Dean's Testimony and the Princess's Escort
Several days had passed since I'd consulted Olivia about Vivian.
I was walking down a peaceful street when suddenly a red magic circle appeared beneath my feet.
She hadn't called me like this once since I'd given her Thousand Changes. This was unexpected.
I could choose not to go, but it didn't feel like she'd summoned me for nothing, so I decided to head over.
I closed my eyes, feeling the now-familiar queasiness of spatial translocation.
When I opened them, I wasn't in Olivia's lab as usual—I was in the dean's office in Prism's main building.
Dean Han Myeong-sin and Olivia sat facing each other.
"Sorry for calling you so suddenly. Have a seat over here."
Following the dean's instructions, I moved to the empty chair to her left, but Olivia grabbed my arm and pulled me to sit beside her.
Seeing that, Dean Han Myeong-sin remarked,
"You two seem quite close."
"Yeah. It just kinda happened that way."
"Olivia was spouting nonsense, and she said you'd testify about it, so I had no choice but to summon you."
At those words, I glanced at Olivia.
What special thing was there for me to testify about?
I shot Olivia a questioning look.
Sensing my gaze, she made subtle mouth movements and hand gestures hidden from the dean.
I had no idea what she was saying.
"You mentioned last time that Olivia was conducting research on Hero Association human experiments in a workshop under Prism. When we raided it, she was up to something suspicious. That's why I brought you here, but Olivia claims she was researching at your request."
"Ah, I see."
As I'd expected, the workshop the dean had found was Olivia's lab.
What surprised me was how tight-knit the dean and Olivia's relationship seemed.
I'd figured she'd flip the place first and verify later, not summon me right away like this.
"To cut to the chase, Instructor Olivia is telling the truth. She happened to take an interest in a dilemma I had. She said she'd look into it herself, and that's probably why she was researching the topic."
"See? I told you it was for Cadet Shin Do-jun."
"I see..."
Dean Han Myeong-sin fell deep into thought.
Olivia, convinced she'd been cleared by my testimony, started preparing to leave.
I was getting ready to go too, but since we were already here, it seemed efficient to ask if she'd made any progress.
"Instructor Olivia. Any progress on your research?"
"I see... As for the two methods I mentioned before, there wasn't much headway. But on this, I've made some."
Olivia pulled a familiar box from her bosom.
New info on Thousand Changes?
She cracked it open slightly, gazing inside with an uncharacteristically warm look, then continued.
"Do you remember what I told you about the origin?"
"Yeah. It exists in the conceptual world but affects the physical world, right?"
"Good memory. Here's additional info on that. As I said before, entities in the conceptual world, excluding the origin, can't influence the physical world. Yet this substance you summoned exists in the physical world but feels closer to something from the conceptual realm."
"Does that mean anything special?"
"Huge implications. The conceptual world can be called a metaphysical realm. It's something closer to essential existence, beyond the perceptual framework of the physical world—for example, our consciousness system..."
"Hold on. I don't get what you're saying."
"Really? Then I'll simplify it and explain later."
Dean Han Myeong-sin listened quietly to our conversation with a gentle smile.
Then, as if something occurred to her, she turned to Olivia.
"By the way, Olivia. I heard the raid happened during your morning lecture. Were you in that hidden underground workshop then?"
"Ah... well..."
Olivia started sweating bullets.
She kept glancing at me, sending SOS signals... but wasn't this her own karma?
I played dumb, anyway.
Best for outsiders to bow out during internal matters.
"Then, Dean, I'll take my leave."
"Alright. See you."
Dean Han Myeong-sin said it without even looking my way, staring daggers at Olivia.
I quietly slipped out of the dean's office.
Hang in there, Olivia.
Worlds kept turning peacefully, regardless of tragedy befalling someone.
Having heard talk of metaphysics and whatnot, I fell into contemplation.
Olivia said she'd explain again later, but based on past attempts, I'd barely grasp half.
I needed someone's help.
Two names came to mind immediately.
Ji-ah and Latynia... but...
Ji-ah was surely busy with her self-development.
Visiting now, I'd end up doing something else entirely instead of discussing the origin.
Better to ask Latynia.
I fiddled with my smartwatch.
Reading room 6 meant she was with Ruphus and Ara.
Good soundproofing made it decent for talking.
I headed to the library.
I arrived at the familiar spot in reading room 6.
The otherworld trio was all there.
The oddly nostalgic sight tugged at me.
"Everyone's gathered, huh?"
"Ah, Dojun-ssi! You got here quick."
"I was nearby anyway. Hey, Ara."
"..."
Ara hid her face behind her book.
