Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: New Beginning (2)
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#018_New Beginning(2)
#052
1.
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『 EP5. Reset Button 』
In the end, you chose death for yourself.
Death is the most certain defeat….
But it might be different for you.
[Round Settlement]
▶ Achievements Obtained: None
▶ Titles Obtained: None
▶ Challenges: +22 pt
※ Death penalty exempted due to disclaimer clause. ※
Remaining disclaimer clauses: 2.
-Choice: 2. Kill Arbel Montraven.
Premium Route continues.
From the end of arrogance and folly, may you reach transcendence.
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2.
Intermission Quiz Corner!
Which death is the most painful?
The answer is Burning Death.
No refutations accepted.
Wow, I thought I'd gotten used to just about everything, but nope.
After diving headfirst into the depths of "death."
Even after returning to the save point, it took a while to pull myself together.
"Fuck… fuck… fuck… fuckfuck."
It was for strengthening Death Verdict, but roasting Cedric like that is something I never want to do again.
It hurt so much I clenched my teeth, and the sound of my molars cracking still rings in my ears.
"Uwaaaah!!!"
I rushed over to Arbel.
I hugged the squeaky doll Arbel and wailed and whined for an hour straight.
"Arbel… I had it so rough… So many things happened…."
"……."
"But I'll survive imagining you in a bunny girl outfit, sis. You'll wear it for me, right? Heh heh… So cute…."
"U… uu…."
As I planted wet kisses all over her warm, soft cheeks.
"Phew…."
I finally regained my composure.
Arbel is the best for mental and emotional stability.
Proven performance!
I wiped the saliva off Arbel's cheeks and sat down.
"Alright, let's sort this out."
Premium Route, Round 1.
Connected to the previous round's clear, so it felt like the longest ever.
Almost a full month without regression, right?
Farmed 22 points from challenges.
Current points: 44.
No titles or achievements otherwise, but no need to feel down.
I've got gains that can't be quantified by numbers.
Magical growth.
"Let's see."
Time to check the new spells, heart pounding.
I closed my eyes and drew up my mana.
The sticky mana tingling through my circuits.
-Roooar!
Black flames writhed like snakes and shot toward the wall.
"Fucking yeeesss!!!!"
Cool as a ninja's escaping fireball!
Not real flames, so the wallpaper's fine.
But if it hit a person, the Burning Death imagery I've envisioned would manifest.
"Heh, already feeling sorry for the victims?"
Next, check if the engravings re-engrave.
"Amaterasu! Lux Extinctus! Fuga! Breath of Flame! Ryu In Yakwa! Prominence Burn! Incendio! Explosion!"
I put on a fire show blasting toward my studio apartment wall.
The result.
Didn't even need repeats—the engraving on my right upper arm reappeared crystal clear.
Felt way more refined and complete than before.
If I maintain my imagery and interpretation as Ceres taught.
Engraving new ones on my body doesn't seem that hard.
"Good. Next up, Celestial Lament."
Ah, I was kinda hoping for this one….
The 1st Rank spell "Celestial Lament," which burned 17 years of lifespan, couldn't be manifested.
Makes sense. If I could replicate that lofty realm after one taste, Cedric wouldn't be Cedric.
But experiencing an elevated realm even once is a huge gain.
Just how much "opening the meridians" helps growth—Pennywise from next door knows it too.
"Satisfied with this much."
Plenty of harvest already.
But Round 1's most valuable spoil is something else.
Quality intel.
How to clear the Premium Route while saving Arbel.
True Ancestor Sion's real identity as a fake ancestor and her location.
The fake ancestor and Golden Carp Clan are deeply entangled, and for some reason, Ceres is in on it too.
Eiming's burning brotherly love.
Even Ceres's unexpectedly soft side, giving more leeway than I'd thought, slightly veiled by Eiming's agape.
Planned to focus on spec-ups, but scored beyond expectations.
Now to map out Round 2's big picture with this….
"Ah, fuck… My head hurts."
Body goes limp. No motivation.
Ran too hard, I guess. Emotionally parched.
Would love to slack this whole round.
Honestly, living solo well for 20 days is no issue.
But obviously can't.
"Time for gacha!"
Cedric's mood booster button!
Joker Random Shop open!
✧ [Shop Pickup]: Items R grade or higher, pickup rate ≪200%≫ UP!
Rainbow-flashed text greets me right away.
This casino screen that steals souls drives me wild!
"Been a while—let's go!!!"
-Thud thud thud thud
Bopping my shoulders to the upbeat music….
Spinach-green light appears.
"Mommy."
UC grade.
"Probability up! Pickup!"
Cedric's super depressed now!
Already burned out (real burnout), and now it's toying with me?
"I'm done. Quitting for real. Fuck. I say it every time, so it sounds like a joke?"
Suddenly, pent-up rage from deep inside surges up.
This status window?
Has more shitty traits than I can count.
Round 1, it didn't show its face, making me flail uselessly.
Could've just let infinite regressions roll generously, but no—stacked death penalties thick.
Might as well be those scammy used car dealers hawking lemons.
"And what? Premium Route?"
Don't make me laugh!
How is this premium anywhere?
"Status window, even if I killed your mom, it'd still be premium, right? Yeah?"
Ha, fuck….
Still can't ditch it, so I opened the box.
Result….
