Chapter 5

"Did King Ragnar discover that she was an Atoner?" I asked, staring at the system.

It seemed to hesitate before answering. "No. He was simply in a foul mood that day, and she happened to bring him confectionery."

I sneered mockingly. "When has King Ragnar ever been in a good mood? He kills people on a whim, so what right do you have to send innocent players to atone for him?

"People like him belong in hell. You do too, and so do all the viewers commenting in the livestream!"

The system stayed cold and indifferent, while the comments were filled with gloating remarks.

"It's the first time King Ragnar has ever killed a consort. That's a new record!"

"This is fun. I wonder how many different deaths the remaining players will unlock."

Furious, I lunged at the system's projection before someone caught me and said there were updates from Elara.

She'd been delivering King Ragnar's laundry when an assassin attacked. Throwing all caution to the wind, she rushed forward to block the attack for him, and her atonement score shot to 70%.

The knife had gone straight into her heart, but thanks to the amnesty token she'd redeemed earlier, it was equivalent to giving her a second life.

The amnesty token simulated real injuries without causing death. So after three days in bed, she barely pulled through.

King Ragnar personally visited her and asked what reward she wanted.

She dropped to her knees, and resolution gleamed in her eyes as she declared, "I-I seek no reward, only that Your Majesty avenges me."

She recited the backstory she'd prepared. Her parents were murdered by her uncle's family, who took her and her sister in only for money. He abused them and eventually sold them off. She was passed around, and by sheer luck, she landed in the palace.

King Ragnar seemed moved by her story, and her atonement score climbed to 80%. He ordered an investigation at once, and Elara's partner had redeemed merit points for lifelike decoy puppets acting as the uncle's family.

When King Ragnar returned covered in blood, her atonement score progress was at 90%.

He pulled her out of the laundry maid quarters and made her his personal maid. Not only did he teach her to read, but he also allowed her to dine privately at his table.

No one dared to make a sound. We watched the score inch from 90% to 92% to 95%, then finally to 98%.

Three months later, with a wave of his hand, he declared she would be his queen. No one dared object because anyone who tried would lose their head.

King Ragnar meticulously prepared the coronation for a full month. Throughout, Elara played the role obediently and aligned with him in every thought.

More than once, he murmured, "You were made for me."

Even the commenters were impressed.

"Is she seriously gonna be the first to clear the game?"

"Nothing's suspicious so far."

"No! I want to see all of them dead!"

At last, the coronation day arrived.

Elara sent one final message to our group chat. "Everything depends on this moment."

We held our breaths and watched as she walked toward King Ragnar on the altar, dressed in an Aethelian gown. Right now, his expression looked exceptionally gentle.

He took her hand, and the two of them stood high above the crowd like they owned the world.

Elara's atonement score began ticking upward from 98.2% to 98.5% to 99.8%…

Then, it stopped again.