Chapter 04
『 Hello.
Bonjour.
こんにちは。
.
.
.
Hello. 』
A burst of light spilled across the pitch-black surface as if something were being torn open. Soon, countless characters flowed past, until finally familiar imperial language appeared on the screen.
『 Hello.
Swipe up to unlock. 』
“Swipe… up…?”
Isabella awkwardly moved her finger across the glass. The screen wobbled in response. Startled, she quickly pulled her hand back, only to hesitate again.
Among magical artifacts, nothing like this existed. Watching the display move even while she remained still, Isabella turned the small object over in her hands.
“This is really fascinating.”
Her eyes, which had shown exceptional talent even at the Academy—especially in linguistic and magical research—sparkled with curiosity.
Recalling the words “swipe up to unlock,” she once again hesitantly placed her finger on the screen. Slowly dragging upward, the lock screen finally unlocked.
“Gallery, Camera, Settings…? What are these?”
She tapped the first icon, “Gallery,” and a new world unfolded before her eyes.
Among the small portraits displayed, she tapped one—and the image began to move.
[We are! the Venus! Hello, this is Haeyoon, leader of Venus.]
Dark navy hair like the night sky, mysterious ash-gray eyes, porcelain skin, tall and lean yet muscular physique. On top of that, music she had never heard before, performances pleasing to the eyes, and powerful vocals.
“How can someone be so perfect…?”
As she watched videos of Haeyoon from Korea’s top idol group Venus, she ended up staying up the entire night. Isabella stretched her stiff shoulders and stared blankly out the window. By the time she finished the last video in the gallery, the pitch-black night sky had already begun to brighten into dawn.
The lingering aftereffects of the concert still hadn’t faded. Her heart pounded so strongly that she unconsciously pressed a hand to her chest.
Because the Korean language was entirely unfamiliar, Isabella couldn’t understand what Haeyoon was saying in the videos. She became deeply curious about what he was saying—and what the lyrics of his songs meant.
“It would be nice if I could understand the lyrics. I don’t know the language of Korea at all.”
While she was wondering if there was any good solution, a new notification suddenly popped up on the smartphone screen.
『 Would you like to use the one-week trial version of the translation system? 』
▶ Accept / Decline
“So this means it translates what Haeyoon is saying…?”
She could read the imperial language easily since the interface was set to it, but terms like “system” and “trial version” were completely unfamiliar.
After hesitating in front of the choice, her fingertip moved left—toward Accept. The moment she pressed it, translated imperial-language subtitles began appearing beneath Haeyoon’s videos.
Although she could only access videos and images stored in the gallery, that alone was enough.
The more she rewatched the videos, the more she became accustomed to Korean. Her academic talent in linguistics—once showcased at the Academy—proved unexpectedly useful.
“How can someone be this cute? No—he’s cute and cool at the same time!”
After eating, returning to her room, and replaying the videos hundreds of times, it was already late night again. She didn’t even know how many days she had stayed locked in her room.
During the week, by repeatedly watching the videos, she reached a level where she no longer needed to extend the trial subscription to understand Korean.
There were still a few difficult words, but Isabella had become fluent enough to understand and write most Korean.
“Wow.”
Stretching her stiff shoulders, she stared blankly out the window.
The emptiness that had always filled her life was now replaced with overwhelming excitement. At this point, she no longer even thought about Ikaneul.
Though the sting of heartbreak still remained, her eyes now shone brightly with admiration for something new.
“I want to go to Korea.”
She wanted to see her “favorite” with her own eyes, to feel that moment live at a concert.
When she closed the gallery and returned to the home screen, a new app appeared—as if it had been prepared just for her.
<System Manual for Beginner Players>
“This looks like something I should read.”
With slightly more practiced movements, she tapped the app. A new window appeared.
『 Congratulations, Player “Isabella”! If you wish to use the dimensional system, press the “Next” button~! 』
She unconsciously moved her finger forward and tapped Next. Another translucent window popped up.
『 Recording player information. 』
[ Player Name: Isabella Ledia
Info: Female, 20 years old, dimensional transfer subject
Player Unique Trait: Unmeasured ]
“What is this? I understand the information, but ‘unique trait’… what is all this supposed to mean?”
Among the list, one item glowed faintly, drawing her attention.
“Dimensional Transfer System?”
As she muttered it, a new window appeared as if responding to voice recognition.
『 Dimensional Transfer System 』
▶ If you complete assigned missions and prepare a small dimensional transfer fee, you can travel to a new dimension—“Korea”! Press Accept if you want to continue.
▶▶ Accept / Decline
Could she really go to Korea where Haeyoon was… through something like this? She stared at the acceptance window for a long time, half doubtful.
Eventually, she made her decision and pressed Accept.
『 Before proceeding with missions, measuring the player’s unregistered unique trait. 』
How could it take so long to measure something? As time passed, suspicion gradually filled Isabella’s eyes as she looked at the screen.
Watching the spinning loading circle, she idly turned the smartphone in her hands. It was clearly different from any magical tool she had ever seen.
Inside this small box, things like magic were happening that she had never witnessed before.
“…So a new world really is unfolding, just like he said.”
Her parents, always busy managing their territory and never free to visit the capital estate. Her younger sibling who would join the knight order after graduating the Academy. And Ikaneul, who would soon become a stranger after their broken engagement.
Ever since the passing of her beloved grandfather Ferguson, Isabella had lived alone in loneliness.
As the eldest daughter, as the fiancée of House Laces, she had always consoled herself—she must not worry her parents.
“Maybe if I go to Korea, there will be even more amazing things like this?”
For someone who had always lived alone in her estate, the idea of going to a new dimension filled with fascinating things was irresistible.
There was no reason to refuse such an opportunity.
As she tapped the table absentmindedly, her gaze dropped. Ink stains and deep pen marks covered its surface.
Memories surfaced briefly—of nights spent studying relentlessly to enter the Academy.
Why am I like this…
If only I were a little smarter, I could solve things like this easily.
Why had she cried so much over being the “perfect fiancée” that she left marks on a wooden table like this?
As memories she had briefly forgotten while watching Haeyoon resurfaced, Isabella bit her lip and rubbed the ink stain harshly with her finger.
“Right. Let’s go to Korea.”
She would go and see her perfect, adorable, flawless idol Haeyoon in person.
At that moment, a sound indicated the measurement was complete. Isabella lifted her head.
As she read the system’s assigned unique skill, her mouth slowly opened wider.
『 Player unique trait measurement complete. 』
▶ <All stains and dirt—on people or objects—completely disappear~! Lv. 1>
“…W-what kind of trait is that?!”
Was it because she had been trying to wipe the ink stain during measurement? Isabella looked between the table and the glowing status window in disbelief.
“…No way.”
She grabbed a tissue and slowly wiped the stain. A faint glow spread across the table—and the ink disappeared completely.
『 Skill usage detected. Level increased! 』
▶ <All stains and dirt—on people or objects—completely disappear~! Lv. 2>
“Wait. So this is actually my trait?”
As if responding to her disbelief, the screen flashed white and a new window appeared.
『 Mission Assigned! 』
▶ Use your unique trait to earn money!
▶▶ Use your skill at the Imperial Palace’s princess’s birthday party!
▶▶▶ Reward: Discount coupon for dimensional transfer fee.
“…So you’re telling me to go clean the imperial palace?”
Thus began Isabella’s first mission to reach Korea.
