Show Me Your Stats!-Chapter 123

Before Ayra could look outside, what came to mind was a nightmare she’d had not long after arriving here.

She vividly remembered a vision of the city in flames, crumbling into ruin—but unlike the dream, her territory was perfectly intact. The entire landscape remained blanketed in pure white snow, with plumes of steam gently rising from chimneys. She murmured in disbelief.

"...It's fine?"

She threw open the window and examined the scenery thoroughly, searching for any sign of damage. Only then did she remember the Stat Window. She checked her mana first—about a quarter had recovered while she was asleep. Exhausted from even that small exertion, she called up the Territory Window.

Territory Name: Solar

Lord: Solar Sing Ayra

Area: Approx. 2,300 Zenta

Population: 156,402

Debt: 10,000 Sel (Monthly interest: 50 Sel)

Administration Level 2 (Warning! The new administrator has a resignation letter tucked in their shirt.)

Heroes: Jinas (☆☆☆☆), Gretel (☆☆☆)

Military Level 3 (Soldiers are exhausted from last night’s events.)

Heroes: Bloom (☆☆☆), Hera (☆☆☆☆)

Knights: 85

Soldiers: 1,415

Security Level 3

The city is now safe from delinquents and thugs.

Hero Hera leads the Skinhead Vigilante Corps.

Commerce Level 3

Trade: Tasted some profit. Not bad. :9

Tourism: Pilgrims from other territories are beginning to visit. Consider developing the city into a holy site for even greater returns!

Quarry: Profits have increased due to a deal with Sobletz's merchant guild.

Approval Rating: 31% (Strong support in Dalum village and near the Lord’s Manor.)

Religion Level 5

The High Priest and many followers are hostile toward the lord.

The High Priest’s popularity has increased due to last night’s events.

Holy Master: Additional popularity boost in effect.

Special Notice:

113 days until annihilation.

Summary:

Please recover your approval rating quickly to resume quest progress. :(

+ Upgrade Function Available: Territory development required.

There had been a slight drop in population, but compared to two days ago, the change was negligible. Ayra was genuinely surprised—not only was she alive, but her territory had come through unscathed. Of course, there had been some fallout from the previous night: a small drop in approval ratings, and apparently one of her retainers was on the verge of quitting. Still, considering the possibilities she’d anticipated, this was practically the best-case scenario.

After quickly skimming through the territory screen, Ayra turned her head and looked at Janus. She couldn’t begin to guess what whim had caused the dragon to change his mind. Judging by Pebble’s happy little bobbing above her head, it seemed like things had gone well, but...

As Ayra silently scrutinized Janus, Jinas—who had been carefully watching her complexion—spoke.

"Now that you’re awake, my lord, I’ll summon a healer."

"Right. Thank you, all of you, for staying with me."

"Think nothing of it. It’s our duty as retainers."

Jinas, looking very much like someone who hadn’t slept a wink all night, gave a short bow and stumbled out of the room. Ayra glanced at Hera and signaled with her eyes to leave as well. Hera stood rooted in place, staring between her and Janus.

‘Seriously, just the two of you? Alone?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Even I should stay, at least to block the first blow.’

‘It’s fine. Just go.’

Their silent exchange complete, Hera gave a resigned nod. "Upsy-daisy," she muttered, slinging Bloom—armor and all—over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes and walking out without a hint of effort. Gretel hurried to follow, leaving just the two of them behind at last.

They sat in silence, simply staring at each other.

Why the hell did he change his mind all of a sudden?

Even if she survived, Ayra had thought she’d awaken to a burning, ruined Solar. But Janus hadn’t just spared her—he hadn’t touched the territory at all. Rather than being purely joyful, it left her uneasy.

She had a hunch, though. She mentally spoke to Pebble.

You got anything like a favorability log?

Feigning another sweep of the scenery outside, Ayra checked the list Pebble had pulled up. It was sorted by highest favorability score, and to her disbelief, Janus sat at the very top. Trying not to react, she selected his name.

A detailed timeline appeared, listing each event that had caused an increase in Janus’s favorability toward her, starting from the most recent.

