Snapping back to reality, Olivia looked at Gawain again. A sense of duty tightened her throat, making her swallow nervously. She worried whether she could pull this off—but now was clearly the time to bite the bullet and find a way.

So, what she needed most right now was…

A turning point!

Yes. She needed a turning point—a way to shift the focus from Gawain to Caius and his group, rescuing herself from this awkward standoff.

But…

She couldn’t possibly create that turning point herself. As the one who’d come to confront him, suddenly defending him would be… way too absurd.

That left only Gawain. She had to let him explain himself, give him a chance to speak, then redirect the blame onto the blond brat and his cronies.

So…

Gawain, for fuck’s sake, say something!

Olivia’s gaze at the Hero grew increasingly exasperated. For the male lead of a text-based game, Gawain was infuriatingly patient—just standing there silently, waiting for dialogue options like a log. She knew he was broken inside, but couldn’t he at least give her a chance to help explain?

*Sigh—*

No choice. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Olivia couldn’t outright prompt the protagonist or openly take his side. So… she’d have to act.

Luckily, she had the game’s script to reference. Time to activate: Cold, scheming, sadistic senior sister mode!

“Oh? Perverted underclassman, must you stare so intently at me?” Olivia’s poker face curved into a pleased smirk. She stepped closer, pressing right up to Gawain, then looked down at him with disdain. She seemed… oddly enjoying it.

Truth was, Olivia hadn’t meant to get so into character. But—help! Why did calling him a minnow feel so damn good?!

Beyond the two of them, students held their breath, watching the scene unfold. Some were practically itching to pull out buckets of popcorn. Whispers flew, and a few loud comments reached Olivia’s ears:

“Today’s gossip is pure gold—this just keeps getting better!”

“Oof~ Haha, this kid’s caught by the sharp-tongued loli senior. About to get roasted~”

“The senior’s got that icy beauty vibe—so elegant while spitting bratty lines! Amazing!”

“I’m so hyped! Can I switch places with this guy?”

“RIP, pervert. You’re dead.”

Olivia frowned. Hearing the crowd’s reactions, she worried she’d gone too far—afraid of crushing Gawain’s self-esteem. But when she looked up at his still-dull expression, she finally snapped.

*At least argue back! Are you a wooden statue just standing there?!*

And… Olivia realized the biggest problem: Gawain was just too damn tall. She’d planned to whisper in his ear—but she couldn’t even reach it!

Not even on tiptoe!!!

Why was she so short now? Damn it…

Stomping her foot twice in frustration, Olivia locked eyes with Gawain. The Hero sensed sudden danger in her sharp gaze—then—

*Thud!*

Her foot slipped out of her brown boot in a slick, white-stockinged flash. Before Gawain could react—or even imagine the desperate loli senior would resort to this sneak attack—her kick slammed into his knee. He crumpled to the ground, utterly unprepared.

The crowd erupted. Was this the moment the sharp-tongued loli senior finally struck? No wonder they called her and Natasha the school’s most notorious duo. This open bullying—done so brazenly—must mean she was truly disgusted!

The onlookers leaned in, hungry for more. Olivia simply dangled her small, snow-pale foot before Gawain’s face. It glistened under the sheen, undeniably alluring. Yet the humiliated Hero felt no stirrings—only a bitter smirk as he lowered his head. Resigned.

*Do your worst… Anyway…*

*A world I survive in… won’t have comrades left…*

*Sigh—*

Olivia truly sympathized. She understood Gawain’s pain, yet couldn’t help lamenting what a hopeless Foolish Hero he was.

Of course, blame the game’s writer. The story was cruel to its protagonist—denying him any right to resist. Olivia recalled the original plot: Gawain would get kicked down here too. Then, furious, Olivia’s character would stomp her white-stockinged foot onto his face to humiliate him for Natasha’s sake, sneering: *“If you’re willing to crawl like a dog and sincerely enjoy licking my foot, I might consider letting Natasha forgive you~!”*

Two choices would appear:

A: Refuse to lick.

B: Lick.

Any sane person would pick A and fight back. But choosing that path would enrage Natasha, letting the blond bastard succeed—and lead straight to Bad End 1.

Choosing B meant licking her foot publicly. Shameful as hell, yet it’d fluster Olivia’s character enough to flee with Natasha, letting the story continue.

*Sigh—* So Gawain’s broken spirit wasn’t entirely his fault…

No choice. She had to handle this herself.

Olivia tilted her head. She’d never force the protagonist to lick her foot—it was too… mortifying. Absolutely not.

But… she had to wake him up. Wake the Foolish Hero from his numbness. Ignite his will to stand and fight back!

“Heh. Knocked down by one kick? Can’t even get up, big man?”

“You had guts stealing my best friend’s underwear—why no voice now?”

“Admit it. You’re just a pervert… still staring at my foot like that…”

“Ever think what’d happen if Natasha’s father—the Duke—finds out?”

“Besides, you didn’t even know Natasha before. Why steal her underwear?!”

“Minnow. Even if three girlfriends ditched you for other guys, that doesn’t make this okay!”

The blue-haired loli pressed closer, but the crowd sensed something off. Her taunts sounded oddly like she was trying to clear his name. Olivia ignored them. She crouched fiercely over Gawain, straddling his fallen form, then leaned to his ear. Her expression was vicious, but her whisper was soft, urgent:

“Besides… if you didn’t do it—do you really want to accept betrayal from those three women?!”

…

A flicker of light suddenly sparked in Gawain’s eyes…