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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: An Encounter in a Dream
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Ah, right. I forgot this guy, who was basically a fantasy novel protagonist, was mixed up in this too.
“Seriously, maybe I should get an exorcism like the Chasa Guild Master said. Why is all this bad luck suddenly pouring down on me like crazy?”
Did I really use up all my luck with the contract with the Administrator? Am I doomed to live a life full of these chaotic, unlucky routes from now on?
“Oh, right. I forgot.”
Seora, who had been sniffling while lying in bed, suddenly hardened her expression. She sat up straight and stared into the empty air.
“Liza-Liza? I think we had something to talk about.”
【Administrator: (¬_¬);;;】
“Where do you think you're looking? Now, come here and sit down. Let's have a serious talk.”
As Seora pointed sharply in front of her, the Administrator's message popped up in that spot. As if it had really sat down as she had told it to.
【The System Administrator says it wasn't hidden on purpose.】
“Oh, really? For someone who supposedly didn't know how, you did it quite naturally.”
【The System Administrator says this function was added only recently. It confesses that it truly couldn't do it before.】
“A new function? Something that even Constellations contracted with Awakened can do, the Administrator couldn't from the start? Why is that?”
【The System Administrator carefully explains that it's because increased contact with this world would be problematic.】
【It expresses concern, stating that frequent contact with its sole contractor has now made it possible, but doing so often is not a good thing.】
【It says it will do so when absolutely necessary, like now, but otherwise, it will stick to sending only emoticons as before.】
“Frequent contact is dangerous…?”
It wasn't entirely unexpected.
In fact, even the beings called gods, the Constellations, couldn't overuse their immense authority. No matter how outstanding an Awakened was, they were ultimately human and couldn't fully handle a god's power.
That was why Constellations contacted their contractors through sponsorship rather than descending themselves.
And Seora guessed that the System Administrator, while not a Constellation, was a being of equivalent or even greater stature. Perhaps that was why it had even more restrictions than the Constellations.
“So, you're saying you'll only use emoticons because that's the way to minimize contact?”
【Administrator: o(╥﹏╥)o】
“And that doesn't cause any major problems?”
【Administrator: ☞(╥﹏╥)☞】
Why on earth were only emoticons okay?
Seora still vividly remembered the moment the Administrator first sent an emoticon. The shock of the image shattering into pieces.
“Then let's go back to the beginning. Why did you hide it? Who would've said anything if you'd just told me the truth? I was so surprised when something new popped up that I couldn't even dodge the attack.”
Thanks to Jeong Hoyoung, the wound had vanished as if washed away, but the image of the magical beast licking up her blood still remained.
Ugh, I'm feeling sick again. Seora covered her mouth, gagging.
【The System Administrator apologizes with a somber face.】
【The System Administrator carefully examines its sole contractor's arm.】
“…The wound is all healed, so it's fine. You saw me treat it with a high-grade potion.”
But seeing this message, Seora's heart softened again. She rolled up her sleeve and stroked her unblemished arm.
【Administrator: ｡ﾟ(ﾟ´Д`ﾟ)ﾟ｡】
“Oh, honestly.”
Seeing the image of it shedding tears, Seora ended up clicking her tongue while patting it comfortingly. This Administrator was truly someone she couldn't hate, nor did she want to.
“If something like this happens again, don't hide it. Why hide something so trivial?”
【The System Administrator sniffles, saying it couldn't be helped.】
“What couldn't be helped?”
There was no reply. What is it? Why no answer? Was it hiding something again?
As if she'd never comforted it, Seora grabbed the message tightly and glared.
“Elizabeth, what are you hiding? Even now, when we need a sincere conversation, what are you keeping to yourself?”
Still no answer.
“Heyyyy!”
In the end, Seora grabbed the message as if grabbing it by the collar and shook it wildly, but nothing more came back.
Seriously, what the hell was this damn Administrator hiding!
“Liza-Liza! Speak up! Why do you have so many secrets?!”
That night, Seora clung to the message and spewed harsh curses, but in the end, she couldn't get any answer from the Administrator.
Seora began to wonder if this contract was really okay as it was.
* * *
It was when Seora, who had been fuming for a long time as if she'd burst a blood vessel, finally fell asleep.
【Contact has occurred between the System Administrator and the sole contractor. Synchronization will now commence.】
【Synchronization progress — 10%, 11%, 12%…….】
【Synchronization 15% complete】
【The sole contractor's world of unconsciousness will now be activated.】
A faint halo of light swirled around Seora's body. However, the sleeping Seora was completely unaware of this fact.
Unlike someone who was watching.
【The System Administrator lets out a sigh.】
【The System Administrator shows a look of apology toward the sole contractor.】
That message, too, failed to reach Seora, who was deep in slumber.
* * *
“…Hnng?”
Seora, who had been grinding her teeth at the Administrator even in her sleep, frowned at the soft sensation against her feet.
