120. Are You Perhaps □□□?
[#OneWhoCrossesSystems #□□□]
“What on earth is this?”
Even when I peeked at the keywords of Countess Goth and the heroine Seraphine, there was no hidden keyword to be found.
Below that, an additional system window appeared.
[Keyword Compatibility: ★★★★★]
[You have excellent compatibility with ‘Kaien’! Could this be a destined match?]
[A friendship bonus is currently applied!]
But I was too focused on his keywords to even notice anything about compatibility.
I fell into thought again.
“Let’s think calmly.”
Looking back, there were more than a few strange things.
I didn’t know exactly who □□□ was, but if they were truly “One Who Crosses Systems,” then something clicked.
The first time I peeked at his memories—
“Kaien was able to recognize the system window.”
What did the administrator say about that?
【Administrator: Kaien is a character in this world, right?】
【Administrator: Even if he happens to notice the system window, he would only perceive your abilities as some inexplicable magic.】
【Administrator: He will never handle a system window or learn about this world like you.】
【Administrator: You and Kaien are literally on different planes.】
The original characters supposedly couldn’t recognize system windows.
But there was one flaw in that explanation.
The nighttime personality was indeed an original character, but the daytime personality was not.
Can a daytime personality, which didn’t exist in the original story, be considered a character?
“Moreover—”
A hidden route opens when I’m with Kaien.
Even in the original story and in my previous life, I had never seen this side of the story. But starting from meeting Kaien, it began to gradually reveal itself.
Could something like this really happen to a mere supporting character, not even the original protagonist?
【Administrator: Being handsome is a plot hook. Haven’t you heard that looks can have plausibility?】
【Administrator: Kaien is handsome for a reason.】
【Administrator: Got it?】
The administrator tried to argue that since Kaien was almost as handsome as the male protagonist, anything he did would be plausible, a miraculous logic—but…
There was something about him that couldn’t be explained by mere looks.
What on earth could it be?
What is this man’s true identity, that he can create anomalies in the system?
I used the <Inner Thoughts Magnifier>.
I wanted to use even an item to get a clue.
However…
【SYSTEM: Item usage has been denied.】
“……?”
Denied?
“What are you thinking?”
At that moment, Kaien took a step closer to me.
My reflection shimmered in his ruby-like eyes.
His eyes, brilliantly red as if glowing, were mesmerizingly beautiful, but looking into them—emotionless as they were—gave me an eerie, unsettling feeling.
As if he weren’t fully alive.
Though his face was usually innocent, today it was unnervingly unfamiliar.
A sense of unknown alienness rang alarm bells in my head.
I needed to escape from this man.
I rolled my eyes frantically.
“It’s useless. It won’t work anyway.”
Suddenly, the system window shut with a soft click.
He stepped even closer.
“……What?”
“Whatever you try to do to me, it won’t work.”
Cold sweat ran down my back.
Was he now able to pierce through even the system window?
“Stay calm, stay calm.”
My thoughts froze like a brake had been applied, but I had to remain composed.
The daytime personality didn’t appear in the original story.
“But this Kaien of my current life is alive, breathing right in front of me.”
A being not permitted in the original story, yet moving independently of it.
“It’s absurd, but maybe—”
Maybe he’s a being similar to me.
If that were the case…
I might faintly understand the identity behind the hidden keyword.
“Are you… □□□?”
【WARNING! Abnormal statement detected.】
【The Original Story Protection System is applying a penalty.】
【SYSTEM: Current situation will be forcibly terminated due to penalty.】
Then—
A red warning window blocked my vision, and soon the noisy footsteps echoed from the hallway stair landing.
“Miss, what are you doing there?”
“Ria?”
It was my personal maids.
They seemed completely oblivious to Kaien as they passed by him naturally.
“Lady Seraphine has just gone to bed. You should rest too, Miss.”
“Also, your clothes are a mess. You should change immediately.”
“Shall we prepare your bathwater as well?”
