Chapter 98: Sunz’s Preparation

Sunz and Grace returned to their own room to put their weapon away, then they met at the dining hall for dinner, where they went to get their food on their own and eat together at the same table. They didn't talk much except just asking how each other food tasted. When they finished they both just sat at the table scrolling through their phone. Until they were interrupted by Sogae.

Sogae: Hello, enjoy your meal?

Both: Yes, we did.

Sogae: That is great to hear. So Sunz, your match is tomorrow, make sure to be prepared, and I will drive you to the location. Also, there will be a change of plan, only the people you choose can watch the fight. The others will have an extra free day until this tournament is over.

Sunz: Is there a limit to how many people I can choose?

Sogae: No, but you can't choose the unknown people.

Sunz: Well, I guess the usual team, Grace, Jihu, Yama, No Name, and also Mr.Archibald.

Sogae: Archibald?... Oh right, the butler that was with you when I arrived to pick up Grace's body. Now I must ask, Grace are you all ok now?

Grace: Um, thank you for asking. I think I'm all good now, my forehead is still a bit hurt tho.

Sogae: I don't know what really happened but even Elder Nam has to also check on you.

Grace: Mr.Nam visited me?!

Sunz: Yeah… apparently the old guy we saw before was Mr.Nam, who is Jihu's grandfather, the person that organized this tournament…

"You know him, Grace?"

Grace: You didn't do your research? He is the person who owns this hotel.

Sunz: Was I even supposed to?

Grace: You don't travel to another country without doing any research beforehand.

Sogae: Well, I'll come by your room in the morning to pick you up, so prepare everything you need. Enjoy the rest of the day you two.

Both: You too, Sogae.

*Sogae leaves the two of them alone*

Sunz: Ok, I did do some research but I didn't go that deep. I checked to know the location of the place I'm staying at, and at most I checked the review.

Grace: Please tell me that is a joke.

Sunz:… ok, kind of. Since Jihu was the person who chose this place, I didn't feel the need to…

Grace: At least that's a reasonable argument.

Sunz: Uh… yeah… seem so *keep shifting his eyes between Grace and his phone*

Grace:…*kicks Sunz's leg under the table* Pay attention when someone is talking to you.

Sunz: Ow, I'm sorry…*shifting his glance between his phone and Grace again for a few seconds*

Grace: *sigh* At least show me what you are comparing me to or whatever the hell you're doing with your eyes.

Sunz: So… I was checking out the heroes ranking website to see if your name was on there or not and I did.

Grace: For what reason make you want to do that?

Sunz: Do you remember the small guy with the big guy that we saw at the Tower?

Grace: I remember, I also remember that you told me the little guy knew me.

Sunz: So, when I went to check your profile on the website, it does have a profile picture and… *shows Grace his phone*

Grace: Yeah, that's me. Can't believe that picture is two years old already, how time flies.

Sunz: Ok, I know that you are joking because your appearance in this picture is the same as the one you showed me after your murder attempt.

Grace: *smirk* It seems you have good memory. So let me guess, you're wondering how that guy recognized me as a hero even those that picture and me are totally different, right?

Sunz: Yeah.

Grace: Well, you naïve newbie. The number that is shown on the website is scaled down. Rank S and A have an extra digit, rank B has two extra digits and rank C has three extra digits.

Sunz: So it only shows the top 10% of that rank.

Grace: Bingo, you found the obvious answer.

Sunz: You seem to enjoy seeing me being incompetent.

Grace: Well, sometimes I can't help it.

Sunz: If you are that high ranking, then no wonder he recognizes you.

Grace: You know… there is like a way more obvious answer.

Sunz: What? From what I know that is the only answer. Is there like a third-party website?- no, that is dumb and does not make sense.

Grace placed her hand on her forehead and gently shook her head (Are you this oblivious?) then placed both of her hands on her lap and sat in a prim and proper position in the chair.

"You look at this and don't see the obvious red flag."

Sunz with a confused look on his face scanned Grace for a few seconds before speaking up.

"Yeah… I don't see any of the red flags you're trying to show me. If you are talking about your personality, I don't think it's that noticeable at a glance."

Grace mumbles: my personality is not the red flag, something else is you oblivious moron.

