The Broken System Chose the Antagonist
Chapter 17: I Don’t Understand Her!

Chapter 17: I Don’t Understand Her!

Hilda walked steadily down the road with her arms folded behind her back, a habit of hers whenever she walked or stood in place.

Occasionally, she threw glances back at Nadia to check on her mood. And was pleased when she discovered the woman wasn’t making any plans to take her life.

’The shock of losing that overwhelmingly must have done something to her psyche. Not that it’s a bad thing, for me.’

If Nadia had continued to try to save her life, Hilda would have had to resort to other ways to keep her from doing that.

Like.

Finding rope, or something.

’Although having to resort to that would make her feel more like a burden...’

There were still some things she wanted to learn more about the system; thus, she still required Nadia alive. Not like she was planning on killing the woman, anyway.

’Ah... I guess I should look at that quest.’

Hilda summoned the floating screen and went to the Quest tab using her mind.

[Quest: Save Nadia and Ensure Ben’s Survival]

[Importance: High]

[Reward: 100 SC]

[Status: Failed]

When she had first found the two, she was immediately prompted with this quest—one that rewarded her with the exact amount of points for a single pull!

Unfortunately, when she had arrived, Ben had already been inflicted with the hazardous wound. So, it was at that moment and during the time they were being chased that Hilda had to decide between two things.

It was to either do everything in her power to keep Ben alive and prolong his suffering, assuming that the day of extraction would be the deadline. Or to save just Nadia, while removing someone who could hinder their movements and endanger their lives in the process.

’The smell of blood is a favourite amongst Predicaments. Especially when it’s coming from something constantly moving.’

That was because, in their mind, a creature that was running around bleeding was considered easy prey.

’Choice between either developing a gambling addiction, or making the logical solution to end someone’s suffering while saving another person in the process.’

"Haa..."

Even if Hilda wanted to save Ben, that decision would’ve brought a lot more trouble than it was worth. ’The system gave me a gun last time, but I rarely ever use one...’

Who knows if the system might give her another gun?

Shaking her head, Hilda continued to keep on walking.

...

’I don’t like her...’ Nadia thought. ’And I don’t understand her!’

Despite having followed behind Hilda for a while now, she still couldn’t understand how the woman behaved in the slightest.

One moment, she was beating her up and telling her about their government’s system. And the next moment...

THUD.

"Woah~ that was close."

The next moment, she was protecting her.

Nadia took a step back, marvelling at the Scoundrel Hilda had taken down on her own.

For the past hour or so, they had encountered a few Predicaments along the way. Naturally, Nadia had opted to support Hilda in the fight against them.

But every single time she tried to help, Hilda would just tell her to sit back and relax as she handled them herself. And obviously, given how domineering she was in their battle earlier, Hilda eliminated them at a much quicker time than her own.

At first, she thought this was some kind of test put out for her by Hilda; as some way to test her value when it comes to bravery, or something...

But.

"Are you hurt, meine Dame?" Hilda asked, smiling innocently. She then gestured towards she Predicament she took down, "Oh, you can take this fellow’s eyes as well. I don’t need them."

Nadia could only nod timidly as she stared at the corpse in confusion.

"I see... thanks."

’She’s really just protecting without asking for anything in return...’

By now, she had already regained a quarter of her overall Vitality; enough to where she could hold her own against a single Scoundrel.

’She should have already guessed how much Vitality I have... so, why isn’t she letting me help her?’

Wait, did she even want to help Hilda? If she died, wouldn’t that thwart the LRM’s plans to cull the examinees?

Nadia’s face contorted strangely as she extracted the Scoundrel’s eyes.

She felt a bit conflicted.

Ever since they fought, she had been using her Gift on Hilda to acquire the truth behind her words. And up until now, the German had been sticking to her words, not doing anything malicious to her.

Which was strange, considering she hadn’t yet done anything to show the woman any value. She hadn’t contributed to any fights, she hadn’t contributed to any sort of conversation, and she hadn’t been quite the pleasure to have around...

She was certain about that.

’Yet she’s being so nice to me... and it’s genuine, as well...’ Nadia thought.

