TIRS 54

CHAPTER 54….

. Piya’s Preference

I was taken aback by the sudden switch to conquest mode, but nothing particularly changed.

I glanced briefly at the name above her head, which didn’t seem much different from others.

Saint of the Kingdom of Luenhart, Maria

Affection Level: 100

Unlike Klaus or Iley, Maria’s name window was blue, as she had not yet awakened.

Her base affection level wasn’t bad…

[SYSTEM] Maria’s affection has increased by +50. (Affection: 150)

No sooner had I thought this than Maria’s affection went up.

“I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

Kind Maria apologized even though it wasn’t her fault.

“No, I was the one who bumped into you without looking ahead, I should be the one apologizing…”

I absentmindedly picked up Maria’s fallen books and apologized.

[SYSTEM] You saved from danger.

Huh?

Just picking up some books counts as saving someone from danger? But it was me who made her drop them, so am I the one in danger?

[Quest in Progress] <Main Quest: Love and Duel! (1/3)> Save Maria from Danger (1 time completed)

I stared dumbfounded at the quest notification.

“Thank you.”

Maria blushed deeply and shyly thanked me.

[SYSTEM] Maria’s affection has increased by +50. (Affection: 200)

Seeing the system message pop up again, I answered reluctantly.

“…You’re welcome.”

And as soon as I said that, another system message arrived.

[SYSTEM] Maria’s affection has increased by +20. (Affection: 220)

“…”

The affection that was so hard to raise during Klaus’ quest was now going up way too easily.

‘Should I be happy about this…?’

At that moment, Maria cautiously called out to me.

“Um, Hero.”

‘Hero?’

That title froze my face.

Because ‘Hero’ was originally the way Maria addressed Hezen in the original story!

Of course, I was dressed unusually for a woman—wearing pants, a hoodie, and a sword at my waist—looking like an adventurer.

So it wasn’t strange that Maria called me that.

“Could I ask for your help?”

Maria asked, her dark blue hair swaying gently.

Her pure and lovely appearance made it hard to refuse, regardless of age or gender.

“Help? With what?”

“Could you check the time on the clock tower? We can’t see it well from here because of the crowd.”

She pointed toward the clock tower.

And the request was very easy.

From where I was standing, I just had to stand on tiptoe to see the time.

Beep beep! Beep beep!

—Lulu, what are you doing! Hurry and help!

Piya urged, but I couldn’t nod immediately.

Scenes from a scenario preview where Maria and I laughed and ran through a flower field, followed by colorful hearts blooming, kept replaying in my mind.

And in the last scene I hadn’t watched properly, Maria and I were looking at each other deeply with…

‘No!’

A strong warning rang in my head.

I knew I had to complete the quest quickly, but I hesitated.

“What is it?”

Just then, Klaus, who had returned with the horse we had tied at the city entrance, gallantly helped Maria.

“There are 5 minutes left until noon.”

[SYSTEM] You saved from danger.

[Quest in Progress] <Main Quest: Love and Duel! (1/3)> Save Maria from Danger (2 times completed)

‘I didn’t do anything…!’

My eyes widened, then I realized why.

‘Ah, the supporter slot…’

I had canceled Klaus’s supporter registration in the Dream Forest once, but after a week, I immediately registered him again.

—Each time you complete a main scenario, one supporter slot opens. By registering supporters, you can share quests, experience, and various effects!

I remembered what Piya had explained before.

It wasn’t just for hunting monsters—quests like this were shared as well.

[SYSTEM] Maria’s affection has increased by +100. (Affection: 320)

[SYSTEM] Maria is now interested in you.

“Thank you so much, Hero. May I ask your name?”

Maria asked me.

“…But it wasn’t me who helped just now, it was him.”

I pointed to Klaus and asked, but Maria didn’t seem to understand, staring brightly at only me.

Not only Maria.

Klaus also seemed not to have heard what I said, and only Anselot slightly frowned and looked this way.

‘What’s going on?’

I was confused.

Beep beep! Beep beep!

—Hehe. Piya adjusted the system for you!

“System adjustment…?”

