Episode 36

If this world truly shared the same setting as my novel, things wouldn’t go as smoothly as a slice-of-life story, since I’ve never written one of those before. Without a precise storyline planned, I didn’t know whether the world would end, someone would die, or anything like that. But the settings were made in such a way that something significant was likely to happen—that’s how stories progressed.

Take Eve, for example. Her turning evil was supposed to cause a major incident that would turn the entire labyrinth city upside down. I planned to prevent that from happening, but the problem was that the possibilities for danger were more than abundant, hidden all over the Pan Continent.

There was the objective of the cult called the One Who Devours the Twilight, the magic tower’s experimental accidents, the corruption of the Workshop Union, the secrets of the labyrinth and the goddess, and so on. This didn’t mean all these events would actually happen—a story hardly ever flows the way the author intends.

I had just scattered ideas that could become obstacles blocking the protagonist’s path no matter how the story unfolded. Obstacles led to growth, and growth to rewards. The protagonist would encounter some of my ideas, overcome them, and ultimately obtain their desires.

However, this process posed a serious threat to those who were not the protagonist, like Ellie. Being a supporter meant getting involved in these significant events. I couldn’t be sure if my conceived events would happen or where the protagonist was, and it didn’t seem Ellie would try to get involved with them while I was here.

But to survive what would happen from now on, I needed some sort of power. Ellie would surely protect me with her nature and ability. However, just being protected wasn’t enough for me, both from the pride of a man left from my past life and the responsibility of being the original author.

Fortunately, now that my conditions to grow stronger had been met, there was no need to hesitate anymore.

“Ellie,” I said, “I know well that you find poor little me adorable.”

“Find poor little you adorable… It’s not like that. I…” she hesitated.

“It’s okay. Whatever the reason, the important thing is that you like me.”

“Jonah…”

“But I don’t want to stay this way. If possible, I want to be on equal grounds with you.”

“Equal grounds?”

“Yes. It means I want to become stronger than you and then… force myself on you.”

“???” Ellie tilted her head, unable to comprehend what she’d just heard.

On my tiptoes, I whispered into her ear, “No matter how guilty you feel or how much of a coward you are backing off when it matters, it won’t matter. Because I will force myself on you. How’s that? Quite convenient for you, isn’t it?”

“Wa-Wait a minute. That’s a bit—”

“Then it’s Miss Lydia,” I interrupted.

“…What?”

“I’m a pinkette with strong sexual desires, just as you said. I might not be satisfied with just you and might reach out to Miss Lydia,” I teased.

“Jonah, are you being serious right now…”

“But you will always be the first. And the place I will always return to is by your side.”

“……”

“I just wanted to tell you that.” After saying that, I distanced myself.

Ellie stood there blankly for a moment before chuckling at my appearance and taking out a magic herb cigarette from her bosom. “…I’m not as patient as you think, Jonah.”

“That’s rather good, isn’t it?” I smirked.

“We’ll see. Let’s see if you can say the same thing when the time comes.”

Ellie flashed a fierce smile, true to her wolf hybrid nature, and took out a lighter to light her cigarette. Now she looked completely normal again… wait, a lighter?

“Ellie. That’s the first time I’ve seen that lighter,” I commented.

“Ah. I recently lost one so I bought a new one. What do you think? Isn’t it cool?” She held it out proudly.

“…….”

I quietly looked at the lighter. It seemed more expensive than her old one. Feeling an unnecessary sense of deprivation, I brought my finger to the end of the cigarette Ellie was biting.

“Weak Flame,” Whoosh! I cast my magic at its maximum output, as if trying to cover the flame of the lighter.

“Whoa?!” Ellie was startled when the tip of the cigarette got completely engulfed in flames instead of just catching on fire. I blew on it as if it were part of the act. “Hoo!”

The transferred fire went out, leaving only the spark I had lit with my magic. Satisfied, I nodded my head. “Then, I’ll be going now.”

“Okay… Wait, but what was that just now…?” Ignoring Ellie’s bewildered voice, I turned not to the outside but to the second floor.

“Are you going up again? Didn’t you say you were going out for some air…?”

