episode_0000

“Yerina, will you raise your hand?”

“Yes······.”

With every breath, white steam escaped from her lips.

It was extremely cold, but she didn’t show it.

This ice cave meant so much to Yerina.

If I were to confess my feelings, it had to be here.

Taking out a small ring from my pocket, tears welled up in Yerina’s eyes.

“I’ve thought about it a lot. Our relationship has hit bumps more than once, but each time, I reflected on it. Have I really done anything wrong?”

Of course, I haven’t done anything wrong.

All the hardships were just due to Yerina’s jealousy.

I am as innocent as can be.

Constantly being suspected of seeing other women, monitoring my every move, even checking for traces of magic, how exhausting it was.

“In the end, we concluded that all these are burdens we must carry together. No matter what happens, I want to be with you for the rest of my life, Yerina. Will you marry me?”

Yes, I did meet other women, but it couldn’t be helped.

I meticulously managed my whereabouts and alibis just to create excuses.

How much effort did it take to develop a relationship with a paranoid person who constantly suspects infidelity without any evidence?

“Yes! I’m so happy!”

Yerina cried tears of joy as I slid the ring onto her ring finger.

The ring fit perfectly on Yerina’s delicate, white finger.

It was the 12th time I got it right; there was no way I could have messed up the size.

A satisfied smile naturally formed on my face.

It was due to the satisfaction of the ring fitting perfectly, but Yerina wouldn’t know that.

As I stood up from kneeling, I saw Yerina looking at me with a flushed face.

“······.”

I almost said something but stopped.

We were at the brink of an ending now, and a single slip of the tongue could still freeze Yerina solid.

Fortunately, the atmosphere was good.

Unaware of anything, Yerina closed her eyes and leaned towards me.

Good.

If her eyes were closed, there was no need to control my expression anymore.

I relaxed and kissed Yerina’s soft, white cheek, touching her lips.

“It’s done.”

At that moment, a triumphant trumpet sound rang out, and time froze in place.

Leaving the stiffened Yerina behind, I stepped out of the ice cave.

A massive notification window appeared in the sky.

[Congratulations. You have cleared the game.]

[Escape Condition 1: Achieve a capture rate of over 95% for all heroines.]

[Escape Condition 2: Defeat the final boss ‘Draken’.]

It was the 12th time I had seen the game clear screen.

This time, it was Yerina’s route.

Meaning, by surpassing a capture rate of 100% for Yerina, the game automatically cleared.

However, clearing the game didn’t mean everything was over.

There were two escape conditions.

Either surpass a 95% capture rate for all main heroines or defeat the final boss.

You had to achieve one of these to exit into reality.

If you cleared the game without meeting the escape conditions, you would have to start over from the point you entered the game.

The path to defeating the final boss was arduous and perilous.

Without luck, you might die.

I hadn’t tested what happened if you died in the game yet.

Nor did I intend to.

I would clear the game alive and escape.

With that determination, I repeated regression 12 times to see all the heroine endings.

Now was the moment when those 12 attempts bore fruit.

[Calculating.]

[Monsters hunted: 821]

[A-rank bosses: 1]

[B-rank bosses: 0]

[C-rank bosses: 15]

[Hunting score: 38825 points]

[Heroine capture rate]

[Jill Diner: 96%]

[Julia Pentenburg: 100%]

······

Julia also achieved 100%.

It seems like Yulia hit 100% at the same time as Yeri.

The capture rate increased even in my absence.

Indeed, among the three main heroines known for being tough, Julia is the most lenient in her judgment.

“Well…”

That’s it.

Finally succeeded.

There were many times I hesitated about extending the episodes to defeat the final boss, but I’m really glad I didn’t do that.

I can return to reality with a healthy body after challenging persistently without being arrogant.

A tear trickled down as I opened my eyes.

[Yerina Frost: 93%]

“Huh? Damn it?”

Yerina’s capture rate is 93%?

This can’t be right.

We just exchanged rings and promised marriage while kissing. Didn’t she completely give her heart to me?

Okay, not hitting 100% is one thing, but how could she not even surpass 95%?

This insane severe affection again…

[Escape condition failed.]

[Moving back to the starting point in 10 seconds.]

“Ah…”

It’s the 12th time.

A whopping 12 times.

In terms of time, at least 12 years.

If there’s a rumor about a kid who failed 12 times in a game with only three heroines to capture, avoiding derogatory remarks will be unavoidable.

However, the real problem lies in the excessively difficult capture difficulty of the main heroines.

There’s no issue in achieving a single heroine’s true love route ending.

Capturing two is a bit harder, usually successful within 2-3 tries, and with luck, even possible in one attempt.

But the real challenge arises when trying to capture all three heroines.

If you try to capture three heroines, each with their own unique crazy quirks, it’s like mixing Oriental salads and destroying the game.

Even if you give your best in capturing Jill, her capture rate fluctuates.

The same goes for Yerina’s capture, even with the most effort, showing an incredible result of falling short of the required capture rate among the three main heroines.

I just can’t handle this anymore.

After going through this ordeal, going back to square one and repeating the same actions is inevitable.

Smiling at those lunatics again, spouting cringeworthy lines.

Can I put on a natural smile this time?

Act as a man deeply in love?

I doubt it.

My emotions have worn thin.

I don’t want to waste any more emotions on those damn women.

Even if I barely make it back to Earth after trying dozens of times, becoming an emotionally drained wreck would render it meaningless.

[Returning to the starting point.]

I’ve made up my mind.

I won’t capture heroines anymore.

Escape condition 2, challenge the final boss.

“Let’s give it a shot.”

It’s entirely unknown how dangerous it might be, but the entire game manual is stored in my head.

How hard could it possibly be?

Surely, it can’t be more difficult than dating three lunatics.