After becoming a player in Hezen’s place, the affection levels of people that started to become visible provided a way to guess their sincerity, but at the same time, left a subtle discomfort.

Not everyone’s affection was positive, after all.

I might end up paying attention to everyone’s affection levels when I encounter them in the future.

Maybe that’s why.

Seeing Anselot, whose double-edged sword-like affection level was not visible, made me feel this strange, unsettled emotion.

‘Ah, this is not the time for this.’

Snapping back to reality, I asked him sharply, remembering why I was here.

“You knew this would happen, didn’t you?”

When I awakened in Hezen’s place, Anselot didn’t seem surprised at all.

“No, I didn’t know.”

“Liar!”

I exclaimed indignantly, and he smiled slyly in response.

“Maybe I thought it could happen.”

“See! You knew it!”

I felt deceived by him.

“You said to use you freely! That you would help me escape from the scenario!”

“And you did escape. From the scenario that was trying to kill you.”

“This damn bug!”

I blurted out the phrase exactly as the system window had shown it.

“Wow. Such harsh words.”

“Turn it back to when I couldn’t see this strange system! I don’t want to be a player!”

“That’s odd.”

Then Anselot tilted his head and asked.

“Why do you dislike it so much? Isn’t it better than being a sacrificial offering for a player’s awakening?”

Of course, it was better than dying.

Unexpectedly awakening as a Swordmaster might even be considered lucky. After all, I had reached a level that even long-time trained swordsmen could not easily achieve.

I had saved people by defeating the monster summoned by Hezen and even received praise from my mother.

And I learned that my mother doesn’t hate me, in fact, she likes me a lot.

Moreover, the system window that informed me of Orent’s state change during our confrontation earlier was convenient.

So far, I had gained much more than I had lost.

But…

“So, I have to gather companions and go defeat the Radiant Dragon?”

“Oh, you know well.”

“I don’t want to! I just want to live my comfortable life in the palace!”

Absolutely not!

I had witnessed Hezen fighting and dying against the multiple times.

Battling monsters and fulfilling quests given by the scenario was not just a story in a game; it was reality.

‘And I might get badly hurt like Hezen. Plus, this cursed game! No one has cleared it because of its extreme difficulty!’

Yes.

The main reason I was so vehemently against progressing in the scenario was its notorious difficulty, which no one had succeeded in overcoming.

There were even rumors that the game company deliberately made it difficult to induce players to spend money.

However, despite numerous players spending and attempting, no one had succeeded in killing the Radiant Dragon in the game.

As a character in the game, not a real-life player, I couldn’t pay for upgrades.

Meaning, I had to clear the final scenario entirely on my own strength!

‘Too dangerous! Absolutely not! Plus, if I die, it’s not just logging out, it’s the end!’

As I was firming up my thoughts, Anselot casually asked,

“What about going to kill the Radiant Dragon, now that it’s come to this?”

“Why should I kill the Radiant Dragon?”

I replied, pouting.

“Well, because the Radiant Dragon…”

For the first time, Anselot hesitated, his voice trailing off.

“The Radiant Dragon?”

“…”

A look of perplexity appeared on Anselot’s face, unable to reply immediately.
It was a question that Anselot himself had never really thought about properly.

After pondering for a while, Anselot replied, “The Radiant Dragon… disrupts the order of the world?”

His voice rose at the end, indicating even he wasn’t sure of his answer.

“What’s the world’s order anyway? That strange order created by the system or whatever?”

“…….”

“So, that Radiant Dragon thing is also some kind of terrible bug?”

“…….”

Seeing him unable to reply any further, I snorted derisively.

“See? Even you think it’s strange. I have no intention of doing what the system tells me.”

“Umm…….”

Anselot looked down at me, seeming to ponder for a moment. Just as I was about to feel awkward under his intense gaze, he grinned and said, “Our Princess seems to be more at ease with me now. You even meet my eyes.”

Oops.

Caught up in the shock of having become a player all of a sudden, I had been too forthright in front of Anselot.

Belatedly realizing this, I sneaked a glance at him, but he didn’t seem displeased.

“Don’t be so alarmed; you’ll get hurt. I meant it’s nice that you’re comfortable around me,” he said with a smile that seemed genuinely happy.

“And who knows? Maybe after completing all the scenarios, you might be able to say goodbye to this cursed system.”

Anselot was trying to coax me with his handsome face.

“I’ll help you.”

His gentle and affectionate voice was almost enough to make me nod in agreement, but…

“But the method you mentioned isn’t certain, is it? Besides, how can I trust you?”

I was not going to be swayed.