The Tutorial Boss Exposes the Phantom Voice
I pinpointed the hallucination. Stupid bastard. A sneering voice echoed in my head, aimed straight at me.
Didn't you see that bitch's eyes just now? She was dying to devour you. Didn't you notice the way her gaze roamed your body? A sticky thought slithered past like a tongue licking my ear. Revulsion prickled up my spine.
If you asked, she'd spread her legs and squirt like a bitch in heat right now. She'd give her life for you—why the hell are you letting a virgin slip away like an idiot? Pounce. Eat her. Rip that hymen to shreds. Next time, slam her down on the bed and shove it between her thighs! The voice had come when my mind was foggy from the basilisk's venom. Even now, with my wits sharp, it brazenly rummaged through my thoughts.
"Shut up."
I pinched the bridge of my nose. This thing always urged me to jump any woman who showed up—Elena, Pila, whoever. Nothing but vulgar crap.
"Don't you get that hearing shit like that from you just makes me push back harder?"
That's why you're a moron.
"You claim to read my memories, but you don't know why I'm protecting Elena's virginity? It's essential for the true ending."
Elena's purity was the key to the true ending. A vessel of pure flesh and untainted mind. A blank slate in every way, ready to be inscribed upon.
Who gives a fuck? Women are for hugging and fucking. Why else do you think your dick's there? To stick in holes. That's the law and truth of this world.
"Hah..."
All those grand excuses, but you think I don't know what your lower half really wants? There are other endings— just eat her and think later. Why not take the easy path? It felt like the ravings of some base, lust-boiling beast.
Tsk. Pathetic.
I'd figured it was residue from the original owner of this body, Eck. Given his violent temper and womanizing ways, it was easy to imagine such crude impulses crawling up from the depths of his subconscious. I'd even worried I might've developed a split personality for real.
"..."
But something felt off. If this voice was truly a manifestation of the body's subconscious, why no reaction from the Ring of the Forbearing Man? I'd looked at the ring, but it granted me no power. It should've activated if I resisted the voice's seduction without faltering.
Even when it did react, there was this weird dissonance with the voice. At first, I'd chalked it up to my weakened mental state from the paralyzing poison letting Eck's remnants seep in. I could easily imagine what Eck would've chosen anyway—this brain's base specs were his, after all. So superficially, it seemed like an inner voice wearing Eck's mask.
But once I started doubting and pondering deeply, I realized it couldn't fully read my thoughts. It only skimmed the surface, barely catching my voice.
"You."
The last exchange confirmed it.
"You're not Eck, are you?"
Instantly, the thought buzzed and rattled my skull. As I pressed my throbbing temple, it started laughing grotesquely in my head.
Kihihi. Kihihihihi. Kihihihihyahahahahaha!
Chilling laughter spread through my ears, slathered in saliva like a lick.
Not Eck? Then what am I?
The tone shifted. This reply sealed it. This thing was a malicious spirit. A parasite burrowing into human desires. A prisoner freed when the doll shattered. The boss mob sealed in the magic sword Vitalia. A wandering soul returning to its home in the sword like a grudge ghost.
"Trying to fool me, you evil fuck?"
The desire-dominating spirit, unable to possess the sword, latched onto its owner—me. The voice thinned and sharpened into a woman's.
"What? No fun. You could've figured it out after fucking Elena."
The malicious spirit Beatrice whispered right in my ear.
The malicious spirit Beatrice, once parasitic on the magic sword Vitalia. Her ethereal form returned when the doll was destroyed. But with the sword reforged, she couldn't repossess it and ended up haunting its owner—me.
It was a game setting, too.
I thought it was just flashy effects.
Guess not. I'd anticipated something like this, but not that it'd whisper with its own will. It seemed too weak to use its full powers without the sword, but the itchy voice in my ear was damn annoying. The basilisk's lingering venom didn't help.
"Feels like the settings got more detailed in this reality."
I ignored Beatrice's seductive murmurs—or whatever they were—for a while.
Then the door opened.
"Uncle, I'm back. Hungry, right? I brought food."
Elena entered with a tray, fresh from wall duty. Dressed casually, freshly bathed, she carried a sweet scent that mingled with the steam rising from soup and fresh bread. She set it on the table.
As I sat and picked up a spoon, the voice slithered in.
"Not turning you on?"
The thought oozed.
"Look closely. Reach out and grab that plump ass. How would Elena react if you squeezed it hard?"
Her waist was slim, hips nicely rounded.
"She'd be startled but wouldn't push you away. She'd stick her ass out for easy access—can't you see that?"
I pinched my nose. No point responding to such trash whispers. My pounding headache made me squeeze my eyes shut.
"Uncle? You okay?"
Elena approached. Deep worry clouded her blue eyes. Even if I pretended otherwise, my exhaustion was obvious, yet here she was fussing over me first. I didn't need anyone to tell me that.
