The moment the weapon selection was over, today’s schedule had also come to an end.
The students, being the first day and all, gathered in small groups here and there to build camaraderie and began enjoying school life.
I wanted to join them but the problem was that I didn’t have the leisure to comfortably chat.
“6th floor… Room 605….”
I muttered to myself as I headed to the dormitory. I had originally planned to approach the protagonist and take additional actions, but first, I needed to organize the complicated thoughts that had accumulated in my mind throughout the day.
The dormitory building was exactly as it had been in the game. The grand and well-organized exterior, and the strict separation of the male and female dormitories.
I headed directly to my room without even glancing around.
-click-
After I had transmigrated 10 years ago, the first thing I did upon realizing this world was a game world was to create a compendium.
Human memory is not infinite. It was essential to carefully organize the main events, characters, and future happenings of this world.
And now, I was thoroughly reviewing the compendium I had prepared over time.
“I’ve found it.”
‘Collection of Easter Eggs’
The hidden devices that game developers put in.
A one-in-ten-thousand or even rarer event that takes place when certain conditions are met. That is what Easter eggs are.
This had to explain the bizarre situation I was in—ignoring the protagonist and being continuously entangled with a random supporting character.
“Let’s give up on this.”
The hand flipping the pages came to a halt.
There was no content in the compendium that could adequately explain the current situation.
I was supposed to know every element of the story, yet there was something I didn’t know.
With a sigh exhaled as I closed the book.
With regression vanishing and some unknown Easter egg, the word “plan” has lost all meaning.
It’s clear that I’m thoroughly messing everything up.
Then again, wait a moment.
Is this not actually a good thing?
I had to approach the main characters to foster their growth anyway.
For unknown reasons, if they come to me first like they did today, it would make things easier for me.
If I just build bridges between the protagonist and the heroines and let them naturally become intertwined, my role is complete.
This sudden change in the flow is somewhat unsettling but, if it works, then that’s good enough.
I need to celebrate a small victory for my own sanity.
At that moment, the alarm on my watch interrupted my thoughts.
I slowly looked down at the watch.
[Shion]
: Hae-in! I need to deliver something grandpa gave me. Where are you? Please call me quickly!
It was Sion.
The granddaughter of the old man I’ve been indebted to for the last ten years.
Even though we were the same age, due to her losing her parents when she was young, she followed me like a big brother.
Though not family, we were close like one.
She isn’t a character critical to the storyline, but she is quite skilled.
What could this be about? What would this old man possibly prepare for my benefit…?
With a face full of suspicion, I pressed the call button on the watch.
-click, thud
-Hello~
“Where are you?”
In the first floor of the school building, a café filled with students brimming with excitement at the start of the semester.
“Be careful, it’s hot.”
I had planned to just deliver the item and leave, but now I had a cup of coffee in hand.
The rich aroma gently tickled my nose. It seemed like I wouldn’t be leaving this spot anytime soon.
Coffee is good…
“So, what is it that you were supposed to deliver?”
“That I’ll tell you a little later. You’ll just run off if I tell you now, right?”
“…I won’t.”
How did she know? Still, blood ties are undeniable.
After a short pause, Sion gently played with her coffee cup and tilted her head.
“Still, Hae-in.”
Her gaze slightly lowered.
“You don’t look too well. Are you feeling sick?”
Sion placed her hand on my forehead, slightly lifting my hair. I flinched involuntarily at the warm touch.
I tilted my head back and made up an excuse.
“No, I’m just a little tired.”
“Oh, okay. You did look a little like that. I’ve been watching from afar.”
It seems Sion had witnessed the earlier scene.
Regardless, she continued to chatter on nonchalantly.
“Who were those people from before?”
“They’re classmates. Someone I just met.”
“If you just met them, why were they clinging to you like that? They seem a bit strange.”
I nodded absent-mindedly.
Yeah, they were strange, all right.
At that moment, she slightly bowed her head with a serene smile.
“Right? That’s what I thought too.”
Just as I was about to nod in agreement and respond, a soft sensation on the back of my hand caught my attention.
Since just now…
Her hand had been gently stroking the back of my hand.
She fidgeted, occasionally tickled, and somehow it kept distracting me.
Even though her nature is usually caring, and she likes physical contact, this was unusual.
“…Anyway, do you really have to keep touching my hand?”
“Yes. I do.”
I see.
She answered naturally with a slight grin, which left me speechless.
“It’s been a while~”
Has it? I remember we all had dinner just yesterday.
“Yesterday we had dinner together.”
“Was it? Hehe.”
Sion emptied her coffee cup with a playful laugh. Every action of hers felt familiar but carried a strange newness.
I looked at her face for a moment and shook my head.
“So, what is it that grandpa asked you to deliver?”
Sion pulled a small box from her bag and extended it towards me.
The box, wrapped in black silk, felt heavily sealed and had a weighty presence.
