Chapter 14

Actually, until just a moment ago, I’d completely forgotten that I was in the middle of a game. But when Ethel was talking about dessert research—

[★Lala★’s Quest <Become Friends with Ethel> has been completed. Would you like to check your reward?]

 

▷ Yes

 

▷ No

A window popped up indicating the quest was completed, and only then did I realize I was in the game. At the same time, I thought something was odd about Ethel. It felt like she was trying too hard to deviate from the original.

[Ian’s Temperament has increased by 5.]

 

[Ian’s Affinity has increased by 5.]

After checking my reward, I tested her with the salted bread. And that’s when Ethel fell into my trap.

“A g-game?”

Flustered, she even stammered.

“Aren’t you in a game too, Miss Ethel? <Open the Cage> or something?”

Unfortunately, I’d forgotten the game name too. Lala, why couldn’t you come up with an easier name to remember?

“Huh? You were playing a game too? But this game is called <Girl in the Cage>.”

“That’s the original name. This is a spin-off scheduled for release based on that game, right?”

“No. I’m playing <Girl in the Cage>. I’ve played this game so many times, and I already know everything about it.”

“Huh?”

“What?”

What’s this? What kind of situation is this?

This is too strange. This isn’t a multi-user game where multiple people log in simultaneously. It’s a single-player game. Yet here I am encountering a user who’s playing the original game inside the game itself.

“You seem to be mistaken.”

Suddenly, a thought occurred to me. Maybe this game, unlike the original, is designed so multiple users inhabit various characters and progress through the story.

“No. I’m definitely playing <Girl in the Cage>. The GM told me so.”

“What’s the GM’s name by any chance? Are they blonde?”

“They’re blonde. It’s Lala!”

That Lala… I thought she hadn’t been around much lately, but she’s been working a second job.

“Maybe Lala misspoke?”

“No. I’m a veteran of this game, so I know <Girl in the Cage> is correct.”

She answered confidently.

“But you can’t play that game this realistically, can you?”

“They said they updated it recently?”

What on earth is happening with this situation?

We talked about the games we were each playing. She said she simply fell asleep while playing <Girl in the Cage>, and when she did, she got transported into the game—specifically to the entrance ceremony, which is the beginning of the original game.

“Lala told me she hoped I’d see a happy ending with Ian.”

“But it doesn’t seem like you’re playing for a happy ending right now.”

She was playing in a completely different direction from the strategy guide. Since Ethel is the female protagonist, if she diligently trains in swordsmanship, there’s a high probability of reaching a happy ending.

“I’ve already seen many happy endings. I saw them before I entered this game too.”

“Still, you seem to be playing in a direction too different from the original game. Bread instead of swordsmanship…?”

“No. It’s not different. Miss Sia, you seem to have only cleared the happy ending from the strategy guide.”

“Right. After all, the happy ending was famous…”

Of course, it was famous as a cozy garbage disposal.

“I think you forgot, but at the beginning of this game, you can choose which department to join at the academy. The Swordsmanship Department, the Magic Department, and the Baking Department.”

Hearing Ethel’s words, I realized something. Since I’d only played to see the happy ending, I’d completely forgotten that there were other departments to choose from.

“If you go to the Baking Department, you can’t catch monsters near the academy, so it’s hard to get high practical scores. Then you move away from top ranking, and Ian won’t pay attention to my existence.”

“So what happens?”

“You get one of three normal endings: becoming a dessert manager at the Bellocchio Duchy, or opening a dessert shop and becoming wildly successful as normal ending 4, or failing at opening a shop too hastily and marrying some nameless man as bad ending 3.”

The original game had this many different endings? Because of the happy ending and Ian’s obsession, only the normal ending where Ethel’s future got tied down(?) became famous, so I had no idea other endings existed.

“Actually, if you go to the Magic Department, you can see a hidden ending, but the hidden ending here is a bit strange, so…”

“A hidden ending?”

“I get married to Ian, and you marry Angelo after divorcing Ian.”

Now that I think about it, Angelo is quite handsome for a character without much screen time. There must have been a reason.

“But why is that strange?”

“Clearly, the protagonists of this game are Ethel and Ian. But in the hidden ending, those two just get married, and that’s the end, while you and Angelo have detailed story scenes of you confessing to each other and getting married.”

