Noah wasn't sure how long he stood there before he snapped out of his daydream.
A moment ago, his thoughts had been pushing him in one direction: If I save Katherine, I'll earn good karma… and I'll have a better chance with the Resident Evil girls.
But when he looked at the person right in front of him—Jill Valentine, a real combat monster who seemed untouchable—
Katherine suddenly didn't feel that special anymore.
Honestly, outside of adding her to his "harem," Katherine didn't look like someone who would help him survive later in the Resident Evil timeline.
And if this reckless move got him killed, the price would be way higher than the reward.
Still…
If he let this chance go, when would he ever see Katherine again?
The next time he heard her name, he might be on the other side of the world, listening to Claire talk casually about how Katherine ended up as a taxidermy display.
If he really wanted to fight fate and save her…
July 9th was the best moment.
Noah scratched his hair and looked down at his thin arms and legs.
Then he looked at Jill again. She was talking about guns with Kendo like it was normal life.
In the end, Noah made his decision.
Maybe… forget it.
Right now, staying alive came first.
He couldn't lose the big war for a small win. He couldn't risk dying before he even met Ada, Claire, and Jill for real.
Once he chose, a wave of relief hit him.
At least this meant he wouldn't keep getting greedier, chasing every female character just because he knew them from the games.
With that settled, Noah forced his focus back onto Jill.
This was their first meeting. He needed to leave a good impression.
If he became strong enough, then even if he missed Jill's main story in Raccoon City, he could still join the BSAA later and fight beside her.
And if that happened, he could get close to Jill fast and move his "One Big Happy Biohazard Family" plan forward.
Speaking of that plan…
Noah had shamelessly written that phrase on the very first page of his LIVE Notebook.
He wrote it before he even met Jill—or anyone else.
But after seeing Katherine on TV…
Noah understood something clearly: the women in this world weren't "inspired by" the games. They looked like the real thing. Like they had stepped out of the screen.
Every one of them was beautiful in a way that made it hard for him to think straight.
And if he had even a small chance to spend a night with Resident Evil's top-tier women…
He couldn't honestly tell himself not to try.
If he was going to want something, he should want it fully. Aim high.
Maybe if he aimed at the stars, he'd land on the roof. If he aimed low, he'd end up in the dirt.
So Noah decided: this would be one of his main reasons to survive in this world.
He stepped forward, swallowed, and spoke.
"Officer Jill… sorry about before. I got distracted because you're so beautiful. Excuse me."
Jill was still talking guns with Kendo, and she didn't expect this good-looking guy to walk up and throw compliments at her like a machine.
From her experience, men like that were usually one of two types: rude troublemakers or shy guys trying to act brave.
But this one was strange. A moment ago, his face was red and his eyes were full of obvious desire. Now he was acting casual and flirting openly.
It didn't match.
"Th-thanks," Jill said, caught off guard.
She looked a little embarrassed, but she kept it polite. After all, he worked for Kendo. She didn't know what their relationship was, so she didn't want to react the wrong way.
"Sorry," Noah continued, talking too much, unable to stop himself. "I didn't mean to make it weird. It's just… you're really beautiful. I couldn't hold it in."
That second line made Jill's smile tighten.
She'd been in S.T.A.R.S. for a long time. People didn't talk to her like she was "just a woman." They talked to her like she was a weapon. A detective. A threat.
Most citizens in Raccoon City knew she was S.T.A.R.S. too. When they saw her, they either avoided her or stared like she was something dangerous.
So hearing a normal compliment about her looks… it was rare.
Part of her liked it.
At least, for a second, she felt like a woman again.
But with Kendo and Emma right there, Noah was being way too direct.
Kendo and Emma noticed the difference in Noah's behavior right away—Jill looked a bit pleased, but also awkward—and the two of them traded a quick look and quietly laughed.
Noah didn't notice. He pushed forward.
"I'm Noah. I'm new in Raccoon City," he said. "Officer Jill… would you like to have dinner with me tonight?"
Save money?
Forget that.
If he could win over a dangerous goddess like Jill…
He'd get money, and he'd get Jill.
The moment the words left his mouth, Jill's discomfort jumped.
She shifted her weight and turned to Kendo fast, trying to change the subject.
"Mr. Kendo," Jill said, voice controlled, "on July 9th, I have to go to the outskirts as the personal bodyguard for the mayor's daughter, Katherine. So this gun needs to be tuned by July 8th."
She asked again to confirm.
Kendo nodded.
Jill's face returned to calm, and the awkward feeling faded—like she had locked it away.
Her fast topic change made Noah feel stupid.
Then Jill added, as if Noah wasn't even there.
"Oh—Barry asked for two tickets to the suburban party on July 9th," she said. "It's a thank-you for tuning our guns. You can take Emma and relax. We can't let schoolwork crush Emma's health, right?"
Jill smiled, waved lightly to Emma, and got ready to leave.
She ignored Noah again, and it hit him like a small punch to the chest.
But what Jill said still grabbed his attention.
Two tickets.
"Wasn't it supposed to be a summer picnic?" Kendo asked, confused. "Why is it a 'party' now?"
It didn't match what Katherine said on TV earlier.
And if it was a picnic, why would they need tickets?
Shouldn't people just show up?
Jill smiled and explained, "Umbrella heard about it. They wanted to thank the mayor and his daughter for their support—and Chief Irons for his work—so they changed it. It's not a simple picnic anymore. It's a real party. I heard there'll be celebrities, and a lot of good food. Umbrella is paying for it."
Kendo's expression turned serious. "But didn't they say there were violent attacks in the outskirts? And animals like Cerberus dogs roaming around?"
He knew most of it was rumor. But Jill was police. She might know something real.
Jill's tone stayed professional. "S.T.A.R.S. isn't part of the suburban operation this time. But Kevin Ryman passed on a message from Chief Irons: Umbrella sent their private security team—U.B.C.S.—to sweep the area. They even killed several wild tigers. So there shouldn't be any more attacks."
Kendo clicked his tongue, forgetting who he was talking to. "Funny. Umbrella's private force doing the job the police should be doing."
Jill didn't react much. She'd heard that kind of comment before.
"The outskirts are close to the mansion," she said, quieter now, "and close to the area where Umbrella's Executive Training Center is."
There was a tired feeling in her voice, like she didn't want to say more.
"Still," Jill finished, "if the Chief says it's fine, it should be fine. And I'll be there too."
She stepped around Noah, waved goodbye to Emma, and walked out of the gun shop without looking back.
Noah stayed where he was, staring after her.
His face changed again.
Deep thought.
Like he was already planning something.
---------------
Reincarnated as a Burden in Resident — currently ongoing (still being released), current chapter: 50.
The Hero of Fontaine — currently ongoing (still being released), latest chapter: 50.
Crossover: Creating Familiars of the Multiverse — currently ongoing (still being released), latest chapter: 40.
Do these novels have R18 content—especially "Crossover: Creating Familiars of the Multiverse"? The others will first develop the romance with the girls.
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