Don't accept that guy.
Don't accept that guy.
The day of the Facility Inspection has come again.
Twice a week.
Tuesday and Friday.
10:00 AM.
Everyone is in class.
It should be normal for no one to be there.
'It is normal for no one to be there.'
I stood in the second-floor hallway, repeating that to myself three times today.
I took out the Master Key.
The cold metal touched my palm inside my pocket.
I knew that this key was the most dangerous object in my life.
A master key that can open every room.
For work.
Legal.
But the fact that I have to go around 30 girls' rooms with this in my hand gives me heartburn every time.
2nd floor.
Room 201. Click. Flower scent. Check. Done.
Room 202. Click. Mountain of cushions. Check. Done.
Room 203. Click. Drying rack. Eyes closed. Check. Done.
Room 204. Click. Check. Done.
Room 205. Click. Check. Done.
I gradually became mechanical.
This is right.
Turning off emotions is the correct answer.
If you think, you lose; if you feel, you die.
2nd floor done.
Went up.
3rd floor.
Room 301.
Lena's room.
Click.
Two swords.
Neatly on the wall.
One more added this time.
Three swords.
'Is this an armory?'
Check. Done.
Next.
Room 302.
Aria's room.
I inserted the Master Key.
Kkii-ik-
I opened the door.
Smell of herbs.
Quiet room.
Room full of books.
But.
The blanket on the bed was bulging.
'.............'
Something flinched under the blanket.
'.............'
I said it was normal for no one to be there, right?
But what the hell is that?
Why is the blanket bulging?
Light purple hair was sticking out from the end of the blanket.
Aria Cernium.
Sub-heroine of the original work.
Saintess.
She was inside the blanket.
I froze, holding the doorknob.
Options.
A. Quietly close the door and leave.
→ Safe. But I'd have to leave Room 302 out of the inspection report. If it's missing, they'll ask why. It becomes a hassle.
B. Say "Facility Inspection" and quickly check and leave.
→ "Facility Inspection" to a girl under a blanket? What if she screams in surprise? What if rumors spread?
C. Make a coughing sound to make her react on her own.
→ This is the safest option.
'It's C.'
I coughed on purpose.
"Cough."
The blanket stopped.
"............."
No reaction.
Louder.
"Cough, cough."
The blanket trembled slightly.
And.
Srr-
Eyes appeared from the end of the blanket.
Light green.
Pastel tone.
Terrified eyes.
Met my eyes.
0.5 seconds.
"............."
"............."
The most awkward silence in the world filled Room 302.
I stood holding the doorknob.
Aria only had her eyes showing from the blanket.
'I have to say something.'
My throat was dry.
Again.
'What should I say?'
"............I'm doing a Facility Inspection."
It barely came out.
As expected, a low, deep voice.
Aria's eyes widened further.
She pulled the blanket up sharply.
Covered even her eyes.
She hid.
'.............'
No.
We just made eye contact.
What changes if you hide now?
'What do I do?'
If I leave — Inspection incomplete.
If I stay — Male Dormitory Warden in a room with a girl.
'Let's finish this quickly.'
"I'll just check the water and windows and leave. It'll take 30 seconds."
The blanket seemed to nod slightly, or maybe it didn't.
I kept my gaze fixed on the wall as much as possible.
Water — No issues.
Windows — No issues.
Magic circle — No issues.
15 seconds.
It was a new record.
"Finished. Excuse me."
I was about to close the door.
"............Excuse me."
A voice came from inside the blanket.
It was small.
Almost inaudible.
'Please don't say anything.'
"............Can you keep it a secret that I didn't go to class?"
'Ah.'
I stopped, holding the doorknob.
According to regulations, unauthorized absences must be reported by the Dormitory Warden.
If I report it — Academic Affairs Office checks the reason → contacts Aria → "Why did you skip?" → It becomes a hassle.
If I don't report it — It's a violation of regulations, but if I keep my mouth shut, no one will know.
'If I report it, it becomes a hassle for me too.'
"I'll pretend I didn't see anything."
The blanket flinched.
"............Thank you."
I closed the door.
I stood in the hallway and sighed.
'Ha.'
Next room.
Room 303. Click. Check. Done.
I went back to being mechanical.
But what I saw in Room 302 wouldn't leave my head.
Terrified eyes under the blanket.
The kid who could never lift her head even during roll call.
The kid who would barely answer "............Yes" after 3 seconds.
'Why didn't she go to class?'
I don't know.
I don't want to know.
It's none of my business.
'It's none of my business.'
But why does it bother me?
'Fuck.'
Lunchtime.
Dormitory Warden's room.
Turned on the game.
[STAGE 48 — Guardian of Twilight]
Grabbed the controller.
The boss was loitering on the screen.
