One Percent Too Late

For a long time, Vivian did not come back.

Only two days remained before the approval process for abandoning the mission was complete.

Simon seemed almost normal, except the backlash from the failed mission continued to torment him.

Looking at his bloodless face, I felt sorry for him.

I spoke beside his ear.

"Host, I applied for an alternate completion condition for you.

"As long as Vivian eats a meal with you, the mission will count as a success."

That way, he could return to his own world without pain or disaster.

He could see his family again.

A brief light appeared in Simon's eyes.

I knew he had heard me.

No one truly wants to die unless they have no other way out.

I told him to contact Vivian and make the arrangement for tomorrow, before the approval went through.

At first, the call did not connect. It was not until the tenth call, just as Simon was about to give up, that she answered.

"What is it?"

"Tomorrow is my birthday. Do you remember? Come home. Have dinner with me."

Simon's voice was hoarse. This time, Vivian did not refuse.

The tension in my heart eased.

Maybe this time, it really could work...

On Simon's birthday, I ordered a cake for him.

I was even already thinking about what I would do next after my host completed the mission.

But that day, Simon sat at the dining table from five in the afternoon.

All the way until ten at night.

The food went cold, was reheated, went cold again, and was reheated again.

In the end, he no longer had any strength. He only sat there, staring blankly out the window.

"Look.

"She does not even have time to eat one meal with me."

I fell silent.

The system screen showed me what Vivian was doing.

At six in the evening, she had been about to come home to eat with Simon.

But Adrian stopped her.

"Do you know what day it is today? You clearly promised to take our son out.

"He finally feels a little better, and now you want to leave again.

"I know it is Simon's birthday, but being a little late will not matter."

Time passed, second by second.

Simon's phone lit up briefly in the darkness.

It was a voice message from Vivian.

Simon tapped it open, and her voice came through.

"I will definitely come back later. I promised the kid, and I cannot break my word.

"If you are hungry, eat first. Do not wait for me."

I opened my mouth.

"Host..."

Simon did not say a word. He blew out the candle on the cake.

Then he took a spoon and ate one bite of it.

Midnight arrived.

I looked at Vivian's mission progress.

It was still at ninety-nine.

After the time was up, Simon did not hesitate at all.

He jumped from the eighteenth floor.