Chapter 009
No, wait—cancel that refund!
Even though I felt a deep, instinctive disgust inside…
‘I’m a rational player. If I want Jairen’s confession, I have to gladly—yes, gladly—accept his affection.’
Using the strange mix of shame and confusion I felt, I twisted my words shyly.
“Not really… I’m not that kind of good person.”
[JAMES’s Favorability has increased.]
[James thinks you’re a “Humble Person.”]
Jairen smiled kindly, the way a gentle church boy might.
But he wasn’t a church boy—and I wasn’t some naïve girl.
His large hand ruffled my hair. He was doing it on purpose. Slowly, he ran his fingers through my well-kept hair, as if he was enjoying the texture.
If this were the 19+ version, well… I’ll stop there.
“You’re amazing, Lana. You deserve praise.”
“…Yes.”
That crazy pervert’s hand moved from the top of my head, brushed lightly past my ear, and rested on my shoulder.
He stepped closer, lowering his head with soft, sweet eyes fixed on me.
Once again, I realized just how dangerously perfect this man looked on the outside.
‘Yeah… his popularity kind of makes sense.’
Our faces were so close our noses could touch.
“I’m sorry.”
“…Huh?”
“I can’t stop thinking about that boy earlier. I’ll go check on him first!”
“Lana?”
I ignored Jairen calling my name and ran.
Sudden missions like this weren’t always small side events—sometimes they gave big rewards, even money.
‘Sure, Jairen’s favor is important, but I can’t trigger a kiss event already!’
Pausing the affection growth for now might be a good idea.
I was thinking completely logically, of course.
And right on cue, the system helped me out.
[JAMES’s Favorability has increased.]
[James now thinks you’re “Shy.”]
Yes! Everything is going according to plan!
I ran to where I’d seen the boy earlier.
“Haah… haah… Where did he go?!”
The place was wide and full of people—finding one kid here was like finding a needle in a haystack.
Maybe he went home already? But…
[Sudden Mission! Help the Boy in Trouble!]
“The mission window’s still active…”
The [YES/NO] buttons were still glowing. That meant I could still choose.
But seriously, where is he?
I checked every alley between the buildings, thinking maybe he was crying somewhere, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Sighing, I quietly opened my quest log.
[Current Missions]
[Chapter 1: Become the Hidden Daughter of the Empire’s Richest Noble, the Duke of Eikenros. (0/1)]
[Sub Mission 3: Next Saturday at 11 PM, Receive a Confession from “James” Behind the Inn.]
[Sudden Mission! Help the Boy in Trouble!]
“It’s a sudden mission with no time limit… Maybe I missed my chance today?”
Just then, the text on the mission flickered—
[Sudden Mission! Help the Boy in Trouble! Time Remaining: 60 seconds.]
[60… 59… 58…]
“What?!”
This system’s AI must be insane. How did it time this perfectly?!
Ding—ding—
Every second came with a loud chime.
There was no way this was some “Legendary Difficulty” mission. The system wouldn’t give me an impossible task.
That meant… the boy had to be somewhere close!
Scanning the main street, I soon spotted a commotion.
“Let me go!”
“Not this time! It’s you again, isn’t it?!”
“I said it’s not me! You can check my pockets!”
“Ha! You think I’ll fall for that trick again? Where’d you hide it?!”
It was that same boy from before—arguing with an older man.
A crowd had gathered, watching, but no one was calling the guards.
‘Guess it’s my turn.’
A sudden mission like this probably wasn’t too hard.
All I had to do was help the boy, right?
If he did steal something, I’d just pay for it.
Judging by the man’s apron, he owned a bakery. Even if the cost was high, it wouldn’t exceed 50,000 credits.
[Current Balance: 656,000 Credits]
I’d started with 356,000, spent 300 on phone charges, and earned 300,300 from the side mission—
a total of 656,000 credits.
Sure, it was nothing compared to the ten billion I’d spent upgrading my helper system, but it still felt good.
My precious money… saved up with so much care!
[Sudden Mission! Help the Boy in Trouble! Time Remaining: 60 seconds.]
[YES / NO]
“YES!”
That’s the best part about sudden missions—you get rewards twice!
Once when you accept, and once when you complete it.
So… what’s my first reward?
[You have accepted the Sudden Mission: Help the Boy in Trouble!]
[‘Force’ will be temporarily activated for smoother mission progress.]
[There is no acceptance reward for this mission.]
“……”
No reward, but forced control? What kind of scam system is this?
Okay… think positive.
If there’s no reward now, there must be an even bigger one at the end!
I pushed through the crowd and stepped between the man and the boy.
“You street brats are all the same—!”
“Ah!”
I grabbed the man’s arm before he could hit the kid.
“Sir, please calm down first!”
“Who are you, miss? You know this thief?!”
“No! I mean—no, it’s not like that—”
Before I could finish, that annoying system chime rang again.
[‘Force’ Activated.]
[Player’s Dialogue Restricted.]
Wait, what?!
[Choose Your Line:]
I’m an orphan too! (say it firmly)
I’m… in a similar situation. (say it sadly)
I don’t have parents either. (say it sadly, but also angrily)
What the—? I’d rather it choose for me!
“Why aren’t you talking, miss?! You really know this brat, don’t you?”
“……”
The system repeated the options again.
[Choose Your Line:]
I’m an orphan too!
I’m… in a similar situation.
I don’t have parents either.
They all meant the same thing anyway.
I didn’t want to look tragic or heroic, but if anger was included, I’d take that one.
Click.
[You chose Option 3.]
“I don’t have parents either.”
“Wh—what?”
“So I want to help him.”
Because the mission told me to.
The boy looked surprised, recognizing me.
“Y-you’re that lady from before…”
“Hey, kid. Did you steal it or not?”
“I… I didn’t.”
“Really? If you give it back now, I’ll buy it for you. I won’t scold you.”
“I…”
“Don’t waste this chance. Just tell the truth.”
Before the boy could answer, the man tried to grab him again—but I blocked him.
Then the boy suddenly ran off.
“Hey! He’s running! What now, miss?!”
“Just wait a second.”
A moment later, the boy came back, holding two dirty loaves of bread.
He must have hidden them in an alley.
The baker looked smug.
“…Here.”
“See? Told you he stole it!”
The man snatched the bread from the boy’s arms.
“How much?”
“What, you’re gonna pay for him?”
“Yes. That’s what I said.”
“…12,600 credits.”
I handed over 50,000.
Ding!
[50,000 credits deducted.]
[Current Balance: 606,000.]
