I’m Looking for the Male Lead for the Ending - Chapter 39

Chapter 20.2

‘It’s okay. If it’s Diel, he’ll surely release her.’

If there was one thing I realized after dying several times, it was that pleas for sympathy didn’t work with Diel.

To him, there was no distinction between a human life and an insect’s life. The only thing that mattered to him when he decided to do something was whether it was interesting or bothersome. So, in order to save Marie’s life now, it was more important to convey the fact that saving her was less troublesome than killing her than killing her.

I heard a chuckle from Diel, who was looking at me silently, and soon, a system window flashed before my eyes.

[ 〈SYSTEM〉

Diel Marsotis’s favorability increases by 1%.

Diel Marsotis’s current favorability: 15% -〉16% ]

“I felt it last time, too, but Young Lady stimulates my intellectual curiosity.”

“….”

“Especially today’s actions make me think this isn’t the second time we’ve met.”

“….”

“I wonder how I can find out why I feel that way. Since I can’t open my mind, should I open yours?”

His tone was as if saying, ‘If only I could open your head, I would.’ The voice that sounded like he was truly regretful sent shivers down my spine

Marie’s rigid body collapsed to the floor the moment Diel, who was laughing in amusement, snapped his fingers.

Watching her gasp for air and breathe heavily as if struggling to exhale, I clenched my fists. Then, he picked up another cookie and ate it without so much as a glance in Marie’s direction. It was brazen not to even acknowledge the person who had just driven her to the brink of death just moments before.

“I think I’ve done a pretty good job of listening to the Young Lady’s request. Can I hear your answer now?”

“… I’m not sure what answer you were expecting, but we never exchange keepsakes. I simply happened to have picked up the brooch that the Grand Duke had lost and returned it to him.”

“….”

“His Highness expressed his gratitude by gifting me the ornament in return.”

When I looked at him with a questioning expression, wondering if my response sufficed, Diel’s eyes narrowed before a subtle smirk formed at the corner of his lips.

Feeling somewhat uncomfortable, I quickly shook my head.

‘There’s no need to dwell on his reaction. The shorter the conversation with him, the better.’

“Well, if that’s your answer…”

Just as I was about to hastily conclude the conversation with him, everything flashed before my eyes.

[ 〈SYSTEM〉 MISSION!

Estieren Kaisian’s younger sister, Perideline Kaisian, is in danger!
Will you rescue her from the crisis?

[ YES / NO ]

* Peridelin Kaisian’s trust increases in case of success, while a health penalty will be imposed upon failure. ]

I quickly read the window that appeared before me.

Unlike previous missions that were carried out without any penalties, this mission indicated that there would be a penalty to my health if I failed. Based on my experiences so far, this usually meant that the mission could potentially lead to death with just one mistake. In fact, in my second life, when I didn’t fully understand the system, I was killed by kidnappers while trying to save a child in danger.

I stared intently at the window before me. In truth, there was little gain for me since it wasn’t Estieren Kaisian’s favorability but Perideline Kaisian’s trust.

‘She’s likely going to be an ally who would help me when I target Estieren.’

In cases of a mission like this, where the risk of loss outweighed what could be gained, it was right to refuse.

‘Of course, now that I know Perideline is in danger, I should inform the Grand Duchy of Kaisian.’

Ideally, it would be best for me to go myself, but I was currently under probation. Moreover, my father wasn’t on good terms with the Grand Duchy of Kaisian, so I’d be in trouble if I got caught going out. At the thought, I clicked the NO button, thinking that I should first write a handwritten letter to the Grand Duchy of Kaisian to let them know that Perideline was in danger.

At that moment, the window flashed before me again.

[ 〈SYSTEM〉

Missions involving characters from the hidden route cannot be refused. ]

‘…What?’

I was dumbfounded by the system’s attitude, which boldly presented choices but then insisted that another option couldn’t be chosen from the beginning.

As if mocking me, who was unable to even force out a bitter laugh in my frustration, a new window popped up.

[ 〈SYSTEM〉

The mission has been forcibly accepted due to it being non-refusable. Please rescue Perideline Kaisian, who is in danger.
Perideline Kaisian’s current location is the eastern part of Erhel, in the border forest zone.

* Failure to enter the mission location will be considered a failure, and a random penalty will be imposed.

Time limit: Two hours ]

The content of the absurd mission made me grind my teeth.

If I could, I would have thrown this d*mn system into the Elboni River.

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