Happy Evil Heartbreaker [Modern LitRPG]

“It’s impossible, absolutely impossible! For a timid cheapskate like Dematero, he might only treat us with chips!”

“I’d bet on KFC or McDonald's; a couple of hundred romani at most…”

“Speaking of which, how much does Dematero earn for publishing a short story?”

“Probably not much, it’s just a short piece after all.”

“@Elena, my dear sister, don’t let this affect your mindset—our entire dorm is on your side!”

“Right! Let’s criticize him thoroughly. We must go all out against that insufferable shrimp head!”

---

News of Dematero treating everyone to a lavish meal had spread through Elena’s dormitory group chat, and friends like Yannis, Hannah, Chica, and Marian all rallied in support of Elena.

Among them was their dorm leader, Noemi, who had curiously inquired about how much Dematero could earn from publishing a story—seemingly her thieving instincts were kicking in, prompting her to check the waters.

Realizing that it wasn’t much, her interest plummeted. Even as a professional 'robinhood,' she had high standards when it came to selecting her targets.

Noemi would only spring into action when her mood soured, stealing as a form of emotional release, to clarify her thoughts and feelings. The last time she’d had such fun was when she’d snagged something from her middle school classmate, Oliver, though the prize ultimately returned to its owner, leaving her feeling as if her efforts had been in vain. Nonetheless, the circuitous and dramatic process had provided her immense satisfaction.

She had even experienced the euphoric ambiance of Xanthia's rendition of the song, feeling pretty high herself as the audience became entranced—she considered herself the true behind-the-scenes hero! Could anyone among them appreciate that they could hear Xanthia's heavenly voice thanks to her contribution?

As for her attention being drawn to affluent households, it was entirely reasonable; surely the wealthy had too much, disrupting the balance of wealth. Why not distribute some to the less fortunate?

Noemi had convinced herself that stealing from the rich was a benevolent act, a form of charity earning her some robinhood vibes!

At that moment, Elena noticed someone had tagged her in the dorm chat; indeed, it was Hannah, the mischievous instigator, who always took a backseat yet quite enjoyed accompanying Elena. This was probably because Yannis was so dense, she couldn’t see through Hannah’s attempts to stir the pot while pretending to be loyal to Elena.

Elena swiftly typed a response in the chat: “My mindset is completely unaffected. That thing, is someone I want to keep at arm's length. Please cease discussions about him in this chat—there's no place of negativity here.”

As her message was sent, agreement flooded the chat, save for one dissenting voice—Sequanni, who could never tolerate Elena: “If your mindset is truly unaffected, you’d not feel the need to emphasize it, would you? Admit it, Elena; you’re just jealous!”

"Ugchk..."

Though she choked silently and drink lots of water, she refrained from replying and instead privately messaged Yannis, instructing her loyal sidekick to confront Sequanni.

Without fail, Yannis jumped into action, sparring with Sequanni in the chat, showcasing her commitment to Elena, much to Elena’s satisfaction.

Much to the fun of being highschooler.

Meanwhile, Xanthia, Luciel, Dematero, and Glen had arrived at Swiss Zinne restaurant on the fifth floor of Cardinali Square. Immediately, a staff member greeted them enthusiastically, offering a warm welcome.

Fortuitously, there were vacant tables, and they were seated without delay. The waiter brought over a tablet for them to place their orders.

With a grand sweep of Dematero’s hand, he chose four types of broth that provided poor value, segmented into four sections. As for the ingredients, Dematero opted to order a multitude, prompting Luciel to interject.

Luciel was the type of girl who detested wasting money, even when the meal was on Dematero's tab; she couldn’t bear the thought of excess.

“Let’s tone down the extravagant ordering,” she insisted.

Xanthia, on the other hand, was indifferent, believing that as long as she flipped the "gourmand" switch, she could polish off whatever was brought her way. Yet out of consideration for her classmates, she chose to support Luciel’s frugal suggestions.

