Chapter : 16
“Ah….”
My expression grew as serious as Millan’s.
No, even more serious.
It was because I had heard all of Freesia’s story through Millan.
That alone was already serious enough… but then…
Freesia’s Request!
- Fulfill Freesia’s request within 48 hours
(47:59:59 remaining)
Reward: Increase intimacy with Freesia & 1,000 Gold
Failure: Unable to use [Freesia’s Stylish Furniture Shop] & Lumi’s death
The system revealed an even more serious consequence.
Seeing the failure condition, which was different from before, I bit my lip.
‘…I don’t care if it’s just my life at stake.’
But to threaten someone else’s life, especially that of such a young child…
‘This insane game.’
Negative thoughts filled my mind.
‘Just when I started to feel attached…’
I pressed my lips tightly, as if harsh words might escape. My fists clenched.
Only two days.
If I don’t fulfill Freesia’s request in just two days…
‘Don’t think about it.’
I decided I would do it no matter what.
I glared at Millan.
He had his usual calm expression, but it wasn’t as firm as usual. I could clearly see worry leaking through.
‘I’ll keep this to myself.’
The fact that a child’s life was involved.
They say only God knows life and death.
Not that I am a god. I was just a pitiful soul trapped in this game…
“Sigh…”
I let out a long breath. Millan tilted his head.
“Have you heard anything from Basha? Layla, you are her granddaughter, aren’t you?”
“Hmm…”
Nothing at all, you little…
I’d only been her granddaughter for a week!
Unable to tell the truth, I suddenly stood up.
“Hugh is with the child, right?”
“Lumi didn’t want to leave Hugh, so I left them together. We’ll go back anyway.”
“Well done. Then let’s go now. But can we even take the carriage?”
It was evening, and the moon had begun to shine. Even though this was a game, this place had clear on/off schedules like the real world.
Thus, business hours were strictly set. After closing time, shops and carriages could not be used.
There was even a system that forcibly made people rest.
So…
“Shall we walk?”
Walking would take about two hours.
I mentioned the best option.
There was still plenty of energy left. Even if I collapsed in front of the shop… this was the only way I could think of.
Millan let out a dry laugh and brushed his face with his hand.
“You mean walk that distance? One of us will be lying dead on the road tonight.”
“Then there’s no other choice.”
“I’m here, aren’t I, Layla?”
He squinted one eye and let out a sigh. Then, as if explaining was too troublesome, he approached me.
“The situation is urgent, so I’ll do it. Normally, I charge for this kind of work… but I’ll make an exception this time.”
“…What exactly are you planning?”
I blinked, waiting for him to explain. Did Millan have some kind of ability?
He was a “tool artisan” after all.
‘Maybe he has a tool that can teleport?’
Just as I was thinking that, Millan reached out his hand.
“Layla, take my hand.”
His tone was almost like a command, but the urgency in it made me quickly grab his hand.
Millan held my hand tightly and muttered something softly. Words in a language I couldn’t understand flowed out from his voice into the world.
Then, the moment his voice ended—
Flash!
A light burst from beneath our feet, as strong as when I had first possessed my game body.
And then…
“…Oh, that was faster than I thought.”
A strange voice came.
Was this déjà vu?
I instinctively opened my eyes.
It felt strangely similar to when I had possessed my game body, leaving me bewildered.
But…
“How long are you going to stand there in a daze, Layla?”
Hearing Millan’s voice snapped me back to reality. I could finally take in my surroundings.
It was a space that felt slightly familiar, [Freesia’s Stylish Furniture Shop].
And standing right in front of me was someone who seemed perfectly suited to this furniture shop.
“Freesia?”
“Oh my. You recognized me immediately? That’s right, I’m Freesia Robotong, the owner of this furniture shop. Just call me Freesia.”
“Ah, I’m…”
“Layla, right? I already heard about you from Millan and Iliana. Can I speak casually? Formal speech feels awkward.”
Her conversation flowed as passionately as her red hair. I could only nod silently.
Should I say I was overwhelmed by her energy?
I exhaled and spoke.
“By the way, where’s Lumi? I’ve heard most of the story from Millan.”
“Oh… that makes things faster. Lumi is probably getting ready now.”
“Then can I just talk for a moment before we go?”
“I’d appreciate that. I asked something difficult… so thank you.”
“I have to help in situations like this.”
I shrugged. She no longer looked so forceful and smiled faintly—the face of a mother with a sick child.
She led me to the room where Lumi was, at the innermost part of the shop.
I winked at Freesia and carefully entered the room.
The room was decorated with a tender touch. You could feel Freesia’s love and care for the child.
In the middle, a little girl who looked exactly like Freesia was there, along with Hugh, who seemed somewhat exhausted.
“Hugh, I want to play more.”
“I want to too, but I’m really tired now! I can’t anymore, Lumi.”
“Sniff… It’s only now. Tomorrow I’ll be sick again…”
“Oh! Sorry, Hugh! I’ll do anything!”
A pitiful conversation unfolded.
I felt deeply for the child, who knew her own condition well. The failure warning in the system lingered in my mind even more.
I carefully approached Lumi. Hugh noticed me first and jumped up excitedly.
“Master! Did you come to take Hugh? Can Hugh go home now?”
“…Not yet, Hugh.”
“…Sniff.”
I ignored the clearly gloomy Hugh and sat down in front of Lumi. The child’s shoulders slumped, thinking she had to part from Hugh.
“Hi, Lumi. I’m Layla.”
“…Are you taking Hugh? I wanted to sleep with him today…”
“If you answer me well, I’ll let you sleep with Hugh.”
“Really?”
Lumi’s previously gloomy expression brightened.
“I’ll answer really, really well!”
“Then can I expect that?”
“Yes!”
Unable to contain her joy, Lumi bounced. Hugh, on the other hand, remained slumped. I picked Hugh up and got straight to the point.
“Do you remember Grandma Basha?”
“Yes! That day was so fun. That’s when I first met Hugh. I wasn’t sick then, so I could play with him all night!”
“Then do you remember the drink Grandma gave you that day?”
“Hmmm…”
Lumi grew serious. Pouting, she thought hard for a moment, then spoke.
“I remember it didn’t hurt at all when I drank it. It was amazing.”
“Really?”
“Yes! It had a pretty color like yours, sweet and warm… and soft. Grandma explained what it was… but I don’t remember that part.”
Lumi, satisfied with that, quickly took Hugh from my hand and hid him under the bed, just in case I tried to take him.
I blinked, unfazed by her thoroughness.
‘It was a color similar to mine?’
So it was a soft, sweet, warm, pale pink drink…
‘A drink that even a child could safely drink and it wouldn’t hurt…’
Wait a moment.
Something just clicked in my mind.
‘This might actually be easier to solve than I thought.’
