I opened my eyes with a warm light shining on my face, surrounded by familiar walls.
It was funny how I felt more at ease in this space, where I had been living for barely a week, than at a house I spent my entire life walking through its halls. Even though it was a simple cabin—with a small kitchen, one bathroom, and one room—it was easier to breathe here.
My head throbbed slightly as I shifted on the bed, getting ready to stand up.
[You completed the Trial Four of Wands!]
[You earned 4200 points.]
[Your contribution is being counted…]
[Your rewards are being processed…]
If I recalled correctly, the previous Trial gave us 2000 points. Perhaps it changed according to the Trials' difficulty or length?
[You achieved a conquest!]
[You achieved a conquest!]
[You achieved a conquest!]
[You achieved a conquest!]
…
This time around, I had achieved more conquests than the First Trial. Was it because I had interfered too much with the events? I began reading each achievement, some surprising me.
[You were the first Self to defeat a Corrupted Legionnaire!]
[You and your partner discovered more than half of the clues!]
[You successfully collaborated with more than two Squads!]
[You gained the favor of more than two royalties!]
[You gained the favor of more than two Courts!]
Apparently, I had gained the favor of both the Princess of Cups and Swords, as well as both princes. Yet when I saw the amount of points I earned with those achievements alone, I lost my breath.
Holy shit…
The system had given me a total of 17,700 points.
Are these achievements that hard to get? Or are there other ways we can use points?
Regardless of the case, those could earn me some spins at the Store. I was a bit torn between investing my spins in Armor or Cards—if my boss chose to terminate our contract, I would have to get cards on my own. Yet apart from the Store, I could also improve my status.
There was this inkling that, at some point, the amount of points needed to increase a status would triple, at the very least. So perhaps I could test the limits.
Standing up, I stretched one of my arms while closing the notifications, more appearing before me—as if the system wasn’t done processing everything.
[Congratulations! You ranked in the Top Three]
[You earned 5000 points.]
[You were the first Self to unlock a Hidden Ending!]
[You earned 7000 points.]
I almost choked on a yawn. Blinked twice. The numbers did not change.
Pure laughter escaped from my lips, a sound almost childish. If I knew we could receive such nice rewards for collecting a bunch of old papers and maps, I would have searched even more.
[You received an item from the Trial.]
This is new…
When I saw what I had received, something wrapped itself around my heart. A warm, and pure emotion. Something I could not name well.
[Because of you, someone like me can thoroughly enjoy the simplicity of life, and the small joys my lands have to offer.
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
To some this may seem little, yet its value is unfathomable.
I have now a debt I shall never be able to pay.
Thank you.]
It was a brief letter, one I did not have to guess the sender. I never imagined the Court could contact us directly like this—assuming the Court responsible for overseeing these Trials was the exact same as the one I interacted with. Its 1st and 2nd prince, their parents, their castle.
If the system informed me I had won their favor, I could presume there was some sort of connection. Or at least, there would be some correlation in later Trials. Otherwise, their favor wouldn’t be relevant to us. Still, as I read the prince’s words, that warmth moved and grew inside me. I could recall the card I saw that day with Hyeon, the pure happiness it represented.
Something I, at that moment, envied more than anything.
Something I had fought to gift to someone else.
You did quite well this time, Eun-Woo…
Perhaps I can even ask the boss for a bonus.
Before I could do anything else, a red window popped up above all others in almost a violent way.
[eRrOR]
[Unlocked Ending not Found]
[Amplying Search…]
[Unlocked Ending not Found]
[Calculating probability…]
[Calculating probability…]
…what was going on?
[eRrOR]
[Contracted Self found Unregistered Ending]
[Compensation is being calculated…]
[Compensation is being calculated…]
[Compensation is being calculated…]
[eRrOR]
[Could not calculate]
[Compensation for Contracted Self Park Eun-Woo will be calculated at a later time]
I sat back on my bed.
A laugh escaped my lips, the meaning of those words sinking in as my mind processed them. This was either extremely good or extremely bad. If I had merely surpassed their expectations, I would likely be well rewarded. Yet if the “ending” I had unlocked with my ruse attracted the wrong type of attention from whoever was behind that system, things could escalate quite quickly and quite badly on my side.
Suddenly I felt like a child on Christmas Eve, eagerly waiting to open my presents. Waiting to see if I was given coal or the pretty toys.
[You have received a message.]
Oh my, I wonder who sent it…
To my surprise, Kurosawa said we should take the rest of the day to rest. Yet thinking back, most of us had exerted ourselves quite a lot in this last Trial; especially at the end. Which meant I had time to take a good shower and plan exactly how I would use all those points.
As I walked toward the bathroom, a sudden thought made me stop in my tracks. A face appearing in my mind, prompting me to take action. To do something.
I searched for the name, finding it with ease. Yet before I could press the button, my heart raced. Not only was that my first time sending that kind of request, I was actually nervous. What if that seemed rude of me? But then again, we did help each other throughout most of the Trial…
And I hadn’t had the chance to properly thank her.
Before I could second-guess myself further, I pressed the button. As the seconds passed, I could hear my heart beating getting faster and faster. Why was I so anxious?
[Kaduna has accepted your friend request.]
Air left my lungs, relieved and free, my muscles relaxing. In the following seconds, I wrote her a message. Hoping it was proper enough.
[Thank you for all the help. Let me know if there is anything you need. I owe you one.]
Unlike Kurosawa Touma, I preferred to ask beforehand before gifting things people didn’t actually need. Kaduna didn’t strike me as someone who would take advantage of my offer, and since I was richer, I would have no issues whatsoever in giving what she wanted.
Though I guess it would depend on what she asked for.
Her reply came barely ten seconds later.
[This is a very kind offer. I will think it through before I give you my answer.
I look forward to cooperating with you in the future, if our fates allow it.
Rest well, Park Eun-Woo.]
It was as if I could hear her voice in my head—as if we were still communicating through the earpieces.
Kaduna…
We had interacted for only a few hours, yet it was impossible not to tell. There was just something about that woman. From her eyes, the way she walked and spoke, to the air around her. I had no doubts she was a human being just like me. But somehow, I couldn’t be certain that was all she was.
Perhaps this is due to her Benefactor?
If only I could ask her directly who she had chosen…
There were three short knocks at my door; the sound almost curt. I walked away from the bathroom, grabbing the doorknob. And when I opened it, I was both surprised and confused.
“What are you doing here?”
Kurosawa Touma’s first response was to stare at me, forcing me to step aside so he could walk inside.
“I came to discuss your performance evaluation. What else?”
And before I could even argue, the man closed the door behind him, glaring at me with fierce and cold eyes.
Making me wonder if he would be the first one to gift me coals.