Chapter 52
#052
1.
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『 EP5. Reset Button 』
So, you chose your own death after all.
Death is the surest defeat, but....
It may be different for you.
<Run Summary>
▶ Achievements: None
▶ Titles Obtained: None
▶ Challenge Points: +22 pt
※ The death penalty is waived by the immunity clause. ※
2 immunity clauses remaining.
-Choice: 2. Kill Arbel Montraven.
The premium route continues.
May you reach transcendence at the end of arrogance and foolishness.
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2.
Intermission quiz corner!
Which death is the most painful?
The answer is burning to death (燒死).
I will not accept objections.
Wow, I thought I had gotten used to just about everything, but apparently not.
After diving headfirst into the very midst of 'death.'
Even after returning to the save point, I couldn't collect my wits for a while.
“Fuck... fuck... fuck... fuck-fuck.”
It was for strengthening the death-sentence effect, sure, but Cedric Butter-Roast is something I can never do again.
It hurt so much that I clamped my teeth down hard, and I can still hear the sound of my molar cracking in my ears.
“Waaah!!!”
I hurried over to Arbel.
I hugged the squeaky plush Arbel and cried my eyes out for an hour, whining the whole time.
“Arbel... I had it so rough... so much happened....”
“…….”
“Still, I live by imagining a future where you wear the older-sister bunny-girl outfit. You'll wear it for me, right? Heh heh... you adorable thing....”
“Uh... ughh....”
As I kept smooching Arbel's warm, squishy cheeks, kiss after kiss,
“Haa....”
I was soon able to regain my composure.
Arbel really is the best for soothing mind and body.
Absolutely top-tier!
I wiped the saliva off Arbel's cheek and sat down.
“Then, shall I sort things out?”
Premium route, run 1.
Because it was linked to the previous clear, it felt absurdly long.
Didn't I almost spend a whole month here without a regression?
I farmed 22 points from the challenge tasks.
My current total is 44 points.
Other than that, I have no titles or achievements, but there's no reason to despair.
Because I got gains that can't be reduced to numbers or stats.
Namely, magical growth.
“Let's see.”
Time to check out my exciting new magic.
I closed my eyes and drew up my mana.
The sensation of sticky mana sizzling through my circuits.
-Fwoooosh!
Black flames wriggled like snakes and shot toward the wall.
“So freaking awesome!!!!”
So cool, like some badass flame attack used by a runaway ninja!
Since it's not real fire, the wallpaper is perfectly fine.
But if it touches a person, the burning-death image I manifested would come to life.
“My, my, I already feel sorry for the victims.”
Next, check whether the engraving can be re-engraved.
“Amaterasu! Gokametsukaku! Fuga! Flame Breathing! Ryuin Yakka! Prominence Burn! Incendio! Explosion!”
I put on a fire show enthusiastically, aimed at the wall of my tiny apartment.
As a result.
After only a few repetitions, the engraving reappeared clearly on my right upper arm.
By feel, it was far more precise and complete than before.
If I keep my image and interpretation intact, as Seres taught.
Putting a new engraving onto the body doesn't seem all that difficult.
“Good, next is Cheongok (天哭).”
Ah, honestly, I was looking forward to this one....
I couldn't reproduce 'Cheongok,' the first-order spell that had been fueled by burning seventeen years of lifespan.
Come to think of it, if you could reproduce that distant realm just by experiencing it once, Cedric wouldn't be Cedric.
Still, having experienced the realm of ascension even once is a huge gain.
Even Mr. Pennywise next door knows how much getting that 'blood' unstuck helps growth.
“I'm satisfied with this much.”
Even this much is already a sufficient haul.
But the most valuable spoils from Run 1 are something else entirely.
High-quality intel.
How to clear the premium route while keeping Arbel alive.
That Jinjo Sion's true identity is fake Jo, and where he is.
That fake Jo and Geumriga are deeply entangled, and for some reason Seres is in on it too.
Iming's fiery brotherly love.
Big Bro Iming's agape, which was a little overshadowed by that love, and even Seres's softer side, who turned out to be far more accommodating than I expected.
I was originally planning to focus on power-ups, but I ended up with a better harvest than expected.
