Vivian's Jealous Demand
"How did you know?"
"Your heartbeat was different from when you're usually asleep."
"Oh yeah? Our Vivian's so smart."
I stroked Vivian's hair.
Vivian, who normally loved my touch, shook her head to push my hand away.
Vivian rejecting me... It hurt my feelings.
"Vivian? What's wrong?"
"You smell like Latynia. Dojun, did you...?"
"Did I what?"
"Hug Latynia too?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
Why?
What kind of question is that?
"Don't you have me, Dojun?"
"Huh?"
"You used to hug me all the time before... touch me... pet me... But then you brought other girls, and... Dojun is mine!"
Vivian's eyes were intense.
Almost like...
"Ah, seriously! How are you this cute?!"
"Dojun! I'm mad right now!"
I grabbed Vivian and squished her cheeks.
Vivian tried to push my head away.
Unlike with someone else, her slender arms had just the right amount of strength—enough that I didn't budge at all.
"Vivian. Were you upset?"
"I was upset. You're all I have..."
Vivian's world was pretty narrow, after all.
This kind of reaction was probably natural for her.
I thought time would help, but it seemed it was still too soon for Vivian.
"Sorry, Vivian."
"..."
Vivian buried her face in my chest again.
I stroked her hair and said,
"Vivian. How about just the two of us go out tomorrow?"
"Huh? Where?"
"Anywhere. Somewhere without the others."
"..."
Vivian nodded.
I kept stroking her silky hair.
I wanted to fall asleep like this.
But I couldn't.
"Vivian."
"What?"
"Don't you think it's about time to head back to your room?"
At my words, Vivian clutched my collar tightly.
I could read her mind without her saying a word.
"Aww, good girl, Vivian."
"No."
"If your room's empty in the morning, won't the others worry?"
"It's fine."
"No, it's not fine, Vivian."
"It is."
"Why?"
"I got permission from Ji-ah and Latynia."
What the hell?
Why would Ji-ah and Latynia give permission for Vivian to sleep in my room?
Something smelled like a conspiracy.
"Alright... fine. We'll talk about this later."
"Okay."
I pulled Vivian into another hug.
It hadn't even been a week, but it felt like I'd finally returned to everyday life after ages.
I headed to the parlor with Vivian in my arms.
No guests from outside were coming, so we'd turned it into a living room of sorts.
It was spacious, with a table and sofas—everything you needed for daily life.
At my request, we'd even added a huge TV in one corner, making it perfect for killing time without thinking.
A TV in an otherworld mansion felt ridiculously out of place, though.
"Hey, Ji-ah. Hi, Latynia."
"Hello, Dojun."
"As expected..."
Latynia nodded knowingly, just as I'd guessed.
Yeah, it seemed the girls had come to some agreement while I was gone.
Who should I ask about this?
Ji-ah looked in a great mood since morning, so maybe her.
"Ji-ah. Wanna talk alone for a sec?"
"Huh? Sure."
I tried to set Vivian down on the sofa, but she grabbed my collar.
I shook off her feeble resistance and left the parlor with Ji-ah.
I took her to an empty room.
Most of the second-floor rooms were vacant, so any door I opened worked.
Ji-ah looked at me with eager anticipation.
"Dojun? What's up?"
"Got something to ask you."
"Sure. Ask away."
"Vivian said something weird yesterday."
"Uh... okay."
Mentioning Vivian made Ji-ah's expression stiffen a bit.
Caught off guard, or maybe not what she expected—something like that.
"From what she said, it felt like you three decided on some kind of rotation. Am I imagining things?"
"W-wellll? Probably just your imagination?"
Ji-ah broke into a cold sweat, awkwardly averting her eyes.
Asking her was definitely the right call.
Her attitude said it all.
"Oh? Guess it was my mistake then. Sorry. Let's head back."
"Huh? That's it?"
"Disappointed?"
I wrapped an arm around Ji-ah's waist and pulled her close.
Her face turned bright red in an instant.
"D-Do... Dojun?! It's still morning..."
Ji-ah flailed a bit, then leaned into me and closed her eyes, puckering her lips.
Snap!
"Ow! Dojun...?"
"What were you expecting?"
I flicked her forehead lightly.
Ji-ah rubbed it with a dazed look.
She still hadn't caught on.
I steadied her where she leaned against me.
"Anyway, I got what I wanted to know. We're good."
I left the room, leaving Ji-ah still blankly touching her forehead.
She'd come find me soon enough—today at latest, tomorrow for sure. No need to rush.
The mansion's meals were delicious.
Must be the royal servants—on a whole other level.
But I was the only one enjoying it.
Vivian, Ji-ah, and Latynia just glanced at each other awkwardly, barely touching their food.
Did something happen while I was out?
"Vivian. Did anything happen with Latynia while I was gone?"
"No. Nothing."
"Really?"