"See? She's tempting you, all defenseless like that. Grab her already."
Then a bluish mist rippled in the air. A form only I could see materialized. Black hair floated, defying gravity. Blood-red eyes. A slender, childlike girl—not fully grown—giggled in front of me, savoring my reaction. Frilly gothic lolita dress. White bare legs peeked below. Her floating skirt revealed thighs curving round to her ass.
Beatrice's apparition.
It clung tight to Elena's back. Its pale hand groped Elena's curvaceous breast. Elena noticed nothing, just stared at my face. She blushed under my gaze but didn't look away.
Beatrice's other hand fondled between Elena's thighs as its small nose trailed up her nape.
"Good smell."
Beatrice licked her lips.
"Virgin scent."
Fangs flashed as it nipped Elena's collarbone and shoulder, chewing softly. Elena remained oblivious.
"Enjoy it. I'll grope wherever you look. Voyeur time. Oh, wanna check how wet she is now?"
It flipped Elena's body upside down, peeking under her skirt.
Crazy bitch.
Beatrice leered as she toyed with Elena.
"Uh, uncle, if—if you're not feeling well, just tell me. If you, um, want anything, I'll do whatever."
Elena fidgeted, rubbing her thighs.
"H-Hans said men get super frustrated if they don't... you know, even for a day."
"Ahhn~ It's not your fault uncle's horny. Look how in heat I am."
Beatrice mimicked Elena's voice, gripping her thigh and stroking her ass. Elena's face shifted from worry to visible fluster. That's when she noticed the tension in mine.
"I-I'll get the priest! The basilisk venom must still be affecting you!"
Elena spun to leave. I grabbed her arm.
"Wait."
She flinched to a halt.
"No need."
"But uncle, you look in so much pain. Your breathing's ragged."
"It's not pain."
I took a deep breath, forcing my grimace away. Beatrice, coiled around Elena's waist, giggled at me. Ignoring the apparition, I met Elena's eyes.
"Just got a task on my mind. Head's a bit cluttered."
"A task?"
"Yeah."
"You're really not hurting?"
"Why would I lie to you? I don't bullshit someone who'd do anything I say."
"R-Really? Hehe. I'd follow your word no matter what."
I released her arm and gently pushed her back.
"Worry about yourself instead. Monster wave's not over yet. Get some proper sleep."
Elena eyed me suspiciously but sighed softly and nodded.
"Okay. Eat the soup before it cools."
She left. Her footsteps faded down the hall, leaving a sticky silence.
"No fun. One quick fuck and we'd all be happy. Why refuse mutual bliss?"
Beatrice's apparition dissipated into smoke, looking disappointed. I pressed my temple and sighed deeply. Cracking my stiff neck elicited a series of pops.
"All talk when I already know better."
Celibacy is the strongest weapon in this world. The Ring of the Forbearing Man grows vastly more powerful the longer you uphold it—boosting Eck's overall stats by up to 30 percent. If I ever passed the celibacy series to Elena, her virginity premium could push it to 45 percent.
The true ending demands it for the future payoff. A moment's lust is petty compared to the massive gains from her purity.
"Who wants to live forever in this shitty ero-game world?"
I scratched my messy hair.
"Hah. Time to plan the next move."
I pulled the Dungeon Investigation Team Leader appointment letter from yesterday's drawer. Lijet's signature was on it.
Lijet, Lord's Daughter
[Signature]
There was one more in the drawer. A rectangular gem rolled inside—the barrier stone. A treasure Lijet had given me along with the appointment, as the team leader.
Gazing at the treasure, I took out parchment and pen to start writing a letter.
Black smoke pillars rose beyond the walls, clouding the morning sky. Beastly musk, blood reek, and the rot of earth-soaked gore rode the wind from the burning pyres.
Dawn past, morning come. The monster wave ended.
Dong— Dong— Dong—
Languid bells tolled, signaling combat's close. The horde that threatened to swallow the city hadn't even breached the walls.
Adventurers, soldiers, knights atop the ramparts exchanged glances. Weapons lowered as one. Then cheers erupted.
"It's over!!"
"We lived! We're alive!"
Hurrahs echoed from the streets below.
"It's finished. Truly fortunate."
Lijet watched from the lord's castle balcony. But it wasn't fully over. Wounded fighters slumped on weapons like crutches, gasping. Faces smeared with dirt and soot, they rejoiced in victory yet shadowed by bitter futures.
Battle done, but their lives dragged on. Lijet's gaze drifted past the field to the northern fringe.
"All of it true."
A dungeon had appeared. Source of calamity, promise of vast wealth—a new goldmine for the territory.
Battle heat fluttered her dress on the breeze.
"Milady."
Barie approached from behind.
"The lord awaits."
"Very well."
Lijet turned slowly, heeding her father's summons.