As if all the strength had been sapped out of her body, Mimi slumped over on the sofa. Her head landed on something firm and she weakly rolled over to stare at the ceiling. A handsome, frowning face came into view and blocked her vision, seeming to gaze at her upside down. She realized belatedly that her head was resting on Ant’s thigh. Surprisingly, the snake didn’t make any effort to remove her.

  Mimi’s head was throbbing and so she gently closed her eyes. Through the mental strain, she tried desperately to recall some of her memories. Not Nemesis’s memories, but her own. The ones from her life before entering the game. The harder she tried, the more her head ached, and she soon found that she could no longer remember details of her life from the real world.

  Since she had completely synchronized with Nemesis Cain, the only memories she had tried hard to recall were those associated with Love in the Kingdom of Darkness. There were a few lingering memories of her life here and there, but now they seemed to have all faded like photographs that were left out in the sun. What remained was a blank white space and some faint silhouettes. She didn’t doubt that soon, those would also disappear completely.

  Mimi had underestimated the system. All that time, she thought that her and Nemesis’s memories were merely blending together, making them harder to distinguish, like the merging of two incomplete souls into one. It turned out that Nemesis’s memories weren’t merging with her own, but overriding them completely. At the end of the road, would there be any part of Mimi remaining?

  Mimi… Mimi…

  Her name. She knew that it wasn’t her real name. It was simply a nickname that she preferred to be called by. But surely it had been short for something at one point in time. She knew that it was. But what was her true, full name? Mimi found that she could no longer remember…

  “Who is Mimi?” Ant suddenly asked.

  Mimi’s eyes immediately shot open wide. Had she accidentally said her name out loud? Her eyes met those golden-brown ones. Ant’s features were tinged with confusion.

  “Are you speaking nonsense again?” he posed casually. His voice was strangely softer than usual. “Maybe you caught whatever weird illness is going around.”

  He pulled out a handkerchief from somewhere and wiped the cold sweat off of Mimi’s forehead. Then he tsked before putting it away. “I can’t stand looking at sick people.”

  “It’s a nickname.”

  Mimi found the words leaving her mouth quicker than she could stop them. What reason did she have to stop them anyway? She had already said all kinds of strange things in front of Ant before. His opinion of her wasn’t great, likely thinking that she had a few screws loose. But at the same time, he never questioned the things she said.

  If she was going to die in ten days anyway, Mimi decided to throw caution to the wind. She had forgotten her own name. All that remained was this simple nickname. If she even forgot that, it would be too tragic. Maybe there could be at least one person to remember. This game character whose memory wouldn’t be overridden could unknowingly carry a piece of her with him. So, she found herself explaining to him.

  “It’s like how you call yourself Ant. It would be nice if you could call me that.”

  Ant scoffed. “How do you know Ant isn’t my actual name?”

  I have a system window that tells me all about you. Besides, we met before in a game once.

  Mimi smiled weakly, yet the hint of teasing wasn’t missed. “I don’t believe any mother would willingly name their child after an insect.”

  Ant’s expression turned complicated. “If you say so, but I don’t think our relationship is good enough for me to call you by a nickname. How did you even get ‘Mimi’ from the name Nemesis anyway?”

  He stopped talking abruptly when he felt a smaller, soft hand wrap around his own. The grip was weak but urgent, and he looked back to see a spark of something ignited in those blood-red eyes.

  “Please,” Mimi begged. “Even if you don’t use it, just remember it. I don’t want to lose anymore of myself.”

  The tearful plea in front of him made Ant’s frown deepen. He had never seen the eccentric girl look so desperate, but the sensation wasn’t unfamiliar. It stirred a deep emotion in him that hadn’t been felt in a long time. Not since he was a tiny snake, curled up by the roadside with his body bruised and bleeding. The hand that had reached out to save him then had been like the heavens answering his prayers. And now, Nemesis Cain was asking him to be that hand.

  Ant hated the sick. He hated taking care of people. He didn’t want anyone to rely on him. But he had always been terrible at ignoring those on the brink of desperation.

  With a reluctant sigh, he tilted his head back. “Fine, I won’t forget it.”

  The body below him seemed to relax, and his hand was finally released. Mimi felt immensely relieved. Even after receiving the shocking news from the system, at least she had one safeguard. Now she knew that even if she failed, at least one person would have encountered the real her. It was strangely reassuring.

