The Legendary Programming Mage

The air inside the deeper parts of the F segment was thick with the smell of death and something else, something I couldn't quite place, like wet rot and old grief.

My boots scraped on the ground as both Sylvia and I moved further into the VR rift.

"If I hadn't gone into the pod, I'd have sworn this was a real rift."

Sylvia was right.

The cold, chilling breeze coming from the deepest parts of the cave brushed past my skin, making it tingle.

Plus the corrosive smell intensified as we moved deeper.

"Want to rest?"

Sylvia didn't react for a few seconds before nodding. "Yeah, we aren't rushing anywhere."

The two of us sat next to the cave wall.

An awkward silence hung between us for a full minute.

'Is she coming up with another scheme.'

It seemed to be the case.

However, her next words soon broke my thoughts.

"Hey, Allen..."

Looking up to meet her eyes, she continued, "I know I've asked this many times before, but who do you love the most?"

Why was she always asking me this?

It definitely wasn't so she would kill the competitors, right?

Well, if I remove Quincy I don't think there is much of a competition.

But...

"You won't know."

The one I, Allen Park, loved the most was my boss.

Even if she was technically dead, no one had taken her place in my heart.

Sylvia, however, didn't say anything or make her usual exaggerated expressions.

She just sat silently, staring at nothing.

If she's not planning on saying anything, then—

"Sylvia let me ask you this."

Raising her gaze to meet mine, she tilted her head.

"Why do you want to know who I love the most? Do you gain anything from knowing that, or anything from being that?"

Sylvia hesitated for a moment, opened her mouth, then closed it again.

"I can't say."

I knew it.

'She's being restricted by a system.'

Fucking ass systems.

If I wasn't as smart as I was, there would have surely been a bunch of misunderstandings with our conflicting knowledge, which might have ended badly.

But even if she can't say anything I could.

I was the one who activated my system after all.

I stifled a grin. 'Not yet.'

It might be a bit sadistic, but I wanted to see just how far she could go.

And there was still a possibility that our goals clashed.

Letting out a yawn I stood to my feet. "Let's continue."

I stretched out my hand to help her up; she nodded then grabbed it, only to put all her weight on me.

Crash!

Sylvia and I hit the ground hard.

Before we could even wince from the pain, however...

Frzzzz! Bzzzz...

The dungeon shuddered, walls rippling as the world blurred.

A heartbeat later, sunlight spilled in, sharp with pine and damp earth.

Towering swamp trees stretched as far as the eye could see.

But my eyes weren't on them, they were on Sylvia.

I was presently on top of her, and her face was completely red, as she looked away, as if surrendering herself to me.

"Don't think anything weird."

She nodded. "I'm not, just that my heart won't stop beating."

She turned her head to look at me; now our faces were mere inches apart. "Al..." She paused. "Do you feel anything?"

My heart pounded.

"No, like hell I do."

That was a lie.

My pulse was racing.

'This is just that crazy-ass Kim Jin-ah, don't fall for her.'

It was because of this new body.

Definitely.

If it was back when I was still in my old body, I couldn't be seduced this easily.

A small smile formed on her face. "Hey Allen." Her eyes narrowed. "You're finally looking at me."

She leaned in; her hot breath brushing against my ear, making heat creep up it. "So how does it feel to look at me? Good, right?"

I forced out a smile. 'I was wrong.'

It had been some time since I last met Jin-ah and it wasn't like we were very close before.

I had underestimated her.

This girl was dangerous.

Sylvia's eyes seemed to stare at something I presumed was her status window, then she suddenly smirked.

Not a normal kind of smirk, but an obsessive one, though even I didn't know what that meant.

However, some of my questions were answered.

Firstly, I was the villain she knew.

Secondly, I became a villain because of the one I loved the most.

Thirdly, Sylvia's mission was to change the plot by becoming the one I loved the most.

And lastly, it was working and she could see it.

"Hehehe..." A soft chuckle escaped her lips. "Hopeless romantic."

"What was that?"

She placed her hand on my shoulder and pecked my cheeks. "That's that."

She immediately rolled off my hand and sat up a little. "Why do you look so disappointed?"

She gripped her staff tightly and puffed her cheeks a little; with a soft laugh she muttered, "Sleaze."

Badump!

My chest fluttered.

Yeah, I was very wrong.

Whatever she had been thinking back then had made her entire attitude change even more.

Each moment she was breaking one shell after another, crossing one line after another.

Now she wasn't even hiding the fact that she liked me anymore.

This was a competition now.

Would I fold easily, or would she fold and tell me her secrets first?

I know I could technically fall for her and get the secrets, but where would the fun be in that?

I placed a hand on my chest.

Badump!

My heart was racing.

My pulse was already picking up because of another girl who wasn't Boss; I was sure I was already falling.

But not yet.

'This is...' I mused. 'Kind of fun.'

I will make her spill the beans in three days.

Moving closer to her, I pecked her on the cheek.

I could feel her face turn red even as my lips were still on her cheek.

"It was just a simple peck." I smirked. "Next time, I won't mind a bunny outfit."

Sylvia's face was a bright crimson as she twisted her grip on her staff. "A bunny outfit doesn't sound too bad."

The three-day timer has begun!

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A/N:

Guys, I was really tired yesterday, so I couldn't finish all the chapters; that means I owe a total of 2 chapters plus today's extra 2, making it 4.

I will be sure to pay it before I start writing the twenty-stockpile for the first of next month, so I can refresh my entire privilege.

Okay, that's all for now. I will go slave myself away and force out more chapters. 🫠