My story with Angelo appears in the original game? As she said, it was strange. Why would the story focus on me and Angelo instead of the actual protagonists Ian and Ethel? I opened my mouth after pondering for a moment.

“What if that hidden ending content was a spoiler for the spin-off game I’m playing right now?”

Reformed Ian has a smooth romance with Ethel and marries her, and divorced Elicia marries her childhood friend Angelo. Except for my marriage to Angelo, it’s similar to the spin-off game I’m currently playing. It seems the original game’s hidden ending is teasing the next game release.

“That seems right. I was wondering why the protagonists had so little screen time in the first place.”

She nodded in agreement with my opinion.

“But why did you go to the Baking Department this time? Now that the game is more realistic, wouldn’t it be okay to end up with Ian?”

Although it’s like a cozy garbage disposal of a game, Ian is surprisingly popular among users.

“This game is scarily realistic right now. To end up with Ian, I’d have to go to the Swordsmanship Department, but I’d have to endure bullying from other guys who want to impress Ian there, and that’s…”

I see. In a way, you have to endure school violence, so it could be unpleasant.

“Plus, such obsession is fun in games or novels. But when I’m the one experiencing it, I hate it.”

So she started making desserts like this. To see a comfortable ending.

“And if I go to the Magic Department, I have to commit murder. There’s a quest where I kill my father. It’s so realistic here that it might actually feel like I’m committing real murder, so…”

“What?”

I responded loudly in surprise. So there was content about the father dying in the original too… Could it be that Ethel was the one who killed my father? As I stared at Ethel intently, she quickly clarified.

“That quest appears when you turn 18. Plus, that quest is so difficult that it’s hard to clear. But they say your father here has already been murdered.”

So it seems Lala was the one who killed my father after all. I changed the subject back to Ian.

“You don’t need to worry about Ian’s excessive obsession. Ian right now isn’t that bad in personality yet.”

Ian has become much kinder compared to the original. So if I create opportunities for Ian and Ethel to meet frequently, I should be able to easily see the happy ending I want. The current Ethel seems to like Ian a lot, having played the original game so much.

“I’m sorry, Miss Sia. I have no intention of seeing the happy ending you want.”

“What? Why?”

“Just. I want to try a new playthrough. With the update allowing free actions, I’m going to ignore quests and just play however I want as a commemoration.”

“That’s exactly why you should experience the happy ending more realistically!”

I shouted urgently, but she only smiled faintly.

No, think positively. If she keeps encountering Ian, her feelings might change. She might want to pursue him after seeing Ian’s improved Temperament.

‘It’s okay. Let’s approach this slowly.’

There’s still plenty of time.

I smiled meaningfully, and Ethel seemed startled, as if she’d seen something she shouldn’t have. Then it happened.

“What are you doing over there?”

I turned my head at the familiar male voice from behind.

“Did the hunting competition end already?”

The voice belonged to Ian. He approached me with furrowed brows as if something was bothering him.

“Just now. You weren’t at your seat the whole time, so I wondered where you’d gone, but here you are?”

Seeing Ian gesture with his chin toward Ethel, I could be certain. Finally, I could imprint Ethel’s existence onto Ian.

“Say hello. She’s my new friend.”

“I’m Ethel from Baron Marchetti’s family.”

Ethel greeted him while holding her dress, but Ian’s gaze remained fixed on me, not on Ethel. As a result, her greeting was naturally ignored.

“Ian, Ethel studies at the same academy as you. She even enrolled as top of her class last semester.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“It would be nice to be friendly with her.”

“I don’t need that. Let’s go.”

Ian turned and walked away without hesitation. Before following Ian, I turned to greet Ethel. She seemed to be suppressing laughter.

“It seems there’s not much change from the original after all.”

“No, he’s just shy. You’ll be able to feel it once you talk.”

“Since we’re getting along, I’ll tell you something.”

She grabbed my arm and spoke.

“I don’t think you should follow Lala’s instructions for this game.”

“What do you mean?”

In reality, I was teetering between life and death, and Lala said he’d give me a chance at life if I see a happy ending. So I’m desperately playing to see a happy ending, but why is Ethel suddenly saying something like this?

“It’s just that something feels off about this game… It’s strange that this GM called ‘Lala’ suddenly appeared. The original game didn’t have a GM.”

“Maybe it appeared with the update.”

I answered casually. I thought Ethel was mistaken, thinking she was still playing the original game.

