Chapter 4
As soon as they reached the western staircase, the noises from above ceased as if by a lie.
The moment silence fell, the heroine, Yeniel’s legs gave out.
They had narrowly survived.
“Are you all right, my lady?”
The Crown Prince supported Yeniel.
Her heart, which had been driven to its limit, throbbed madly.
Even though her strength left her, they could not rest here. They were still in the Archmage’s mansion, and those monsters might catch up to them at any moment—or new ones might appear.
She didn’t want to imagine the possibilities.
“Thank you for your concern, Your Highness.”
“Think nothing of it. We are old friends, are we not?”
Among the four founding noble houses, only Yeniel’s house—the fallen Baron Geness family—had lost its power. Yet because of its historical prestige, the current Baron had once been tutor to the young Crown Prince.
“Sian. Have you discovered anything about this phenomenon?”
The man turned at the prince’s words. Sian Isengrif, with blond hair and sky-blue eyes, was the prince’s cousin, from the Empire’s foremost family of scholars.
Though sharp-tempered, he was a genius—a born sorcerer and spiritist with a brilliant mind, serving as the prince’s strategist.
“It seems to be… a kind of black magic. This space is what is typically called an ‘Otherworld’ of black magic.”
Even he was uneasy, a fine sheen of sweat dampening his forehead.
“Otherworld? What is that?”
“It is a small dimension fueled by souls and mana. It is formed from the caster’s memory or inner world. Normally impossible purposes are achieved within it—curses, assassination. In this case, assassination indeed. Once dragged inside, everything in this world will try to kill us. Those monsters earlier, or even the very laws of this space.”
Because we carry the blood of the Emperor and the four founding houses.
He forced his stiff lips to finish the sentence.
Yeniel calculated their chances.
Souls were taboo—unresearched, unused, miraculous, and forbidden. To use them was seen as a challenge to God. A violation of life’s sacred boundary—and too powerful.
“So the Archmage broke the taboo, created an Otherworld fueled by souls, and is trying to kill us… that is the conclusion. Today will be long indeed.”
The grotesque monsters and warped beings would surely appear again and again to kill them.
Though unspoken, they all knew: the Crown Prince, as the direct heir of the First Emperor, would be targeted first.
They had to protect him at all costs.
At that bleak moment—
“Oh my, Lady Yeniel. Everyone. Here you are!”
The voice was pure and innocent, ill-matched to the despair.
They looked up the stairs.
“Lady April…?”
Never had the sight of Lady April, in her white lace dress, been so welcome.
A girl of society, famed as a harmless fool. The Sharon Marquis’s youngest daughter, said to have more muscle than brains.
“Lovely to see you! Lady Yeniel! Everyone!”
April bounded down, clasping Yeniel’s hand with a radiant smile—
as if nothing at all had happened.
Normally, as a member of the Neutral nobility, she wouldn’t be welcomed by the Emperor’s faction.
But her innocent smile, recalling everyday peace, was desperately needed in this moment.
Yeniel’s eyes widened.
Meanwhile,
I finally reached the western staircase.
Most who fled later had taken the central stairs, so no one followed me here.
‘In the game, this was just the rule.’
West was the heroine’s camp, east was the villainess Evelyn’s.
This never changed until the end.
Not far down, I heard voices.
“…Once dragged inside, everything in this world will try to kill us. Those monsters…”
It was Strategist Sian explaining the space.
Suddenly I realized—
‘Crap. I played this game for hours earlier, so why don’t I remember any of this Otherworld lore?!’
Sure, I played Archmage’s Mansion right before ordering chicken.
But details? Usable info? No.
All I remembered was where enemies spawned, easy patterns, cutting through everything once I got strong.
I skipped through story and puzzles. That was my style—speed clear.
‘If I’d known I’d transmigrate, I never would’ve done that!’
Frustration welled.
Luckily, the timing was perfect.
As they fell into a despairing silence, I naturally stepped in.
“Oh my, Lady Yeniel. Everyone. Here you are!”
They looked startled.
“Lady April…?”
I rushed down.
“Lovely to see you! Lady Yeniel! Everyone!”
Clasping the heroine’s hand with a sunny smile, like we were old friends.
And then—
[Yeniel’s Favorability has greatly increased.]
[Strategist Sian’s Favorability has greatly increased.]
[Crown Prince Azeph’s Favorability has greatly increased.]
‘…Huh?’
So there was a favorability system? And why did it spike now?
Then I realized.
Whenever my brother got scared while playing, he always relaxed the moment April appeared.
Yes. Relief.
A beam of light in the darkness. A savior.
“How did you come here, Lady April?” Yeniel asked calmly.
I gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
“While running from a monster, I ended up here! So glad to see my friends.”
I even laughed lightly.
April, after all, always called everyone “friends.”
“Friends?”
Strategist Sian’s blue eyes sharpened.
“With no acquaintance, to call us friends—before His Highness, no less—that is discourteous…”
“Enough, Sian.”
The Crown Prince raised his hand.
“Having Lady April here is a relief in itself. Let her stay until we escape this Otherworld. Come along.”
“…As you command, Your Highness.”
Sian fell silent, though clearly unhappy. I smiled brightly, pretending ignorance.
“And the monster? Lady April?”
The Crown Prince’s crimson eyes, the mark of royalty, fixed on me.
“Monster? What’s that?”
I tilted my head. Sian cut in coldly:
“‘Otherform’ refers to strange, unnatural beings. His Highness asked what became of the blue-faced giant woman.”
“Oh, that monster?”
“Yes, the monster.”
“April doesn’t know!”
I beamed.
Sian’s face twisted like he’d swallowed poison. April was his worst compatibility—his nemesis.
“…Why does an adult speak like that? In third person, no less? Be grateful for His Highness’s mercy.”
“Yes, Sir Sian!”
I let his sharp words pass, unfazed, like a true fool.
Then I slipped closer to Yeniel, as if we were longtime companions.
“Where did Lady Evelyn go? Did you see her, Lady April?”
“Lady Evelyn? I saw her! She went very far, so I couldn’t keep watching.”
“Then likely eastward?”
“East? Which way is that? Father said east is the right side.”
I looked left and right, feigning confusion.
“This is west. So opposite to here is east.”
“Oh, I see! Lady Yeniel is so smart! Evelyn went east, then. Amazing!”
My silly, sincere praise seemed to please her.
[Yeniel’s Favorability has increased.]
Only hers rose this time. Perhaps she liked the compliment.
So far, I could see two values: Suspicion and Favorability.
‘Check Favorability details.’
Error! No player info.
Tip: Favorability detail unavailable!
A shame. Unlike Suspicion, I couldn’t see the numbers.
‘Well, no matter.’
Raising Favorability could only help me.
I resolved to raise it with every member—
so I could stay in this camp, no matter what.