Focus............didn't work.
The blanket from Room 302 kept coming to mind.
'Why.'
A lump of blanket with light purple hair sticking out.
Light green eyes that barely came out from inside.
Terrified eyes.
'If she can't even go to class, isn't there something going on?'
No.
None of my business.
'She's a Saintess. A fucking important character in the original work. I shouldn't get involved.'
Right.
I shouldn't get involved.
'But.'
Because I was like that too.
In my past life.
Freshman year of college.
There was a time I covered myself with a blanket in the dorm and didn't go to class.
In a room with no one.
Looking at the ceiling.
Just.
There was no reason.
I was just scared of outside the door.
Scared of people.
'.............'
Put down the controller.
'Ah, I don't know.'
If I'm bothered, I can't work.
Can't play games either.
That's a bigger loss.
'Let's just solve it quickly and forget it.'
I took a piece of parchment from the desk.
Picked up a quill.
'What should I write?'
Face-to-face is a no-go.
If we meet, both of us will be awkward and 30 minutes will evaporate.
If two losers meet, it's not a conversation, it's an awkward silence contest.
A note is best.
Write it, leave it in front of the door, and run away.
But what to write.
[If you're sick, go to the infirmary.]
No. That's meddling. She didn't say she was sick.
Erased it.
[Unauthorized absence is automatically reported after 3 times.]
This is a threat.
Erased it.
[If you're having a hard time, you can knock on the Dormitory Warden's room door anytime.]
'Are you crazy?'
What is this? Welcome to my room?
Erased it.
'Ha. Fuck, why is this so hard.'
Just.
Let's write facts.
Only facts.
I picked up the quill again.
[I won't report you for skipping class. Instead, please eat. If you starve, you'll collapse during roll call. If you collapse during roll call, it's a hassle for me.]
[— Dormitory Warden]
'.............'
Read it.
No emotion.
Only facts.
Since the selfish reason "because it's a hassle for me" is included, there's no room for misunderstanding.
Perfect.
I folded the parchment and left the Dormitory Warden's room.
Went up to the 3rd floor.
In front of Room 302.
Listened.
No sound inside.
Slid the note through the gap under the door.
Srr-.
After pushing it in,
Tak-tak-tak-
I ran away.
Went down the stairs two steps at a time.
Entered the Dormitory Warden's room and closed the door.
Thud.
'Done.'
'Solved.'
'Game over.'
'Let's forget it now.'
Turned on the game console.
Click.
Afternoon.
Came back from taking classes at the Academy.
Survived well as an invisible person today too.
About to enter the Dormitory Warden's room.
There was something in front of the door.
A paper bag.
'What is this?'
Picked it up.
There was something inside.
Chocolate cookies.
And a note was tucked in.
[I ate. Thank you.]
The handwriting was crooked.
[Also, I made the cookies myself, so they might not taste good. I'm sorry.]
[— Room 302]
'.............'
If you're sorry, why give them?
Why give them while being sorry?
Picked up a cookie.
Took a bite.
It was sweet.
But there was a slightly burnt taste mixed in.
The chocolate scent was strong.
'The taste is a bit...'
But.
Took another bite.
'............Not bad.'
Entered the Dormitory Warden's room and closed the door.
Turned on the game console.
Chewing the cookies, I beat the boss.
Chocolate cookies.
Surprisingly decent as a game snack.
Next day.
Roll call.
"Room 302."
"............Yes."
The answer came 3 seconds later.
Still a small voice.
Still couldn't lift her head.
But.
Her eyes looked less swollen.
'Guess she did eat.'
A small mercy in the misfortune.
Check.
Next.
"Room 303."
Continued roll call.
And two days later.
Night.
I was playing the game.
[Lord of the Abyss — Retry]
[HP: 100%]
I was challenging Stage 47 again.
I had beaten it before, but the time attack ranking was absolute trash.
My pride wouldn't allow it.
Fuck, I'm someone who dreamed of being a pro gamer in my past life.
Can I really collapse here?
Entering Phase 3.
Boss HP 9%.
This time, cleanly.
Click-click-click—
I started the acrobatics with all my might again.
7%.
5%.
Thud.
Thud.
There was a sound from the door.
'Ah.'
'Again.'
But this time the sound was different.
It wasn't crying.
A cautious knock.
Very weak.
Thud.
Once.
'.............'
Should I ignore it?
Thud.
Twice.
"............Dormitory Warden-sunbaenim."
A small voice.
Aria.
'............Fuck.'
I looked at the controller.
Boss HP 5%.
I thought I solved it with the note.
Why come again?
Thud.
Third time.
"Um...... just a moment...... if it's okay......"
The voice crawled in from beyond the door.
I stared at the 5%.
