It took me by surprise just how much strength I'd used when I punched that rich bastard.
When I saw him trying to drag Alice away like that, anger flooded me. Without thinking twice, I spent the Currency Points I'd earned through the system and upgraded my stats.
I put it all into Strength. A single stat point cost about two CP, leaving me with three CP for emergencies.
I never imagined that one small upgrade would make such a massive difference. I had to admit—punching Brian had felt… satisfying.
[Host punched an asshole and established dominance]
[That deserves a reward]
[+0.5 CP]
[+1 Confidence]
[+5 EXP]
[Leveled up!]
I smiled inwardly. The system actually rewarded that?
[Individual Alice has been designated as a Heroine]
[After being saved, her Affection toward you has increased to 78]
Seventy-eight?
Wait—WHAT? How was it that high?
[Alice has always harbored romantic feelings for the Host for a long time]
[New Quest Triggered]
[Raise her Affection to 100 and claim your first loyal Heroine]
I stared at the screen, trying to process everything at once.
Alice had always had a crush on me?
I'd always thought she was way out of my league. I mean, a day wouldn't pass by without a man or two trying to ask for her number. And with how decisively she rejected guys, I never wanted to end up lumped in with them, so l kept my distance.
Could it be… she rejected them all because she wanted me?
Urgh, let's not get cocky, now, alright... a voice in my head mocked.
Then I felt arms wrap around me from behind, soft and trembling, but warm, followed by her squishy C-cup mounds pressed against my back.
"T-thank you…"
It was Alice. She was already sobbing into my shirt. She really was fragile.
"Thank you so much," she repeated shakily. "I—I don't know what might've happened if you weren't here."
"Don't cry, Alice," I said gently, my voice warm. "I'll protect you. Always."
[Alice Affection Level: 82]
It went up again?!
What the hell?
At this rate, she'd hit a hundred soon.
Wouldn't it be smarter to spoil her rotten with the Black Card? If she reached 100 AL for me after that, then I'd get the 10% of the money spent on her.
After a while of hugging me from behind, she finally pulled away from the hug and wiped her tears.
"You've been through a lot today," I said. "How about I take you out to eat? Just to relax."
She sniffled, then forced her usual radiant smile. "Don't worry. I'm okay now."
"Please," I insisted. "Let me."
"We're still working, silly," she said, returning behind the counter. "Let's wait until lunchtime, okay?"
"Then at least let me buy you a bottle of water."
I wanted to see if the Black Card really worked.
She sighed. "Well… if you insist."
I walked to the fridge and deliberately picked the most expensive bottle that cost five dollars.
Her mouth fell open. "W-woah! That one's too expensive! Just get normal water!"
I smiled at her. "Nothing is too expensive for a beauty like you."
Her cheeks instantly turned red.
[Alice Affection +2]
I clenched my teeth.
This girl was falling for me—and fast. What the hell?
At the same time, even I was surprised at myself. The old me would've never flirted like that. Was this because my Confidence stat had increased?
I let out a quiet sigh and pulled out the Black Dragon Card.
Her eyes locked onto it and widened.
"M-Mark… where did you get that?"
I couldn't exactly tell her a demon gave me a system, which later rewarded me with a card.
I scratched the back of my head and dodged the question. "You know of this card?"
"These are legendary cards," she said breathlessly. "Only a handful of elites in the entire country have them. I think only three people are known to possess one." She stared at it like it was unreal. "I've only seen pictures. Is this real? Where did you get it?"
Only three in the whole country?
And now I was the fourth?
Damn… l didn't I'd become kind of a big deal.
Don't get cocky..... the voice in my head reminded me again.
At least not before confirming the card works.
"It was… a gift," I said to Alice.
"A gift?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah. From my father," I lied through my teeth. "He's supposedly one of the elites. Maybe this is his way of apologizing for not being around in my life."
"Your father…" Her gaze lowered. "At least yours remembered you."
That bastard wouldn't do something like this. He disappeared without a trace to god-knows where. I wouldn't forgive that scum no matter what.
But I didn't say that.
Thankfully, Alice seemed to believe my story. "Let's just hope it's not fake," she said with a soft chuckle. "Fathers who disappear aren't exactly trustworthy."
"Yeah," I chuckled back."You're right."
It seemed she had her own daddy issues. Was that why she never attended school?
She scanned the QR code on my card and handed the device to me.
"PIN."
I entered my date of birth.
Ding.
Payment successful.
Alice's eyes sparkled. "It worked!!"
Relief washed over me.
So it was real. I really was a trillionaire.
A strange confidence settled into my chest. They weren't lying—money really did change how a man carried himself.
The exhilaration flooding my body was indescribable, like something dormant inside me was finally waking up.
"So," I said, flashing my best smile, "what do you say, Alice? Wanna go on a date with me?"
"A-a date?" she stammered, her face burning red. "Y-you mean… a real d-date?"
"Yes," I said, leaning in until our faces were inches apart. "A real date."
Why did my voice sound so smooth?!
Her face only grew redder. She shyly covered it with her hands, and I could practically feel her heart pounding.
Suddenly, she crouched behind the counter, mumbling over and over, "A date… a real date with Mark…"
I smiled. "Think about it, okay? Today after shift or any day you're comfortable."
With that, I returned to work.
The rest of the day passed slowly. Customers came and went. A few guys tried hitting on Alice and got shut down instantly.
I watched it all silently, smiling to myself.
The girl who rejected so many men, decent-looking ones too had such a high Affection Level toward me.
An average nobody. Knowing she'd liked me even back when I was hopelessly in love with Enny made me realize just how blind I'd been.
I really was a fucking idiot.
Thankfully, being Sunday, the shop closed at noon.
Darren never returned, so Alice locked up.
We walked side by side afterward.
She seemed shyer than usual, fidgeting with her fingers, gaze fixed on the ground.
I had to look down to see her properly—she was really short, with pink bubblegum-cut hair that suited her perfectly, a body not too tiny or too chubby, just perfect. Her bright jade eyes added to her allure.
When we reached the taxi stop, she suddenly stopped and looked up at me.
"At three."
"Hm?" tilting my head.
"We'll meet at three. At Langa Mall. I'll be sitting by the fountain." She glanced away, cheeks flushed. "F-for the date."
I smiled and gently patted her head. Her hair was soft. "Yeah. I'll see you there."
And with that, we boarded separate taxis, each heading off to prepare for our first date.
TBC