In a dark room with blackout curtains drawn.

Hezen hadn’t stepped out of the bedroom since last night, staying cooped up without changing clothes, biting his nails while lying on the bed in his crumpled shirt, eyes wide open.

The system window, which had disappeared for a while, thankfully restored itself not long after.

However, during that brief period when the system window was gone, Hezen was terrified.

Ever since he started this game, he had always been the protagonist of this world.

All systems in the game revolved around him, making him fearless.

But not last night.

Hezen couldn’t help but keep thinking about how he had fled in panic from Anselot, who had threatened him, and the look of disdain Louibel must have had for him.

Yet, he had no choice but to run away from the chilling aura Anselot exuded.

Without the system window, he was just an ordinary person, utterly normal with nothing special to do.

Just like in reality.

“This damn trash game!”

Hezen shouted at the void.

He desperately wanted to get out of this game.

But no matter how furiously he pressed the [End Game] button, with his eyes bloodshot,

[SYSTEM] It is not possible to end the game during the progression of a scenario. Please complete the scenario.

That damn message was all that appeared!

“Damn it, damn it, damn it!!!”

The [End Game] button, turned grey, showed no sign of becoming active again.

Hezen, in a fit of anger, kicked at the system window just like Anselot had done yesterday.

“Ouch!”

But he ended up rolling around in agony, clutching his painful foot.

Despite his hard kick, the system window remained undamaged, twinkling above his head.

“Damn it! Even this system window…!”

He was so angry at everything, feeling almost insane to get out of this game.

Hezen was out of his mind with unfamiliar irritation, anger, and fear.

And then there was that quest!

With bloodshot eyes, Hezen glared at the quest window floating in the air.

[Main Quest: Lover’s Death]

Achieve awakening through the death of your beloved ! However, the lover’s death must occur in a crowded place. Let everyone witness the birth of a new hero!

▷Clear Conditions: Lover’s death, at least 100 people in the crowd

▶Success Reward: Awakening

▶Failure Penalty: Bad Ending

He wasn’t sure what a Bad Ending entailed, but it was definitely something undesirable.

Maybe something like a eunuch ending…

“But it’s uncertain whether seeing the Bad Ending would allow me to leave this game…”

He might end up a eunuch forever in this game, just experiencing the Bad Ending.

The system window said he had to ‘complete the scenario’ to end the game.

Hezen looked down at the secondary quest window that was floating along.

[Side Quest: Prevent the Breakup! (2)]

The emperor is doubting your fertility. Increase ‘s affection to over 500 before the emperor’s physician arrives to examine you, and make her retract her statement.

▶Success Reward: ’s Advocacy, Honor +500

▶Failure Penalty: Emperor’s Wrath, Breakup

‘If I get a breakup, the main quest will also fail.’

But raising Louibel’s affection seemed far-fetched. It was because of that guy who was always by Louibel’s side.

That crazy prince from Luenhart!

He seemed to be playing some strange game. It was evident from the message about a bug, and the sudden disappearance of the system window…

That’s when it happened.

“Hezen, sir. You have a visitor.”
With the sound of a knock, a servant of the mansion informed from outside the door that a guest had arrived.

“A guest…?”

Hezen furrowed his brows in response.

“Prince Orent from the royal palace…!”

“…….”

Hezen’s face sank immediately.

He and the Second Prince Orent were not exactly on good terms.

Though a rivalry had developed between them when common-born Hezen faced him in a martial arts tournament, Hezen secretly looked down upon Orent, thinking how could someone like Orent, whose only merit was his noble birth, compete with him, the protagonist of the game?

Therefore, Hezen often underestimated Orent, and Orent, in turn, frequently showed disdain for Hezen’s common origins.

“Have him wait in the reception room for now.”

Despite the unwelcome visit, Hezen couldn’t ignore a prince, so he roughly tidied up his clothes and headed out.

The unplanned visit meant his appearance was not as neat as it should have been for receiving a guest.

As he left his room and headed to the reception room, Hezen wondered why this prince had brought so many people; the mansion was crowded with Orent’s entourage.

Passing by Orent’s knights lined up in the hallway, Hezen reached the reception room, where even Orent’s aide stood up in waiting.

‘Anyone would think he’s the emperor.’

Hezen sneered inwardly, feeling irritated.

“Greetings, Sir Hezen.”

Orent’s aide, Cedric, politely greeted Hezen, who responded arrogantly with a slight nod and entered the room.

Prince Orent, sitting at the table, waved his hand upon seeing Hezen.

“Hello, Sir Hezen.”