Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Coin Mine
“…You mean the pan…”
Even I trailed off, completely stunned.
“Pardon?”
A girl. And asking for her underwear.
Hah.
No, no. I need to stay calm here.
“Your underwear. I need it.”
What the hell am I even saying?!
Even I wanted to bite my tongue off after that.
No matter how absurd this third-rate game-like world was, there were limits to nonsense like this.
I forced my shaking eyes to steady and put on a solemn expression like some holy priest.
“...Excuse me?”
Ria’s brows twisted.
Of course she didn’t understand.
Even I didn’t understand.
One moment I was talking about saving the world, breaking engagements, surviving apocalypse flags… and the next I was demanding her underwear.
Her hand instinctively moved toward the dagger at her waist.
She was already categorizing me as either a pervert or a lunatic.
“Wait! You still don’t trust me?”
I quickly shoved another piece of chocolate into her mouth.
Her hostility softened instantly.
Now or never.
I hardened my face like steel.
If I wanted to survive the next day’s academy entrance and avoid getting my head cut off by the hero’s holy sword, I needed coins.
And the system was clear.
Her underwear equals 25 coins each.
Up to 10 per heroine.
That’s 250 coins from just one person.
Enough to survive.
“…It’s not just underwear.”
I stepped closer.
“You’re special, Ria.”
“…?”
“You are one of those destined to change the fate of this world. Your body and mana carry rare resonance. Your personal items become catalysts for my alchemy.”
It was pure nonsense.
But confidence was everything.
“If I lie, I will abandon my title and become your servant for life. That’s how serious I am.”
Her pupils trembled.
Hooked.
“I… I’ll go fetch clean sets immediately…”
“Wait.”
Before she could leave, I grabbed her wrist.
Warm.
Soft.
Why did I do that?
Or maybe this world was just corrupting me.
“Listen carefully.”
“…Yes?”
“I need the one you’re currently wearing.”
Silence.
Her face turned bright red.
Yeah. Of course it did.
“I need the freshest possible ‘mana sample’. This is to prevent the world’s destruction.”
A perfect lie.
Even I would believe it if I didn’t know myself.
She hesitated.
Then—
Slowly.
Carefully.
She nodded.
“…Understood, my lord.”
My lord now, huh.
A moment later, I turned away with a straight face, internally screaming.
Success.
The first “coin harvest” was complete.
One hour later
My desk was piled with various garments collected from the mansion.
“…I’ve become something really questionable…”
I sighed deeply.
But survival comes first.
I began sorting through them.
Most were useless.
But then—
A soft pink silk item.
The system flashed instantly.
[Confirmed: Virgin heroine “Sylvia von Valderk”]
[Reward: 25 coins]
“…Huh?”
Sylvia?
That name didn’t exist in the original story.
“Ria. Who owns this pink one?”
Ria froze.
“T-That belongs to… your younger half-sister, Lady Sylvia von Valderk…”
“…What?”
Half-sister?
I stared blankly at it.
She’s supposed to despise the main character… but she’s also flagged as a heroine?
And a virgin heroine at that?
Of course.
Of course the system is like this.
If they’re not “qualified,” they don’t even count.
“So she’s a heroine too…”
My lips curled slightly.
Another coin mine.
Another target.
If I can turn even her favor around…
This mansion alone becomes a gold mine.
“Ria.”
“Yes, my lord!”
“Secure Sylvia’s item as well.”
“W-What?! She’s your sister!”
“It’s for saving the world.”
Silence.
And she accepted it.
Of course she did.
Morning came.
It was time for academy entrance.
And for the hero.
And for survival.