The Boss Wants to Die - Chapter 16

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The boss wants to die.
Chapter 16
“No, I can’t.”
“You can’t?”
Akto echoed the question in a honeyed tone.
My neck prickled for no good reason.
I reflexively scratched at it and nodded.
“It doesn’t mean I’m actually going to be your real girlfriend.”
Once I’d found my footing, the rest of the words came tumbling out.
“I’m just acting for you. Don’t forget that. I’m your fake lover, for your happiness.”
‘But saying this won’t help his happiness at all.’
Yet no matter how the world turned, the words “do as you like” wouldn’t leave my lips.
I couldn’t predict what Akto would do.
He seemed like he’d perplex me with actions I could never imagine.
‘As an Evil God, there was never a situation I couldn’t control.’
I understood why I was so flustered.
‘But not with Akto. I can’t manipulate him on a whim.’
Akto was clearly doing as I commanded.
He obeyed orders docilely, and the contract made me the one in control.
‘So why can’t I twist Akto around my finger?’
He was, how to say it.
Too sweet and peculiar to bend to my will.
I bit my lower lip hard and glared at him. His expression clouded with embarrassment.
“Why are you angry again?”
It wasn’t anger.
It was frustration.
And he wasn’t even doing it on purpose.
This was absurd.
I couldn’t believe I was being swayed by his affection.
“I’m not angry.”
I bit my lower lip and turned away.
We were heading back to the Inn.
“Then why are you like this?”
Akto caught up with me easily, his long legs matching my pace as he asked.
“What good will knowing do you?”
“Then let it out.”
“Never mind. It’s fine.”
“But then there’s no point in pretending to be lovers. Nothing’s changed from before.”
“How much vicarious satisfaction are you looking for?”
“I need to get my investment back.”
I stopped walking and glared. Akto dropped his playful expression instantly and played ignorant.
I poked his chest with my finger, pressing the issue.
“How long are you going to keep talking about getting your investment back? You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? You’re trying to provoke me?”
“But you’re the one who said you wanted to die first…….”
Akto protested, his expression turning sullen.
“What?”
…….
“Don’t tell me you’re being this petulant just because I said I wanted to die?”
Akto wrapped his hand around my poking finger and gently lowered my arm.
“Don’t say that. Don’t say you want to die.”
…….
“Just that. Only that — don’t say it.”
Everything else was fine.
The mood in Akto’s lowered voice was pathetic in a way unbefitting him.
My resolve was wavering, so I raised my voice.
“This is ridiculous. Just get angry instead.”
“How am I supposed to know how to get angry?”
He laughed bitterly.
“You’ll regret saying that.”
“You’re not even scared when you get angry, so don’t worry and just do it. Here I am, Level 40, fretting over nothing…….”
Akto merely smiled without offering any answer.
“Anyway, I get it. I won’t say anything about wanting to die.”
…….
“People should believe what others say sometimes.”
Akto nodded, but his eyes showed no trust whatsoever.
His suspicion of me ran so deep that I found myself retracing what mistake I could have made in his eyes.
‘Have I spent my whole life being deceived?’
I placed a hand on my hip.
“Let’s talk about your happiness instead.”
As it happened, there was a bench in the Plaza.
I turned my direction toward it and sat down near the fountain.
The water stole the sun’s scorching heat, leaving a cool sensation in the air.
“You really do want to try romance, right?”
Akto, sitting beside me, answered while looking only at me.
“Something like that.”
“Then I’ll match with you appropriately.”
As I spoke haughtily while crossing my legs, the passing pedestrians stole glances at us.
The Evil God’s keen hearing caught the murmurs of the crowd.
“It looks similar to the rumors.”
“Rumors?”
“About the Evil God.”
“Are you stupid? Why would the Evil God be here? It’s probably just someone using Polymorph to look similar.”
I chuckled and continued speaking.
“I’ll pretend to be your lover, so be grateful. Do your best to find happiness. Understand?”
“I’ll try, but it won’t work.”
Akto stared pointedly at a group of male players whispering nearby as he spoke.
“You can’t make me happy.”
“You don’t know that.”
Obstinacy took hold of me, and I replied.
“Maybe if I kissed you, you’d reach paradise and find happiness? Then the game would be over.”
“I’m not that simple a man.”
He really was amusing.
I laughed openly and mocked him outright.
“You’d be happy just holding hands.”
“That’s probably true. Roun is beautiful, after all. Dizzingly so.”
He was speaking of the Evil God’s appearance, of course, but my heart trembled at the sound of my name from his lips.
Trying to divine his true intention, I looked at his face.