‘The original is a dating sim, and this is a raising sim anyway.’

This game is a different genre from the original.

“Usually, a GM helps with gameplay, right? But Lala doesn’t seem to be helping with the game so much as trying to lead things in the direction she wants.”

Is that so…? Just as I was about to think back on Lala’s past actions—

“Why aren’t you coming?”

Ian urged me to hurry since I wasn’t following. Ian, who had walked quite far while I was talking with Ethel, was now walking back toward me.

“Let me send you a letter.”

Ethel waved goodbye. I waved back roughly and approached Ian.

“What were you talking about with that woman?”

“Nothing much.”

As if he didn’t believe me at all, Ian’s eyes narrowed as he looked at me.

“Your expression seemed serious for something so trivial.”

“…It’s because I’m shy. I haven’t known Miss Ethel long.”

Whether my excuse worked or not, Ian stopped walking entirely and fixed his gaze on me.

“Really. Let’s go.”

As I tugged at his sleeve and hurried him along, he obediently began walking. But his expression was still full of suspicion. I opened my mouth to deliberately change the subject.

“By the way, what place did you get in the hunting competition?”

“First place.”

“Wow! That’s amazing!”

“But because someone left their seat, I didn’t receive any congratulations during the awards ceremony.”

“…”

Unfortunately, my attempt to change the subject seemed to have failed. He definitely must have received tremendous congratulations from people trying to look good to the Bellocchio family.

“Aren’t you going to congratulate me?”

Ian asked with sparkling eyes, looking very hopeful. What? Is he looking for a gift?

“Wow! Congratulations!”

When I tried to brush off his intentions with applause, Ian’s expression became dejected. So my prediction was correct, I thought.

“What?”

Ian tilted his head toward me. Fortunately, it didn’t seem like he intended to attack me—Ian’s head stopped in front of me. No such incident of him pushing me away with his head occurred. Though his face was quite close.

I felt uncomfortable with Ian’s gaze fixed on me, so I deliberately looked at a tree nearby. Then Ian opened his mouth.

“Praise.”

“Huh?”

“Praise me.”

‘Is this what he wanted…?’

I raised my right hand and stroked Ian’s hair. His hair shone like a well-groomed black cat and was soft. Seeing that Ian’s eyes softened in a curve, he seemed satisfied.

‘What’s this? I feel strange.’

The sensation of his hair touching my palm felt oddly ticklish. Unable to resist that feeling, I gently pulled Ian’s hair slightly, just enough not to hurt.

“Suddenly punishing me.”

“I only pulled it a little?”

Ian didn’t seem to mind either, as he was smiling. When my hand left his head, Ian straightened his back.

‘He seems to be getting taller…’

I’d been looking up at Ian for a while now, but as time passed, I had to tilt my head up even more.

‘He’s so tall, really.’

I gazed up at Ian’s face and sighed softly.

“What?”

“What?”

“You just sighed.”

“I didn’t.”

I couldn’t bring myself to say that it seemed like only Ian was growing taller, which made me irritated.

His eyes narrowed as if he didn’t believe my words. Embarrassed, I deliberately changed the subject.

“So how did Liam place?”

“Don’t know. He didn’t even make top three.”

I could picture Liam’s frustrated face in my head. It was regrettable that I couldn’t see it with my own eyes, but since Ian came in first place anyway, I decided to be satisfied.

“Did Liam at least not bother you just because he lost?”

“He didn’t even approach me or speak to me.”

It was fortunate, but in another way, disappointing.

“Too bad there’s no need to use the ring.”

As I lifted my ringed fist and spoke, Ian’s lips curved upward.

“Hopefully, there won’t be a need to use it in the future.”

Ian’s hand wrapped around my clenched fist.

‘Does he always have such big hands?’

Ian’s hand was large enough to completely envelop my fist. His height grew by leaps and bounds, and it seems his hands had grown noticeably too.

Feeling somewhat frustrated, I walked huffily all the way to the carriage.

***

“Ian.”

“Yeah?”

“You should live a good life.”

“Is that really what you’re going to say right after waking up?”

Unlike Ian, who laughed as if he found it absurd, I was serious.

“I really hope you’ll avoid bullying others or any violent behavior, and maintain good relationships with people.”

“Got it.”

He smiled faintly as if my advice, which should become his flesh and blood, was now familiar. But I felt this situation was serious…

Yesterday, after the hunting competition ended, Ian came home and attended art and magic classes. While he was busy, I did nothing but congratulate Ian on placing first in the hunting competition, eat steak, and laze around.

After finishing those classes and late into the night, I spoke to Ian as he lay in bed.

“What did you think of that young lady you were talking to during the hunting competition earlier?”

“Don’t remember.”

Ian answered with his eyes closed, lying straight on the bed. That seemed to be the case. Even though Ethel greeted him first, he didn’t ignore her. Still, it probably wasn’t because he had a bad personality like in the original.

‘Ian is just really shy.’

If he took an MBTI test, it would definitely show a capital I.

“Since you go to the same academy, why don’t you become friends with her?”

“…”

“I think it would be nice if you got close to her. If you became friends with Miss Ethel, I think you’d enjoy going to the academy much more.”

I thought it wasn’t bad to start as friends and develop into lovers. I silently supported Ian and Ethel’s love.

“You…”

But Ian had raised his upper body and leaned toward me before I knew it.

‘What?’

Ian was looking down at me. The distance between us was only about 20 centimeters—far too close. Perhaps that’s why—

“W-what is it?”

I stammered in panic. Was he annoyed because I kept nagging? I slowly examined Ian’s face. It was a night so dark that even moonlight was dim, so I couldn’t make out his expression. Then Ian’s lips moved.

“I really don’t understand what you’re thinking.”

“I’m not thinking anything strange? I’m just trying to help you maintain good relationships with people.”

Suddenly feeling embarrassed by Ian’s posture as he looked down at me, I spoke quickly.

“I’m not interested, so stop talking about other people.”

“Really. It’s all for you.”

As if unsatisfied with my answer, Ian just stared at me intently. As I gazed back at his eyes, something felt strange. The position seemed odd. Unable to endure it any longer, I pushed Ian’s shoulder and shouted.

“Just go to sleep!”

Fortunately, even without using much force, Ian was pushed away easily. I heard him chuckling beside me.

“Stop laughing and sleep.”

“Okay. Sleep well.”

Silence descended on the room. I tried to calm the strange feeling and waited for the status window to appear.

‘How much has his Temperament improved?’

A year had passed, and the day had come to check Ian’s status window again. Last year, Ian’s Temperament was 31.

‘So this time it must have easily surpassed 50.’

I waited for the status window with anticipation. However…

‘Why isn’t it showing up?’

No matter how long I waited, the status window didn’t appear. I was starting to feel sleepy, and the frustration of the window not appearing was growing.

‘Could it be that Ian still isn’t asleep?’

In this game, the status window only appears when Ian falls asleep. The fact that the status window hasn’t appeared and everything is quiet means Ian is awake like me. Should I ask why he isn’t sleeping? After pondering briefly, I gave up. If I talked to Ian casually, the conversation would drag on and we’d sleep even later.

‘Let me wait.’

I resisted sleep by pricking my finger with my nail. After a considerable amount of time passed—

[Would you like to check the status window?]

 

▷ Yes

 

▷ No

Finally, eithErlian had fallen asleep or the window I’d been waiting for appeared. When I mentally answered “Yes,” Ian’s status window came up. But…

‘Is this an error?’

The numbers must be looking strange because I’m too tired. I rubbed my eyes and slowly opened them again. Surely I saw it wrong. When I check again, normal numbers should appear. Taking a small deep breath, the moment I looked at the status window—

‘Lala, come out.’

I was certain this was manipulation. I glared at the status window and gritted my teeth.

[Name: Erlian Bellocchio (15 years old)

 

Temperament: 36

 

Affinity: 62

 

XX: 11

 

Relationship with Ethel: No interest]

Affinity, which had been in the 40s, had risen to 62, and XX, which was 6, had become 11. But Temperament had only risen by 5. This must definitely be a system error. It’s absolutely Lala’s fault. So I kept calling for Lala.

‘Lala.’

‘Come out. Lala.’

‘I won’t hit you, so come out.’

‘Lala, are you insane.’

After calling so desperately several times—

– Elicia! Were you looking for me? ♪

Finally Lala appeared, smiling brightly unlike my serious expression.

‘The status window seems wrong.’

– No. The status window isn’t incorrect.

‘It is wrong. You check yourself. Temperament only rose by 5 in a whole year.’

