Happy Evil Heartbreaker [Modern LitRPG]

To be quite frank, when it comes to striking up a conversation, a gentle and harmless-looking girl undoubtedly has a higher success rate than a man.

It was now mid-September, and in the southern province of Thessaloniki, the weather remained uncomfortably warm. Xanthia, with her short hair, was dressed in a simple T-shirt and denim shorts. Though her attire was quite ordinary for a student, her overly slender and delicate frame did little to draw attention. However, she possessed the distinct advantage of alabaster skin and a refined temperament, which left a favourable first impression. Her appearance, slightly above average, wasn't particularly high—by most standards, she was merely “average looking.” Yet if someone were to ask her, "Do you consider yourself a beautiful girl?" she would reply with unwavering confidence, "I certainly do!"

This inexplicable self-assurance, coupled with the reward for completing a challenge, spurred her into action. Compared to approaching other girls, she felt more at ease approaching boys, particularly those who appeared dependable, honest, and inept at rejecting girls. With them, the success rate was surely highest.

At this moment, Xanthia happened to pass by the shared game console area in the shopping centre and spotted a young man with an unremarkable appearance and a slightly chubby build, engrossed in playing a console game. The fellow was sporting thick, black-framed glasses and dressed in a rather casual and unkempt manner—likely a university student or a recent graduate.

Xanthia's eyes flickered as she glanced at the screen. The game appeared to be one of those highly skill-demanding AAA games, though she couldn't quite place which one.

Drawing upon the original body's memories, she had already deduced that this was a parallel world, with different country names and place names, to say nothing of cultural products. Yet, some forms of entertainment remained familiar, lending her a sense of comfort. If the fellow was playing something like "Elven Ring" or a similar AAA title, it would be ideal; they would instantly have a shared interest.

The bespectacled young man was in the midst of a boss fight, his fingers flying over the controller. He appeared to have some skill, but judging by the state of his in-game character, it was clearly the classic chaotic, panicked dodging, and frequent healing. In "Souls" games, defeating a boss only becomes manageable after numerous deaths and memorising the patterns. Recklessness was not an option.

Xanthia quietly positioned herself beside the sofa where he was seated, deliberately showing a keen interest in the game, ensuring she remained within his peripheral vision. The slightly chubby fellow with the black-framed glasses was named Xenophon.

At first, he didn’t mind someone watching him play. Typically, onlookers, driven by curiosity, would observe for a short while before moving on. However, he was slightly taken aback when he realised the onlooker was a girl. Are there really girls interested in these games that are notorious for “torturing players”?

Xenophon was a fourth-year student at one of the few universities in the province, with ample free time on his hands. His four years of university had largely been a matter of getting by; as long as he didn't fail any courses and obtained his degree, he considered it a success.

Regrettably, he had never been in a relationship. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to date; he simply wasn’t keen on actively pursuing girls. Who wants to be a simp these days? Even web novel protagonists don’t chase girls anymore—being pursued is the new trend!

Besides, girls weren’t like games with clear progress bars; if there were one, he would have made a move long ago, just as he would in a game. And for someone like him, with a plain appearance, slovenly attire, and a penchant for gaming, no girl would ever take the initiative.

Why hasn't this girl had her fill of watching yet? It’s getting rather rude, her watching me get thrashed by this boss... Xenophon thought to himself, feeling increasingly uneasy. He wanted to show off his skills in front of this seemingly interested girl but lacked the capability.

He was one of those game enthusiasts who were both dreadful at it and loved playing it.

The longer Xanthia watched, the more uncomfortable Xenophon became, but he was inherently timid and didn’t dare ask her to leave. After all, she wasn’t breaking any laws by simply standing there watching a game.

As Xenophon’s character died yet again, Xanthia finally spoke up, “Excuse me, I think this game looks quite fascinating. What’s it called?”

Due to her natural "sickly" trait, her voice was weak but remarkably soft and sweet—captivating, even.

Xenophon felt as if his heart had been gently tickled upon hearing the girl’s delicate voice. He couldn't resist glancing at her, then quickly looked away, feeling somewhat disappointed. Her appearance wasn’t bad—slightly average very least—and her bare face was a plus. However, her plain short hair and "frail" figure were drawbacks. All in all, she gave off a delicate and pleasant impression, but wasn’t particularly striking at first glance.

"The game’s called 'Elden Ring,' just released not too long ago, and it’s rather popular at the moment," Xenophon responded cautiously.

He thought that once the girl had her answer, she would leave satisfied, but to his surprise, she didn’t follow the usual script at all. The more reserved the boy was, the bolder Xanthia became.

With a cheerful smile, she asked, "May I sit beside you and watch you play? This game seems ever so interesting!"

Xenophon was stunned. Was he... being hit on? God bless him, he had never encountered anything of the sort in his life. While secretly thrilled, he also grew wary. Could this be some new kind of scam?

Xenophon was well aware of his own situation. With his ordinary looks and lack of outstanding qualities, could a girl really be interested in striking up a conversation with him?

Despite his caution, his body acted on its own, making room for her, and he responded with a gentle smile and a courteous tone, "Of course, please do." Who could possibly refuse such a sweet-voiced, youthful girl?

But truth be told, this girl, who appeared gentle and introverted on the surface, was unexpectedly bold in her actions. When she sat down without the slightest hesitation, Xenophon felt even more disoriented. Oddly enough, a surge of determination welled up within him. He resolved that he simply had to play well and prove himself!

It was akin to how lads on a basketball court would put in extra effort if a pretty girl were watching. Then... filled with resolve, Xenophon died yet again in the game. Such was the everyday experience of playing hardcore games. The repeated failures only made the eventual triumph over a boss all the more rewarding.

“Could I have a go at it?” Xanthia asked softly, her lively eyes meeting his, clearly eager to try her hand. Xenophon handed over the controller without a second thought, then scratched his nose with an awkward smile, saying, "This save file’s level is a bit too low, the health bar’s too short, so there’s little room for error. Otherwise, this boss would be easy to handle. Also, I’m more accustomed to the PS controller; this Xbox one doesn’t quite feel as responsive..."

After expertly deflecting blame, he kindly cautioned her that the game’s difficulty was indeed high and that she shouldn’t be disheartened if the bosses got the better of her. With the stereotype that female gamers were typically not adept at action games, coupled with the girl’s naturally delicate demeanor, like a fragile porcelain doll, he felt a strong urge to protect her.

However, Xanthia’s next actions left him utterly speechless!