He was still watching the group of male players.
The group seemed frightened by Akto’s gaze and vanished into the distance.
I forced myself to regain composure and spoke.
“Of course. A god as strong and beautiful as I am is taking your hand in person—how could you fail to be happy? How could you even manage to be unhappy when I myself am agreeing to play your girlfriend?”
Akto watched me with warm eyes as I struck this haughty pose.
Somehow, I felt embarrassed.
When I say things like this, you’re supposed to protest a bit.
Self-absorption to that degree is practically a disease.
Rather than teasing me, he just looked at me as though everything I said was right, which made me feel even more ashamed.
I felt my face flush as I pressed on with difficulty.
“But remember this: I’ll set the pace. I’ll hold your hand when you’re cute, hug you when you do something pretty—that sort of thing.”
“But Roun, isn’t that what you do with a pet, not a boyfriend?”
At Akto’s gentle question, my face grew even hotter.
Now that he mentioned it, his words seemed right.
‘How embarrassing!’
I forced my trembling body to stay still.
Akto’s eyelids curved softly.
The way he looked at me—like I was some incredibly cute creature…….
‘Calm down. If I lose control here, my image will crumble.’
I continued my argument as nonchalantly as I could manage.
I couldn’t back down on this, since I had to be wary of letting Akto take the initiative.
“The person who wants something has to submit—that’s just how it is. This world runs on Survival of the Fittest.”
“Understood.”
Fortunately, Akto nodded and acquiesced.
“Fine. Then we’re starting now. Let’s do this right.”
At this thoroughly unromantic proposal—delivered as casually as requesting a handshake from a business contact—something shifted in Akto’s eyes.
He extended his hand and clasped my small one.
His palm was warm and dry, closing around mine with quiet firmness.
It was a large hand, muscular and strong.
My black nails, jutting out slightly from his grip, looked no bigger than grains of rice.
“There’s something I want to ask you.”
He spoke softly.
I raised an eyebrow, sharp and quick.
“What?”
“You’ve never had a boyfriend, have you?”
I tightened my grip, smiling sweetly all the while.
Though he was much larger than me, my strength outmatched his.
“Do you really think an Evil God needs a boyfriend?”
“Agh—no.”
“Exactly. So of course I haven’t.”
“Then how about I take the lead?”
His soft features asked the question almost shyly.
‘Cunning little thing. As if I don’t see right through you.’
I couldn’t afford to drop my guard for an instant.
“You wish! I’m running this show, so don’t even dream of it.”
“All right, all right—ease up. You’re really going to break my hand.”
I looked at Akto’s hand, drained pale from lack of blood, and laughed with shameless delight.
Seeing my expression, Akto shook out his tingling hand and muttered something.
“You know, whenever you smile like that, you look absolutely wicked.”
“What do you expect from an Evil God? That I’d be kind?”
I flicked my finger at the tip of his nose.
“So don’t get cocky.”
“Ow.”
He held his reddened nose, his eyes glistening with moisture.
“You said you’d keep me as a pet. The least you could do is be gentle with me. If you’re rough like this, I’ll cry, Master.”
“What are you saying!”
I spun around in alarm, glancing at the people around us.
Fortunately, it seemed no one had heard Akto’s perverted remark.
I stepped back from him—at least three paces—and gave him a contemptuous glare.
“Disgusting.”
“That’s too harsh.”
Akto feigned sadness without showing a trace of hurt.
I shook my head firmly and turned toward the Inn.
The safest way to get proper distance from Akto was to lock myself in my room.
I had no intention of stirring even an inch until late into the night.
‘I need to meet Mihaer.’
In any case, the plan was proceeding smoothly.
***
Four in the morning—the hour when people fall into their deepest sleep.
I confirmed three, four times that Akto’s breathing had deepened, then slipped out through the window.
Fortunately, the Leash had no distance restrictions.
As long as he didn’t notice, I could wander freely.
Grasping the window frame, I hung from the outer wall, swung my body a few times, and vaulted to the roof using only the strength of my arms.
My airborne form carved through the star-studded night sky before landing hard on the steeply pitched roof.
I caught myself on the chimney with one hand, steadying my balance.
“Should’ve put these on ahead of time.”
Muttering to myself, I pulled out the Cursed Red Shoes of Eternal Dancing and changed into them.
“Heart.”
“Yes, Master!”
A round bat tumbled out from the shadows with a cheerful chirp.
The wind was fierce at this height.
I held my tangled black hair in place with one hand and asked, “Where is Mihaer?”

“I’ve already informed them. They’re waiting for you at the designated location.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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