Chapter 5 – Rough End
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“So, what do you like about me?” Kim Si-woo softly asked as we strolled around the campus mall.

Dressed in a new uniform, his passive posture and shy demeanour echoed an innocent high school boy being preyed upon. He was nothing like yesterday.

“Your strength,” I bluntly replied, unimpressed with his changed demeanour. If it were anyone else, they would’ve been fooled. But I knew. 

Kim Si-woo was a master in acting. He played the role of a fool, then a stoic hero, and a compassionate comrade, all flawlessly as he hid any sign of internal turmoil. It differed depending on the path that the player took, which ultimately shaped the character of the protagonist. 

However, it took until the end of the story, where the main heroine chosen by the protagonist was able to know about his overarching struggle as an isolated transmigrator.

I could empathise, as someone who has also transmigrated. Just having someone know your secrets was enough comfort, which was why, as much as I hated the voice, it grounded me.

[Awww, thanks. I love you too, but you should really love the protagonist more!] 

Nevertheless, the voice could die in a ditch for all I cared. I didn’t particularly worry too much about my reputation, but to be publicly shamed like yesterday in front of those I knew was a…

‘Let’s never repeat this’ experience. 

A moment of silence washed over us as we passed students and visitors of the academy. Dawn painted the sky an orange-pinkish tone as the sun’s brilliance faded. Even as it fell, it was proud. 

The description for the protagonist in this time period was vague, being only 4 paragraphs before the game shoved players into the tutorial fight. However, the passive stance being portrayed right now intrigued me. Now that I had a hand in things, how would he develop?

“I don’t accept the underhanded trick you pulled yesterday,” I broke the silence, which raised an eyebrow from Kim Si-woo. 

“Yet you still showed up today. Why?” Kim Si-woo asked with a sly smirk. He knew yesterday didn’t count, but he still managed to win his end of the bargain either way.

“I needed your power.” With utmost honesty, I bluntly told him. This was integral towards building any trust.

I needed him for myself. He was a spark necessary to save this world, to beat the final boss, to elevate my-

“You’re not shy at all about your greed,” with a chuckle, Kim Si-woo suddenly inched closer to my face. His eyes shone briefly, like a predator analysing its prey.

“I hate people like you,” he whispered into my ear before backing off, maintaining eye contact. I also maintained a stoic face, as if unperturbed by his words.

He was no longer a fool. Was this a good or bad thing?

[Oh no… you might lose your supernatural powers soon at this rate!] 

Bad from the sounds of it.

“But I do admit that my tactics yesterday were dubious. I ran away so I could be alone with you today. Your followers aren’t exactly the best at hiding themselves.” Kim Si-woo spoke the latter part in a slightly louder tone. 

Behind a nearby trash bin, three familiar figures emerged. Liu Qiufeng, Mikhail, and Ma Dong-seok, all dressed conspicuously in trench coats.  

“I’ll accept the punishment, please take care of me for the next month. Watch out, because I’ll steal your heart by then.” Kim Si-woo cheekily winked.

As much as I didn’t want to believe it, my game knowledge was useless. The protagonist’s past was never explained, and his characterisation was made deliberately shallow. 

Just now, his reaction to me was overwhelmingly negative, even by the standards of what was shown in the game. My actions yesterday felt too impulsive. All of my plans were discarded. 

It was something that never happened before. 

Was it because of my pent-up anxiety? No, it wouldn’t have been that bad…

You know something about this, right?

[Who? Me?]

Who else can read my mind and freely violate my privacy like you?

[I thought you’d never ask! Well…]

Well…?

[I have no idea]

.

.

.

Sorry for asking in the first place. 

“Are you really dating him, Lotte?” Mikhail rushed next to me with a slight pout. 

“No, I’m not.” I sternly replied. I needed to extinguish this annoying rumour once and for all. 

Platonic! Purely platonic relationship! Are those so rare nowadays?!

[Stage 1: Denial]

It's not-!

“Yet! Not yet!” Kim Si-woo added to the flames with a grin. This bastard-

“Second Lieutenant, I believe I should duel him first to test his character! He appears to be the type to toy with your heart!” With fists pumped, Liu Qiufeng stared down Kim Si-woo.

I rubbed my temples. My interactions with the protagonist made me feel too weak today. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with something like this. 

[C’mon, admit it! Maybe this could be an opportunity for you to show your talent as a seductress, slowly breaking down the barrier of the icy cold-]

If you wanted to write a fanfiction so much, do it with someone else! I’m not interested in your ships. 

I heaved a heavy sigh.

"S-she didn't deny it!" Mikhail gasped, holding his face like a certain Munch painting.

“Kim Si-woo, you lucky bastard! Come here and let me beat you up!” I watched as Ma Dong-seok made the first move, holding Kim Si-woo in a chokehold. Like a sketch straight out of a show, Liu Qiufeng and Mikhail wasted no time bringing out various mediaeval tools. 

“N-no, wait! I was just joking!” Kim Si-woo turned his eyes to me in an act of desperation. 

[You should help your hubbie out!]

One month should be enough to earn his trust. I didn’t know what he saw in me to make him recoil in disgust like that today, but the fact that he still agreed to the terms of yesterday’s deal meant there was a sliver of hope.

[You’re ignoring me, aren’t you?]

That’s right! I would finally be able to beat Abbadon and save this world. Unlike back on Earth, I had no retries in this world- not that I know of at least. 

[Hey! Stop monologuing!] 

I stared at Kim Si-woo's ghostly face as the torture devices held by Liu Qiufeng and Mikhail closed onto him. A flame ignited within me. That’s right. I wanted to be at the top of the world- to achieve the fate which should’ve been mine. 

Bask in brilliance.

“Kim Si-woo, let’s begin our training!” I suddenly commanded, which stopped the others in their tracks and gave Kim Si-woo room to escape.

For a moment, I saw a strange light in the corner of Kim Si-woo’s eyes, but it was immediately replaced with a sense of hollow that I had faced earlier when his mask was unveiled.

“Sure thing… darling!” 

…He was immediately pounced on by three fierce tigers once again.

What a rough end.

[Hey, don't just watch him die like that!]

 

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