Chapter 121 : Fooling the Algorithm
Chapter 121: Fooling the Algorithm
Lilia froze.
There was even such a way to do things?
“So… when she said ‘??’ last night, that also counted as a mission?” Lilia asked in disbelief.
【It counts! It absolutely counts!】 the system replied loudly.
Lilia felt a wave of suffocation. She took a deep breath and asked tremblingly, “Then… what about the reward? Since it counts as a mission, there should at least be a reward, right?”
Even though her body felt completely drained, her desire for rewards was etched into her DNA.
Since her labor had been exploited for free, she had to get some compensation back—whether it was skill points or attribute points, even a bottle of stamina potion would do!
【Of course there is!】
The system’s tone became excited. 【Considering that Her Majesty Hera has not yet fully mastered the system backend’s operational logic and cannot directly issue data-based rewards, this reward is instead given… uh, according to Her Majesty’s whim. This system will receive it on your behalf and store it in your inventory.】
【Ding! Reward has been delivered. Please check it!】
A pale blue light screen instantly popped up before Lilia’s eyes, and three new glowing icons appeared in her inventory.
Her heartbeat accelerated instantly.
Something casually rewarded by the Demon Queen?
That had to be something good! Even if it was just a brick thrown by Hera, it would still be a myth-grade brick infused with demonic energy!
Lilia rubbed her hands together and looked at the first icon with anticipation.
It was a… dagger?
【Item Name: Hera’s Letter-Opening Knife (Worn Version)】
【Quality: Fine (probably)】
【Description: A small knife that Her Majesty Hera casually grabbed from the bedside cabinet last night to scare the host. Its sharpness is average, but it carries the Queen’s fingerprints. Her Majesty found the handle uncomfortable, so she casually rewarded it to you.】
【Function: Can be used to peel apples, or to threaten ignorant slimes.】
Lilia: “……”
Her lips twitched as her gaze shifted to the second icon.
It was a crystal-clear… sphere?
【Item Name: High-Tier Magical Beast Eyeball (Only Looks Like One)】
【Quality: Rare】
【Description: A stress-relief toy found by Her Majesty Hera in the study, usually used for fidgeting. Last night, Her Majesty gave it to you because you were crying too loudly and wanted you to shut up.】
【Function: Completely useless. Perhaps you can sell it on the black market to trick fools, claiming it’s some kind of cursed medium.】
Lilia’s fist clenched.
What kind of reward was this? Was this just tossing scraps to a beggar?
She took a deep breath and placed her final hope on the third icon.
That icon looked rather strange, like a slender… rope?
【Item Name: Torn Curtain Tie (Black Silk)】
【Quality: Common】
【Description: The battle last night was intense. Her Majesty found the curtains too bright and tore this off casually.】
【Function: A souvenir. Or, if you have certain special hobbies, it can also be used to…】
“I *****!”
Lilia finally couldn’t hold back. She slammed her fist into the soft bedding, letting out a furious roar of helpless rage.
“System, get out here! What kind of garbage is all this?!”
“A blunt knife, a glass ball, and a broken strap?!”
“I practically worked my life away last night! My waist is about to snap! And this is the pile of trash I get in return?!”
The system’s aggrieved voice sounded pitiful. 【Host, don’t yell at me… these were all given by Her Majesty. I’m just a courier.】
Lilia was so angry she felt like coughing up blood.
She grabbed the so-called “High-Tier Magical Beast Eyeball,” intending to smash it onto the ground, but after thinking that it was given by Hera—and that breaking it might give that woman an excuse to punish her again—she forcefully restrained herself.
“What’s the use of these things?!” Lilia asked in collapse.
“Indeed, they’re useless.”
“Indeed, they’re useless.”
“……”
The system’s tone sounded perfectly justified, even carrying a faint sense of “I can’t help it either.”
Lilia held the glass bead—which not only had no magical fluctuation but even contained a visible air bubble when held against the light—and felt as if her blood vessels were tap dancing on its surface.
Useless?
Listen to that. Was this something a carbon-based lifeform—no, wait, a silicon-based lifeform—should be saying?
Lower back strain, ligament damage, her throat hoarse from shouting—and in the end, she got a pile of junk that even scrap collectors would find too bulky?
“System.” Lilia took a deep breath. A chilling smile appeared on her face as she spun the blunt letter-opener—so dull it couldn’t even scrape dirt out of her fingernails—between her fingers. “Come out. I promise I won’t beat you to death. I just want to format you, and maybe run a 220-volt current through your motherboard for some electrotherapy.”
【Host, please calm down! Please stay rational!】
Sensing the mutual-destruction-level resentment radiating from Lilia, even the ripples on the light screen trembled like an ECG. The system immediately caved, speaking so fast it sounded like rap.
【This really isn’t my fault! The authority is currently in Her Majesty Hera’s hands—she’s the client, I’m the contractor’s grandson, and you’re the laborer. The hierarchy is very clear!】
【If Her Majesty thinks these little items are ‘fun’ and ‘rewards,’ then I can only classify them as rewards! What, do you expect me to run up to the Demon Queen and say: ‘No, this is too trashy, you need to give a divine artifact’? I’d turn into scrap metal before you do!】
The smile at Lilia’s lips grew colder. “So you just watch me get exploited for free?”
【Actually… it’s not like there’s no solution!】
【Well… although the reward distribution authority is in Her Majesty’s hands, the mission evaluation algorithm is still under my control!】
The system cautiously threw out bait. Its voice suddenly became sly, like a street vendor selling pirated discs in a dark alley.
Lilia raised an eyebrow, her hand stopping mid-motion. “Spit it out.”
【Ahem, here’s how it works.】
The system cleared its throat and began speaking nonsense with a straight face.
【The current evaluation logic is: the harder the mission, the greater the sacrifice, and the more… ahem, intense the situation, the higher the reward tier determined by the system.】
【But since Her Majesty doesn’t actively issue such ‘high-difficulty’ missions, we need to… uh, manually intervene a little.】
【In simple terms, we ‘trick’ the algorithm.】
A very bad premonition suddenly rose in Lilia’s heart. “How?”
【Whenever Her Majesty Hera makes any request of you—even something as simple as pouring water or handing over an item…】
The system’s voice grew softer and softer, as if even it felt its next words were utterly shameless.
【You must proactively, loudly, and emotionally request an increase in difficulty!】
【And you must use specific ‘phrasing’!】
Lilia narrowed her eyes. “What phrasing?”