"...I see," said the blue-eyed and brown-haired goddess. "I didn't know you're the same as Plutia and Cyan Heart."

I winced visibly at her words. Suffice to say, being told I was just like the two most savage rulers of Ultradimension hurt me a lot more than I had initially expected. For a very understandable reason, too.

"Must you be so callous?" I asked half-serious.

"Then explain why you're thinking like that." Blanc huffed and narrowed her eyes. "Most if not all stories with sadistic authors tend to have all of the characters hit the rock bottom point of their lives. If you really are that kind of monster, then you're definitely going to break the protagonist in this Self-Insert Story you are in somehow."

The brunette drawled out "And so…" with a flat expression and voice.

"...Which one are you? The type to make everyone suffer, or are you the type who likes to focus on crushing a single person by throwing them into the meat-grinder?"

Urgh… What an uncomfortable topic… Though saying that, I was the one who started this conversation, so there was no way Blanc would let me off the hook.

"Well, if you said that…" I placed a hand on my chin and looked up to the Cypress-based ceilings. "In a light-hearted story, I'd say there will be some super strong enemy that are going to defeat the protagonist several times in a row before they can find some silver linings."

"Using shounen tropes already?" Despite her acidic tone, Blanc nodded. "It makes sense. And it's not out of possibility. The Ancient Dragons from before can be a proof of that."

"Yeah… Considering I got hacked at the back and almost died from that…" I scratched my cheek in embarrassment for my past failure. "...But in a more serious story, or maybe a story that ends with a cliffhanger, I tend to use a greater magnitude of despair."

"...Do I want to know?"

I looked away for a bit. "The protagonist will probably do something incredibly stupid that will end up with some plot points acting against them. And that something will definitely cause a long-lasting damage nearly impossible to solve without a degree of Deus ex Machina, but as an author, I absolutely despise using anything like that so the protagonist will probably have to find some acceptable alternatives by searching through a bundle of hay filled with booby traps..."

I felt silence stretch for a while. Unlike the game, there was no background music playing out so the utter silence made me utterly uncomfortable and helpless.

At some point, Blanc stared long at me before she could respond.

"...I feel like you're living off from people's sufferings, now." Blanc scowled. "Don't tell me your side-job is acting as some shady priest in a hilltop church?"

Oy, Blanc. What did I tell you about referencing something that doesn't exist for the console you were modeled from?

"It's not that I like watching people drown in despair." I scratched my head around the spots that itched. "People are harsh critics, and fairytale-like conclusions are seen as childish. I simply chose to cater to the audience's tastes, and found out it's well-received."

"Is that your opinion or is that the opinion the people of your world came to?"

I laughed bitterly at that. Once again holding the ceramic teacup in my right hand, I tilted my head and shrugged.

"Who knows? I can't even understand myself these days."

Blanc stared long at me before she sighed. It was a deep one as if she couldn't withstand something and yet have no other choice but to let the issue aside. I offered her my best apologetic smile, yet the goddess rejected it with an annoyed glare.

"...You know, aren't you being a little too carefree, now?" Oh, she sure has a great analytical skill.

"Can't help it. Life is too short to worry and grieve all the time."

"At least you're positive…"

"Couldn't be arsed to turn into a sore loser, right?" A cheeky grin graced my face.

Blanc looked like she wanted to rebuke me, but she once again chose not to in favor of jotting down story materials on her prized notes. Once she finished, however...

"Very well, then." Blanc sighed as she placed back her notes beneath the work desk. "In accordance with your desire, I shall give you a piece of hell you seem to like oh-so-very-much."

Ooh? That sounds good. I've been itching to go out and do something. I wouldn't want to rot in this throne room and have a terminal case of sleeping legs...

"Here." The goddess slid forward a card on the desk as if giving it to me. "This is a credit card. You know what it is and how it works, right?"

I scoffed. Was she being serious? I already had one, so why would—

"Go out there, buy some ingredients," Blanc paused. "And cook me dinner."

"...Huh?" I blinked. What did she just…

"Make sure the quality is at least four-star." Blanc narrowed her eyes as a vindictive smile bloomed on her youthful and fair face. "If you can't even do that… you know what's going to happen next, Eisen."

"...Blanc?"

"What?"

"I can't… guarantee the taste." I pointed at my face with my left index finger. "You sure about leaving that up to me?"

"Don't worry." Blanc beamed. "You'll also eat it. I'll take you down to hell along with me if you ever try to get back at me."

...Damn you and your cheat-based divinity! You of all people knew that food poisoning would never kill a freaking immortal goddess!