“This feels so refreshing…” she murmured, her voice light and almost breathless with awe.

“You like it?” I asked, glancing at her.

Lavine gave a soft nod, her expression touched with a rare, gentle smile.

“The feeling is completely different from the fragmented windows through which I observe the world in my realm. It’s… whole. Real. Even the cold feels warm somehow.”

She let out a quiet sigh, almost wistful.

“Though it would’ve been nice if I could’ve experienced this in spring. I remember the scent of blossoms… the sound of rivers running freely…”

I chuckled, shaking my head.

“Then you’d have to wait a couple more months for that. Winter’s probably going to last longer than expected this time around.”

Her violet eyes turned to me, slightly amused. “Ho~? So now you can predict the weather, child?”

“Well… not exactly,” I replied, awkwardly scratching my cheek. Not exactly, meaning not something I could explain.

I couldn’t exactly just say,

‘Oh, it’s because in [Act 4, Chapter 1: Winter Golems] the seasonal anomaly kicks in and plunges the region into a prolonged winter thanks to the sudden rise of Ice Golem activity’.

That would sound crazy—or worse, suspicious.

“It just feels that way. Last year, winter stuck around longer too,” I said vaguely.

“I see…” she murmured, but her tone carried no suspicion—just a calm acceptance, as though the detail barely mattered.

Her gaze was already back on the world around us.

Lavine floated slowly beside me, her body drifting through the air like snow caught in a gentle breeze.

A small, delicate orb of light—that was what she looked like now.

A being compressed into a form barely larger than a pebble, reduced by the system to something my meager mana reserves could actually support.

It was a compromise.

A fraction of her true form… yet she seemed content with even that.

Although she can’t exactly help in direct fights in this form if I ascend it should offset it’s weaknesses.

Her tiny silhouette spun once, slowly, as if savoring the way the snowfall caught the fading light of morning.

She extended one tiny spectral hand, letting flakes pass through it, and despite her otherworldly grace, there was something achingly human in the way she moved—like a child rediscovering a memory long buried beneath the weight of centuries.

For someone who had once sought only death, it was strange to see her immersed in the sensations of the living world so tenderly.

I guess being sealed for so long even the most broken people would seek clearance in the world.

Watching Lavine playfully float around me, I continued my slow walk through the quiet, snow-dusted roads of the academy.

The air was crisp, silent except for the soft crunch of snow beneath my shoes and the occasional breeze rustling through the leafless trees.

With the semestral winter break starting tomorrow, most of the students were already busy wrapping things up—some were locked away in their dorms packing up, while others trained with an almost desperate fervor, trying to squeeze in every last bit of progress before leaving.

A handful still wandered the main roads, visiting shops or grabbing last-minute supplies, but even the once-crowded streets had thinned out considerably.

Many of the more popular shops had already shuttered their doors for the season, and the usual lively chatter of students had quieted to a distant murmur.

I glanced at Lavine again.

She seemed lost in her own world—spinning slowly in the air like a speck of stardust, brushing her small form against lampposts, tree branches, even catching a few snowflakes just to watch them melt through her essence.

It was oddly peaceful, watching her.

Thankfully, this was around the time Yui would usually be cleaning my room.

That meant I wouldn’t have to worry too much about Rose for the moment.

Rose should be sleeping peacefully in my bed right now… probably.

Though I hoped Yui wouldn’t be too shocked walking in on that scene.

It was a bit… well, unconventional.

After all, Lavine’s teleportation had been sudden and forceful—more an instinctive reaction than a planned relocation.

With how abrupt it was, I could only hope nothing in my room had been broken. Furniture, walls, or Rose herself.

Still, knowing Yui… she’d probably figure it out quickly.

That woman was sharp.

Meticulous.

The kind of maid who could reconstruct an entire battle just by analyzing the way dust had scattered.

She’d notice something was off—so I trusted her to keep calm.

Probably.

Anyway, for now… things were moving according to plan.

I’d completed two major goals before the break started.

First, securing Lavine’s assistance—an existence that would easily become one of my most important trump cards in the future.

And second, ensuring the letter I gave Seo reaches her clan head, and when she did, her clan head would receive surely react greatly to the letter.

Just thinking about the contents of that letter already made my head hurt.