'.............'
Stared at the 5%.
'.............'
5%.
'Ha. Fuck, seriously.'
I could see the angle to break the new record this time.
I could have reached the sky.
I put down the controller.
Opened the door.
Kkii-ik.
Aria was standing there.
Light purple hair.
Light green eyes.
This time she wasn't crying.
But her face was red.
Even her ears.
She was holding something in her hand.
Holding it tightly.
"............Um."
"............."
"Can I...... have a consultation...... just one?"
'Consultation?'
"............What is it?"
Again, the voice was low.
Because she was nervous.
Aria flinched.
But she didn't run away.
"Well...... these days...... there's this guy......"
'Ah.'
I sighed inwardly.
'It's a dating consultation.'
"At first...... I thought he just wanted to get close. I also...... didn't have friends...... so I thought it was a good thing......"
Aria continued, bowing her head.
Her voice grew smaller.
"But from some point on...... something...... became strange."
"If you say strange."
"The way he looks at me...... it's like he sees me as a woman...... I should say......"
".............."
I listened while leaning against the doorframe.
Not letting her in was a rule.
"So...... I'm debating...... whether to accept it."
I ran a simulation in my head.
If I say "If you like him, just date him" here?
→ Coupling of the original sub-heroine is created → Original work changes → Butterfly effect → Danger.
If I say "If you don't like him, reject him"?
→ That's true, but → She's asking because she doesn't know if she likes him or not → Useless advice.
'............What do I do?'
I looked at Aria.
She was bowing her head deeply.
Holding tightly onto what was in her hand.
'That's not the face of someone who likes him.'
The loser's intuition kicked in.
Her expression wasn't excited, it was anxious.
It wasn't "Should I accept him," it was "I feel sorry if I don't accept him."
'This woman, she doesn't have feelings but is agonizing because of a sense of debt.'
I get it.
Things like this.
I know too.
I saw something similar in my past life.
There was a female peer in my department.
One guy kept buying her food, kept taking care of her, and when he confessed later and got rejected, he said, "I've done so much for you."
I still remember how hard it was for that female peer.
'Fuck, why are you asking me this?'
But I have to solve it quickly to get back to the game.
The boss's HP must be recovering.
'Let's finish this quickly.'
I opened my mouth.
"Do you like that person?"
"............Yes?"
Aria lifted her head.
Her light green eyes widened.
"I'm asking. That guy. Do you like him?"
"Th...... that......"
Aria mumbled.
"He's a...... good person. He treats me well...... and is kind......"
"I didn't ask if he's a good person. I asked if you like him."
"............."
Aria stopped.
'If she can't answer, that's the answer.'
"Isn't it a bit wrong to accept him when you have no feelings?"
"............."
"Especially if it's because of a sense of debt. If you're accepting him just because you feel sorry for rejecting him since he treated you well."
I looked at the sky while leaning against the doorframe.
Even though I could only see the hallway ceiling.
"That would be bad for that guy too. If he did it because he wanted to, and then it becomes a debt for you to date him. What kind of relationship is that?"
"............."
Aria looked up at me.
Her eyes were shaking.
I didn't meet her gaze.
I was looking at the ceiling.
If I make eye contact, useless annoying things just happen.
"If you don't have feelings, just say so. That's better for both of you."
I cut it off there.
Because if I talk more, it gets long.
If it gets long, I get involved.
"Now go in. It's late."
I grabbed the door.
Aria was standing still.
"............."
It looked like she wanted to say something.
'Please don't say it.'
"............Thank you."
'Ah, again.'
"Dormitory Warden-sunbaenim...... with the note and all...... why are you so nice to me?"
'I'm not being nice, I'm just processing it quickly.'
"I'm not being nice to you. It's just that if you're standing there with a blank face during roll call, I get bothered and can't focus on my work."
'Perfect selfish reason.'
"And you're eating into my game time, so go in quickly."
"............Game?"
"Yes. The boss's HP is recovering right now. It started at 5%, and it's probably about 15% now. It goes up every time I go. I don't have time."
"............."
Aria blinked.
Once.
Twice.
And.
"Hehehe."
She laughed.
Small.
Without sound.
Just her shoulders shaking slightly.
'Why are you laughing.'
I'm serious.
The boss's HP is really going up.
"S-sorry. I'll go."
Aria bowed her head and turned around.
The sound of her footsteps going up the stairs grew faint.
I closed the door.
Thud.
'Done.'
'Solved.'
'Let's forget it.'
[Lord of the Abyss HP: 19%]
"............."
It's 19%, not 15%.
Recovered 4% more.
'Ah, seriously.'
Click-click-click—
Ha, seriously, I could have broken the new record this time.
Today, I could have definitely reached the sky.
Ha....