Her Circumstances
Aisha stood there in a daze, mumbling to herself.
“Why… why? Why do all the men run away the moment they see me?”
Just 150 years ago, she'd been incredibly popular. But from one day to the next, the men's courtship suddenly dried up.
Back then, she hadn't cared much about marriage anyway—she'd planned to devote herself entirely to research. So when the men backed off, it was actually good news for her.
Turning down each one individually was a hassle, and if it was a coworker, things got awkwardly complicated.
There had even been a few times when someone quit their job because they couldn't stand facing her every day after a rejection.
And occasionally, there were weird guys who sought revenge for being turned down. The obsessive ones were especially troublesome to deal with.
Whatever the reason, the men gradually lost interest, peace returned, and that was that—good riddance.
Sometimes she wondered, though. What if I'd started a family back then? Would my life be different now?
But it was a pointless what-if. She had zero intention of having a lover at the time.
Her life had been all work. Back in her academy days, she'd poured every moment into her research.
She had colleagues, sure, but no lovers or friends.
Time was already short for research; she couldn't afford to waste it on a partner or family.
She believed you shouldn't fall in love unless you had the spare time to invest in the one you loved.
If you couldn't give proper love, everyone involved would just end up miserable.
Time passed like that, and before she knew it, she was over 400 years old.
It was a long stretch even for an elf, so her appearance had matured a bit, but she was still beautiful.
The only change was the inexplicable indifference from men as romantic prospects.
She lived on like always, buried in research, until one day the surface world fell to monsters, trapping everyone in the Shelter—and her research ground to a halt.
But in the Shelter, research was all she could do.
No, she had to throw herself into it even more than before.
With the Shelter plan failing and resources running out, she needed to complete a new project that could turn their death sentence around.
She focused on food solutions for the crumbling Shelter, but then that problem suddenly resolved itself, leaving her with free time.
The cause? A Dimensional Transferee Dungeon Master who appeared one day.
From then on, the Shelter's food crisis started resolving at a rapid pace.
Her food research at the Magic Tower gained some relative breathing room compared to before.
Aisha found herself with spare time too.
And so… one day,
Heading home at the same time as Dennis, she ran into the new tenant, Baek Soo-chan, a Dimensional Transferee.
She didn't know what he did for a living, but he paid rent on time and caused no trouble, so to her, he was just another ordinary resident.
They exchanged casual greetings and she was about to head inside when, climbing the stairs, she overheard them talking.
“…Your abilities are impressive too, bro.”
“…Bro, Aisha Professor is just my boss… We live in the same building, that's all.”
Elves had sharp hearing, so she could make out the conversation from that distance.
Curious about the content, she found herself pausing on the second-floor stairs to eavesdrop without thinking.
“Her looks don't show it, but Aisha Professor is actually over 450 years old…”
“…That's old, sure, but so what? I'm a Dimensional Transferee, so I don't really get it…”
Age… Come to think of it, I've gotten pretty old myself.
“……”
“Ten human years is roughly 120 elf years… So Professor's age is like turning 40 in human terms…”
At Dennis's words, she unwittingly unleashed a burst of killing intent.
Why…?
She reined it in instantly, so Dennis chalked it up to imagination, and they kept talking.
“…But if she looks that pretty, doesn't age matter? She doesn't even get old. Plus, she's super smart and has an amazing figure—doesn't she get popular at work?”
It had been ages since she'd heard praise like that. Opportunities like this were rare… no, nonexistent.
She got plenty of envious comments from other women, but they meant nothing.
This blunt admiration—maybe the first in decades, or even a century—felt incredibly good for some reason.
Like rain falling on parched earth, a satisfying refreshment.
A strange feeling she'd never noticed as a kid.
“Sigh… In our world, there are tons of urban legends about spinster elves. They say any elf over 400 who hasn't found a mate is to be avoided for marriage.”
“…Honestly? The idea of a spinster elf is kinda hot, though…”
“…A middle-aged spinster elf turns you on? Bro, are you okay in the head? No, I gotta fix that mindset right now—gasp…!”
Dennis spouting nonsense again—she let out another wave of killing intent.
Urban legends? She'd never heard such a thing.
