“If I had arrived ten years earlier, I might have been able to offer you a generous donation. But unfortunately, your share has already been claimed by others.”
Yunsol was on the verge of snapping. She raised her eyes to glare at the black-haired man, just as his figure came into view.
His jaw was tight, his throat flushed red from the strain of gritted teeth. He looked angry—no, more than angry, almost rattled.
And yet, beneath that anger, he still clung to a strange, unsettling air of formality.
“And would you really believe such a ridiculous excuse? What I failed to see was—”
“Enough.”
Yunsol cut him off, her voice sharp.
“What?”
“Enough with the excuses. You couldn’t recognize me—that much I understand. Honestly, I probably would’ve reacted the same way, so let’s leave it at that.”
“…I see.”
“Stop with that ridiculous formality. Earlier, you were all politeness, and now you’re acting like a sulky child. What are you, five? Have you never spoken with respect to anyone but your parents?”
Ethan’s lips pressed shut.
Yunsol let out a laugh, riding the thrill of turning the tables on him.
“How old are you?”
“…Twenty-five.”
“I’m twenty-two. So stop worrying about ranks and honorifics.”
Ethan gave a stiff nod as she metaphorically pulled out Korea’s age-hierarchy card. Overwhelmed by her energy, he silently continued leading the way.
Descending the stairs, Ethan strode straight into the hallway.
Yunsol’s eyes widened.
The corridor opened into a space that looked straight out of a period drama—grand, refined, elegant.
She had imagined the Duke’s household as a fallen noble line, poor in all but name. Yet what she saw now completely overturned that assumption.
They passed through the grand hallway until they reached a private room. Ethan gestured for her to sit on the sofa.
“Please wait here.”
With that, he left quickly.
For a moment, Yunsol sat blankly, then rose to explore.
The chamber was at least three times the size of her tiny studio back home. A dressing table, desk, chair, and—beyond a carved partition—a bed completed the arrangement.
She trailed her fingers across antique furniture she had only ever seen in pictures, even giving one surface a tentative tap. The solidity of it, the texture under her fingertips—undeniably real.
When she finally returned to her seat, the reality she had managed to forget for a moment came flooding back.
Inside a game. Really? Could such a thing be possible?
With a sigh, she summoned the window.
May 2nd, Year 214 of the Imperial Calendar, 4:38 PM
- Quest “Laura’s Comb” completed
- Acquired sacred item: Hund’s Magnifying Glass
- First Quest Completion Bonus (3) unlocked
- Help (3): Reach the ending through the main quest!
Yunsol scratched her head.
So this game actually had an ending.
She had never once reached the ending of a game in her life. Online games didn’t have them, after all. But movies and dramas did. An ending meant the story concluded, credits rolled, and the viewer returned to reality.
If she reached the ending of this game… perhaps she could return home.
“…Reality.”
But what exactly was reality to her?
School was uncertain. Part-time jobs were unfulfilling. No savings. No parents she could lean on.
Not that her parents were gone—they had simply cut ties after endless fights over her future. They had wanted her to go to a different university, follow their plan, live their way.
“It’s your choice, so you should take responsibility. Don’t expect us to bail you out.”
“Don’t even think about crawling back after bragging about how independent you are.”
She had stayed away, just as they wished. Not once had she gone home for the holidays since graduating high school.
Even before she was pulled into this dimension, their nagging calls had been relentless—get your license, study for the civil service exam.
A bitter smile touched her lips.
“Maybe… it’s better here.”
Here, she had the Duchess’s support. She even carried the lofty title of “God’s Representative.”
Objectively, life here was brighter than the life she had left behind. So why should she even aim for an ending? Why rush to escape?
But the main quest—the very title of the game itself—was The Lost Artifact of the Blake Family. That must mean the missing second son.
Just like Laura’s quest had ended when the comb was found, the main quest would likely end when the son was recovered.
And once the main quest ended… would she be forced to leave?
The thought tangled her in doubt. She had promised the Duchess she would find her son—yet what if keeping that promise meant being sent away?
Her head was pounding when a knock came at the door.
An elderly man entered—white hair neatly slicked back, posture impeccable. Several maids followed, each carrying boxes.
“An honor to meet you, Representative,” he said with a bow. “I am Diego Javier, butler of House Blake. It is my duty to serve you with all I have. Please, grant me your guidance.”
Flustered, Yunsol scrambled up and returned the bow.
“O-Oh, yes. Please take care of me as well.”
“First, if you would change into something more comfortable, I shall escort you to the dining hall.”
And so, her day at the Duke’s household began…
