From Master Assassin to a Random Extra: OP in a Dating Sim
Chapter 63: Hint Acquired

Chapter 63: Hint Acquired

Marcus sighed inwardly, shoulders rising just a bit before falling again. His finger twitched as he made the mental selection, reluctantly accepting the blinking system prompt floating before him like an unwanted popup ad from a forgotten past life.

[System Prompt Accepted.]

Hope this helps.

[Hint for Raising Affection:]

Pick Target:

-Victoria

-Cynthia

-(Custom Pick)

A selection window materialized, clean and clinical, hovering just in front of his eyes—though only Marcus could see it.

"...I even need to pick?" he muttered under his breath, brows furrowing.

Instinctively, his finger flicked toward Victoria. Not that he had a strong reason—she was simply the first on the list. No time to overthink. Lingering on that screen too long would only invite more suspicion, and right now, both girls were watching him far too closely.

Just as he finalized the choice, a crisp snap echoed beside him.

"Uhhh... you there, Marcus?" Victoria asked, fingers raised mid-air as she tried to catch his drifting attention.

Marcus blinked and turned to her, playing it off with a casual smile. Still, his eyes darted to the transparent interface shimmering in his periphery.

[Hint:]

-Mention something about books.

That’s it?

He arched a brow. Kinda cheap, he thought. But hey—easy points.

Before he could act on it, another hint popped up with a mechanical chime.

[Additional Hint:]

-Use charm techniques from former training.

Marcus chuckled quietly, more amused than anything. He’d completely forgotten that charming targets used to be part of his old routines—smiles, subtle voice modulation, posture tricks. Back then, it was a weapon. Now? It felt... bizarrely nostalgic.

Thanks for the reminder, he thought dryly.

He straightened in his seat with practiced nonchalance, adjusting his posture to look effortlessly relaxed—shoulders down, spine aligned, a faint trace of a smirk on his lips. One leg slid over the other, an air of casual grace he hadn’t used in years.

"Ah, sorry," he said smoothly, letting out a soft chuckle. "I was just thinking about a book I was interested in."

He let his voice dip slightly at the end—a subtle softness designed to disarm, to draw curiosity.

Cynthia tilted her head and pouted. "Was that it? I thought you had something far more interesting up your sleeve."

She gave a mock sigh, then stood, brushing her skirt down with practiced elegance.

"Well, it’s about time I head to the library anyway. Can’t waste this precious break time just chatting, y’know?"

Her smile was still playful, but there was a subtle shift in it—less teasing, more unreadable.

"You two behave."

She gave a lazy wave and walked off, sunlight catching the hem of her skirt as she moved away. Her steps were light, but something about her posture felt just a little too straight.

Marcus returned the wave with a quiet sigh of relief. One potential interrogation down.

"Well, that worked quite wonderfully," he muttered, glancing at the system screen again. Then, his eyes shifted to Victoria—only to catch her watching him, eyes practically glowing.

Victoria [Affection: Warm +17] (+5)

...That easy?

He blinked, then turned fully to face her.

"Books...?" she asked, her voice a notch softer, her excitement barely hidden. "Like, what kind do you read?"

Right. He’d nearly forgotten—Victoria was a serious bookworm.

"I’m more into the romance genre," Marcus said confidently, folding his arms with a grin. "Doesn’t get old watching people fall in love."

Victoria [Affection: Fond +21] (+4)

[Objective Completed: Reach +20 Affection Points]

Reward Unlocked:

-Emotion Scan Feature

-View Current Route Feature

Bingo.

A new screen slid into view, clean and elegant with a soft chime.

[Current Ongoing Routes]

-Victoria Route (Crush Developing: 35%)

-Maria Route (???)

-Cynthia Route (Acquaintances)

-Dwayne Route (Locked)

-Leon Route (???)

-More to be unlocked...

He blinked twice. Leon?! He decided not to touch that one.

Back to the present, Victoria was still smiling—but it had changed. It wasn’t just polite or amused anymore. It was bright. Unfiltered.

"Romance?" she said with a soft laugh. "I never thought an assassin would be interested in that kind of thing."

She stood suddenly, crimson eyes gleaming with enthusiasm as she reached into her bag and pulled out a book. The cover was aged, the spine creased, the edges lovingly worn.

"I actually found something yesterday," she said, stepping closer. "We should read it together if you’re into books too!"

Victoria [Affection: Fond +24] (+3)

Marcus leaned back slightly as the book was practically shoved in his face, her eagerness catching him off guard in the most charming way.

"You’re a total book lover, huh?" he asked, one brow raised in amused curiosity.

Victoria smirked and placed a hand over her heart, puffing out her chest with theatrical pride.

"Well, duh! It’s only one of the best entertainment mediums ever made!" she declared, stepping forward again. Her face was just inches from his now, her excitement radiating.

"So! What do you say?"

The koi pond bubbled softly behind them. The wind tugged lazily at the gazebo’s vines. Somewhere, unseen, the system screen flickered—quietly satisfied.