Chapter 2: Betrayed by My Own Boss

This was my first run ever, and I’d drawn a rookie player as my partner. Talk about unlucky rolls.

The boss was easy on the eyes, but cold as a January wind. Not the cuddly type.

At first, his eyes actually lit up when he saw me. But as soon as I explained I was a succubus? His face soured, and he basically ghosted me from then on.

I made my way over to Kevin, who was hiding out in the corner, and tried to keep my voice gentle:

"Hey, Boss, I grabbed this healing potion from the nurse’s station..."

There’s this ghostly nurse haunting the infirmary—massive arms, a syringe that could drain a whale. Normally, someone like me wouldn’t even think about going near her.

But Kevin had just gotten attacked and was bleeding bad. Hiding in a corner wasn’t going to save him.

When I snuck in, I kept my tail tucked—still sore from dodging—and pulled my skirt down to hide the scrape on my leg. I tried not to limp. No point letting anyone see how busted up I was.

Kevin didn’t notice any of it. He just grabbed the medicine bottle without a glance.

The wound on his stomach was nasty. His face twisted as he yanked the bandage, jaw clenched so hard I thought his teeth might crack.

Cold sweat was dripping down his forehead. I couldn’t help myself—I reached out, trying to gently wipe it away: "Does it hurt a lot? Sorry, Boss, it’s my fault for not protecting you..."

But he slapped my hand away—hard, sharp, stinging.

Kevin glared at me, pure disgust in his eyes: "Don’t touch me!"

He jerked back so fast he nearly slammed into the wall, like he couldn’t get away from me fast enough.

My hand stung, still hanging in the air.

After a beat, I managed, voice barely above a whisper, "Boss, I just wanted to help wipe your sweat..."

He cut me off, clutching his side, eyes blazing: "You think your tricks actually help? I said I don’t need you! You keep coming over here and making me hate you!"

That stung. More than I wanted to admit.

I was about to answer when the door banged open and another girl breezed in.

"Aaaah, Boss, look what I found! Some cute chocolate chip cookies~" She practically sang it, waving the bag like she’d won the lottery.

Kevin clearly needed a healing potion, not cookies, but when he saw her, his expression softened way more than it ever did for me.

"Brittany, that was risky, but you still went to the kitchen. Thanks."

Brittany, all doll-face and attitude, shot me a death glare before wrapping herself around Kevin’s arm, whining with a little sing-song: "But Boss, why haven’t you broken the contract with her yet? When you summoned me, you said you’d make a contract with me! UwU~"

...*Break the contract?*

My heart did a weird flip. I shifted awkwardly, my tail aching as it swayed behind me.

Every familiar knows: getting released from a contract is the ultimate humiliation. You’ll be the butt of every joke, and your rep is shot—no one’s picking you next time.

I dropped my gaze and pleaded with Kevin:

"Please don’t break the contract. Just give me another chance. Was it because I was too slow getting to the nurse’s station? Next time I’ll be faster!" My voice caught halfway, desperate.

Kevin wasn’t moved. His lips curled into something cold.

"It was a male ghost guarding the nurse’s station, right? That’s why you could get the medicine."

He sneered, pinching my cheeks so hard my eyes watered, forcing me to look at his red, angry face.

"Your charm works on everyone but me... you’re really something. What, did you sleep with that ghost? Or are you just that desperate? Gross."

He squeezed until tears prickled at my eyes, then clicked his tongue and finally let go.

As soon as he let go, Brittany latched onto his hand, pouting hard:

"She’s dirty, we don’t want her! Break the contract already."

Kevin turned away, refusing to meet my eyes: "When we regroup, you’re on your own."

He reached out and broke the contract, and the system yanked us all into the main lobby in a flash of cold blue light.

"Emergency gathering! The wraiths are about to descend! Players and familiars, stick together!"

The system’s voice boomed, blue light flickering overhead. A shiver ran down my spine. The air felt thick—metallic, sharp, and cold.

Kevin, still bleeding, shielded Brittany and hustled her into a safe corner. Brittany, nestled in his arms, shot me a smug look.

I opened my mouth to call after them, but... what was the point?

A familiar’s attack skills can’t be used on their boss. I never tried to charm him, not once—so why did he act like I was some kind of manipulator?