The Sponsored Heroines Are Coming for Me
Chapter 35

──『Act 1: Full Moon Night』──

▶ Opening conditions:

1. Survive the prologue.

▶ Clear conditions:

1. Eliminate the Bloodstone Cult occupying the first and second floors of the dormitory (Bonus: Protect hostages).

2. Secure the identity of the final villain on the third floor of the dormitory.

3. Purify or eliminate the infected.

※ Complete the above conditions before the moon sets.

※ Contains directing intended to create a sense of fear. Please be careful when playing.

─────

◆

The girls’ dormitory at Lichten Academy.

The first-floor lounge at Median House.

“Did you hear the story? About Karina from the Reconnaissance Department and Isaac from the Knight Department…!”

“Oh my, oh my, how scandalous.”

Among the gathered girls, as is typical for kids their age, various romantic gossip was the main topic of discussion.

Even though they attend a prestigious school, they are all at the age where romance was a significant part of their lives.

Of course, dating was a kind of privilege.

Not everyone got to enjoy the privilege of romance.

Considering the somewhat tight schedule at Lichten, it was common for many to miss out on romance.

For example, in a corner of the lounge.

“Hah…”

Like Mercy Aniston, who held a Kirtos terminal in her hand, sighed.

Her normal dirty blonde hair, wavy, swayed along with the terminal she waved.

“When were you going to reply?”

The message on Mercy’s Kirtos terminal read:

【 Today only, free. The prophet recognized by the gods will predict your future for free. (3 people) 】

And the post she wrote on it.

[Mercy Aniston]: Freshman, living in Median House. Constellation is Virgo. I really want to date, but it’s not easy. I’ve been confessed to by someone, but he’s a guy who flirts with anyone. When will I ever be able to date?

“Oh really. It’s been a whole day already. Why aren’t you replying?”

Mercy grumbled and clicked the refresh button diligently.

Could it be that Kirtos terminal was broken?

Come to think of it, Kirtos chat hadn’t come in today.

There was also the possibility that the magic network was malfunctioning…

As Mercy shook the terminal, her shoulders twitched.

“Oh right, I don’t have any friends.”

Disheartened, Mercy leaned on the sofa.

At that moment.

─ Uuuung!

Her terminal vibrated.

A reply arrived from the so-called great prophet.

“It’s here!”

[To Mercy] Love. It’s a good thing. But don’t reveal too much. If you have someone you like, avoid them. Be careful when the full moon rises. Hide because it will follow you. I recommend running away.

Her eyes shook as she slowly read each line.

“…What was this?”

Mercy Aniston.

She had been a loyal customer in fields like tarot and astrology. To someone like her, this reply felt strange.

Of course, there was a sense of fortune-teller or tarot-reading vibes in the tone, but usually, in this industry, they inserted one or two positive words.

But this person outright warned to be careful.

Be careful and run away instead of hiding.

“…Could this have been real?”

In this industry, there were occasionally people like that. Types who believed in their abilities and were unkind to customers. The so-called ‘real’ ones.

Mercy, perhaps, had suspected that this person might be one of those ‘real’ individuals.

If that was the case, she needed to ask.

What should she be careful about, and what should she run away from?

– Tadadak

She quickly typed a comment and clicked the send button.

“What? Why is it acting up like this?”

The button didn’t work.

Had the author set it up so that comments couldn’t be left? There didn’t seem to be such a function.

A somewhat strange situation.

Mercy, with a puzzled expression, clicked the back button.

[Connection terminated due to an unstable magic network.]

– Dip.

Suddenly, the Kirtos terminal went off.

“Ah really!”

Of all times for the network to break down. Mercy, fiddling with the terminal here and there, sighed.

– Hey, Kirtos chat isn’t working suddenly.

– Hey, isn’t it not working for you too?

– It’s not even a maintenance day today.

Judging by the reactions around her, it seemed like something was off.

It had been quite a while since the Kirtos network had gone completely down.

‘Come to think of it, every time the network goes down, something weird seems to have happened.’

In her immersed state of mind, she was sure there was some connection.

Mercy rested her chin on her hand.

A thoughtful pose.

─ Tap

Someone brushed against her arm.

“Ghehe.”

ecause of her chin being propped up, her face was struck in a quite awkward position. An odd groaning sound was an extra.

As Mercy lifted her head to glare at the person.

“…”

A girl who was looking down at her came into view.

Dark black hair and bloodshot eyes.

Mercy instinctively flinched.

Yet, the girl continued to look down at her.

Her red eyes were eerie.

“…”

Then, without a word, she turned and walked away.

Only then did Mercy release the breath she had been holding.

“…What was with her? Not even an apology.”

She pursed her lips, but in reality, it was more eerie than angry. The bloodshot gaze didn’t seem human.

‘Come to think of it, there were quite a few red-eyed students wandering around today.’

Was there an important exam in some department?

At that moment.

─ Rustle.

A sense of unease passed through Mercy along her spine.

The Kirtos network malfunctioning.

Kids with red eyes.

The warning from the prophet.

Clearly signs that something was about to happen.

Gulp.

Mercy, who swallowed her saliva, stood up from her seat.

“I-I don’t know.”

Why were only scary thoughts coming to her?

Probably just fatigue.

Mercy decided to go and lie down, or something, and moved toward her room.

◆

The disturbance happened about an hour later.

─ Boom!

The dormitory building shook violently.

Mercy, who had been lying on her bed in a daze, hastily got up.

