The Lilith Protocol Chapter 7

"No need to go to that trouble. In three hours it'll be dawn, and we'll be able to see then."

After Walter spoke, he walked away on his own.

I didn't mind. Compared to candles, matches were much easier to find.

Worst case scenario, I'd just rub two sticks together.

I searched through every room, turning everything upside down, until I finally found a box of matches.

By now, dawn had arrived.

A man in a white robe walked toward me. He wore a goat mask on his face—clearly an NPC.

"Good morning, madam. The sacrifice ceremony we're holding in the chapel will begin in fifteen minutes. Please attend on time."

"Okay."

After I agreed, the man didn't leave but stood beside me.

"I'll wait here until you're ready, then take you there."

I had nothing else to do anyway, so I just followed the man.

He led me to the rooftop terrace. The floor was covered with black carpet, and even the air was hung with black ribbons.

I looked around—everyone was here, including number seven, who'd said he was quitting.

He hadn't quit.

"Seven? Didn't you say you were leaving with number one? How'd you come back?"

A player asked.

Number seven scratched his head.

"Number one and I had already made it to the control room, but she said she forgot something and told me to go first."

"But then the staff said once the game started, it couldn't be stopped or it would affect the subsequent gameplay—unless more than half the people decided to quit."

He spoke earnestly. Many people believed him.

I didn't.

I glanced at Walter. His expression made it clear he didn't believe number seven either.

Walter's profession was priest—he had to pray for Lilith, who disappeared in the castle.

Number two, who'd exposed his task, was supposed to help these NPCs set up the venue.

He was still chatting with an NPC.

"Do you have candles? The kind that go in that candelabra?"

"Sorry, sir, we don't have candles."

The NPC answered mechanically.

Number two grew anxious.

"What do we do? My task is to light candles."

He looked at the empty candelabra, scratching his head in frustration.