My Evil System

[BONUS]

"I'm sorry." Megu apologetically smiled at Brago. "It's dangerous for Angelica to be anywhere under this rain. But I'll think about it again when the rain passes."

"She's right," Emi agreed. "How about we discuss this topic again after the rain?"

Brago looked over at Ford, who remained tight-lipped and didn't dare to return his gaze. It was apparent on his face that he agreed with the others too.

"You . . ." Brago sighed and leaned on the backrest of his chair. "It's dangerous here."

"It's dangerous outside, too," Sheryl butted in. "The prices of everything are astronomical, and the beasts are hard to defeat despite the rewards being so meager. How could we live with that? To make matters worse, we could get killed at any time out there. Beasts, players, and even the inhabitants of this world could kill us."

"And do you remember what those inhabitants said?" Ford added. "Apocalyptic Events like this come every month or so. Every time new players are transported here. There's probably no end to this. It's best if we find a safe place to stay that could sustain us. Like this place."

Brago shook his head and laughed a little. "Do you really want to take advantage of that man's hospitality?"

Emi scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Oh, stop being a hypocrite already. We all know that you're also benefiting from this. If you're really concerned about taking advantage of this and that, then it's better if you don't eat and get the hell out of here."

". . . You . . ." Brago glared at Emi, but the latter didn't back down.

Brago took a deep breath and calmed himself. "Do you really think that he is the type of guy that would just give food, a precious resource in this world, with nothing in return?"

Sheryl shrugged. "He's the type that's easily manipulated. A little praise and pleading would do the trick."

"And what if he told us to leave?" Brago questioned, and the group pondered but only for a short moment.

"Then we will usurp the throne."

All eyes went to Emi, and the latter frowned like they were a bunch of idiots.

"What? Don't tell me that you haven't thought of it either. Oh, come on. This place has it all. A house, a farm, food, medicines, and supplies. This is basically a utopia in this wretched world. Any sane person with a brain would definitely claim it for themselves."

". . ."

The others looked at each other but didn't utter a retort against what Emi said because she was right. They had thought of it.

How wonderful would it be if they were the owner of this land, where everything was readily available, and they didn't have to worry about the unknown outside?

They were safe here, and the farm would give them a steady supply of food.

Emi leaned and added, "Those tokens are rare and expensive. If we dispose of him, all his tokens will belong to us, and we'll be the lord of this place."

. . .

Brago looked solemnly at Emi and the others. "For a person who I thought had more brains than the others, you sure are acting like an idiot right now."

"What did you say?"

"I think you forgot one important thing that humans always do."

Emi scoffed. "And what's that?"

". . . Lie."

. . .

Edgar lazily grinned. "Lie?"

"What if Cross is lying about how he got those tokens?" Brago told them and explained further. "What if he killed players to acquire it? Didn't that cross your mind?"

There was silence again before Sheryl huffed a laugh.

"You think that weak and pushover-looking man could kill players?"

"Ever wonder why even Florin, who was transported here longer than us, calls him Lord?"

Emi shrugged. "It's because he is the owner of numerous Tokens and had built this place using their powers. If we kill him, then those tokens will belong to us."

"Then why hasn't Florin done so?" Brago asked the others again. "It's weird that she'd be following orders from that weak-looking man when she could just kill him and get his Tokens and take over this place."

. . .

"Maybe she didn't want the management and the many problems of leadership?" said Ford, and the others readily agreed.

Brago was ready to give up on curing their blindness of what they should have been able to see right now. But he didn't want to give up yet, so for the last time, he asked them in hopes of changing their mind.

"Alright, let's say that you killed those two, but who would take the Tokens and assume leadership of this place? The Tokens would go to the player who killed its master."

The others looked at each other, and Emi sighed.

"That's simple. We kill them, we share the Tokens, and you take the leader's position like always."

Brago looked at Emi with incredulity. "I'm not going to kill them. And I'm not going to stay here. After the Blood Rain, I'm gone."

Sheryl just shrugged. "Suit yourself."

Emi folded her hands. "Then I guess I'll assume leadership then."

"Huh?" Edgar's lower lip buckled forward. "What do you mean you?"

"We all know that I have the highest degree around here."

"What's that got to do with anything?" Sheryl argued.

Emi smirked. "The leader must have the brains, obviously."

"What do you mean brains?" Edgar retorted back. "Probably back on earth, but it's brawns that dominate here."

Sheryl and Emi both rolled their eyes.

"You haven't even killed a single beast, you coward."

"What are you guys talking about?"

Everyone went silent when Cross suddenly appeared and sat on the table. "Sorry, the food will probably have to be cooked for another ten minutes."

The others looked at each before Sheryl smiled at him. "Nothing. Just our previous adventures."

"And how Edgar was a coward that couldn't kill a single beast," added Emi.

Veins popped on Edgar's face, and he was about to open his mouth when Cross spoke.

"By the way . . . What are your plans after this?" he asked, and everyone could detect the hesitation and unease in his slightly trembling voice.

"What do you mean?" Sheryl pretended that she didn't understand.

Cross scratched the back of his head and looked down at his plate. "Well . . . you know. Are you guys planning to stay here until the Blood Rain is over?"

No one said anything at first until Megu smiled at Cross and spoke, "If it's alright with you, can we stay here until the Blood Rain? After that, we will discuss again what we will do after that."

Cross briefly peeked at Florin before saying, "It's fine with me, but . . . you have to help around here."

"Like help with what?" Emi asked.

"Like cleaning the house. Cooking. Tending to the farm and animals. Or get some supplies and meat outside."

Sheryl's mouth dropped. "In short, we're still going outside? I'm not taking a single step out there!"

( . . . continuation on NOTES)