Latynia stared at Vivian in disbelief.
Something was up, but it was Vivian, so probably nothing major.
As I pondered where to take Vivian, Ji-ah spoke up with a resolute expression.
"Um, Dojun. Are you busy today?"
"Not really, but I was planning to go out with Vivian."
"What?! Why?"
"What kind of question is that?"
"No, I mean..."
"Anyway, I'll be out with Vivian and back late for dinner."
"Okay..."
Ji-ah looked like the sky had fallen.
Worlds away from her morning cheer.
"Why? Need help with something?"
"No... It's nothing..."
"Be honest, and I'll consider it positively."
"Really?!"
"Yeah. After I get back from with Vivian."
"Ugh..."
"Vivian. Anywhere you wanna go?"
"Anywhere as long as I'm with Dojun."
I took Vivian's hand and left the mansion.
Ji-ah's persistent gaze followed us to the end, but today was for Vivian.
Vivian had this smug little look that was kinda cute.
How was everything she did so adorable?
"Then let's just wander around the neighborhood for now?"
"Okay."
This area had nothing in the game, so I'd never come here.
No big NPCs, no story events.
Just felt like a fancy residential district.
Still, it was kinda fresh sightseeing the streets.
That was my take—Vivian might be bored.
"Not bored?"
"Never bored with Dojun."
"Yeah?"
I always thought it was amazing how she said stuff that would embarrass anyone else without batting an eye.
Like purity personified.
But her over-reliance on me worried me.
I wanted her to handle things alone without me someday, if possible...
Maybe I should test her luck, just in case.
I sat on a nearby bench.
Vivian naturally plopped onto my lap instead of the seat beside me.
I stroked her hair and said,
"Vivian."
"What?"
"Hypothetically. Just suppose. If I vanished from this world without a trace, what would you do?"
Vivian's head, swaying with my strokes, froze.
Then she turned to me with a blank expression.
"Why say that?"
"Just in case."
"Dojun, are you sick?"
Vivian pressed her ear to my chest.
She must've learned it from watching me.
I stroked her head as she leaned in.
"I'm fine. Just asking."
"...Don't like it."
"Huh?"
"No Dojun... Don't like it."
Vivian wrapped her arms around my waist.
Clinging tight, like she'd never let go. It was heartbreaking.
Yeah, this was serious.
But I wasn't going anywhere soon...
Guess I'd keep Vivian with me forever.
"Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere."
"..."
"But suppose..."
"No."
"I haven't even said anything yet."
"No way... Stop saying that."
Vivian's voice started trembling faintly.
Bad choice of words.
"Sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up."
"..."
Silence settled between us.
How to break this mood?
After thinking, I came up with something.
"Then you can come find me, Vivian."
"Me?"
"Yeah. If I disappear, you find me."
"Okay. I'll search anywhere."
Vivian said it with determination.
Though it was just Vivian.
"Gotta know the outside world well for that, right?"
"Yeah?"
"Yep. So from now on, take interest in the world out there. You gotta come find me."
"Okay. But how?"
"Mansion has TV, and Ji-ah or Latynia will tell you."
"Oh... Okay."
Vivian replied half-heartedly.
Good, I salvaged the slip-up.
Still felt bad, so maybe do something for her?
"Vivian. Anything you wanna do? I'll do whatever."
"Huh? Um..."
Vivian pondered.
She had something in mind. Good sign.
Hopefully something like "wanna see somewhere" or an activity.
"Then..."
"Anything. Just say it."
"Do what you did to Ji-ah."
"Huh?"
"What you did to Ji-ah..."
"I heard you. I just wish I misheard."
What I did to Ji-ah?
...How far?
No way she meant that...
Problem was how much Ji-ah told her.
I messaged Ji-ah on my smartwatch.
No reply after that, even after a few more messages.
First time Ji-ah ignored me.
But thinking about it, she couldn't answer something this embarrassing.
Being with Vivian was messing with my senses.
As I fiddled with my smartwatch to stall, Vivian tugged my collar.
"Hurry. You said you'd do it."
"Wait a sec. This is serious."
"Do you... hate it?"
"How could I hate Vivian?"
I held her shoulders.
No matter how I thought about it, Vivian was still too young.
How to handle this?
After agonizing, I lightly kissed her forehead.
"There! That do it?"
"That's not it..."
"What?"
"Not it! Totally different from what Ji-ah said!"
Lee Ji-ah... what the hell did you tell her...
This was awkward.
Especially not knowing exactly what.
Time to persuade her gently.
"Vivian. Listen."
"Okay."
"You're still young, right? That's too soon. When you grow up, I promise."
"I'm already grown up."
"Sure, our Vivian's all grown. But still..."
"For real. I'm older than you, Dojun."
"Yeah, you're the adult. Let's go for now?"
"But it's true..."
I picked up the whining Vivian and stood.
Prism was still vast, with plenty to see.