As they ordered, the staff proactively brought out snacks such as sunflower seeds, crispy rice, and crunchy pieces to get them started.

Once their order was finalized, Luciel whisked Xanthia away for a manicure.

“Since Swiss Zinne offers this service, we might as well enjoy it while we’re here!” she declared.

Despite Thessaloniki First High School having strict rules against hair dyeing or perming, there were no regulations against getting manicures, provided the colors were subtle and not overly attention-grabbing.

While Luciel and Xanthia stepped away, Glen turned to Dematero and said, “Luciel really isn’t half bad. Even though she clearly dislikes you, she can’t bring herself to go too hard on you.”

Dematero chuckled softly. “That just goes to show she’s well-bred. It’s normal for her to dislike me; after all, in the eyes of the girls in our class, I’m quite the eyesore. Perhaps during tea gatherings later tonight, they'll have a field day critiquing me.”

Glen was puzzled. “Then I don’t quite understand you. You’re aware your actions will get people riled up; why do you persist?”

“Because I couldn’t care less about their disdain. I want to live freely, unbound, which means I shouldn’t have to worry about the opinions of the mediocre.”

“Ah, I see. You’ve truly embraced a more carefree attitude, only concerning yourself with those you genuinely value. That's a commendable outlook on life,” Glen replied, approvingly.

Many people go through life unable to grasp the essence of “transparency,” endlessly tied up in trivial social obligations and the opinions of others, leading to a burdensome existence.

After his “rebirth,” Dematero saw through many things, which often left his contemporaries puzzled.

Fortunately, Glen was a “clear-headed” type, a philosopher at heart; he could keep up with Dematero's train of thought, comprehending his friend's perspective.

Nevertheless, Glen questioned whether he could ever reach the level of nonchalance Dematero exhibited, so unconcerned with societal judgment.

Yet such mindset, for Glen, he believe it would bring more troubles than one might expect.

...

Shortly, Xanthia and Luciel returned, preparing to get sauces and fruits.

Before they left, Xanthia instinctively asked if Dematero and Glen needed anything.

Dematero instantly stood up. “You all stay seated; Glen and I will go help you get some.”

Luciel chuckled. “Dematero, why do you suddenly become so gentlemanly in front of Xanthia?”

She thought her teasing might elicit some bashfulness from him.

However, Dematero calmly replied, “It’s only right. Besides, when it comes to the other girls, if I don’t like them, I’ll confront them plainly without concern for their feelings.”

Luciel relished this blatant double standard; in a world where so-called "nice guys" had become outdated, Dematero’s attitude felt refreshingly honest.

“Let’s all go together; we can grab more fruits,” Xanthia suggested. She wasn’t the type to become accustomed to being served by boys, considering it simply the expected way of things.

Thus, the four of them set off together, with Dematero and Glen striding ahead. Glen whispered, “Ah Dematero, I wasn’t keen on you pursuing Elena, but if you were to pursue Xanthia, I’d wholeheartedly support that. She truly deserves your sincere effort.”

Glen felt that what was most remarkable about Xanthia was her genuine regard for the feelings of boys, showcasing a deep understanding of their challenges. Her attentiveness in the little things left a lasting impression of attraction.

This gentleness was far from pretentious, making it all the more valuable.

Considering Xanthia’s personal interests seemed very much aligned with those commonly liked by boys, they often found common ground… what a true gem of a girl!

Dematero thought to himself, How could I not recognize how wonderful Xanthia is? She truly is the most perfect girl in this world!

Yet, he remained silent, withholding any further response to Glen.

On another note, Luciel leaned over to Xanthia and quietly remarked, “Your instincts are spot on. Dematero doesn’t like you in a romantic way, but he undoubtedly cares for you as a friend. My impression of him has shifted slightly.”

Xanthia smiled. “Well, isn’t that nice? I genuinely enjoy making friends and hope to meet even more interesting people in the future.”

With more friends come more chances for joy; it’s a win-win!