Now I need to sketch out the big picture for Run 2....
“Ah, fuck... my head hurts.”
My strength goes limp. I have no drive.
Maybe I pushed myself too hard. Emotionally, I'm all dried up.
Honestly, I'd like to take this whole run off.
To be honest, me eating and living well on my own for 20 days isn't really a problem.
But of course I can't do that.
“This is when you roll the gacha!”
Cedric's feel-good button!
Joker Random Shop, open!
✧ [Shop Pickup]: Items of R rank or higher, pickup rate ≪200%≫ UP!
Rainbow-bright text greets me at once.
This casino-like screen that sucks your soul dry is driving me crazy!
“Let's go for it after a long while!!!”
-Thunk, thunk, thud-thunk
As I bounced my shoulders to the lively music....
A spinach-colored light appears.
“Damn.”
It's UC rank.
“You said the rates were up! You said it was a pickup!”
Cedric's just gotten super depressed!
I'm already burnt out (literally burnt), so why are you messing with me?
“I'm not doing it. I'm quitting. Fuck. Every time I say I'm quitting, does that sound like a joke to you, huh?”
Suddenly, all the resentment I'd been building up deep inside burst out.
This status window?
It's shitty in more than one way.
In Run 1, it didn't even show its face, making me flail around pointlessly.
It would've been better to just give me infinite regressions, but no, it had to pile on a bunch of death penalties.
At this point it's on par with those rotten used-car salesmen who post fake listings and rip people off.
“And what, a premium route?”
Don't feed me that bullshit!
How the hell is this premium?
“Status window, even if I kill your mother, it's still premium, right? Right?”
“Ha, fuck....”
Still, I couldn't just throw it away, so I opened the box for now.
The result was....
A key with a heart-shaped gemstone handle.
「 Wonderland Rabbit Wardrobe 」
- Rank: UC
- Description: A wardrobe containing every man's fantasy.
- Effect: A bunny-girl costume sized to the designated target.
- Note: Single use.
“…….”
Hmm.
“Enhance.”
「Premium Joker Enhancement Ticket」
- Rank: Event
- Description: Try out the Joker enhancement feature for free!
- Effect: Enhances Jokers of SR rank or lower.
- Note: Disappears when the premium route ends. Remaining uses: '2 uses'.
-Ding!
[ 「Wonderland Rabbit Wardrobe」 is being enhanced ]
「 Wonderland Rabbit Dressing Room 」
- Rank: R
- Description: A dressing room brimming with every man's fantasy.
- Effect: You can choose a bunny-girl costume set that fits the target's size.
- Note: 3 uses remaining. Recharges once per week. Cannot be enhanced.
“…….”
I sank into bitter regret.
Looking back, without the status window I would've ended at Run 1.
If the status window were a heroine, it'd be the undisputed main heroine after all the help it's given me.
“What... exactly have I been doing....”
That thought suddenly occurred to me.
The time spent doubting, calculating, and chasing only sterile efficiency.
Maybe, living in this godforsaken Shit-shit-shitopolis, I've been forgetting something precious?
For today, how about taking a breather and telling that precious someone how you feel?
“Status window, thank you. I love you. I treasure you a lot.”
I kissed the status window and immediately grabbed the key.
“Use!”
A door to who-knows-where appeared in the middle of my apartment.
I twisted the key in the keyhole and hurriedly opened the door.
What greeted me was a huge dressing room attached to some mansion.
“Whoa... whoa... whoa...!!!!!”
Under the soft amber lighting.
Mannequins lined up one after another in luxurious glass display cases.
They were dressed in tens of thousands of bunny-girl costumes, each with a different design, color, material, and concept.
“I found it. My one-piece....”
I really dropped to my knees and bawled for 15 minutes.
2.
The one I picked for Arbel was the most classic bunny-girl set.
A black outfit made of glossy enamel, with smooth corset curves and an artistic high-leg design.
A cute ribboned pair of cuffs and a choker.
A rabbit-ear headband isn't needed.
Because Moon Rabbit mage Arbel can go with natural rabbit ears.
“As expected, natural is best for everything!”
I left without trying it on.
