Normally, it would take several days to sort out the moving boxes, but using the powers of space, it was all done in less than an hour.
In the previous world, moving was tough even without much to pack.
This time, I had a lot to take, but thanks to the pocket dimension, my body didn’t feel tired at all.
[Complexity]
[Regret]
But my heart felt oddly heavy.
I flicked my fingers with a complicated expression. As I gestured, the hole moved, and one by one, the items disappeared.
The basic furniture that had been arranged in the dorm from the start vanished.
I didn’t think much of it. At the beginning of the semester, I barely spent time in the dorm.
I often just buried my head on the library desk and fell asleep, or passed out on the training room floor.
The furniture belonged to Shio-ram, so I wasn’t considering keeping it, but hearing that it would be replaced when the next student came, I quickly packed it up.
Seo-yul emerged from the egg of destiny, and the supplies I had hurriedly brought in disappeared. The dullness of the dorm was washed away.
From this point on, I clung to the dorm. At this point, I could remotely access the library. So, I always studied next to Seo-yul…
For some reason, it felt like a rock was placed on my chest. Then I flicked my hand again.
I packed the pillow that Elia brought in, which was nice to hug while sleeping, and also the incense burner that Hong Yeon-hwa brought in, unaware that my sense of smell was half broken.
Recently, Baek Ahrin had brought in supplies and clothes, including a large pair of black underwear…
‘Gyaaaak…!’
I jolted at the information hitting my head. How is it bigger than my head… No, damn it, this isn’t it. Gop-hwa, stop…
I accepted it without any filtering. I quickly shook off my flushed face and finished packing.
It was all Baek Ahrin’s fault for saying something unnecessary. It must be Baek Ahrin’s fault anyway.
– Uuumm…
And this was the last box.
The hole that gulped down the blue box quickly shrank with a gurgle. The strange vibration of space echoed and then disappeared.
[Regret]
The dorm, now that all my things were gone, felt strangely desolate.
[Bitter]
It felt awkward that a spot where something should be placed was empty.
[Disappointment]
I pressed my foot against the bare floor revealed after the carpet was removed, chewing on a strange emotion.
It was such a complex feeling that I couldn’t quite pinpoint what to call it. But the necklace of confession expressed my feelings in a few words.
It felt like just yesterday that I first entered the dorm.
I still vividly remember that time.
I tried to play a game but felt chills in my body, and when I fell asleep early, I didn’t wake up in the game world… or rather, I couldn’t as I regained consciousness.
At that time, bursting from the overload of powers almost killed me, and after a few days of regaining consciousness, I nearly starved and died of thirst.
When I finally came to my senses, I saw nothing in front of me, couldn’t speak, and whatever I ate had no taste or smell. It felt like a life nearing its end.
Moreover, it was a world from a game. A world where disaster events could occur at any moment, and later, monsters called the Tower Lords might invade.
In the midst of that, I couldn’t just hang myself or jump off, so I escaped to Shio-ram… and…
“Time really flies. It feels like just yesterday that I came in here…”
As I reminisced, Elia murmured from behind.
Elia, who had been quietly watching the items disappear, stepped forward and patted my shoulder.
Then she rested her chin on my head, clearly expressing her regret.
Mumbling, I grabbed Elia’s hand resting on my shoulder and asked.
[…Is it okay if Elia moves in with me?]
“Huh! Now that Seo-yul has grown up, does that mean I’m not needed?”
[No!]
[That’s not it!]
[It’s just… I thought it might be too much trouble and a burden… ]
“Aw, I was just joking! I know very well that you’re not that kind of person, Ha-yul.”
– Pwwww…
I pouted at Elia’s teasing reply.
How could she turn my concern into a joke…
People around me have been getting too serious lately.
A sulkiness suddenly surged. I twisted my body to shake off her arm resting on my shoulder.
“Ahhhh, sorry for teasing you.”
Elia, elongating her words, skillfully turned my body around and hugged me tightly.
My face was buried in her massive softness. Though the scent didn’t come up, the warmth trapped in her embrace was transmitted.
She rested her chin on my head, gently patting my back as if soothing a child.
[Gain…]
The softness and warmth made the sulkiness that had been leaking out dissipate instantly. I wanted to act spoiled, but I didn’t want to. I just wanted to be held and indulge in my petulance.
For some reason, I felt this urge particularly with Elia and Professor Riana.
Perhaps it was due to my affinity for spirits; no matter how much mischief I pulled, they would kindly smile and open their arms.
– Uuggh…
I waved my arms for a moment, then hugged Elia’s waist.
“Ha-yul’s reaction is too cute; I ended up teasing you without thinking. I’m really sorry.”
[…It’s okay]
[Not really angry]
“Thank you for accepting my apology.”
Elia giggled as she lowered her head and rubbed her cheek against my hair.
“You’re feeling sad too, right? We’ve made a lot of memories here together.”
[Regret]
[Memories]
“Yes, memories. It wasn’t a very long time, but… still, I experienced many enjoyable things.”
At Elia’s mention of memories, my mouth opened slightly.
I suddenly realized the reason for the strange discomfort.
The sharp sensation pressing on one side of my chest disappeared.
In its place, I felt warmth bloom in the corner of my heart due to explicit expressions of affection.
‘Was it because of this…?’
I subtly observed Elia.
She was looking down at me, her lips holding a bright smile, clearly enjoying something.
My suspicion solidified into certainty with that compassionate smile.
Seeing that my expression was complex, perhaps she was trying to cheer me up with a bit of playful mischief.
