The bedroom was completely silent.
The barely visible mist still drifted in the air.
[Dear Host, Allen-san, I already reminded you once last night, but it seems you didn't quite get it.]
[So tonight, let me remind you again—]
[If you keep this up…]
[Forget about reaching Sword Saint in the Sword God Style. You'll be stuck at Advanced level forever.]
[Acting as you wish, in harmony with your inner heart… yes, I admit, even though you've never deliberately cultivated your desires, that "sword heart" of yours that slammed itself into your face—quite impressive.]
[Unlike crude desires like wealth or lust—which always get tiring—your desire, as long as you follow your heart and do what you want, respond to those who await you, you'll continue to climb the path of the Sword God Style unhindered, never fearing your fire will go out.]
[Sword Saint, Sword King, Sword Emperor, Sword God.]
[All of them—just goals waiting to be reached once your theory and foundation are solid.]
[But right now—]
[Something seems off.]
Silence lingered in the bedroom.
After a long pause, the mist seemed to grow bored and began to dissipate.
But at the very moment its last wisp faded—
New text reformed and appeared.
[Then—]
[Let "me" help you.]
Allen froze and looked up sharply, staring at the system panel.
Sure enough.
A new mission had been issued.
[Private Tutoring Period—Compound Mission: Want Both? Then Take Both. Released.]
[Mission One—Respond to Hilda's expectations. Reward: Participation Score +10.]
[Mission Two—Respond to Sylphy's expectations. Reward: Participation Score +10.]
[Mission Three—Respond to Ghislaine's expectations. Reward: Participation Score +10.]
[Being watched by Hilda—a conflict between blood-bound kinship and the alienation of transmigration. Admired by Sylphy—knowing her sincerity yet hesitating out of respect for her dignity. Disappointing Ghislaine—failing to progress further along the Sword God path.]
[How do you resolve these entangled issues? Family, love, power—can you have it all?]
[The answer is—]
[Yes!]
[The seed of wanting both has already been planted by your own hand. But you don't seem to have noticed at all.]
[What awaits you now—is simply the final step. The choice to move forward.]
[Mission Duration: No time limit during the tutoring period, but once any one of the three is completed, the remaining two must be completed within 24 hours or the mission will fail.]
[Take note, this is a freebie mission.]
[Mission—Begin!]
The mist floated before his eyes.
Allen was completely numb.
He stared blankly at the system panel, lips opening and closing as if to speak, but no words came. He repeated this cycle again and again, unable to say a single sentence.
[Oh? That look—did you think I'd force you with a mandatory quest? Or maybe set up some conflicting choices within the mission?]
[I already told you—this is your journey. You're the one participating in this "Unemployed Adventure." The choice is yours to make.]
[Please continue—burn your mark into the eyes of both main characters and side characters alike.]
[Do your best, Allen.]
Allen blinked slowly. It took him quite a while to come back to his senses.
His face took on that expression people have when they're walking their dog, turn around, and see their precious male shiba getting mounted by a random stray mutt.
'Honestly… my first reaction was that you'd make it a mandatory mission. Now it almost seems like you're being nice.'
'Nice my ass!'
'What the hell is this mission?! It's getting more abstract by the day! I feel like I'm developing a reading disability!'
'Want both? Take both? What the hell is that supposed to mean?! And what do you mean "the seed has already been planted" and "just one step away from reaping it"?! What the hell is this?!'
'Responding to expectations? How?! Where are the prompts?!'
'And—'
'What expectations does Ghislaine have for me?! Since when did she have any?! Why the hell don't I know about it?!'
'Are you just making up some bullsh*t mission to mess with me?! And completing one means I have to finish the other two within 24 hours?! A mom, a girl, and a teacher—how is that even logically related?! What kind of expectations am I supposed to respond to?! What am I, a goddamn celestial being?! You call this a "freebie" mission?! Sounds more like a death sentence!'
Allen was fuming.
The mist simply floated in front of him, watching him.
[I only meant to give you a little push, but wow—this really lit a fire under you. You're far more energetic than before.]
'What?'
'I'm literally losing my mind over here! Of course I look more alive!'
[Good. Keep it up.]
'??'
The mist dissipated.
Allen's face froze.
He sat there in a daze for a long time before finally snapping out of it. He rubbed his face hard.
He reached for the letter on the table and tried to draw a mind map to sort out his thoughts. But the pen hovered over the paper for ages…
And didn't move.
Outside, a nightbird chirped.
Its song was gentle and lingering.
Allen listened to it for a long time.
Finally—pen scratched across paper.
Just a few strokes. Then it stopped.
Three characters were added beside the name "Roxy," which he had written last night out of sheer longing.
It was—
「Sylphy.」
—
"Sylphy?"
In the hallway, a faint knock on the door echoed, accompanied by a voice speaking in hushed tones—barely more than a whisper.
Rudy stood outside Sylphy's door, glancing nervously at the room next to it—Allen's.
He hesitated. Maybe he should turn back and try again another time.
But in the next moment, the door opened.
Sylphy poked her head out. The moonlight-colored gown Lady Hilda had gifted her earlier in the day was gone. Instead, she wore the old track-style jacket she often wore in Buena Village.
She glanced at Rudy, also speaking in a whisper.
"Good timing. I was going to look for you. Come in."
Rudy blinked, then nodded and entered.
A soft click—the door closed.
They exchanged glances.
Rudy spoke first.
"Something was off about Allen during today's match. So I went to Ghislaine afterward to get the full story. The conclusion… seems like Allen's mindset is shaken."
Sylphy leaned back against the door, eyes lowered.
"His mindset…"
Rudy looked at her.
"And you?"
"I asked Eris. Tried to get a read on Ghislaine's opinion through her. Eris is still as blunt as ever… It was hard to make out, but I think what she said matches what you heard—just with some added words of encouragement from Ghislaine for her own progress."
They fell silent.
"What do you think we should do, Rudy?"
"Allen's attitude toward Lord Philip and Lord Sauros is exactly as I expected—mature and composed. But there's someone who clearly affects him differently."
Sylphy blinked and looked down at the floor.
She thought of the row of clothes in Hilda's bedroom—clothes that should've belonged to Allen.
"Lady Hilda."
"Yes. Allen is always steady. Philip and Sauros haven't been particularly kind to him, but he didn't react at all. Yet Hilda treated him warmly… and that seems to have thrown him off. It's just like how he used to be back at your place last winter. Sylphy, do you think we should step in?"
"…I believe in Allen."
Rudy raised a brow.
"You think Allen is infallible?"
Sylphy didn't answer.
Rudy looked at her and eventually sighed.
Some things… are clearer when you're not emotionally involved.
"Alright. I guess there's still time. Maybe it's just like Buena Village—he needs time to adjust. I'll head back."
Sylphy nodded and stepped aside.
Rudy brushed past her.
"But I still think… Allen might need help. You've seen everything that's happened these past two years. He's… not great at handling this sort of thing, is he?"
The door opened. Rudy stepped out.
He turned back.
As the door closed behind him—
In that shrinking view, Sylphy stood still, head down, deep in thought.
Back inside the room, in the soft glow of candlelight—
The chair before the desk had been pulled out.
As if someone had just been sitting there—
Writing something moments ago.
(End of Chapter)
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