Chapter 97
‘Is this really a romance game?’
I glared into the void.
Even survival games display trigger warnings from the opening. Though Koreans may prefer disaster stories, isn’t it crossing a line to throw players into the midst of storms and chaos without warning?
Sure enough, as if sensing my gaze, a translucent system window appeared with a chiming sound, albeit a bit late.
Surprise Quest, [Both of You Are Right]!
Not fighting but understanding and harmonizing with each other is the first step toward a mature civil society!
Please guide the three men fighting over you to become one through love.
Success Reward: 1 Save Slot, ‘Bomb’ deactivation
I’m the Divine Master, not a social activist. Kaint isn’t fighting over me, but is about to fight with me. And with love and war about to explode, I have no means to stop three large men without combat abilities.
Besides, if harmony were as simple as playing peacemaker, like the quest title suggests, all the world’s lawyers would be unemployed.
It seemed like a hastily created quest, but I wasn’t in a position to argue with the system. Plus, the reward was too eye-catching.
‘Bomb deactivation?’
That reward was also offered when a quest appeared asking me to marry Kaint and take care of his ten siblings. I ignored it lightly then because I didn’t know the danger of the bomb, but now it’s different.
‘There’s not much time left before Marvis and Hexion’s bombs explode.’
[Marvis]’s current affection level: 48
Until the next bomb: D-3
[Hexion]’s current affection level: 131
Until the next bomb: D-2
I’m pretty sure Marvis’s affection was at a value with another 1 in front, but I don’t know when it dropped so drastically. Maybe it’s because his initial affection started in the negative, so he has a stronger homing instinct.
Marvis’s appearance was unexpected, but it was fortunate amid misfortune to meet him again with little time left before the bomb explodes. First, let me soothe and appease him to calm his anger.
“Just calm down, Marvis.”
“I am calm. If you want to stop someone, you should stop that giant next to you who’s acting self-righteous after trespassing into my territory and abducting my bride.”
Let’s just say we’re even since you invaded the Holy City and kidnapped me first.
‘…Saying that probably wouldn’t help at all.’
I firmly gripped Hexion’s hand, who was closest to me. Though I could never stop him by force if he tried to draw his sword, the mere pretense of stopping him was effective because I was the one doing it.
“Hexion, step back.”
“No, Shin Joo. Please leave this to me. I will resolve this so you won’t have to worry.”
It sounded like he was saying he would annihilate this world with a bomb, so I wouldn’t have to worry.
I applied pressure to his hand while smiling.
“Hexion. Can I call someone my foremost guardian knight if they make me repeat myself?”
“…!”
The strength quickly left his wrist, and Hexion stepped back.
Marvis is the same way—he ignores polite requests completely, but listens only when I put aside my conscience and command arrogantly. I don’t know how to take this.
Is this system designed to produce a new concept of problematic players?
“Are you satisfied now?”
When I looked at Marvis and asked, he swallowed a scornful laugh.
“Shin Joo-ah. What have I done to deserve you looking at me like that?”
“What’s wrong with my eyes?”
“I told you I would give you everything if you didn’t leave. You abandon me and run away, and now you’re having a great time with handsome men on either side?”
“…That’s a misunderstanding.”
Though I had crossed the line with Hexion twice, I had never had a great time with Kaint, so it was indeed a misunderstanding. The proof was Kaint’s grimace when Marvis said “on either side.”
…This hurts me a bit, too.
“I never abandoned you. I didn’t run away either. I told you then, too. Don’t misunderstand.”
“Is this your way of showing you like someone—leaving in another man’s arms?”
“Weren’t you the one who said you’d accept me no matter what kind of person I am?”
It was Marvis who said he would love me unchangingly, no matter what kind of terrible person I might be.
Of course, that didn’t mean he was okay with me cheating on him with other men, but since this is a game, if you drop hints, you have to follow through.
If you want to blame someone, blame the developers who allowed this narrative.
Cannot currently increase affection level!
Huh?
[Marvis]’s anger gauge has been activated.
Lower his anger to a certain level within the limited attempts.
Anger gauge: ■■■■■■■■■□ (90%)
Remaining attempts: 3
Suddenly, a status window appeared next to Marvis’s face like a fighting game profile, and a red gauge bar was activated.
It seems my words would have increased his affection under normal circumstances, but he was so angry that the value didn’t change.
I was a bit dumbfounded that even this would appear, but it was good that it was clearly displayed in graph form. Indeed, modern people need to be informed with clear numbers.
‘To think that such conscience-selling words would have increased his affection—as expected, demons have different moral standards from humans.’
I chewed the inside of my mouth, briefly enjoying the tingling pang of conscience. I might get addicted to this.
“Shin Joo-ah. Don’t try to be clever. You’re the one who said you didn’t like to be taken for granted.”
Of course, that’s true, but right now I need to be taken for granted. With a world-ending mega-explosion imminent, I can’t afford to be picky about preferences. Sometimes, for the greater good, one must set aside personal tastes.
“That’s right. But I was happy when you said that. Because only you, Marvis, said such things to me, I thought you were truly a good man.”
Beside me, Hexion looked at me with surprised eyes. His expression seemed to say he was wronged because he had said similar things but felt unacknowledged.
“Hexion. Can you accept me even if I like Marvis?”
“What…?”
“Or not? If I say I like Marvis, will you quit being my guardian knight?”
Having grasped the situation from my leading question, strength returned to Hexion’s eyes. He answered firmly.
“Absolutely not!”
He’s quick-witted at times like this. Indeed, a man who clings to the position of my foremost guardian knight shows a fitting change in stance.
“You are the world’s savior, Shin Joo. If you look to another and forsake me, it would be no different from my world being destroyed. So Shin Joo, no matter what choice you make, I will definitely stay by your side.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Because that is how I save my world.”
This was an answer the early Hexion could never have imagined, but this isn’t a character breakdown—it’s a growth narrative through love. Accepting it as such, I extended my claws toward Marvis, backed by Hexion’s support.
Of course, this was just a figurative expression.
“I like Marvis. And I like Hexion too.”
“….”
Anger gauge: ■■■■■■■□□□ (70%)
Remaining attempts: 2
Good. An effective hit.
I’ll continue in this direction.
[Kaint]’s affection has decreased!
Current affection: 1
Marvis, who directly heard the nonsense, showed no change, but Kaint’s affection, who was standing back, plummeted.
Should I be grateful it’s 1 and not 0? I feel miserable.
For now, let’s focus on lowering Marvis’s anger.
“You’re the one who said responsibility comes with salvation, Marvis.”
“….”
“I don’t want to forsake the rest of the world for one person.”
“You’re really shameless, aren’t you?”
“Ugh.”
When I stiffened at Marvis’s pointed remark, Hexion embraced my shoulders.
“Shin Joo. There’s no need to show mercy to someone like him. Perhaps it would be better to leave everything to me…”
I can’t let Hexion handle this—bomb meeting bomb would cause a mega-explosion.
‘I can’t save the world if I get discouraged by something like this!’
I glared at Marvis with wide eyes.
He still seemed angry, frowning, but definitely appeared calmer than before.
“…How did I end up with my heart captured by a woman like this.”
Anger gauge: ■■■■□□□□□□ (40%)
Remaining attempts: 1
Good. Just one bar left to reach the goal.
Equivalent exchange has been established. Why did no one tell me the truth that peace comes when you abandon your conscience? Probably because the world would be in chaos if they did?
It’s fortunate this is inside a game. If this truth were applied in reality, the world would become a living hell.
I took a deep breath and decided to deliver the finishing blow.
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