I tried to nudge the book aside and sit next to her, but Ruphus blocked me.
"What?"
"No hello for me? And there's an empty seat next to Latynia—why squeeze in here?"
"Why greet a guy? And Latynia's my boss."
"Boss?"
Ruphus glanced at Latynia upon hearing me.
Latynia, who'd been staring only at me since I arrived, awkwardly looked away.
"Let's set aside those trivialities. Didn't you say you had something to ask? Come over here."
"But hierarchy exists—how can I sit right next to you uncomfortably? I'm fine, so take the wide open seat."
"Urgh..."
Latynia frowned, displeased with my words.
Ruphus grilled her about it.
"Latynia, what did he mean by 'boss' and 'hierarchy'?"
"Don't worry about it, Ruphus. It's between Dojun-ssi and me."
"I can't ignore that. Are you really planning to use Shin Do-jun as your guard?"
"Isn't Dojun-ssi reliable?"
"Reliable who?"
Latynia and Ruphus started bickering about me.
I wished they'd do it out of my sight.
Seemed like they were arguing whether she'd really use me as her guard.
Latynia wanted to, Ruphus opposed.
I hadn't heard the terms yet, so ideally, they'd drop it.
After ignoring me for a while, Ruphus finally surrendered.
"Sigh... You're the princess, so do as you please. I tried to dissuade you."
"Don't worry. I trust my own eyes."
Poor Ruphus lost.
Status differences were insurmountable, even among friends.
And Latynia wasn't in her old deranged state anymore...
"It's settled, then. Dojun-ssi, looking forward to working with you."
"Sorry, can we pretend the guard thing never happened?"
"Pardon? What did you just—"
"On second thought, you decided too quick without hearing my conditions. Your original guard opposes it too."
Latynia shot Ruphus a sharp glare at my words.
Ruphus waved his hands innocently.
"Ruphus! Wasn't your guard role a secret?"
"I didn't say a word. He figured it out himself."
"Sharp intuition too... As expected of Dojun-ssi."
It didn't feel that well-hidden, but Latynia seemed to think she'd done a great job.
With her internal valuation of me bumped up a notch, she said,
"The conditions are simple. Protect me during my time at Prism. Our kingdom covers costs and accommodations."
"That might be tough."
"Huh? Why?"
"I don't know how long I'll be at Prism."
Prism Arts had no graduation by default.
Since Prism itself was the game world, graduating would end it.
An open-world game with an ending that closes it? Absurd.
Even after the main story, players stayed as Prism cadets.
Post-mod update, options like leave of absence or dropout appeared, but not graduation.
I planned a leave eventually, but hadn't set a date.
"Th-then at least while Dojun-ssi attends Prism...!"
"Nah, trust is key for guards—switching midway would make adaptation hard for you."
"Aaaah..."
Latynia deflated. Some things never changed.
Ruphus glared daggers at me.
No more hiding his identity, huh?
"You! What's with that tone to Latynia?!"
"And what's yours to me? Latynia and I aren't superiors or anything."
"You just called her your boss."
"Isn't a princess a boss too?"
"Fair point."
"Ruphus! Don't agree!"
The mood turned chaotic in an instant.
Ara peeked over her book at our antics.
"Sorry, we interrupting?"
"..."
Ara ducked back behind her book.
Her ears twitched visibly above it, but I'd pretend not to notice.
As I teased Ara, Latynia spoke in a gloomy tone.
"Is there really no way...?"
"Hm?"
"I came back because of Dojun-ssi..."
Latynia made a pouty face.
Annoying.
The sulking Latynia, the glaring Ruphus—both annoying.
No helping it.
After hearing that, how could I refuse?
"Fine! I'll do it! Geez!"
"Really? Thank you, Dojun-ssi!"
Latynia, beaming unmistakably, grabbed my hand with both of hers.
Ruphus eyed me unpleasantly.
What'd you want me to do?
"Then, starting next semester, move near where I live. I'll handle everything else."
"What about dorms?"
"Prism provided me separate housing. Plenty of rooms, no issue."
"If so, sure..."
Otherworld princess got special dorms, figures.
But an unforeseen snag remained.
What about Vivian?
"I have a kid I'm protecting—mind if she comes too?"
"Sure, no problem. Protecting...?"
"Picked her up from the slave market. She's at my dorm now."
"Got it. Lots of rooms, so fine."
"Alright, that's the plan."
Thankfully, broad-minded Latynia solved it.
No issues now.
Nothing major happens inside Prism anyway.
If something did, Dean Han Myeong-sin would handle it.
"Oh, right—you said you had something to ask?"
"Ah, yeah. That's right."