The System told me that, as a player, I stood a chance of reviving my beloved if I played the game enough times.

As such, I gave my heart to charm Mila Gibbs, even if it meant dying ninety-nine times.

When I played the game for the hundredth time, Mila sent me into a room with a deviant just for her true love's fancy.

"You're not going to die anyway. Just make Julian laugh, and I don't mind marrying you."

She didn't know that once I played the game a hundred times, my wish would be granted, success notwithstanding.

I shall hence disappear from her world without a trace.

[Player's 99th death confirmed. Hidden quest commenced: Hundred Deaths—reward: Yvie Jade's revival.]

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself lying on the cold floor, the pool of my own blood around me dried up.

Once again, I reminded myself that I had come to this world to charm Mila Gibbs, in order to bring my beloved Yvie back to life.

I was an orphan without anyone, but Yvie brought me out of the darkness.

When the System told me that I could save Yvie by charming Mila, I didn't hesitate to say yes.

I was an angel to her, passing myself off as hopelessly in love with her, even as she tormented me in every way since she learned that I was a Player.

As I would resurrect from every death, she did everything she could to hurt me without mercy.

-

Before I died the ninety-ninth time, Mila brought me along to Julian Stark's fashion show.

He was her one true love. As she watched his presentation on stage, she humiliated me by teasing me like I was her pet.

I simply sat quietly at her side, not leaving no matter what she said.

Halfway through the show, the glass ceiling suddenly collapsed.

I promptly threw myself on top of Mila, protecting her and letting the glass tear through my body.

However, she shoved me away and ran toward Julian, who was unscathed.

No one else noticed me even after the entire hall was cleared out, and I welcomed my ninety-ninth death with a glass shard in my heart.

Thank goodness.

One more resurrection and one more death, and I could bring Yvie back to live.

Just as I was pushing myself up, I got a call from Mila. "Are you up yet?! Julian and I are at the hospital downtown. Make soup for him and hurry up!"

She sounded impatient, as if breathing another word to me disgusted her endlessly.

Not even the fact that I had just died to protect her made her feel anything.

I struggled to get up and drive home, not even stopping to change out of my filthy clothes to cook soup.

That was how Mila had always harassed me—she made me cook her food, and if it didn't taste right, she would throw it in my face along with the meal box.

She took no notice even though that left a large burn mark on my face just before my sixty-seventh death, even laughing at me. "What are you worried about? You'll just start over when you die!"

-

When I arrived at the hospital with a soup flask, Mila was doting on Julian as he lay in bed, and she frowned when she saw me. "You didn't even change?! What if you brought germs in here?!"

Julian patted her hand and turned to flash me an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Ben. Mila's just so worried about me."

While it looked like he was getting me out of a bind, the look of contempt in his eyes was all too clear.

Mila then took my flask, scooping a spoonful and blowing on it before feeding Julian.

The soup wasn't even in Julian's mouth for seconds before he started hacking violently.

Mila scrambled to pat his back, but it took minutes for Julian to recover and frown at the soup. "I'm allergic to lemons."

I simply stood and watched Julian quietly.

I knew his allergies better than his personal physician, but there was nothing I could do if he decided he was allergic to lemons at that moment.

Mila wheeled on me with a vicious glare and splashed the piping hot soup on my face right then. "Are you trying to kill Julian?! What, do you think you'll win if he dies?!"

Although I felt the scalding heat tearing through my skin, I frowned and fought against the pain to answer, "I'm sorry."

She wouldn't understand no matter what I said anyway, so why not hope for her to kill me so I could return sooner?

Behind her, Julian was smiling smugly as he watched me suffer, but he was soon once again the kind-hearted Julian as he caught Mila's wrist to stop her. "That's enough. Ben didn't mean any harm."

Mila glared coolly at me nonetheless. "Clean it up."

I dropped to a crouch, picking up the glass shards with my bare fingers, not bothered by the pain as the glass cut into my skin.

For some reason, that left Mila annoyed and she pulled me to my feet. "Can't you use a broom? Are you trying to win sympathy points?!"