Chattering, the maids separated me from Kaien.
“…….”
I wanted to say something, but my mouth was sealed shut like a clam.
An invisible force bound me.
“Come on, Miss.”
I was half-forced by the maids as they pushed me into my room.
“No matter how I think about it, it’s strange.”
How could one even explain Kaien’s existence?
None of my questions had been resolved yet, and since then, whenever I tried to meet him, the system’s force would activate.
【WARNING! You cannot approach the target due to penalty.】
【Time remaining until penalty ends: 3 days 14 hours 52 minutes.】
“In three days, the hunting festival should be starting.”
It felt like the system was determined not to allow unnecessary encounters until Episode 2 begins.
Even if I wanted to uncover Kaien’s identity, I had no choice but to wait until before the hunting festival.
“Miss, why do you look so serious?”
Seraphine, seated across from me, asked with concern.
“Mm, it’s nothing.”
I shook my head, trying to brush off my thoughts.
“By the way, Lady Seraphine, how was training today?”
“Good. It feels refreshing to sweat through the training.”
She had just finished her practice at the training grounds and was enjoying tea.
“At first, she would collapse immediately after training…”
Now, she even had time to chat.
“That’s really impressive.”
I genuinely admired her.
I thought she would ignore training after the first day.
Yet she voluntarily continued visiting the training grounds every day.
[It’s amazing. After training, I sleep well and feel better than usual.]
[It’s still a bit tough, but I want to keep going until I get used to it.]
Day by day, week by week…
Seraphine endured the grueling training faithfully.
Her real talent seemed to be her perseverance and mental strength.
Her limbs had grown noticeably stronger, and her previously pale skin now had a healthy golden tone from the sun. Calluses had formed on her hands from holding a sword.
“Can muscles grow this fast?”
What kind of training was she receiving? Her physical growth was astonishing.
“Her shoulders seem broader too.”
I had assumed she was delicate, but her shoulders were naturally rounded.
With her back and shoulders straightened, the previously frail and pure heroine now looked dignified.
“Don’t you train, Miss?”
“I haven’t developed muscle soreness from the first training yet.”
“Really? That was several days ago, and you still don’t have muscle soreness?”
“….”
Too sharp for no reason.
Seraphine grabbed my hand.
“That won’t do. It’s better to loosen sore muscles with light exercise. Come on, let’s go to the training ground right now.”
“Ah, but if I exercise, my chronic illness—”
Just then, someone knocked at the door.
“Miss, it’s William.”
Perfect timing.
I breathed a sigh of relief and called in the steward.
“What is it?”
“The prototype you ordered has arrived.”
William handed me a small box.
Inside the palm-sized box were intricately crafted jewels.
“Miss, what is this?”
“I told you I was starting a small business recently. This is part of it.”
“You were serious about a business?”
Seraphine looked visibly surprised.
“Listen, this is a real jackpot item!”
Meanwhile, Perwin was reviewing a trade proposal with the Pyron Kingdom.
Even a cursory glance at the hastily approved report revealed numerous issues.
The massive costs from the rushed schedule were obvious, and the irrational customs duties were glaring.
Moreover, key positions were occupied entirely by relatives of Shailon or the Marquis of Balton.
By now, it was clear that the magical stone supply was just a pretext. In reality, those clinging to power through concubines were just securing positions for themselves.
Worst of all, the emperor had approved this absurd plan.
“The old man seems completely senile.”
Perwin let out a hollow laugh.
Not only was the emperor openly manipulated by concubines, but now the Marquis of Balton was joining in to exercise power.
If only the empress were still well, the imperial authority wouldn’t have fallen this far.
“How is Her Majesty the Empress’s health?”
Perwin glanced at his official.
“Your Highness… there is still no improvement. Since her strength began to decline rapidly, her appetite has noticeably decreased. The palace physician says she likely won’t survive past next month…”
“….”
The shadow of death loomed over the empress, engulfing the palace.
