95. 【SYSTEM: ♥】
(Interpretation: The Administrator says they miss you) (3)
“You want to come with me? Both of you?”
I looked back and forth between Cayenne and Seraphine.
‘Huh, so they were still here.’
Then Cayenne stepped forward.
“Yes. You’ll need someone to serve you anyway. Wherever my lady goes, I’ll follow.”
“Hm.”
It was a little surprising, but having him with me would be reassuring.
He was more reliable than most knights, and useful for errands, too.
Once Cayenne volunteered, Seraphine hurriedly jumped in as well.
“M-me too! The young lady mustn’t feel lonely in a strange land…”
“You too, Lady Seraphine?”
“Would it really not be allowed?”
“It’s not that it isn’t allowed, but…”
Did she have to?
Coming over to the ducal estate every single day wasn’t enough for her, now she wanted to chase me beyond the capital? What kind of passion was that?
For an introvert like me, that level of enthusiasm was impossible to understand—
“Alright then. If everyone’s coming along, I’ll feel reassured.”
Either way, there was no reason to refuse their goodwill.
After recruiting the companions who would leave with me for Garrett territory, I sent Seraphine back to her viscount’s house first.
‘If she stays here any longer, she and Cayenne will probably start fighting again.’
Ever since she’d been kicked out of the infirmary, the two of them snarled the instant their eyes met.
‘In the original work, they were supposed to be practically inseparable—loyalty this, devotion that. So why are they squabbling like grade-schoolers here?’
I shook off the thought and returned to my room, trying to整理 my tangled mind.
Click.
“Hey! Roselia, are you here?”
The moment I opened the door, a boy peeked his head inside.
It was the Administrator.
To be precise, his possessed body—an avatar summoned here.
Pink hair that stood out even from two hundred meters away, amber eyes with an exotic glow.
Mischievous eyes, a sharp nose, rosy cheeks.
His features were handsome enough, but the boyishness of his face made him look more cute than striking.
He was dressed in an extravagant doublet over a fine shirt, looking every bit as flamboyant as any noble.
‘Wouldn’t he be hot dressed like that?’
Then again, he wasn’t exactly human. Maybe he didn’t even feel heat.
“Come on in! I almost died waiting for you!”
He spread his arms wide, as if to embrace me.
He ran straight toward me—
Vwoom—
And passed right through me without so much as brushing my sleeve.
‘…A ghost?’
What kind of midday haunting was this?
“As I thought, this body doesn’t work. Forced platonic, boo-hoo.”
He looked down at his hands with a pitiful wail.
‘Seeing him pout without using emoticons is kind of new.’
But even in person, he was just as expressive as his chat messages—sometimes to the point of being annoying.
Then he spun around to face me.
“Roselia, why aren’t you saying anything?”
“Huh?”
“Aren’t you happy to see me? It’s been forty-five whole minutes since we last met! I crossed dimensions to be here, and you think you can just leave me behind? We can’t be apart for even a second!”
“…It just feels strange.”
“Strange? What’s strange? I’ve talked with you more than anyone else in this world! Sure, this is your first time seeing this appearance, but just because I look different? Don’t tell me… you’re shallow and only care about looks?”
“Oh, please.”
‘This guy doesn’t leave any room for silence, does he?’
He wasn’t nearly this loud when we chatted through the system.
I gave him a weary look.
The Administrator had only shown up in person a few days ago.
I’d walked into my room and found a boy I’d never seen before waiting.
[Roseliaaaaaa! I missed you!]
The sudden stranger turned out to be none other than him.
While I was reeling, he explained the situation.
I didn’t grasp all the system-level stuff, but the gist was this:
His Administrator rights had been revoked, and he’d been confined to another dimension. By chance, he obtained a way to contact me.
Apparently, when I checked one of his messages, some condition was fulfilled, and he was able to summon himself here.
[But you said you’re confined. Is it okay for you to just appear like this?]
[Of course not.]
[Then what are you going to do? If you get hit with an even bigger penalty—]
[That’s not important! Look, my avatar is free! Totally free!]
[…What are you even saying?]
Anyway, he seemed very satisfied with his avatar.
If he had actually descended into this world, it would have been chaos. But since this was just a kind of hologram, it was more like a video call.
‘So that’s why no one else can see him or touch him.’
He couldn’t influence this world at all, and the moment communication cut off, the avatar would vanish.
He insisted it wasn’t a problem. But… was it really?
“So, how was the hospital visit? What did you talk about with Eckhart? Was anyone else there? Who were you with?”
“Could you ask one question at a time?”
“But I need to know everything I missed! Explain every last detail, not even a particle left out, got it?”
“……”
“Hey, hey! What’s with that fed-up look? I know that face. You think I’m annoying, don’t you? Don’t you?!”
…Was he a mind-reader now?
In the end, I gave in to his nagging and carefully recounted everything that happened at the infirmary.
“So then I decided to handle things myself, and surprisingly, Eckhart agreed without resistance.”
I’d expected him to strongly oppose Cayenne coming along.
The Administrator waved dismissively.
“Come on. Even if Eckhart’s overprotective, you’re not some toddler. He’s not going to micromanage every move you make!”
“He did, though.”
“…Well, okay, true.”
He nodded meekly.
“But don’t you think that means he’s starting to trust you more? Maybe he’s finally ready to let you out of his arms.”
“Really?”
“Of course! Absolutely. Administrators know these things. Eckhart has realized how smart, capable, wise, and special our little possessor is!”
“Not to that extent.”
“You’re too modest. I’m right, you know! Be proud of everything you’ve done.”
“Ahem.”
Even knowing he was exaggerating, I couldn’t help feeling vulnerable to such endless praise.
Instead of reacting, I changed the subject.
“Anyway, did this kind of event happen in the original story?”
“There you go, changing the subject again. Embarrassed? You’re embarrassed, huh?”
“Shut it.”
“Cute.”
He poked at my cheek.
Of course, as a hologram, he couldn’t actually touch me.
Feeling awkward, I redirected the topic.
“Anyway, the original didn’t mention Count Vermont’s arms dealer in detail, right?”
Last time, the genre had suddenly shifted into a mystery thriller. Now, it had turned into a territory-management novel.
The Administrator pouted.
“Well…”
“?”
“I’d love to tell you, but I’m under a spoiler ban. Sorry. I can’t help.”
“It’s fine. You don’t have to force yourself. I’ve got the original search function, after all.”
I opened the Luck Points Shop.
[▷▶Luck Point Spending Options◀◁]
【Original Search Function】
[Cost: 250 points per use → Permanent 70% discount! Only 75 points!]
【SYSTEM: Use the ‘Original Search Function’?】
[▶Yes (75 Luck Points deducted)]
[▶No]
“Yes.”
Now that the price had dropped, the shop didn’t feel nearly as scary.
With a cheerful ding, the search window popped up.
“Search for information on Baron Garrett.”
【SYSTEM: Loading background information on ‘Baron Garrett’!】
[Baron Garrett]
– Third son of Count Langley.
– Inherited a small fief in the Garrett region along with his title.
“…That’s it?”
Just two lines appeared.
“Looks like he wasn’t very important in the original, so that’s all there is.”
“A waste of points.”
It stung to think of my points vanishing into thin air, but I couldn’t stop now.
I activated the search again.
“Search for information on the Garrett region.”
【SYSTEM: Loading background information on ‘Garrett region’!】
[Garrett Region]
– Located in the northwest of the Empire of Emprion.
– During the Conquest Wars, it became a settlement for migrants annexed into the Empire.
– Once an avoided area due to its location in a monster zone, but rose rapidly after a mana-stone lode was discovered.
– Monster Wave season: May–July each year. During this time, access to certain areas is restricted.
“Well, at least this is a little useful.”
Just a little.
How to use this information would need more thought, but it was better than knowing nothing.
I jotted the details down.
“Ugh. I’m useless. Failing as your guardian angel already.”
The Administrator’s shoulders drooped.
“Hmm. In that case, want to hear me out?”
“What’s on your mind?”
“I can’t seem to figure out the best way to deal with this. You know how sometimes talking it out helps organize your thoughts?”
“Oh! That’s my specialty! I’m a reaction expert. Tell me everything. I’m ready!”
His eyes gleamed with dramatic resolve.
Alright, then…
“First, since the Monster Waves are causing problems, I plan to mobilize the ducal family’s troops.”
“Ooooh! And then, and then?”
“But that’s just the surface excuse. I don’t think this whole mess is really just because of Monster Waves.”
“Exactly! My possessor is brilliant, straight to the heart of it! So what next?”
“To uncover the truth of the incident, I’ll need to be more proactive…”
“Yes! That’s it! How did I end up with such a genius possessor? Must be thanks to my careful supervision, right?”
“……”
Every time I said one thing, he gave three reactions.
Clueless as ever, he squirmed bashfully.
“What is it? No more to say? Don’t look at me like that—it makes me shy.”
Hm. Well, let’s see how this goes.