Broken System: Villain Edition

Chapter 4: Emily Williams

Ethan stood up and walked to the fridge, pulling out two cans of beer.

He returned and handed one to Emily.

She looked at it, surprised. "Didn't you always say you had low alcohol tolerance?"

"That's what I tell other people." Ethan replied calmly. "It keeps them from forcing drinks on me during company outings."

She blinked. "So you lied?"

"Only when it's convenient."

Then he added, voice slightly softer.

"But you're different. I don't need excuses with you. I don't mind drinking if it's just us."

Emily's fingers tightened slightly around the can.

That small change didn't escape him.

Good.

He sat beside her — not too close, but close enough that their shoulders were only inches apart.

Close proximity builds comfort. Too close too early creates pressure.

They opened their beers.

For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.

Ethan didn't rush to break the silence.

Silence makes people uneasy. And uneasy people start revealing things.

After a moment, he spoke quietly.

"Do you ever think about what happened inside the trial?"

Emily stiffened.

Her gaze dropped to the floor.

"…Sometimes." she admitted.

He nodded slowly.

"I keep thinking about it too." he said. His tone was steady not dramatic, not exaggerated. "About the moment I realized someone had to die for the rest of us to survive."

Her grip on the beer tightened.

He activated READ THE ROOM.

Current Emotions: Anxiety, Guilt, Regret

Target Happiness: 0%

Perfect.

He didn't comfort her immediately.

Instead, he continued.

"I told myself it was survival. That I didn't have a choice."

He turned his head and looked at her directly.

"But that doesn't change the fact that someone died because of me."

Her breathing became uneven.

"…I did the same." she whispered.

There it is.

He had been waiting for that.

He didn't respond right away. He let her sit with her confession.

Let the guilt settle between them.

Then he exhaled softly.

"I thought I was the only one who felt that way."

Relief flashed across her face.

Target Happiness: 14%

Relief is powerful than you think.

He leaned back slightly, giving her space again.

"It's strange," he continued, activating FALSE NARRATIVE subtly. "I've been having dreams about it."

"Dreams?" she asked.

"Not about killing." He shook his head lightly. "About dying before I could say something important."

Her attention sharpened.

"What did you want to say?"

He didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he looked down at the beer in his hand, as if hesitating.

Measured vulnerability.

"When we were inside… I kept thinking there was someone I didn't want to lose."

Her heartbeat was visible in the slight movement of her throat.

He looked up at her again.

"You."

Her eyes widened.

Target Happiness: 39%

Shock. Anticipation.

Good.

He didn't say "I love you."

Too aggressive. Too sudden.

Instead, he continued slowly.

"You were the only one in the office who treated me like I existed. You talked to me when no one else did."

That part wasn't entirely false.

"That mattered more than I realized."

Her fingers shifted slightly closer to his on the couch.

He noticed.

Catalogued.

He lowered his voice further.

"When I thought I might die in that room… I was more afraid of not seeing you again than of dying."

That was the hook.

Not a confession of love.

Fear of loss.

People bond fastest through shared fear.

Her eyes softened.

Target Happiness: 68%

"I don't have many people in my life," he continued. "but losing the chance to tell you that you're important to me… that scared me."

Her hand moved on its own this time, brushing lightly against his.

He didn't grab it.

He let her decide.

Choice creates stronger attachment than force.

Target Happiness: 87%

"Ethan…" she whispered.

He finally let his fingers close gently around hers.

"I don't know what this world is becoming..." he said quietly. "But if we have to survive in it… I don't want to do it alone."

There.

Partnership.

Shared survival.

Shared trauma.

Shared future.

Her eyes shimmered slightly.

Target Happiness: 100%

DINGGGG!!!

[CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED YOUR CLASS-RELATED QUEST!]

Reward Acquired:

PUPPETEER (E) [Growth-Type]

5 Stat Points

He kept his expression steady.

Inside, his thoughts were calm.

Emotional leverage secured.

Dependency forming.

Asset stabilized.

"Do you really mean that?" she asked softly, face flushed.

"I don't say things lightly." he replied.

Technically true.

He leaned closer.

This time, she didn't hesitate.

He wrapped an arm around her, firm but gentle.

She rested against his chest.

He could feel her heart racing.

He tilted her chin upward slightly.

Then he kissed her.

Slow.

Measured.

He allowed her to respond first, deepening it on her own.

Always let the other person believe it was their decision.

When he pulled back, she was smiling, cheeks flushed.

He mirrored her expression perfectly.

Inside, he was already reviewing the skill description of PUPPETEER.

A growth-type control ability.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

This was only the beginning.