Chapter 6

There’s really nothing to be nervous about.

”This is just a scene from the game ……”

Having said that, my fingertips were still shaking slightly.

This was because the way Penelope’s father treated her subconsciously reminded me of my own father.

I had fully entered the room, but the Duke didn’t even pick up his head.

I hesitantly walk up to him and straighten up, hiding my head-shaking fingers and bowing in greeting.

There’s not that much detail in the game.

Obviously I couldn’t make my presence known by making a sound; there was no option for me to make any noise. Besides, from the looks of this atmosphere right now, keeping quiet is what I should be doing.

“You’re here.”

The Duke finally raised his head to startle me.

He had the same black hair and blue eyes as Derrick.

The expressionless and serious face symbolizes his noble status, just like the illustration of the game.

At that moment, white dialog boxes appeared in my field of vision.

1.Did you call me for something?

2. I’m very busy, so please say what you have to say.

3. (looks at him quietly without speaking)

I press the first one, it’s the only option that doesn’t clip the gun.

“Did you call me for something?

“I heard you were causing a commotion this morning?”

As soon as the words left my mouth, a new option appeared in the dialog box.

1. this is not something you should bother with, Duke.

2. you should be looking forward to me causing a commotion.

3.It wasn’t my fault! It was that stupid maid’s doing!

I feel like I’m going crazy with all the options I’m creating!

”Oh …… these maddening options ……”

Of course, I’ve experienced this scenario before.

When I played this game in my original world, I was optimistic about the second option because I had planned for Penelope to be a thriving snake and shrimp beauty.

But when this was happening to me now, I was speechless.

‘Whether or not I am now a true evil servant ……

What father on Earth can honestly be kind to a daughter who has no blood? Dammit.

Ta-.

I stood motionless for a long time before the Duke put down his pen and looked up at me, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

‘I hope the option I decided on didn’t cause me to set up a death Flag ……’

I press the first option with trepidation, desperately clenching my teeth to try and hold back a sound.

“It’s not something you should bother, Duke, bother with.”

As it turned out, I was completely unable to restrain myself, and in turn thus made the words stutter.

“Penelope.”

The duke spoke, his voice as cold as ice on a cold day.

No matter how many attempts I made, the progress of the story didn’t change in the slightest.

“Six years have passed since you came to this house, haven’t they?”

I tried to search my mind for the correct information about the game’s settings.

Regardless of whether it was Normal Mode or Hard Mode, both female protagonists were eighteen years old.

Penelope was adopted at the age of twelve and then lived in the Duke’s House, six years later that would be eighteen.

Suddenly, I remembered something that I had forgotten.

In the game, everyone has a bar mitzvah on their eighteenth birthday.

That means there isn’t much time left until Penelope’s bar mitzvah, right?

”Then how much time do I have left now?”

Thankfully the Duke continued to speak without giving me a chance to make another choice.

“I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but stepping into this mansion is not an easy task. Only those who have gone through a rigorous test and proved themselves worthy of existence are qualified to step through the gates of the Eckhardt family.”

“… …”

“After adopting you, I went out of my way to aid you who became a thousand dollars, and even acquiesced to your unseemly and extravagant behavior and all sorts of things that should not be forgiven.”

“But, I really can’t think of anything of value you’ve brought to our family in those six years.”

True.

Had I possessed an appearance similar to that of your own daughter, perhaps you would have been able to treat me with a modicum of favor.

But Penelope’s hair and eye color had become so different from the pinks and blues he expected back.

How I wanted to nod my head and tell him that he was not wrong. But since the Duke’s words, I, a body manipulated by the system, couldn’t move even a millimeter.

Until that disappearing white box reappeared.

1. So what do you expect me to do? Now you want me to get out of this house?

2. I’m not the one who did the wrong thing!

3.(Kneeling down)

“Finally!

The familiar option excited me. I’ve never been this excited since I came to this world.

Even though I knew the option wouldn’t go away, just in case, I pressed it quickly.

Dang-!

Suddenly, I felt a force behind me kicking hard towards the actual back of my legs, sending me to the ground with a heavy rui.

”Ah..! Why so rough!”

Despite being mentally prepared, this was far more painful than I had imagined, and my tears couldn’t help but flow out.

“What…what are you doing?”

The sound of my knee hitting the ground was unexpectedly loud, and the Duke seemed more surprised than I was as his eyes widened.

When I was playing this chapter, I never thought to pick it. I mean, it’s simply an unreasonable option.

