The golden rays of the setting sun filtered through the windows, casting a warm glow across the room. Shizuka lay comfortably in Akg's arms, her head resting gently on his shoulder, eyes half-closed in peaceful contentment.
She let out a soft sigh and spoke.
"Akg… I have to go home. It's getting late, and if I'm too late, Mom will be angry."
Akg looked down at her, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek with a soft smile.
"Alright, Shizuka. I'll walk you home."
She nodded shyly, and the two of them stood, walking together out into the soft evening air.
.....
The street was quiet, the sky painted in hues of orange and purple, the first stars beginning to twinkle above them.
Shizuka walked beside Akg, her hand occasionally brushing against his, both hearts beating a little faster with every step.
Soon, they reached her house.
She turned to him, smiling gently.
"Thank you for walking me home, Akg."
He nodded.
"Anytime. I'll always be here for you."
Just as Akg turned to leave, warm arms wrapped around him from behind, and Shizuka hugged him tightly.
Before he could react, she stood on her toes and kissed him softly on the lips, her eyes glowing with affection.
Akg stood frozen, stunned by the sudden act.
As she pulled back, her cheeks red, she giggled and ran toward the door.
"Akg... this is your reward for walking me home!" she called playfully over her shoulder.
Akg touched his lips, still warm and damp from her kiss, and smiled with quiet amazement.
"She's really become bold... since becoming my girlfriend."
Chapter 13: Nightfall and Rewards
Returning to his house, Akg prepared a quick dinner, enjoying the calm after an emotionally charged day.
After eating, he went to his room, stretched, and sat on the bed.
"System, open System Mall."
DING!
[System Mall – Opened]
System Points: 1,000
A large panel appeared before his eyes, displaying various categories:
Weapons
Skills
Artifacts
Potions
Bloodlines
World Tickets
Gifts
Akg scrolled through the options, impressed.
"It's got everything… but most of it costs way more than 1,000 points."
He found many powerful items—but all of them required 10,000 points or more. The only options within his range were:
Beginner Recovery Potion – 100 points
Low-tier Skill Draw (Random) – 1,000 points
Simple Gift Box (Increases favorability by 1–5) – 500 points
Akg sighed.
"Nothing worth using right now."
He decided to save his points for something greater in the future.
Closing the panel, he lay back in bed, staring at the ceiling with a satisfied smile.
"Shizuka... a system... a second life... everything's just beginning."
With that, Akg drifted into a peaceful sleep, dreaming of the new world and love he would protect at all costs.