I got back to the small cottage that had my name written in purple letters right above the door, admiring the name for a few seconds before coming inside.

As I closed the door behind me, I realized how hungry I was. However, I decided it was best to wait a couple of hours and meet the twins back at the plaza. I was pretty sure they would love to eat the chocolate crepe again.

Perhaps I should even try some of the other food, hadn’t I seen some barbecue place before? I should still have enough points to get myself a decent meal after everything—

Points…

The notifications—I had completely forgotten about them.

I opened the menu, a total of forty-seven messages, three gifts, and eleven friendship requests stared back at me.

What is going on…?

I started with the messages, wondering how the twins had managed to flood my mailbox with so many messages in less than a day. However when I looked at the recipient names…

I didn’t know any of them.

[Dear Mr. Park,

Thanks to you me and my daughter survived the last trial. I wanted to thank you properly for all your efforts and for risking your own life for the sake of ours. Thank you so much!]

[Eun-Woo bro,

Your fight against those monsters gave me chills! You totally rock, bro! Thanks for saving our asses back there! Hope we get grouped next time.]

[I knew three of the people who died on that trial. They may be nameless strangers to you, but they were my friends. Keep that in mind next time you decide to play with other people’s lives.]

[Dude,

You were freaking cool back there! I almost pissed my pants when I saw all those guys getting killed by those things, so your going full suicidal saved our lives! Thanks for that, dude. Glad you didn’t die. Cheers!]

…

What was even happening? It was not only a few—most of the messages were from random people who had participated in the last trial.

Even though the responses were somewhat mixed, with some thanking me while others cursed me due to my miscalculations…it was still…

I was baffled. Had ‘Foolish Endeavor’ turned off?

[Unique Aura - Foolish Endeavor]

[Active]

Well, it had to be at least broken or bugged. I should be only the foolish guy doing foolish things while I spent my riches. People should not care about me, much less thank me.

At last, I got to his message, and whatever shock and puzzlement my brain was trying to process, it made everything shut down as I laughed more annoyed than anything. I wondered when he had even sent it, since he was supposed to be “resting”.

[To Park Eun-Woo,

Your investments were certainly appreciated on this last trial. And, although lacking in many ways, your crazy schemes proved to be somewhat successful toward the main objective.

I hope you didn’t snooze off and was able to see clearly how to use potions. But again, some people just may take longer to learn the basics. Maybe you can learn better by experiencing for yourself.]

I didn’t even need to read the name to know who had sent me that message. That Kurosawa bastard, he went into a potion comatose and still had the nerve to act all high and mighty with me.

At that point, I was praying to the system to make a trial where I could punch him in the face at least once.

In the end, Hal and Hil sent me messages as well, asking me to let them know when I recovered. I recalled how Hil had been back at the trial, I hoped she was feeling better.

Finally, I got to my Benefactor’s message. I raised my eyebrows, unsure if I was more shocked by the Fool’s words or by all the other messages I had received.

I was probably equally shocked by them both.

[I am extremely satisfied with your previous performance. I hope you will keep surpassing my high expectations of you.]

In other words, keep doing what you’re doing, but also try to do better.

Gotcha.

When I got to the presents, I had three different reactions. The first one spread warmth throughout my heart. Hil had sent me a chocolate crepe. She was too kind for her own good.

As I took the crepe from my inventory and took the first bite, I saw the gift the Court had sent me. I raised my eyebrows.

The first time, they sent me the Primal Sword—and that had proven to be a fine weapon. This time, they sent me a sealed envelope.

[Sealed Letter: Gate of Access 1#]

[A mysterious letter that will prove its usefulness later on.]

[Rarity: Unique]

That was certainly one way to be mysterious and vague.

Finally, I got to my last gift. Which was two small potions, one for healing and one for the Wands status. I recalled that guy’s last words to me in his message, and the only thing that prevented me from crushing that thing into the ground was its value.

So far, the only known way I could get potions and other items was through the gacha store. Not only was it expensive, but it also required Luck to get the good stuff.

If not me, someone else might need it at some point so why shouldn’t I keep it?

I finished my crepe, somewhat surprised the chocolate was that tasty, and washed my hands as I looked through the friendship requests.

As I had guessed, they were likely all from the people who had thanked me for the trial, at least I recognize most of the names.

Although I was quite touched by their gesture, I was not so sure myself if I wanted to accept them without even knowing their faces. Without knowing anything about them, actually.

Yet as I pondered whether I should accept them or not, one particular request caught my attention.

It made my heart race.

[You received a friend request from Contracted Self Aída Del Bosque.]

And just like that I was smiling like a small kid, grabbing my shirt as if it would make my heart calm down.

Had she sent me that before or after we met at the plaza? Did she think I had ignored her when we talked before?

My finger hesitated for a brief moment, my mind racing alongside my heart as I questioned myself.

Should I really go down this road? Make myself hope and wish for good things? When I knew deep down that those kinds of things never led to happy outcomes.

They led to tears.

Yet before I could stop myself, I pressed the button and suddenly I had three friends on my list.

In the end, the Fool was probably the best Benefactor for me.

----------------------------------------

When the sun finally rose, I went to the plaza to meet with the twins.

And were they happy to see me.

“Mister! I was so worried about you!”

“For someone who said he would protect us, you faint too much.”

Hil ran toward me the moment our eyes met, placing her arms around my waist. I patted her head with a smile, glad to know she seemed to have her spirit back.

Hal, on the other hand, kept his distance. As I met his cold gaze I recalled the skill he used at the trial, filling the field with death and blood.

A chill went down my spine.

“I’m still keeping my part of the bargain, right? So, did I miss anything?”

Hil took a couple of steps back, the sweetest smile placed on her face. “We got a message saying they would let us know when the next trial starts. So for now, we are free to do whatever we want!”

Hildr put both hands up in the air, the joy in her voice matching the one in her eyes.

“Perfect, then. There are some things I want to do today.”

Hil smile grew wider. “What do you want to do? Can we go with you?!”

“But of course, this is part of our agreement, right?”

As Hil skipped the tiles on the ground in a joyful dance, Hal held my gaze.

He knew one of the things I wanted to do today.

“I know where those people are. I can bring you to them.”

I nodded, still not fully believing what Hal had messaged me during the past trial.

There were people who not only were not new on this island—

They had participated in these trials before.