”How can someone who’s always picking fights be willing to kneel?”

The dialog that comes up right after that is a complete re-spirit of what comes up in normal mode, so I don’t know if the officials are being lazy or just trying to save time.

1.Is kneeling the only way I can satisfy you?

2. (glares angrily at him)

3. this is all my fault, father!

Again, I hurriedly pressed the third option.

“This is all my fault, Father!”

I let out a booming voice, probably because I was so sure and confident about option three that

“. …… what?” The Duke let out a question he couldn’t understand.

Then that familiar-looking white dialog box appeared again.

(System)

Hidden Quest.

Quest completed!

As a reward, the [On/Off Option] function is provided.

(System) Do you want to turn off the option?

[Yes/No]

Without thinking, I chose [Yes] without hesitation.

(System)

Your options are now [OFF]. If you wish to see the option again, please shout [Open option].

At the same time, that annoying white box finally disappeared from my field of vision.

”Awesome!”

I clenched my fists and cheered loudly inside.

The hidden [ Open Too/Close Options ] function would allow me to address the Duke as ‘Father’.

If I had selected [ Off ] while playing the game, all that would have been left in the screen would have been the number 123 and a blank screen.

Sometimes, it is true that simple answers can be made by typing on the phone’s keyboard. But it’s limited to answering ‘yes/no’, character names, etc.

In normal mode, doing so would be a bar shortcut.

Nonetheless, I’ve used this feature only a handful of times.

There’s no point in using it at all, and getting through Normal Mode is a snap.

That’s why I didn’t pay much attention to this section on hard mode.

I just kept choosing the offensive responses.

“Hard mode and normal mode operate the same, what a surprise.”

Because I kept answering wrongly, I didn’t get the [ On From/Off Option ] function. However, for me who was obsessed with conforming to the character of evil service, there was little need for this function.

‘At that time, I didn’t know that game addiction would harm me in the future, and that future was my present ……’

I sighed deeply at the stupidity I had felt. At least now I was able to speak the way I wanted to, instead of the never-ending three choices.

“Father, Kindred.”

Being able to speak according to my own will made me grateful.

I couldn’t help but shed tears because I was so excited.

The Duke was incredulous that Penelope had called him “Father”, and his eyes widened in surprise.

Unmoved by his astonishment, I continued: “I am very sorry for the disturbance caused during the period of confinement. It’s my fault for not showing proper grooming in front of my subordinates that all the scandals occurred.”

“I will reflect on what I did during the rest of the grounding and promise that there will be no more such disturbances. I want to beg you to forgive me once, Father.”

I begged, falling to my knees in respectful obedience.

If one knew what happened this morning, one would realize that it wasn’t my fault.

It was clearly that maid who had bullied me. But at this moment, in order to survive, I had to apologize and beg for forgiveness in order to get help. Since it’s said to be my fault, let’s make it my fault.

Judging from Penelope’s behavior so far, I have no choice.

If I don’t bend my head and bow down now, then I may not see the sunrise tomorrow.

As a rule, I won’t risk my life just because the Duke doesn’t like me.

But to be careless just because I can close the option, nine times out of ten there will be punishment waiting for me in the future.

It was obvious that Penelope had already been confined for her mistake. And in the meantime, she had caused trouble again.

Derek, known as the “Young Duke,” was the one who decided to confine her this time. If I showed an unbelievable attitude towards this, I think his favorability towards me would drop even lower.

“I understand how immature my behavior has been so far.”

“… ….”

“If you are willing to give me another chance, I will do my best to prove my worth until the Bar Mitzvah.”

After saying my words, I remained in a kneeling position.

Even in front of my own father, I had never begged on my knees.

This shows what a trashy game this is.

‘I’ve already groveled, quickly say forgive me.”

I’ve been exhausted from waking up in this world until now, and it’s only by bracing myself that I’ve made it this far. I needed rest so badly.

“You ……”

The Duke looked at Penelope with eyes like a stranger and was momentarily speechless.

His lips moved and he didn’t speak for a while until he had organized his words.

“…… I see what you mean. Stop kneeling and get up.”

“Yes.”

I got up decisively, my tingling legs about to be unable to maintain my current posture.

“The Eckhardt family is true to its word, Penelope.” The Duke whispered. He still looked at me, thinking that there must be a deep meaning in his words.

“Thank you. I won’t let you regret forgiving me today, father.”

“You may leave.”

After the words, I immediately turned around and left. Afraid of changing the course of the game by moving a step late.