  But now, it was time to come up with a plan. The system’s deadline threw a wrench in her previous plan. Her prior plan involved taking things slow and completing the objectives one by one over time. Trying to complete all three within ten days… frankly, it seemed impossible.

  Becoming more villainous was the easiest of the three by far. There were countless things the system seemed to constitute as being evil, and Mimi didn’t mind kicking things up a notch if it meant her own survival. The only downside was that it would make her more hated not only by the players, but also the other characters in the game. Her own personal goal of capturing Sir Arius’s heart seemed to be getting further and further out of reach.

  The truly difficult tasks were making Ant more likeable to the players and breaking up Dimitri and Iliana’s love. The main reason was that these points seemed to run contradictory to each other. She could use Ant to drive a wedge between Dimitri and Iliana, as was her original plan. However, doing so would make Ant more hated by the players. After all, this was still Dimitri’s route. The players on this route had the end goal of being with Dimitri. Anyone who came between that would be subject to their ire.

  If Mimi didn’t want to use Ant, that also came with problems. Firstly, their mutual collaboration was built on the fact that Nemesis would help Ant win over Iliana. If she tried to keep them apart for long, it was likely that Ant would become uncooperative and do something reckless on his own.

  Secondly, Ant winning over Iliana in the next ten days was improbable. The protagonist was a deeply mistrusting individual due to things she had to undergo in her past. It took a lot for her to open up to many of the love interests. On top of that, she was already in love with Dimitri at the current point in time. Making her fall out of love and into love with someone new was extremely unlikely.

  There had to be a way to accomplish all three of the system’s stipulations at once. This was still a game, and a game that couldn’t be won shouldn’t exist. After thinking it over, all arrows seemed to point back to one thing:

  She had to uncover whatever plot involving her was brewing behind the scenes.

  Dimitri’s willingness to let her out of the dungeon and the Emperor’s insistence on keeping her alive could only mean that she was useful to them. She needed to know the exact details in order to understand what kind of leverage she had. Whatever it was, it had to be pretty big. If she could use that leverage to split Dimitri and Iliana up, it would be a win-win.

  The split would no longer be Ant’s fault and he could swoop in on a newly single Iliana. The players couldn’t be upset at him since it was no longer his fault things went south. Once again, Nemesis would be making herself the main culprit. Therefore, her own villainy would surely rise. All three of the system’s boxes would be checked off. Once again, the only downside was that Arius’s dislike for her would surely increase as well. The life of a villainess was lonely.

  When it came to Sir Arius or her life, she only hesitated for a moment before throwing Arius away in her mind. It was upsetting, but more than love, deep in her heart she found a strong desire to live. It overrode all else. The sudden primal, overwhelming need to survive seemed to be deeply ingrained into her. She had the faint suspicion it had to do with her previous life, but she could no longer remember.

  One phrase seemed to echo repeatedly within her like a mantra.

  I don’t want to die!

  No matter what, she would find a way to survive within the next ten days. Then, maybe after she was alive and well, she could try again to win over Arius.

  For some reason, a memory seemed to float to the surface. It was clearly one of Mimi’s own memories, but it was still somehow intact. Maybe because it was more of a story than a memory of her own making. The story felt relevant to her current predicament. It rose into her consciousness like a bubble about to pop. Eager to cling onto it before it disappeared, she found herself speaking aloud.

  “Ant, I have a question for you.”

  He looked down at her suspiciously. This person had been strangely quiet and now randomly wanted to ask him something. As always, her ever-changing attitude confused him. “What is it?”

  “I once read this story about a man and his lover. She was trapped in the underworld where he couldn’t reach her, but eventually, he found a way to rescue her. The only rule was that as they were leaving, he wasn’t allowed to look back and make sure that she was still there. Otherwise, she would remain trapped in that place forever.”

  If Ant wanted to be with Iliana, he would have to do the same. Before Iliana and Dimitri were separated, would he be able to avoid looking back at her? If he were to do anything rash, she might slip away forever, the fans of the game would surely hate him, and Nemesis would die.

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  “If it were you and Iliana… would you look back?” she asked him.

  Ant scoffed. “What a stupid question. Of course not. What fool would make such a simple mistake?”

  “I see… The man in the story, he looked back and lost her forever. It’s dumb, right?” Mimi nodded like she agreed with his point of view. That was the logical line of thinking, after all. However, on the inside, she actually felt that that was wrong.

  “Absolutely. What tragic tales have you been reading? Sounds like a waste of time.” Ant spoke as though the choice were obvious. But was it really so easy to not look back?

