“Will I ever see them again?”

Catherine asked me as she finally regained a sense of herself, to this I smiled and nodded my head,

“The world is a huge place, we can’t be sure that we won’t see them again”

My words caused a small smile to grace her face and just as she did the bubble that I had crested finally burst and the last command I kept gave in and took action as the two of us disappeared, the next moment I opened my eyes I was back at the top of the cliff that I jumped from, Catherine was beside me as her eyes scanned the surrounding,

“Marlene!”

She called out as she saw Marlene laying on the ground asleep, she didn’t hesitate as she ran up to her and started to check up on Marlene, while I too followed her soon, I wasn’t afraid of anything happening to her as I did place a failsafe on her in case if she faced anything difficult,

“How is she?”

I asked reaching closer,

“She’s fine, she just seems to be asleep”

Catherine replied as she checked upon Marlene, with her powers returning, she was at her peak, no more does her body feel weak, even then I have already achieved my objective with her, the only problem was Marlene, my eyes trailed over to her who was slowly opening her eyes.

All my plans for her went to the dump when I chose the path of killing that dragon, though I don’t regret it one bit, plus with Catherine’s heart in my hands, I am sure that I can make much more appealing situations for myself in the future,

“Catherine?”

Marlene suddenly spoke as she opened her eyes, her gaze filled with confusion,

“What happened?”

Marlene asked as she sat up on the ground, her hands rubbing her forehead,

“The last thing I remember is hearing that voice”

Marlene spoke, seemingly trying to piece together the last of what she remembered,

“Here drink some water, you will get better”

I spoke as I passed a water bottle to her, Marlene didn’t reject it as she started to take large sips, soon her completion turned for the better, though her expression soon turned to happiness quickly,

“My powers are back!”

The raw naked ecstasy could be felt in her voice but I shook my head at her,

“You are not completely free yet”

My words quickly damped her spirits as she looked at me, to this I pointed at Catherine as I spoke,

“Ask everything to her, I am tired, I need some rest”

Saying so I didn’t wait for any response as I plopped to a huge rock as I laid my back on it, my mind slowly running through the next plans I have set in motion. While Catherine with a helpless smile started to explain everything to Marlene whose eyes were widening by the second, of course, the story is something that I cooked up.

A story I created during the three days that I played the role of a father, its something made with lies mixed with some truth, well technically I told the story to Catherine during the hour we spend with the girls who went along with my story as they felt the need of me hiding my powers.

I told Catherine all about the dragon and all the things he did but I also added the fact that there was a rival dragon taken down by the ‘evil’ dragon. When this ‘good’ dragon died it used the last of its power to gather the power of the dead its spirits left behind.

So while the ‘evil’ dragon kept its torture, the ‘good’ dragon was slowly using the power of the fallen souls to make its last move, it had also joined hands with the three kids secretly, with all of them planning to take the ‘evil’ dragon down, I also added that we arrived at the perfect time, hence while both I and Catherine was in the delusion, the ‘good’ dragon had discreetly used its power to contact me to help.

Then from there on it was the normal shounen type troupe, I who regained my self played along with the dragon while taking his power in me, finally when the ‘evil’ dragon thought that it had won, all of us, the ‘good’ dragon and the girls, along with me made a sudden moved and we took down the ‘evil’ dragon after an epic struggle where I almost died, I also added that it was the ‘good’ dragon that healed Catherine.

There are some loopholes but thanks to the words of the kids and due to the everlasting effect of the position that now is gone Catherine’s trust in me is higher than ever, she took in it all with a sympathetic yet yearning loving gaze, not realizing that the trust now she has for me is probably higher than what she has for her own mother,

‘Manh…reading all those novels really helps built one’s imagination…..’

I was really thankful for those stories,

‘So system let me guess, Catherine’s affection for me is now above the 100 mark?’

[Affirmative]

‘It’s because of the poison along with the incident, right?’

[More or less, there’s also the fact that she didn’t have a normal childhood]

‘None of the capture targets seem to have a normal childhood’

[Well as you have guessed, this isn’t some game where they are just programs, since they go through such trauma, they will have the problems of such]

‘Yeah…yeah….I know’

Shaking my head I slowly relaxed my body and mind, it wasn’t easy playing like a dumb controlled idiot, it took more from me than I imagined, plus I couldn’t just blindly believe the game and relax, things could always go out of my control, hence I was always vigilant and on guard for any unforeseen situations that might arise, thankfully things went okay.

Focusing my will I started to feel upon the life force of my friends, feeling that they are all well I sighed in relief, I had already given them all the things they should do, and if they were successful, they will be more powerful than when they entered inside the secret realm.

While I was thinking so I felt Marlene’s presence come closer to me, still laying against the rock I opened my eyes as I looked at her, her eyes met mine as we stayed in silence, which didn’t last for long as she lightly bowed her head, making my eyes widen,

“Thank you for saving us and thanks everything you did, I Marlene swear upon my name that I shall pay this favor back a hundred folds”

Hearing her words I stayed silent for a moment, after which I shook my head, my eyes turned serious as I spoke,

“Is such words needed between friends?”

My cold words stumped Marlene as she raised her head, looking at me with surprise, I shook my head as I continued,

“I did what I would do for any of my friends, I don’t care about you repaying back the favor”

My rough words brought a smile onto Marlene’s face as she responded,

“How silly of me, you’re right, sorry I am wrong here”

Saying so without any hesitation Marlen marched up to me and sat beside me, her eyes gleaming as she spoke,

“Next time, I won’t be a burden”

She raised her hand for a fistbump and I complied,

“Sure, next time you can protect me”

I replied which brought a brought smile to her face,

“Of course”

While this was happening I saw a pouting Catherine looking at us.