“Anyway, let’s put it on hold for now. While there’s truth in the suspicion surrounding you, I’m going to watch you closely and judge for myself. Right by my side. Seems like it’s going to be a long task.”

He’s not going to kill me, at least. Listening to his lullaby-like voice, I nestled into his broad chest for a while. I suddenly realized his embrace carried the scent of damp wood. His strong arms, wrapping around me, felt reassuring. Exhausted from the intense events, I felt like melting into his embrace.

He gently wiped away the tears glistening at the corner of my eyes and then lifted me up, carrying me princess-style to another room. Wait, there’s another room? The door on the wall of the interrogation room led to a small bedroom.

“…What is this place?”

“My attached bedroom.”

“Why do you sleep in a place like this, Your Excellency?”

“Hmm. When I work here, it often takes several days… so I end up staying overnight. Whenever I hear sounds like the melodies of sirens, it lulls me to sleep. Thus, I set up this place.”

I shuddered, freshly reminded of his psychopathic tendencies. Thankfully, for now, he seemed to be an ally. He gave a comforting smile to my shocked face and laid me on the bed.

The spring bed, cradling my body, was infused with a masculine, bittersweet scent. Though alarming, it felt strangely calming.

“Sweet Hena, sleep here for tonight. From tomorrow, serve me. Soon, I’ll arrange a bedroom for you.”

“Yes…”

I meekly nodded. He gently brushed my hair, and, feeling ashamed, I avoided his gaze. He chuckled softly and left the room. The sound of the door locking followed, and then I heard the external locks securing it.

‘…Is he gone now? This has been the longest day of my life.’

Once he left, I exhaled a sigh of relief.

Staring blankly at the brick ceiling, I tried to process my situation.

I was trapped in a game I created, a parallel game world. How it happened, I wasn’t sure. Just as we, in 3D, can navigate our 3D world, maybe something related to moving through time in a 4D universe occurred. Regardless, I’d need to explore and figure it out.

What’s crucial is that my body is still linked to reality. If I die here, I’ll likely die in the real world too. Hence, my goal is to clear this game and return to my world.

I recalled the voice from the game’s beginning. It had mentioned gaining items, clearing missions, exploring the labyrinth, and overall completion rate. Items and rewards seem to be materials for the labyrinth exploration. When the completion rate reaches 100%, I’ll be able to return to the real world.

Today, I encountered the first character who would play the role of a villain. Somehow, I managed to successfully raise his favorability through the quest. Thus, if I can tempt him rightly, maybe I can use him.

‘Maybe it’s not as hard as I think. If I play my cards right, or rather, use my charms, there might be a chance…’

I tried to remain optimistic in this despairing situation.

After 25 years of a solitary life, never even holding hands with a man due to my uniquely high standards, here I was in a game world crafted to my tastes. Including Karzan, there were handsome NPCs. I was confident that if they were my counterparts, I could happily indulge in my s*x life.

Suddenly, a realization struck. This could be the universe’s way of invigorating my lackluster life.

Though I suffered a lot yesterday, I had hope for today. Perhaps new events awaited. With my parched lips, I slowly closed my eyes.

That night, I dreamt of returning to reality after clearing all the games, and spending time with my dearly missed people, until I woke up with a puffy face.

? ? ?

“Ugh…”

It was dark all around. A usual ‘I’m doomed’ kind of morning, yet all I could see was darkness, save for a dimly burning red torch and a shadow below it.

“I wonder when Karzan will come.”

Murmuring to myself, I looked around. Then I spotted something white wedged between the bricks in the distance. It was a piece of paper.

[????TIP????]

How to Retrieve an Item:

If you say ‘Inventory’ in your mind, an item window appears before you.

Look at one and say ‘Use’, and that item will appear in your hand.

Great, they tell me the essential stuff now. Annoyed, I crumpled the note, recalling the moment I panicked yesterday. Then I checked my possessions. There was one NPC knockout potion and a pair of glasses with a large rubber nose.

‘Wait, was this the hidden item reward from earlier?’

The reward for all that trouble was this ridiculous pair of glasses? I tried them on. They fit snugly, but nothing seemed different. When I looked in a mirror, I saw a woman with large glasses and a comically large nose.

Creak, Just then, the door opened.

“Who…”

It was a servant. She was about my height, had a slight build, and looked rather annoyed.

Instantly, a gauge appeared above her head. The red gauge indicated -17, which dropped to -19 as I stared.

“What’s with that ridiculous look? Take those off right now!”

At her stern command, I immediately removed the goofy glasses.

“Lord Izihik has summoned you. Change in the basement servant room and wait in front of the 1st-floor conference room. There’s a meeting starting in an hour.”

“Yes, understood…”

She looked like a senior among the maid players. I pretended to understand and tucked the glasses into the back pocket of my maid outfit.

In the midst of confusion, it became clear that these glasses were for checking favorability levels. Based on the game mechanics related to managing villains’ favorability, and seeing the gauge drop drastically at my appearance, I was sure of it. The only thing I couldn’t understand was why the design made it so challenging to wear discreetly.

As I grumbled and made my way to the 1st-floor lobby, sunlight pouring through the domed ceiling greeted me. It was indeed morning.

Stumbling my way down, I entered the basement servant’s room. There, maids like me were preparing various chores along with laundry. These were the first characters I encountered up close in the labyrinth. They generally looked pale and frail, their eyes all equally dull as if they’d never been exposed to proper sunlight.

As I was getting ready to change, a maid next to me asked, “Aren’t you going to take a shower?”

“Pardon?”

I wasn’t too concerned since it was just a game, but the way she looked at me so strangely made me reconsider.

“Where can I shower?”

“Where can you shower… The only place allowed for us is this basement servant room.”