The Player is a Part-Timer

Chapter 10: Prepare Like a Gamer!

As for Gillian and Rias...

If you asked Issei, what Gillian did with Koneko and Buchou yesterday was close to unforgivable! But now, as the boy thought about it, maybe they needed this wake-up call to take things seriously.

No matter how athletic she was, a human beating Koneko — who he, as a devil can't even touch — was a warning sign they were dangerously outclassed! They need to take things seriously — especially him — or they will lose against that Yakitori guy!

"Still, she could have done it in a more subtle way..."

"Issei! Don't slack!"

"Guah!" Issei was smacked on the head by Kiba, using the pommel of his conjured sword. "That hurt!"

"Enjoying the show?" Meanwhile, on the side, the strange human watched as the group struggled, doing their best to improve.

Gillian sat before her laptop. Always watching, pushing the keys ceaselessly.

"Trying so..." The player didn't even bother to turn her head towards Rias — who stopped on her side in the next moment.

"You didn't come to eat breakfast with us. Neither did you join the dinner and bathed with us..."

"Was not hungry. Don't like bathing with others..." Gillian's gaze still nailed to her screen. Not one moment, her fingers stopped as she typed something on her machine.

"I would like to apologize for what happened yesterday. My reaction was a little..."

"What happened, happened. Let's not waste more words on it. Instead, try to improve. Keeping cool and redirecting your anger to the right direction is important in battle."

"You are not even upset? You were almost killed."

"No..." Gillian's answer was straight and simple. Not a moment she trembled or hesitated to answer. She was just... dismissively cold.

"Even if...?"

"Even if...? Even if what?" Still emotionless, Gillian glanced at Rias then back at her screen. "It was a calculated risk."

"But... you could have died! Doesn't that bother you?"

"We will all die at some point, Red. Humans, devils, and I suppose, gods too. The question is, how will you go down? Quiet, and forgettable, or grab every opportunity you can, and go down like a legend, in a blaze and glory — dragging your opponent with you. I ask you, Red, would you choose a quiet life or blaze of glory?"

"That's... a little extreme."

"It may seem like that. But have you ever heard of a famous person in history who just sat idle and did nothing? Letting others choose in their stead? Very few such people exist, and they are famous all for the wrong reasons. If I had a choice, I would rather decide how to go down than wait for others to choose for me. A slave can't choose. A free person can..."

Gillian spoke like she knows the first version all too well. Familiar with the concept of others deciding her life and fate.

"Even if I died yesterday due to your attack. I am sure it would have served some purpose. And after all, it would be my choice to go down that way..."

"What purpose? What purpose would your death serve?" Rias was slightly unnerved hearing Gillian — even edging being scared.

"Either you break before the barrier that stands between you and your goals, or you will be the one who is breaking that barrier. There are very few paths aside from these two. If you killed me with your attack yesterday, you would either break down due to the trauma, or the experience would instigate you to become stronger and gain more control. Encouraging you never to let things like that happen..."