CHAPTER 61: THE CURSE OF THE UNWORTHY

I stare at her beautiful yet infuriating face, the kind that makes me want to puke in disbelief. I mean... I get it—she probably reset too, starting back from where she was before I became the author. But how the hell did she know where I live? And why come here? I thought she’d never want to see me again. After all, I was useless. I let her die... I—

"Did the cat bite your tongue, or are you just too stunned by my beauty?" She laughs.

Seriously... what is wrong with this girl? How can she laugh right now?

"I’d rather burn in hell than be into you. Now get off..." I push her away—gently, but firm.

"Tsk. Not even going to ask how I’m doing? Seriously, Quill, what a man you are... ahhh... your maiden risked her own life saving your little girlfriend, and you won’t even give me a kiss as thanks? And not to mention... you watched me die. Didn’t you feel like you missed me?" She hides her face behind her hand, tilting her head as if she’s some shy girl trying to make a boy fall for her. Seriously. Mentally ill.

"Of course I’m happy you’re alive..."

"But you knew that already, didn’t you? Mister All-Powerful." She shoots me a teasing smile.

"Who are you exactly? And why do you call my world a game?" I cut straight to the point. Somehow, with Anna, it feels easier to bring this up. Like she’s the only one reckless enough to talk about it openly.

But my question wipes that stupid expression off her face. She freezes, staring at me in shock.

"How do you know that?" Her voice rises, brimming with excitement, like she’s just discovered a brand-new toy.

Yeah... mistake asking her. But who else can I even talk to about this? My sister? Out of the question. She’d run the moment I pressed too hard. Only this brain-dead lunatic is stupid enough to blurt out things NPCs aren’t supposed to know—without a single thought for the consequences.

"Does that matter? Either answer my question or piss off. Seriously, I can’t stand you, Anna. Even if I’m happy to see you, you’re always finding new ways to make my day worse." I snap, the pressure of the past days boiling over.

"AHH! You finally admit it—you did miss me!"

Did she not hear what I said? Or is she just pretending not to care at all? I roll my eyes at that smug little smile, her damn lips curling into the same annoying amusement.

She’s like a witch or something. Maybe I really should burn her one day...

A thought runs through my head—it’s just a joke, don’t take it seriously, haha—but somehow it makes me feel a little better.

"Yes, yes, now quit dodging and tell me the truth."

She twirls around with her hands clasped behind her back.

"Nah... I don’t feel like it today." She sticks her tongue out teasingly, then turns her head just enough to smirk at me before glancing back up at the sky.

I swear, I need a quest where readers can bully Anna as much as they want. Maybe I should start crafting my own quests? How hard could it be? I’m the author, after all. WAIT—no, no, this isn’t what I should be thinking about right now. Damn this girl... she really knows how to scramble my brain.

"So why are you even here?" I ask, curiosity slipping into my voice as I follow after her. She strolls ahead lazily, swinging her hips like she’s on stage, clearly just playing around.

"To see you, of course." She giggles, light and mocking. "After all, it all ended so quickly... I didn’t even have the time to defend myself..." Her sigh drifts out, and then her tone shifts—heavier, darker. "They really are something, aren’t they?"

"Who?"

"The chosen ones, of course." She glances back at me, her eyes faintly watery.

"You mean Glorius’s party?" The words leave my lips, and I can’t deny it—the title suits them far too well.

"Mhm." She nods, then turns her back on me again, wandering forward. Only when I notice her steps aimed in the direction of Powder’s home do I realize—something is wrong here.

It has to be a coincidence, right? No way she knows where both of us live. Unless... did she stalk me before?!

"They’re all talented, sure—but why do you hold them so high?" I ask, suspicion dripping from my voice.

She pauses. Stops dead for a moment. A smile creeps across her lips, but it isn’t a real smile—it’s pained, almost bitter, and edged with jealousy.

"Because I was meant to be part of that party. But..." She steps closer, her hand rising to my cheek. "I fell in love." Her fingers graze my skin, her lips leaning closer.

"Drop the act already." I shove her hand away, and with my other hand, I grab her face and push her back, even as she puckers her lips like some idiot playing a joke.

"AHHH! Quill, seriously, how are you so good and bad with women at the same time? You’re still a mystery to me." She sulks, pouting. Then her tone shifts, sharper. "But you’re right. That’s not the only reason."

No. This was not your reason. Don’t lie to me, Anna. I curse her silently.

"My magic was too weak. My skills lean more toward battle than healing, but even then, I didn’t stand a chance against the other two damage dealers. So the system—or goddess, as we call it—deemed me unworthy. Cast me out. Left me to wander this game world like so many others who weren’t good enough. Just like your little sister. Just like the nameless ones in the Adventurer’s Guild. And countless more."

Her words cut sharper than her smile ever could. She isn’t holding back this time.

"And... we can’t leave. Even if we wanted to. We’re trapped here until the final boss is defeated—the one the goddess calls the last villain."

Her words hit me like a hammer. My soul trembles, because I know exactly what that means. The decision of who that last villain is... was given to me.

Oh, this is not good. Not good at all. I don’t fully understand everything she’s telling me, but one thing is clear. After today, my world will never be the same.