Revenant Of the Misfortune

"Truth Tells No Lie" is about a game of interrogation. I still haven't explained it well since I'm a bit clumsy at explaining things. But basically, I interrogated a cultist and found a way to execute them. I need to be careful not to slip up on any words, as that increases the chances of the cultist surviving and walking free.

I gave myself a moment to reflect on the game I've unfortunately transmigrated into, wondering if it could be more than just an interrogation game. Though I enjoy it, I still have a few complaints to voice.

"This sure is an interrogation game," I said mockingly, trudging through the filthy water of the sewer, the same water I had tasted when I first got here. "What a sweet starting point." Another sarcastic remark escaped my lips.

I grumbled.

"Oh, but now that I think of it… why am I in the sewer in the first place? Usually, the game starts with William Barrett putting the convict in a room and beginning the torture… Damn, now that I think about it, William is NOT a chill person at all," I said as I straddled the edge of the sewer pathway.

"But seriously, where the hell am I going? And where's my luck when I need it?! Sigh, maybe I shouldn't have wasted all my luck spinning gacha… ahh, whatever."

As I ran toward the sound of a woman's voice, burdened by these disappointing thoughts, a realization struck me—something I shouldn't have forgotten in the first place.

"…And where the hell am I going exactly?" I muttered, glancing around at the sewer, which was slowly beginning to resemble a maze. I grunted in frustration.

"Dammit, dammit. I'm really not suited for this type of thing. If this were an FPS game, I'd probably feel some sense of security—at least it's easy to hide around corners and ambush enemies. This place is literally heaven for campers… and here I am, feeling uneasy now that I'm the victim."

I began walking slowly, scanning the area for any hostile creatures or enemies. My gaming instincts kicked in—years of playing shooting games made me instinctively move silently, creeping through the sewer as though it were a stealth mission.

"…Seems clear. Maybe there's no hostile creatures… Still, I need to stay careful."

I kept moving, cautiously peeking around every corner before proceeding. Finding no signs of hostiles, I moved forward. This strategy continued for what felt like a long time… though I quickly realized I had no wristwatch in this body.

"…" I stayed vigilant, walking and scanning my surroundings. As I moved, my thoughts drifted to the money Dean promised to give me. Dammit. Stop thinking about that! You're only making yourself feel worse.

"…My money," I muttered bitterly. I couldn't stop thinking about it now that it was in my head. Ahh, seriously, focus, Allen! There's a woman screaming for help—help her, and be done with it already.

I pressed on. For the longest time, silence filled my mind. Finally, I let out a thought: how long had it been? I couldn't remember. All I knew was that the foul stench ahead was growing stronger, wafting through the sewer corridor. As I took another step forward, my body froze.

"Ugh!? A corpse… in the sewer!" Goosebumps rose as I stared at the horrifying sight. The corpse looked like it had died a long time ago, seeing as there was no flesh on its outer appearance at all.

"…I do not want to know how or why there's a corpse here, but I'm definitely not going THAT way. Especially since the path ahead is way smaller than the one I'm currently on. Absolutely not happening," I convinced myself rather easily. I thought the woman might see the corpse too and make the same decision. I mean, who's dumb enough to go that way after seeing a corpse?

I told myself this… not knowing I'd eat those words the moment I saw a peculiar book on the other side—the very path I'd promised not to step forward on.

"…I hate this. I hate this. I ABSOLUTELY HATE THIS." I said to myself, feeling like fate was playing with me like I was some kind of toy to relieve their stress. What makes them think they have more stress than me, huh???

The path toward the book was straightforward, but of course, the problem was the corpse. Aside from how unaesthetic and unpleasant it was, there's a saying: 'Whoever gets closer to a corpse will have their luck slowly drained by it.' Now that I think about it, does this apply to me, considering how terrible my luck already is?

"…A damn corpse in the middle of a small, tight corridor… Inhale, exhale. Okay, Allen, you've got this. This is just a… haunted house. Yes! It's only a prop. Yes… only a little bit of realistic bones… and a slightly realistic smell… and… oh, great. A little red worm, hi, friend." I waved at the red worm slowly wiggling away from me after emerging from a tight hole.

As I got closer to the corpse, the details became clearer—details I really, really didn't want to know. The corpse's skin had been completely torn off, leaving only bones, but it still wore the tattered clothes of an adventurer. What an unfortunate soul… exploring a sewer, not knowing death awaited them in this damn tight space.

"Okay, seriously, why is this space so damn tight? Why in hell would this ex-living person go into such a small hole?"

I was practically crab-walking. The corpse I was getting closer to was in a fetal position, both hands covering its face. If I wanted to reach the book, I'd have to crawl past it. Truthfully, I really, REALLY didn't want to get any closer, but I had no choice. I kept crab-walking.

I finally got close enough to the book. Unfortunately, so did the corpse, now right beside me. At that moment, I had only one wish, and it was the only time I genuinely prayed to God: Do NOT make me fall next to the corpse. I had a bad feeling, like something might come out of it.

I stretched out my right hand toward the book, hoping that I could leave quickly after grabbing it.

"…Yeah, just a little more stretch… Huff! Yes…YES…! Yay." A smile spread across my face as I finally grabbed the book. For a moment, I thought the book might contain a sewer map—something that would help me greatly.

As I tried to retreat back to my previous position, my hand slipped on something slimy I had been using to support my weight.

"…"

My head fell forward, meeting the corpse's eyeless socket, while my left hand awkwardly hugged the corpse.

"…ugh."

A red worm emerged from the corpse's eye socket, slowly wriggling toward me before slipping back inside the empty socket again.

"…egh…"

I gingerly removed my left hand and reached up to grab the top of the semi-circular sewer wall. My fingers touched more of that same slimy texture.