Xanthia enjoyed a lively atmosphere and wasn’t particularly concerned about the potential for new friends to be superficial, so long as everyone could have fun together.

As the four returned to their table, the dish were arrived beautifully. It was time to dig in and feast.

“Wait a minute! I want to take a few pictures—this is a ritual before indulging in a grand meal,” Xanthia chirped.

Gathering with friends was, indeed, a delightful way to elevate happiness.

“Snap away, snap away! Take plenty, and send me a copy; I adore stealing photos,” Dematero grinned, feeling that today was an extraordinarily enchanting day, worthy of commemoration.

He reflected on those harrowing memories and realized he had never once invited Xanthia and her friends to dine together; instead, she had been generous enough to have him over for a meal—not to mention her culinary skills were exceptional…

Damn it, I truly ought to be ashamed of myself!

Dematero fell back into self-reflection.

“Send me a few too! I must flaunt this on my social media to make it look like I’m living the good life!” Glen adjusted his glasses, excited.

Luciel wasn’t one to share her life widely on social media, but a few pictures to commemorate this outing seemed perfectly reasonable; she intended to snap plenty of Xanthia.

And so, a delightful scene unfolded as Xanthia captured the array of dishes, while Luciel photographed Xanthia. Eventually, they even took a sweet selfie, complete with peace signs or heart gestures.

With both girls being vibrant, youthful beauties, their faces adorned with collagen, they hardly required filters to make their selfies stunning—their pictures were already picture-perfect.

“Let’s take a selfie too!” Glen urged, unable to hold back his enthusiasm.

“Huh? It’s one thing for those two pretty girls to enjoy selfies—they’ve earned the right to be vain—but why should we join in? It’s just a meal at Swiss Zinne,” Dematero scoffed.

“Ah Dematero, I think you’ve really lost touch! This is a lavish meal costing over five hundred romani, and it’s your first time; of course, we should commemorate it!” Glen insisted.

“Fine, fine, I can’t argue with you.”

Dematero suddenly began to realize he had somewhat underestimated the value of a dinner at Swiss Zinne in the eyes of high school students.

It was all relative; for working adults, spending five or six hundred romani on a meal for three or four friends was fairly typical—everyone usually reciprocated if ties were good.

However, for high school students, lacking earning power meant that meals were often split evenly unless one particularly wealthy individual was willing to cover everything to save face.

Dematero, who had earned money from writing and spent over five hundred romani to treat his friends without a second thought, was a rare breed of “generous high school student.” Glen felt it was only fitting to flaunt this generous spirit!

For an average family, the monthly allowance for a high school student barely amounts to a modest sum. After accounting for living expenses, managing to save up five hundred romani for pocket money is nothing short of remarkable.

It must be said, the gulf between the spending habits of adults and high schoolers is vast. For a teenager, five hundred romani, in no uncertain terms, constitutes a “fortune.”

Dematero, however, bore no sense of regret; he was confident he would earn more in the future. After all, his reincarnation-themed novel on Pen N' Pen was poised to hit its stride. How could he fret over a trivial sum for a meal out?

After completing the obligatory pre-dinner photo session, the four of them finally dug into their meal. The atmosphere at the table was nothing short of delightful, joy levels hitting an all-time high.

Luciel found herself quite moved by the moment. She had anticipated feeling uncomfortable dining with Dematero and feared the meal would be plagued by awkward silences.

After all, it was common gossip that Dematero had ‘moved on’ from Xanthia. What if he couldn’t rein himself in? The prospect of him acting out like he did in class during dinner was enough to give her pause!

But now, in this close-knit setup with Dematero, she discovered that he wasn’t as unbearable as she had imagined. In fact, he even reverted to his loquacious self, proving to be quite humorous, peppering the conversation with witty quips and deadpan jokes.

Dematero displayed a commendable sense of propriety at the table, refraining from the rather brazen gesture of serving food directly to any of the girls. Instead, Glen took on the role of the attentive host, serving up dishes to Dematero, thereby deepening their camaraderie.

