The Broken System Chose the Antagonist
Chapter 33: It was an Act?

Chapter 33: It was an Act?

To start a fight without any benefits, even just for fun, wasn’t something Hilda was very keen about. Even if she was someone who was likely to enjoy such a thing, that was because, to her, fighting anything besides Predicaments was a waste of time.

She knew from the moment Elias swore on his Heart that he was lying about escorting them. In fact, she was suspicious of them since before he even swore it on his Heart.

Because there was one thing Elias didn’t know she had on her that would help identify his lies; to be more accurate, someone who would help identify his lies.

"Did you really need me to play along with you...?" Nadia grumbled as she whispered into Hilda’s ear, "I felt ridiculous shouting like that..."

Earlier, she had used her Gift {Truth Finder} on Elias and figured out he was lying. She had thought about informing Hilda of this, just in case, but somehow, the woman beneath her had already figured it out.

At first, she wanted to ask how, but was distracted by the German’s strange question.

"How do you feel about acting?"

When she first heard that, she was confused. Why on Earth would Hilda want her opinion about that? And even now, after acting, she was still wondering what the point of that was.

’It’s was my first time acting too...’

"Urgh..." Nadia let out a miserable groan as she planted her forehead against the back of Hilda’s shoulder.

’I feel so embarrassed... I never want to act again—’

"Pfft, I think it worked out well. Although, there’s more to be desired."

Hearing Hilda snicker, Nadia looked up from the woman’s shoulder with a sombre look.

"But for what? Was there even a reason for me to react to you blowing through that Predicament?" She quietly inquired, staring at Elias’ group, who walked in front of them. "If it’s to convince them of something, I think your attack did most of the work already."

Nadia then paused for a split second before adding:

"And I didn’t know you had such a Spell. I thought you only knew how to light things on fire, like some pyromaniac."

"Because there’s no point in setting dead Predicaments on fire." Hilda blurted in disappointment, "Und I only ever use Spells like the one I just did for when I want things done fast."

A moment later, she narrowed her eyes. ’Although I was only able to kill it that easily because the inside of its skull was exposed. Otherwise, it would’ve taken just bit more effort...’

"As for your other question...." Hilda mused before smiling playfully at Nadia, "You were getting a bit quiet, so I just came up with an excuse to hear your beautiful voice~"

Nadia quirked an eyebrow when she heard that and immediately decided to use the Gift to check Hilda’s words. And when she did, she discovered that Hilda was telling the truth.

Despite sensing there was something amiss, Nadia blushed intensely, flustered and embarrassed by Hilda’s sudden compliment. She raised her fist in preparation to hammer Hilda’s shoulder, but then stopped to compose herself.

She sighed and leaned into Hilda’s back, not in the mood to entertain the woman, regardless of how the light blush of her cheeks portrayed her mood.

"Whatever..." She muttered before closing her eyes, "I’m going to sleep for a bit... wake me up when something happens."

Hilda widened her eyes slightly, then smiled in a playful manner. "Oh~? You trust me enough to sleep on my back now?" She taunted teasingly.

Nadia grumbled against Hilda’s back and decided not to respond to the woman’s obvious provocation to get a rise out of her.

The German chuckled.

"Pfft, alright~ I’ll wake you up when we get there. I’ll try not to be so bumpy on the way for you."

"... I would appreciate that..." Nadia mumbled before falling into silence, her muscles relaxing into Hilda’s back, and her breathing steadying into a rhythm.

After sensing Nadia had fallen deep enough into sleep, Hilda directed her gaze towards a random spot in the air.

[Quest: Compliment Nadia Crane]

[Importance: Minor]

[Reward: 15 SC]

[Status: Completed]

’With this, I should have 105 SC, enough for a single pull from the System Space.’ Hilda calculated with a thoughtful expression. She now wondered whether she should make a pull right now or leave it for later after she reached Elias’s camp.

’I’ll leave it for later,’ Hilda decided before taking a look back at the quest. Her eyes then turned half-lidded with suspicion.

This exact same quest had popped up more than once.

’Seeing as you gave me the same quest yesterday, System, und the day before that, as when we first met... I’m assuming this quest is going to be a daily occurence.’

It wasn’t like she was complaining. If she were rewarded for doing something as effortless as complimenting someone, then she preferred it to be that way.

’It takes a lot less brainpower~... and speaking about brains...’

Hilda directed her focus on Elias, who — along with his squad — was tense over what just happened; evident by how stiffly they walked and how they kept glancing back at them nervously.

She didn’t quite know what Elias was planning, but if she had to assume, he most likely thought that — because Nadia and Callum were injured — it was a good opportunity to ambush them for what they had.

’And his confidence probably stemmed from the Predicament he brought with him before I fried its brain.’ Hilda sighed at the end. When she said earlier that all good Predicaments were ones that couldn’t stand, she meant it.

No Predicaments were trustworthy.

Regardless of their current state, situation, or alignments.

They were nothing but enemies to Humanity.