"…please…"

I looked up. It was dark, but I could make out movement. Thousands of somethings were wriggling on the ceiling.

"...sob sob."

I decided not to acknowledge what I had just seen. Instead, I glanced down at my left hand. It had been wearing a black glove moments ago. Now, the glove was missing.

"…hmm."

I didn't need proof to figure out where the glove had gone. Hesitantly, I looked back up at the ceiling. The red worms were eating the glove. A glove. A. GLOVE. If these things could eat that, there was no doubt they could eat my flesh.

"…My lord, why?…"

I turned back to the corpse, which seemed to have already resigned itself to its fate.

"…Okay."

I decided to retreat, slithering backward through the tight space. But as I moved, I realized the corpse was stuck to my trench coat.

"…Oh, great lord…"

I began praying as I used my left hand to carefully push the corpse's foot off my coat. Unfortunately, I pushed a little too hard, and the bones snapped.

CRACK!

"…"

The sound was so loud it echoed down the sewer. I didn't even bother wishing for silence anymore. Time to face reality.

The worms in the corpse suddenly began writhing out of the torso, squirming toward me.

"Shit, shit, shit."

I slithered faster, but the worms kept pace, their movements unnervingly precise.

"Shit. Shit. SHIT."

The darkness made it difficult to see, but it felt like the worms were merging together. As more joined the mass, they began to take on a new shape—and now they weren't just crawling; they were pursuing.

"…Huh!"

I could feel my left foot finally leaving the tight space. Yes, this was it! Desperately, I swung the book in my right hand at the approaching worms. A few solid smacks seemed to deter them. They paused and then retreated.

I managed to escape the tight corridor. Once I was out, I brushed off the dirt—and the few worms that had managed to stick to me. Clearing my throat, I placed the book down and stepped forward, just a little past the dreadful scene.

"Ehem…" I walked toward the flowing sewer water, gagged, then promptly puked.

Vomiting was apparently my body's preferred coping mechanism for what I'd just been through. Honestly, what a great way to cope with the trauma. Great. Fantastic. Yep, keep going. Let it all out. No one's stopping you…

I cleared my throat.

"…"

"…"

"…Sigh."

My eyes were full of tears—forced out by the pressure of puking. I wiped them away, trying to regain my composure. Once I felt stable enough, I turned my attention to the book I'd retrieved.

"Hmm… the book is pretty cute. A pink cover with floral artwork… Must've belonged to a woman, then."

I paused, giving a moment of silence for the unfortunate soul. After that, I flipped it open.

"Hmm, nope. Nope. Still nope. I can't find any information about the sewer nor the map. Yep, I wasted my life on that tight hole for sure, no hesitation at all."

The book had no author's name, but it wasn't hard to guess it belonged to the corpse. I skimmed through the pages—mostly diary entries. I didn't read them word for word out of respect for her privacy. However, after a few hundred pages, something useful finally caught my attention.

"Date: [ripped page]

I've decided to do it. I need to find that red flower my little sister wants to see. She says the flower grows in the sewers. It's a disgusting place, but she doesn't have much time left…

My poor Rebecca. Oh, how I wish I were a doctor, so I could treat her sickness. This is all because of that damned witch's curse spreading through our precious village! One by one, everyone fell… until only Rebecca and I remained.

I… I don't want her to feel guilty, thinking she's going to leave me alone. No. As her older sister, if it's a flower she wants to see, then I'll do anything to find it!"

End.

"…"

I stared at the words written in the diary. My chest tightened, the weight of the sister's pain and tragedy bearing down on me. The lump in my throat grew larger as I clutched my chest, gasping for air.

"…This is too much. What the hell… is going on here?" The tear ran down my cheek before falling to the floor.

It took a while, but I finally managed to calm down. With a heavy sigh, I tried to shake off the sadness that had gripped me.

"Her death… it's just so unfair. I wish I could at least give her a proper burial. But no…"

Shaking my head, I redirected my focus. There was still someone I needed to find—the woman who screamed earlier.

"That scream happened about three hours ago," I muttered. "According to my Professional-I-Made-This-Fact-Up-Myself instincts. The odds of her still being alive are slim… but there's no way in hell I'm giving up until I see her corpse with my own eyes."

I clenched my fists, my determination firm. I had to try to believe in the good possibilities that might happen.

"But that resolve didn't solve the immediate issue," I said to myself as I scratched my head.

"I still don't have a clue how to navigate this goddamn sewer," I grumbled. "This is such a pain in the ass."

I continued wandering aimlessly until I noticed movement ahead—just beyond the right corner.

"…"

I shifted into stealth mode again, scanning my surroundings carefully. At the edge of my vision, I spotted a writhing mass of worms swarming over each other in a chaotic frenzy.

I furrowed my brows, confused by their strange behavior—until I saw the reason for myself.

"…Holy shit."

There it was. A massive red worm, not a cluster of smaller ones fused together, but a single, enormous creature. Its size was impossible to gauge properly in the dim light, but it was massive—thick and terrifyingly long.

"That thing is… huge. Is it like that because it ate more than the others? Or is it their ruler?" I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. "Whatever the reason… I DEFINITELY don't want to mess with that thing. Ever again."

Backing away as quietly as I could, I decided to leave the worm-infested section of the sewer. Whoever ended up having to deal with them? I silently offered them a prayer.

"Good luck. You're gonna need it."

As I moved farther from the infestation, I sighed heavily, muttering under my breath.

"…I hate those worms. I hate them for the love of my life. Goddammit… Sigh. I really wish I could hear Dean's voice again. My money…"

The memory of my lost cash gnawed at me, sinking my mood even further.

I trudged forward, head low, my spirit thoroughly ruined by the realization that I'd probably never see my money—or Dean—again.