Chapter 006
Whirr—whirr—
As the dryer spun loudly, I stood there thinking hard.
Why did the system give me that kind of side mission?
“What does that have to do with my job anyway…?”
‘…Though sadly, I think I already know.’
In Jairen’s game route, one of the most common endings was confinement.
Players outside the game used to love his crazy personality.
If I were still a normal player, I might’ve even thought it was a fun, weird route to experience—falling for a twisted male character.
‘But now I’m actually in the game.’
The system still treated me like a “player,” but I was the one living through it.
“Confinement… hmm. I guess that’s kind of like being a rich bum—just more miserable.”
Jairen was a sadistic character, but he didn’t act cruel all day long.
‘Pfft, yeah, that would be ridiculous.’
His cruelty wasn’t about physical violence.
Once you ignored the cages and chains, he actually treated you like a noble lady—no work, no orders, everything handled for you.
Jairen gave players everything they wanted before they even asked, and if they wanted something he didn’t like… he erased it completely.
‘Wait. So except for Jairen himself, that’s actually the perfect lazy rich life, isn’t it?’
“…No, focus!”
The dryer kept spinning loudly.
Ugh, thinking too much again.
“I don’t know why I got this mission, but… honestly, it doesn’t seem impossible.”
I didn’t know Jairen’s exact affection level yet, but one thing was clear—he was interested in me. He made it obvious.
After some thought, I decided to use the stat points I got from the second side mission on Gracefulness.
[Would you like to add 10 points to “Gracefulness”?]
“Yes!”
Alright, Jairen! Let’s do this!
As someone serious about games, I can tell—this investment will pay off!
“…That’s what I thought back then.”
“Lana, this one’s for table five.”
“Oh, yes, sir!”
Standing at the kitchen pickup counter, I quickly snapped out of my thoughts at the chef’s voice.
Right. Focus on work first.
After that night, Jairen hadn’t talked to me privately at all.
I thought he was interested, but now… nothing.
Even though I boosted my Gracefulness stat!
‘Was that the wrong choice?’
Looking around, I whispered quietly, “Status window.”
Seriously, why is this the only thing that needs voice commands?
[Player Status Window]
Name: Lana / Commoner
Gender: Female / Age: 15
Strength: 45 (15+30)
Stamina: 30
Intellect: 65 (35+30)
Charm: 8
Presence: 30 (0+30)
Reason: 19
Gracefulness: 25
Wealth: –10,0…(more)
Yup. Totally unbalanced.
But wait, what’s with the Wealth stat?
And that “more” button—oh no, I’m not touching that.
I already knew it would be bad, but now I was too curious.
That “more” was a Pandora’s box I should never open.
Sighing, I carried the food with perfect waitress form.
“Here’s your meal. Please enjoy.”
“Hm.”
The customer nodded—then did a double-take when he saw my face.
I felt his eyes on my back even after I turned around.
‘That guy looks over fifty… gross.’
But honestly, this wasn’t even surprising. Nobles like that were everywhere.
Before I turned fifteen, I had lived peacefully enough only because my old village was so remote.
There was no lord, just a government inspector who came once in a while.
The villagers weren’t saints, but they never crossed the line.
They disliked me for being from the orphanage, but they didn’t harm me.
“Wow, that old guy couldn’t stop staring at you.”
“Well, I am pretty, after all.”
“…You really are bold sometimes, Lana.”
Maybe it was because I didn’t fully think of this body as “mine,” but complimenting myself didn’t embarrass me at all.
“The boss is nice, so nothing bad should happen, but still—be careful, okay?”
“Thanks. Oh, how’s your wedding prep going?”
I remembered Jane had taken a short break recently to plan her wedding.
“I wanted to have it in June, but all the venues were booked. If I wait another year, it might not happen at all, so I took the first open date.”
“Aw, that’s a shame. You wanted that June special package, remember?”
“It’s fine. I actually got a nicer place for cheaper. Oh—and it’s this Saturday! I was going to tell you after work, but I couldn’t wait.”
Jane smiled brightly.
I quickly opened my system window to check my mission status again. The text had slightly changed.
[Side Mission 3: Receive a confession from “James” behind the inn’s trash yard. Time limit: 8 days.]
“Jane, did you give out the invitations to everyone at the inn?”
“Huh? Yeah, I gave one to everyone—even the boss.”
So… Jairen must have one too.
It had already been two weeks since I started working here.
I hadn’t gotten close to anyone except Jane—and, annoyingly, Jairen.
I didn’t want him in that “close” category, but since I hadn’t talked to anyone else privately, there he was.
The mission goal was simple: a confession.
Not love—just a confession.
‘Even if Jairen confesses, it’s probably just toying with me anyway.’
All I had to do was make him think I liked him back.
Sigh. I can’t believe I have to fake feelings for a guy who’s not even my type.
Game life really isn’t easy.
“James, are you going to Jane’s wedding this Saturday?”
“Oh.”
Jairen nodded like he had just remembered.
“Of course. It’s my coworker’s wedding.”
Yeah, sure—you just remembered.
“Would you like to go together?” I asked boldly. “I don’t really know anyone else yet.”
“Sure! I’m still not that close to the others either.”
He smiled, but I knew the truth.
‘He probably means he’s not close to anyone except the girls who like him.’
Jairen’s charm stat must’ve been ridiculously high.
‘No wonder Jane called me brave.’
Jane had experience, a fiancé, and years of work under her belt, so she didn’t fall for him—but most of the new girls at the inn definitely did.
“Do you have something to wear to the wedding?” he asked.
“No, I’ll need to buy something. I can’t wear my uniform.”
“I need to buy something too. Want to go shopping together tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow? But it’s a weekday.”
“We can just ask the boss for a day off.”
“Oh… I don’t think I’ve worked long enough to earn leave yet.”
“You really know that kind of thing? You must’ve been working since you were a kid.”
“Yeah, kind of.”
“What about your parents?”
‘Oh, this jerk knows I’m an orphan and asked that on purpose.’
“None. I was abandoned at a monastery.”
“Oh… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“It’s okay. I forgive you.”
I smiled sweetly, and his polite face cracked a little.
“R-right. Thanks.”
“By the way, aren’t you new too?” I asked. “You probably don’t have leave days either.”
“The boss will understand if I ask.”
He said it like it was obvious.
‘Wow. Real noble energy right there.’
But of course, Jairen wasn’t just any noble—he was the heir to a Duke’s territory.
More specifically, the Grand Duke of the North.
Meanwhile, me? I was stuck on a “Reborn as a Rich Bum” mission.
And apparently, it was myth-level difficulty. First of its kind, too.
‘How is that even fair?’
…Then again, Jairen wasn’t exactly living the “rich bum” life either.
When he becomes Grand Duke, his first task will be to fight the demon race.
That’s why players who chose the “demon” class could unlock Jairen’s romance route—
because to a sadist like him, even his enemies were fascinating.
‘Ugh. I can’t believe I have to take time off work just to go shopping with this guy.’
I forced a worried tone and said, “But… will the boss really agree?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it.”
“Okay…”
Of course, seeing me act anxious seemed to please him.
‘Ugh. That sadistic smirk again.’
Disgusting.