Eventually, she shoved me aside and called in a care worker.

Julian frowned as Mila stood by my side, and quickly changed the subject. "Oh, that reminds me. Did you tell Ben about the next show?"

Mila eyed me and said quietly, "Julian wants handmade pottery made for his show next month. Make him a piece in the next couple days."

I'd learnt pottery and was basically a master at it, but it would take time and energy.

And in the days leading to my forty-sixth death, Milla had me work day and night as a joke.

My eyes were damaged while I died at midnight from overworking, and my sight remained poor even after I was revived.

The doctor told me not to work, and Mila knew about it—she just didn't care.

Still, I turned to smile at Mila tenderly with a look of pure, endless love. "Okay, I will."

Mila was taken aback, as if caught off guard by my gaze, and turned away, pouting. "When you're done, I'll take you abroad to see a better doctor."

I shook my head. "It's alright. I will do anything for you—you don't have to feel guilty for it."

Mila looked into my innocent gaze, her usual look of apathy twitching for the first time.

However, I wasn't bothered if Mila would treat my eyes.

Once I was gone from this world, anything that happened here wouldn't matter to me, and I certainly wouldn't have to care about my eyes.

Her lips twitching, Mila wanted to speak, but Julian was suddenly clutching his head and groaning, "Mila…"

Mila promptly turned to check on him, instantly forgetting that I was still there.

I wasn't interested in lingering, returning to my house and promptly doing what Julian had asked me to.

If I could, I'd really rather have died from overwork just like before.

After all, I couldn't wait to see Yvie again, after being away from her for so long.

Pottery took complete focus, and there couldn't be mistakes.

On top of that, what Julian wanted was really difficult to make, and I worked tirelessly for days.

My eyes were beady from overwork, while my brain suffered from swelling pain.

My eyes blurred right before I passed out, not noticing Mila's name flashing on my phone screen.

In my sleep, I felt a pair of hands on my forehead.

Thinking that I'd died and returned to the real world, I opened my eyes and exclaimed in excitement, "Yvie!"

Instead, I found myself staring into Mila's eyes narrowed dangerously at myself. "Who's Yvie?!"

Mila's grip tightened around my wrist, her tone sterner as she demanded, "Who is Yvie?!"

Having no other answer in mind, I had no choice but to lie. "It's just this celebrity I used to like… I somehow dreamed of her."

It was a crude lie, but Mila was silent for seconds, clearly buying it.

After all, she knew that I loved her so much that I was willing to die ninety-nine times for her. Why would I love someone else?

"How frivolous."

No longer suspicious, her expression was cool again as she released me.

That was when we heard footsteps as Julian entered, his expression stiff when he saw me and Mila together.

Still, he soon smiled. "Hey, Ben. Mila told me you passed out from overwork because of me. Sorry, it's all my fault."

As Julian lowered his gaze guiltily, Mila promptly took his side, her tone mocking as she snorted. "It's not your fault. Ben made a promise, and he should fulfil his promise. And it's also his fault for being born such a loser that he's only fit to lick your shoes. Heck, he wouldn't hesitate if I told him to die. "

I listened to her gloat without feeling anything inside, but I pursed my lips as if I were miserable but doing my best to hide it.

"Yes, I'll do anything you say, Mila," I said. "I came to this world for you."

Mila's eyes widened, her pupils dilating as if in panic.

She left with Julian and said, "You could've just managed your workload. Or did you have a death wish?"

How curious—she never cared about me at all before.

Still, I shook my head, not caring to dwell on the issue.

Either way, I needed to die soon, though I was sure Julian would be happy to offer opportunities.

Despite his cheery personality, he was vile and self-centered, claiming that he wanted to be Mila's 'brother' but would torment anyone who got too close.

-

When I got up, I realized I was on Mila's yacht.

I stepped out, strolling around and eventually stumbling on Mila partying with her clique.

I stood at the bow and watched the moon, missing Yvie all the more.

