NOVEL NEXT Chapter 192
Upon seeing the choices, the constellations sent their support, each expressing what they wanted.
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘A Good Season for Eating Ozthere’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111.]
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Even If I Can’t Eat it, It’s Okay’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[Definitely 2, definitely 2, definitely 2, definitely 2, definitely 2, definitely 2, definitely 2, definitely 2, definitely 2, definitely 2.]
Ding!
[The Constellation’ Minor Father-on-law’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[You really don’t know how to draw the big picture
ㅋㅋ
. If you stay at Ozworld’s mansion all summer, you can do both 1 and 2, so I choose 3]
“What’s with the ruby ring?” I asked about what seemed to be the most harmless option.
Ozworld then entered a shaded path, passed me the folded parasol, and took a ring box out of thin air. Inside was a ruby ring. Although it was different from the ring given to me in the meat dungeon, the fact that it was also adorned with ruby made me feel uneasy.
“You’re not suggesting I wear this on my ring finger, are you?”
“That would be interesting, but it wouldn’t be proper to ask an unmarried lady to do so.”
As if he assumed I would choose option 4, Ozworld nonchalantly slipped the ruby ring onto my left middle finger. “It would be best not to remove this ring.”
Ding!
[Quest: Do not remove the ruby ring until January 31
st
]
▸
Reward: Significant increase in affection
▸
Failure: Significant decrease in affection
January 31
st
was the end of the content. The directive not to remove the ring until then felt like a declaration to hinder any relationships with other male leads until the end.
The constellations reacted passionately, perhaps feeling similarly.
[Is Ozworld going for the official position?], [All aboard the Oz stock], [Isn’t it cheating for the channel manager to interfere?], and so on.
At the same time, the constellations supporting other male lead routes expressed their dissatisfaction.
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Channel Manager, Please Step Aside’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[If you’re going to do this, why didn’t you just start from the beginning
ㅋㅋ
? After getting attached to the other male leads, what kind of act is this?]
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘No Matter What, Clyde Is the Male Protagonist’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[Just save Clyde]
I looked at the ruby ring with feigned indifference. “Last time, it was a ruby, and now a ruby ring again. You really do like the color red.”
I’m starting to detest red now.
Ozworld, holding my hand, said something outlandish. “Did you know that in some countries on Earth, this is also where the wedding ring is worn?”
I didn’t know. Nor did I want to. What I wanted to know was what was going on in Ozworld’s head.
“So what are you trying to say? That you want to marry me?”
“That would have to be something you want to do with me, Miss Theresa.” Ozworld caressed the ring with slow movements, continuing his speech. “In this world, you must end up with one of the male leads to reach a complete ending, don’t you think?”
Before finding paradise, being tied to someone in an ending was completely unrelated to me. Ozworld knew that too, yet he deliberately spoke to me about endings.
Is he trying to interfere with my search for paradise?
Logically, Ozworld had plenty of reasons to obstruct me. The broadcast was successful, so he might want to keep things going as planned rather than having a sudden, unsatisfying ending. Yet, that reason alone wasn’t convincing.
Aside from Ozworld owning a large corporation and being a legendary channel manager, he doesn’t seem obsessed with success or viewership.
I’ve seen those who are desperate for success and viewership.
Wasn’t it Chehope, the number one channel manager? That tacky man trying to mimic Ozworld certainly seemed desperate for broadcast success. His ambition, obsession with success, jealousy, and inferiority complex towards the name proved that.
On the other hand, Ozworld seemed lukewarm. As if, well… the broadcast was a means to an end, not the goal itself. Though I’m not sure what that end might be.
“I really can’t figure you out.”
At my offhand comment, Ozworld reacted as if amused. “Do you want to know my thoughts?”
“Do you plan to tell me?”
“That depends on whether you make me want to.”
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Ozworld is Real World’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[How can I make you want to…? I’m ready to do anything…]
I was about to ask how but then decided against it. It would probably be some nonsense that would just annoy me.
Let’s set that aside for now.
“Now, give me back my ring.”
As I held out my palm, asking for the ring, Ozworld handed it over without any fuss.
He didn’t tamper with the ring, did he?
Given my near-zero trust in Ozworld, I immediately checked the ring for any abnormalities upon receiving it. Ozworld chuckled at my cautiousness.