At that moment, Luciel couldn’t help but admire Xanthia’s discerning eye. While criticism often fell on Elena for her apparent inability to judge a guy’s character, Luciel concluded that Xanthia’s insights were indeed spot-on.

Of course, one could argue that Luciel’s newfound affection for Dematero was significantly influenced by the fact that he was treating them all to this lavish feast.

Meanwhile, Glen was busy posting snapshots on his social media, showcasing their delightful dining experience. After obtaining Xanthia’s permission, he slyly borrowed her photos, as he had noticed how skillfully she captured even the most mundane dishes at Swiss Zinne with an artistic flair that made them seem utterly delectable.

He had a clever trick up his sleeve; during his own photo session, he intentionally included a lengthy shot of the menu, subtly attempting to flaunt his expenditures on Dematero’s behalf.

Anyone who was observant enough could do the quick math and discern just how much this meal had cost.

Even if no one bothered to calculate it, Glen planned to comment under his own post, “Thanks to Master Writer Dematero for the generous treat! He spent 536 romani on this splendid feast!”

High schoolers attempting to show off often come off as awkward, yet the impact was undeniable!

With that post, Glen's social media status quickly became fodder for the school gossip group…

Luciel also took a moment to update her own status during the meal, primarily sharing snapshots with Xanthia, though Xanthia’s images took center stage, showcasing her radiant beauty.

Naturally, those photos circulated rapidly.

In no time, the class group exploded with chatter, especially after one particular gossip-monger raised doubts about Dematero's so-called “lavish dinner,” implying it wasn’t worth much at all, considering his well-known reputation for frugality.

Little did the skeptics know that Dematero had “splurged” over five hundred romani to bring smiles to the girls’ faces!

The tone of the class group chat shifted dramatically—

“Dematero is far too generous! Did he seriously blow all his manuscript fees on a single meal?”

“I’m in awe of Dematero! There are so many better ways to spend that much money; he could’ve filled his high-yield interest account instead…”

“Is it possible he might have spent some on Xanthia as well? After all, she’s probably even more fun to spend time with!”

“Looks like he followed through on his word—treating everyone to dinner is indeed a form of gifting. To spend so freely, I’m impressed!”

“Who would dare call him stingy in the future? This is just the beginning, right, Dematero?”

“Am I the only one entranced by the stunning selfies of the girls?”

“Dematero’s antics are of no concern to me; let’s see more beautiful shots of the school flowers and Xanthia!”

…

The class group was awash with melodramatic praise—not that they minded, of course; perhaps if Master Writer Dematero felt pleased, he might look favorably upon them in the future.

What was even more amusing, however, was the reaction from Elena’s dormitory group.

The instigator, Hannah, known for stirring the pot, suddenly realized that it might not be wise to fan the flames this time. If she dared to relay too much information and tag Elena, it would amount to a blatant slap in the face!

However, her reluctance to stir the pot didn’t stop others from doing so.

The one who circulated the news wasn’t the traitorous Chica, who never dared to take that risk openly.

Instead, it was Sequanni, who had recently clashed with Yannis, that seized the opportunity to share these photos and then directly confronted Elena with provocative remarks.

Upon seeing the messages after adjusting her eye glasses, Elena decided not to reply for the sake of her own mental health.

Taking a deep breath, she continued her studies, listened to some lofi music, and drank her favorite tea.

…

After the sumptuous feast at Swiss Zinne, the group dispersed cheerfully.

Dematero took Glen to an arcade for another round of fun, indulging in racing and fighting games—pure bliss without any girls interrupting their gaming time!

Xanthia, too, was filled with joy, as she escorted Luciel to her rented apartment.

She had suggested holding the gathering at Cardinali Plaza precisely because it was close to her residence, although she hadn’t revealed her living situation to anyone else.

She had disclosed it solely to Luciel.