Infinite World: Dangerous Game!

019

That’s why corpses don’t scare us. But this isn’t just a corpse—it’s a demon. Is it just my job that’s made me this brave? Or am I just numb to it all now?

They crept downstairs together, feet barely making a sound on the creaky wooden steps. Just then, a little red dot flashed in Phedra Henry’s message box.

Beatrix Henry: Stop. You’ll wake the couple. Where are you even trying to go?

Phedra Henry paused on the steps, not moving a muscle. Little Bell: Don’t worry about me. If the demon attacks, just use me as a shield and run.

Beatrix Henry: Can you quit with the jokes? That’s not funny. You really want to go outside and meet it? Honey, just because you’ve seen a lot of corpses doesn’t mean the devil’s going to make friends with you.

Phedra fell silent for a moment, the tension thick.

[Little Bell is typing...]

Suddenly, a notification appeared: [Team: Beatrix Henry has used Captain’s Authority. You’re muted for 5 minutes.]

Phedra Henry’s eyes widened, his mouth set in a line of pure annoyance.

He glared at Beatrix: “Why won’t you just listen to me?”

Beatrix Henry: Five minutes. Calm down, please.

Phedra shook his head, muttering under his breath. “It won’t hurt us.”

Beatrix Henry: That’s because we’re in the safe house. He watched Phedra’s lips move. “You know this place isn’t really safe! Why else did you pour out the milk tonight?”

Beatrix Henry: See, you’re still a newbie, no matter how tough you act. Don’t trust a demon, ever.

Phedra pressed his lips together, stubborn as ever.

The chat exploded:

[Why does the air feel so tense all of a sudden...] [I can’t see No. 3’s messages, but Newbie’s face says it all. Serious argument vibes.] [Can they please just go argue behind closed doors? This is making me nervous...] [I’m praying the raft floats us out of here, honestly.]

Phedra let out a long breath. “Fine.”

He understood. Beatrix was worried about him. If Beatrix only cared about himself, he’d have disbanded the team by now and left Phedra to his own devices.

[Team: Beatrix Henry has unmuted you.]

Little Bell: I think I know a way to talk to it—without going outside.

Beatrix’s glare softened a bit, but his eyes were still sharp.

[The captain is getting emotional—his baby is growing up.]

Phedra: “…”

They went back to their room in silence, grateful they hadn’t woken the hosts.

Beatrix collapsed onto the bed with the weight of a century on his shoulders. The old floorboards creaked if you weren’t careful, so you had to walk like a cat to avoid making noise.

Beatrix looked up, catching Phedra by the window. Darkness pressed against the glass, silent and patient.

Just then, a soft scratching sounded—nails against glass. Phedra saw it clearly this time: the rotten mouth wide open, loose teeth scraping the window, grinning.

Beatrix, unfazed by the midnight horror-movie scene, messaged on team chat:

Beatrix Henry: Tell me your plan.

Phedra stepped back and opened his inventory screen. Little Bell: I’ve got a Character Recall Card. He’s not a player—maybe he can try talking to it.

Beatrix Henry: That your rookie-mission reward? Your name’s still in red. N-level or R-level card?

Little Bell: SR.

Beatrix Henry: What about your latest mission?

Little Bell: Also SR.

Beatrix didn’t reply, but Phedra could almost read the “I told you so” in his eyes.

Phedra just sighed.

Beatrix Henry: Did you sign a master contract with the character?

Little Bell: Not yet.

Beatrix Henry: If you do, you’ll get a closer bond, maybe even better skills.

Phedra hesitated. He was worried it’d get too close. For now, he’d keep his distance.

He drew the shiny card from his inventory, hands trembling just a bit.

The chat was going wild:

[Whoa! Summoning an SR character?!] [First time I’ve seen an SR in action. I still only ever got N cards... so jealous.] [But is the character hot though?]

Phedra fiddled with the card, the edges catching the light with a rainbow sheen.

Beatrix just crossed his arms and waited, eyebrow raised.

Beatrix Henry: Having trouble recalling?

Phedra’s hand paused, then slapped his thigh in frustration.

He still couldn’t bring himself to do it—the memory of almost dying underground was a real mental block. Did he really want to see the face of that thing again?

Beatrix noticed his hesitation, his voice gentler now. “What’s wrong? Is it something with the character?”

Phedra didn’t answer, jaw clenched.

Beatrix bent down, lips close to Phedra’s ear, and blew a soft breath across his neck.

Phedra shivered, ticklish and tense, glaring back at him.

Beatrix whispered, “Try to ignore the fear. The team needs you focused.”

Phedra straightened up, still glaring at the window, determined not to flinch.

Beatrix Henry: Good or bad, that card’s part of you now. Unless you sell it, you’re stuck with it.

Phedra looked at the card, deep in thought. What if it’s bad? The memory of suffocating in that coffin made his stomach churn.

He remembered how Beatrix had used a soundproof item before—worried that his “best friend” would overhear.

Beatrix Henry: In this world, sound only carries for about three minutes before it fades.

Beatrix lifted Phedra’s hand with the card in it, then used his own finger to prick Phedra’s fingertip—just enough for a drop of blood to well up and soak into the card’s surface.