I Possessed a Game Where I Die If I Don’t Clear the Tower - Chapter 90

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 90. What Lies Within the Pumpkin
Camilia prepared with meticulous care, her anticipation tempered by caution.
When playing a game where anything might unfold, paranoia becomes a virtue.
She secured every blessing related to disease and pestilence that Netanel Fragma could bestow upon her.
To hedge against unforeseen complications, she brought not only Zehar Al Rashid but also Rohengreen Ashen as companions.
Before departure, she meticulously inspected her weapons and equipment, replenishing her vitality.
Only after assembling every conceivable preparation did Camilia make her way to the Workshop.
Before entering the Trial Room, she withdrew the pumpkin, displaying it to both men and explaining the situation.
“…And so, both of you must maintain absolute vigilance.”
Rohengreen’s face drained of color as he gripped his sword hilt tightly.
“An avatar of the Plague Lord? That means what’s inside this pumpkin is essentially the Plague Lord itself, doesn’t it?”
Zehar Al Rashid responded with the exasperation of one explaining why knights make poor scholars.
“No. Just as we don’t equate Lord Ashen’s severed hair or fingernails with Lord Ashen himself, an avatar remains merely an avatar—distinct from the original.”
“But it’s still dangerous, isn’t it?”
“…That much is true.”
Summoned creatures bound to gems or vessels typically cannot harm their master and owner.
Yet the world harbors its share of unhinged summons.
Zehar Al Rashid stared at the pumpkin in Camilia’s hand, his expression troubled.
“Must we truly summon it? This could be a trap.”
Considering how the Plague Lord’s avatar had been dragged into captivity, a trap was impossible. Thus Camilia spoke with confidence.
“It’s no trap, so worry not. Now then—are you both prepared?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Yes, Lord Camilia. We’re ready.”
Camilia crossed the gate leading to the Trial Room alongside her tense companions.
Light flashed as it had when entering the Tower, revealing a space of pristine white squares identical to the game.
‘Good. The layout remains unchanged.’
Camilia positioned herself strategically, ready to hurl the pumpkin far away and dash toward the gate if circumstances demanded it.
Rohengreen took position before her, Zehar Al Rashid behind.
‘Mind Reading.’
Only after activating Mind Reading as a final precaution did Camilia summon the avatar slumbering within the pumpkin.
“Entity dwelling within the pumpkin, I command you—emerge.”
Uuuuuuung!
The pumpkin trembled as if it had been waiting, radiating brilliant light.
‘What could possibly emerge?’
Her heart thundered in her chest despite her clear mind working overtime.
Having never encountered this summon in the game, she couldn’t predict what would materialize.
What would it look like?
Since the Plague Lord’s true form was a colossal fly, might its avatar share a similar shape?
Even if not insectoid, she hoped it would appear threatening or sinister. After all, it would add to the Lord’s dignity.
As she gazed forward, brimming with anticipation and wonder, a low, rumbling voice emerged from between the flashes of light.
[…You summoned me! Finally!]
The fly that had been trapped in the pumpkin vanished, and from the center of a vortex of light, something like a winged Tinkerbell burst forth.
To be precise, it was a male figure the size of a fairy with fly wings.
He wore billowing formal evening attire that suited his flamboyant appearance quite well.
The Plague Fairy had been waiting for this very moment, and he cried out in an exaggerated voice like a lead actor taking the stage in a theatrical production.
[Lord, Administrator of The Tower! Hear my plea! If you do not harm me and return me to my true body, you shall surely gain great benefit!]
‘What is this? It’s not creepy at all.’
My swelling anticipation deflated in an instant.
Why did a demon’s avatar look so… normal? By any measure, it was just a miniature humanoid version of the Plague Lord.
“What a hideous form. It resembles that foolish creature who dared spread the plague’s source across my lands. I considered putting it to use, but with an appearance like that….”
As I voiced my disappointment, the Plague Lord’s avatar scrambled to assert its usefulness.
