Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.24 – No Excuses in My Life (1)
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- Isn't this female character just too pitiful?
A remark from one of the female planners during a meeting with the planning team.
However, for them, as long as it was fun and commercially viable, they didn't have much in the way of empathy. Instead, plenty of people shot back.
Far from criticizing, the developers were simply satisfied with the depth of the character's narrative. The female planner wore a look of disgust.
She'd retorted seeking some empathy, only to get responses like that...
"That's why they can't get married," she muttered, drawing ire from the male planners—a minor incident.
Amid all this, the only one who agreed with the female planner was him.
Of course, he didn't make the mistake of showing it outwardly.
He was passive back then, just as he was now. Communicating with others was hard for him.
Instead, he merely glanced over the settings for one female character, concisely noted in the character docs.
...Part 1 was mostly about despair and trials.
It could be seen as a gripping "narrative" that any [hero character] might have.
Part 2 was about sending even greater hardships and trials to the hero who overcame previous ones, filling in the masterpiece elements to complete her as a hero.
As a result, users would immerse themselves, curious about her future path.
......Part 3 focused more on the birth of a great figure than a mere hero.
It was the completion of a hero character, and users would desperately strive to save her somehow. They'd invest dozens of hours hunting Easter eggs for it.
The 'Levi Joan of Arc' character would surely draw tons of user interest and affection.
Like a flatfish character—frustrating, but if you could save her, it'd be an 'achievement' for players.
Thus, this hero character was truly well-crafted.
A game streamer playing it flavorfully (for promo) could blow up with good algorithms—a jackpot character.
From the company's view, there was no better.
......Surely that's how it was.
- ...She's pitiful. So tragic.
Lives a life full of misfortune and trials without reprieve, only recognized after death.
What to call this? Even skimming modern history shows similar cases, evoking empathy and concern.
So he sighed and shook his head.
Game companies, man.
- They sure know how to make money.
That's how he gets his paycheck, after all.
A wry smile with his soliloquy.
"-Th-that's all I know. There might've been more details, but I didn't dig that deep..."
"......"
"Hoo, sorry. I don't know any solutions after all."
Derek talked a lot, but offered no real ideas for solutions.
On the contrary, it might just leave the listener annoyed or sighing.
'Ah, I should've looked into it more.'
Now that it mattered, regret hit hard.
He'd only been involved in planning; the rest of the settings and Easter eggs were beyond him. No hints on saving the girl or detailed info.
Derek found himself frustrating.
Unable to help when it counted.
As he apologized...
"No, that's enough."
He suddenly expressed gratitude.
"Y-yes...?"
"Thanks. Makes my decision a lot easier."
"......?"
He wore a relieved expression, even smiling.
As if a question had been answered.
......Where?
Derek blinked at him, but instead of clarifying, he said:
"Shall we get going?"
"...Where to?"
"Hm?"
Derek couldn't help asking, seeing him loosen up with a refreshed face.
Felt like he had to ask now...
And sure enough, he replied:
"Nothing much. Just gonna pick a fight."
"Pardon?"
"That's all you need to know. Oh, and sorry—can you deliver my resignation to the dean for me? Won't end with just a resignation for the guy I'm picking a fight with."
"...Ah."
Derek belatedly caught on, eyes widening.
No way—
"I-instructor—...sir?"
By the time Derek called out...
Whoosh.
He was already striding far away.
As if hesitation wasn't in his vocabulary.
Instead of heading home, he veered off course.
Destination set. No more hesitation— no time to even stop by home.
However.
He halted.
"...?"
"Ah, Sir Knight...!"
A maid dozing against a tree near his path greeted him brightly.
As if she'd known he'd come.
She rubbed her tired eyes and stood.
"Hehe, good thing our paths didn't cross wrong."
"Why are you here?"
"Don't worry about Miss Levi. She fell right asleep after I sang her a lullaby."
"That's not the issue..., but you're not using headbutts as lullabies, right?"
"Huh?"
"......Just kidding. But how did you—"
"-Here!"
"......?"
Did she know he'd come here?
Before he could ask, Leira cut in, handing over his gear.
Bzzz.
Shiny gear—armor and sword freshly polished, plus one-handed shield, hand axe, etc.
His usual loadout.
Lee Han stood frozen, not even thinking to take it, so Leira mimicked someone with a stern face.
"The Princess said! 'My sworn brother is simple-minded. No matter how tangled and valuable the knot—like a treasure—he'll chop it with an axe if it needs untying.'"
"......"
"And 'As my sworn brother's sister, he won't be satisfied with just scolding trash if he causes trouble. If he's hitting, he'll shake the whole kingdom. Otherwise, he ain't my sworn brother!' She told me to pass that on!"
"......Damn stalker. What the..."
She saw right through him?
He'd just caused trouble today, and she predicted this far...
That sister was scarier than an Aura User sometimes.
'Can she read fortunes or something?'
What is he, some fantasy prophet...
Even a real prophet couldn't do this, he thought, scratching his head.
He'd planned to go secretly, but now it was all out—embarrassing, kinda anticlimactic.
Awkward and hollow.
......Still.
"Thank you, Miss Maid. I'll put it to good use."
"Hehe, go carefully."
"...Yeah."
Knowing someone was waiting made his heart feel solid. Unavoidable.
So he promised.
"Won't take long."
"Yes!"
To return quickly, so she wouldn't wait too long.
And Lee Han had never broken a promise to her, not once.
—Nor did he intend to in the future.