[{"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-773":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},1532630,1991,"Chapter 773: Divine Game: Card Swap 22","this-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-chapter-773",773,"\u003Cp>On the third day after signing the debt contract, Rita managed to cheer herself up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lightchaser was right—after she graduated, she could just take on a few apprentices and have them help her pay it off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most importantly, she’d probably only live for a hundred years or so. For all she knew, Lightchaser would have to payherfuneral expenses one day!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking about it like that, Rita even started to secretly giggle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And ever since her school admission was confirmed, Lightchaser would occasionally bring back school essentials—uniforms, weapons, supplies...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita completely ignored how Lightchaser always made sure to write everything down in her ledgers. She simply organized the items with utmost care and appreciation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lightchaser leaned against the door frame, watching her little apprentice busily sorting her things. After a moment, she suddenly asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Still hate me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like a needle jabbed her. Rita immediately raised her voice,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Super hate!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lightchaser glanced at the glowing red area in Rita’s emotional starfield. It hadn’t shrunk, but the color was a little less intense. She stretched lazily and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good. That means I can go ahead and arrange your Winterveil curriculum.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita kept talking tough, mumbling things like, \"Arrange whatever, I’m not afraid,\" and \"Honestly life’s been a littletoocomfortable lately.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lightchaser rubbed her ears, not wanting to hear another word. She was about to leave when something on the table caught her eye—a notebook, lying open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One look, and her expression darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was full of notes from Garbage Street. And the titles were... concerning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Art of Lying\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How to Build a Memory Palace\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anti-Detection and Anti-Divination Techniques\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How to Create an Alibi\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deadly Weaknesses Everyone Overlooks\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How to Spot Hidden Dangers\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How to Neutralize Threats Before They Happen\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Friend or Foe?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Does Real Caution Look Like?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Are We Thinking When It’s Time to Run?...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lightchaser: ...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasthatwhat those lessons had become?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She grabbed the notebook, shook it in the air, and demanded,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You seriously need to take notes for this kind of stuff?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita, who was polishing a dagger, looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not really. I already memorized it all. I just think these lessons are valuable, so I wanted to write them down and revisit them sometimes. I didn’t write any names or identifying info, I swear.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lightchaser tossed the notebook back at her and ordered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Burn it. Justexistingis already the biggest security risk. Who the hell writes down their crimes like a diary?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita clutched the notebook to her chest like it was her child, kissed it a few times goodbye, then summoned a little flame from her fingers and reluctantly lit it on fire under Lightchaser’s gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Satisfied, Lightchaser gave a grunt and left the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the final week of May, the elf added a new \"lesson\" to the curriculum. She left behind a fragile shadow clone at home. Every day when Rita got back, she had to spar with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The goal was to hit it three times without dispersing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the shadow was a nightmare. It outclassed her in every way. She had to go all out just to land a hit—but the moment she went full force, the thing would break.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shadow had a very specific durability threshold. She had to control her powerperfectly—hit it hard enough to count, but not so hard that it would vanish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lightchaser warned her:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you shatter it three days in a row, I’m canceling one of your Garbage Street lessons.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was Rita’s weak spot. The part of the day she looked forward to the most wasexactlythose lessons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was ready to go back to the underground arena if it meant not doing this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lightchaser’s explanation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you don’t want to accidentally kill a classmate and get expelled from Moonlight Marsh, youneedthis.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That peaceful stretch of life—so peaceful it felt almost \"happy\"—lasted until the second week of June.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lightchaser disappeared for a bit. When she came back, she wasn’t alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She brought someone Rita hadn’t seen in a while—Mistblade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita was still holding the takeout she’d gotten for Lightchaser. Her eyes lit up when she saw her friend, and she immediately flew over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mistblade! You’re here?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after two weeks at Burrowbug Tavern learning how to read people’s emotions, Rita picked up on something right away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mistblade’s smile was way too forced. Her eyes were filled with sadness, frustration, and even a hint of anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita turned to Lightchaser, who was already digging into her barbecue, clearly pleased with the flavor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She’s staying here until school starts,\" was all she said, then ignored both of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Getting no answers from the adult, Rita turned back to Mistblade. She was determined to find out the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She saw Mistblade sneak a few glances at the food. Rita immediately dragged out a few snack storage boxes from under the table, sat cross-legged on the floor, and pulled Mistblade down to sit beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Here, eat this. It’s all we’ve got. I can’t fight Lightchaser for her food. If you want something better, I’ll take you out tomorrow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mistblade felt like her little fox friend had gotten even more assertive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that assertiveness didn’t bother her. She really was hungry. She sat down and grabbed the snack that looked the most interesting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she ate, Rita watched her like a hawk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re here early for school stuff, right? Enrollment starts July 10th—we still have half a month. Did you bring everything you need?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mistblade didn’t hide it. She took a sip of juice and said flatly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My family took all the money I saved for tuition.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe she’d already cried all the way here, because she didn’t break down again—just a slight tremble in her voice, a little redness in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita remembered how Lightchaser had once described Mistblade’s family: \"Trash.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She thought for a few seconds, then said seriously,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lightchaser’s loaning me money for tuition and living expenses. I can lend you enough to pay for your first term... if you don’t mind me charging interest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lightchaser, munching on her skewers, let out a snort that was half a laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita ignored it, holding two fingers apart by a sliver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just a little.Tinyinterest. You’ll definitely pay it off within 35 years.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lightchaser: ... Just say my name next time, why don’t you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita was already thinking long-term.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Once we start school, we might have to get part-time jobs too. We could try to earn a certification, make potions and sell them... we’ll figure something out. Don’t worry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t say anything about Mistblade’s parents. Didn’t try to cry with her. Didn’t offer hollow comfort. She just gave a practical solution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That cool-headed, almost detached calmness wasexactlywhat Mistblade needed. She gave Rita a grateful smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No need. I already borrowed from Lightchaser.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita: !!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She jumped up, startling Mistblade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She told you the interest rate?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mistblade nodded, a little blank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She said it’s the same rate she gave you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita clutched her chest like she’d been shot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s not agoodthing!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the horror on her friend’s face, Mistblade tried to explain,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s only fair. I’m really grateful to Lady Lightchaser.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita looked at her like she was hopeless. Sympathy, pity... and then pure delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Delight?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her lips twitched upward. She dropped back down next to Mistblade, threw an arm around her shoulder, patted twice, grinned, then patted two more times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mistblade: ??\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now we can repay our debtstogether.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the side, Lightchaser snorted again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita took a deep breath, fuming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could this elfpleaseeat in silence for once?!\u003C\u002Fp>",1252,"2026-06-06T06:15:17.348Z",1,"novelbin.me","598d918602b35977cb951df31cb90f2dec6b3d8bd0cb570a0892abd0d4cfe4f2","this-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-chapter-774","this-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-chapter-772",1404,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthis-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-cover.jpg"]