This Life, I Will Be the Protagonist

In the past, whenever Rita topped the rankings or trended, there were always voices demanding that she share her strategies for getting stronger.

Take her Orange-Red Light Wings, for example—while most players went straight to Eclipse Vanguard for guides, many still believed that Rita, being as powerful as she was, had a duty to share her knowledge.

Otherwise, she was being selfish.

Even if they meant no harm, there was always an undercurrent of resentment and bitterness in their words.

But at some point, that changed.

Maybe it was the day Rita helped all BS players increase their attributes and lifespan.

Maybe it was even earlier—the day she live-streamed herself taking down a Level 45 Boss in the Arena of All Races with just three shots.

No one asked her for guidance anymore.

It was as if they had collectively accepted that she was different. That her strength was something unattainable.

Not just strangers—even Rick, Samuel, and Scarlett had stopped bothering her.

Rick's reasons were easy to guess. But as for the other two…

She used to think they had simply given up. Realized they wouldn't get anything worthwhile from her and quit wasting their time.

But after that conversation with Avery, she suspected Eclipse Vanguard had something to do with it.

So when Shadow.Q messaged her to congratulate her, she casually asked:

—[Shadow.Q]: Congrats, I'm sticking with you for life.

—[Rita]: …,...

—[Shadow.Q]: Coded message? I get it. "Don't blow our cover," right? Got it! I won't say a word!

—[Rita]: I give up.

—[Rita]: By the way, did you guys do something about my family?

—[Shadow.Q]: Nope, we just relocated your parents to your brother's place. A family reunion, that's all.

—[Rita]: Whose bright idea was that?

—[Shadow.Q]: The commander. Does this arrangement work for you?

—[Rita]: It works.

—[Shadow.Q]: ∠(°ゝ°)

She wasn't surprised. Eclipse Vanguard had ways of figuring things out, and she had never hidden her disdain for her family.

So of course they stopped coming to bother her.

Samuel and Scarlett must be fuming. The more they failed to squeeze benefits out of her, the more resentment they'd build.

And thanks to Food God, all that anger would be redirected to Rick instead.

With the three of them living together—plus Black Jade—things must be getting real lively over there.

Now that she thought about it, Winter Sea Frenzied Shark's hatred for her had never been redirected.

Had his grudge reached a level beyond reason?

Or was it because they were in different worlds, separate dimensions, making redirection impossible?

Or… maybe the skill had already stopped working?

It had been a long time since she checked Rick's loyalty score toward her.

Closing the chat window, Rita turned back to Holy Cup and resumed watching Nivalis and Lidian bicker.

Holy Cup and North Year had been silently observing, choosing not to interfere.

Then, as Rita listened to Nivalis declare, "You guys don't know—she's a totally different person when she talks about Pine Bloom in private!" she suddenly thought of that [Die-hard] skill.

She glanced at Lidian, who looked like she wanted to say something but held back.

And suddenly, she understood.

Lidian wasn't trying to deceive Holy Cup, North Year, and the others.

She was afraid.

Afraid they might start feeling positively toward Pine Bloom.

Even when she talked about Pine Bloom with Rita and Nivalis, she only relaxed after realizing they weren't taking Pine Bloom's side.

And in the end, she still wasn't at ease.

She had deliberately framed her warning as "repaying a favor" before telling Rita about [Die-hard].

Was the skill's effect really that overwhelming?

Then why hadn't she just told Holy Cup and North Year outright?

She didn't believe Lidian's earlier excuse—that her feelings had nothing to do with the skill.

Her emotions when talking about Pine Bloom were genuine.

Yet there was one piece of evidence she couldn't cover up—that [Final Moment] fusion skill, which required deep trust and closeness between pet and master.

Lidian had given it away to Emperor Umbrella instead.

And then there was the fact that she had so easily told Rita about [Die-hard].

Truth and lies, mixed together.

Did Lidian love Pine Bloom or hate her?

Rita couldn't tell. Maybe Lidian herself didn't even know.

—

Before leaving Dragon Island, Rita pulled Lidian aside and asked, dead serious:

"Are you afraid they'll fall for Pine Bloom's tricks?"

Lidian said nothing.

Rita pressed on. "Then why not just tell them about [Die-hard]? That way, they'd take the threat seriously."

Nivalis, who had overheard, asked what [Die-hard] was.

Lidian made her swear not to tell Holy Cup, then explained the skill to her.

Then, she sighed and said:

"They would take it seriously. Seriously enough to storm Four Seasons City and kill Pine Bloom on the spot. But if I just curse her out and pretend I 'came to my senses,' they'll decide it's better to let her live—so I can spend my life 'reflecting' on my mistakes."

Rita: "So you don't want Pine Bloom dead?"

Lidian sighed. "She can't die. Lania Kaia needs Pine Bloom. BS is just fuel for Lania Kaia. And Lania Kaia is fuel for even greater worlds."

Rita's heart sank.

That oppressive storm she sensed in the World Battlefield… it hadn't been an illusion.

She had thought that if she could just climb over this mountain, she'd be free.

Now, standing at midway point, she realized—there were even higher peaks beyond.

She forced a smile, using humor to break the weight of the moment.

"...Damn. You're actually a wise old dragon, huh?"

Lidian smirked. "Obviously."

Then, almost casually, she said, "By the way, what's your current Divine Game? Looks like it's getting chaotic."

Rita blinked. "Huh?"

Lidian: "The World Battlefield chat's in an uproar. Maple Syrup's leading a player attack on the Safe Zone."

Rita froze.

Wait. Wait.

"You can read the World Battlefield chat?!"

Lidian hummed in amusement. "Mhm. Play enough times and you might get a similar reward."

Nivalis shot upright. "Aha! You slipped up! Didn't you say she barely shared rewards with you?"

Lidian lowered her gaze, looking the very picture of sorrow.

"She never gives me anything that would increase my power. Just little scraps like this. Leftovers from her table."

Nivalis collapsed to her knees. "I'm so sorry!!"

Rita: "..."

She was starting to see through Lidian.

At first glance, she seemed loud and emotional.

But deep down… she was dangerously manipulative.

Nivalis never stood a chance.

Or rather—Lidian had been playing with her the whole time.

Then, Lidian abruptly changed the topic.

"Oho! It's really happening now. They're winning big. Players are bragging about Maple Syrup being the commander. Oh! They're mentioning you, too. Calling you the 'Honorary Soldier.'"

Rita: "?!"

WHO?!

WHO DARED TO FRAME HER?!

Lidian, amused by the way Rita's eyes nearly popped out of her skull, kindly explained:

"Oh, it was Fat Goose. Said you got thrown into Abandoned Zone, found a way out, and then had a heart-to-heart mother-daughter meeting with Maple Syrup—which led to this whole battle."

Rita: "...That vile, vile Fat Goose."