Chapter 108: Villain Simulator, Ch 107
"What's going on?!" Lucas shouted in disbelief. "Why are the rewards I'm getting someone else's gear? Isn't this just another form of being cucked?"
[Why are you guys so obsessed with this whole 'cuck' thing? It's like everything can somehow relate to that. You're my host! Do you think I'd go out of my way to mess with you on purpose?]
"Whoa, whoa, calm down…" Lucas quickly tried to ease the tension.
[As a system, you can say I'm flawed, but don't you dare call me a cuckold! That's where I draw the line! Kill all those ntr bastards!]
As Lucas was busy bickering with the system, there was a sudden thump. Startled, Lucas glanced over to find a small red object lying on the floor beside the couch. It looked like it had fallen from the sofa.
Lucas clearly remembered that when he first entered Jean's office, there hadn't been anything like that. It must have snuck in while he was 'AFK' during the simulation.
"Hey…" Lucas muttered, feeling uneasy. "You didn't give me any alerts while I was in the simulation? What if someone had attacked me?"
[Do you think anyone would actually dare attack you here?]
The system's retort left Lucas speechless for a moment. After all, this was the office of the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius. Anyone trying to attack here would need as much courage as someone attempting to assassinate the Raiden Shogun in her own castle.
Even though Lucas had caused plenty of chaos in Mondstadt through the simulator, he was well aware of the Knights' formidable strength.
"Ugh..."
The small red figure on the floor slowly stood up, rubbing its cheek from where it had smacked against the ground. "Ouch... Klee's face hurts..."
Klee?
Sure enough, the red figure was none other than Klee!
It seemed she had snuck into Jean's office while Lucas was in the simulation and had fallen asleep on the sofa.
Maybe it was because Lucas had spent so much time being Klee's father in the simulation, but now, seeing her in real life made his heart swell with affection.
"Are you okay?" Lucas quickly stepped forward, helping the little Klee up. He instinctively said, "How many times have I told you not to sleep on the couch? You'll catch a cold…"
Oh no...
Lucas froze for a moment. He had subconsciously slipped into his 'fatherly' role from the simulator.
Luckily, Klee was just a little girl. Even if he slipped up, it probably wouldn't matter too much.
"Uh..."
Klee looked up at Lucas, her already large red eyes widening even more. "Dad... Daddy!"
Daddy?
Lucas's brain immediately short-circuited as Klee suddenly threw herself into his arms, nuzzling against his chest. "Ah, Klee's been so lonely without Daddy! Klee missed you so much!"
What the heck?
Being Klee's father was something that only happened in the simulation. Why was she calling him that in real life?
Could it be that the events of the simulation were affecting reality?
Wait, if that was true...
A cold shiver ran down Lucas's spine. If all those Genshin girls he had messed with in the simulations started showing up, knives in hand, he was done for.
[Don't worry, it's just a technical adjustment.]
[The simulator uses dreams as the activation method. Sometimes, it can affect the surrounding creatures during the simulation.]
[Since Klee was nearby and sleeping while you were using the simulator, it probably influenced her dreams.]
[Given that children's minds are still developing, it's not uncommon for them to confuse reality with dreams. This is totally understandable.]
Lucas had to admit, the system's explanation made a lot of sense.
"Klee…" Lucas said awkwardly, "I'm actually not your dad…"
"Eh?!"
The smile on Klee's face instantly vanished, replaced by a heartbreaking expression, her eyes welling up with tears. "Daddy doesn't want Klee anymore! Waaaah! Why? Klee's been so good and obedient, but why doesn't Daddy want Klee anymore?"
Klee's sobbing threw Lucas into a panic. If someone overheard and came in, how would he explain this? To an outsider, it would look like he was some creep forcing Klee to call him 'Daddy.'
"No, no! I was just kidding!" Lucas quickly tried to soothe her. "Daddy would never not want Klee. You're Daddy's treasure!"