A key with a heart-shaped gem handle.
「 Rabbit Wardrobe from Wonderland 」
- Grade: UC
- Description: Wardrobe containing a man's dreams.
- Effect: Obtains a bunny girl costume fitted to the designated target's size.
- Note: One-time use.
"……."
Hm.
"Enhance."
「Premium Joker Enhancement Ticket」
- Grade: Event
- Description: Try the Joker enhancement feature for free!
- Effect: Enhances Jokers SR grade or lower.
- Note: Vanishes at Premium Route end. Remaining uses: '2'.
-Ding!
[ 「Rabbit Wardrobe from Wonderland」 is enhanced ]
「 Rabbit Dressing Room from Wonderland 」
- Grade: R
- Description: Dressing room packed with a man's dreams.
- Effect: Choose a bunny girl costume set fitted to the target's size.
- Note: Remaining uses: 3. Recharges 1 per week. Cannot be enhanced further.
"……."
I sank into bitter regret.
Looking back, without the status window, I'd have ended at Round 1.
If it were a heroine, it'd be my steadfast main wife for all the help.
"What… the hell was I doing…."
A thought strikes me.
All that time suspecting, calculating, chasing dry efficiency.
Living in this fucked-up polis, did I forget what's precious?
How about taking a breather today and sharing my heart with someone dear?
"Status window, thanks. Love you. I'll cherish you lots."
I blew kisses to the status window and gripped the key.
"Use!"
A door appeared in the middle of my studio apartment.
I twisted the key in the lock and flung it open.
A massive dressing room from some grand mansion welcomed me.
"Whoa… whoa… whoa…!!!!!"
Under soft amber lighting.
Mannequins lined up in elegant glass cases.
Thousands, tens of thousands of bunny girl costumes in different designs, colors, materials, concepts.
"Found it. My one-piece…."
I legit knelt and sobbed for 15 minutes.
2.
I picked the classic bunny girl set for Arbel.
Sleek corset curves and high-leg design in artistic enamel black suit.
Cute ribboned cuffs and choker.
No need for bunny ear headband.
Moon rabbit mage Arbel can do real ones.
"Natural is always best!"
Didn't dress her up—just headed out.
Crazy? Try it on her right away?
Bunny girl Arbel's perfection comes from awakened Arbel.
'T-trying to make sis wear this…? Cedric, you out of your mind?'
While saying that.
'F-for all the hardship because of you, just once.'
Shyly changing, all bashful.
'Th-this satisfy you? D-don't say it suits me…!'
That's the tsundere reaction that completes it.
For that shining future, I'd die over and over.
"No time to slack."
Stepped outside.
Roughly planned ahead in my head.
Premium Project Round 2.
In one word: sleight of hand.
More detail….
Strategy to snatch the fake ancestor solo—without Ceres or Eiming's help—and make Arbel a familiar.
From last round's watch, charging her head-on at my level is suicide.
Golden Carp Clan's involved, right?
Ceres the hag's got some stake somehow.
But Golden Carp trusted their "perception hindrance barrier" alone and left the fake ancestor be.
Didn't notice I'd kidnapped her until she escaped and got caught.
Reasons whatever.
Never imagined trash like me pulling it off.
Or they got complacent.
Or maybe Golden Carp are just idiots.
Anyway, their follow-up was sloppy.
Handle it quick and quiet before it escalates—might work?
…That's reason one for sleight of hand.
Why not tell Ceres or Eiming?
Gets deeper.
First, Ceres the hag.
Seems she feels more attachment to me than expected.
Build deeper bonds without betrayal moves, maybe rope her in as accomplice like last Project Z.
But she's way deeper in with this fake ancestor than Eiming Ham.
Plus, can't explain why I must familiarize Arbel due to "penalty."
Fail to convince? Basically wastes a round.
Then Eiming Ham?
Looks like convincing him for the grand cause is the straight play….
"Honestly, iffy."
Just as hard to justify Arbel familiarizing as with Ceres.
Some might ask.
Eiming risked life for Rowen last round.
Won't he do the same now?
Seems plausible….
But separate matters.
From Eiming Ham's view.
1) Close bro racks up massive debt gifting and joins Squid Game.
Eiming joins, risks life.
Water's spilled—protects bro at all costs.
That's last round's dazzling brotherly love.
But this round?
2) Close bro quits fine job, maxes credit loans, says let's trade gifts together. (Fail means Squid Game together, no prize)
Would he?
Eiming's loyalty shone.
But not blind loyalty to dive into hell with a stubbornly reckless bro.
Plus….
This round's shared time is clearly less than last?
Worst case, easier to beg forgiveness than permission.
Snatch fake ancestor first; request backup if stuck later—not too late.
"Eiming hyung, this worthless bro's desperate too. Help once more."
Thus.
-Screeech!!!
Second visit: the basement.
Familiar bag in the container's center.
Seeing it floods memories.
Daily blood offerings, wheezing away.
Mornings bathing her, fetching snacks, back breaking serving True Ancestor.
Panicking at a single raised eyebrow.
But my utmost devotion failed; she ran away.
Should've hidden well, but got caught—dragging me into the mess.
Great memories.
Opened the bag: Sion huddled in restraints, eyes closed.
"Man, it's been forever."
Smile spreads across my face.
"This round, I'll treat you real good."