The Tower entry event had finally concluded, and the weekend had arrived.
It was a legitimate break, underscored even in law as a day of rest.
Even the students of Siyoram, as human as anyone else, mostly rested on weekends.
Of course, there were always exceptions—some unlucky ones found themselves dragged to supplementary lectures or buried under a mountain of assignments, looking like livestock being led to a slaughterhouse.
But today, I was one of the fortunate ones heading out for a leisurely outing.
[Alright, Seo Yul, arms up high!]
“Up high!”
Seo Yul enthusiastically raised both arms at the prompt, brimming with youthful energy.
Smiling brightly at the sight, I dressed her in the outing clothes I had prepared.
This weekend, I had planned a day out with Seo Yul.
I’d been so busy running around lately that I hadn’t spent enough time with her.
Every time I returned to the dormitory, I was met with her dejected gaze, brimming with disappointment, practically tearing at my conscience.
To make it up to her, I decided to dedicate an entire day of the weekend to her.
Now that she had grown big enough to walk around outside comfortably, it felt like the perfect opportunity.
“Ta-da!”
Seo Yul raised her arms again with a cheerful cry.
Her outfit was a neat sailor-collared dress.
The dress was pure white, matching her hair, with a V-shaped neckline that extended to a square flap draped over her shoulders and back.
Though I knew next to nothing about fashion, the design resembled something one might see in a naval uniform.
“Ta-da-da-daaa!”
Seo Yul’s sparkling eyes locked onto mine, expectant and eager.
Her gaze made her intentions obvious.
[Ahaha.]
I couldn’t help but laugh.
It was impossible to resist, and I didn’t even want to try.
Letting the warm, fuzzy feeling in my chest take over, I spread my arms and pulled her into a hug.
[Oh my goodness, Seo Yul, you look absolutely perfect!]
“Hehehe.”
Bursting into a cheerful giggle, Seo Yul snuggled into my embrace.
She nestled her head against my chest, her shimmering wings fluttering behind her like a wagging puppy’s tail.
‘Those wings are truly fascinating.’
There weren’t any holes cut into the dress for her wings.
I had learned previously that fairy wings weren’t strictly material.
While they could take on a physical form, as they often did, they could also exist as a kind of shimmering magical essence, like they were now.
Thanks to that, they could flutter freely without damaging her clothes.
It was a small blessing—clothes with wing holes would’ve been much harder to reuse.
I slipped into my own outfit next: a black cotton tee and trousers, with a casual jacket thrown on top.
[Seo Yul, do you have everything you need?]
“Yes, yes, yes!”
She nodded confidently, puffing out her chest and thumping it lightly in assurance.
[Good job.]
As we stepped to the front door, Seo Yul could barely contain her excitement, her little legs bouncing up and down with anticipation.
‘I should’ve done this sooner...’
A faint, self-deprecating smile tugged at my lips.
Looking back, it felt like I’d always made excuses, telling myself I didn’t have the time.
Maybe if I’d tried harder, I could’ve made more room in my schedule to spend time with her.
[Oh dear, your hair’s getting messy.]
Gently brushing back her slightly unruly hair, I placed a white-brimmed hat on her head.
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The hat matched her outfit perfectly—pure white with a soft sky-blue ribbon around it, giving a delicate and elegant touch.
[Mm, mm.]
As expected, it suited her beautifully.
From head to toe, Seo Yul looked like she’d stepped straight out of a fairy tale.
[Alright, let’s head out.]
Grasping her tiny hand in mine, we stepped out the door together.
.
.
.
The weekend had finally come to Siyoram, a much-needed pause from the chaos of student life.
Despite my confidence in taking Seo Yul out for a stroll, I couldn’t shake the doubt creeping in.
Even though she had grown significantly, Seo Yul was still just a little kid, and I, her supposed guardian, had very limited experience navigating the world outside.
Truth be told, I wasn’t entirely confident in my ability to lead her around.
Thankfully, I had reinforcements.
At the center of the shopping district, near a beautifully crafted ten-tier fountain of white brick, I spotted Baek Arin. She stood against the wall of a nearby building, focused on a hologram projection.
This outing wasn’t just for Seo Yul’s entertainment. I also needed to gather materials for crafting equipment, and Baek Arin had agreed to help.
While it would’ve been nice to have more company, everyone else was busy.
Hong Yeonhwa and Elia had their own tasks, Riana was likely buried in the labyrinth of Tower records, and my mentor...
‘...’
Lately, my mentor had been subtly avoiding me.
I hadn’t mustered the courage to ask her why or cling to her with teary eyes.
The thrill from our last interaction had faded, leaving me with the awkward realization of how embarrassing my behavior must’ve been.
Honestly, it was a relief that things hadn’t become more strained.
