“No matter what you say, I won’t be involved with scenarios or the Radiant Dragon anymore. Not even if a sword is at my throat.”

“Oh.”

Surprised by my firm statement, he let out a short exclamation of admiration.

“Is having your throat cut a hobby of yours?”

The neighbouring country’s notorious assassin jokingly added, smiling brightly.

“We’re a match made in heaven.”

“Don’t say scary things!”

I stepped back, protectively covering my neck.

Anselot then let out a low laugh.

Feeling the heat rise to my face, I quickly blurted out the thoughts I had prepared.

“Anyway, no matter what you say, I have no intention of getting involved with scenarios or dragons anymore.”

Then, I pulled out the necklace I had untied from my pocket and handed it to Anselot.

It was the pendant necklace with a red gemstone I had borrowed from Anselot to spy on Hezen’s system window.

“Take this back. I used it well.”

After saying that, I turned around decisively.

Anselot watched Louibel’s retreating figure and smirked.

“She’s so determined.”

Louibel Achester was a truly interesting woman.

Initially, it was curiosity he felt towards her, but gradually, that curiosity brought him amusement and pleasure.

He felt a bit disappointed when she was scared of him or refused his help…

And when she unexpectedly showed a different side or met his eyes, it even gave him a thrill.

Her posture, ready with the sword, looked quite like a swordsman.

‘I didn’t know she could handle a sword.’

Although she had the aid of a potion, her ability to defeat the shortly after awakening was due to the amplification of her hidden abilities.

I thought she was just a delicately raised princess in the palace, but her new side completely captivated Anselot’s attention.

Indeed. Even when she was fighting the system’s cleaners, didn’t she show surprisingly swift movements?

The more he knew about Louibel Achester, the more intriguing and amusing he found her.

Then, Anselot realized it had been a long time since he had felt such emotions.

Anselot found this new side of himself quite unfamiliar.
Anselot stood in the same spot until Louibel was out of sight, then slowly lowered his gaze.

He intently looked at the necklace Louibel had placed in his hand, specifically at the red gemstone.

Thump, thump―

The red gemstone pulsed in the palm of his hand.

The playful smile that had been on his face gradually faded away.

He had vaguely guessed when she used the power of the gemstone…

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

Her words from earlier, reciting the system’s objective even before the scenario arrived, confirmed it.

She was an entity beyond the system.

Like a player from another dimension, or like the bugs unaffected by the system, in some way or another.

Facilitating the player’s death had been a highly experimental move for him.

It was a dangerous act that could have reset the scenario from the beginning.

But ultimately, the player logged out, and Louibel took his place as the new player.

Louibel Achester.

She would undoubtedly, most definitely be able to carve out the remaining heart of the Radiant Dragon this time.

Because this red gemstone… was meant for the death of the Radiant Dragon.

Anselot had initially intended to give this pendant to the player.

To make it easier and more accurate for him to defeat the Radiant Dragon.

And to become his ally in finally achieving the death of the Radiant Dragon.

But the moment he realized Louibel used the power of the gemstone, all his plans spontaneously changed.

Anselot thought about the real owner of this red pendant necklace.

But it was strange.

He couldn’t quite remember her face.

Just that she was pretty. And prettier when she smiled.

“Why….”

His voice came out hoarsely.

“Can’t remember anything else.”

Anselot frowned in displeasure, placing his hand over his chest.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t recall her face.

“Forget it. It’s not that important.”

Soon, Anselot shook his head, discarding the thought.

The real issue was not that.

The most urgent matter was how to change Louibel’s firm decision against participating in the scenario.

The final goal of the scenario, the death of the .

He had come to the distant Achester Empire solely for this purpose.

“Why do we have to kill the Radiant Dragon?”

Louibel’s question, which he couldn’t answer earlier, floated chaotically in his mind as he slowly turned around.

Walking down the long corridor to his room, only the soft sounds of his footsteps echoed in the night air.

Step, thump, step, thump, step, thump…

His footsteps were offbeat.

Reaching his room, as soon as the door closed, he looked down.

The hem of his white garment was stained with blood.

Indifferently, he tore off the bloodied fabric.

Beneath, from his ankle to below his shin, blackened stains were bleeding.

This was a penalty for intervening in the system’s order.

Recently, Anselot had been exposing himself too much after meeting Louibel.

There was no need to go that far.

It should have been enough to just assist any player to achieve the death of the Radiant Dragon.

This was not good.

Really not good.