“It’s good to be cautious, but that ring is just an ordinary ring.”
“…I was just making sure it was okay,” I grumbled and put the ring in my inventory before I could lose it again.
“That ring must be very precious to you.”
“Yes, it’s precious.”
“So you’re still wearing this grotesque thing?”
“What…?”
Before I could finish speaking, Ozworld removed his glove and placed his bare hand on my back. A chill was so intense it felt like it penetrated my bones and made me shiver as if he was rubbing ice against my skin. He was rubbing the spot where Clyde’s name had been partially engraved.
“This might hurt a bit. It’s as if we’re erasing a half-completed demon’s contract.”
The sensation of chilling cold made me shudder, but he pulled me in tighter.
“You’re doing well.” With a gentle voice, Ozworld soothed me and then removed his hand from my back. The pain subsided quickly, but the agony left me without the strength to stand without his support.
“Now, the traces of the demon’s contract are gone.”
I felt an odd emptiness at his words. Naturally, it was better to be without the traces of a contract with a demon. Anyone else might not notice, but Euges would realize immediately. In a way, Ozworld had given me a significant favor.
But why don’t I feel grateful?
It wasn’t because it was Ozworld’s help that I wasn’t grateful. Perhaps I felt a strange sense of relief knowing the remnants of the contract still existed, thinking it meant Clyde was still alive somewhere.
…Let’s not think weak thoughts.
“I’m okay now. Thank you.”
I pulled away from Ozworld and stood up on my own. It was time to resume the interrupted play.
“Shall we return to the mansion, Marquis Vallensia?”
Ozworld offered his arm, saying, “Let’s do that,” and we retraced our steps back to the mansion.
* * *
Honestly, I thought Ozworld would quickly return to his mansion. But what was this scene?
Ozworld was leisurely playing table football with Raul as if he were at his own home. Why was this board game, something you’d only see in a bar on Earth, suddenly in this world?
Raul, with the enthusiasm of a boy, furiously spun the handles, moving the soccer player figures on the rods. A goal was quickly scored. “Darn! This game is merciless.”
Giuseppe, watching the game with sparkling eyes, suddenly interjected. “I want to play this time! Father, play against me!”
“Alright, let’s see what you’ve got.”
The table football game quickly became the center of attention for all the men in the Squire’s mansion. And it didn’t stop there. At a table surrounded by various servants, including Roseanne and Libby, another board game brought out by Ozworld was underway. It was Bang, a card game similar to Mafia.
“
Ah
! How could you kill me, the sheriff, Lady Libby!”
“But Eloise, your expression was too suspicious.”
“I had noticed Lady’s identity early on and signaled to my aide.”
“Sorry, but winking is a bit…”
Everyone burst into laughter and enjoyed the atmosphere, while I, the only one out of place, hovered around Ozworld as if self-appointed to keep watch. I couldn’t take my eyes off him for a moment, not knowing what he might do next.
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Materialism’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[Using the excuse that the south is the empire’s biggest trading area to scatter all sorts of mysterious items verified on Earth
ㅋㅋ
.]
Ozworld quickly solidified his standing within the Squire’s mansion.
After a lively round of games, Roseanne approached Ozworld with a friendly gaze. “How does the Marquis have so many interesting and fun things?”
“I’m glad you like them.”
Thus, Ozworld had been staying at the Squire’s mansion for a week since he took me from the temple.
I’m tired.
I rubbed my sore eyes. Keeping on edge all day brought on a headache. Ozworld, on the other hand, made a point of getting along well with the people of the Squire’s mansion. In the end, the only one who seemed out of place was me.
Well, it’s okay.
Nothing had happened yet, and everyone was having a good time. My only concern was…
Surely, rumors that Marquis Vallensia has been staying here must have spread in society by now.
A young and handsome unmarried marquis. And a Squire family with two unmarried daughters. The kind of rumors that could spread from such a combination was easy to imagine.
“Excuse me.”
At that moment, Donovan, the butler, approached with a tray full of invitations and handed them to Raul and even more to Ozworld.
Raul chuckled. “Everyone seems curious about Marquis. Requests to be invited to the Squire’s house are flooding in.”
Ozworld shrugged and said, “Is that so?” then looked over at me, stuck in a corner. “Speaking of which, Miss Theresa, aren’t you going anywhere for the vacation?”