IOSYMLBN 11

IOSYMLBN

Episode 11
*”If I tell you, will you grant my wish?”*

Calisten looked his age for the first time. He was just barely over 21. I had already finished graduate school, and although I didn’t know exactly how old this body was, it was probably past adulthood.

Here, people start receiving the Awakening Inducer at 18.

*”Even if you don’t tell me, I’ll grant everything you ask for.”*

As he said that and met my gaze, he looked at me with soft eyes.

There seemed to be something flickering in his bright red eyes, as if he were trying to see whether I was sincere.

*”I’m the emperor’s illegitimate child.”*

*”Huh?”*

*”My mother was the emperor’s hidden consort, and it was the empress who sent me here.”*

It was probably because Calisten was top-tier and had immense magical power that his memories were returning. No matter what a psychic tried to do to him, it was difficult to erase or manipulate the memories of someone as strong as Calisten.

As he spoke calmly, my mouth opened slightly without me realizing it.

*”Even if it’s hard to believe, it’s true.”*

*”I believe you.”*

*”….”*

*”I believe everything you say.”*

At that, he looked at me with a completely relaxed expression.

It was slightly different from the Calisten I knew—like a cat that had suddenly become a puppy.

Without thinking, I reached out and touched his head.

*”What are you—”*

I slowly stroked his hair. His height was such that I had to kneel on the chair to reach his head comfortably, but he didn’t seem to mind; he bent slightly, accepting my touch.

*”Since you dared touch my head, you owe me two wishes.”*

*”Okay. What do you want to wish for?”*

*”Hmm… I could hit you, maybe.”*

*”Hahaha… go easy…”*

*”Hehehe.”*

Perhaps he found that funny, because he looked at me with a mischievous grin. The earlier flickering in his eyes was gone, replaced by nothing but playful intent.

*”Just kidding.”*

*”Yeah.”*

I withdrew my hands from his hair and sat back down. He exhaled and said:

*”Let’s begin.”*

*”Yeah.”*

If he gave me his magic, I could give him mine in return.

However…

*”Uh…”*

As he transferred his magic to me, I felt strangely pulled toward the floor. My shoulders ached, and I couldn’t see anything at all.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

When I opened my eyes, I was somewhere lit. The harsh light hurt my eyes, and blinking only made them sting more.

*”You’re awake?”*

It wasn’t Calisten who spoke.

*”How did I get here?”*

*”If you tell me, I’ll braid your hair.”*

*”…Okay.”*

I found myself in a very spacious room, looking down at me with a playful expression was Alexis Raynier.

*”This place…”*

*”This is my room. So there’s no surveillance.”*

Even though he said that, I couldn’t relax, so I stood and looked around. They said awakened espers received special treatment, and it seemed to be true.

Compared to other lab rooms, which were practically like chicken coops, this room felt like a real living space. However…

*”There’s no shower here, huh?”*

*”Yeah.”*

It made sense if he came here just to shower.

The room was very tidy. Books were neatly arranged. There were windows above, and another window that couldn’t open but allowed a view outside. The curtains were a lovely sky blue.

There was a sofa and the bed where I had been lying.

I suddenly noticed a sunflower painting beside him. Looking around, I realized there were quite a few paintings in the room. They were Art Nouveau-style, and I could almost guess his taste.

I opened the wardrobe by the window. Lab coats were neatly folded on top, and a uniform hung on a hanger—perhaps for going outside.

It was a sleek, all-black uniform.

*”This…”*

*”Yeah, that’s a uniform. Want to try it on?”*

*”…Okay.”*

I didn’t really want him to try it on, but I answered that way to stop him from laughing. He approached, still smiling, and took the uniform from the hanger.

*”Alright, let’s do this.”*

Then…

*”Ah!”*

He began undressing suddenly.

He stripped down to his drawers in an instant. I was so shocked that I turned toward the wardrobe, holding its door, and bowed my head. The rustling of fabric and his movements made my skin tingle with tension. All the clothes in the wardrobe were identical uniforms.

