[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-this-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist":3,"chapter-this-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-this-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-chapter-1014":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","This Life, I Will Be the Protagonist",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1532825,1991,"Chapter 1014 Divine Game: Player Relic 17","this-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-chapter-1014",1014,"\u003Cp>Only after she put enough distance between herself and Mistblade did Nivalis and B8017913 finally stop staring holes through Rita’s skull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their silence was louder than any accusation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita raised a finger in warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"From now on, let us stay quiet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither pet spoke, but they didn’t look away either. They simply sat on her shoulders, left and right, gazing at her with wordless judgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some emotions didn’t need to be voiced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They just pressed down on her like a heavy blanket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita slowly lowered her raised finger and closed her fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sent both pets back into the pet space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instant relief washed over her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breathing felt easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trading zone had changed. There were no stalls left at all—Mechanoids roamed freely, each seeking out a player worth following.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as she could form stories with Mechanoids, so could other players. Some interactions left deep imprints. Others had been patched or overwritten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Mechanoid might recognize a player from repeated tales or rumors... but that didn’t mean it would like them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only true events—encounters charged with emotion—ever carved themselves into a Mechanoid’s program.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Rita strongly suspected L12185511 had tampered with something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not because she was narcissistic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But because every Mechanoid, without exception, avoided crossing her path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whenever she stepped sideways, all nearby Mechanoids also shuffled sideways—to get farther from her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To test her suspicion, Rita watched a small Mechanoid distracted by a player it seemed fascinated with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the perfect moment, she slid directly in front of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mechanoid sensed someone blocking its route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its cube head rotated upward—it wanted to see which player was in its way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A piercing mechanical scream ripped through the street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mechanoid froze, looked down at its foot brushing against hers—and screamed even louder before sprinting away in absolute terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita stood motionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>B8017913’s suspicion suddenly felt very justified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Y128 had really approached 7777... perhaps it had been deleted instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—she and 7777 had made up!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hadn’t they?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should she go hunt down L175246?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or... had 7777 already made some other arrangement?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cold voice rose behind her like a ghost whispering at her ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So. You’ve already infiltrated the Mechanoids’ ranks? Quite the trick.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita’s eyelids twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Can you not monitor me this much?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dawn-Cicada replied lazily, \"I’m waiting for that event loot gift pack that always circles around you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned slowly to face Dawn-Cicada, her expression blank with confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dawn-Cicada smiled a thin, sharp smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not admitting it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No,\" Rita said honestly. \"I just want to ask... which one you mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dawn-Cicada stared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is this human language? How is she still alive after saying that?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That voice wasn’t Dawn-Cicada’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sounded like a private thought suddenly leaked into the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dawn-Cicada blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who just said what she was thinking?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita blinked too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did everyone suddenly understand BS-language overnight?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn’t this supposed to be a niche Divine Game tongue?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both of them dropped their gazes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Between their boots stood a tiny seahorse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It stared up at them, completely bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two seconds of silence passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita and Dawn-Cicada turned around and walked away at the exact same time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tiny seahorse: \"???\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did that mean?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why didn’t they even say a word?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was the psychological damage so high?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Gods-and-Demons Group Chat]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Bitter Chalice]: \"Is this human language? How is she not dead?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Drummer]: \"So who was Dawn-Cicada talking about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Bitter Chalice]: \"Impossible to guess. @Deceitful Bloom, thoughts?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Deceitful Bloom]: \"You first. @Foolishness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Foolishness]: \"Get over here. @Captain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Captain]: \"...I’m not even in the painting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hearthsmoke]: \"Know why this big group is so quiet?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Graffiti]: \"They’re all laughing in the small group.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Mischief]: \"Meanwhile we laugh in the big group.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Game Start!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Round Mechanic: You and your partner must remain at least 10 meters apart while escaping Mechanoids]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita took a few steps—and just like before, all Mechanoids avoided her as if she were the plague.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before she could relax, the thread of light around her wrist jerked hard again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t need to guess who it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mistblade stood two meters away, staring straight at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\"Sorry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They faced each other once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And once again, Mistblade apologized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except this time, the apology was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t about tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t about embarrassment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a warrior’s courtesy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An apology offered before the strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mistblade intended to eliminate her from the game—right here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t matter whether BS-Rita’s Player Relic could match the veterans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mistblade had no intention of letting her find out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She would force an exchange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knock Rita out in return for her own elimination if necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never again would she leave Rita free to act as she pleased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Rita could reply, Mistblade stepped aside, dodging a lunging Mechanoid, then dissolved into heavy fog and vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A gust of wind swept past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lingering fog hit Rita’s shoulder—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>only to be wiped clean instantly by the golden rain curtain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside Card Swap, Mistblade had no need to use Endless Autumn on the Chessboard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Rita was long past being emotionally shaken by these things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She dismissed the rain curtain and calmly activated Hide-and-Seek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three task failures in a row would eliminate her from the battle royale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she wasn’t there yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The 60-second timer ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A new rule descended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Round Mechanic: Flight is forbidden]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita: \"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She lifted her gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Up in the air, Mistblade hovered, scanning the ground for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if the task was solo, auto-assigned partners shared punishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita immediately received the task-failed notification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rectangular pane flashed twice in front of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two red Xs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was officially stressed now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One agonizing minute passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third-minute task appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Round Mechanic: For at least 30 seconds this round, you and your partner must remain in physical contact while escaping Mechanoids]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita didn’t waste a single second flying up to find Mistblade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, she invoked a lesson learned from the Divine Game’s magic theory course—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a method of blending into elemental currents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She merged into the golden rain curtain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally used for sensing lightning, inverted it became another form of Mist Arrival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a blink, a shimmering downpour of gold covered the entire game zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mistblade extended a hand into the glittering rainfall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few sparkling drops fell into her palm—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and vanished instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Very clever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as mist, she had nowhere to hide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that elemental trick... absolutely met the game’s conditions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because in the area where Mistblade stood, the rain thickened dramatically—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>pouring down on her like a full-body drench rather than a gentle shower.\u003C\u002Fp>",1103,"2026-06-06T06:15:28.155Z",1,"novelbin.me","da525754d2d9b1f82c6e2232b34929acfd2af6bb6a59868cc47603c205cb6c25","this-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-chapter-1015","this-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-chapter-1013",1404,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthis-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-cover.jpg"]