How did things end up like this?
Looking around, I saw a neatly organized room.
It was a place I had seen once before. Yu Siwoo’s room.
Even though I had definitely seen it before, it felt different somehow.
“Where did I put the spare blanket…”
Yu Siwoo started searching for a blanket for me to use.
That guy really doesn’t think at all, does he?
A sigh escaped me in disbelief.
I almost got the wrong idea.
Yu Siwoo had no reason to say something like that to me, of course…
But who knows? Maybe for some reason I couldn’t fathom, he’d fallen for me? I’d been overthinking it for a while.
Turns out he really didn’t think about it at all.
…Is this what being a protagonist is like?
I never would’ve guessed he’d say something that could be so easily misinterpreted.
“Arte, is something wrong?”
“It’s nothing.”
Whoa, that startled me.
Yu Siwoo suddenly speaking to me made me jump.
He noticed right away, even though I’d only glanced at him.
He’s quick to pick up on things like this, but why doesn’t he realize his own words could be misunderstood?
“Ah, here it is.”
Yu Siwoo brightened, as if he’d found the blanket.
He laid it out on the floor and then stretched out on top of it.
…Huh?
“Uh, that blanket…?”
“I’m going to use it. You should rest comfortably on the bed, Arte.”
“Oh, right.”
It was just a small, ordinary act of consideration.
The kind of thing you’d do when visiting a friend’s house, or when a friend came over to yours.
Yu Siwoo probably didn’t think much of it either.
Just another one of his usual, casual acts of kindness.
But even so, that small gesture warmed my heart.
…If only there wasn’t one thing bothering me.
“But do you really have to sleep on the floor…?”
“Hm? Why?”
“There were multiple rooms, right? Wouldn’t it be fine to sleep in another one…?”
I still couldn’t understand.
If there were other rooms, why did he insist on sleeping in the same one as me?
“…Do you really want to hear it?”
“Huh?”
What’s with that serious look?
Yu Siwoo’s expression hardened, as if he were determined to make me listen no matter what.
Hmm, I’d expected a lighthearted answer.
Didn’t Yu Siwoo not see me as a woman? Was there actually a reason he had to sleep in the same room as me?
I stared at his serious face.
Yu Siwoo was still looking at me with that same hardened expression.
“…Yes, I want to hear it.”
If he was this serious about it, how could I not be curious?
I’d thought it was just the protagonist’s usual cluelessness, treating me like a close friend.
But there was a reason?
My curiosity was piqued.
“Sigh, fine. Then I’ll step outside for a bit.”
“…Huh?”
“It’ll only be a moment. You’ll understand soon enough.”
Yu Siwoo informed me of his plan.
He was going to go outside for a little while.
After giving me a concerned look at my bewilderment, he left the house as he’d declared.
With a promise to return quickly.
…And then, a short time later, I was trembling again, gripped by a familiar unease.
As my breathing grew labored and the helplessness returned, I panicked once more.
Yu Siwoo bowed his head apologetically and stepped back into the room.
"...How is it?"
"T-This is... what...?"
I’m not an idiot either.
If the same situation happened twice in a short span, I could roughly guess the reason.
Before I suddenly struggled to breathe—what happened?
Yu Siwoo disappeared right in front of me.
Could something so trivial really be the cause of this?
"Arte. I told you before. I know who you are."
"..."
"The very next day, you were late. You clung to me half-asleep. Remember?"
"D-Did I...?"
"After that, you seemed... a little unstable."
Was it okay to tell me this?
With that expression, Yu Siwoo spoke to me.
"I had a hunch, but when I saw you struggling to breathe today, I was sure."
"...W-What?"
"It seems like you’re anxious about being separated from me."
He’d reached the same conclusion I had.
But that only made it more shocking.
Because it meant what I’d been thinking was true.
"That’s why I suggested we sleep together. You looked like you were having a hard time."
"...Ah."
I felt ashamed for thinking he was oblivious.
Yu Siwoo had been trying to help me, and here I was, badmouthing him.
"Th-Thank you..."
"And... there’s something I want to say."
"Y-Yes...? Something you want to say?"
I’d been about to express my gratitude, but Yu Siwoo cut me off.
