Chapter 114 The Big Reveal

Chapter 114 The Big Reveal

'I-Is that really Rey...?'

Alicia's stunned expression as she stared at the aggressive scowl on Rey's face was downright obvious.

She couldn't hide it anymore.

"GET UP! DON'T TRY TO PLAY THE VICTIM ANYMO—!"

"That's enough!" Alicia yelled out, a glare now imprinted deep into her face.

"A-ah, Alicia, don't mind me. I'm just telling this—"

"Save it. I don't want to hear anything from you..." Alicia raised her hand and walked past Rey, completely ignoring his lame excuse for a reason.

She walked towards the waitress and knelt beside her, holding two of her trembling hands.

"It's fine, don't worry. I'm not mad at you."

The lady seemed immensely surprised by Alicia's kindness, and even Rey appeared stunned from behind her.

Alicia no longer had any business with him, though.

"Please stand up."

She helped the waitress up, and after they both rose to their feet, she nodded and smiled even more broadly.

"You made a mistake. It happens. Maybe take the rest of the day off."

Since this lady wasn't feeling too well, and she was probably inexperienced in her job, it was best to rest.

"A-ah. No, I c-couldn't..."

Alicia instantly understood why.

'How could I have been so stupid? She's probably working like this because she has no choice in the matter.'

Life wasn't all rainbow and sunshine for everyone in the city—even in a place like the Capital.

A lot of people were struggling, and since the laws outlawed begging, many couldn't turn to that for survival.

"I understand..." Alicia smiled as she grabbed the woman's two hands and slipped something inside.

It was a Gold Coin—the one she didn't get to spend during the first Excursion.

She drew closer to the waitress, practically embracing her, and whispered words into her ears. The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

"Use this to take care of yourself and your family well. You can quit this job and start something you really want to do."

A Gold Coin was powerful in this world. Alicia knew full well the value it had, and she knew the waitress—a native of this world—understood as well.

Alicia could feel the lady tremble, and she thought she saw tears as well.

"Just go. Okay? Don't make a fuss about it."

The lady nodded and Alicia took a few steps back before nodding at her with a look of support.

'Whatever venture you want to start... I wish you good luck!'

Alici watched as the lady went away, entering the same staff-only place where she got their juice from.

Perhaps she was going to tender her resignation and leave for a better life.

'But this is just... bad.'

Alicia didn't think it was fair to compare a local juice shop to the stuff she had the privilege to drink in the Royal Palace.

However, even by normal standards, what she was drinking didn't feel like a good drink.

It was nowhere near the best.

She struggled to down a few more gulps out of respect for the waitress, but after that, she was done.

Any more, and she would feel sick.

"I think I'm do...ne..." As Alicia jumped to her feet, a sudden wave of nausea hit her.

She felt something hot rising within her stomach, and everything around her suddenly started to get blurry.

"W-wha...?" Her eyes spotted Rey, who was still seated in his chair.

"R-Rey... what is... what's happening to... m-mee...?"

As she fell her body collapse, a pair of strong arms grabbed her.

They felt strong and rough—not the kind that Rey would have.

"It didn't have to be this way..."

The voice that whispered into her ears felt oddly familiar, but because of the faint echo that rang in her ears, she could quite place it.

All Alicia knew was that she hated the sound.

"... But this is all for the best."

After she heard all that, she fell unconscious, completely disconnected from reality.

... And the dark reality that awaited.

**********

"Haaa..."

A teenage boy traded his fingers through his dark dark brown hair as he held his beloved with a single hand.

His muscular physique made it obvious that he was a strong warrior, but his obsessive blue eyes were tainted—unbefitting of a noble knight.

As he hungrily eyed the unconscious girl in his arm, the same way a starving predator would its prey, he smiled widely.

"You're finally going to be mine... Alicia."

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[A/N]

Thanks for reading.

[Please be patient and keep going...]

Billy has issues, but it looks like he's Leveling Up in his own way.