Elvynna approached slowly, her face a mask of cold fury.

  Eirik felt a wave of panic wash over him, his thoughts scrambling.

  What’s she planning?

  Is she really going to... castrate me?!

  His mind raced in every direction, but what happened next completely blindsided him.

  Elvynna closed the distance, her slender hands wrapping around his neck with surprising strength.

  Then, her stunning face hovered just inches from his.

  Like a bird pecking at its food, Elvynna planted a kiss on his lips before Eirik could even process what was happening.

  And just as quickly as she appeared, she was gone—vanishing into thin air, leaving him alone in the room, utterly bewildered.

  A moment ago, he’d thought she was about to end him—he’d almost passed out from the terror.

  It wasn’t that he was cowardly; it was just that in their past simulations, though they hadn’t had children, they had definitely been intimate.

  Women in this magical world tended to have rather conservative views on such matters.

  Elvynna, especially, seemed to have a very traditional approach.

  If she had truly been enraged, Eirik wouldn’t have been surprised if she’d tried to kill him.

  “This system is completely messed up!” Eirik muttered to himself. “It once showed me images of all these beautiful women to choose from, and I thought I could have them all. But now... I realize how naive I was.”

  Women in the real world were a whole different beast than in the game.

  With just Elvynna and Pixie around, he was already overwhelmed.

  If a few more women showed up, he’d probably drop dead from the stress.

  Tonight, he knew he had to be careful. No more provoking women, no more drama.

  At first, all he’d worried about was attracting trouble, but now? Now, he realized he couldn’t keep playing the scumbag any longer.

  Unbeknownst to him, he’d already stirred the feelings of two women.

  Now that he was aware, he couldn’t afford to screw things up.

  “Tonight... I’ll go with Elvynna. If I can’t make her the strongest in the world, then what was the point of my last two lives?” he thought to himself, determination hardening his resolve.

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  Flying through the air on her magic, Elvynna’s heart was a whirlwind of emotions.

  But when she recalled her impulsive kiss, her cheeks flushed a fiery red.

  Honestly, she couldn’t help but wonder if she’d been too quick to act. Had she been too soft on Eirik?

  That man had no memories of the simulations—he probably thought she was just as crazy as Pixie!

  Ha!

  Her feelings were a mix of sweetness, jealousy, and confusion as she soared over Aelsryel.

  When her mind cleared a little, she couldn’t help but think of Pixie.

  What had happened to cause such a drastic change in her behavior?

  Could it be that Eirik’s betrayal in the last life had a deeper reason?

  This was Pixie’s story, but Elvynna couldn’t help being curious. After all, it was about her husband’s character.

  She had always trusted Eirik, but his actions in this life were so... out of character. She couldn’t understand them.

  There had to be a reason.

  At least, that’s what she told herself, though she couldn’t quite articulate it. It had been troubling her for days.

  “Anyone know what happened with Pixie and Eirik after all that?” Elvynna typed into the world channel.

  “What else happened? Eirik was killed by Pixie, wasn’t he? How did you miss that epic revenge scene? So satisfying!”

  “Yeah, watching that scumbag die was the highlight of my day. I had three extra plates of pasta last night!”

  As soon as Eirik’s name came up, the chat exploded with responses.

  Even though the simulation was currently down and unavailable, the world channel was still very much alive.

  It was essentially a cheat code in this magical world—a chat room where players exchanged information and gossip.

  And right now, Eirik’s “death” was the hottest topic.

  Why was everyone so obsessed with killing off scumbags?

  Because, it seemed, all the players in this simulation were women. So far, no male players had been discovered.

  “I watched Eirik die too. But what I’m really asking is, what happened next?” Elvynna pressed, eager for answers.

  “Is there more to this story?”

  “Shouldn’t be. The scumbag’s dead—what could come after that? Can he come back to life or something?”

  In this world, resurrection was a rare and legendary phenomenon, but not entirely impossible.

  “I haven’t heard anything.”

  “I wasn’t really paying attention. Anyone in Elaresar City know what’s going on?”

  At that moment, Violanda, the potion master, watched quietly from the sidelines.

  What happened with Pixie and Eirik after all this?

  She had heard some rumors.

  It seemed Pixie had learned the truth before her death.

  But Violanda wasn’t about to share that information. Not with these “unworthy people.”

  Such valuable intel wasn’t for public consumption!

  She was more focused on the simulator reopening. As a potion master, she planned to use her power to make Eirik—her golden ticket—her ally.

  In this life, she had only one goal: defeat Emperor Raedric. To master magic, uncover the secrets of the world, and maybe even explore the possibility of immortality...

  As for Eirik allying with her? She didn’t even consider it.

  Who was he to her?

  A mere commoner, originally from some backwater place, with a reputation in tatters. At his lowest point, she had extended an olive branch.

  How could he refuse?

  A smug smile played on Violanda’s lips.

  Meanwhile, Elvynna had been asking in the world channel for quite a while with no clear answers. She was about to try again when Pixie herself logged in.

  “Senpai, don’t bother asking anyone else. In that life, I was wrong—I misunderstood him. At the end, I learned the truth. It’s really that simple.”

  Her calm words sent shockwaves through the chat.

  “What do you mean? Pixie, are you saying he isn’t a scumbag?!”

  “What’s going on? I need details!”

  The chat exploded with questions.

  Meanwhile, in her bedroom, Pixie stared at the screen before her, feeling a deep sense of regret.

  She hadn’t wanted to explain herself—after all, everyone already knew Eirik wasn’t really a scumbag. Besides, competition would only grow.

  But when she saw the insults flying in the world channel, calling him a scumbag, a dog—she couldn’t stay quiet any longer.

  I won’t let them talk about him like that.

  He’s not that kind of person. He’s not!