[{"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-489":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},1531846,1991,"Chapter 489: 488: Divine Game – Chaotic Restaurant 9","this-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-chapter-489",489,"\u003Cp>A few seconds later, Marmang-Crab rushed back, having received the team death notification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The restaurant was a mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the previously full table of dishes, only one-third remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the floor lay the corpse of Black SpringMud Bears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lania Kaia Pine Bloom was calmly wiping her warhammer—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not because she had taken damage. BS Rita had absorbed the hit for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But because, by sheer bad luck, the enemy's skill had countered the magical inscriptions on her warhammer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The magic circuits had been severed—she'd need a specialist to repair it later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most absurd sight, however, was BS Rita.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stood there, face a mix of shock, disbelief, and pure bewilderment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her expression screamed \"I HAVE SEEN IT ALL.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, despite that, she was laughing and clapping like a lunatic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marmang-Crab, still processing the chaos, asked in Sky-Crab language:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What the hell happened?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita kept laughing and clapping for a few more seconds—making absolutely sure she wouldn't trigger a rule violation—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, she pointed at Pine Bloom, utterly speechless for the first time in her life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>SHE HAD BEEN USED AS A SHIELD.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time ever, Rita couldn't find the words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hadn't even bothered to turn off her passive skill [Bedtime Tale] in her personal settings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no point—it was a survival ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What, was she supposed to die in front of Pine Bloom just to keep it secret?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That would be the dumbest thing ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pine Bloom, completely unfazed, simply smiled and cast a healing spell on Rita, instantly restoring her to full HP.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, her expression shifted—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From playful and amused to dead serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, she got to work, radiating a \"We have important things to do\" aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita was beyond furious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She took deep breath after deep breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>B80234615: \"Damn, she's like an upgraded version of you. So infuriating.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita: \"WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?! DO YOU THINK I'D EVER DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>B80234615: \"My calculations say there's a 100% chance you would. Want me to tweak the data to make you feel better?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita was about to retort—no, she wanted to yell at Pine Bloom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then, Pine Bloom glanced at the nearly empty serving table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not enough food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse—all their ingredients had been stolen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pointed at the corpse of Black SpringMud Bears on the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, we're out of ingredients. Can we use this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the revival room, where Black SpringMud Bears was selecting an S-tier skill for his respawn,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he suddenly shivered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A very bad feeling crept over him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita: \"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All her anger vanished in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell just happened?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it even possible to be mad when your teammate was THIS insane?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had previously thought about the possibility of using a teammate as food—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But only in theory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when she first saw Marmang-Crab and Black SpringMud Bears, she had jokingly thought \"Wow, food supplies\".\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she swore on her life—she had never actually considered cooking a sentient being.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then she remembered Black Jade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…She wasn't afraid of divine punishment, so she casually added an exception to her mental oath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That wasn't a sentient being. That was an SSS-rank skill carrier.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Pine Bloom didn't hesitate for a second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She even turned to Rita and seriously asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Would it taste good? Can we make it into cookies?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita refused to answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This hellish joke was too dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For all she knew, Black SpringMud Bears could still hear them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if he revived knowing what she said—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His first instinct would be to beat her to death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a perfectly neutral expression, she translated Pine Bloom's horrifying suggestion into Sky-Crab language.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marmang-Crab, at least, took it relatively well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marmang Undersea World was a place where predation was the norm—every species was just another link in the food chain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even for him, Pine Bloom's \"turn a teammate into dinner\" proposal sent a chill down his exoskeleton.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The friendly teamwork atmosphere from earlier suddenly felt like an illusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just an hour ago,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pine Bloom had made each of them a custom hat for decoration while waiting for customers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, she was casually suggesting cannibalism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marmang-Crab's gaze shifted to BS Rita.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hat was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her clothes were in tatters, barely hanging onto her body after the earlier attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was casting a cleaning spell on herself, wiping away the bloodstains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Green leaves swirled around her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Layer after layer, they wove together, forming a perfectly tailored, dark green robe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sleeves and pant cuffs were tightened, making it ideal for both cooking and combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fabric bore elegant black patterns, subtly embroidered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A light brown belt sat at her waist, equipped with slots for weapons and potion vials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pine Bloom had made it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She, who was slightly taller than Rita, leaned forward, meeting Rita's gaze directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smiling, she offered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Consider this an apology.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita touched the robe, reading the status information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ballroom Formalwear] (Temporary): This garment contains Pine Bloom's custom ballroom rules. Whenever your HP falls below 80%, it will automatically activate the embedded healing skill, restoring you until the ballroom event ends. (Duration: 3 Starsea days.)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita's expression remained neutral.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wanted to say something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the end, she only smiled slightly and said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pine Bloom wasn't offended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as she hadn't cared whether Rita got angry about being used as a shield,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She also didn't care whether Rita accepted the apology or not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She moved as she pleased, alternating between kindness and cruelty, impossible to predict.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Straightening up, she began discussing ingredient solutions with Marmang-Crab.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somehow, she had produced a wooden basket filled with various currencies—the same basket she had secretly stashed away earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Rita translated the conversation as usual, but inside, she was chatting with her pet AI.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita: \"Do you get the feeling that, ever since we met, she's been trying to train me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>B80234615: \"Yes. Definite signs of conditioning.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita: \"Yeah… but why?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>B80234615 didn't answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It knew Rita wasn't looking for an answer—just thinking aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of silence, Rita could only conclude:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Maybe it's just her personality. Or maybe… it's because of Maple Syrup and Mistblade. Maybe she's just curious about me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sighed internally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's like training a dog. Give a little reward, then a little punishment, then another reward—all carefully balanced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not too much, not too little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when she had used me as a shield, she had clearly explained her reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She even sounded like she already knew my passive only takes 30% HP.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like it was just a harmless prank between friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>B80234615: \"But you noticed it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita: \"Because she didn't hide it. She didn't care if I noticed or not.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>B80234615: \"…I suddenly don't want to process this anymore. My system is telling me this is a bad situation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita: \"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>B80234615: \"Lidian, is that you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita: \"I'M FINE. SAY THAT AGAIN AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>B80234615: \"Okay, Lidian. Just let go of BS Rita, and I won't call you that anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita: \"#@$%#@!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1178,"2026-06-06T06:14:58.840Z",1,"novelbin.me","87c6baa94a5744a5cd52dcd77023b03ba470f72e94a3688999235d85bb9b4168","this-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-chapter-490","this-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-chapter-488",1404,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthis-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-cover.jpg"]