[You are an idiot...]
"Why?" I asked, feigning innocence.
[Why?! WHY?! You’re actually asking that?] the system raged.
"...Uh, yes?" I replied casually. It was the fourth day of the exam, and here I was, in a completely run-down five-bedroom apartnt, cooking.
Yes. Cooking.
[Others are out there grinding to level up, but you, you’re COOKING!]
This had been going on for three days straight. The system’s constant nagging made wish it ca with a mute function, and honestly, I was starting to suspect it was only upset because I wasn’t suffering.
"Shut up and keep watch. I don’t want to die while I’m eating," I said, scooping a plateful of the questionable thing I’d thrown together. Leftover noodles, so weird onion-like vegetable that I hoped wasn’t poisonous, and a handful of random green leaves that looked like they could go either way.
"Ugh, this is disgusting," I gagged after the first bite.
Haah. Looks like I’m officially out of food.
[Tsk. If only you’d added those mushrooms.]
"And what would’ve happened then?"
[You’d die.] The system said it like it was nothing.
"...And then?"
[You’d respawn. Without any points.]
"And how exactly does that benefit you?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
[...]
"...Is that why you sound disappointed?"
[...]
Yep. Why am I even surprised anymore?
Suddenly, BAM!
"WHAT WAS THAT?" I jumped at the loud thumping coming from the roof.
[It seems your teammates have decided to pay you a visit,] the system said, sounding almost cheerful about it.
"You’re kidding, right?" I laughed nervously, hoping it was joking.
No response.
"CRAP! How the hell did they find ?!" I shot to my feet, my mind racing through every possible way out of this.
[You keep forgetting. You’re their teammate.]
"But that—"
[In a party.]
I froze. The realization hit all at once.
This was the first ssage the graphto-watch had shown when the party was created:
[A Party Has Been Ford.] [Party mbers: Loren Mortez, Maria Kasmia.] [You can check your party mbers’ location and status during battle.]
’Damn. How did I forget that?’ But wait, if they could track my location, I could do the sa to them.
I tapped the now-dormant watch and its neon glow returned as it powered on, several options appearing on the ho screen. I could only access limited functions during the exam, but I knew exactly what I needed.
[User’s Available Points] [Guide/Manual] [Weapon/Tool Selection] [Map] [Team mbers’ Status]
I hesitated for a second, tempted to check the map first, but tapped [Team mbers’ Status] instead to see how far they’d gotten.
[Party mbers: Loren Mortez: 2,400 points. Maria Kasmia: 84,000 points.]
"Wait, is that a mistake, or...?" I muttered, feeling the color drain from my face.
[It’s exactly what it looks like. And yes, you are screwed.]
WAIT!
I scread internally, knowing full well the bastard system would go silent for the rest of the exam.
BAM!
This ti the sound ca from the floor directly above .
"Leo~ Where are you?" a voice called out.
’I’m screwed. I’m so screwed.’
Without thinking, I bolted straight for the broken window I’d covered with torn rags and didn’t stop, I just jumped through it.
Thud!
I hit the ground hard and collapsed, pain shooting through . Lucky it was only the first floor. I ignored the burning in my shoulder, scrambled to my feet, and sprinted down the alley toward the open road.
It was a reckless move, but I wasn’t thinking straight. I just knew I needed to stay away from Maria, no matter what.
"Ha, hah, haa," I panted, leaning against a wall and catching my breath. I tapped the map option on my graphto-watch and the screen lit up, showing the imdiate area in detail.
But it wasn’t a full map of the city or the surrounding forest. It was just my location and two colored dots.
Red. Blue.
The problem? They were right in front of .
"Boom!"
My heart nearly stopped.
I looked up, and my blood ran cold.
"What do you want from , Maria?" I asked, keeping my voice as steady as I could. Loren stood behind her, pale and trembling, looking like soone who’d been through sothing he couldn’t quite recover from.
"You know, at first I wanted to torture you for going against my orders," Maria said, smiling. It was the first ti I’d ever seen her smile, and it wasn’t a comfortable thing to look at. "But then I realized you didn’t completely disobey . You’ve earned enough points for all of us to pass."
If I wasn’t so terrified, I might’ve noticed she was beautiful. But right now all I cared about was staying in one piece.
"So what do you want?" I asked, holding her gaze.
She smiled again and reached out to touch my cheek, but I slapped her hand away.
"When did you get so handso?" she asked, a faint blush crossing her face.
’I regret every decision that led here.’ Being too good-looking really is a curse.
"Co with us," she said, composing herself.
"No," I replied flatly. It was the only answer I had.
Her smile faltered. Loren quietly took a step back.
’What did she do to him?’
"I work alone. I don’t like being told what to do," I added, keeping my voice even.
But Maria smiled again, and this ti it was a different kind of smile entirely.
"Oh, but you don’t have a choice. When I say you do sothing, you do it."
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