—Yes! So that people recognize what Klaus, your supporter, did as if you did it yourself!

I looked sadly at Piya, who proudly said that.

‘Piya, you didn’t have to be so kind…’

Beep beep!

Piya’s crying sounds came with a choice prompt.

[Conquest Target is curious about you.

1. (Blocking Maria against the wall with your body) Curious about my name?
2. (Gently lifting Maria’s chin, seductively) If I tell you my name, what will you do for me?
3. (Kissing the back of Maria’s hand with a mischievous smile) I am Ruibel Azester, my lady.]

‘Damn…’

My expression soured scanning the options.

They were obviously flirting lines!

Very cheesy and terrible flirting!

So that’s what it means to be recognized as a conquest target. More importantly…

‘How could I say something like that!’

As I stared at the choices in horror, Maria tilted her head and called me again.

“Hero?”

“…”

But I couldn’t pick any of those.

‘Just be normal. Just say my name normally.’

Yet some kind of system curse prevented me from speaking anything other than the options.

‘Damn.’

So I finally chose…

[SYSTEM] Activating skill <Ruth’s Step>.

[SYSTEM] Your movement speed temporarily increases by +500%.

I ran off without telling her my name, grabbing only Iley.

Beep beep! Beep beep! Beep beep!

—That’s too much, Lulu! How could you ignore the choice Piya made with all her heart!

Piya complained, fuming.

“Piya, you made those cringy options?”

Beep!

—Of course!

I looked at Piya with dull eyes.

“Piya, you’ve never been in a relationship, right?”

Beep?

—W-What kind of baseless assumption is that!

Piya got flustered.

Beep!

—Don’t insult Piya!

She really seemed to have no experience with dating.

Beep!

—Piya analyzed the conquest target’s traits perfectly and made those options!

Piya grumbled unfairly.

Beep…

—I was so upset because Lulu didn’t seem to want to use conquest mode…

“I still don’t plan to.”

I cut off Piya’s endless complaining sharply.

Beep!

Piya sulked, but whatever. I was busy looking ahead and riding the horse.

I caught eye contact with Iley, who was staring quietly at Piya and me.

I hesitated.

Was it just my imagination? It felt like Iley was listening to our conversation.

Thanks to the system adjustment, others couldn’t notice our conversation. No one found it odd, even when looking at the system window.

Only Anselot was an exception.

‘Nah, it’s just my imagination.’

I shook my head.

Using the skill to leave, I quickly arrived at the royal palace.

Anselot and Klaus were following behind.

We stopped in front of the palace’s main gate to wait for them.

“Who goes there? What brings you here?”

Soldiers guarding the palace approached upon seeing me.

“I am Ruibel Azester. Waiting for my companions.”

“Oh, the third princess of the Azester Empire…! Then the companions you’re waiting for must be…!”

The soldiers checking my identity tags looked surprised and raised their heads.

At the same time, the horse carrying Anselot arrived.

Klaus was still far behind, so it seemed Anselot had ridden quite fast, but his expression was calm.

In contrast, the soldiers’ faces turned pale instantly when they saw Anselot.

“P-Pr-Pr-Pr Prince…!”

“Welcome, Prince Anselot!”

They bowed sharply.

“Welcome, Prince Anselot!”

“Welcome, Prince Anselot!”

Their loud voices shook the entire palace.

Soon after, a man who seemed to be a palace attendant ran out breathlessly.

“Welcome back, Your Highness Anselot! Please come inside!”

‘Oh, the king’s chamberlain came out himself?’

I admired the title above the man’s head.

The chamberlain was sweating nervously, watching Anselot carefully.

Court officials passing by murmured while looking our way.

“Th-That really is Pr-Pr-Pr Anselot…”

“The palace has been through more bloodshed again…”

They whispered, but Anselot arrogantly raised his head.

Just as Klaus arrived and we tried to enter the palace, another person ran out.

I thought it was another attendant…

King of the Kingdom of Luenhart, Titarus

‘Gasp, that’s the king?’

After the chamberlain, the king himself hurried to the main gate to greet us.