Chapter 17

I was in a hurry to save her, so I made a huge fuss and dragged Leticia away with me. But, the problem was what to do next.

Naturally, the kitchen was quiet and peaceful, so no matter how much one would wipe their eyes, the problem I bugged her about so urgently couldn’t be found anywhere.

In the kitchen, Catarina was relaxedly looking at the condition of the plates, then she looked up and asked, “Oh my, you’re back already?” before she turned back to her task again.

“Hilda. What did you say was wrong in the kitchen.”

“I-It’s, you know.”

“Hm? Tell me. There must have been a reason why you dragged me out of the Young Master’s room and committed such discourtesy to him. Did a mouse scuttle by in the kitchen? Is that it?”

Leticia’s voice gradually got deeper and deeper. I could almost see a dark energy rising from her entire body—it made me wonder if she was actually the real main character of this horror game.

I took several steps back, but I was soon caught by the other maids. I was then sentenced to three days of weed pulling penalty. Actually, I don’t know if I’m fully being penalized because when I went down to pull those weeds, she seemed to have ordered a few other people, saying that more hands were needed for the task.

It was such a relief.

No, wait. What do I mean, relief? Why am I glad?

I was entirely beside myself in agony. Really, if I thought about this simply, these people were all just dots and pixels, even if they died. They held no warmth within them, and they acted only according to their programming.

They’re not actually alive, so even if they ‘die’, they’ll come back alive if only I press ‘New Game’. There was no need for me to be empathetic and save them. I think I’m the only one who won’t come back to life if I die in this game.

Seriously, I can’t believe I saved Leticia so obviously and blatantly like that. Adrian’s eyes towards me… When I think about it now, it’s amazing that I didn’t faint in front of him.

I knew it. I’m sure I got caught. What I did was practically getting a shovel, digging on the ground and tucking myself in my own grave, right?

Was getting out of this game too lofty a goal? It was hard enough just to survive.

“Haa, let’s stop thinking and call it a day.”

The sun shall rise once again. Tomorrow’s me, I’ll leave it to you to deal with Adrian.

I comforted myself as I returned to my room. Then, just as I was about to lie down and rest, the white letters I’d come to love and hate popped up before my severely tired bloodshot eyes.

What, why. What now.

「 The daily rewards have arrived. 」

「 Gold +30G 」

「 The pillow was left unrepaired, and so its durability has been reduced. 」

「 Would you like to visit Anna to have it repaired? 」

Come to think of it, I remember one message about the pillow I punched last night, about its durability or something. No way, I’m not going. I just know this is going to cost me money. Don’t you dare threaten my life’s savings comprised of a staggering 55 gold.

I just stared at the letters, thinking that this game system might have been created after extensively researching how to get me angry and effectively squeeze me dry of my property.

If this pillow would get repaired, I just know that the system’s going to charge me like 100 or 200 gold. Ridiculous, right? I already know. I’ve figured you out, game system.

Without hesitation, I pressed ‘No’ and turned the pillow upside down.

I don’t know if this pillow had once been beige or white, but right now, it looked yellowish and filthy… It’s uncomfortable and shabby that you couldn’t really call it a pillow anymore.

But then, if this pillow’s durability would also run out, will I have to compensate for the damages again? I doubt this thing could even cost 5 gold.

I can pay this much. I’m a working woman who gets paid her wages.

But then, the moment I shook the pillow off with a smile on my lips—

「 Damages have been incurred from lowering the pillow’s durability. 」

「 Gold -5G 」

「 Damages have been incurred from lowering the pillow’s durability. 」

「 Gold -5G 」

「 Damages have been incurred from lowering the pillow’s durability. 」

「 Gold -5G 」

「 Damages have been incurred from lowering the pillow’s durability. 」

「 Gold -5G 」

「 The pillow’s durability has reached zero. Items with zero durability are considered irreparable and thus destroyed. 」

「 Damages have been incurred from the pillow’s destruction. 」

「 Gold -50G 」

「 Your gold is insufficient. The payment has not been processed. 」

Huh… This… What is this…

Even before I finished reading each sentence, I got hit with the message that popped up at the bottom, leaving me dazed. Uh, I just tapped it super lightly, but the durability reached zero like that. Then it got destroyed, and the compensation for damages got taken from me again, and all my money vanished and reached zero… What?

Perhaps to make a show out of reaching zero for its durability, the pillow was now torn here and there with cotton sticking out of it.

“What? Does this even make sense?”

The moment I saw my assets showing a plain and clear ‘0G’, I shrieked. The white letters disappeared like smoke, but the shock that was left with me only increased over time.

That shock turned to despair.

That despair turned to rage and frustration.

“Why the hell are you doing this to me?! It’s already such a bullshit situation that I got sucked into the game, but nothing’s going right for me the entire time I’m here! What kind of game is this! Why are you doing this to me!”

t/n: i’ve also recently added some images to chapters 0, 4 and 12~

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