Sunz: I understand half of that. Just say it directly, like how dragged me into this mess with you.

Grace: Fair point… You see my hair and its color? This is like the most common appearance on the ranking website. So of course that guy will mistake me for someone else.

Sunz: You sur-… I guess you're right, since that is also the most common female design in games and manga. Especially for female lead or maybe love interest.

Grace: What do you mean you guess? It's of course. I've been in this field for longer than you are so most of the things I say will be right.

…

"So to you, am I the female lead or the love interest?"

Sunz: What is the difference? They are both important characters that are used to drive the plot.

Grace: Well, the lead drives the plot while the love interest, is the love interest, they can be the plot point here and there or just throw them to the side.

Sunz: I don't feel that comfortable discussing that with you in public.

Grace: Agree. Let's leave.

*Both Sunz and Grace return to Sunz's room*

Grace jumped onto the bed while Sunz just standing in the middle of the room.

Grace: So, back to the conversation.

Sunz: What you said, was irritating. You literally don't care about the love interest character at all.

Grace: Yeah, so? I'm not reading a romance. I'm reading books.

Sunz: What does that even mean?

Grace: Well, when you're at my speed level, reading books is literally a hobby. Heck, I'll even read studying materials when I'm desperate.

Sunz: I'll call that an addiction, a weird one. But back to you saying love interest is trash-

Grace: I didn't say that, but I kind of mean it. Please continue.

Sunz: I think we both know you are the female lead, but I'll tell you this, to me the love interest is what makes the story fun. Sure they are the plot point here and there, but they are an important piece of the puzzle used for breaking the main character's emotion, letting them reach their highest high and lowest low.

Grace: Wow, that was quite…passionate. Let's summarize your words and my words.

"After everything that happened, from my view, I'm the main character and you are the love interest, but from your view, you are the main character while I'm just some female extra."

Sunz: That's not right. We have the same role in both views.

Grace: Someone hasn't thought hard enough to get a headache. By your logic, you as the love interest had made me experience emotional breakdown that forced me to kill your best friend. While I haven't given you any of that trauma which means I'm not the love interest.

Sunz: This is just a fun conversation, you are not implying anything important right?

Grace: Yeah… Oh! Did you really think it was serious? Haha!

Sunz: Well talking about relationship with you has always been a serious topic.

Grace: Even I can't deny that. But enough talking about random stuff, you should go prepare for tomorrow… need any help?

Sunz: There are a few things that I feel like I need to bring, but I don't really have anything to carry them. Do you have any spare purse that I can borrow?... Actually, do you even have a purse to begin with?

Grace: Oh I do, I just don't use it that often. Be back in a bit!

*She jumps off the bed and walks out of Sunz's room.*

Sunz started to gather the stuff he wanted to prepare.

*10 minutes later*

Grace returned to Sunz's room with a purse in her hand and saw that Sunz was playing with his phone.

Grace: Yo, love interest, having too much time on your hands?

Sunz: It's only been a few minutes.

Grace:… Well,l here your purse. What are the stuff I'm going to carry for you?

Sunz points his finger: They are on the table over there. You gonna carry them?

Grace approached the table Sunz pointed at, and looked at the stuff he gonna bring before speaking up.

"Well, don't want you to carry any unnecessary thing into the fight… but are these really what you are bringing?"

Sunz approaches Grace and looks at all of the stuff he chose: Yeah, something wrong with them?

Grace: Well… odd choice of items, I think. A water bottle, 4 shot glasses, and a letter… what is the role of these fucking things?

Sunz: I just feel they are important to bring.

Grace hands Sunz the purse: Hero you go, put them in. The final match is yours, so I don't have any say in this. But I can express my confusion to whatever you bring with you.

Sunz: Thank, Grace.

Grace: Also, I'm gonna sleep with you tonight, making sure you do not oversleep.

Sunz: I'm not planning on using the bed anyway so go ahead.

Grace:… You are such a piece of work. It's not a biohazard zone just because my bare body was on it, we going to sleep together in the future so get used to it. If you're not sleeping on the bed tonight, I'm gonna turn you into a stuffed animal like Jihu.

Sunz:…

Grace: Got it!

Sunz: Yes…

Grace: Good, now finish preparing.