[W-wait! This form is ever-changing. I can become anything your lordship desires!]
The Plague Fairy spun around and transformed into a fly the size of a fist. Each time its wings buzzed, a skull pattern seemed to shimmer—quite menacing in appearance.
‘Hmm.’
I thought this form was rather decent, but Zehar Al Rashid drew a sharp breath. Rohengreen Ashen’s expression, blocking my path, also twisted slightly.
I checked the party window out of concern and found both of them afflicted with the ‘Revulsion’ debuff.
It was a mental-type debuff that appeared when viewing grotesque forms.
‘Ah, is it really that repulsive to them?’
Unlike me, accustomed to the grotesque monster designs of the Dark Tower, both of them seemed deeply uncomfortable with the giant fly.
A lord must also consider the morale of her subordinates. I decided to set aside my own preferences slightly.
“…Must it always be such a hideous insect?”
【This one dislikes it, that one dislikes it—why does the master have so many demands?】
Though grumbling inwardly, the Plague Fairy answered respectfully.
[There are countless beings that spread plague. I can transform countless times.]
The fly descended to the ground and transformed into a sewer rat the size of a small dog.
‘This isn’t even a proper minion.’
Having my first summoned creature be a sewer rat was really rather… something.
As I gazed at it questioningly, the avatar, reading the mood, shifted form once more.
It was still a rat, but a different variety—a plump one with a short tail like a guinea pig.
[H-how about this!? Is this suitable for conversation?]
While it lacked the dignity befitting a summoned creature, the Revulsion debuff that had clung to Rohengreen Ashen and Zehar Al Rashid was lifted.
“Good. I won’t find it repulsive while we converse.”
[Ohhh…!]
The Plague guinea pig, thinking it had succeeded, squeaked and straightened up as it spoke.
[Lord, please hear this one’s tale!]
Stripping away all the verbose and convoluted embellishments from what followed, the argument boiled down to a single claim.
“The Bank Manager deceived you?”
[Indeed!]
The avatar appealed desperately.
The insurance division under the Plague Lord’s purview had been struggling terribly of late.
Merchant vessels insured for maritime losses had sunk en masse, draining the insurance coffers, and then some decrepit witch had materialized to pilfer souls as well.
With the main body teetering on the brink of bankruptcy and weakened in body and spirit, the Bank Manager’s proposal—to unleash plague upon Nidst and rake in fortunes through medical insurance—had proven irresistible, and so forth.
‘Ah, so it’s not the Plague Lord colluding with the spy, but the Bank Manager himself.’
As I committed the intelligence to memory, the Plague Fairy before me—transformed into a guinea pig and clasping both paws together—continued his desperate pleading.
[Please, I beg you, return this body to my main form. In exchange, I shall provide one thousand wicked souls for Tower repairs. If I lose even this fragment, summer’s medical insurance sales will….]
Rohengreen Ashen spoke with a hardened expression.
“…My Lord, surely you don’t intend to grant this abominable creature’s demands?”
“How could I possibly agree?”
Insurance in name only—what he truly meant was spreading plague, then extorting souls as payment for the cure.
I had no intention of permitting such fraudulent insurance schemes.
‘Besides, returning him would be foolish when his utility is far too valuable.’
A summoned creature with transformation abilities, high intelligence, and unlimited summoning duration was rare even on the Upper Floors. I had to keep him.
‘Yet I cannot afford to make a complete enemy of the Plague Lord either.’
Demon Bank Helheim was a troublesome organization to cross.
To control them, I had only two options: grow closer to the Bank Manager, or sow discord to turn them against each other.
I had always preferred the latter approach.
‘Perhaps I should lay some groundwork with the Plague Lord in advance.’
I leaned toward the guinea pig, who lay sprawled as though the world had ended, and whispered.
“I cannot return you to your main form, but I suspect I know a way to save it.”
[A way to save my main form, you say?]
“Yes. Are you curious?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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