Chapter~26
Tenth, Interacting with Friends
Miss Maker.
A popular indie game.
Genre: raising simulation.
“Miss Maker? What’s that?”
“It’s the game that forms the foundation of this world.”
“Wait, this was a game?! I thought it was just a medieval fantasy transmigration story…”
And within that world, certain basic structures exist.
For example, the protagonist’s older sister is often sick and rarely goes outside.
The protagonist’s default name is Mabel.
“Yes, and my name is Sonnet Eduque, eldest daughter of the Eduque Marquis family. I’m Mabel’s older sister.”
“Oh, I’m Pavl. But Mabel…?”
“She’s my younger sister. Cute as an angel.”
“Oh… okay…”
The man showed no reaction to the words Miss Maker or the default Eduque family name.
It’s safe to assume he doesn’t know the original story at all.
Since I’ve already revealed that I’m a transmigrator, there’s no reason to hide my knowledge.
Conclusion: this person is a transmigrator who doesn’t know the original story.
“Anyway, she’s the main character of the game Miss Maker.”
“Oh, the game’s protagonist…!”
“Do you know the raising simulation genre? Is it a genre men don’t play?”
“Huh? I’m not a man.”
“Eh?”
“I’m pretending to be male, but I’m a woman.”
I looked at her.
Two-block haircut.
A body slightly bigger than average.
Muscular, toned arms.
Given her social appearance, at first glance someone might think she’s a gender-neutral man.
“Sorry.”
“No, it’s fine. Everyone’s trying to deceive others in this way. The food service industry is rough, especially here, even more than in modern times.”
She chuckled.
“I woke up in a strange place while I was asleep. After escaping, I changed my style a lot so I could get a job without being tracked.”
“Strange place?”
“There was a magic circle and blood everywhere… looked like a cult murder scene? I thought maybe I was possessed as a sacrifice.”
A cult. Her past doesn’t sound easy.
“My original profession is cooking, so I got a job at a restaurant here too. I figured if I earn money and make connections, maybe I could find a way back home. So I’ve been working hard.”
“Oh… Didn’t a system window appear? In the game, it told me to raise Mabel well since I’m the player.”
“No, there wasn’t anything like that.”
I recalled the system message I had seen before:
“If you achieve a happy ending, you can obtain clues on how to return to your original world.”
If she gets the clue, could she also return?
If only I could return, would it give her false hope…?
Hesitating briefly, I slowly spoke.
“One of the endings the system requires lets you obtain clues on how to return to the original world.”
I didn’t want to deceive her by hiding information under the guise of ‘false hope.’
Finally, someone from the same world.
“Really?”
“Yes. I don’t know what the clue is yet, but if I get it, I’ll let you know.”
“Great! I’ll help as much as I can too!”
She smiled brightly, looking genuinely happy.
“It’s been tough in this unfamiliar place, but meeting someone from the same world makes it a bit better.”
“Right?”
“Even if I can deal with food, not having the internet was unbearable. I want to return home because of the infrastructure.”
After she shared her struggles in this unfamiliar environment, she asked:
“Sonnet, you want to return too, right? Why? Also because of infrastructure?”
Her words triggered a memory.
“Come every week… no, every day!”
“Every day is too much.”
A thin child, yet always whining about wanting to come.
My…
“Sonnet?”
“…There’s a child waiting for me.”
“Family?”
Before I could answer, someone knocked at the door.
“Sis! Are you in there?”
“Mabel?”
“Open the door!”
“Your sister?”
“Yes, just a moment.”
I hurriedly opened the door, worried my angel might be waiting.
As soon as it opened, a soft, tender-looking girl threw herself at me.
“Sis!”
“Yeah, what’s wrong?”
“The princess is here! She’s looking for you!”
The way she hugged me and looked up was adorable.
Even with her high etiquette stats, Mabel approached me freely.
…Maybe because I’m her older sister in this body.
Were we close before I transmigrated?
“Got it. Pavl, you’re a restaurant chef, right? I’ll contact you later.”
“Yes! I’ll be waiting!”
I left the room with Mabel.
As we walked down the hallway, she spoke.
“Sis.”
“Hmm?”
“Do you like new friends?”
She looked sulky—maybe jealous.
“I do.”
“More than me?”
“No, not more than you.”
I patted Mabel.
“You’re my favorite, Mabel.”
“Heh.”
She smiled, satisfied, truly an angel.
At her age, most would be obsessed with friends over siblings.
Perhaps because we were close like friends?
“Okay, then I’ll give a little in return.”
“You’re so nice, Mabel.”
“But promise me one thing.”
“Promise?”
“Yes. Don’t leave my side.”
Adorable, as expected. I nodded with a pleased smile.
“Of course.”
“Promise! Pinky swear!”
“Yeah.”
I hooked my pinky with hers.
Only then did Mabel smile brightly, clearly happy.
Music played in the banquet hall.
The princess was talking with Pierre.
Thinking it might be important, I stepped forward, but froze when our eyes met.
“Sonnet! There you are!”
The princess smiled and approached me.
Judging by Pierre’s stiff expression as he followed her, did she tease him again?
“Princess. As for Sonnet—”
“We’re friends, right? Aren’t we?”
“Yes. We’ve spent some good times together before.”
The princess, the viscount, and the viscount’s fiancée.
When the three gather, all eyes fall on them, even if people pretend not to stare.
It was well-known that the princess had a crush on the viscount.
Technically, it was an act, but ordinary people wouldn’t know.
Maybe they were expecting a dramatic scene.
“Don’t worry, Viscount. I’ve already found a new lover.”
Unlike her previous coquettish behavior, she now acted straightforwardly.
“Pavl!”
“Yes!”
…Didn’t expect her lover to be Pavl.
“At the princess’s request, I’ll assign someone to play her lover to facilitate smooth interaction.”
“Do as you like. That’s under your jurisdiction anyway.”
Hmm, maybe I should have asked more questions.
“Viscount, you should’ve introduced me to a man like this earlier! I met him way too late!”
Her words caused more murmuring around us.
“Ahaha…”
It seemed like a story of ‘trying to woo someone at the viscount’s house but falling for another man instead.’
I gave a stiff, awkward smile at Pavl, thinking he had a rough time too.
Click—
If you’re going to show off, you might as well do it properly.
The princess suddenly kissed Pavl on the cheek, and he froze.
“But right now, rather than sharing love with a partner, I want to converse as friends. Sonnet, can you spare some time?”
I thought she was just there to congratulate as a royal, but she wanted to be alone with me?
“Of course. Pierre, I’ll be back shortly.”
“Do so. I’ll wait, so be quick.”
“Don’t worry.”
Curious, I followed the princess to a vacant room in the viscount’s manor.
“Is the security decent?”
“Yes. Don’t worry. I cast noise and no-entry magic.”
“Good.”
The princess slouched slightly on the sofa.
“You must be wondering why I came to see you?”
“Yes. Since Sir Pavl is here too.”
“It’s multi-purpose. Displaying the relationship and delivering important information. It’s best to speak directly.”
Smiling, she continued:
“You’re hunting dark mages, right?”
“Yes.”
“Be careful.”
The princess’s smile vanished.
“The dark mages are targeting you.”
