I scanned my surroundings, my stomach twisting. This was Severin’s world. If he found me, I would be screwed.

Not only did I had run away, I had wrecked his castle before I left.

The scenery around me suddenly shifted. The towering buildings of the central street vanished, replaced by a quiet village with thatched houses. The mission had officially started.

I shrank into the crowd, heart pounding. An NPC calling himself the village chief started his usual spiel, explaining the mission and sorting out accommodations.

There were eight of us in total and three were veterans. They immediately took charge, acting like they owned the place.

I barely paid attention. I was too busy glancing over my shoulder, half-expecting Severin to appear out of nowhere.

Scarlett Lawson, one of the veterans, took one look at me and sneered. She had already decided I was dead weight, whispering to the two guys beside her that I would be the first to go.

For experienced players, this B-level dungeon was a joke. But for newcomers, it was practically a death sentence.

Scarlett’s attitude wasn’t just because she thought I was inexperienced—she was jealous. The second she saw me, I could tell she hated that I was the prettiest one here.

That night, everyone huddled in bed, too scared to sleep. But I couldn’t afford to close my eyes. I needed to leave. No one could fight Severin and win. The central street had been the safest place, I had to get back there.

Since sleep wasn’t an option, I got up to search for clues. I had played through every dungeon before New Year’s. I knew how this one worked.

The small boss in this world was a grotesque, almost-human creature sealed inside the altar. If I granted his wish, I could clear the level and get out of here, or so I thought.

Because when I reached the altar, I wasn’t alone, the three veterans were already there. Their shock was almost funny. Especially Scarlett, her face twisted like she just swallowed something rotten.

To them, I was just some clueless newbie. No way I should’ve found this place on my own. However, they were in the middle of a problem and lucky for them, I had just walked straight into it.

More than twenty jars sat in front of them. Three held the key to beating the boss. The rest were either cursed corpses controlled by the boss or the boss himself.

No one wanted to risk opening the wrong one, so they made me do it.

Scarlett and her guys didn’t even try to be subtle. They pulled out knives, making it very clear; open the jars, or else.

I didn’t flinch. I had spent enough time in this horror world to know people like them. They weren’t the first to pull this kind of stunt and they wouldn’t be the last.

Honestly, I wasn’t too worried about the boss here. We went way back.

When I was with Severin, he introduced me to nearly every major boss in this world. There was no way they didn’t recognize me.

That was supposed to be my ticket out of here. Just a quick appearance, call in a favor and pass the level without trouble.

But now these three had completely messed up my plan, I had no choice but to go along with it. Only three jars were safe.

I let them choose, then cracked each one open. Nothing happened. No monsters. No attacks. Just three perfect clues.

The trio stared at me, stunned. I faked a clueless expression, but inside, my mind was racing. This wasn’t luck. Someone was helping me.

I just had no idea who and I really hoped it wasn’t Severin.

Once we had all the clues, the trio didn’t push me to keep going. But Scarlett’s expression twisted with frustration, she hadn’t expected me to be this lucky.

She wasn’t about to let it slide.

I glanced away, casually edging toward the innermost jar. While they were still distracted, I gave it a light tap and whispered, "Kamden, it’s me. Let me out of here."

The jar shifted slightly before a weak voice muttered, "Reina… no can do. Boss gave strict orders, no exceptions, not even you. Guess our friendship doesn’t count for much, now. But since I am your old pal, I’ll give you a heads-up. He’s been looking for you in every level. Just sent word you’re here."

My stomach twisted.

Severin was still hunting me in every world. I should’ve known. After all, I had blown up his castle and dumped him, leaving his world in ruins. If he ever got his hands on me, it wouldn’t end well.

I gritted my teeth. “Sorry, Kamden. You’re not dragging me down with you. I’ll make it up to you later,” I murmured, then took a deep breath and knocked the jar over.

A sickening crack split the air. Scarlett and the others spun around just in time to see the horror unfolding before them.

Kamden’s real form stood there; hulking, bloodstained and monstrous. His gaze flicked to me, first in shock, then in understanding.

And then, his expression darkened, anyone who saw him like this had to die. Three unlucky souls stood right in front of him.

With a guttural snarl, Kamden lunged. Scarlett and her crew barely had time to react. Panic took over as they fumbled for their life-saving items, but I was already moving.

