Chapter 11
The artifact Yuto handed over to me was nothing short of extraordinary.
With this, a long-cherished goal could finally be achieved.
And really, who cares who this guy is?
“Hey, you’re really giving this to me?”
“Yes. Miss Claretta, it’s exactly what you need.”
“I mean, it is, but... how do you even know that?”
“Does it matter? Isn’t this what you’ve always wanted?”
Tsk.
That smug attitude, as if he knew everything.
But then again, he did know everything.
Even the struggles I had faced—bashing my shield into the ground like a maniac—had been neatly solved with this artifact.
Gulp.
‘What’s the alternative? Let this opportunity slip through my fingers? That’d be insane.’
As soon as I touched the artifact, a faint shimmer of light enveloped my body, wrapping me like a protective cocoon. It was the unmistakable sensation of leveling up—of ascending to a higher plane.
It felt the same as the day I’d pushed my limits to train for the Academy.
༺═──────═༻
Congratulations.
You’re an Attention Seeker.
༺═──────═༻
What the hell? That’s rude.
Still, whatever. I had achieved a dream. No need to nitpick now.
I was practically buzzing, eager to test the artifact’s capabilities. But just as I was getting excited, Yuto leaned in close.
“W-What? Don’t even think about asking for it back! You know artifact acquisitions are irreversible, right?!”
“I’m not asking for it back.”
“Then what’s your deal?”
“You’ve used it, so now you must pay.”
“Wait... it wasn’t free?!”
For the first time, Yuto’s expression turned serious.
“Miss Claretta. Do you think life is easy?”
The sudden shift in tone made him seem like some sleazy employer.
“I... I don’t have a single penny.”
“That’s fine. I’m not after money.”
“Then... what are you after?”
Oh, no.
If it’s not money, then it’s my body, right?
I might’ve learned about society from books, but I knew all too well how this world operated.
When you don’t have money, you pay with your body.
This scumbag... he’s just another guy after one thing.
So this was his real goal!
“W-Wait! Hold on, you perverted bastard!”
“Calm down. Why am I a pervert?”
You know why! Aren’t monkeys like you known for breeding non-stop?
What am I supposed to do? I’ve never done that before!
Am I really about to lose it to some guy I barely know?
No preparation, no emotional connection... just like that?
Maybe I should just bolt—
A flood of panicked thoughts raced through my mind until Yuto placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Miss Claretta, relax. I think there’s been a misunderstanding.”
A misunderstanding? Could it be?
Was this just all in my head?
Looking at him again... yeah, he reeks of inexperience.
“What I want... is you.”
Oh, for the love of—I knew it!
“You scumbag!”
“Why do you keep calling me that?”
“D-Don’t touch me!”
I’ll get pregnant!
“There’s no need to be so tense.”
“Tense?! How am I not supposed to be tense?!”
By now, everyone around us was staring.
Dozens of onlookers had turned their attention toward us.
Wait a second. He wouldn’t try to do it here, would he?!
The artifact Yuto handed over was incredible.
With it, my long-standing goal could finally be within reach.
Who cares what kind of guy he is?
“Hey, are you really giving this to me?”
“Yes. It’s precisely what Miss Claretta needs.”
“I mean, it is, but… how do you even know that?”
“Does that matter? Isn’t this exactly what you’ve wanted?”
Tch. That smug, all-knowing attitude.
It’s annoying, but… fine. He’s right.
All the struggles I went through, smashing my shield into things like a madwoman, could now be resolved with this one artifact.
Gulp.
‘What are you going to do, turn this down? You’d be crazy to let this slip.’
The moment I touched the artifact, a faint veil of light enveloped me, clinging to my body like a second skin. It felt exactly like the moment I’d first leveled up, back when I’d been training for the Academy.
༺═──────═༻
Congratulations.
You’re an Attention Seeker.
༺═──────═༻
What the hell? Why does that feel like an insult?
Still, whatever. I’d achieved something incredible. No point nitpicking now.
I was buzzing with excitement, eager to test out the artifact, when suddenly, Yuto leaned in close.
“W-What? Don’t even think about asking for it back! You know artifacts can’t be returned once they’re bound!”
“I’m not asking for it back.”
“Then what is it?”
“You’ve used it. Now you need to pay the price.”
“Wait… it wasn’t free?!”
Yuto’s face grew serious for the first time.
“Miss Claretta, do you think the world is easy?”
The sudden shift made him sound like some sleazy boss.
“I… I don’t have a single coin on me.”
“That’s fine. I don’t need money.”
“Then… what do you want?”
Oh, no.