Sure enough, Klee's sobbing softened after Lucas's words, though she still looked a bit hurt. "That joke wasn't funny. Klee doesn't like it!"
"That's my fault," Lucas sighed, rubbing Klee's soft hair affectionately. "I won't make that joke again."
"So… did Daddy come back to Mondstadt to see Klee?" she asked, wiping her tears.
"Of course," Lucas replied, rolling with her narrative. "Has Klee been behaving well at the Knights of Favonius?"
"Definitely! Klee's been sooo good! I haven't been put in solitary confinement for three whole days!" she said proudly, placing her hands on her hips. "Klee is amazing!"
"Yes, yes… Klee is the best," Lucas said, ruffling her hair even more affectionately. Even though he wasn't really Klee's father, the paternal love he felt for her was undeniable.
"So, where's Klee's present?" Klee extended her hand expectantly, looking up at Lucas with wide eyes. "Didn't Daddy say he'd bring Klee a gift if she behaved?"
"A present?" Lucas froze for a second.
"No… no present?" Klee's face immediately fell, her disappointment palpable. She tried to be brave, saying, "It's okay. Daddy came back to see me, so Klee's already really happy. I-it's fine… even if there's no present… it's okay…"
Despite her words, tears once again began to well up in her eyes.
"Of course I did!"
Lucas, thinking quickly, grabbed the book Hero Klee vs. the Demon King and handed it to Klee with a smile. "This is a picture book I made just for you, Klee."
"Wow... Yay!"
Klee's face lit up with joy the moment she saw the book. She hugged it tightly to her chest, as if it were the most precious thing in the world. "I love it! Daddy is the best!"
Saying that, Klee leaned in and gave Lucas a big, affectionate kiss on the cheek.
At that very moment, the office door suddenly opened. To their surprise, Jean and Barbara walked in.
The room froze instantly.
From Jean and Barbara's perspective, they saw Klee giving Lucas an affectionate kiss on his cheek.
"What... what are you doing?!"
Barbara, the first to react, already had a bias against Lucas due to the simulator incident. Seeing Klee act so close to him made her immediately assume the worst. She rushed over and snatched Klee into her arms, asking carefully, "Klee, did this guy do anything to you?"
"Sister Barbara? Captain Jean?" Klee tilted her head and smiled brightly. "Daddy brought me a gift!"
"Daddy?"
Hearing that word, the other three in the room were left in stunned silence.
An empty office, a cute young girl, and Klee calling him "Daddy" after an intimate moment? It was hard not to think something strange was going on.
"Mr. Lucas..." Even Jean, who usually held a favorable view of him, now had a serious expression. "Can you explain what's going on here?"
What do I do, what do I do?
Admit that I'm Klee's father?
No, I'm only in my twenties. I couldn't have possibly had a child with Alice when I was just twelve or thirteen.
Tell them it's because of a dream?
That's too ridiculous! They'd never believe me!
But Lucas, being quick-witted, immediately turned to Klee and said, "Klee, could you go outside for a bit? I need to have a talk with Jean and Barbara."
"Ugh, more secrets you're not telling me? That's the third time..." Klee pouted, clearly displeased. "Fine, I'll go look at my picture book, but you'd better finish talking soon!"
With that, the little one skipped out of the room.
"Alright," Barbara said, crossing her arms and frowning. "You'd better give us a good explanation. Otherwise, even if you're an envoy from Liyue's Qixing, we won't let you off the hook easily."
"Barbara, don't be so rude," Jean, much calmer, said. "Mr. Lucas, I'm sure there's a reason behind all of this, right?"
"Exactly. In fact, I'm here on a mission from Senior Alice." Lucas put on his most serious face and lied with confidence. "I'm an alchemy enthusiast, and Alice stayed in Liyue for some time. During that period, I learned a lot about alchemy from her."
"Alice isn't exactly someone who makes friends easily," Barbara interjected, skeptical. "If you really know her, then you should know what she looks like and what kind of person she is."
