This Life, I Will Be the Protagonist-Chapter 497 - 496: Divine Game – Chaotic Restaurant 17

Rita sighed. "I waited for you to reach out to me with a warm heart, but since you won't, I guess I'll have to press my cold heart against your warm one instead."

"Yes," B80234615 confirmed before elaborating. "Most information related to game mechanics is like your own perception of game rules. I can only answer if you ask the right questions."

That confirmation felt like a final verdict.

Rita turned her gaze toward the street ahead—the same one they had walked down just seconds ago. Floating in the air was Potted Fortune, freshly revived and already surrounded by players.

Just like what happened to Black SpringMud Bears before…

This game revives players at the same location they died.

A sinking feeling settled in her chest.

Ten deaths, and you start losing God-Given Talents.

What a terrifying punishment system.

And in the World Battlefield, the fact that she stole Winter Sea Frenzied Shark's God-Given Talent was no secret.

As the game continued, more and more players would realize the consequences of death.

Some, like Marmang-Crab, might deduce the death escalation rules through experience.

Others would figure it out through observation—by watching the costs of resurrection grow with each death.

And since revival happened on the spot, that meant—

As long as they caught her, they could farm her deaths repeatedly, until they forced Winter Sea Frenzied Shark's God-Given Talent to drop.

What if, by the tenth death, the revival cost didn't trigger [Midnight Exile]?

Then they'd kill her an eleventh time. A twelfth time.

Until Midnight Exile was forced out.

Right now, in this Divine Game, she was like a rare hidden boss that only spawns during a limited-time event.

And not even a particularly difficult one.

Rita turned to look at Marmang-Crab, who was already looking back at her.

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Neither of them spoke.

There was no need to.

Marmang-Crab was definitely interested in [Midnight Exile].

It was impossible not to be.

Not just Marmang-Crab—Maple Syrup, Pine Bloom, Mistblade…

Everyone who knew about Midnight Exile wouldn't just let it go.

Yet, Marmang-Crab hadn't made a move against her.

Was it because he had only just figured out the escalating death penalties?

No. She quickly ruled that out.

During their time in the restaurant, they had only heard Black SpringMud Bears mention his own death penalty.

But Marmang-Crab had gone out multiple times to farm Mischief Score.

With his strength, there was no way he hadn't killed at least two players.

And if he'd gotten two kill rewards, he must have noticed the death escalation pattern.

Was it fear of the octopus boss?

Maybe, but not entirely.

Because earlier, when Black SpringMud Bears and Pine Bloom had gone out, Marmang-Crab had been alone with her.

And even then, he hadn't attacked.

This game didn't prevent teammates from fighting each other.

One by one, she eliminated all the wrong possibilities…

And then, she realized the truth.

These strong players didn't refrain from attacking her because they didn't want to.

They were waiting.

Waiting for her to die enough times—and only then would they fight for her.

That way, they could minimize the number of times they broke their own exclusive game rules.

She was already struggling with her first-stage exclusive rule, which practically prevented her from slaughtering weaker players.

For those high-tier powerhouses, their exclusive restrictions were surely even harsher.

Rita slowly lowered her gaze to the robe she was wearing—the one Pine Bloom had given her.

This robe…

It probably wasn't just a gift.

Was it a mark? A tracking device?

She let out a sigh. "So this is what my real bad luck looks like?"

"Yes," B80234615 replied.

"I thought it'd be something small, like Pine Bloom choking on water."

"How do you know that was something small?"

"Fair point."

"Do you regret it? If you do, you can always destroy me."

"Not yet," she admitted. "But who knows about the future."

"Your honesty at critical moments is truly ruthless."

"But you don't dislike that about me." She smirked. "Neither did Nivalis."

B80234615 examined the emotion panel it was running.

It was merely a calculated conclusion, but it said, "Using 'don't dislike' is too mild. You could say 'like.'"

Rita went silent for a moment, then asked, "So… my real bad luck started the moment I took you out of the Abandoned Zone?"

If she hadn't taken B80234615, she never would've received the Snowfield Pact in time.

And because of that, she had rushed into this game too quickly.

Instead of her usual routine—resting for a month or more after a Divine Game, stabilizing her power and resources before re-entering—

She had jumped into this one just half a month later.

And not just any game.

She had entered one of the highest-level combat zones.

Looking around, that 12th-tier chef from earlier was one of the weakest players here.

Maybe Winter Sea Frenzied Shark was here, waiting for her.

Maybe every player who had ever suffered at the hands of Midnight Exile was waiting for her.

A game with no exits. On-the-spot revivals. Death penalties that stole God-Given Talents.

This game was like a death match between venomous creatures.

If she made one wrong move, she would fall into an abyss.

"Yes," B80234615 finally answered. "Can I ask you something?"

Rita sighed. "I wish you'd ask me first before stabbing me in the heart with your words…"

"Go ahead."

"Why aren't you afraid?"

Rita froze.

…She really wasn't afraid.

Even after analyzing her terrifying situation, her mind was focused on solutions.

What if she lost [Midnight Exile] or [One-Person Party]? How would she start over?

Would [Moment of Reversal] be enough?

Should she re-enter High Tower?

Could she exchange her less-important World Graveyards for resources?

She felt pressure. A sense of urgency.

But no fear.

"You ran a simulation on my facial expressions, didn't you?"

"Of course. Statistically speaking, you should be terrified."

Rita scoffed. "You think I care about what's 'statistically speaking'?"

B80234615 didn't let up. "You're BS's rising star. Humanity's beacon of hope. People admire you, idolize you, support you.

"The weak pin their futures on you."

"But after this game, you might lose everything."

"Admiration will turn to mockery. Worship will become disdain. Eclipse Vanguard will revoke all support."

"Broken hopes will breed hatred. You will fall from the top."

"Maple Syrup will look at you with disappointment. Nivalis will never be able to raise her head in front of Lidian again. Apache might be kinder—he'll probably just tell you to focus on alchemy instead."

Rita: "…Okay, okay, that's enough."

"I analyzed your face. You really aren't scared. BS Rita, you're incredible."

"Oh, come on!"

"What?"

"I hadn't even thought about half that stuff!" Rita groaned. "And now you've just dumped it all on me—look at me, I'm stressed! I'm actually stressed now! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!"

B80234615: "…."

B80234615: "I don't want to talk to you anymore."

Rita: "GOOD! ME NEITHER!"