But… that word “spinster” lingered in her chest.
“Eek… spinster elf!!!”
She recalled men's reactions from some time ago.
Back then, she'd thought, What weirdos.
“…Maybe I've just gotten too old…?”
Aisha gazed into the mirror.
Her looks had matured a touch, but no major changes. Elves barely aged compared to other races.
“Hmm… This looks like late 20s in human years, right?”
No, maybe early 30s at most. She didn't seem that old.
“…It's bugging me now…”
Was there something wrong with her appearance? The thought nagged at her—something she'd never considered as a child.
Come to think of it…
Soo-chan said spinster elves turn him on, right?
Before she knew it, she was adjusting her schedule to run into him every day.
“Ah, hello, landla—urk!”
…“Auntie” earned a natural burst of killing intent.
“……You look young and slim.”
Even casual compliments lifted her spirits hugely.
Every morning praise from him filled her with… self-esteem? Something like that.
…Hmm, could this be romantic interest?
Probably.
She started looking forward to seeing him daily.
Caring how he saw her, spending extra time on her appearance—things she wouldn't normally do.
“…Marriage, huh…”
Would starting a family make her happy?
She wasn't buried in research like before; she had time now… Maybe try a different life?
“Soo-chan… doesn't seem to have a partner…?”
She had a house, great looks, top credentials. Her age? Elf thing—probably fine.
Soo-chan was a Dimensional Transferee, so likely talented. She liked his looks. Personality? Kinda clumsy-cute?
Aisha was seriously plotting marriage.
Not full-blown love yet, but definite growing affection.
Then one day, he started avoiding her.
Just like the other men.
“……”
No doubt—something she didn't know was at play.
“…Why on earth?”
One day, she spotted him lingering by Elise's door—a chance. Asking him directly might reveal why men avoided her.
“Long time no see…? But lately, it feels like you're avoiding me… Am I imagining it?”
“Aisha sis, I—gah!!!”
“Aisha Professor. He has prior plans with me—mind if I take him?”
Regrettably, she couldn't press further; Elise's intrusion derailed it.
It was an accident, but when she'd hugged him briefly then, her heart nearly exploded.
Centuries without physical contact with the opposite sex—she'd been shocked.
“…First time being held.”
……And that day, she learned her libido was stronger than expected…
Recalling it all, Aisha made a decision.
…Take a vacation.
“Whatever I do, better do it right.”
* * *
A refreshingly clear morning.
I distributed tickets where needed, put the extras up at the market, and my stomach started rumbling.
“Kkomangi, let's grab breakfast.”
Hek hek…
Clunk.
The moment I opened the door, a beautiful elf filled my vision. I stumbled back and gently closed it again.
Clunk.
“Hmm… weird. It's way past her work hours, right?”
I'd deliberately shifted my breakfast an hour later to avoid running into her.
So her being outside made no sense.
Yet there she was, by the stairs—like waiting for someone.
Maybe the recent magic training was projecting hallucinations without me noticing.
Clunk.
I opened the door again, saw her, and shut it.
“Kkomangi… are my eyes messed up? She's even closer now?”
Hek hek…
Opened once more, and it was clear: she was inching closer each time.
Door shut, panic surged.
This matched something from the manual.
…Pattern J-11…
Once you spot the target, no other countermeasures. Direct confrontation only.
“Whew…”
After bouncing off Elise's door and hugging Aisha that day, I'd known this might come—and devoured the gallery's manual like cramming for a test.
With my current skills… I can handle any situation.
[Believe in yourself. The one who can forge a path… the one who can save you… is only you.]
The manual said it: Key is cool analysis and the courage to act, no matter how reckless it seems.
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath.
“Suuu… whoo…”
Recalled the mental imagery training from magic lessons.
Built an unyielding fortress in my mind, sharpening my focus.
Imagery complete, I cracked my eyes open.
“…I'm an unbreakable wall now.”
At this level, I could probably pull off something like Earth Wall.
Mental prep done.
Grabbed the handle, opened the door.
Clunk. Through the widening gap… Aisha's face appeared. Way too close.
“What are you doing, Soo-chan?”
“KyaAAAAAAAAAA—!!!”