It would normally take several days to organize moving, but with the power of space manipulation, it was done in less than an hour.
Moving in the previous world was exhausting, even without a lot of belongings to pack.
This time, although there were more things to pack, thanks to the spatial pocket, my body didn’t feel strained at all.
[Complexity]
[Regret]
However, my heart felt strangely heavy.
With a complicated expression, I flicked my finger. As I gestured, the hole moved, and one by one, the items disappeared.
The basic furniture that had been provided for the dormitory from the beginning disappeared.
It didn’t really cross my mind. At the start of the semester, I hadn’t even stayed in the dorm much.
I mostly ended up either sleeping with my head buried in a library desk or sprawled out on the training room floor.
The furniture had belonged to Siyoram, so I had planned to leave it, but I quickly packed it up when told it would be replaced for the next student.
Seoyul emerged from the egg of the origin, and the items I had hastily brought in disappeared. The once dull dormitory lost its vibrancy as colorful things were removed.
From that point, I had been living in the dormitory. Back then, I could still remotely access the library, so I always stayed close to Seoyul, studying together...
For some reason, my chest felt heavy, like a stone was placed there. I flicked my finger again.
I packed up the pillows Elia had brought in, saying they were good for cuddling and sleeping, and also took the incense burner Hong Yeon-hwa had brought in, not knowing that my sense of smell was practically useless.
Recently, there were also the items and clothes Baize had brought in, including the large black undergarments...
‘Gyaaah...!’
I shuddered at the sudden flood of information entering my head. How could it be... No, damn, that’s not what I meant. Stop with the dirty thoughts...
I had accepted it without thinking or filtering. I quickly shook off the heat rising in my face and finished packing.
This was Baize’s fault, really. Somehow, it was definitely his fault.
And this was the last of it.
The hole that swallowed the blue box quickly shrank with a rumble, the strange spatial vibration ringing out as it disappeared.
[Regret]
The now empty dormitory felt oddly desolate.
[Sorrow]
The empty spaces where things should have been made everything feel out of place.
[Disappointment]
I pressed my foot hard on the bare floor revealed after the carpet was removed, contemplating the strange emotions swirling inside me.
Such complicated feelings that I couldn’t even name them. But the Confession Necklace expressed my emotions with a few words.
It felt like just yesterday I had first entered the dormitory.
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The memories of that time were still vivid.
I had tried to play a game, but a chill had run through my body, and when I fell asleep early, I woke up the next day in the game world... but I couldn’t wake up properly, and my consciousness returned instead.
At the same time, I almost died from an overload of power, and a few days later, after coming to, I almost died from hunger and thirst.
I barely came to my senses, only to find that I couldn’t see anything and couldn’t speak. No matter what I ate, it tasted bland and had no smell. It was likely the life I had left, nearing its end.
And then, it was the game world. A world where disaster events were bound to happen, and where eventually, the Tower Lords, those monstrous beings, might invade.
Amid all that, I couldn’t just calmly hang myself or jump off to die, so I ran away to Siyoram... and then...
“Time sure flies. It feels like just yesterday when I came here...”
As I was reminiscing, Elia murmured behind me.
Elia, who had been silently watching the items disappear, stepped forward and lightly placed her hand on my shoulder.
Then, resting her chin on my head, she blatantly showed her regret.
She mumbled something and, slowly, took my hand from where it rested on my shoulder and asked.
[...Elia, is it okay for you to move in with me too?]
“Ah! Now that Seoyul’s grown up, are you saying I’m no longer needed?”
[No!] [It’s not like that!] [I just thought it might be too much trouble, and I’d be a burden...]
“Ah, I was just joking, of course. I know best that you’re not that kind of person, Haryul.”
I pouted at Elia’s mischievous response.
How could she turn a concerned comment into something to tease me about?
Lately, it seemed like the people around me couldn’t resist teasing me.
I felt a little irritated. I twisted my body, trying to shake off her hand from my shoulder.
“Aahh, I’m sorry for teasing you so much.”
Elia extended her words and, with a strangely practiced hand, turned my body the other way and pulled me into a tight hug.
My face was buried in her massive chest. There wasn’t any scent rising, but the warmth from being trapped in her embrace was clearly felt.
Then, she rested her chin on my head and gently patted my back, as if comforting a child.
[Warmth...]
The frustration that had been creeping out of me in her embrace suddenly melted away. I wanted to pout, but I didn’t want to. I just wanted to stay in her arms and act like a spoiled child.
For some reason, I always felt like this around Elia or Professor Liana.
Maybe it was because of my spirit affinity, but no matter how mischievous I got, I felt like they would always smile kindly and open their arms to me.
I flailed my arms for a moment and then wrapped them around Elia’s waist.
“Seoyul’s reactions are just too cute. I couldn’t help but tease you. I’m really sorry.”
[...It’s okay.] [I wasn’t really mad.]
“Thanks for accepting my apology.”
Elia giggled and lowered her head, rubbing her cheek against my hair.
“Haryul must be really sad too, right? We’ve made so many memories together here.”
[Regret]
[Memories]
“Yes, memories. It hasn’t been that long, but... still, I’ve had many fun experiences.”
At the mention of memories by Elia, I suddenly went quiet.
I vaguely realized the reason for the strange discomfort.
Come to think of it, that sharp, almost painful sensation pressing down on one side of my chest had disappeared.
In its place, I could feel the warmth of the blatantly affectionate gesture spreading through me.
‘Is this because of that...?’
I casually glanced at Elia.