While they fought for survival, I reached into Kamden’s jar and snatched the final clue. The world around me blurred, shifting in an instant. I had cleared the level.

The last clue was always inside the boss’s jar. The problem was, no one ever dared to open it. I didn’t want to do it, but I had no choice. I had to get out of this horror world as soon as possible.

Right before my vision blurred, I was hoping—praying—that I would wake up in the real world.

But when I opened my eyes again, I was still trapped in a nightmare. The scene had changed. Now, I was standing in an apartment. Before I could make sense of anything, a familiar voice called out. "Reina… you’re alive?"

I turned with no expression and there they were; Sean and Miranda, standing hand in hand.

A smirk tugged at my lips and Sean immediately panicked. He took a step forward like he wanted to explain, but Miranda tightened her grip on his hand, stopping him.

She shot me a smug look. "Reina surviving might just be an accident," she said sweetly. Then, turning to Sean, she added, "Or have you already forgotten what you promised me? You said if I helped you clear this level, you’d marry me."

Sean stiffened and just like that, he looked away. I got the message loud and clear.

Compared to me, a clueless newbie, Miranda was the better choice. She was experienced, she knew how to win and Sean needed her.

After all, if he could just clear this world, his wish would come true, he would finally be rich. And money was what really mattered to him.

I used to think he cared about me. That I meant something, but in the end, he wanted wealth more than anything.

That was why he threw me into this horror game, expecting me to die. Yet, I didn’t. And now, in this S-level dungeon, he was sure I wouldn’t make it out alive.

I met his eyes one last time. I had been betrayed once, it wasn’t going to happen again.

I was done with him. They could flaunt their relationship all they wanted, it didn’t matter to me anymore.

I should have been back in the real world after the last level ended, but I wasn’t. Something was wrong. A bad feeling had been creeping up on me for a while now and as my eyelids twitched, that sinking sensation in my gut only got worse.

Then, a voice echoed all around us. "Due to the return of the landlord, the difficulty of this instance has been raised to SSS level."

The whole place went dead silent, then, panic.

SSS-level. Even veterans struggled with that difficulty. Hardly anyone had ever survived it. No one expected this twist.

But I did.

Because in this horror world, there was only one person who could raise the difficulty to SSS-level. Severin.

My stomach dropped. I wasn’t escaping this. It didn’t matter how far I ran or how hard I fought, he would find me.

After everything I had been through, after all my efforts, it was still going to end the same way. The NPC started explaining the rules, but I wasn’t paying attention.

I drifted to the back of the group, keeping to myself.

Sean and Miranda stood close together, looking smug and comfortable, like they weren’t trapped in a death game. But when Sean’s gaze flickered toward me, there was something else there; hesitation.

He whispered something to Miranda and she strutted over, her expression unreadable. "Reina," she said sweetly, "Sean thinks that if you just apologize, maybe we can protect you."

I let out a short laugh. Then, without a word, I flipped them off.

Sean’s face darkened.

"You bitch," he hissed. "Do you have any idea where you are? You got lucky last time, but luck won’t save you here. This is an SSS-level world. Without protection, you’re dead. I’ll give you one last chance, apologize and I’ll forgive you."

I met his eyes and grinned. I stared at Sean, expressionless, wondering how I ever liked him.

Maybe I was just desperate to escape Severin and latched onto the first guy I found. But now, just looking at Sean made my stomach turn.

Night fell and the apartment shifted into something straight out of a nightmare. The air filled with the sounds of electric saws, dragging footsteps and distant screams.

I couldn’t sleep. Every little noise had me on edge. Then, suddenly, a pair of large hands wrapped around my waist.

A familiar voice murmured against my ear. "Miss me, dear?"

My whole body stiffened. I knew it, he came. Severin’s grip tightened as he pressed a cold kiss behind my ear. His voice was slow, almost lazy.

"I heard you’ve got a boyfriend now," he mused. "I figured I’d see what kind of man you traded me for."

A loud bang shattered the moment, the door was kicked open. Sean and Miranda stood frozen in the doorway, still clutching their discarded taboo items.

Then, like cowards, they spun around to run, only to stop dead in their tracks. They had just processed the man beside me.

Hanging in the center of the apartment’s hall was the landlord’s portrait, his face large and unmistakable.

And now that same face was staring back at them in the flesh. Realization hit.