[✧｡٩(ˊᗜˋ )و✧*｡]

[Congratulations, Rookie. You did it. The higher-ups will be impressed by your contribution and surely call you for a performance review. You did well.]

The system was practically celebrating, congratulating Rin for fulfilling his KPI. But all it did was leave a bitter taste in his mouth.

Everyone around him was in a similar state of shock, unable to believe what had happened right in front of their eyes.

"W-What is this?"

"D-Did Alex just...transform into a monster?"

"Wait! Was Alex not a traitor? Reri, what did you do?"

Since the people could no longer blame Alex, they turned their attention toward Reri.

The poor girl looked torn between guilt and the accusations being placed on her.

"I...this did not...How is this my fault alone? You all agreed with me and voted for Alex. We are all equally responsible."

"Don’t try to change the subject. You started all this! No wonder Madam Yao threw you out. She knew you were trouble from the start."

Reri fell quiet at the accusations. She had nothing more to add that could clear her name.

[You have achieved your KPI. Extra points will be added to your performance evaluation.]

[You voted for User Alex’s innocence. You will be excluded from the rage of the Rose.]

Rin looked at the message on his screen and then at the monster that had yet to attack. Everyone was taking the situation too lightly because the monster had not attacked. But it was only a matter of time.

Alex raised a whip made of fire and brought it down, splitting the room in half. The force from that attack caused people to be thrown back.

"W-We are getting attacked."

"W-What should we do? Should we defend ourselves?"

"But we caused this to happen-"

"Don’t forget that Alex betrayed our trust first. If she...no, if he hadn’t done that, then we wouldn’t have voted against him."

People needed someone to blame for their misfortune and ease their guilt. And the scapegoat was Alex again.

"Y-You are right. W-We need to save ourselves."

People told themselves this in order to force themselves to fight against Alex. More and more people started to stand up, but curiously enough, Madam Yao did not show up and no one questioned her disappearance.

Rin felt conflicted about his own actions, but the system has instructions for him.

[Rookie, you have done your job. Now, sit back and let this tragedy come to an end. You have already earned your reward.]

The system had no sympathy for anyone. Rin knew that already, but seeing it in action left a bitter taste in his mouth.

It felt wrong to just sit back and let Alex suffer for something that was not even his fault.

[What right do you have to be sympathetic, Rookie. You have a hand in this tragedy as well. Not that it wouldn’t have happened without you.]

Was the system trying to make him feel guilty or make him feel better?But instead, it only annoyed Rin

Alex had already destroyed the room and many people were injured. No one had died yet, but it was only a matter of time before people started to fall.

[Rookie, what are you thinking? Stop using your mind for useless stuff-]

Rin ignored the system and walked toward Alex. The monster ignored him and Rin finally got close enough to use his potions on Alex’s mutated body.

[This is not right! You are not supposed to interfere beyond your KPI-]

"But I have already achieved my KPI. It doesn’t matter if I interfere or not."

[Sigh! Fine. Do what you want to! But you cannot blame the system for anything that is going to happen.]

Rin nodded and poured all his potions out. Alex was instantly affected by it and stopped moving.

[The Calamity of the Rose had recognized you as an enemy. You are no longer immune to its aura and attacks.]

A heavy feeling pushed down on Rin’s shoulders and he flinched at the weight on his body. But he kept himself standing and the monster remained paralyzed.

"What are you all doing? Now is your chance to take the calamity down. Are you waiting for someone to die?"

Rin asked and people jumped into action.

Reri, who had still not learned her lesson, decided she did not want to take orders from Rin.

"Who are you to tell us what to do? This happened because of you and I-"

The pressure increased as soon as Reri spoke and Rin’s potions lost their effect. Before he could use more, Alex already cleaved Reri’s body into two, leaving her half-alive.

"Does anyone else have time to question me? I won’t be able to hold him back forever."

Rin complained and everyone else jumped into action and took Alex down.

[You have defeated the Calamity of Rose.]

[No additional reward will be issued because the scale of the calamity was too low.]

Rin did not even have the heart to feel disappointed as he looked at Rin’s mutated body. It was full of stab marks and his eyes were still open and staring at Rin.

Looking at him left a bitter taste in Rin’s mouth so he turned his attention toward Reri’s loud yell instead.

"S-Someone, save me! I-It hurts...save me..."

She was still alive and suffering. But no one moved to help her out. Even those she was close with kept their distance from her.

"I-How can you all...do this...to me...? I will...haunt...you...forever..."

Reri’s voice faded and so did her life. And this was how the Calamity of the Rose came to an end.

[Sigh! I worked so hard to get you a reward, Rookie, but you had to go and cause a mess. But at least you met your KPI!]

’Shut up! Just leave me alone for a while’

Rin was not in the mood to listen to the system and the system understood and left him alone. The people of the GBF started to clean up after the destruction that happened.

It was time for Rin to head back. But he felt someone tugging at him before he exited the settlement.

Mellisa’s eyes were red-rimmed, indicating that she had been crying just minutes ago. But she looked determined when she looked at Rin.

"Mother is calling for you. She says she has something important to talk to you about."

Her voice cracked but the little girl was trying her hardest to remain brave. It made Rin unconsciously ruffle her hair.