Surviving as a Maid in a Horror Game

The faint golden coin hovering at the top of my vision brightened as 60 gold transformed into 110. Despite receiving a first-class bonus without deductions and an additional reward through the "Request" system, I felt no joy just a deep sense of gloom. To not feel happy about having money was a rare thing indeed. It was practically an omen of the world's end.

Starting tomorrow, I'd have to tremble in fear by that demon’s side every day what use was money in a situation like this? The title "The Demon’s Faithful Servant" only added to my despair. A servant of a demon? And not just any servant a diligent one at that. How utterly detestable.

I remembered the one-star imp from some game I once played. Pointy ears, horns protruding from its forehead, a grotesquely muscular body with an exaggeratedly exposed spine, a swollen belly, and an absolutely horrid temperament not to mention its hideous appearance.

And now I was that hideous imp? The same me who used to spend hours perfecting character designs in MMORPGs? Yet here I was, inside a game, reduced to a freakish imp a murderous servant, no less.

"Ugh… I want to quit."

Every salaried worker in Korea might harbor a resignation letter in their heart, but for me, this was no exaggeration I genuinely wanted out. This mansion had no decent benefits, the salary was pitiful, and forget about negotiating raises—it was all about damage claims, workplace bullying, and now, outright death threats.

I remembered when the village women begged me to pull strings so their daughters could work at the count’s mansion. If they only knew those daughters could vanish without a trace here...

The next morning, as soon as the sun rose, Retisha gathered all the servants. Spotting me among them, she hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth again, her expression uncertain.

"There’s an important announcement from today. It’s a direct order from Young Master Adrian, so listen carefully and follow it without fail."

Among the servants, Adrian was regarded as a dangerous yet enigmatic deity. He existed in his designated room, rarely seen. Occasionally, he’d emerge for a stroll when he felt well, but during those times, servants were strictly forbidden from approaching the garden. Despite the foreboding aura surrounding him, amplified by the countess’s revelation that he was a demon, his frail health evoked pity, creating a bizarre contradiction. His mysteriousness turned into reverence, which morphed into awe, and for many servants, Adrian became an almost divine figure. His otherworldly looks, crafted as if by the gods themselves, certainly contributed to this perception.

"Young Master Adrian? That’s unusual."

"Do you think he’s changing his medicine servant? Didn’t Hilda shatter everything recently?"

Snickers accompanied mocking gazes that pierced my cheek. The same reverence they had for Adrian fed their malice toward me. Unlike other tasks rotated among a small group of servants, the responsibility for his morning medicine was fixed squarely on my shoulders.

Though, calling it "medicine duty" was a stretch. All I had to do was bring a tray of medicine. It wasn’t like I had to feed it to him myself or anything. This ridiculous jealousy was a first for me. I wanted to scream at them: "If you envy me so much, you do it!" But I just wanted to live...

"…From now on, Hilda alone will handle all of Young Master Adrian’s needs."

The atmosphere, momentarily light with anticipation, turned cold as ice.

"Hilda is now the Young Master’s personal attendant. The rest of you are not to approach his room unless absolutely necessary. That’s all."

"..."

"..."

"…What? Seriously?"

"Hilda? Really? This can’t be happening…"

"Isn’t she basically… becoming something to the Young Master?"

The shocked servants, silent for a moment, broke into a murmur of speculation. "She’s definitely seducing him," "Should we start sucking up to her now?" and "What could the Young Master possibly like about that brute of a maid?" a cacophony of guesses, sneers, concerns, and envy filled the air.

But the prevailing sentiment was envy. The number of applicants for the role of the demon’s servant was disturbingly high what a grim reflection of humanity.

Among the glaring eyes, Dolores’s stood out. Though she’d lost her clique after the pillow incident, her thirst for revenge remained, her gaze practically murderous. Next to her was a burly male servant probably the same one I’d seen engaging in unsavory activities outside the window at dawn. He didn’t look like good news. I’d have to avoid them for a while.