“Am I crazy? Have her try this on right away?”
What completes Bunny-girl Arbel is the awakened Arbel.
“Y-You want to make big sis wear something like this...? Cedric, are you out of your mind?”
“And yet.”
“Because you suffered so much for my sake, I'll wear it just once.”
She'd change clothes all shy and flustered.
“I-Is this enough? D-don't say it looks good...!”
Because that's what completes it, with her reacting all prim and coy.
For that shining future, I could
Die again as many times as it takes.
“There's no time to sit around.”
For now, I stepped outside.
I had roughly worked out my plan in my head.
The strategy for Premium Project, Run 2.
If I summarize the gist in one word.
Bottom-dealing.
To explain it in a little more detail....
It's a strategy to sneak fake Jo out on my own and turn Arbel into a familiar without help from Seres or Iming.
Given my current strength, trying to force my way through this head-on would be suicide.
For one thing, Geumriga is involved, right?
I don't know the details, but Mama Seres is somehow involved too.
But Geumriga basically left fake Jo to his own devices, relying on a single 'perception-disrupting barrier.'
They didn't realize I'd kidnapped fake Jo until he escaped and got caught.
As for the reason, well.
Maybe they never imagined that a runt like me could've smuggled him out.
Or maybe they were just being a little careless.
Or maybe the Geumriga guys are just idiots.
Either way, the follow-up was sloppy.
Then if I deal with it in a flash before the incident snowballs, maybe I can make it work.
...That was the first reason I adopted the bottom-dealing strategy.
So why not tell Seres and Iming?
This gets a little deep.
First, Mama Seres.
Seres seems more attached to me than I expected.
If I don't make a traitor move and instead build a deeper bond, maybe I can rope her in as an accomplice like in Project Z.
But Seres is entangled in this fake-Jo matter much more deeply than Iming is.
Besides, because of the 'penalty,' I can't explain why Arbel needs to be turned into a familiar.
If I can't persuade her, I'd effectively be blowing an entire run.
Then what about Iming-ham?
At first glance, persuading him to help with the grand plan looks like the proper move, but....
“Honestly, it's iffy.”
Convincing him of the need to turn Arbel into a familiar is just as hard as it was with Seres.
Some people may ask this.
Iming definitely risked his life for Rowen in the last run.
So wouldn't he risk his life and help again this time?
On the surface, that sounds plausible, but....
This is a separate issue.
Let's use an example from Iming-ham's point of view.
1) A close younger sibling got into futures trading, racked up a huge debt, and got thrown into Squid Game.
Iming would join the game and risk his life.
What's spilled is spilled, so he'd protect his sibling even if it meant risking his life.
That's the dazzling brotherly love Iming showed in the previous run.
But this time?
2) A close younger sibling quits a perfectly good job, maxes out a credit loan, and asks to do futures trading together. (If it fails, it's Squid Game together, no prize money.)
Would he really go along with that too?
Iming's loyalty was certainly dazzling.
But that loyalty probably isn't the kind that would leap into hellfire with a younger sibling who's throwing logic away and throwing tantrums.
What's more....
This run, we've clearly spent less time together than last time, haven't we?
In the worst case, if things don't work out, forgiveness is easier to ask for than permission.
I'll swipe fake Jo first, and if I hit a wall, it's not too late to ask for cooperation then.
“Big Brother Iming, this unworthy younger brother is desperate too. Please help me once more.”
And so.
-Screeeech!!!
My second visit to the basement.
In the middle of the container sits a bag in a familiar shape.
Seeing the bag brings memories bubbling up.
Memories of being worn out from donating blood every day.
Memories of my back breaking from running errands for Jinjo every morning—bringing bathwater, buying snacks, and everything else.
Memories of scrambling nervously whenever Jinjo lifted even one eyebrow.
But despite my utmost devotion, he still ended up running away from home.
If he was going to run away, he should at least have hidden better, but then he got caught and dragged me down with him.
What truly wonderful memories.
When I opened the bag, Sion was curled up inside a restraint suit, eyes closed.
“Hey, it's been a really long time.”
A smile bloomed on my lips.
“This time, I'll really treat you well.”