To distract myself, I started examining them closely.

Uniforms and various badges. And…

*”Ah…”*

*”You have to tie this too.”*

His outfit was disheveled. He picked up a cravat that had been on my right and wrapped it around his neck.

*”Ascelia.”*

*”Ah… y-yes…”*

*”I don’t know how to tie this.”*

Alexis Raynier pointed at the cravat, so I instinctively stepped closer on tiptoe to tie it for him. The height difference made him feel huge. Perhaps thanks to being used to Calisten, who was even taller, I was somewhat accustomed to tall people.

I narrowly looked at my hands to avoid seeing his chest through the open uniform while tying the cravat.

*”What do you see squinting like that?”*

*”Ah, I… I don’t see anything.”*

*”Then how do you tie it?”*

*”Ah…”*

Summoning courage, I opened my eyes and tied it. He then adjusted his open shirt and put on his coat.

*”All done.”*

Wearing the neat uniform, he seemed completely different. He brushed back his hair.

*”When you go outside, style your hair like this too.”*

As his hair fell forward again, he sprinkled water from a bucket, rubbed it with both hands, and brushed his hair back.

The neat, striking impression was hard to miss.

*”Like this.”*

*”S-so cool.”*

*”Really?”*

Out of fear, a forced sales smile slipped out. Recently, I had been smiling compulsively, and it came out easily whenever I was scared.

*”Really?”*

*”Yes, really.”*

He smiled, pleased with my compliment.

*”Now it’s your turn.”*

*”Ah… yes. Please turn around for a moment.”*

*”Okay.”*

Alexis obediently turned away. As I was about to remove my necklace, I glanced around again. Nothing felt ominous, but I confirmed there was no one else before putting the necklace in my pocket.

*”Done.”*

He strode over, took my hand, and led me to the bed, sitting behind me.

*”What happened to Calisten?”*

*”You fainted after receiving his magic.”*

*”Yes.”*

When he briefly stood up on the bed, the springs creaked and my body jolted.

*”That crazy guy destroyed the wall with the vice director and me in it.”*

*”What? But Calisten hasn’t awakened yet…”*

*”Even without awakening, that level of magic can easily break a wall.”*

He retrieved something from next to the shelf, sat behind me again, and muttered while combing my hair.

*”He seemed pretty flustered because you fainted.”*

*”Ah….”*

*”So I knocked him out, the vice director got angry and left. You were almost discarded, but I claimed you as my toy.”*

*”Toy…”*

*”Grateful, right?”*

*”…Yes.”*

Thanks to him, I had survived, so I was grateful.

*”Other researchers will treat you well too.”*

*”….”*

*”Since I said you’re my toy, no one will hit you.”*

*”Th-thank you.”*

I thought I saw him after the brown-haired researcher died, so how did he know?

*”Um, Alexis?”*

*”Alex.”*

*”Yeah.”*

Having my hair gathered and combed at the back made me squirm. He then let go of my hair, and the platinum locks fell over my shoulders—unfamiliar to me.

*”When did you first know me?”*

*”When you first took the Awakening Inducer and begged me to save you.”*

*”Ah….”*

That first time I inhabited this body, the inducer hurt terribly. Most test subjects became drowsy, but it seemed to affect me strongly. I was in agony, clutching a researcher’s sleeve, begging for my life.

*”At that time, surely…”*

*”I was helping with the research anyway.”*

*”Ah….”*

Being Z-rank, he didn’t need to help inside the lab. He likely had more outside matters to attend to.

So he genuinely chose to handle internal affairs. He was peculiar, but indeed quite an eccentric.

*”Ah, by the way.”*

*”….”*

*”You wear this too.”*

He suddenly got up and walked to the wardrobe. After rummaging inside, he took something out.

*”Ah….”*

*”Pretty, right?”*

It was a beautiful white evening dress.