"Hilda! What are you waiting for? Go to the Young Master immediately!" Retisha’s firm voice broke the tension, seemingly trying to extract me from the hostile atmosphere. Yet even she looked uncertain, her face troubled.

I didn’t want to linger here any longer, amidst the chaos of whispers and resentment directed at me. With Emily’s concerned consolation as my only comfort, I slipped away and headed for the kitchen. The farther I got from the crowd, the more bitterness and frustration welled up inside me.

I wasn’t doing this because I wanted to. It wasn’t like I stole those cursed items for my own benefit. They didn’t even realize I’d saved them from certain death by removing those threats, yet they insulted me.

And now Adrian had dragged me into this role as if to keep an even closer watch on me. It was unsettling, like he was just waiting for me to slip up so he could pounce and kill me.

"Fine. If this is how it’s going to be, I’ll have to double down."

If yesterday wasn’t enough, I’d just have to push things further make him believe me completely. So much so that he couldn’t stand having me around anymore.

I resolved to make him despise me so thoroughly that he’d never want to see my face again. With this determination, I finished preparing the medicine and left the kitchen. Instead of heading straight to Adrian’s room, I stopped by my own to retrieve the robe he’d given me yesterday. I wasn’t going to let him think I’d just take it and back down.

"Young Master, it’s Hilda. I’ve brought your medicine."

"Come in."

Upon receiving his permission, I cautiously opened the door and stepped inside. Adrian stood near a gold-embroidered partition, dressed in a thin shirt with several buttons undone. For a moment, my eyes were drawn to him, but I quickly bowed respectfully.

"Good morning, Young Master. The sunlight today is so lovely. Did you have pleasant dreams?"

"…Yes. Leave the medicine on the side table. I’ll take it after my bath."@@novelbin@@

"Understood, Young Master."

I answered obediently, crossing the room to place the tray on the table while deliberately flaunting the robe tucked under my arm. Catching sight of it, Adrian’s brows furrowed.

"Why are you still carrying the robe? I told you to keep it."

"Oh, this robe?"

"Explain, Hilda."

Clutching the robe close with a sheepish smile, I swayed slightly, feigning shyness.

"Well, I was worried I might… lose control again like yesterday. The Young Master’s scent is so addictive…"

"…"

Adrian’s expression froze, as if processing whether he’d just heard me correctly. His face paled, and though his poker face remained mostly intact, cracks were beginning to show. Determined not to back down, I stepped closer.

"By the way, Young Master, you mentioned taking a bath?"

"…Yes."

"Would you like me to assist you? I can help with—"

"No! I’ll do it myself. Stay right there."

"But… how could I let the Young Master bathe without any assistance?"

"…I’ve always done it alone. Just prepare my clothes for afterward."

"Yes, sir…"

Feigning disappointment, I replied, though I quickly composed myself as soon as he entered the bathroom. Clearly, the demon had a strong aversion to affection and attention. Even yesterday, when I pushed him, he had to suppress his murderous intent because of his asthma and headache.

Adrian’s usual reaction of distaste bruised my pride slightly, but that wasn’t the main issue. What mattered was that I now had a weapon against him. Though it felt like I was wounding myself every time I used it, it was worth it.

After hanging Adrian’s fresh clothes on the partition and waiting for some time, he finally emerged from his bath in a robe. Without sparing me more than a passing glance, he stepped behind the partition to get dressed. As he discarded his robe in the process, I quickly snatched it up.

Pressing my nose into the robe and sniffing loudly, I made sure to put on a show. When Adrian, now fully dressed, saw this, he flinched. His face betrayed his internal conflict—I don’t want to ask, but should I…? After a moment of hesitation, he opened his mouth reluctantly.

“…What happened to the robe I gave you? It should smell the same, shouldn’t it?”

