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Chapter 33
“All done, Evelyn.”
“You can lift your head now, Noona.”
Can I also sneak in a kiss on the back of your hand?
Halloway, who had no idea what was about to happen, smoothed down my disheveled hair.
Cleta, who was watching, raised her hand too, so I smacked it.
“Ouch.”
“You shouldn’t act recklessly if Miss Evelyn dislikes it.”
Moran scolded Cleta sternly and then helped Halloway tidy my hair.
Before pressing button number 1, I glanced at Moran and subtly sidled closer to Halloway.
I can’t risk pressing the wrong button again and ending up licking Cleta’s hand or performing some kind of courtship dance.
That kind of horrific disaster must be avoided at all costs.
[Affection has increased by 2%.]
[Attachment has increased by 1%.]
I was puzzled by the sudden increase in the stats even though I hadn’t done anything, but surprisingly, no one offered an explanation.
Instead, the window flashed as if the time was up, and I quickly pressed number 1 firmly.
[You have selected option 1: ‘Give Halloway a kiss on the back of the hand. Mwah. ((˘❥˘))’]
Just as my body started moving on its own to press my lips to Halloway’s hand…
Tap.
Halloway blocked my forehead right before my lips could make contact.
“What are you doing?”
How am I supposed to say that out loud? It’s embarrassing.
“A… kiss…?”
“Why?”
“Because I want to.”
“Why?”
“Shall I say my heart told me to?”
“Why?”
“……”
If you don’t want me to, just say so. Why are you being so intimidating…?
I subtly let go of Halloway’s hand.
It’s not that I didn’t want to do it. Halloway stopped me.
So, I tried to assert my innocence, but it seemed the system had suddenly gone haywire and was forcing me to perform the selected action.
[If you do not perform the selected action, option 2 will be automatically chosen.]
Why?
What am I supposed to do when Halloway is blocking me?
I was flustered, but the system window floating impassively in the air was indifferent.
…Wouldn’t it be better to just lick Cleta’s hand?
Well, it’s better than dancing.
[If you do not perform the selected action, option 3 will be automatically chosen.]
“Hey!”
That’s not it! It was originally option 2!
I shouted at the empty air and shot up from my seat.
Unfortunately, Cleta was right in front of me, so instead of being surprised, he placed a hand on my forehead.
“Does it hurt?”
“Be quiet.”
“You’re the one who was being the loudest.”
This is no good. I have to plant that kiss somehow.
I firmly grabbed the hand of Halloway, who was just sitting there blankly.
Perhaps reading the intense determination in my eyes, Halloway immediately refused.
“I don’t want to.”
“Let me do it just once.”
If I don’t, I’ll have to dance.
What even is a ‘courtship dance’? I really don’t want to do that.
“What will you do for me if I let you?”
“Anything.”
As long as it’s not dancing.
“Ah, except dying. And don’t ask for one of my body parts. And also…”
“I won’t do anything to hurt you, Noona.”
[Halloway begins happily pondering what to wish for.]
As he said that, he offered me the back of his hand.
For a moment, I wondered if dancing might be better, but I couldn’t subject another person to the sight of my terrible dancing.
If it were just Moran and Halloway, I might have danced…
Wait, then I just need to get him out of here.
Since I’ve already lost all face in front of Moran and Halloway anyway.
I had a feeling that if I kissed Halloway and granted his wish, something unfavorable would happen to me.
I looked at Cleta and pointed to the door.
“Get out.”
Cleta shook his head back and forth with a smile.
“Please step out for a moment. I’m asking you nicely.”
“Hmm, I don’t want to…”
Even when I pushed Cleta towards the door, he didn’t budge an inch.
…Dammit.
“Noona.”
Halloway urged me on.
[5 seconds remaining until the Courtship Dance commences.]
The window flashed, annoyingly.
Dance, or Halloway’s wish…?
I pressed my lips to the back of Halloway’s hand.
Since I’ve already lost all dignity, there’s surely someone who would just tell me to dance instead, right?
But even though I’ve become shameless, I haven’t fallen so low as to dance twice.
“Mwah. ((˘❥˘))”
At my chirpy and rather lewd kiss, Halloway subtly rubbed the back of his hand on his clothes.
My feelings are hurt.
I checked Halloway’s Affection stats.
[Emotional Stats for Halloway, ‘Future Conqueror of This World’!
Affection: 29.5%
Attachment: 28%
Possessiveness: 26.2%]
[※ Unconsciously wants to protect you. His gaze is drawn to you.]