  Mimi smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Maybe you’re right. Or maybe, it’s love that makes people foolish.”

  Mimi thought that the reason the man in the story looked back was because he loved her so dearly. He couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her to the point that his love outweighed his rationality. Looking back was foolish, but it was proof of how much he cared about her. Somebody who had never felt love couldn’t understand his actions.

  To be able to proclaim so proudly that he would never look back for the one he loves, Mimi found herself looking at Ant with something akin to pity.

  You poor fool. What you feel for Iliana isn’t love. It’s obsession. You just don’t know the difference.

  “What is the point of this question?” Ant asked her.

  Mimi sighed before sitting up. She felt a bit better now that the shock of the system’s message had reduced somewhat.

  “In the coming days, you will need to approach Iliana as little as possible,” she told him.

  “Why?” Ant’s face immediately took on a shadow of displeasure.

  Because I’ll die!

  She wanted to scream and shake him by the shoulders but she forced herself to remain calm. “Like the man in the story, only by not looking back can you attain her love. She will not accept you easily. A direct approach will only make her go to somewhere you can’t reach her.”

  Realization seemed to dawn on him as he connected this line of thinking with the story he’d just been told.

  “You confidently said that you wouldn’t look back. Prove it to me,” Mimi said.

  “How can I trust that what you’re saying is right?” he questioned. He still appeared skeptical.

  “Don’t fret. I have a plan. Approach her first as a snake. Stir the memories of her rescuing you to garner sympathy before revealing yourself fully.”

  Ant hesitated. “Are you sure that will work?”

  “Yes, I guarantee it. Just promise me that you will approach her no more than three times in the next ten days,” Mimi said.

  In reality, Mimi couldn’t guarantee anything, but she figured three was a good number. It would raise the players’ sympathy for Ant’s character while still limiting him from doing something crazy out of her sight. Meanwhile, Nemesis would be left to handle most of the visible dirty work herself. She would only use Ant for things not directly ‘evil’. Hopefully, that would leave herself as the sole object of the players’ hatred.

  “Fine,” Ant agreed. “But if there is no progress after ten days, I’ll take matters into my own hands.”

  Mimi breathed a sigh of relief.

  No problem. If there’s no progress after ten days, I will be dead.

  Even though she had seemingly dealt with the most dangerous wild card, she still couldn’t rest easy. The Ant from the game was unpredictable and borderline irrational. He was someone who let his obsession cloud his judgement to a worrisome degree. Mimi just hoped he wouldn’t reach that point within the system’s given timeframe.

  In addition, she had to uncover the hidden plot within the next ten days. She was betting on the advantage she gained being able to overturn everything in her favor. All in all, Mimi was taking on two huge gambles. For the sake of her life, she hoped that they paid off.

  System, what is my current VP Total?

  [ SYSTEM: Current VP Total: 15 ]

  Mimi had racked up quite a bit over the last two days.

  Can no further benefits be purchased?

  [ SYSTEM: That is correct. The story has not reached the progression point to unlock further benefits. ]

  So rather than clearing an objective, there was a specific point in the story that must be reached. Mimi wondered when exactly that would be. The original plotline was due to end tomorrow, so maybe it was tomorrow?

  Still, that wasn’t really what she had called the system for anyway.

  Show me Ant’s Character Attribute.

  [ SYSTEM:

  Character name: Anteros Theron

  Affection Lvl: 10%

  Character Attribute: Yandere

  Current VP Total: 14 ]

  What the-? The Affection Level went up?

  But she didn’t have time to care about that now. Mimi looked at the name of Ant’s Character Attribute and wanted to cry. Of course, Love in the Kingdom of Darkness was an otome game after all. Up until now, it lacked the quintessential yandere character, so Mimi had the sneaking suspicion that Ant was created to fill that gap from the very moment she met him in her own playthrough.

  Still, having a hunch and seeing it being proven before her eyes were two very different things. That was why she couldn’t rest easy even after getting Ant’s verbal agreement not to do anything hasty. She wasn’t sure what kind of ability an attribute like ‘Yandere’ could grant, but whatever it was couldn’t be good. She would have to keep a close eye on him.

  –

  A few hours later.

  Mimi had spent the time trying to rest, tossing and turning in bed with a headache. Every time the pain subsided, a new memory would surge forth and start the throbbing all over again. Ever since the system told her that she would die, it seemed to be getting worse.