"Oh, you're here." Julian smiled as he came to me, but that smile was filled with sinister intent. "The way you're improving, it's like Mila has really been nicer to you. Shame you're giving yourself too much credit trying to steal her from me… What, did you think she'd really fall for you? I just need a beckon, and she'd dump you without hesitation."

As he spoke, he was slowly walking toward the taffrail and laughing evilly at me. "Have you ever wondered if she would tear you to shreds if she finds out that you pushed me into the sea out of jealousy?"

Then, before I realized what was happening, he yelped out loud before falling over the taffrail.

Mila promptly ran over, jumping into the sea to save Julian.

Others on the deck quickly lowered a lifeboat and quickly got both of them out of the sea.

It took Julian a while to wake up, and he was shaking violently as he grabbed Mila's sleeve. "Don't blame Ben. He just loves you too much, and I understand that. It's all my fault."

At those words, everyone turned toward me.

"I thought he's just lovesick, but as it turns out, he's vile and lovesick."

"He pushed Julian off the boat! Everyone knows that Mila is obsessed with him!"

"Who does he think he is?"

Hearing that, Mila turned toward me with a glare.

I knew that look—it was the same look she had in her eyes every time she killed me.

Snapping coolly at her men, she told them to restrain me and threw me where the water was ten feet deep.

I splashed violently as I didn't know how to swim, but Mila kept glaring at me murderously. "It's your fault for hurting Julian—I've been too nice lately, haven't I?"

Even as the water rushed through my nostrils, my survival instincts kept driving me as Mila told her men to make sure I sank.

My ears were ringing even as everyone laughed out loud.

Right, I was supposed to die.

Because if I died, I'd see Yvie again.

As such, I stopped struggling and allowed myself to sink to the bottom.

Seeing that, Mila thought I was pretending. "Stop pretending. Did you think I'd spare you with just that… Ben? Ben?! Get him out!"

Even as I stayed motionless in the water, I had a very long dream.

In that dream, Yvie and I never had an accident and had a child together, living happily as a family of three through the seasons.

As I slowly stirred, I found myself staring at Mila, who appeared to be restraining her concern.

I lowered my gaze in disappointment—so I wasn't dead.

"How devious, Ben." Mila gloated just then. "Pushing Julian into the sea and then pretending to be dying? Are you trying to make me care?"

I shook my head. "No, I just don't know what I should do."

My response was enfeebled, but in Mila's mind, I loved her too much to argue.

"Julian said he can forgive you, but only if you help him with an experiment. You're going to stay in the same house as a deranged man just for a day. Don't worry—all the necessary safety precautions have been made, so you'll be fine."

Seeing that I was silent, Mila thought I was refusing and frowned impatiently. "Listen. You hurt Julian—"

"I'll do it. I'll do anything for you, Mila."

I had always been a complete sucker since I met Mila, like she was the only person who existed in the world.

But she had always doubted me, so she kept hurting me.

Even so, I stayed with her, single-mindedly intent on proving that I loved her.

Suddenly, she reached out to touch my cheek. "I'll marry you after this. I promise."

"Uh-huh." I kept my head down as I answered, but I'd already thought about how I was going to die.

And this time, no one was going to stop me.

There were observers outside the house even as I went in, and I smiled at Mila before I entered the house.

For some reason, her heart skipped a beat when she saw that, and she looked like she would stop me.

However, she saw the look in Julian's eyes and resolved herself.

'It's alright,' she thought.

It would be over soon, and she would marry me to make amends.

But that was fine—it was all going to be all over soon.

In reality, there was a reason why she would want to marry me and make amends.

After so much time had passed, Mila had suddenly realized that it might be a good idea to stay with me.

Nonetheless, after I entered the house, I fended off the deviant for a while to avoid arousing suspicion.

But within hours, he cornered me into a room.

And when his axe came swinging, I didn't run and was even smiling as I met it, my blood splattering all over the floor.

[Beep! Player's 100th death confirmed. Rewards will be given, and the player will be teleported back to the real world!]

"Ben!"

Just before I died, I saw Mila charging into my room toward my body.

But this time, she wasn't getting a response.