If it’s not money, then it has to be my body, right?
Sure, I’ve only read about society in books, but I’m not clueless. I know how things work in this messed-up world.
If you don’t have money, you pay with your body.
This bastard… this whole thing was a setup!
“W-Wait! Hold on, you perverted monkey!”
“Calm down. Why am I a monkey?”
Because monkeys are notorious for… you know what!
What do I do? I’ve never even done that before!
Am I seriously going to lose everything to some random guy I barely know?
All these thoughts were racing through my head when Yuto placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Miss Claretta, please relax. I think you’re misunderstanding something.”
A misunderstanding? Could it be?
Maybe this was all in my head.
Looking at him again… yeah, he does give off virgin vibes.
“What I want… is you.”
Oh, come on. I knew it!
“You filthy bastard!”
“Why do you keep calling me that?”
“D-Don’t touch me!”
I’m going to get pregnant at this rate!
“There’s no need to be so tense.”
“Tense?! How am I not supposed to be tense?!”
By now, everyone was staring at us.
Dozens of eyes, all focused on me.
Wait a second… he wouldn’t try to do it here, would he?!
“Why don’t we move somewhere private? Just the two of us. It’ll be more… productive.”
Oh, hell no. This monkey’s serious!
“I’m not… I mean, I’m not ready…”
“Miss Claretta, you don’t get to decide. You’ve already used it. Now, you’re bound to my terms.”
He had a point. Damn it.
I had no choice but to stall.
“F-Fine. But I get to pick the location.”
“…? Very well.”
“Good. Follow me, you damn monkey.”
I recalled something I’d read once about negotiation tactics.
To take control, you have to seize the initiative.
Maybe if I dictated the terms, I could steer this in a way that favored me.
“Miss Claretta, this is…”
“A women-only recovery room. No one’s used it since that ghost incident. It’s completely empty.”
“Interesting. How did you know about this place?”
“Because I was the ghost, you idiot. I needed a private space, so I caused a ruckus. Those morons fell for it, foaming at the mouth like idiots.”
Perfect. If I keep this momentum, I can regain the upper hand.
Casually, confidently…
I threw myself onto the bed with a thud and started removing my combat gear piece by piece.
“Miss Claretta?”
“What? Isn’t this what you wanted? But don’t get any ideas. I’m not an easy girl. You can do whatever you want, but only when I say so.”
There. I took the lead.
What now, monkey boy?
“Miss Claretta.”
“What? Scared, you weakling?”
“What are you doing?”
“…Huh?”
Wait… isn’t this how it’s supposed to go?
“Miss Claretta, put your clothes back on.”
“What… are you into something weird, or…?”
“I have no interest in your body.”
“…Huh?”
Wait, what? Is this guy even human?
“I told you. What I want is you. I need your dedication. The control is mine.”
“Well… technically, but…”
“Don’t worry. I intend to treat you as an equal… within reason.”
“Equal? Are we not talking about… you know… mating?”
“We’re not mating.”
“…We’re not?”
What a waste of time.
How did we even end up here?
This is why I avoided dealing with Claretta’s insane fantasies. But now there’s no way out.
“I need your labor, Miss Claretta.”
“My labor?”
“You will assist me. That’s all.”
“So… like a pet that comes when you call?”
“If you must oversimplify it, yes.”
“…For how long?”
“Until you graduate from the Academy.”
And after that, you’ll cling to me.
“So… basically, you’re saying I’m your dog now?”
“Miss Claretta, you don’t have a choice.”
“….”
“Unless, of course, you want to give the artifact back.”
“…You bastard.”
“Hmm?”
“You’re impressive, you know that?”
“…Excuse me?”
“I was expecting some dumb condition. But this? Not bad. You’re saying you need my help, right? Fine. I’ll help. This queen’s got your back, monkey boy!”
You really don’t get it, do you?
You’re my servant now.
And that artifact? It’s not some rare treasure.
You think it’s amazing, but it’s closer to a curse.
It draws every creature’s aggression.
When the monsters come, you’ll regret this soon enough.
But hey, you can’t survive without me anyway.
“Looks like we have a deal.”
“Yep! Don’t worry, monkey boy. I’ll take care of you!”
Dealing with her is exhausting.
I’ll have to go home and rest early tonight.
Just as I was about to leave, a sudden notification appeared in front of me.
[Laura Freeze’s obsession has escalated.]
[A twisted ‘malice’ has been added.]
[Your experience is ‘surging.’]
What the hell?
Looks like our little hero is unraveling.
Perfect.
This is exactly what I wanted.