Chapter 19
#2. Awakening
I rushed into Room 202 as quickly as possible.
Outside, Max and Sian were still waiting.
The order of entry was me, then Max, then Sian.
That had been Sian’s idea.
Max seemed unhappy about me going in first, but since Sian’s wolf spirit was fiercely battling outside, he obediently followed Sian’s decision this time.
Room 202 was nothing like the smaller Room 207 that Sian and I had been to.
It was a luxurious suite with three rooms.
In the largest one, the Crown Prince lay on the bed.
Yeniel, who had been watching him, turned pale.
“Lady April, His Highness isn’t breathing. I’ll perform emergency treatment. Under no circumstances must you open the door to the monster.”
“Understood.”
Like I’d be crazy enough to open it.
‘But this place… I remember it.’
Here… my brother had…
Of course. To unlock hidden storylines, he must have had some weird, unnecessary experience here.
And since I remembered it, that had to be the case.
Ah, I finally recalled.
This was a Safe Zone.
No monster could enter.
Unlike other safe zones, this place was safe without any conditions—safe from the start.
In other words, it was my brother’s spiritual hometown.
And the reason I remembered was because of a one-use item that appeared here: one that let you ask a capture target a question about their affection level, and they could only answer with the truth.
[Yeniel: Do you love me?]
[Michael: No. I love your usefulness.]
That kind of thing.
Of course, when a capture target didn’t understand their own feelings yet, or was lying to themselves, or deliberately tried to deceive the player, strange answers could happen.
Like my brother once ruining everything by making a target self-aware too early:
[Yeniel (as Lightpril): Honestly, what do you think of me?]
[Sian: Lady Yeniel… you are a deer. …I’ve realized it.]
While I was remembering all this, Max burst into the room, barely escaping from the cultist.
Then Sian tried to enter last—
But the cultist attacked him hard.
Boom—!
Smoke filled the corridor, and Sian was blasted outside.
Through the smoke, I saw the cultist’s head sticking in through the doorway.
Its chest bore a hideous, gleaming red eye.
It was staring right at me.
To make matters worse, Sian’s wolf spirit was torn apart in the cultist’s grasp and forcefully unsummoned.
“Urgh…” Sian staggered, groaning.
Without his spirit, he was no different from Yeniel, Max, or the Crown Prince—
meaning, he was about to get beaten senseless.
In the game, the cultist boss used only a greatsword.
But here in reality, it could fight with fists and feet as well.
Sian tried to summon again—only to be struck and sent flying.
‘This is bad.’
If I were stronger physically, I could rush to pull him back.
But if I dodged too skillfully, my suspicion meter might rise. What if I saved Sian only to end up executed myself?
Still, I wasn’t heartless enough to abandon him.
I darted outside.
“Sir Sian!”
In that instant, I evaded the cultist’s strike and caught him.
He looked stunned.
“Lady April? How did you…”
“Are you alright?”
Sian stared at me, dazed.
“April came to save you!”
“…Even though you must be terrified of that monster…”
“It’s scarier to me if Sir Sian gets hurt or dies.”
I answered coyly.
[Strategist Sian’s Affection Level has risen dramatically!]
The look in his eyes was as if he had fallen in love.
[Strategist Sian’s Affection Level has risen dramatically!]
Suddenly, brilliant light burst from his body.
A powerful presence filled the air.
It was a spirit—yet unlike any he had ever summoned before.
The corridor was overtaken by a forest, streams of water winding through it, branches thick and lush, sunlight breaking through the leaves.
It was a miracle.
A dragon with a pale green glow appeared—an emperor among spirits.
[Speak my name.]
Vines and branches surged forth, binding the cultist.
“…Elphineum El Latien.”
Sian called its name.
I realized then: This was his Awakening Event.
He had opened his trait.
I quickly pulled him inside while the cultist was restrained.
“Let’s go. Come on.”
We managed to shut the door, and now everyone was safely inside Room 202.
Sian whispered quietly,
“Thank you, Lady April. This time, I owe you my life.”
“April is just happy her friend is safe.”
I smiled brightly.
He looked at me as though dazzled by the sight.
Soon, we entered the Crown Prince’s chamber.
Max was weeping uncontrollably beside him.
The prince was still alive, though deathly pale.
Sian and Yeniel exchanged clipped, professional words as they worked.
They weren’t exactly warm to each other, I noticed.
Yeniel turned to me:
“Lady April, could you please watch over His Highness for about twenty minutes? Just stay beside him and observe his condition.”
“Alright. Is His Highness very sick?”
“Don’t worry. With the medicine in the kit, he’ll recover.”
She guided me to the chair beside the prince’s bed.
“If he vomits blood or his whole body turns purple, please alert me immediately.”
“Understood.”
She hugged me gently, patting my back soothingly before leaving.
‘Perfect.’
Now I had the chance to find the affection-checking item.
Drawn as if by instinct, I searched the dressing table.
Second column from the right, fourth drawer from the top.
There it was.
[Item acquired!]
Mirror Shard (Rare Item): Allows you to hear one absolute truth about someone’s affection toward you.
Tip: If you find the one and only complete mirror, you can unlock the Affection Details Window! Embark on a journey to find it!