“Well, you see, I sniffed it so much last night that all your scent wore off. But this - this is today’s Adrian. The scent freshly left behind just now. I have to savor it while I can.”

“…”

“It’s not like I want to pounce on you like last night. Think of it as my way of preparing myself, a kind of self-defense, you know? Being by your side takes effort, after all.”

“…Fine. Just make sure to clean up afterward.”

His reply came in a slightly hoarse voice as he turned away from me and headed toward the bed. He picked up the medication from the nightstand and swallowed it before grabbing a bookmarked book. He stood there for a moment, debating where to sit and read.

Our gazes briefly met, and I hurriedly buried my face back into the robe.

At first, I’d questioned my own actions - What am I even doing? Am I a dog or something? but as I kept at it, I realized the scent was genuinely pleasant. It wasn’t overwhelming but soft and subtly floral, like high-end rose perfume gently wafting through the air.

To be honest, what I told Adrian wasn’t entirely a lie. I had fallen asleep clutching the robe, drawn by its delightful scent as I tossed and turned. When I woke up, I’d been mortified and thrown it aside only to pick it back up again moments later. But I swear, it was purely because of the scent. Just the scent.

“Hilda, there’s not much work to do today”

Adrian’s expression shifted rapidly, as if he might retreat in cautious backsteps at any moment. He had experienced my antics the day before, but his eyes now screamed, I didn’t think it would get this crazy.

Trying to mask my shame at effectively becoming a habitual harasser, I shuffled my feet in small circles, pretending to be bashful. In fantasy novels, aren’t demons and devils always portrayed as overly lustful, lounging around half-dressed all day, engaging in debauchery, and eventually fighting each other?

Apparently, even demons have limits when it comes to perversion...

I wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear, but survival was my priority. Judging from his reactions, if I kept this up for just a few more days—maybe even just a day or two—I might shake off the "personal attendant" title.

If survival required it, I had no choice. Pride, dignity none of that mattered. After all, this method had successfully brought Adrian’s murderous intent down from 91%.

Having gone to such lengths to survive, the thought of dying accidentally made me feel like I would be cheated out of life itself.

If someone comes for me now, they’re going down with me.

Adrian’s daily schedule was as follows:

• 8:00 AM: Wake up
• 8:00–9:00 AM: Bath and leisurely tea time
• 9:00–10:00 AM: Reading and listening to music
• 10:00 AM–12:00 PM: Reviewing charity projects
• 12:00–1:30 PM: Lunch and a light walk
• 1:30–3:00 PM: Regular medical checkup with Dr. Hubert

It was now precisely 3:27 PM, and after Dr. Hubert’s departure, Adrian had resumed his reading mode. Once he finished his book, he would move on to reading letters from his benefactors and evaluating the new works they had sent. Afterward, he’d enjoy music, tea, another bath, and more walks interspersed with medication breaks.

Compared to my previous life of endless work, commutes, gaming, and sleep, his life was cultured and leisurely. But watching it all from the sidelines, I was dying of boredom.

Why is he so wholesome? When does he actually kill people?

“Excuse me, Master Adrian, are you staying in the mansion all day today?”

“Yes, I don’t have any plans,” he replied without even glancing my way, his attention fixed on his book.

I shifted restlessly, like someone standing in front of a clogged toilet with no way out. In the game, moving Adrian around with a mouse to hunt down victims had been thrilling. But now, as Attendant 1 by the Devil’s Side, the slow pace of time was unbearable.

Aren’t we, as a nation, champions of speed gaming?

Earlier, Adrian had insisted on brewing his own tea, so I had fetched tea leaves, water, and a teapot. But as he blended chamomile, peppermint, lemongrass, and rooibos together, he stared intently at his teacup. His sudden focus made me wonder if he was contemplating murder or maybe I should use The Eye of Insight to check if the teacup held any murderous intent.

Then he spoke.

“Today’s blend is a failure.”

“A failure? It smells lovely, though...”