“What’s happening?”

As she approached the window to assess the situation.

Suddenly, the outside of the window was dyed in red.

“!”

An endlessly ominous color.

The voice of an anonymous prophet suddenly echoed in her mind.

Be cautious on the night when the full moon rises.

She slowly raised her head.

The crimson full moon was casting its glow down on this side.

Chills ran down her spine.

She had to run.

It felt instinctive.

─ Booom!

Mercy swiftly dashed out of the dormitory corridor.

The scenery was just as usual, except for being eerily empty.

That was more unrealistic and eerie.

“W-what in the world…”

In the distance, sporadic screams could be heard.

Mercy cautiously approached the main entrance.

At that moment.

─ Creak.

One of the rooms attached to the corridor she was passing suddenly opened.

“Gulp. Gulp.”

Followed by the sound of someone drinking something. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the ɴovᴇl(ꜰ)ir(e).nᴇt website on G𝘰𝘰gle to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Mercy turned and quickly covered her mouth.

“!!”

A freshman with bloodshot eyes was sinking his teeth into the neck of another student.

A Bloodstone Cultist.

Swoosh.

The guy’s head turned towards the corridor.

Mercy hurriedly concealed herself.

‘What the h*ll is happening?’

She had no idea what was going on.

For now, she needed to escape.

If it was a Bloodstone Cultist, the opponent would be absolutely overwhelming.

‘Let’s run away quickly.’

Mercy hastened her steps.

Just a little further was the central staircase.

Since this was the second floor, she could escape with just one floor down.

At that moment.

A chilling sensation felt from behind.

Creak.

Mercy slowly turned her head.

In the distance at the end of the corridor…

A fully blackened Bloodstone Cultist was approaching.

“!!!”

Swallowing the bursting scream, Mercy ran.

The central staircase.

Swiftly descending the stairs as if they were about to collapse.

Now, the vivid screams from all around were audible.

Just a little more, and she would reach the main gate… but.

“Gwaaaaah.”

One partially corrupted Bloodstone Cultist was blocking the way.

Considering the one chasing her from behind, it was a perfect dilemma.

In Mercy’s panicked eyes, a storage box for storing large items appeared.

‘There!’

◆

‘Just a little more! Just a bit morreee!’

Dadadadadadadadadadadada!

Mercy, who had rushed forward, stood in front of the storage box.

─ Clack clack!

The storage box, possibly due to not being used for a long time, didn’t open easily.

“Come onnn!”

Drrrrrrrrrrr!

Shaking it with all her strength, the storage box finally opened. Mercy threw herself inside without looking back.

Then, with a clang.

“Hooeoeoek.”

Only after closing the door did the breath catch up belatedly.

But she had to hold it urgently.

─ Creak.

─ Creak. Creak.

Footsteps could be heard.

Mercy peeked outside through the small gap in the toolbox door.

The blurry view of the outside.

Some of the Bloodstone Cultists seemed to sense Mercy’s presence, searching the area.

However, due to the special nature of the toolbox, they couldn’t discover her.

Bloodstone Cultists came closer. They seemed to exhibit weakened rationality, perhaps due to the ongoing corruption.

Relentlessly wandering around, one person disappeared, then a second one vanished.

It seemed they were leaving to find another victim.

‘Alright, just a little longer until help arrives.’

Surely, someone would come. This was the Lichten Academy; someone must be aware of the situation. Just endure a bit longer.

While determinedly waiting.

─ Creak.

─ Creak. Creak.

Footsteps were clearly getting closer.

Moreover, it was in a straight line without hesitation.

Suddenly, the prophecy came to mind.

‘Running away is better than hiding.’

‘Ah…’

Mercy tightly closed her eyes.

What should she do?

─ Creak.

Footsteps stopped right in front of the door.

If she was discovered, she would die.

Mercy held her breath with all her might.

How much time had passed like this?

─ Creak. Creak.

The footsteps moved away again.

‘…I survived. But this time, the opponent seems a bit unusual.’

Mercy peeked outside through the gap.

Slowly, the figure moved away.

Through the crack, a red-haired silhouette came into view.

And relatively long ears.

Endlessly white skin.

Unknowingly, Mercy murmured.

“…Lina?”

Swoosh.

The retreating figure abruptly stopped.

Click. Turning to face this way, the head.

The sight through the crack was blurry, but Mercy was certain.

It was Lina.

There was no doubt that Lina Rosewell, not a Bloodstone Cultist, had brought reinforcements after being outside the dormitory.

Mercy clenched her fist.

And shouted at her.

“Lina Rosewell!”

The red hair swayed as she turned around to locate the source of the sound. It was definitely Lina Rosewell.

“Haah…”

Mercy let out a relieved sigh.

Lina, who had been wandering nearby, approached.

“Lina, over here. I’m here.”

Shaking the toolbox, finally, Lina looked in this direction.

The corners of Lina’s mouth lifted into a cheerful smile as her eyes met Mercy’s.

– Step. Step.

Lina slowly approached.

“Can you open the door? It won’t open from inside!”

– Creak!

With a chilling sound, the toolbox opened.

Now, Lina’s face was clearly visible.

Mercy found herself murmuring without realizing.

“… Lina?”

Half of her hair was dyed in a blue hue.

Between slightly raised lips, a sensuous whiteness peeked through.

And, most notably,

Eyes intensely reddened, sending shivers down her spine.

As Lina locked eyes with Mercy’s, she grinned.

“There you were, hiding, huh?”

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