Gulp, gulp, gulp—
In the aftermath of that bewildering incident, Mado, having hastily logged out for a moment, emptied an entire bottle of water.
Indeed, sweat poured from her body as if she had been caught in a downpour.
Her seat, now thoroughly drenched, appeared as though a private water park had spontaneously opened.
Of course, not all of it was sweat—
“Phew. Hoooo… I was truly startled.”
The sensation of that hand suddenly placed on her waist was still unnervingly vivid.
Though it was merely for a fleeting moment, the feeling was as distinct and sticky as a freshly pressed seal.
‘He couldn’t have noticed, could he?’
She had genuinely believed that the internet chatter about ‘going wild’ from a mere touch was nothing more than an exaggeration.
Yet, the sensation was undeniably far more potent and explicit than what those rumors implied, a profound feeling she couldn’t dismiss.
‘Or perhaps, even when we held hands…’
While it hadn’t reached this level of intensity, she now realized that even their first encounter had stirred similar feelings.
Perhaps it was because she hadn’t yet realized he was a man, let alone such a strikingly handsome one, that her reactions had been somewhat restrained back then.
“Hngh…”
She gently stroked her lower abdomen, which still throbbed faintly.
She had always considered herself to have a weaker desire for pregnancy compared to other women.
Her mindset had always been one of indifference: ‘A man would be nice to have, but if not, no matter. If I truly desired a child, I could simply receive a donation from the state.’ That was the extent of her thoughts.
But it seemed she had been mistaken.
‘So this is what it feels like when you truly fall for a man.’
It was a sensation she had undoubtedly never experienced before.
As these thoughts continued, her fantasies took flight.
“Ehehehe…”
‘How many children should we have? Since my body is a bit weak, having many children might be difficult, but for my darling’s babies, perhaps three…’
‘Our newlywed life would be so happy. Honestly, just looking at his face would make me happy, and since he has such a kind personality, surely thirty years… no, an entire lifetime would be blissful.’
‘Darling, breakfast is ready~ Honey, please try this first. Is it alright? Was it delicious? Oh, you, darling, to say I’m even more delicious than—’
Ding!
[ Mado, are you alright? ]
At that moment, a single message shattered her ongoing fantasy.
The ‘darling’ in her mind vanished, replaced by the contact from the living, breathing him.
Her imagination had been sweet, so sweet, but reality proved even sweeter.
No matter how much she fantasized, it was still just a fantasy; but if she logged in now, she could vividly see him right beside her.
[ Yes, yes, I’m fine. My device just had a temporary connection issue… ]
[ Ah, I thought so. Come back in a bit then. We’re already in a party, so just log in and press the accept button, and you’ll arrive at the world’s base where I am. ]
Every single one of those chat messages felt incredibly kind.
At least, that’s how it felt to Mado.
Each character drifted down gently, like cherry blossoms in spring.
[ Yes, I’ll be right there! ]
[ (Soft Kitty Emoticon) ]
“Hehe.”
She let out a more foolish giggle than the cat character in the messenger emoticon.
A silly smile crept across her lips.
–Mado, did you go wash your panties…?
–Wash only her panties? Lol, she probably stayed in the bathroom for ages.
–This is seriously annoying. You should pay triple tax, seriously, goddammit.
–This woman’s constant smiling face is infuriating LOLOLOLOLOL
–Hyunwoo has no feelings!!!!!! You’re the only one like this, only you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As she re-equipped her smart wear and turned on her broadcast and game, the chat window erupted into chaos.
Unable to express their frustration in the main game chat, viewers had flocked to her stream’s chat to vent their grievances.
Yet, amidst the uproar, Mado merely smiled and nodded.
“Oh~ No, what are you talking about, going to the bathroom~ And Hyunwoo and I are just streamer-to-streamer, no forced pairing, nope~”
–Damn, her voice is already totally a female animal’s voice.
–Ugh, this is so annoying. Damn, I should’ve been a streamer too. Why did I choose such a weird job that I can’t even meet men?
–The chat is turning so dark LOLOLOLOLOL Eh, it’s not that bad… Mado, you damn b*tch.
–Uh-oh, that’s just swearing;;
–People are turning dark in real-time LOLOLOL
Mado simply smiled, accepting the torrent of accusations and fury.
For in that moment, she felt as though she could forgive even her bitterest enemy.
‘Ah, I have reached the pinnacle.’
‘At the apex of all females in this world—’
‘I shall, from the heavens, reach my climax…’
****
What sort of smart wear could possibly have so many connection issues?
After that utterly strange incident, I simply headed to the world first.
Since we were already in a party, the world’s base seemed to be a shareable system.
“Is this it?”
I stroked the mirror installed at the customs office north of the beginner’s village, the gateway to the world.
It was written that I should do so.
With a low hum, a blue aura unfurled in the air.
It was a sight both strangely familiar and entirely new.
“…A portal?”
While its appearance was quite similar to the portals in the previous game, this wasn’t the usual method for entering the world.
This was quite perplexing.
However, I didn’t hesitate much.
I simply assumed the method had changed.
Thus, I immediately stepped toward the portal.
Whoosh—
A whooshing sound of wind brushed past, and with it, my vision twisted before gradually beginning to recover.
The first thing I perceived was a stretch of red fabric spread across the floor.
