Chapter : 15
“What does that mean…?”
Dail asked urgently, surprised.
“More importantly, how does the Grand Duchess know about the system?”
“It seems it wasn’t her will after all.”
Arisha muttered softly, her words almost to herself.
Dail, confused, was the one who found that strange.
Everything about it was suspicious, and strange.
“You don’t need to know too deeply.”
In an instant, the Grand Duchess disappeared before his eyes.
Another hand was placed on top of Dail’s hand, which was tightly gripping his sword.
The greatsword that had once been in his hand vanished without a trace.
“…!”
“I’m not trying to harm you, so just relax a little.”
“…”
Arisha nonchalantly gazed at Dail. Then, with the hand that was touching his, she injected magical energy.
[Analyzing the opponent’s system.]
[Connecting.]
[System Name: Unknown. Creator: Unknown.]
‘It’s still strange.’
It had been strange when she read about it in books, but seeing it in person made it even stranger.
The systems used by Earth’s hunters were created by them.
A highly sophisticated magical code was used, and a huge amount of magical energy was woven to form the most advanced method of magic operation.
Given the immense power required, not many hunters owned such a system.
However, one thing was clear: the owner of the system was the hunter themselves.
But Dail’s system was different.
Dail’s system wasn’t something he had created. It had simply appeared suddenly.
Most strangely, it seemed like someone else was controlling it.
[Analyzing the basic structure of the system. Comparing basic magical codes.]
[98% Match ─ Structure analysis complete.]
[Beginning system hack.]
Dail’s face was still full of confusion.
“How do you know about the system’s existence?”
“Because I’m an expert.”
“Expert? Then who created this system?”
Despite his confusion, Dail seemed to snap back to reality.
[System hack completed.]
“Unfortunately, I can’t answer that question.”
Arisha decided not to drag the situation any further.
In that moment, Dail witnessed magical energy swirling in her golden eyes.
“Grand Duchess, your eyes…”
Dail widened his eyes, but before he could finish speaking, he staggered and collapsed.
Arisha used her magic to gently guide him to lean safely against the wall.
A hand slowly descended toward him.
Dail’s legs weakened, and his eyes fluttered closed.
[Calculating the axis of the heavens.]
[Finding the central star.]
[Theta fixed ─ Golden Star.]
[Rearranging the principles of time and space permutations.]
Golden starlight reflected in Arisha’s eyes.
According to the principles of the field, the axis of time shifted. The operations of the celestial bodies centered around her, and Arisha became the axis of the stars.
The stars in the night sky began to move rapidly, drawing trajectories.
At that moment, she became the center of all the stars.
[Infiltrating the opponent’s system.]
[Data manipulation.]
[Warning ─ Unstable magical code adjustments due to abnormal conditions. The opponent’s system may be damaged. Would you like to proceed?]
‘What’s the risk of damage?’
[Approximately 19%. Error margin within 5%.]
‘Proceed.’
[Designer’s will confirmed.]
[Starting data manipulation.]
Arisha withdrew her hand. Dail’s vacant, unconscious eyes met hers.
“Don’t worry. Just think of it as a brief daydream.”
[Manipulation complete.]
Dail lost consciousness completely.
Arisha, who had been staring at him, disappeared into the shadows of a dark alley.
Dail was left alone in the empty alley, unconscious.
[Releasing the central star setting.]
[Releasing the golden star fixation.]
[Rearranging the principles of time and space permutations to restore original state.]
The stars in the night sky moved back to their original positions, drawing their trajectories. The golden star in the center quietly set, and the alley was once again swallowed by darkness.
A moment later.
Dail opened his eyes wide.
“Young master? Young master!”
His butler was shaking him.
“My head hurts, old man.”
Dail pressed his throbbing head.
‘Why am I leaning here?’
He clearly felt something strange…
But his memories were foggy.
[(!) Significant changes detected.]
An unread message window popped up.
‘No way.’