“Hmph! I don’t need to do that anymore!” Go get the lighter? As if! I’ll just roll the gacha.

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Ding!

“Kyah! This is the stuff!” I cheered at the two 2-stars—twice my original investment. Nothing immediately helpful, but each one is good to have. “The pawnshop lighter’s service… is now terminated!” Ellie can just use her new lighter! I’ll spend that money on rolling the gacha instead!

After a lively dance, I finally checked the gacha results sprawled out on the bed. Magic herbs and healing herbs were a no-brainer, so I popped them into my mouth right away.

“Mmm yum yum…” The bitter yet refreshing taste of herbs filled my mouth. Medicine wasn’t meant to be enjoyed for flavor.

I continued chewing as I examined the rest—magic herb pills, a lowest-grade healing potion, a low-grade antidote potion, and a fresh wreath.

The magic herb pills looked similar to the elixir I had requested, but nicer—larger, shinier, emitting a cooler fragrance. Anything would be similar or better compared to something made by a cheap apprentice alchemist.

This was just my guess, but items from the gacha tended to be of reasonably good quality. Magic herbs and healing herbs were perfect for bugs to munch on if you weren’t careful, but not the herbs from the gacha.

Well… no matter how well they’re made, they were ultimately the lowest grade of elixirs made from magic herbs. I’d tried one before, so I shouldn’t expect too much and just eat it with the other herbs.

The lowest-grade healing potion and low-grade antidote needed no discussion. I immediately hung them on the corner of my belt. Just emergency medicines, in case.

Now that I had an antidote, I could try eating some poison next time to check if it could be digested with Gluttonous Stomach. If not, I’d just drink the antidote.

Lastly, a pretty wreath that I wasn’t sure what to use for. After pondering, I just hung it on the wall. Normally, I would’ve hung it around Ellie’s neck and teased her… but now was an awkward time for that.

“Alright. Time to sleep,” I declared. Since I had to go back to the labyrinth tomorrow, I needed to start managing my condition. I stuffed all the remaining herbs and pills into my mouth and covered myself with the blanket.

The next morning, after a simple breakfast, I was on my way to Pangrave Square, following Lydia. She cautiously opened her mouth as she watched me.

“Jonah. Did you make up with Senior Ellie? Things seemed okay again when I saw you both for a moment.”

“We didn’t fight in the first place, you know? Just a slight difference of opinion,” I clarified.

“Right. Whatever it was, I’m glad you’re getting along again.” Lydia was visibly relieved.

I smiled slyly at her. “That’s right, Miss Lydia. Didn’t you say it was okay to touch it when Ellie wasn’t around? So, it’s fine now, right?”

“…Not now, later. There are too many people here.” Lydia averted her gaze subtly.

Glaring at her with sharp eyes, I replied, “When is later? When we enter the dungeon?”

“Well…”

“You’ll say it’s too dangerous in the dungeon, so no. When we come out, you’ll say it’s not okay because people are watching, like now. And in the Fairy and Silver Coin, you’ll say it’s not okay because Ellie is watching, right?”

“……” Lydia kept her mouth shut as if she’d been caught.

Even now, her chest swayed rhythmically up and down, left and right, in sync with her steps—truly a sight to behold. So this was how incredible a chest freed from armor could be…

My hand reached out as if hypnotized. Then I quickly came to my senses and naturally brought it to her head instead, twirling a lock of her hair around my finger.

“It’s okay,” I continued nonchalantly. “I don’t know why you’re avoiding me, or if it really is because of Ellie… but I’ve decided not to worry about it anymore.”

“…Really?” With a mix of regret and disappointment, Lydia swept a hand down her chest.

In front of her, I boldly raised my arms, appealing my harmlessness. “Touching might be off-limits, but looking is fine, right?”

“Well, they won’t wear out just from looking, so…”

“Promise me this time!” When I extended my pinky, Lydia hooked it with hers after a moment of hesitation.

I gripped her pinky tightly so she couldn’t escape. “So Miss Lydia will show me her chests whenever and wherever now! Thank you!”

“…I never said that!”

Upupup. It’s already been promised. No take-backsies.