The golden embroidery laid out on either side of it exuded an antique elegance.
‘What is this place? Where am I?’
As these thoughts crossed my mind, I lifted my head to see an incredibly tall dais.
And a woman sat upon a throne arranged atop that dais. This was like…
“An imperial court?”
It seemed the woman on the dais had heard my murmur.
Wearing a rather satisfied smile, she declared with an air of considerable arrogance,
“Hmph, are you the otherworldly being summoned this time?”
“…Otherworldly being? Ah, that kind of setting?”
Having roughly grasped the situation, I nodded.
I had deliberately not read the full description of Spiral 2’s world.
I thought experiencing it firsthand would be more entertaining for the broadcast.
However, it seemed this world’s setting involved NPCs from its original world summoning players.
‘Well, that’s fine then.’
“What is your name?”
“I am Hyunwoo, Your Majesty.”
“Oh ho. You use honorifics. Most otherworldly beings do not. Quite commendable.”
[ Seria’s Affinity has increased by 5! ]
Drawing upon my memories from the previous game’s world, I displayed proper etiquette, and a look of satisfaction settled on her face.
Along with that, a message appeared indicating an increase in affinity.
‘Seria. That must be the empress’s name.’
She, Seria, nodded and posed a question to me.
“You appear to be so, but are you male?”
“Yes, I am.”
“It is peculiar that males are rarely seen among otherworldly beings, making this quite a wonder. To find a man of your caliber among them.”
“…?”
Her words left me somewhat bewildered.
As far as I knew, the male-to-female ratio in Spiral 1, the previous game, was heavily skewed, roughly 1 male to 20 females, similar to how it was presented as ‘reality’ within that game’s context.
This had been one of the few significant differences between Spiral as it existed in my original world and its depiction within the game itself, a detail I was certain of.
I understood that this world’s setting likely reflected a familiarity with such a gender ratio.
“…Yes, well.”
Therefore, I had anticipated that this world, too, would be one where men were a rarity.
After all, they wouldn’t have deliberately deviated from the direction established in the previous game.
Yet, there was a subtle, unsettling unpleasantness embedded in her words.
Neither her tone nor her condescending gaze seemed in the least bit positive.
“Do you know the reason why the Imperial Court of Gerthain summons otherworldly beings?”
“…I do not know, Your Majesty.”
“I know not what your world is like, but this place has been in disarray for several years due to rampant demonic beasts. In truth, we are now being pushed back. Thus, we summon otherworldly beings such as yourself to seek aid.”
“…Ah, I see.”
“As I understand it, you, too, chose to come here because there is an opportunity to grow greatly in strength. Is this correct?”
“That is correct…?”
The more she spoke, the more she seemed to savor her words, sending a faint shiver down my spine.
It felt as if a sinister aura was emanating from her.
[ Target ‘Seria’s’ skill, Empress’s Pressure, has been activated! ]
[ This skill can be applied to all citizens and residents within the Patarman Empire! ]
[ You do not possess the rank to resist this authority! All stats are reduced by 50 percent! ]
‘Seriously?’
‘What the hell?’
Just as I was somewhat taken aback by that absurd message, the words that flowed from her lips next were even more astonishing.
“You, become my concubine.”
“…Pardon?”
“Did you not hear? Become my beloved concubine. If you do, I shall promise you all my support.”
At that declaration, I was simply dumbfounded.
No other emotion even arose within me.
It was a scenario I had never remotely imagined.
‘What in the world? To be told to become a concubine by an NPC, of all things!’
“Are you displeased with being a concubine? Yet, it cannot be helped. Imperial law strictly dictates that one not of imperial birth cannot be taken as a primary wife. However, I promise to cherish you even more than a primary wife.”
“…No, wait. I…”
“Do you, perhaps, have a lover? Are you already married? You do not appear to be so.”
Each word she uttered chipped away at my composure.
–LOLOLOLOLOL Wow, insane, an NPC is saying this?
–He’s even charming the AI LOLOLOLOLOL
–Hey, isn’t this dangerous though? Damn, if this clip gets to the Game Rating Board, Spiral 2 could get banned.
–Oh, whatever, I’m just getting my popcorn ready LOLOLOLOLOL
–Why was I born human and not an NPC empress in a game…?
The chat window, likewise, was ablaze.
However, the truly vexing part was that most of them were simply finding it amusing.
As I stood there, utterly dumbfounded and unable to respond,
‘Who, by whose leave?’
A voice echoed from somewhere.
At first, I wondered if it was merely a hallucination, a projection of my own inner thoughts.
“BY WHOSE LEAVEEEEEE—!”
But then, seeing a figure burst forth amidst flickering light, I realized it was no hallucination.
–Oh damn, a Black Rose appears to save the prince in his moment of crisis!!!
–What Black Rose, lol? Call it a crazy female entering the fray to stop her male from being stolen.
–LOLOLOLOLOL This setup is so damn entertaining!
–That woman’s eyes have gone wild LOLOLOLOLOL
There, Mado stood defiantly, her face contorted in a fierce expression.
The moment she appeared, she glared daggers at the empress on the dais.
It was as if sparks were flying between the two of them.
Somehow, the chill I felt from her was even greater than what I had sensed from the empress.
‘…But Mado, you don’t even have any skills.’
‘How in the world did you manage that?’