He had poured his carefully blended tea into the pot and covered it with a lid, his earlier diligence wasted. Even as a novice, I had been impressed by his skillful brewing, so his declaration of failure was surprising.

“Perhaps adding vanilla would have improved it.”

“Should I fetch some?”

“No, I’ll need to reconsider the blending ratios,” he said, returning to his book.

I stared dumbfounded at the shimmering teapot, reflecting the sunlight.

This demon is unexpectedly wholesome. I had assumed he’d spend his time holed up in his room devising murder plots or hoarding weapons. Instead, he’s agonizing over tea blends...

Sigh. This isn’t what I signed up for. The game wasn’t this dull. Sure, constant murder would have its own issues, but this was unbearably tedious.

Does he only harbor malicious intent internally without acting on it? At this rate, I’m worried he’ll never regain his demonic power. You can’t restore your place in hell with this kind of work-life balance, Adrian!

Later, after tidying up the teapot and nearly succumbing to boredom, we ventured into the garden for a light snack. But Adrian’s frail health forced us back inside in less than 30 minutes. His labored breathing and wheezing indicated that his asthma was acting up. He even struck his chest a few times in frustration.

When that didn’t help, we returned to his room, where he used his inhaler. Watching him struggle to enjoy a sunny day made me feel a strange mix of fear and pity. It was a bizarre sensation to experience both emotions simultaneously.

With his health in this state, it was impossible for him to engage in external activities, let alone foster relationships with other nobles. No wonder his personality had darkened. Even without being a demon, anyone in his position would grow gloomy.

Once his breathing stabilized, he announced he would listen to music. I thought this might finally be an engaging activity, but all he played were classical pieces, which only made my drowsiness worse. I nodded off while standing, even drooling onto the luxurious carpet below.

Hopefully, he didn’t notice. I discreetly rubbed the stain with my shoe, but the smudge only spread. Judging by its quality, the carpet was absurdly expensive, and guilt gnawed at me.

「The durability of the carpet has decreased. A loss has been incurred.」

「Gold -20G」

The system wasted no time penalizing me. Twenty gold for a bit of drool? That’s highway robbery!

My fleeting anger was quickly smothered by the overwhelming monotony of the day. Despite having eaten some time ago, the sunlight made my eyes grow heavy again. Resisting the urge to sleep, I kept my eyes open until they stung. Every time I closed them for a moment, Adrian somehow noticed, and I was forced to snap them open wide in an exaggerated effort to appear alert.

I recalled the envious stares of other servants when I was assigned as his personal attendant. Did they imagine that standing here like a punished statue was somehow glamorous?

I can’t do this anymore. Kill me, please. Just add a fast-forward button, a skip option, anything...

As boredom threatened to consume me, Adrian spoke suddenly.

“Hilda, if you’re tired, you may sit down.”

After a long walk and hours of standing, it was a surprising offer.

“No, thank you. I wouldn’t dare sit in front of you, my lord.”

“Very well. I won’t offer twice.”

“Thank you for your generosity. I’ll take the liberty, then.”

I quickly took a seat and began massaging my legs. Although they were in perfect condition, it felt like the right thing to do, given the circumstances. This body was my only asset in this world, and I had to treat it with care.

While kneading my calves, my eyes wandered to the stack of books on the table. I hesitated before picking one up. Adrian had mentioned that reading was allowed earlier, so it should be fine. Though the book was written in the local language, I hoped the game’s system would translate it, as it did with some item descriptions.

But no matter how many times I tapped the book, there was no response.

So, I can’t read, huh? Great. Another detail this trash game overlooked.

Dejected, I gave up on the book and returned to my drowsy state, only to nod off again, this time using the thick volume as a makeshift pillow.

Strangely, the system didn’t intervene this time. It was both thrilling and baffling to be left alone.

Just as I drifted into a light slumber, I felt an invisible force tug at my eyelids, forcing them open.

