"Ririko, do you like this ring...?"
A middle-aged, brown-haired man sat across from Ririko, holding her slender, delicate hand as he waited for her answer with shining eyes.
Ririko stared at the ring on her middle finger.
The diamond was as tiny as a speck of powdered sugar accidentally spilled on a table. A single breath could blow it away.
If this thing fell into a gutter, even the ants probably wouldn't bother carrying it off.
She looked up at the cheapskate and fought the urge to roll her eyes.
"It's... all right, I guess."
She forced the corners of her mouth up, trying to maintain a bare minimum of politeness.
This was Gotham, after all.
She was just an ordinary background NPC. Landing a man with a little money and getting a few more days without worrying about food or drink was already something to be grateful for.
The cheapskate smiled in satisfaction.
He turned to the saleswoman. "Then wrap this ring in your best gift box."
The saleswoman didn't even lift her eyelids as she said coldly:
"This ring is already discounted. A gift box costs extra."
The man pondered for ages, apparently giving serious thought to a very grave issue.
"Then... use a more ordinary one." He gave a dry cough. "I'd like to save this ring and give it to this young lady on her birthday."
Ririko's mind erupted into chaos.
This was already the cheapest ring in the store, and she was already wearing it. Now he wanted to "save it for her birthday"?
What kind of ridiculous stunt was this?
Take it back right in front of her?
Then bring it out a month later as a surprise?
She remembered how he'd promised to treat her to a nice meal last weekend, only to take her to a burger joint and use two coupons.
She'd wanted an avocado salad, but he'd said avocados were too expensive. Better to ask for another serving of free pickles.
The saleswoman held out her hand to Ririko. "Please take off the ring first."
Ririko looked at the speck of powdered sugar on her hand, her fingers curling slightly.
She really didn't want to.
NPCs had dignity too.
Her gaze happened to sweep over the mirror on the counter.
The woman in the mirror had exquisite features and slightly upturned eyes, giving her just the right touch of allure.
Her long hair fell smoothly over her shoulders, gleaming like satin even without expensive care.
A stunning waist-to-hip ratio, flawless proportions.
With looks like these, why should she have to choose between pickles and a powdered-sugar ring?
She lowered her lashes, her mind already made up.
She had to find a richer, more generous man.
Preferably one so old he was about to die. He could croak the day after their wedding, the inheritance could arrive on the third day, and by the fourth, she could buy this jewelry store.
Just as she was considering how to hook her next rich man, someone kicked open the jewelry store's glass door.
Three men in dark hoodies strode in, openly carrying two Glocks and a Remington.
"Nobody move!"
The leader's voice was hoarse, the teeth on his skull mask forming a rigid smile.
Ririko didn't move, but not because she was brave.
Quite the opposite. She knew the routine all too well.
At a time like this, the first person to move, or the one who tried to play the hero, usually became a still-warm corpse first.
That was right. As an NPC who had somehow glitched and retained her memories from before the resets, she knew the script here:
Unhinged men and women wreaked havoc, the police were helpless, and a man in a fruit bat mask appeared to save the NPCs.
But even if an NPC accidentally died, they would reappear after a reset in some timeline, like cheap plot devices repeatedly milked for emotional impact.
Unfortunately, this time she'd reset into a timeline before Bruce became Fruit Bat Man.
So no Fruit Bat Man would descend from the sky to save a "beautiful, frail, and tragic" NPC like her.
To avoid taking a bullet for nothing, she had to be extra careful to stay alive.
Her gaze swept quickly over the store's layout. She pinpointed the back door and identified the thugs' blind spots.
While everyone in the store screamed and the jewelry store manager tried to negotiate with the thugs, she quietly crouched down.
Keeping her center of gravity low, she pressed her palms against the cold marble floor and slowly shifted her body, moving silently into a corner of the counter.
Just as she tucked herself into the safest spot in the entire store-
A gunshot rang out, and the jewelry store manager fell.
The counter's glass shattered with the gunshot, scattering across the floor.
An entire tray of pearl jewelry tipped out of the counter and spilled onto the ground.
Expensive pieces in white, pink, and champagne all rolled over to Ririko.
She stared at the dreamlike jewelry covering the floor, her eyes wide as saucers.
Her luck was incredible this time...
Even though she lived cautiously after every reset, she still died in absurd ways she couldn't possibly guard against, forcing her to start her miserable life all over again.
But this time was different!
She reached out like a cat stealing a treat, deftly picking up the pieces of jewelry and slipping them into her purse one by one.
She frantically ran the numbers in her head. With these jewels, she could buy a secure little apartment in uptown Gotham, where rich people were plentiful and the neighborhood was safe.
She might even land an executive from Wayne Enterprises. Then she could climb the social ladder and live happily ever after.
Whatever happened, she absolutely couldn't die this time.
Several more gunshots rang out overhead.
She picked up the last pearl brooch and glanced toward the store's back door.
The thugs were busy clearing out the counters and display stands. No one was watching that door.
Ririko took a deep breath, hugged her purse tightly to her chest, and began moving silently.
One step, two steps, three steps...
The back door drew closer.
Just as her hand settled on the doorknob-
"Darling! Don't leave me behind!"
The cheapskate's voice came from somewhere in a corner.
Ririko froze.
He was crouching in a corner on the other side of the counter, his face white as paper and his lips trembling.
His eyes clearly pleaded: Take me with you.
There was only one thought in Ririko's head:
You damned cheapskate, don't get me killed.
She promptly turned away, pretending she'd never met the man.
With her purse strap wrapped around her wrist, she turned the knob, pushed open the door, and slipped out-
Just as she was about to escape danger, frantic footsteps sounded behind her. The cheapskate followed, his voice thick with tears:
"Ririko, wait for me!"
The man's voice was loud enough for a deaf person to hear.
Before Ririko could curse his ancestors, an enraged roar came from inside the jewelry store:
"Someone's getting away! After them!"
A thug in a skull mask had already chased them outside.
Ririko didn't hesitate.
She darted into a narrow alley nearby, the cheapskate following behind her. They stumbled along, rounded several turns, and finally shook off the thug.
The cheapskate braced his hands on his knees and gulped for breath, his face bright red.
He raised his head and looked at Ririko, somehow even sounding aggrieved. "Were you... trying to run away without me just now?"
Ririko couldn't take it anymore. She drove a vicious kick into his crotch.
"You damned cheapskate! You almost got me killed!"
The man doubled over in pain, not even daring to breathe too loudly.
After venting her anger, she finally dared to relax a little and leaned against the wall to catch her breath.
"I did it." She hugged her purse to her chest, her voice filled with disbelieving joy.
But the instant she looked up-
Her smile froze.
She recognized this place. It was Crime Alley.
The Waynes were about to be murdered here. Then, overwhelmed by grief, Bruce Wayne would become Fruit Bat Man, a man who loved rubber bodysuits and whose sexual interests were a mystery.
Just then, footsteps sounded behind her.
She turned and found herself face-to-face with a man dressed in black and wearing a baseball cap, his pistol raised at her...
"No, no, no..." Ririko said softly. "He and I aren't-"
Bang! Bang!
Two gunshots rang out, and pearls scattered across the ground...
Before you continue