The festival crowd was thickest near the northern edge of the courtyard, where
the Academy's illusion department had constructed the "Labyrinth of Terrors." It
was a massive, magically darkened maze filled with jump scares, illusionary
monsters, and drama students in elaborate costumes.
Cain stood near the entrance, watching Liora and Aera.
They were both still holding the plushies he had won for them. Aera was smiling
softly as she adjusted the ribbon on her water-spirit doll, and Liora was
quietly brushing a speck of dust off the black cat's ear. They looked relaxed.
Happy.
Cain's brow furrowed slightly.
He focused his intent inward, calling up the interface.
System.
A crisp blue window chimed into existence in his field of vision.
[ Sentience Protocol Online. What do you want, brick wall? ]
Explain the previous notification, Cain commanded mentally. Why did acquiring
those items elevate their morale? And what is the tactical value of 'Romance
EXP'?
The window paused, a small loading circle spinning for a second as if the System
was taking a deep, digital breath.
[ Answer: They are happy because you gave them a gift. Gifts indicate that you
are thinking about them as individuals, not just as squadmates. ] [ Romance EXP
is the metric of your progression toward a successful romantic relationship. If
it reaches zero, you die alone. If it maxes out, you achieve emotional
fulfillment. ]
Cain processed the data.
So, treating them as individuals increases morale and strengthens the tether.
Cain nodded slightly to himself. Understood. What is the next objective?
[ Notice: You are standing in front of a Haunted House. ] [ Romance Doctrine
Rule #4: In a scary environment, the targets will seek protection. Your
objective is to act as a reliable, comforting shield. ] [ Command: Protect them.
Be cool. Do not ruin this. ]
Acknowledged, Cain thought. VIP Escort Mission.
"Alright, we're going in," Rei announced, walking back from the ticket booth
with Alice. He puffed out his chest, flashing a confident smirk. "Don't worry,
Alice. I'll keep the fake ghouls away from you."
"I'm sure you will, Vanguard," Alice teased, linking her arm loosely through
his.
They stepped through the dark, fog-filled entrance. Less than ten seconds later,
a loud, terrifying roar echoed from inside, followed immediately by Rei shouting
a very un-heroic curse word. Alice's laughter drifted out into the night.
Liora stepped up to the entrance, looking into the gloom. "Illusionary fog. Poor
visibility. A classic ambush setup."
"It's just a game, Liora," Aera smiled, though she clutched her plushie a little
tighter.
"Stay behind me," Cain said, stepping in front of them. His voice was deadpan,
completely locked into mission mode. "I will clear the path."
Liora blinked, surprised by his sudden initiative, but a faint smile crossed her
lips. "Lead the way, Cain."
They entered the labyrinth.
The air was cold, and the corridors were pitch black, illuminated only by
flickering, eerie green lights. Creepy music played from hidden mana-speakers.
As they rounded the first corner, a massive, grotesque zombie-construct dropped
from the ceiling, letting out a bloodcurdling shriek right in front of Aera.
Aera gasped, stumbling backward.
Cain moved instantly.
He didn't scream. He didn't flinch.
He stepped into the zombie's guard, grabbed the actor by the collar of his
rotting costume, swept his leg, and slammed the poor drama student firmly
against the stone wall. Cain pinned the actor's arm behind his back in a
flawless, inescapable military submission hold.
"Threat neutralized," Cain announced calmly to Aera and Liora.
The actor in the zombie suit let out a muffled, terrified squeak. "I yield! I
yield! Please don't break my shoulder, man, I just work here!"
Liora stared at Cain, her jaw dropping slightly.
Aera covered her mouth, her shoulders shaking as she tried desperately to hold
back a fit of hysterical laughter.
A blue window aggressively popped up in Cain's vision.
[ CRITICAL ERROR! ] [ What are you doing?! He is an underpaid theater student,
not a Divine Executor! ] [ -20 Romance EXP for excessive force! ] [ Suggestion:
Let the zombie go and hold her hand, you psychopath! ]
Cain frowned. He released the trembling actor, who immediately scrambled away
into the fog, completely breaking character.
"My apologies," Cain said to the girls, adjusting his coat. "I miscalculated the
threat level."
"You certainly did," Liora said, though she was biting her lip to hide her
amusement. She stepped up beside him, her arm brushing his. "But... I suppose I
feel very safe."
Aera stepped up to his other side, still giggling softly. "You're supposed to
let them scare us a little, Cain. That's the fun part."
Cain looked at the blue window hovering in the air.
The doctrine is flawed, Cain noted internally. Neutralizing the threat before it
causes distress is tactically superior.
[ Status: I am dealing with a madman. ] [ +50 Romance EXP because they somehow
find your violent overprotectiveness endearing. I do not understand human women.
]
Cain dismissed the window, a faint, satisfied smirk touching his lips.
He was getting the hang of this.