The potential fallout… the tension it might stir up…

Honestly, it was exhausting just imagining it.

Well, I only said a couple of provocatory words so he probably won’t mind….

I think?

Calling a grand sword-master anything but master was stupid but well… it was necessary.

Still, I really, hoped it wouldn’t come to an all-out swordfight, Afterall that old man has a worse personality than gramps back at home…

Outside of my own growth and strength… Lavine Chronos.

At this point, she might just be my greatest asset—possibly the strongest entity I could call on outside of Lucas and the still-aloof [Hidden Blade Sword Master] whose potential job as an insurance hasn’t yet surfaced.

Those two were critical cards I’d need to keep close to at least hold on to for future battles—especially the ones involving Liyana.

Of course, there were also Alice, Rose, and the rest of the Heroines… but when it came to an all-out fight, their contributions would be more support-based rather than direct confrontation.

I don’t doubt their willpower, but will alone wouldn’t be enough against what’s coming.

As much as I wanted to keep them out of the crossfire, that fantasy had long since crumbled.

Their connection to me—through emotion, circumstance, and fate—meant they’d inevitably get caught up in the storm I was drawing closer with each step forward.

And then there’s Liyana.

I still have no idea how she reacted after hearing about the rumors between me and Snow.

That silence from her side was more terrifying than any direct confrontation.

Liyana wasn’t the kind to lash out emotionally… no, her chaos simmered beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to explode.

Add the other girls to the mix—each with their own complicated bond to me—and I was essentially building a harem like road towards her mouth….

If I’m not careful, I won’t just be the center of attention—I’ll be the center of a catastrophe.

So as much as I want to believe I can handle things on my own, I know better. I have to make sure they can hold their ground.

If not for me, then for themselves. If I fall, I need them to stand.

That starts with playing to their strengths.

Alice already leagues ahead everyone at this point.

With her Red Queen powers fully awakened, she could go toe to toe with Liyana—at least within Wonderland, where her authority reigns supreme.

It might not carry over perfectly to the real world, but that alone is a huge leap.

In the game, it would’ve taken a dozen late-arc quests just to awaken her prowess to this extent.

Now she’s practically an Epilogue boss level in terms of raw adaptability power potential.

Rose, on the other hand, is a guaranteed success story.

Her growth was always high, but now that she’s receiving guidance from Lavine—even if indirectly—her trajectory is practically exponential.

She’ll reach her peak. It’s only a matter of time and polish.

That just leaves two problem pieces on the board—Snow… and Seo.

“Next semester… I may need to adjust the flow of the main story quite a bit…”

“Did you say something, Master?”

“No, nothing important,” I replied casually.

“Really now?” she hummed, unconvinced. Then, without missing a beat, she pointed toward a cozy-looking building with a warm amber glow leaking from its frosted windows. “Anyway, look at that! What’s that, Master?”

Master, huh? I resisted the urge to sigh.

First it was ‘child,’ then ‘boy,’ then ‘Riley,’ and now ‘Master’?

She really couldn’t seem to settle on a single title.

Not that I minded—at least she wasn’t calling me ‘foolish mortal’ like what she usually calls someone in the game.

Following the direction of her finger, I turned toward the building and answered her question.

“That’s a café.”

“A café?” she echoed, tilting her head slightly like a curious cat.

“Yeah. It’s basically a kind of restaurant that specializes in sweets, cakes, and caffeinated drinks—usually things like milky teas and coffee. A place people go to relax or chat.”

“Sweets? Even those ice like things?”

“Interesting… were these types of places not around in your era?” I asked, half-joking.

“No, not at all,” she replied with a touch of melancholy.

Her eyes scanned the interior through the glass.

There were only a handful of customers inside, mostly students enjoying pastries and hot drinks.

Her gaze lingered—not on the people, but on the desserts they were eating.

Her purple eyes flickered faintly, almost childlike in their curiosity.

“If you’re that curious, you can go take a look. Just don’t cause a scene.” I said with a light chuckle.

“R-Really?” she asked, her eyes brightening in surprise.

“Yeah. Just don’t take too long. Come back to me once you’re satisfied, and also make sure no one sees you.”

“Got it!”

She gave a soft smile—genuine, unguarded—and with a nod, drifted off toward the café.

