Chapter 18.1

Theodore was a good kid. He wasn’t as good as Curtis, who was dubbed as a genius in everything, but he liked swords and had a crush on Edith that he’d even blush just by greeting her.

Unlike his older brother, who glowed like a well-polished piece of marble even in his puberty, Theodore wore his bangs down as if he was ashamed of the pimples on his round forehead. Edith probably cared for him in her own way.

‘So that’s why I’m feeling like this right now.’

While I watched Theodore’s funeral video, I turned to the sound of people coming from behind.

“What the hell are you up to?”

It was none other than Curtis who approached me with a glare. He glanced at the box in my arms, then swept his hair with a sigh.

“I heard you were getting close to the saint,” he started, “Don’t approach her for nothing.”

I’m close to Jian? This was the first time I’ve ever heard of it.

There wasn’t any benefit from being close to her, and I didn’t want to even if there were. Few people like Edith even if they weren’t artificial intelligence, liked someone who couldn’t work.

However, before I could even deny it, Curtis’ mouth twisted as his eyes saw something in my possession.

“…a portrait of Theodore.”

The lid of the box wasn’t entirely closed, so he must’ve seen the contents. I hid in my arms the portrait of the innocent boy who looked nothing like Curtis.

“Why do you have a portrait of that child?”

Curtis’ suspicious attitude offended me.

“I knew Theodore, so it wouldn’t be strange to keep one.”

The corners of Curtis’ mouth rose sharply at my excuse. A wide smile spread across his face, but it was one that felt colder than the early morning air.

“Who do you think killed the child?”

As I stared at Curtis, who clearly resented me, he added without averting his gaze, “Are you trying to make the saint look like Theodore?”

The human wall that stared back at me was freezing cold. I moved my lips as I stared at his eyes, which were more like a frozen lake than the blue skies.

“What does that mean?”

“I’m asking if you intend to cut an innocent person and use them as you’d please as you drive them to death.”

Did Edith really kill Theodore? It was something that I couldn’t judge based only on videos of the past.

I couldn’t answer Curtis’ accusations as he treated me as a villain, and I only opened my mouth. The system might have noticed my difficulties, and decided to present me with several options.

A. “You still think Theodore died because of me.” (Tears)

B. “Yes, I intend to.” (Stare at Curtis with ferocious eye)

C. “Can you give me the money you said you’d give me last time?” (Politely ask)

D. “Why do you ask?” (Reply calmly)

I wanted to ask for money, but I didn’t think Curtis would even give me in this situation. I chose the answer that was more like a nonchalant woman.

“Why do you ask?” I sighed, carefully pulling Theodore’s portrait out of his hand, “You won’t believe me no matter what I say anyway.”

He didn’t dispute my words, and I walked away after confirming that his karma filled a little more.

* * *

Valérez Toledo.

One of the five target characters in <Experience: Scenes of Life>. According to the guidebook, the target character of <Experience: Extreme Job> was the same as the previous.

The second son of Duke Toledo, who ruled the fertile land of the south, and also the boss of the underworld. His nickname was Ares the slut.

‘I thought it would be easiest to target him because of his nickname, but should I aim at someone else first?’ I wondered.

I rolled my eyes as the thought of Lucas, a slave character who seemed like the next easiest target to be Edith’s true love after Valérez, came to mind.

‘But Lucas needs a lot of money for me to find his character, regardless of the attack…’

It was possible to rent a carriage to Red House with my salary now, but it was impossible to buy slaves through illegal routes.

‘Do I really have to buy Lucas like the main character did because he is a slave?’

An employee of Red House clicked his tongue at me as I pondered unethical ways to sneak into the black market and steal Lucas.