‘……’
If so, did I just whine like a child despite receiving such consideration?
Heat rushed to my face with embarrassment. At the same time, warm feelings filled my chest.
The wings of the sky fluttered.
My body tickled. I nibbled my lips, pulled the arm around my waist, and buried my face deep into her ample chest.
[I’m happy to be with Elia too…]
– Click!
“Oops…”
Elia’s eyes widened at the sound from the necklace.
“Hehe, so cute.”
Without saying much else, she simply opened her arms for me and gently embraced me.
“After today’s lecture, I just need to go to this address, right?”
[Yeah, after the lecture, let’s go together.]
“Okay, then after class, let’s go with Yeon-hwa and Seo-yul.”
I spent some time in Elia’s warm embrace, smoothing over my awkward feelings.
[Stability]
– Clack!
[?Ma]
“Hmm? What’s a question mark, ma?”
[…?]
[Who knows?]
During that, the necklace of confession made a strange sound.
Lately, the state of the confession necklace had been all over the place.
Even when I observed it, there didn’t seem to be any external or internal issues. But there was a strange sense of incongruity.
It wasn’t broken, but it felt like something was changing in its function.
Both Elia and I tilted our heads in the same direction.
.
.
.
First, the three of us, myself, Elia, and Hong Yeon-hwa, headed towards the new home after the lecture ended.
By the way, Baek Ahrin and my master, Professor Riana, also said they would come to help with the move.
Thanks to the pocket dimension, the packing would be done quickly, so it was more accurate to say they were coming to celebrate the housewarming.
So, I made sure to gather plenty of food ingredients in advance. After finishing the packing, I had to prepare the food quickly.
“Wow…”
Elia’s reaction upon arriving at the new place was quite intense.
Astonishment spilled out from her gaping mouth on an almost unconscious level.
Her yellow eyes blinked, taking in parts of the new dwelling.
Seo-yul, nestled in Elia’s arms, also looked amazed. Gone was the usual sulky expression, replaced by wide eyes that were just adorable.
“Is this… a mansion?”
“…I think calling it a mansion is an understatement.”
Hong Yeon-hwa, who stood beside them, murmured, looking a bit puzzled.
She wasn’t gasping in shock, though she was clearly surprised.
“No way, did they give us this whole building?”
[Yeah, it seems that way.]
I also wore a puzzled expression as I stepped forward.
At least I was in a somewhat better situation than the others.
Having already received the keys and address just a few days earlier, I had surveyed the place beforehand.
I was equally astonished at first, but I still couldn’t quite grasp it.
Sighing deeply, I observed our new home.
Despite the green vines entwined around it, the walls held an air of elegance and history.
The entrance was adorned with a thick door, reminiscent of grand mansions, and in the large grounds surrounding the house lay a garden meticulously cared for, like a work of art.
In the center of that property stood a magnificent mansion, far beyond the description of “majestic.”
It would be an understatement to say it was enormous, with proportions that could warrant multiple “large” labels.
The materials used in the construction of this grand mansion, the quality and quantity of magic installed, as Hong Yeon-hwa noted, made it almost indistinguishable from a castle.
Its grand exterior felt as if it could house a king from a prosperous nation, without feeling out of place.
This grand mansion was, in fact, a noted location within Shio-ram.
Despite being a massive building occupying a lot of land in the administrative hub of Shio-ram, it was notorious for no one being seen entering or exiting.
What surprised me was nothing compared to this.
‘…The interior can’t be observed, right?’
It was hard to get a read on the inside. While I could see the outside quite clearly, as soon as I tried to peer inside, the observation was abruptly cut off. This was the influence of magic, presumably installed in the mansion.
‘No, could it be magic?’
I tilted my head. The state felt strange for it to simply be magic. Rather than a clear spell, it felt more like an intention fading away like a painting.
“Wowww…”
While Elia and Seo-yul were still in awe, Hong Yeon-hwa subtly turned her gaze towards me.
Her eyes were filled with questions and confusion.
“Isn’t this… the Principal’s Mansion?”
[…I don’t know?]
I tilted my head with a puzzled look.
This place is known as the residence of the past principal.
Additionally, it’s also speculated to be the hideout of the elusive Tower Lord.
And now it was the house I would be living in.
Leaving the three of them behind, I made my way to the main gate.
The same mysterious magic… or perhaps intention was melting away at the gate as well.
If one were to forcibly break it down, there would be a strong backlash.
‘It should open with just the key, right?’
I took out the key from the pocket dimension…
– Uuumm…!
The key that emerged from the pocket dimension emitted a strange vibration.
– Click!
Immediately, I heard a mechanical sound from the main gate, and it swung wide open as if in a welcoming gesture.
[Huh?]
Just a moment ago, it was tightly shut, but now it swung open as if to welcome us, leaving everyone with stunned expressions.
[…Let’s go inside for now.]
“Uh… Sure.”
It was unbelievable, but neither could we just stand here in shock.
Since I held the key, I stepped forward through the main gate.
– Uuumm!
The key vibrated again. At the same time, I felt a connection to something.
And then.
– Uuumm…!
‘What’s going on?’
The confession necklace began to resonate too.
*
[Player Calibration System: Development Level]
[Quest “Visit the Cradle’s Depth” completed]
[You have earned points]
…
[Artifact “Confession Necklace” responds]
…
[Player Calibration System: Likability Level]
Lee Ha-yul → Elia Slade
●●●●●●●●○○(82▷83/100)
“Like” “Gratitude” “Cow?” “Chick” “Apology”
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