[Janus Rehzedet – Favorability Log]

12 hours ago, during battle, chemical bomb attack: +7

12 hours ago, during battle: +4

12 hours ago, during battle: +2

12 hours ago, provocation during battle: +2

12 hours ago, illusion magic attack: +1

13 hours ago, illusion magic attack: +2

13 hours ago, illusion magic attack: +2

13 hours ago, illusion magic attack: +5

13 hours ago, conversation: +1

Just like the first time she saw it—this sharp spike in favorability was beyond baffling.

She hadn’t checked the log mid-fight, not just because she’d needed to focus, but because she assumed the favorability would drop. And yet... this dragon’s thought process was far beyond comprehension. It was no longer something she could shrug off as just some sadistic quirk.

Is it not that he likes being hurt—but that he likes fighting?

Still, Ayra loved her life too much to raise favorability through combat. Whatever personal feelings she had toward Janus, this needed serious thought.

Could I really be Janus’s fated partner?

If she were, it’d be the best outcome imaginable. A territory with a dragon far outvalued one with ten gemstone mines. With Janus around, Solar’s 10,000 Sel debt would be gone overnight, and the territory could evolve from destitution into a grand domain within a few years.

But Ayra knew better than to get too optimistic. What if this was just a passing whim? The destruction countdown was still ticking. As someone responsible for tens of thousands of lives, she couldn’t afford to ignore even a slim chance of disaster. Especially after coming that close to death, her priorities had sharpened.

This wasn’t the time to fantasize about a happy ending.

As she finally turned away from the window, Ayra coldly assessed the situation.

Whether I’m his fated partner or not—this favorability is high enough to be used.

She neatly folded away her personal feelings—resentment, betrayal, even a twisted kind of relief that he’d saved her—and shoved them into a mental drawer. Having nearly killed herself to raise that favorability, the question now was how to use it.

Janus was still sitting silently, just watching her. Ayra decided to prod him lightly.

"I thought you were going to kill me."

"I was."

Feigning composure, she walked over to the bed and mentally summoned Pebble again. The familiar mini window popped up in the air.

[:3♡]

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

You’re gonna be focusing all your functions on Janus for a while, got that?

Pebble’s little heart icon shrank with a dramatic squish.

[Due to insufficient mana, several systems are currently restricted. Action not recommended!]

Don’t get cheeky with me. ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) If your master says ‘do it,’ you say ‘yes, ma’am.’

[X0 ......!]

There was some resistance, but in the end, Pebble complied. It had no choice. Janus’s eyes, fixed on her, were gleaming with a crazed intensity.

"Then why didn’t you kill me? I’m not even your lover anymore."

She tried to stand, but her legs gave out—she wasn’t fully healed yet. Ayra ended up crawling back into bed. If she was going to die, she might as well do it lying down, where even ghosts looked prettier.

"Who knows. Didn’t feel like it’d put me in a good mood."

Janus leaned in languidly, peering down at her. Ayra, on the other hand, was not feeling great. His eyes, lit up like slicked oil, looked like they were seconds away from doing something truly unhinged. Every nerve in her sore, aching limbs tensed up.

"Did you show me that illusion on purpose?"

"What illusion? I cast like twenty spells on you..."

"The one of the burning city."

Ayra tilted her head. Burning city? She had no idea what he was talking about. Once illusion magic stacked past a certain point, it went out of her control, showing the target their most unwanted possible future.

"You were, like, dozens of people..."

Janus muttered with a half-pissed, half-relishing look on his face, like remembering a fun nightmare. Ayra could only wonder what kind of vision would have featured dozens of herself.

Still, if he hesitated to kill her, maybe she wasn’t quite his "mate," but at least something close? But then she remembered how he’d sliced off Mishio’s head without a second thought, and—nope, not comforting.

"Well, that’s... lucky, I guess. So my territory...?"

She tried to sound nonchalant, but her voice shook. Janus had leaned in again, way too close. His eyes sparkled unnaturally, like they’d been greased for maximum shine.

"I’ll leave it alone for now. Got something very important to look into."

Something important? Me? As she blinked away the creeping exhaustion, Pebble—who had been loitering near Janus’s thigh—suddenly popped up a set of choices.

1. Give in to your fatigue and sleep. (Bad Ending)

2. Resist exhaustion and continue the conversation. (Bad Ending)

—Time limit: 5 seconds. 5... 4...

What the hell kind of choices are these?! Panicking, Ayra blurted the first thing that came to mind before the timer ran out.

"...Wanna sleep together?"