It would be a lie if Nadia said she didn’t expect Hilda to be cold to her a little, especially with all that had just happened. At most, she expected the woman to just act nice to her for professionalism.

But no matter how many times she examined the woman with her Gift, it always came back as her being genuine.

Nadia held the side of her head, sensing a headache coming on.

Nadia was currently in a weakened state, so it’d make sense for her to stick to Hilda, who was obviously capable enough to protect both of them. But that wasn’t the same for the woman in front of her...

’I don’t understand... I don’t understand her!’

She couldn’t make sense of Hilda, not even one bit!

There wasn’t anything tying them together! And she was sure that if Hilda were on her own, she would’ve operated a lot more efficiently. And quicker too!

Nadia glanced up towards the sky, finding it to have darkened considerably compared to before. It was approaching late evening now...

’If she didn’t save me, we wouldn’t have ever had that fight...’ Nadia internally remarked.

And if the two of them had never fought, Hilda would’ve already made considerable progress towards the port. Or maybe, she would’ve already arrived by now.

Nadia stared pensively at Hilda, who was strolling in a carefree manner, with a happy-go-luck smirk. The sort of behaviour you wouldn’t expect from someone who worked in the military.

This aspect of Hilda only added more to her peculiarity.

’Why does she still want me around...? We barely know each other. I remember she said she had some kind of attachment towards me... but what could that possibly mean?’ Nadia sighed, deeply troubled.

But then, after a split second, her eyes widened as she grasped an epiphany on the matter.

’The first time we met, she complimented me on my hair. And on the same day, she asked me to be her bride!’

Her face instantly turned pale as the sound of glass shattering echoed through her mind.

’Could it be...’

She looked up at Hilda with a horrified look on her face.

’Could it be she’s interested in me!?’

Nadia clutched both sides of her head, shaking her head with immense denial.

’No way, no way! That’s impossible! We’re both girls—’

BANG! Thud...

Not paying attention to where she was walking, Nadia bumped into a metal traffic pole, which was surprisingly in good condition.

"Ow..."

She fell onto her rear and immediately began nursing the centre of her forehead.

’I should’ve watched where I was going—’

"Are you alright, meine Dame?"

Nadia lifted her head and found Hilda holding out a hand towards her. But that wasn’t what she was focused on; it was instead the woman’s pair of red eyes.

Despite her clumsiness just now, Hilda didn’t have a shred of judgment in her eyes, as if she found the act of walking into traffic poles to be a normal and common mistake. And, in line with what she gathered thus far, Nadia sensed the woman’s reaction to be genuine and non-judgmental.

After she eventually broke out of her stupor, she flinched at Hilda’s hand; the epiphany she had about Hilda was still lingering inside her mind, taking root.

"I-I’m fine, I can get up by myself...!" Nadia responded, terribly embarrassed from bumping into the traffic pole.

She then speedily walked past Hilda, unwilling to match the woman’s gaze. And when she did, she could hear a faint chuckle escape the German’s lip from behind her.

Her face soured.

’So embarrassing...!!’

Later on, nothing much happened. Nothing unusual or dangerous at least. But, something within their expectations ran into them.

People.

"Ah, is that you, Miss Halloway?"

Watching as two people sneak around a corner, Hilda called out to them, which obviously caught both of their attention.

One was a girl with short, messy orange hair styled in a bob cut. She had turquoise eyes and a rather cute face. Except that face was anything but cute the moment she settled her eyes on Hilda.

"IT’S YOU!" Seraphine shouted, scrambling towards Hilda with her fists raised. "DO YOU KNOW WHAT I’VE BEEN THROUGH BECAUSE OF YOU!?"

Nadia watched as Hilda danced around the girl with laughter on her face.

’Does she know her?’ Nadia thought curiously before glancing at the second person.

They were a tall, young man with short black and amber eyes. He also had a shockingly handsome face, enough to where even Nadia had to pause for a split second to admire.

He also had a build that, unlike Ben’s, looked more suited towards intense physical activities.

Noticing Nadia’s gaze, the young man smiled gently at her as he stretched out his hand.

"Nice to meet you, miss. I’m Callum Ashby, a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Ah, Nadia Crane." Nadia shook his hand, "Nice to meet you too."