"Are you perhaps some kind of sick pervert?"
║[SYSTEM] -10 Negative EXP — Provoking a Dominant Character.║
WHAT?! How did I get negative EXP from that?!
It was absolutely unfair. Agrona had done far worse things like chaining her up, stripping her of every ounce of dignity, and acting like it was romantic dominance!
But no, apparently calling her out made her the problem.
Cressida swallowed her pride. She couldn't risk breaking character now.
Although her head still throbbed from the hangover, Cressida suddenly remembered, she'd leveled up. It showed that her digital store upgraded too.
'Digital Store, open,' she commanded silently.
║[SYSTEM] Level Up Perk Unlocked — "Chronostasis Protocol."║
║Time will temporarily freeze whenever you access the System Interface.║
║All external motion halted. All focus redirected.║
║Initializing…║
...
║ Command granted. ║
║ Accessing Digital Store [Level 2]... ║
║ Temporal Lock activated — time suspended. ║
║ Displaying available inventory: ║
╔═══════════════════════════════════╗
║ 1. Witchglass Veil
– A translucent charm that cloaks the wearer's identity from all forms of magical divination for 10 minutes.
– Cost: 12 Positive / 8 Negative EXP ║
║ 2. Ashen Contract Seal
– A cursed parchment allowing the user to bind another's will for one command.
– Once used, a fragment of your own soul is consumed.
– Cost: 15 Negative EXP ║
║ 3. Lunar Draught (Unstable)
– Grants temporary resistance to vampiric influence and charm effects.
– Side effects: heightened emotional volatility.
– Cost: 10 Positive EXP ║
║ 4. Heartstring Sigil
– When inscribed on two individuals, it links their emotions for 24 hours.
– Often used by witches to test "loyalty."
– Cost: 14 Positive / 6 Negative EXP ║
║ 5. Chrono Bloom (Rare Artifact)
– A single white flower that rewinds one minute of time for its holder.
– One-time use only.
– Cost: 20 Positive / 20 Negative EXP ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════╝
║ Note: Items from Level 2 may cause narrative distortion if overused. Proceed with discretion. ║
'Holy hell, did I just experience inflation in the digital store?!'
The prices had skyrocketed like the economy of hell after a war. Apparently, leveling up didn't just mean progress, it also meant capitalism. She supposed that was the price of growth; the system wasn't going to let her coast through with cheap hacks forever.
A faint ticking sound could be heard in the frozen silence of the room. Her eyes darted upward, and there it was, a glowing countdown above her head.
[TIME REMAINING: 01:00]
So time wasn't completely free. She had exactly one minute before the world resumed.
Scrolling quickly, she noticed the Level 1 items still listed below. Then her gaze caught on one particular item.
Heartstring Sigil.
Now that was tempting.
If she used it on Agrona, it could link their emotions temporarily, meaning she could literally make the woman feel what she felt.Perfect to force mutual feelings!And also quite perfect for making sure she wouldn't be forgotten when this bizarre novel eventually found new ways to screw her over.
'Unforgettable, unkillable, and emotionally contagious,' she thought. 'Honestly, it's a steal.'
Unfortunately, she was now playing the role of a newlywed housewife trying to win back her cold, emotionally unavailable wife's heart and using forbidden magical artifacts didn't exactly scream domestic stability.
"I'm sure I've gathered enough EXP for this," she murmured, a smug little smile curling on her lips. With a flick of her finger, she confirmed the purchase.
╔════════════════════════════════════╗
║ [SYSTEM] PURCHASE CONFIRMED. ║
║ Item Acquired: Heartstring Sigil ║
║ Effect: Emotional Synchronization. ║
║ Duration: Unknown. ║
║ Returning to Active Timeline... ║
╚════════════════════════════════════╝
The colors bled back into motion as time resumed its heartbeat.
"Are you even paying attention?" Agrona's voice sliced through the air, low and sharp with impatience.
Cressida silently gasped, then noticed it. A faint, silvery thread, like light spun into air, connecting their chests.
It didn't seem like Agrona could see it. Or perhaps she could, and simply didn't care.
Either way, Cressida's lips twitched upward into a devilish smile.