Her body shimmered as she moved, a trail of ethereal light dust trailing behind her like stardust caught in the wind.

For a being once associated with both time and space she had a surprisingly delicate presence when she wanted to.

As she floated away, I allowed myself a small breath of calm—

“My, my. What a coincidence, finding you here, Original~”

—and there it is.

The voice was smooth, teasing, and far too familiar. I didn’t even need to turn around, to know who it was.

I smiled and slowly turned.

Standing a few feet behind me was a young woman with a face nearly identical to mine—though noticeably more refined, graceful, and… well slightly more mature in more place than one.

Her blue eyes gleamed with sharp intelligence. Her presence wasn’t heavy, but it was precise and efficient.

“You’re here, Evelyn,” I said flatly.

“Fufu~ Sorry for being a bit late, I figured you’d be stuck longer in Lavine’s realm, considering your luck. But it seems the negotiations went smoother than I expected.”

Her gaze flickered over to Lavine, who was currently peeking through the café window, nose nearly pressed against the glass as she observed a mountain of whipped cream on someone’s dessert.

“Well, more or less, everything went better than expected”

Evelyn chuckled softly, the sound light and teasing, before pulling something from her coat.

“Heeere you go~” she said, dragging out the words playfully as she held it out. “I even made sure to polish it.”

I raised a brow but took the item from her hand without protest.

A golden ring—slim, elegant, and glinting in the soft light.

A faint flicker of refracted light danced across its surface, matching the subtle glow of the similar ring already nestled on my finger.

“You really didn’t have to…” I muttered, tugging the new ring quickly toward my pocket, keeping it hidden from any wandering eyes.

“But are you sure about this, Original?” Evelyn asked, her playful tone dimming just a touch into something more serious. “Getting her involved might cause more problems than it solves. I thought you were trying to stay away from matters that involved Holy Kingdom as much as possible.”

I glanced away, watching Lavine still staring at the café window, her breath fogging up the glass as she admired a strawberry parfait from afar.

“Well,” I said, slightly sighing, “at some point, everyone’s going to get dragged into this mess, one way or another. It’s better to have some insurance. And if I’m going to get involved with the Holy Kingdom, I might as well start with the goddess’s beloved child. Besides, the goddess herself told me to take care of her. What better way to strengthen our connection than a little symbolic trust right?”

Not to mention the fact that Emilia was the only one who could fully restrain Liyana in her true dragon form….

[Ring of Bonds]

A sacred artifact that connects two souls, allowing them to grow stronger in tandem as enhancing your prowess the more the bonded people trust one another.

With this ring, I could ensure that the saintess would grow in power alongside me—our fates subtly intertwined.

Evelyn tilted her head, frowning slightly.

“Wouldn’t the Duke make for better insurance than the Saintess? He’s more influential… and stronger.”

“Strength-wise, sure,” I admitted. “But placing trust in the duke? That won’t lead anywhere useful, I’m sure you already know that right?”

“… I guess you’re right…”

Even in the game, the man hadn’t lifted a finger against his daughter—not even when she tried to end the world.

He hesitated, turned a blind eye, clung to the image of the daughter he wanted to believe in.

Sentiment over action.

That kind of man… isn’t someone you bet the future on.

Evelyn nodded slowly; her expression pensive before her gaze sharpened again.

“Do you want me to proceed with the original plan, then?”

“Yes,” I confirmed. “Stick to the script for now. Keep Lucas on track—subtly. I don’t want him thrown off his rhythm. As for Janica, maybe lend her a hand, give her a push to get stronger. She’s more important than she realizes.”

Evelyn’s lips curled into a satisfied smile.

“Got it. Am I free to act however I want while handling them?”

“Yeah, just don’t go too far.”

That earned me a quiet laugh.

She nodded once, slowly, then turned her gaze to the horizon.

For a moment, the wind picked up, fluttering the edge of her coat.

What is this clone of mine planning now?

I didn’t ask.

I probably wouldn’t like the answer.

Turning back, I called out, “Lavine, let’s go.”

She jolted at the sound of her name. “C-Coming!” she squeaked, tearing her eyes away from the display case and hurrying toward me, her steps light and almost floating.

It was about time we found our dear saintess before the day ended.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep