Episode 2

[Chime Chime]

[New Mission]

[Run 200 meters towards home]

[Reward: Lose 10 kilograms]

[Mission Status: In Progress]

"Wait, has the mission already begun?" Grizelda asked in surprise.

[Indeed, you must complete the mission to claim the reward.]

Grizelda began to run, her overweight body not used to such exertion. Nevertheless, the tantalizing reward spurred her on; she had long harbored dreams of slimming down but had never been able to shed the pounds. Whenever sad, she found comfort in overeating.

Grizelda kept running despite pain and fatigue clawing at her legs.

"Oh, right, the system didn’t mention a time limit, just the distance of 200 meters. Maybe I can take a break, my legs are so stiff," Grizzla said, sitting on the roadside to massage her aching limbs.

A few minutes later, she resumed her run.

"I am so... tired."

Thud!

Grizelda collapsed by the roadside from exhaustion. Onlookers turned to gaze, but none stepped forward to help.

[Chime Chime]

[Mission Complete]

[10 kilogram weight loss reward]

[Balance: 200,000]

[Appearance:2]

[Charm:2]

[Strength:2]

[Speed:2]

[Agility:2]

[Defense:2]

[Intelligence:2]

[Courage:2]

[Weight loss commencing]

Processing…

Loading…

Initiating…

10%…

20%…

30%…

40%…

50%…

60%…

70%…

80%…

90%…

100%…

Complete.

Gradually, a change came over Grizelda's form, her body slightly shrinking. She rose, feeling lighter than before, having weighed around 90 kilograms initially.

"Could it really have happened?" Grizelda wondered, eyeing her slightly diminished figure.

She felt different, striding confidently home with a smile of contentment.

Upon arrival, she found the house in chaos. Predictably, after her stepmother's friends had revelled in a raucous party, leaving behind a murky pool in their wake, the house was a pit of disorder.

"Oh, you're back already, clean up this mess!" Eve commanded.

"Why should I? It was your party," Grizelda retorted with a frown.

Feeling emboldened in a way foreign to her, Grizelda clapped a hand to her mouth in confusion.

"You dare talk back! Clean it up!" Eve shouted at the top of her lungs.

"No, I won't! I'm tired! Do it yourself!" Grizelda retorted, leaving Eve behind.

"You insolent child! How dare you defy me! You infuriate me!" Eve cried, striding swiftly toward Grizelda, reaching out to yank her hair.

Grizelda dodged. "Hey, Old Bat! You cause the mess, you clean it. What if I reversed the roles?" Grizelda taunted with a smirk.

She ran to her room.

"You clean up after yourself; I'm not your maid to command," Grizelda declared, slamming her door.

Bang!

"You... you infuriate me!" Eve yelled, hammering on Grizelda's door.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

"Don't blame the door, you naughty child! Clean this house before your father comes back! Otherwise, I'll claim it was your doing!" Eve screamed.

"Who cares, I'm exhausted, I'm going to sleep, you sort it out!" Grizelda responded, grabbing her pillow and lying down, eyes closed.

"Grizelda! Clean up now!" Eve was out of options and clearly incensed.

But from Grizelda's room, there was silence.

"That girl! She truly vexes me!" Eve raged. "But since when has she had the courage to be so defiant? Has she gone mad?" she huffed angrily.

"Ah! Such a mess, and old Joni will be back any minute."

Just then, Joni, Grizelda’s father, returned home, his briefcase in hand.

"What is this mess?" Joni bellowed, surveying the disarray.

"Dear, you're back! Sorry, the house is a shambles. This is all Grizelda's doings; she threw a party and refuses to clean up. Such a lazy child," Eve lied with vehemence.

"Where is she?" Joni inquired.

"In her room," replied Eve, feigning exhaustion as she slouched onto the couch as if Grizelda was truly to blame.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

"Grizelda! Come out immediately! Address this havoc you've caused!" Joni bellowed, pounding on her door.

Grizelda emerged from her sanctuary.

"Father, why not ask Aunt directly what happened here? I just got back from school. Look at this, my ankle's sprained because of the chaos Aunt has caused. Her friends even urged her to leave you for someone younger. If you don't believe me, just ask her circle of friends. Now, I must go to the hospital to check on my injured foot," said Grizelda, feigning a limp as she walked past Joni with a sly smile directed at Eve.

'This child? When did she learn to lie and play-act so convincingly? What’s gotten into her?' Eve wondered, taken aback.

Eve rushed to cling to Joni. "He's lying, my love; they said no such thing. They are good friends," she said through crocodile tears.

"Oh, let it be. Clean this place up; I'm tired and need rest," Joni said, shrugging off Eve's embrace and heading for the bedroom.

"That impudent brat. Just you wait; I’ll teach her a lesson once the old man's out!" Eve fumed, frustrated.

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