Still, a lingering unease gnawed at me—what if this awkwardness grew permanent? But I decided to push those thoughts aside, relying on my trust in her and reminding myself not to show my insecurities in front of Seo Yul.
Shaking off those worries, I approached Baek Arin, waving enthusiastically.
[Baek Arin!]
She turned from her hologram, blinking in surprise as her gaze shifted between me and Seo Yul, whose hand I held.
Her expression turned curious, and she tilted her head before suddenly letting out a soft exclamation.
[Sorry for being late.]
“Ah, it’s you, Hah Yul. You’re here?”
Her sharp yet gentle gaze lingered on us before settling into a faint smile.
But something in her demeanor puzzled me, prompting me to tilt my head in response.
[Is something wrong? Did something happen?]
“No, it’s not a problem...”
With a shrug, she raised her hand, revealing a silver ring adorned with a radiant green gemstone.
“It’s just this ring. It’s an enchantment for obscuring recognition, but someone managed to spot me. It startled me a bit.”
‘Ah.’
I quickly realized why she reacted that way.
The gemstone’s enchantment was actively casting an illusion to obscure her identity.
Without any exception settings between us, my ability to pinpoint her so easily must’ve been a shock.
“Did you use your detection ability?”
Her curious question carried an undercurrent of genuine awe.
[Yes, it was thanks to my detection ability.]
“Wow... Just how refined is it to pierce through an enchantment like this?”
[Haha...]
Her round eyes sparkled with fascination as she marveled softly.
I scratched my head awkwardly, realizing my mistake.
‘I need to be more careful next time.’
The power of observation I’d gained had become second nature. It effortlessly bypassed recognition magic, making such illusions ineffective.
“Does that mean you can see everything I’m wearing right now?”
Her teasing voice pulled me from my thoughts.
Baek Arin stood tall, showing off her outfit with a playful smirk.
Observing her more closely, I took note of her casual attire—a black tracksuit with white stripes, paired with a black windbreaker zipped up to her neck. She completed the look with a black mask covering her face and a baseball cap pulled low.
She was dressed entirely in black from head to toe, creating a striking yet casual appearance.
[Yes, it suits you well.]
Though her outfit was simple, her beauty made it look effortlessly sophisticated.
Baek Arin, with her striking appearance and elegant physique, could probably make a burlap sack look fashionable.
“Thanks.”
Her laugh was light and carefree, but before I could respond, I felt a tug on my right sleeve.
[Hm? Seo Yul, what’s wrong?]
Turning to look, I saw Seo Yul puffing her cheeks slightly, gripping my sleeve tightly with an adorably indignant expression.
Baek Arin chuckled. “Ah, I see. I haven’t set her as an exception yet. She must still see me as a stranger.”
[Just a moment.]
After adjusting the settings on our recognition enchantments, Baek Arin’s presence became visible to Seo Yul.
“Wow, Seo Yul! You look adorable today. That big hat suits you perfectly.”
Baek Arin knelt down to meet Seo Yul’s gaze, speaking in a friendly tone.
“Do you remember me? I gave you some candy last time.”
“Yes, I remember,” Seo Yul replied softly, her voice a mix of shyness and honesty.
“Did you like the candy?”
“No, not really.”
Baek Arin flinched at the blunt response, her expression momentarily caught between amusement and shock.
Meanwhile, Seo Yul clung to my leg like a koala, radiating an irresistible charm that nearly made me squeal.
I gently patted her head, watching her tense expression gradually melt into one of contentment.
“Haha, still a bit shy, huh?” Baek Arin stood up, her towering figure now closer than before.
Without thinking, I flinched slightly as her tall form loomed over me.
“Why did you flinch just now?” she teased, grinning slyly.
[I didn’t flinch!]
“Hmm... I’ll let it slide this time. Shall we get going?”
[Yes, let’s.]
Baek Arin naturally reached for my left hand—the one with the prosthetic arm.
Even though the sleeve covered it, the texture wasn’t exactly pleasant to touch. Yet, she didn’t seem to mind, holding it casually as she led the way.
“Did you eat before coming out?”
[Not really, I just made sure Seo Yul had something quick.]
“Perfect timing! Let’s show Seo Yul around a bit, and then we can grab a bite. Remember that rice cake shop I mentioned last time?”
[Oh, yes, I do.]
“They’ve reopened recently. Let’s stop by there.”
With Seo Yul holding my right hand and Baek Arin on my left, the three of us began walking together.
Looking at the contrasting heights and outfits, I couldn’t help but smile.
On the left, Baek Arin was the tallest, dressed in all black with her striking blue hair.
In the middle was me, dressed in black with white hair.
And to my right was Seo Yul, the smallest, in her pure white dress and matching hair.
From one side to the other, it felt like a gradient of size and color, making me chuckle softly.
“...?”
I glanced down to find Seo Yul looking up at me, her cheeks puffed out again as she tightened her grip on my hand.