Chapter 1 Part 1

“Will you marry me?”

“Quit playing such trivial games and just kill me already.”

“Trivial games?”

…Why should I kill you?

I quickly grasped the situation and for the first time since meeting him, I stepped down from the throne.

Lian’s red eyes watched me as if he wouldn’t miss a single moment.

“Either way, you’ve lost. No matter what you do here, you won’t be able to defeat me. At this rate, the human girl will become a cute toy for Salovan.”

His gaze wavered.

“Beg. Then, I’ll spare the human girl.”

And the moment he parted his lips.

I leaned forward, lightly grabbed his chin with my right hand, and kissed him.

His lips were warm even now, and softer than anything I had ever felt. I lingered above him briefly, making my presence known by gently biting his lip.

Lian flinched, and a smile naturally formed on my lips.

Then, slowly parting our lips, I met his gaze. His jewel-like red eyes, trembling as they fully captured me, were quite a sight.

“Does it still seem like a game to you? Do I look like I want to kill you right now?”

“No matter how many heroes appear, the world you desire will never come to be.”

He couldn’t defeat me, so how could he bring about world peace?

Unless another powerful being took action, the world would continue as it is.

“What I want is the same as what you desire. I want to stop any more blood from being shed. But it’s difficult for me to do so alone.”

“I want to have you.”

“…”

“Having you by my side gives me strength. Then, bringing peace to this world wouldn’t be impossible.”

He no longer dismissed my words as a joke.

But he still seemed hesitant to take my hand.

…Well, it’s okay to think it over.

But I won’t wait forever.

“I’m serious. You’ve been what I wanted from the start.”

Those who have played games might find this familiar.

The experience of those who cannot leave because their favorite character is trapped in a so-called doomed game that most players have abandoned.

Even I couldn’t leave because my favorite character was trapped in what was essentially a dead game, leading me to witness the death of my favorite in a bad ending.

So, I made up my mind once again. I wouldn’t waste this opportunity.

I would do everything in my power to save you.

***

The unwelcome sound of the phone ringing jarred me awake from a deep sleep.

“Yes, hello?”

My voice was heavy with sleep as I answered, only to be met with a clear voice on the other end.

[You can still sleep in this situation?]

I was instantly wide awake. Sighing, I finally sat up.

“…Isn’t it rude to call early on a weekend, Aunt? And according to you, why wouldn’t I be able to sleep well?”

[I heard about it. You decided to donate all your inheritance, didn’t you?]

So the news had already reached my aunt.

Even when my parents were alive, these relatives were always eyeing the inheritance greedily.

Given their inability to resist money, I’m not surprised anymore, but it’s funny how they cling to the hope of getting even a crumb of it.

[You’re young and clearly don’t understand how the world works. You shouldn’t be giving away that money so carelessly, you know?]

“Yes, you’re right. And it’s not like I was going to give it you anyway.”

[You! Have you finished speaking…!]

“It’s my money, so I’ll decide what to do with it. Please understand that I’m donating because, as my aunt said, I don’t know how the world works and I want to learn about it.”

I never thought of it as my money from the beginning. That’s why donating didn’t hit me hard. But it seems to have been a shock to my relatives.

Over the phone, my aunt snorted in disbelief.

[Do you think others will just stand by and do nothing?]

I don’t understand why she keeps going on about the inheritance I’ve already decided to donate. It’s not like threatening me will produce any money.

“Uncle and Grandpa seem to keep calling, too. I’m going to change my phone, so please stop calling me.”

[You……!]

I hung up the phone, sighed deeply, and lay back down on the bed.

The unexpected call first thing in the morning had dampened my spirits.

It’s been two years since my parents died in a car accident. I had spent a lot of time thinking about what to do with the large inheritance.

After all, I was their only child, just starting to adapt to social life.

I chose to donate because I felt if I didn’t get my act together, everything could be taken by relatives from my paternal or maternal side who had never shown any interest in us before.

I decided to keep just enough money to live on and a little emergency fund.

“This is so tiresome, really…”

I buried my face in the pillow and groaned, only for the phone to ring again.

This time, the caller ID showed [Poopyhead].

It seems a lot of people are seeking me out this morning. I answered the phone with a hint of annoyance.

“Yeah, what’s up.”

[Hey! Is this really a time to be sleeping?!]

What, do I need permission to sleep on a weekend now?

My energy was already scraping the bottom compared to my friend’s vibrant voice.

“Everyone seems to be very interested in my sleep today…”

[Stop talking nonsense and turn on the game already! Your favorite character’s narrative is up!]

…What? I shot out of bed and glanced at the calendar.

August 25th, Lian’s birthday.

Since it was an important day, I had marked it with a red circle on the calendar.

“Today’s the 25th…?”

[Yeah. You’re a working adult yet you have no sense of the date?]

“Just hang up for now.”

[Wait a sec! You….]