What is this? It's a bit too stiff to be a blanket. It feels like a carpet… But do I have a carpet in my room? I don't even have a rug.
“What the.”
The sensation on her toes was too vivid for a dream. In the end, Seora whimpered and slowly opened her eyes.
“…”
Blink, blink. And the sight that met her eyes jolted her groggy mind wide awake.
Whoa. Am I not fully awake yet? Am I still dreaming? There's no way I'd be seeing this otherwise.
“Where am I?”
To her surprise, she was now standing alone in a massive, incredibly opulent room.
An unbelievably luxurious and magnificent one, at that.
What is that? Is that gold? Are the pillars gilded in gold? Don't tell me that's a ruby? There are emeralds too? …This has to be a dream.
“Of all the dreams I could have, it had to be one this extravagant. Is this one of those things? A dream that reflects my desires.”
Seora picked up a ruby ring from a display cabinet and tried it on her finger.
Wow. Look at my hand shine. Yeah, red does suit me. Just look at my skills—isn't Red Cube totally badass?
“But what kind of place is this, with jewels just rolling around? What if a greedy thief like me were to break in?”
Gasp. Seora, who had been humming while pretending to slip an emerald necklace into her pocket, flinched.
There was someone here.
Of all the roles to play, I get caught by the owner while stealing jewels. Isn't this dream a little too realistic?
If what comes next is the clanging of prison bars, I'd rather just wake up now.
“…Huh?”
Seora, who was breaking out in a cold sweat, belatedly noticed something strange.
The voice… it wasn't a human voice. It sounded like an old radio with a poor frequency, mixed with static.
An unclear, mechanical sound. Is this also because it's a dream? Or is this person not human?
Seora slowly turned toward the direction of the voice.
The first thing she saw was an upper body clad in a pristine white shirt. Only after confirming it was a person, a man at that, did her gaze travel upward.
And the moment she saw his face, Seora dropped the precious emerald necklace she was holding.
‘…Oh. My. God.’
What is this fanfare I'm hearing in my ears? Angels, is that the sound of an angel's trumpet?
Was it really possible for a person's face to radiate light? She was speechless. Her lips trembled, unable to utter even a single word of admiration.
Standing there was an unidentified man so beautiful he could put the chiseled regressor, Kang Sejun, to shame.
Standing there blankly, Seora unknowingly clenched her fists.
Thank you. Thank you. I don't know who you are, but glory to whoever granted me this dream.
A man with beauty so astounding it could make your eyes pop out. How could such beauty exist in reality?
‘Ah, no. Wait. I'm dreaming right now, right?’
Seora, who had been staring blankly and nearly drooling, was startled and quickly wiped her mouth. It was her first time seeing a beauty this mind-bogglingly handsome up close, and it was hard to keep her wits about her.
This… this was more than just a feast for the eyes.
“So, who might you be and where do you live? Since we've met like this, it must be fate. We should at least introduce ourselves…”
She no longer gave a damn about the jewels scattered everywhere. Before the man's transcendent beauty, even the sparkle of the gems paled in comparison.
Chiseled handsome men weren't her type, but a beauty of this caliber was an exception.
The beautiful man scanned Seora with a reluctant expression.
Perhaps because his face was so perfect, even his mechanical voice didn't sound off-putting at all.
“I'm sorry about that. If I had to make an excuse, it's that I have no idea how I got here either. I'm dreaming right now.”
The man tilted his head in confusion. His radiant, beautiful blond hair cascaded down.
Wow, even his hair is perfect.
“Huh? What?”
“Absolutely not.”
Her enraptured face instantly turned serious.
“Maybe the jewels and the mansion, but my imagination isn't creative enough to conjure up a chiseled god like you.”
The man let out a baffled laugh at the sight of her waving her hands dismissively with a serious face. He seemed somewhat amused, which made Seora feel strange.
The man's long, elegant fingers scooped up a handful of jewels from the display cabinet. Seeing his slender fingers, which looked as if they belonged on a violin, mingling with the gems somehow made her throat dry.
“Now that I think about it, I can't say that's not my type…? A gorgeous man locked away in a mansion of jewels. That's quite a tempting…”
Sssip. Damn, drooling again. As Seora averted her eyes and subtly wiped her mouth, the man made a face of disgust.
Ahem. I didn't want to be labeled a weirdo by Mr. Handsome, but I think it's already too late.
“If this really isn't my imagination, then where is this place? And what's your name?”
“Ah! That was a joke, of course. Just a joke.”
Seora silently averted her gaze again. Wow, handsome men are quick-witted, too.
“You never know. Maybe if I call your name every night, I'll have the same dream again. They say if you wish for something earnestly enough, it comes true.”
“It's natural to want to see a beautiful person again and again.”
The man let out another hollow laugh. A laugh mixed with a mechanical hum should have sounded strange, yet somehow, it suited him perfectly.
