episode_0023

Saving the world, huh. Quite an ambitious goal.

With a look of disbelief on my face, as if the grandiosity of it all was too much to handle, Lager scratched the back of his head with a nonchalant expression and muttered, “You’re the protagonist. Cut me some slack, will you?”

“Sure thing. Impressive, huh?”

“Are you at 10,000 points too?”

“No, actually…”

In response to my question, Lager showed a vague reaction and once again held out his phone screen.

The information displayed on Lager’s phone was slightly different from what was on my tablet.

“You don’t have a target score?”

In my case, reaching 10,000 points would immediately allow me to return to my original world as a reward, but Lager had no reward or required score.

However.

[If you fail to achieve ??? points]

[You will not be granted ?? in ??]

The screen was filled with numerous question marks, leaving me puzzled.

“What does this mean?”

“I have no idea. It seems like an important clue, but it’s so cryptic…”

Lager, scratching his head in confusion, seemed perplexed himself.

However, aside from that, I had one question that puzzled me.

“When did you find out about this?”

“I found out right after the possession.”

“Is this another setting you created?”

“No. This is new to me too.”

If it was his own setting, there was no need to cover it up with ‘???’ and the phrase ‘You will not be granted ?? in ??’ was just a comical way of hiding the truth.

But then, this point became even more intriguing.

“Why didn’t you tell me even though you knew?”

Knowing that there was an ultimate goal to strive for. And knowing that when prodded, you would immediately reach that ultimate goal.

Why did he naturally lie as if he didn’t know about it?

“I was planning not to tell you.”

With a bitter expression, Lager muttered and lowered his phone screen.

It displayed the points Lager had earned and the achievements he had made.

Among them, one sentence stood out.

[October 10th. 1:03 PM.]

[Defeat a monster inside Bahahang subway.]

[Additional reward conditions]

[1. Be with Ael Cloie]

[2. Protect Ael Cloie at least once]

[3. Defeat the monster yourself]

“Today’s mission.”

Finally, Lager’s actions from yesterday began to make sense.

Rushing to go on patrol with me today, even if it meant going against the group.

And going out of his way to visit Bahahang, a city far away.

All for the sake of additional rewards.

“So, you intentionally jumped in to save me earlier for the sake of additional rewards?”

At my words, Lager ran a hand through his hair and let out a deep sigh.

“I tried not to say anything because I thought you might think that way.”

“Then what is it?”

“Think about it. This time, I only got additional rewards for saving you, but what if more dangerous conditions were given? What would you do then?”

“Well…”

“If you didn’t know about this information, you would have given up on the dangerous conditions anyway, since it’s just ‘additional rewards.’”

Now that he knew rewards existed, I would also share them. If there were dangerous conditions for me, he would have to decide how to handle them.

Taking on some risk for a bigger reward, or opting for stability even with a smaller reward.

In this regard, Lager was always the latter, while I was always the former.

Knowing that I was the type to take on high risks for high returns.

“So that’s why I didn’t say anything.”

Ultimately frustrated by his plans going awry, Lager spat on the ground for no reason.

I silently watched Lager’s actions and said, “I’ll go smoke a cigarette and be back.”

Just as I decided to light up a cigarette in the smoking area that caught my eye.

When nicotine entered my somewhat confused mind, the hazy thoughts quickly cleared up. Indeed, at times like this, a cigarette is like a miracle drug.

With skillful gestures, I flicked off the cigarette and tossed the butt away, suddenly feeling the gaze of many people around me.

It dawned on me that the people in the smoking area were staring at me.

No, to be precise, only the men were looking at me.

The men within my line of sight quickly averted their gaze as if they had made a silent agreement.

Based on my experience as a man, there was only one meaning behind those looks and reactions.

‘…I must be pretty.’

Meeting a surprisingly beautiful woman in an unexpected place.

And the instinctive actions taken when our eyes accidentally meet.

While it wasn’t exactly pleasant to have everyone’s attention focused on me, it wasn’t entirely unpleasant either.

Well, it’s not so bad. It’s good attention, after all.

Approaching Lager with my cigarette in hand, he pinched his nose and waved my platinum blonde hair in the air.

“Ugh, cigarette smell! You’ve just come here with your hair all stinking.”

“You smoked, so of course it smells. What’s the big deal?”

“You’re a woman, so smoke less.”

“You’re a man, so ever thought of smoking?”

“Get lost.”

As expected, just from his reaction, it was clear that there was a girl inside that big body.

Returning to the main topic, I continued the conversation with Lager.

“I already know about the achievement conditions. Even if you don’t like it, let’s share it together in the future.”

“You, what did you just say to me…”

“Instead.”

I raised my finger in front of Lager, who was getting angry, and covered his mouth.

“Ugh, cigarette smell,” I expressed a slight apology in my mind to Lager, who was shaking his head and complaining.

“I won’t push you on goals you don’t want to achieve.”

“Hmm…”

“You said that goal of accumulating points is to save the world. You’re not delusional enough to think you can be the hero who achieves that grand goal alone, right?”

Maybe I was a bit too harsh. Seeing Lager’s stunned face, I felt a bit guilty. This will be added to ‘Today’s Apologies’.

“Anyway, what I want to say is…”

There could have been many other expressions to use if I really wanted to find them.

But as the ‘hero who saves the world’, there seemed to be no more appropriate expression than this one, even if I didn’t feel like it right now.

“I’ll have to see if you’re really a hero or not.”

“I’ll be a ‘fighting heroine’ as needed.”

Yes.

I decided to be that.

Since that guy is a man and a hero, and I’m a woman. Whether I’m the main character or an extra, I’ll take on the role of a heroine.

Adding a spoonful to saving the world.

…That was the meaning.

“Did you just confess?”

Lager’s reaction was a bit strange.

Realizing that the nuance was a bit ambiguous, I quickly corrected myself.

“No! No! What are you talking about? Why are you acting dumb? The true meaning of this! The correct interpretation! Don’t you know? Why are you interpreting it your way?”

Seeing me vehemently denying with my arms flailing, Lager chuckled. It was a mocking expression, as if he wanted to tease me.

Feeling uncomfortable, I shot him the most intimidating look I could muster, maintaining a defensive attitude.

“Don’t. Don’t do weird things. Don’t have weird thoughts. Just don’t do anything. I told you not to.”

However, even such a threat seemed to be as harmless as a baby kitten’s growl.

“Thank you. My heart was heavy, but this gives me some strength.”

I placed my hand on my head and gently stroked it as if it were a pet.

Despite all the warnings, I finally unleashed the testicular kick I had been eagerly preparing for on that arrogant fellow.

It was only today that he finally fell, feeling the sharp pain of a man’s suffering.