She seemed to be so happy that she was smiling down at me, her smile full of kindness.
The certainty of that smile turned my earlier doubts into confirmation.
Seeing my complex expression, had she intentionally teased me to cheer me up?
‘...’
If that’s the case, then did I whine like a child even after receiving that kind of kindness?
Embarrassment made my face burn red. At the same time, a warm feeling filled my chest.
The wings of the sky fluttered.
My body itched. I nervously muttered, then pulled the arm around my waist, burying my face deeply into her soft chest.
[I'm also happy to be with you, Elia...]
“El... Oh...”
Elia’s eyes went wide as she heard the sound of the necklace.
“Heh, you’re so cute.”
She didn’t say anything else. She just wrapped me in her arms again with a gentle touch.
“After the lecture today, do we just go to this address?”
[Yes, let’s go together after the lecture.]
“Yes, yes, then let’s go with Yeonhwa and Seoyul after the lecture.”
I stayed in Elia’s warm embrace for a while, letting the awkward feelings subside.
[Security]
[?M]
“Hmm? What’s with the question mark, M?”
[...?]
[No idea?]
The Confession Necklace made a strange sound in the middle.
Lately, the state of the Confession Necklace had been odd.
Even when I tried observing it, there didn’t seem to be any external or internal problems. But there was a subtle sense of unease.
It wasn’t broken, but it felt like its function was changing.
Elia and I tilted our heads in confusion.
The lecture ended first, and then Elia, Yeonhwa, and I headed toward the new home.
By the way, Baize and the teacher, Professor Liana, were coming to help with the move.
Thanks to the spatial pocket, the packing had gone quickly, so it was more of a housewarming celebration than actual help.
I had already prepared plenty of ingredients for the food. Now, I needed to finish unpacking and get everything ready for the meal.
“Wow...”
Elia’s reaction to arriving at the new place was quite intense.
Unconsciously, her mouth hung open in awe as her yellow eyes blinked, taking in part of the new residence.
Seoyul, who was in Elia’s arms, seemed just as surprised. His usual pouty expression was gone, replaced by his eyes frantically darting around—he looked so cute.
“A mansion...?”
“...I think it’s more like a castle than a mansion...”
Hong Yeonhwa, standing beside us, murmured, looking a bit uneasy.
She wasn’t quite as shocked as Elia, but she was still surprised.
“No way, did they give us the entire building?”
[Yes, I think so.]
I also gave a slightly unsure expression.
At least, compared to the others, I was in a better situation.
I had already received the keys and the address, and had observed the place a few days ago.
It had been surprising at first, but it still didn’t fully sink in.
I sighed deeply as I observed the imposing residence.
Despite the green vines tangled around it, the walls retained their grandeur and antique charm.
The entrance had a thick, grand door, like something you’d see at a prestigious mansion, and a meticulously landscaped garden stretched out in front, resembling a work of art.
At the center of the large estate was an imposing, D-shaped mansion. No, it was so massive that calling it just a mansion seemed an understatement.
The materials used in the mansion’s construction and the quality and quantity of the magic installed here made it more akin to a castle, as Hong Yeonhwa had said.
The grandeur of this mansion would be overwhelming even for a king of a prosperous nation.
This grand estate was, in fact, quite famous in Siyoram.
It was a massive mansion in the central district, home to most of the administrative buildings in Siyoram.
Yet, it was rumored to be a place where no one entered or left, with no sign of visitors.
But that wasn’t what surprised me.
‘...The interior can’t be observed, can it?’
I could barely observe it. The exterior was fine, but the moment I tried to look deeper inside, my observation abruptly cut off. It seemed to be the magic installed in the mansion that caused it.
‘Is this magic?’
I tilted my head. It didn’t quite feel like magic. It was strange. The ritual wasn’t clear-cut, or should I say...
If magic reflects the caster’s will, this seemed more like the will had melted into the form of a picture.
“Wow...”
As Elia and Seoyul continued to be dumbfounded, Hong Yeonhwa subtly turned to me.
Her eyes were filled with questions and confusion.
“Isn’t this the dean’s mansion?”
[...I’m not sure.]
I tilted my head, also a bit unsure.
This place had been said to be where the dean used to live.
There were also rumors that this was the place where the elusive Tower Lord had hidden away.
And now, it was going to be my home.
Leaving the three of them behind, I headed toward the grand entrance.
The magic... the will melted into it, was still there.
If I were to break it by force, there would likely be strong resistance.
‘If I have the key, it should open, right?’
I took the key out of my spatial pocket...
The key emitted a strange vibration.
A mechanical sound came from the front gate, and the massive doors opened wide without hesitation.
[Huh?]
Everyone froze in surprise, their expressions stunned as the doors, which had been tightly closed just moments ago, opened wide as if to welcome us.
[Let’s go inside.]
“Uh... Okay.”
It wasn’t that it was unbelievable, but we couldn’t just stand there in shock.
I had the key, so I went ahead and passed through the gate.
The key vibrated again. At the same time, I felt a strange sensation that seemed to connect with me.
And then...
The Confession Necklace emitted a sound as well.
[Player Adjustment System: Exploration Points]
[Quest "Visit the Cradle's Depths" Achieved]
[Points awarded]
...
[Artifact "Confession Necklace" Reacting]
...
[Player Adjustment System: Affection]
Haryul → Elia Sleyed
●●●●●●●●○○ (82▷83/100)
"Affection" "Gratitude" "Cow?" "Chick" "Regret"