Lady Silver Lily said, “You look like it’s your first time hearing this. Did the Constellation that sent you not tell you anything beforehand? That’s rare. When sending their apostle, the Constellation usually provides as much information as possible. Are you perhaps on bad terms with your Constellation?”

“An apostle…?”

“You truly know nothing. Interesting.” Lady Silver Lily opened a drawer and pulled out an hourglass, identical to the one she had just turned over.

She lightly pressed the bell on her desk, and the office door opened.

“Yes, my lady.”

“You have fifteen more minutes. It may be longer, so tell everyone they may relax,” she instructed the servant.

“It seems you’re enjoying the conversation. Shall I bring you some tea?”

“Hmm, yes, bring the one from Jerny.”

“Understood.” The gray-haired servant bowed and left.

I stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to say.

Lady Silver Lily looked at me, the corners of her mouth rising slightly. “It’s alright. Stand comfortably.”

She certainly wasn’t suggesting I sit.

“Which Constellation sent you? Mutia? Trinity Star? Hismit Critz? Nazaro? Psimae? Hmm, you don’t seem to have heard of any of them. Who in the world do you represent?”

“The librarian from the Great Library of All Life… No, the Indoor Librarian sent me.”

I stumbled over my words. My mind was in chaos. I had sensed that the woman before me was extraordinary, but I hadn’t anticipated this. The reason I belatedly remembered the title was because I clung to the last vestiges of my disordered thoughts.

“Library… Indoor…” Lady Silver Lily twirled her quill with her left hand. “Ah, Hamustra.”

She knew the Constellation’s true name.

“Hamustra didn’t explain anything to you?” she asked.

“…The Indoor Librarian wants to avoid interfering in the affairs of an apocalyptic book as much as possible. He prefers I discover the information myself rather than being told.”

“An apocalyptic book?”

“…That’s what the Indoor Librarian calls a world destined for destruction because its barrier collapsed without its Constellation,” I explained.

Lady Silver Lily’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if amused by the sentence. Her red eyes stood out even when narrowed; their color overwhelmed whoever they rested upon.

“It’s quite arrogant of him to call another’s world whatever he pleases. I suppose that’s expected from a Constellation. An ‘apocalyptic book.’ Hmm, an apocalyptic book… it’s not wrong to say that this world will end someday, but I can’t just hand over my soul.”

I blinked.

“…Wait, you still seem unaware of what I’m saying. Didn’t you possess the body of Lady Goldencup’s butler to take my soul?”

I shook my head. I truly had no idea about this.

Lady Silver Lily pursed her lips. She regarded me as if I were a unicorn. With her gaze still fixed on me, she opened the drawer to retrieve a third hourglass.

Ding.

“Yes, my lady? I happen to have the tea ready.” The gray-haired servant smiled gently.

“Rest for fifteen more minutes.”

“The others will love that.” The servant left.

Lady Silver Lily’s eyes didn’t leave me as she sipped her black tea. “Lady Goldencup’s butler.”

“Oh, please call me Kim Gong-Ja. That’s my real name.”

“I don’t wish to. It’s rude of you to ask. Blame yourself for possessing a butler who is not a noble.”

She seemed somewhat disdainful.

“Anyway, I gather you’re a blank slate. It seems you didn’t even receive the strategy guide.”

What was this supposed strategy guide?

“It’s like this.” Lady Silver Lily took out an A4 sheet of paper from her drawer, marked with rounded cursive script.

1. Lady Silver Lily is sensitive to sunlight. When planning a date with her, schedule it in the evening or deeper into the night, not during the day.

2. Lady Silver Lily has a dull sense of taste, so she likes strongly flavored food.

3. Lady Silver Lily likes white flowers. However, she’s tired of lilies because she’s received too many. Keep this in mind when choosing a gift.

4. Lady Silver Lily is a pragmatist. She prefers discussing politics, diplomacy, and money. Remember that reading her love poems is useless.

…

10. Lady Silver Lily is loyal. It’s acceptable for her to gossip about the empire or the crown prince, but she absolutely will not tolerate others doing so. Be careful.

I was speechless. What in the world?

“This is the strategy guide that the apostle who came to win my heart on the sixth round carried. That one, sent by the Constellation named Mahos, called it the romance route.”

My jaw dropped. “R-romance route…”

“I was so astonished that I poisoned him to death and then took it away,” Lady Silver Lily said calmly. “When he died, he screamed, ‘I followed the guide perfectly, so why haven’t you fallen for me!?’, as if he were the victim. But I was the victim. How can there be a strategy guide to a person’s heart?”

[The Silver-Plated Heart has raised her complaint.]

“They thought I was easy. If they genuinely wanted to win my heart, they had to make advances fairly. But all they talk about is the strategy guide and romance routes. Those people were thoroughly corrupt.”

“You… You’re right.”

“I feel like I can talk to you.” Lady Silver Lily set down her teacup. “There’s a reason I have a high opinion of you. Not only are you intelligent, but I can also sense that you see the people in my world as human beings.”

“R-really? I feel like you’re complimenting me for being normal…”

“There were many, many beasts who couldn’t meet the obvious standard. Those beasts didn’t consider the people human, yet they firmly believed themselves to be human. They’re vile creatures.”

My breath hitched.

She rested her chin on her palm, examining me. After a sigh, she nodded. “Is that so?”

Badump.

“What I just said means a great deal to you.”

Badump.

“Have you also seen many people like them? Have people ever looked at you with those kinds of eyes too?”

Badump.

“If not, then… I see. Someone precious to you said something similar…”

“My lady.”

I cut her off, unable to bear her gaze any longer. It was as if she had split open my chest, ripped out my ribs, and held a magnifying glass over my raw heart.

[The Silver-Plated Heart looks at you.]

I couldn’t let her control this conversation anymore.

“Despite what you said, you also looked down on me for possessing a commoner, not a noble.”

Lady Silver Lily didn’t even blink. “What? Are you that upset that I didn’t call you by your real name?”

“I’m just saying that you aren’t in a position to claim superiority, my lady.”

“I’m not in a position to claim superiority… You truly sound like the bad butler who turned the academy upside down.” Lady Silver Lily’s voice held a hint of amusement. “However, I admit you make a point. So let’s return to the conversation we were having.”

Lady Silver Lily coughed. “So?”

“Pardon?”

“I understand that you don’t want my soul. Then why did you cross the boundaries of worlds and come here? This is a world where ten days repeat forever.”

[The Silver-Plated Heart doubts your sincerity.]

“Surely the Constellation didn’t exile you here because he hates you. I’ve heard that Hamustra is somewhat moderate, but that doesn’t mean you came here for a vacation. Actor who plays the butler of Lady Goldencup, answer my question.”

“I…” I trailed off.

“I will not accept a lie as an answer. The moment you add even a hint of a lie, you’ll never achieve what you seek from me. I don’t show my heart to someone who doesn’t show me theirs first.”

I pondered. One possibility was that I desired her world to become the Tower’s twenty-fifth floor. But was this stage truly necessary for the Tower’s people? No, it wouldn’t be a problem if another apocalyptic book were chosen for the twenty-fifth floor.

It was true that a fragment of my holy sword lay somewhere in this world. Did I have to collect all the fragments and complete the holy sword? No, I didn’t. Finding Shiny’s sisters would make me, her owner, stronger, but that didn’t mean there was a deeper meaning.

So why should I stay in this book?

“…I don’t yet know love,” I blurted out.

“What?”

“Perhaps it’s closer to romantic feelings. I’m unfamiliar with them. You may not know this, but this world’s genres include romance. So I think this is the right place to learn about love.”

When Teacher had been in her last match, the Guardian had shouted something as they locked blades.

—Gong-Ja hasn’t experienced the happiness of the world yet.

—You know what, Heavenly Demon? This guy has never fallen in love with anyone. He’s never been on a date either! Isn’t that funny?

Those words were deeply etched in my heart.

“If there’s something I lack, I want to learn it. It doesn’t feel fair to leave that unknown. I won’t feel like I’ve lived life to the fullest.”

Lady Silver Lily examined my face closely. I might have imagined it, but her red eyes seemed tinged with confusion.

“So you want to learn about love?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“From me?”

“…I’m not sure about that.”

“Explain.”

I gathered my thoughts. “To be precise, it’s more that I want to learn about love in this world.”

“This world…”

“Yes, I want to know what I lack.”

“Then why did you come to me? Wouldn’t it be better to go to your Lady Goldencup?”

The Inquisitor. Lady Goldencup.

“No, it wouldn’t,” I replied.

“Why? Do you not like who is possessing her?”

“It’s not a matter of liking or disliking. That person is…”

“If I were like you,” the Inquisitor said.

“That person is more clumsy at this than I am. If I’m going to learn, I should learn from someone who knows better.”

Lady Silver Lily took a sip of tea. After a moment of silence, she agreed. “Well, Lady Goldencup in this round doesn’t seem like the type who could teach someone about love. It seems she should be taught.”

“That is correct.”

“But that still doesn’t seem like a reason for you to come to me.”

“I have a reason,” I replied, my voice growing stronger as I recalled the thought I had in the dungeon. “I want to understand you.”

Lady Silver Lily blinked. A few drops of tea splashed from her cup, slightly dampening the front of her dress. It seemed she hadn’t expected what I’d said.

“You want to understand me…?”

“Yes. I don’t know if it’s for the crown prince or the empire, but you’ve dedicated your life. I’m curious about how you can do that. I want to know what kind of thoughts and feelings can make you do that. If it’s because of love, I wish to feel it, just like you. I’m a little embarrassed, but I’m answering as honestly as I can.”

It took a while for Lady Silver Lily to respond.

“You… You’re unlike anyone I’ve ever dealt with before.”

Now I could see clearly that she was flustered.

“You want to know about love. That statement alone shows that you don’t know how frightening people can be. But you also want to understand me? Those aren’t words to be spoken lightly. They poison people. Understanding is no different from responsibility. But…”

“Mr. Librarian.” I looked up at the ceiling. Of course, he wasn’t there, but he would be listening to this conversation. The Hunters in the Tower would also be watching. “Please stop the broadcast for a moment. I have something I want to tell Lady Silver Lily alone.”

A moment later, I heard a voice in response to my request.

[The Indoor Librarian has readily accepted your request.]

[The Indoor Librarian has approved a ten minute skip.]

Okay. I looked at Lady Silver Lily again. “I’m also a regressor, but my regression is a bit different from yours, my lady.”

“How different is it?”

“You said that you repeat the last ten days of your life. When I die, I go back a day. It’s not like I just go back. If someone kills me, I can see their trauma before going back.”

“Trauma?”

“Yes.” My voice echoed softly in the office. “I can see the wounds, memories, and scenes that people keep deep in their hearts. If their wound is from the destruction of their treasure, I can see that very moment.”

I didn’t have to choose my words carefully. I just let my mouth open and let my tongue move on its own, and what I wanted to say flowed out.

“I can understand other people a little more easily.”

As I told my secret to Lady Silver Lily, I suddenly realized that I had wanted to tell my story to someone who lived a life similar to mine.

Lady Silver Lily was quiet. As I continued my story, her eyes became calmer. I could feel she was listening to me seriously.

“It’s my Skill, a sort of technique. I’m afraid that I’ll get used to understanding others easily. One of the people I trust the most told me that I should never rely on my Skills. But…”

“But?” she repeated.

“If my understanding of them is one-sided…”

“…It wouldn’t be understanding anymore.”

“But I can’t just leave them alone because…”

“Because if you also give up on them, they’ll wither to death. Even if it’s just hypocrisy, you want to let them know that you’re still there for them. You’re very blessed to have that possibility, aren’t you?”

I choked up for a moment. “…Yes.”

“Fool.” Lady Silver Lily closed her eyes. “It might only take a moment to understand someone, but the responsibility will last forever. You’re voluntarily stepping into hell.”

After that, she fell silent.

[The Indoor Librarian notifies you that the scene skip has ended.]

“Alright, butler of Lady Goldencup.” Lady Silver Lily opened her eyes. She picked up one of the hourglasses that she had turned over on the desk and watched the grains of sand slipping away. “I’ll teach you love.”