“Open it~”
I opened the box with slight tension. Honestly, a snake springing out wouldn’t be shocking.
But surprisingly, there was a black onyx bracelet inside.
Its glossy finish and intricately carved patterns instantly drew my eye.
“What is it?”
“An artifact, it helps with vitality, or so I’ve heard.”
As Sion leaned back in her chair and glanced at my face, she smiled playfully.
‘Vitality…’
Could it be the vitality I know? No, surely she wouldn’t send something like that to her granddaughter.
What’s the real intent behind this gift? Isn’t the old man closer to the kind of guy who’d send snake liquor rather than artifacts?
She grinned mischievously. Sion then grabbed my wrist, lifting the bracelet.
“I’ll put it on for you. Let me see your hand.”
“It’s fine, I’ll do it.”
“Aww, come on! Just stay still.”
Sion giggled playfully and firmly grabbed my wrist. She carefully slipped on the onyx bracelet.
Her movements were gentle and meticulous, but there was a subtle, strange energy about them.
As the bracelet fit snugly around my wrist, I felt a faint warmth. It felt like energy flowing through my veins, giving me vitality.
… Everything feels warm.
“…How does it feel?”
She asked with anticipation.
“Um… I feel a warm sensation.”
“Right! …No, grandpa did really care about it!”
Sion inspected the bracelet for a while before nodding in satisfaction.
“Still, you need to be careful with it. It’s a pretty valuable item. If you lose it, I’ll be really mad.”
I glanced at the bracelet and nodded.
“Understood.”
Sion got up with a playful laugh.
“If you feel the effects, don’t just keep it to yourself—let me know, okay?”
She waved goodbye and left the café.
“She’s in a good mood, huh.”
Apparently, it wasn’t just the other students who were thrilled with the new semester.
I watched her retreating figure for a moment, then rose from my seat, thinking it was time for me to return.
As Sion left the café, she walked toward a dark corridor of the building.
Her previously playful and loving expression disappeared, leaving behind a cold stare.
She raised the smartwatch on her wrist and turned on the screen.
There were already several messages waiting for her.
[Sender: OnE]
[Did you really give it to him? Haha, crazy girl.]
[Sender: Rin]
[But isn’t it fine anyway?]
Sion sighed lightly as she looked at the messages, then typed a brief reply.
[X-F-you]
A new message flashed shortly after, and her lips curved into a faint smile.
[Sender: Jung Hae-in]
[Thank you for delivering it. I know you probably wanted to hang out with others, sorry about that.]
This time, her playful smile returned.
[Not at all! Thank you for today’s hard work!!]
Sion touched the black onyx bracelet on her wrist, identical in design to the one she had given to Hae-in.
After a moment of contemplation, she tilted her head down and muttered softly.
“This time… it’s for you.”
Though her voice was soft, the resolve within was undeniable.
*
The warm stream of water flowed down my neck, gradually relieving the fatigue from my body.
It was a long day, filled with unusual events from weapon selection to bizarre occurrences, but in this moment, I wanted to let it all go.
After finishing the shower and stepping out of the bathroom, water droplets trickled softly from my damp hair.
The black onyx bracelet wrapped around my wrist continued to exude a heavy presence.
‘I should express my gratitude.’
The artifact seems quite extraordinary. Equipment-dependent, the guy who used to wield clubs probably has undergone a change in demeanor, though it’s not clear why.
I raised my watch to find the call list.
[The Old Guy]
-ring, ring…
-What is it.
The dry and stern voice came through as soon as the call connected.
I almost ended the call right away but restrained myself.
“Grandfather, I’ve received what you asked me to deliver. Thank you.”
A moment of silence passed.
And then, finally, his deep and weighty voice responded.
-What nonsense is this?
“Excuse me?”
-I didn’t give out any artifact. Stop making things up, and go to sleep.
As soon as I heard that, a strange sensation twisted in my stomach.
What?
“The bracelet, the bracelet. You said it’s an artifact.”
-An artifact? Why would I give you that?
The sharpness in the old man’s voice increased.
I was briefly surprised but almost burst out laughing.
Ah, turns out the old man has a cute side.
For all his usual bragging, it’s funny that he refuses to directly admit giving it.
Is this some form of tsundere personality?
“Yeah, I might’ve imagined it. Anyway, are you doing well?”
-Aren’t we seeing each other tomorrow? Just get some rest.
“Yes, goodnight.”
I ended the call, sat on the edge of the bed, and pressed the mattress with my palm. Its soft and bouncy texture was transmitted to my fingertips.
‘Is this not a hotel?’
I immediately lifted the covers and dropped onto the bed.
Certainly, the school was good, and the dormitory facilities were impressive.
The complex jumble of thoughts from the day began to sort itself out.
Recalling today, there were many strange incidents… or rather, nothing but strange incidents. My tired body refused to indulge in further deep thought.
I slowly closed my eyes and surrendered to the approaching slumber.