[※ Unconsciously rejects you. It has become difficult to reach above 30%.]
[★★ for Halloway, ‘Future Conqueror of This World’!
Jealousy: 13%
Anxiety Symptoms: 10%
(=Linked Emotion: Possessiveness)]
Huh? That’s pretty high!
The numbers had been fluctuating so much I was losing my mind, but they had risen quite a bit more than I thought.
So, even with a kiss, that’s all I get?
If I raise it just a little more, I might be able to see ‘Our Happy…’ again.
Since it said I could see it when all stats reach over 30%, maybe a different reaction will appear.
But still, did he dislike the kiss that much?
It didn’t even go up by 0.1%. He’s so stingy.
The stats shot up that high, but the kiss itself still isn’t enough? Is that it?
Was he a Confucianist boy all along?
No, that’s not it.
It was only then that I noticed the text written below the system window.
‘It has become difficult to reach above 30%’…?
Unconsciously protecting me while pushing me away… that means this demon is refusing to give his heart to a human.
Ah, it’s getting harder and harder.
This wasn’t the time to be happy that it went up more easily than I thought.
It’s already extremely difficult, but Halloway’s Affection level has essentially entered Hell Mode.
To be blocked right at the 30% threshold…
It’s a shame, but first, I needed to get my weapon back by my side.
“By the way, where’s my flamethrower?”
“Flamethrower? Well… You had something like that too?”
Yes. I had something like that too.
My gun was nowhere to be seen either.
Thinking it might be hidden somewhere in the guest room, I tried to get up, but Moran grabbed me and forced me to sit back down.
“You mustn’t move. I only did first aid. Your shoulder and lower back were so bad I used almost all the potions. Your butt… Ahem, anyway, that area and your arm aren’t fully healed yet.”
Why is Moran blushing when he’s talking about my butt?
“Looking for a potion… Wait, there were potions in this hotel?”
“Yes. There were basic things like potions and first aid kits. It’s fortunate, right? It was also lucky that the previous hotel had an infirmary.”
“Did you go to the infirmary?”
“No. I just happened to find some discarded ones.”
Infirmary…
I’m scared there might be a sick monster there, so let’s avoid it.
“But I need to find my weapon…”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Evelyn, but you were collapsed in the hallway. You didn’t have a flamethrower or a gun when I brought you here.”
“…Huh?”
“I said there was no flamethrower or gun.”
“Huh?”
“……”
“Huh?!”
For a moment, I almost looked directly at Halloway.
To anyone, this was clearly Halloway’s doing. Not just the flamethrower, but the gun was gone too.
No, he took them from me.
After I worked so hard to get them!
[Halloway looks joyfully at you, who is in despair.]
You little bastard, you deserve to be struck by lightning…
The reason I could be confident was because of those weapons.
Are you only satisfied once I’m forced to embark on another epic journey to find weapons?
“My weapons…”
My wide-area skill, capable of incinerating everyone, was gone.
Unable to bear it, I shot up from my spot, but my head spun instantly, and I fell back onto the bed, powerless.
Moran, watching me cautiously, sat beside me and tried to comfort me.
“Miss Evelyn… Don’t be so disheartened.”
“If I don’t have it, the monsters will attack again…”
At the word ‘monsters,’ Moran flinched, and his face turned pale.
It didn’t seem like fear that I would reveal what happened with Halloway, but genuine terror of the monsters themselves.
Cleta looked over at the trembling Moran.
“Moran, are you okay?”
“Ah, yes… It’s just me being scared…”
“Can’t blame you.”
I watched the two of them, who were practically radiating a pink aura, for a moment before flopping back down onto the bed.
The thief who stole my precious weapons was lying right next to me.
I don’t feel like doing anything.
I lost all the weapons I worked so hard to collect. It felt utterly hollow, as if Halloway had kicked over the tower of achievements I’d painstakingly built.
What do I have to do to make that bastard cry?
I’m always the one crying… I want to make him cry buckets too. I want him on his knees be—
Ding!
[The hotel’s difficulty has increased by 1 level.]
[The current danger level of the hotel is ‘You Are Already Dead’.]
[Please observe carefully above, below, left, and right. A moment’s carelessness will lead you to death.]
“…What?”
“Noona, what did you say?”
No, wait, wait!
What is the meaning of this, System?!
I bolted upright from where I was lying.
[The ‘Demon of Temptation’, Suriel, has realized that you are the one who broke his collection.]
That perceptive little bastard…
