I Got Reincarnated As The Ntr Protagonist In An Online Game
Chapter 45: Protect

Chapter 45: Protect

[Meanwhile, in Helen’s perspective]

"Young Master!" Helen shouted, her voice trembling with urgency as she sprinted into the dimly lit room. Her boots slammed against the wooden floor, echoing through the suffocating silence. The moment she entered, a suffocating darkness greeted her. The air was thick with a fog so black it seemed alive, swirling ominously around the room and consuming everything in its path.

Junior stood at the center, his back straight, his silhouette barely visible through the dark haze. He turned sharply toward her, his expression tense but composed. "Helen, go and help Emma and the children! Hurry!"

"But—" Helen began, stepping forward instinctively, her heart clenching at the sight of him standing there alone.

"No!" Junior’s voice thundered, cutting through the oppressive fog. "Go! I’ll handle things here!" His gaze, fierce and commanding, left no room for argument.

Helen froze, her breath catching in her throat. Tears began to sting her eyes, but she quickly turned her back toward the door. Her voice wavered as she spoke, "Please... take care of yourself. I’ll evacuate everyone and come back for you as fast as I can." Her hand brushed away the tears that streaked her cheeks, and without another word, she sprinted out of the room, her heart heavy with worry and guilt.

As she ran down the dim corridor, her mind screamed at her to turn back, but she knew she couldn’t. The children needed her. Junior needed her to be strong.

"Thank you," Junior whispered to himself, his voice barely audible as a faint, bittersweet smile crossed his lips. The darkness seemed to press in closer, as if feeding off the tension in the air.

---

In another part of the house, the children clung to each other, their small forms trembling with fear. They huddled close to Emma, who wrapped her arms around them protectively. The oppressive fog had seeped into every corner, turning the once warm and lively home into a cold, unrecognizable void.

Emma knelt on the floor, whispering soft reassurances. "Don’t worry," she said, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Big Sis Emma is here. I won’t let anyone hurt you. I’ll protect you all."

Her words were strong, but her body betrayed her. Her hands shook as they rested on the children’s backs, and her breath came in shallow gasps. Her fear felt like a weight pressing against her chest, but she couldn’t let it show. The children needed her to be brave, even if she was terrified.

Suddenly, a shadow shifted within the fog. Emma froze, her breath hitching. A figure emerged from the darkness, its outline blurred and shifting.

A low, feminine voice broke the silence, muttering as if to itself. "Here goes Serah with her regular outbursts, running off to the prince just because he has a pretty face. Now I’m stuck cleaning up her mess. Guess I’ll deal with these pests quickly."

Emma’s heart pounded as the voice reached her ears. The children whimpered, burying their faces in her arms. She held them tighter, her body trembling with the effort to remain calm.

"Who’s there?" Emma called out, her voice shaky but determined. She stepped in front of the children, her eyes scanning the fog. "Come out! I won’t let you hurt the kids!"

A chuckle echoed through the darkness. The figure stepped forward, the mist parting to reveal a woman with sharp, angular features and an aura that radiated malice.

"A human?" Emma whispered, her eyes wide with shock.

The children began to cry, their tiny voices breaking the tense silence. Emma knelt beside them, stroking their hair and whispering soothing words. "It’s okay. Don’t be scared. I’m here."

"What do you want?" Emma asked, her voice quivering. "We don’t have anything of value."

The woman, Zyrith, smirked, her lips curling into a cruel smile. She raised a finger to her lips, pretending to think. Then, her grin widened, revealing sharp teeth. "Oh, I don’t need your valuables. What I need..." She leaned closer, her eyes glinting with malice. "...is your lives. Please, would you die for me? I need the kids for the sacrifice."

Emma’s stomach dropped. Her knees felt weak, but she forced herself to stay upright. "Sacrifice?" she echoed, her voice barely a whisper. Realization dawned on her, and her hands clenched into fists. "Was it you? Were you behind the children’s disappearances?"

Zyrith tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Why ask what you already know?" she replied with a mocking laugh. "Of course, it was me. And, no, they’re not alive. They were perfect sacrifices."

Tears streamed down Emma’s face. "You monster!" she shouted, her voice thick with grief and rage. But even as she spoke, she knew she couldn’t fight this woman,her only option was to stall. . The oppressive energy radiating from Zyrith was overwhelming, a clear sign of how power she is.

Zyrith smirked, seemingly amused by Emma’s anger. "Are you thinking of buying time?" she asked casually. "Waiting for your knights to return? Sorry, sweetheart, but my colleague handled them already. Efficiently, I might add."

Emma’s breath caught in her throat. "You—can you read my mind?"

"Bingo!" Zyrith sang, laughing as if she’d just won a game. Her expression darkened suddenly, and her voice became cold. "Enough chit-chat. Let’s make this simple. Leave the kids and walk away, or stay and die with them. Your choice."

Emma swallowed hard, her heart hammering in her chest. "I’m not leaving without the kids," she said firmly, her voice steady despite her fear.

Zyrith’s smirk vanished, replaced by a scowl. "I hate people like you," she snarled. "Fine. If that’s your choice, then die!"

Zyrith raised her hands, gathering a swirling mass of energy. A ball of fire erupted in her palms, its heat scorching the air. With a flick of her wrist, she hurled it toward Emma.

Emma stood her ground, shielding the children with her body. "I could dodge this," she thought, "but the kids..."A tear slipped down her cheek as she smiled faintly. "What a way to go," she murmured. Images of Junior flashed through her mind, and she chuckled softly. "Why am I thinking of him now?"