That question might stump most people, but it was no problem for Lucas. After all, in the simulator, he and Alice had lived like an old married couple.
Lucas casually described Alice's appearance and personality with incredible accuracy—details that even Jean and Barbara had never heard of.
"Barbara, there's no need for further doubt. He's telling the truth," Jean said, believing Lucas's words. However, she still had one more question. "But why does Klee call you 'Daddy'?"
In truth, neither Jean nor Barbara knew who Alice's husband was. However, they knew one thing for sure: Klee couldn't have hatched from an egg. She had to have a father somewhere.
"As I mentioned, this is a mission from Alice. She misses Klee but doesn't have time to visit herself, so she asked me to go in her place," Lucas continued smoothly, weaving his fabricated story. "It's a long story: Klee's father has always been absent, and when Senior Alice introduced me to Klee, she mistakenly thought I was her father. Even though Alice tried to correct her, Klee began calling me 'Daddy,' and it seems she still hasn't forgotten."
"Wait a minute," Barbara said, still puzzled. "Are you suggesting that Klee thinks you're her father?"
"Yes," Lucas replied with an awkward chuckle. "Klee was a lonely child, so she started calling me her father. Plus, Alice gave me a gift to give Klee—a picture book featuring Klee as the main character. That's something I can't fake, can I?."
"I... I believe you," Jean finally nodded. "And I trust my judgment. You're definitely not a bad person."
After all, Lucas was the one who had risked his life to save someone he had only met once. A person like that couldn't possibly be someone who would deceive a little girl.
Moreover, his detailed knowledge of Alice and the thoughtful gift for Klee were solid evidence.
"Hmph, since Sister... ahem, Captain Jean believes you, I'll trust you for now too," Barbara reluctantly agreed. "We'll just ask Alice herself when she returns."
Ask Alice? I'll be long gone by then!
"Also, I have a small favor to ask," Lucas said, his voice steady. "To keep Klee from being upset, could you please help me maintain the role of her father for a while longer?"
"Of course!"
Jean patted Lucas on the shoulder, her expression softening with a rare look of admiration. "To go to such lengths for a girl you barely know... you really are a good person."
Uh-oh...
That scene made Barbara's heart tighten with concern.
In her mind, Lucas wasn't supposed to be a good guy!
"Hold on!" Barbara quickly stepped between Jean and Lucas, her eyes narrowing like a protective kitten. "Captain Jean, don't just go trusting people so easily!"
"You're still not done talking?"
Just then, Klee peeked back into the room, looking a little impatient. "Jean, Barbara, and Daddy, can you play games with me?"
"Of course!" Lucas jumped at the opportunity to change the subject. "We can play whatever you want! Daddy will spend the whole day with you!"
"Yay! Awesome!" Klee exclaimed as she jumped into Lucas's arms once again, snuggling up to him. "Daddy, you're the best!"
Standing nearby, both Jean and Barbara couldn't help but smile at the scene.
Though Klee always appeared cheerful and full of energy, the reality was that she'd grown up without her parents, living independently within the Knights of Favonius. Jean had, on more than one occasion, overheard the little girl quietly crying in her room.
Now, being able to reunite with her "dad," must have been a source of great happiness for her.
"Captain Jean and Sister Barbara, why don't you come play with us too?" Klee raised the picture book in her hands, grinning. "This game needs four players to play together!"
"A game?" Barbara asked in confusion. "Isn't that just a picture book? How can you play a game with it?"
"Of course! Look!"
Klee placed the book, Hero Klee vs. the Demon King, on Jean's desk and opened it to the first page. To their amazement, the book transformed into a game board, complete with four playing pieces and two dice.
Lucas blinked in surprise. He had assumed it was just an ordinary picture book, but now it seemed that, as an S-class item, it might hold some hidden secrets.
