.”

Back when I posted a guide to <Black Salvator> on the game community site, it made it to the best posts section.

At the time, I was obsessed with “speed runs”—clearing chapters as fast as possible.

And that’s when I found a bug by accident.

“This is the way.”

I knew this area so well I could walk it with my eyes closed.

So I led the kids to the entrance of the maze.

It was the same entrance the soldiers had thrown us through.

As we approached the door, one kid shouted at me:

“W-What are you doing?! That door is locked!”

“Wait a sec. So impatient.”

…Even I’m losing patience with my pronunciation.

Did my tongue split in half or something?

Just like the older kid said, the big door we came in through was tightly shut.

But I wasn’t aiming for the door—I was aiming for the wall beside it.

I started pushing aside the vines covering the wall.

And soon, I found it.

‘Ha, knew it’d be here.’

I picked up a nearby rock and threw it at the bricks exactly five times.

Then I kicked the wall hard.

Thud!

Amazingly, my foot went straight into the wall.

‘Just as I thought.’

I quietly pulled my foot back and turned around.

All the kids, including the main character, were staring at me with their mouths wide open.

“A… hole?”

“I can see outside!”

This chapter was supposed to show how hopeless and dark the game world is.

Just thinking of one post I saw online:

Game Category [Post][Guide]
[How to clear the prologue chapter]
Anyone here expecting something?
LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
There’s nothing!
Just dodge everything until all the kids die.

‘I’m not gonna watch the main character die again—not here.’

And it’s not just him. Watching the kids die one by one… I couldn’t take it. I tilted my head with a bit of attitude.

“Come through here.”

“…What is this?”

Kahn’s voice was wary. I answered casually:

“Exit.”

Seeing the shocked look on his face, I shrugged and added:

“As far as I know, it only stays open for 30 seconds! Run!”

“…”

“Hey, you! If you wanna see your mom, this is your last chance! Hurry!”

As I yelled “Wak!” one kid flinched and ran through the hole.

Kids are simple—when one moves…

“W-Wait, I’m coming too!”

“Me too!!”

The rest followed.

One of the middle-aged kids screamed “Mom!” and ran. The rest chased after, and soon they were all gone through the hole.

Only one person was left—Kahn.

He didn’t even glance at the hole. He just stared quietly at my face.

Like he was trying to figure something out.

“…Why aren’t you going?”

“Huh? You don’t trust me? I’m not lying.”

“I know. That’s not it…”

I know.

That frown on your face—it’s because you’re worried about me.

A kid who never lost his goodness, even in this hopeless game.

‘I really liked that about you.’

But you know what?

I worry about you even more.

I reached out my tiny hand and tugged on Kahn’s sleeve.

“Then let’s go together.”

In the end, Kahn moved as I urged him.

As soon as he stepped in front of the hole—

I pushed him with all my strength.

“I didn’t say this, but I’m staying here.”

One person has to stay behind.

Otherwise, the guards will be alerted.

Honestly, it’s half justice, half obligation.

I knew this chapter better than anyone.

And I was confident I could escape on my own.

Finally—

“Bye!”

I wanted to see it at least once—

My favorite main character, always crying, dying, and suffering—

Starting off with a happy ending.

“I’ll take care of justice!”

I grinned wide.

“Live happily!”