Heaven Defying System

Chapter 7: Still Poor, Just Less Poor

"Wait."

Zevian stopped.

Seraphina quickly caught up with him.

"You knew?"

"Knew what?"

"That I was flirting with you."

"Yes."

"And you didn't think you should respond?"

Zevian raised the coffee in his hand.

"I did."

Seraphina stared at the cup.

"That's your response?"

"I accepted it."

Her eyebrow twitched.

Sometimes, Seraphina genuinely couldn't tell whether Zevian was messing with her.

"Do you find me attractive?"

"Yes."

The answer came without hesitation.

Seraphina's mood improved slightly.

"Do you enjoy spending time with me?"

"You're alright."

Her smile stiffened.

"Then what's the problem?"

"What problem?"

"..."

Zevian looked genuinely confused.

Seraphina took a slow breath.

Beautiful.

He admitted she was beautiful.

He enjoyed her company.

He knew she was flirting with him.

Yet somehow, none of those things had resulted in the reaction she expected.

For the first time, Seraphina wondered whether simply being attracted to a woman wasn't enough to make Zevian pursue her.

That thought irritated her more than it should have.

"Fine."

She turned away.

"Tomorrow."

Zevian raised an eyebrow.

"What about tomorrow?"

"You'll see."

She walked off.

Zevian watched her leave.

"Strange woman."

[Host may have severely damaged her pride.]

"She'll survive."

[Host is remarkably cruel.]

"Says the System that gave me cooking skills when I live beside a cafeteria."

[MASTER-LEVEL CULINARY ARTS IS AN EXCELLENT REWARD!]

Zevian grinned and continued walking.

A few minutes later, he checked his phone.

His smile disappeared.

Bank balance: $173.42

"Ah."

Reality.

His scholarship covered tuition, dormitory fees, and basic meals, but life unfortunately contained many things that weren't tuition, dormitory fees, or basic meals.

Phone bills.

Transportation.

Toiletries.

Clothes.

School materials.

And various other expenses that seemed insignificant until they emptied his wallet.

Fortunately, Zevian had work tonight.

Several hours later, he entered a convenience store a short walk from Auremont.

"Welcome!"

The middle-aged manager behind the counter looked up.

"Can I help-"

He stopped.

Zevian walked behind the counter.

The manager immediately blocked him.

"Employees only."

"I know."

"Then why are you coming back here?"

"My shift."

The manager stared.

Zevian stared back.

"...Zev?"

"Good evening, Mr. Harris."

Mr. Harris' mouth fell open.

"What happened to you?"

"Ate something."

"What?"

"A nut."

Mr. Harris looked concerned.

"Was it legal?"

"Probably."

"Probably?!"

Zevian laughed and went to change.

Soon, he was wearing the same store uniform he'd worn for almost a year.

Whatever had happened to his body, shelves still needed stocking.

He picked up a box of instant noodles.

Ding!

[Eligible Check-In Location detected.]

Zevian paused.

'Here too?'

[Naturally.]

'Check in.'

[Check-In successful.]

[Location: Harris Corner Mart.]

[Reward obtained: $100,000.]

Zevian stopped moving.

He looked at the box in his hands.

Then at the translucent screen.

'System.'

[Yes?]

'Did you just give me a hundred thousand dollars?'

[Host can read.]

His phone vibrated.

Zevian took it out.

Deposit received: $100,000.00

Sender: Aster Educational Foundation

His new balance stared back at him.

$100,173.42

Zevian remained silent.

[Host appears unusually calm.]

"Nice."

[...]

[That's all?]

"What?"

[Three minutes ago, Host had $173.42.]

"True."

[Host now possesses more than $100,000.]

"Also true."

[Should Host not be more excited?]

Zevian thought about it.

"I'm still poor."

[...]

"Just less poor."

[HOST'S STANDARDS ARE ABSURD.]

Zevian opened a browser and searched for the Aster Educational Foundation.

It existed.

Not merely a webpage.

Registration records. Previous grants. Scholarship programs. Academic sponsorships.

Years of history.

His expression slowly became serious.

'You made all this?'

[No.]

Zevian's eyes narrowed.

'Then why did an existing foundation send me money?'

[Host authority insufficient.]

There it was again.

Zevian stared at the screen.

Then locked his phone.

"Troublesome."

He returned to stocking noodles.

That evening, he paid several outstanding expenses and moved most of the money into savings.

He didn't browse luxury watches.

He didn't search for sports cars.

His current phone worked.

His clothes worked.

Why replace them?

There was, however, one thing he did spend money on.

Food.

Specifically, food for Miles, who had covered his meals more than once when Zevian was short on cash.

Unfortunately, before Zevian's shift ended, the store bell chimed.

He looked toward the entrance.

Then sighed.

Seraphina Sinclair walked inside.

Her expensive clothes and elegant handbag looked completely out of place among discounted chips and instant noodles.

She spotted Zevian stocking drinks.

"You work here?"

Zevian looked at his uniform.

"That's usually why people wear this."

Seraphina ignored that.

"Why?"

"For money."

"You have a scholarship."

"Scholarships don't buy shampoo."

She paused.

That was perhaps the most ordinary answer she'd heard from him.

Seraphina came from a world where people her age argued over which luxury car to buy next.

Zevian worked evening shifts to buy shampoo.

Yet there wasn't the slightest embarrassment on his face.

Interesting.

Seraphina walked through the aisles and eventually returned with a bottle of water.

Zevian scanned it.

"$2.50."

She handed him a hundred-dollar bill.

Zevian opened the register and counted out the change.

Seraphina didn't take it.

"Keep it."

Zevian held the money toward her.

"Your change."

"It's for you."

"No."

She raised an eyebrow.

"You happily let me pay for dinner."

"You invited me."

"And the coffee?"

"You gave it to me."

"I'm giving you this."

"That's a tip."

"Yes."

"We don't accept personal tips."

Seraphina stared at him.

"You're refusing almost a hundred dollars?"

"Yes."

"Yet you ordered half the menu last night."

"You said you were paying."

"..."

Zevian placed the change into her hand.

"Different situation."

For several seconds, Seraphina said nothing.

Something about him was beginning to annoy her in an entirely new way.

Zevian was shameless when given permission to be shameless.

But apparently, he wasn't greedy.

"Fine."

She put the money away.

Before leaving, Seraphina turned back.

"Are you free tomorrow afternoon?"

"Depends."

"On?"

"What are you planning?"

A mysterious smile appeared on her face.

"You'll find out."

Then she left.

Zevian watched the door close.

"System."

[Yes?]

"She's definitely planning something."

[An astonishing deduction.]

"You've become sarcastic."

[I LEARNED FROM HOST.]

Meanwhile, Seraphina entered the luxury sedan waiting outside.

Her phone vibrated.

Love Box

[Day 4.]

[Still nothing, Sera?]

Another message appeared.

[This is getting embarrassing.]

Seraphina narrowed her eyes.

[Tomorrow.]

[What happens tomorrow?]

[He falls.]

A response appeared almost instantly.

[Want to bet?]

Seraphina smiled.

[Fine.]

Another girl sent:

[Remember, Sinclair. Confession or it doesn't count.]

Seraphina looked through the car window.

Inside the store, Zevian had already returned to stocking drinks.

He didn't even look outside to watch her leave.

Her smile slowly disappeared.

Five days.

She had originally claimed she could make Zevian Rook fall for her within five days.

Tomorrow was Day Five.

Seraphina crossed her legs and leaned back.

"Fine."

If subtle flirting didn't work, she would stop being subtle.

Tomorrow, Zevian Rook was going on a real date.

Whether he realized it or not.