Jean and Barbara were both surprised as well, but knowing it was a gift from Alice to Klee, they realized it couldn't possibly be an ordinary picture book.
The four gathered around the table, examining the board. It depicted an ocean dotted with a few small islands, resembling a classic board game like Monopoly. The dice determined the number of steps players could move their pieces. From the starting point, players would encounter unexpected events on certain spaces, and the first to reach the end would be the winner.
Unlike games that required strategy, this one was almost entirely luck-based, making it perfect for children.
"This looks like fun," Jean remarked with a curious smile. However, she soon sighed, "But I still have work to do this afternoon."
At that, Barbara, and Klee turned toward her with pleading expressions.
"Big sister..." Barbara said softly, "Look, Klee's having so much fun today. Can't you take a little break from work and play one round with us?"
"I bet you're the one who wants to play," Jean teased, seeing right through her sister's intentions. Barbara stuck out her tongue playfully, caught in the act.
"Captain Jean, Barbara's right," Lucas chimed in. "One round won't take that much time. Besides, you've been working so hard—you deserve a little break."
"Alright, alright, just one round," Jean said, laughing. "But just one!"
"Yay!" Klee cheered, her excitement bubbling over. "I want to go first!"
Without waiting, Klee eagerly picked up the dice and tossed them onto the board, rolling a 2 and a 3.
"Two plus three… uh… five!" Klee moved her red piece forward five spaces. "Klee's moving five steps!"
However, as soon as she picked up the piece, a bright light suddenly shone from the board, enveloping the four of them.
Before they could even react, their bodies began to distort and transform, and the next moment, they were sucked into the board.
...
When Lucas regained consciousness, he was stunned to find himself no longer in Jean's office, but standing on a tropical island.
Beneath his feet was soft sand, above him a blazing sun, and in the distance, the endless blue ocean stretched out. The cool sea breeze carried a salty, refreshing scent.
"What the...?" Lucas muttered in confusion. "Is this some kind of simulation?"
[No. This is the world inside the board game. Everything happening now is the result of the item's effect and has nothing to do with the system.]
Before Lucas could ask for more details, he heard the sound of footsteps on the sand. Turning around, he saw Jean, Barbara, and Klee standing behind him.
"What... what is going on?" Jean, though startled, quickly regained her composure. "Could this be related to the game we just started?"
"Look!" Klee pointed to the sky excitedly. "There are words up there! They must be clues from Mom!"
Sure enough, in the sky above, several lines of text had appeared.
Unlike the system messages Lucas was used to, everyone could see these words.
Welcome to Klee's Brave Adventure!
This game is called: Search for the Golden Apple Archipelago
This is a game for the brave. Please note: Everything on the board will happen for real.
The game will only end when a winner is declared.
After the game, rewards will be given based on your final performance.
Have fun and enjoy the adventure!
"Um… welcome to Klee's… I can't read that," Klee said, tilting her head in confusion. "What do these words mean?"
Due to her young age, Klee couldn't read some of the more complex words, looking completely puzzled.
"It looks like this is part of the game too," Barbara explained. "In simple terms, once we finish the game, we should be able to leave."
"As expected of Alice," Jean murmured, her face filled with admiration. "To create such a magical item..."
To the other three, this was simply another one of Alice's "spells." Given how powerful and mysterious Alice was, no matter how strange things became, Jean and Barbara seemed able to accept it without question.
Lucas thought for a moment, deciding not to reveal the full truth to avoid unnecessary suspicion. After all, this was just a board game—how dangerous could it be?
"Well then, let's continue," Lucas said, patting Klee's head. "Let's see what happens on your space."
Klee's red piece had landed on a space that bore a single line of text:
All players must change into swimsuits.
Seeing the words on the board, the four of them exchanged puzzled glances.
On this deserted island, where were they supposed to find swimsuits?
---
Author's Note: Alice would be long gone by then? heh
Well here your extra chapter, you know the goal for next one :)
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