  The memories that came to her were impossible to decipher, but they all involved Love in the Kingdom of Darkness. Mimi just wasn’t sure if they were Nemesis’s memories or her own memories from playing the game. Those were the only memories of Mimi’s that remained, after all. Anything not related to the game had been erased.

  Ant had returned to reading a book on the sofa, but Mimi didn’t miss the way he would occasionally glance up any time she groaned and rolled over under the covers. Still, he didn’t offer any words of comfort and would go back to reading just as quickly.

  Mimi didn’t know where the sudden affliction she felt came from. Even the system had become strangely quiet. Each time she called on it, there was a bit of a noticeable lag compared to before.

  I thought the system’s performance was connected to my well-being. So what will happen to the system if I die?

  …

  [ SYSTEM: Without the user, this system will naturally go offline. ]

  Then why make things difficult for me? Don’t you also want to survive?

  …

  [ SYSTEM: This system has no concept of ‘survival’. This system was created for the user. Without the user, there is no need for this system’s existence. However, this system also wants the user to succeed. That is why this system extended the deadline. ]

  Mimi felt that there was no point in talking to it anymore.

  When there was a knock announcing the doctor’s arrival, Ant swiftly turned back into a snake. Mimi threw the covers off and clawed her way out of bed, her body feeling heavy. Maybe on top of information, the doctor could also help fix whatever was wrong with her. Although, she had a feeling that it wouldn’t be that easy.

  She opened the bedroom door, revealing the man on the other side. He was slightly taller than her with long, beautiful blonde hair. He had a pair of small rectangular glasses perched on the edge of his nose and wore a long coat that nearly reached the floor. His features were graceful and he was what the girls on the forum liked to call a ‘pretty boy’. The only thing that disrupted that image were the dark circles under his eyes giving the impression that he hadn’t slept in many hours.

  Mimi remembered the man from the game. He was a prominent recurring character in many of the routes. However, he was not a love interest, much to the disappointment of many players. Perhaps the developer was saving him for a future route, or perhaps he was always meant to be an unattainable beauty. Regardless, he was someone familiar.

  “Hello,” the man greeted. “How are you feeling, Nemesis?”

  He didn’t bow to her like most staff in the castle did. He also addressed her by her first name. The reason for that was, of course, that they had known each other since they were young. Although they didn’t spend much time together, this man was raised in her family’s estate under the care of the head physician. They grew up in the same orbit, and even both ended up in the palace.

  When Nemesis was first sent to live in the palace, this man was sent as well in order to continue his studies. At the time, he was one of the only familiar faces to her, so she felt comfortable around him. Any formality between them felt award, despite their difference in class. It was the one exception the previous Nemesis made.

  Ding!

  [ SYSTEM:

  Character Name: Eris Galen

  Affection Lvl: 75%

  Character Attribute: Currently Unavailable ]

  Such a high Affection Level. Plus, my own feelings towards him are positive. Could he really have sold me out?

  There was only one way to find out. But first thing first, Nemesis opened the door wider for him and stepped aside, letting him enter. Eris strode right in without hesitating.

  “I do feel a bit unwell, but I don’t think it’s from the venom,” she told him honestly.

  The doctor glanced at her with a serious expression. “Go lay down first. Then I will check your condition. I’ve never known you to be seriously ill before.”

  Nemesis did as she was told and laid back on the bed. Eris pulled up a chair beside her and began to examine her condition starting with her pulse. As he was working, a snake had slithered onto the other side of the bed, watching him curiously.

  Eris looked at the creature with an unamused quirk of his brow. “Isn’t this animal the one that bit you? Why are you still keeping it around?”

  “He’s my beloved pet,” Nemesis told him with a chuckle.

  Eris was going to suggest letting him dissect the snake and study its venom properties for making antidotes, but Nemesis seemed totally unperturbed by the snake’s presence, so Eris just shrugged and let the subject drop.

  “What are your symptoms?” he asked.

  “Mostly headaches and fatigue,” Nemesis answered.

  Eris’s expression suddenly brightened, already forgetting about the snake. It was almost alarming how quickly his demeanor changed. Before he had appeared totally drained of energy, but now he was visibly buzzing with anticipation. He leaned forward eagerly.

  “Is that all?” he asked. “Is it also accompanied by flashes of strange memories?”

  Nemesis was shocked. “How did you know that?”

  “Because,” Eris said with an excited twinkle in his eye, “right now, I have an entire infirmary full of patients saying they’re experiencing the exact same thing.”