"We brushed it off back then, but... I think we need to talk about it properly."
...Amelia said it was dangerous, but now seemed like the right time to talk.
Muttering that, Yu Siwoo closed the open window.
As if making sure I had no way to escape.
"That author of yours. Are they still watching?"
"T-The author—how do you—!"
"You should be careful how you talk, Arte. When you mutter like that, at least I can hear it."
I’d thought he only knew about me.
Was it my carelessness? Or the author’s lack of ability?
Yu Siwoo knew more than I’d realized.
...They could’ve given me telepathy. I knew the damn setting made it impossible, but I couldn’t help complaining.
"So? Are they watching?"
"...I don’t know. I can’t reach them."
"You can’t reach them?"
"Ever since they found out my true identity, they haven’t said a word..."
If I ran now, he’d just ask again tomorrow.
Looking into Yu Siwoo’s eyes, I was certain. Even if I fled now, I’d only be delaying the inevitable.
I gave up and told him my situation.
No contact at all.
I had no way to reach out.
It wasn’t Yu Siwoo’s fault.
He’d known the truth and still trusted me enough to keep quiet.
And yet, I couldn’t stop the dark thoughts from creeping in.
He didn’t have to say anything.
I wouldn’t have been this anxious if he hadn’t.
Even as I thought that, I hated myself for trying to shift the blame onto someone else.
"Well, fine. Whether they’re watching or not, what I want to say doesn’t change."
I’d thought he’d let it slide.
Yu Siwoo was more tenacious than I expected, and I had been far too complacent.
Just as self-loathing began to overwhelm me—
he made a declaration to me.
No, to the Author.
"My goal, Arte, is to make you happy."
"...What?"
"But you won’t be happy as long as that Author is around."
So I’m declaring it.
Yu Siwoo smiled at me as he said,
"If that Author ever contacts you again, tell them this."
"...Tell them what?"
"To be careful from now on."
How arrogant.
That was my first thought after hearing his words.
I’ve never even seen the Author’s face.
How could he possibly do anything to someone whose face he doesn’t even know?
Maybe my doubts showed on my face, because Yu Siwoo pouted.
"...What, Arte? You don’t trust me?"
"How could I possibly trust that?"
Yu Siwoo is strong. That much is true.
But in the end, he’s still just a person.
No one can defeat a god. That’s what I thought.
"It’s impossible. No one in this world can defeat the Author. That’s just reality."
"Is that a guess?"
"It’s an undeniable fact."
"...I see."
His words were kind.
But the impossible is still impossible.
A mere human can’t possibly stand against a god.
"You’re really killing my confidence here."
After saying that, Yu Siwoo suddenly pulled me into a hug.
"W-What are you—!"
"Let’s get some rest tonight and think about it again later. It’s way past bedtime. If you stay up late, you’ll be late again, right?"
As if refusing to discuss it further, Yu Siwoo lifted me and forcibly carried me to the bed.
Before I could react, I was already lying on top of it.
"Good night, Arte. I hope you sleep well tonight."
"W-Wait a second!"
Yu Siwoo didn’t say another word.
I guess he just wants me to rest.
"Haa..."
In the end, he said what he wanted to say and didn’t listen to a word I had to say.
I replayed his words in my mind.
He wants to help. He wants to do something about the Author.
It was written all over his face.
He looked like he was determined to find a way, no matter what—like he refused to even say the word "impossible."
"Uh, are you... asleep?"
As expected, there was no answer.
Maybe he is. I didn’t have the courage to check.
Someone else’s bed.
It was much harder and unfamiliar compared to my own.
It would’ve been normal to stay up all night.
But for some reason, I felt an inexplicable sense of relief.
In the darkness, Yu Siwoo was lying nearby.
The man who trusted me completely, who wanted to help me, was right there.
...This feels nice.
I buried my face in the pillow.
As expected, it didn’t suit me. There was no way I’d fall asleep.
At least, that’s what I thought.
But then, sleep began to pull me under.
A comforting sense of security wrapped around me like an embrace. A warm presence.
For the first time since coming to this world, I felt like I might finally get a good night’s sleep.
It was just a vague feeling.
But it wasn’t wrong.
For the first time since arriving in this world, I fell into a deep sleep.