In a panic, he opened the system window.
Sizzling─.
This was the first time the system had shown signs of malfunction.
[Notification ─ ‽⚒⛤…❀✵✴⋆⋆…✳…]
[Warning! ─ System down due to hacking.]
[Error detection and recovery in progress.]
[Time required for error recovery ─ 3 days.]
[Please refrain from further use during this period.]
Dail instinctively raised his head and stared at the night sky.
The sky was dark and cloudy, with no stars in sight.
Meanwhile,
Arisha returned to her room, suddenly stumbling.
It seemed that the second side effect of the elixir was finally taking effect.
Her body felt as if it was submerged in ice water, though the heat from her body felt dangerously high.
She burrowed under the blankets, grateful that the room wasn’t cold, but instead felt warm.
This was probably thanks to the Grand Duke’s concern for her health.
Arisha pulled on the blanket’s strings.
“Did you call for me?”
Anna entered and was immediately startled upon seeing Arisha’s face covered in cold sweat.
“My lady!”
Anna’s face turned pale.
“Are you very sick? Should I call a doctor? Oh, no, I should tell the Grand Duke first…”
Arisha grabbed Anna’s arm.
“Anna, listen carefully.”
“What?”
“Close all the curtains, and make sure no one can see into the room from outside.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Don’t let anyone in until tomorrow morning. No one. Not even the Grand Duke or Egail. And don’t tell anyone that I’m sick.”
“What? But…”
“It’s an order.”
Anna couldn’t refuse, even though it was clear how sick Arisha must have been.
In the past, she would have prioritized the Grand Duke’s orders over the lady’s, calling a doctor and informing the Grand Duke.
But recently, Arisha had a strange power that kept Anna from opposing her.
“Understood?”
“… Yes, I understand.”
“Don’t make such a worried face. It’s not like I’m dying.”
After finishing her sentence, Arisha let go of Anna’s hand and collapsed onto the bed.
Anna followed the orders, meticulously closing the curtains and walking quietly.
The sound of the door closing followed.
Anna seemed to have left the room.
‘Bigsiri, even if I lose consciousness, make sure my magical flow is perfectly blocked.’
[Yes, understood! Trust Bigsiri! (๑•́o•̀๑)]
If any magical energy escaped while she was unconscious, it would be troublesome.
She didn’t want anyone to realize that she wasn’t actually Arisha.
… It would be a hassle if they found out. That’s why.
No other reason.
Arisha repeated this thought to herself like a mantra.
Her body was burning up.
The room was dark.
Being alone felt strange.
She was used to being alone, but it seemed she had become too accustomed to being with two others. Just a few days had made a difference.
“…”
She thought of Egail, who hadn’t let her in too early. She couldn’t help but smile slightly.
Tomorrow morning, she would suggest they go for a walk together.
[Time remaining for bodily and elixir adjustment: 02:49:12]
[Once adjusted, title application will begin.]
[Expected side effects ─ Fever, coughing, chills, body aches… (abbreviated)]
Listening to the system message, Arisha tossed and turned in bed.
‘Sorry for coming…’
Her worsened physical state caused fragmented memories, once buried, to resurface one by one.
Bright light pouring into the room, and the woman standing with her back turned.
She had forgotten about her for a long time, but the more she stayed with the Grand Duke and Egail, the more she kept thinking about this person.
‘Getting unnecessarily sentimental.’
Arisha grasped the pendant hanging around her neck.
Buzz─.
At that moment, the pendant vibrated and began to glow.
This time, it was different.
A clearer, more definite signal.
[The signal from the pendant has been received!]
[Accessing the transmitted data.]
[Would you like to enter?]
“…”
She wasn’t sure what message it wanted to convey, but this was the third time now. There was definitely a message meant for her.
[The designer’s will has been confirmed. Approval granted.]
[Accessing the transmitted data.]
[Blocking some of the designer’s free will.]
That alarm was the last thing she remembered that night.