What the...? What’s touching my eyes?

Turning my head away, I tried again to fall asleep, but my eyes were forcibly opened once more.

This sensation was all too familiar—disgustingly so.

「You cannot sleep without a proper pillow.」

Ah...

The glowing text appeared before me, taunting my earlier excitement. It felt like the system was mocking me for thinking I could outsmart it. My frustration boiled over, but I managed to keep my composure in Adrian’s presence.

This damned system couldn’t even include a decent translation mechanic, yet it poured all its effort into being a nuisance.

Worst. Game. Ever.

While fuming internally, I noticed Adrian was unusually quiet. He seemed completely absorbed in his book, not sparing a glance in my direction.

How many hours does he spend reading? Could he be quietly harboring murderous thoughts about me?

“Hilda, why have you been staring at my face for so long?”

His voice cut through my musings, calm yet perceptive.

Does this guy have a third eye on his forehead or something? How does he notice everything without even looking up?

I couldn’t admit to watching him, so I feigned a breathless, starstruck reaction.

“Apologies, my lord. Looking at you feels unreal. I can’t help but stare. Do you know you have something on your face? Handsomeness. I’m going crazy over it. Absolutely losing my mind…”

“...Calm down. Please, calm down.”

His already pale complexion drained further, and his gaze was wary, as though I were a dangerous beast that needed to be leashed.

Living by the “Even demons fear perversion” strategy had its costs I had to endure this look of utter discomfort every time we interacted. It seemed no amount of flattery would raise his favorability anymore; everything I said was filtered as harassment.

It wasn’t like I wanted to do this, but his reaction was the only way to sidestep danger. Somehow, inappropriate remarks came naturally to me. Was this a talent I hadn’t known I possessed?

“Here. Calm yourself and sharpen this pencil.”

After a brief pause, he rolled a pencil across the table toward me.

A pencil? Did he want me to meditate while carefully shaving the wood? Why was he giving me this?

It was the cheap 1-gold pencil I’d bought for him in the village. I had assumed he’d thrown it away, yet here it was, carried in his pocket.

Honestly, I was touched. For a noble of his wealth, surrounded by extravagant belongings, to keep such a simple item was surprising.

“Yes, my lord. I’ll sharpen it to perfection.”

I smiled brightly, and for a fleeting moment, the corners of Adrian’s lips twitched upward. Without wasting another second, I set about finding something suitable to sharpen the pencil.

After much effort, I managed to craft a perfectly sharpened point, though the pencil was now half its original size.

"Good job," he said, slipping the pencil into his pocket.

It wasn’t even a fancy fountain pen, just a sharpened pencil with a pointed tip. Why carry something like that around? Wouldn't it smudge the inside of his pocket? He must really like it. Maybe I should buy a few more next time.

With the pencil task done, I found myself with nothing else to occupy me. Fortunately, the cooldown for The Eye of Insight had ended. A three-hour wait for a skill cooldown was absurdly inconvenient. Did this game not have skill upgrades? If there were a way to reduce cooldown times, I’d grind endlessly to unlock it. Three hours was just too long.

Activating The Eye of Insight, the cooldown timer reappeared, ticking down in seconds. The room lit up like it was embedded with countless rubies, shimmering in a malevolent red glow. As expected of a demon, Adrian’s surroundings were once again brimming with malice.

Scanning the room for anything missing or newly added, my gaze landed on something near the window. Springing to my feet, I dashed over to take a closer look.

"Oh, Master Adrian! I’ve never seen this flowerpot before!"

It hadn’t been there yesterday, but the malice surrounding it rivaled that of Adrian’s infamous cursed history books. The plant in the pot was a violet, its dark purple flowers and leaves overshadowed by the unusually large terracotta pot it was planted in.

This thing - it’s definitely dangerous. Was it placed here to fall and crack someone’s skull if they walked below? The pot wasn’t just an ordinary one; it looked sturdy.