– That means your efforts were insufficient ♬

I really wanted to hit him. I glared at this one-punch-sized lifeform.

‘Lala, I only cleared four quests in the past year.’

– That’s right. You did a really wonderful job!

‘Then why did Temperament only rise by 5? If this isn’t an error, what is it?’

I didn’t send letters to Ian, I stopped my sister’s marriage, and I became friends with Ethel while diligently clearing quests. As a reward for that effort, I received an increase in Temperament. Wasn’t my Temperament increase too small compared to my efforts? This definitely seemed like something was wrong.

– No. This isn’t an error.

‘What do you mean? Shouldn’t Temperament have surpassed at least 50 by now?’

– It would have if Ian had only lived a good life ♪

‘He did live a good life.’

Unable to contain my irritation, I swung my fist at empty air for no reason. Unfortunately, my fist didn’t reach Lala.

– No. Erlian punched his cousin Liam.

‘There was a reason for that.’

Ian threw a punch because Liam was badmouthing me. Since words didn’t work, he quietly had a conversation with his fists. But why would his Temperament go down?

– Of course Liam was in the wrong first, but hitting people is bad!

‘It was unavoidable.’

Ian’s Temperament went down just for that reason. I felt so wronged.

‘Anyway, there was a reason why Ian ended up punching Liam. And Temperament dropped way too much for that, didn’t it?’

– That’s not all. Ian suddenly broke windows at the academy, causing fear among his classmates.

‘…’

I momentarily forgot. The incident where Ian suddenly broke the academy’s windows, which resulted in me being summoned to the academy as well. I had no counter-argument about that. I didn’t understand his actions either.

‘Ian must be reflecting a lot on that incident.’

– I’m not sure about that.

‘What do you know?’

– He doesn’t seem particularly reflecting ♪

I really hate this know-it-all attitude. I glared at Lala without saying anything.

– Temperament dropped by 5 from assaulting Liam and dropped by 20 from the academy window incident.

‘It dropped by 20? That’s way too much!’

– Erlian’s crime was serious.

If Ian hadn’t caused problems at the academy, his Temperament would have surpassed 60…

Temperament was unusually difficult to raise yet fell so easily. What have I been doing for the past year? It felt pointless. Ethel had definitely said it. Lala seemed less interested in helping the game than in leading things in his desired direction.

‘No, that’s not right.’

Lala was definitely supporting my happy ending. But that was it. If Lala was guiding the story to progress in the direction he wanted, Temperament wouldn’t have been cut down this much.

‘Actually, maybe like Ethel said, Lala is leading me in a different direction.’

Could it be that Lala doesn’t want me to clear a happy ending?

‘Now that I think about it, it’s strange that you said you’d save someone whose life hangs in the balance if they clear the game.’

Lala was a GM, not a doctor. So he can’t save me. He lied, saying he’d save me if I see a happy ending, but he must have gotten scared because I was playing the game better than expected. Afraid I might actually see a happy ending. Is that why he’s been giving me these trials?

‘Maybe I’m not actually in life-or-death situation in reality. Maybe I’m living just fine.’

As I was following this chain of thought, Lala’s voice brought me back to my senses.

– Well then, I hope you continue to enjoy playing.

‘Wait.’

I urgently stopped Lala as he was disappearing. I had a question I needed to ask. I had to confirm it before I forgot again.

‘This game seems to have a problem. I often forget that I’m playing a game.’

– I don’t think that’s particularly a problem.

‘It’s a serious problem.’

Not distinguishing between game and reality was treated as nothing. Was Lala a hopeless game addict?

– As the game’s difficulty increases, you can enjoy even more realistic gameplay. That’s why you can forget you’re in a game.

Then shouldn’t you lower the game’s difficulty? I had a feeling this game would be a disaster when released.

– Anyway, you can’t return to reality until you see a happy ending♪ Why don’t you immerse yourself and forget reality for a while?

‘What if I can’t adapt to reality after going back? Isn’t this game too dangerous?’

– Don’t worry. You adapted to game life quickly, didn’t you? So you’ll adapt to reality quickly after the game ends.

What is this irresponsible statement?

– I’m also giving you quests at appropriate times so you don’t get too anxious. So please continue to enjoy the game like you’re doing now.

That was true. Thanks to Lala’s quests, I realized this place was a game. But still, I felt uneasy. I really often mistook myself for Elicia.

I’m not Elicia. My name is…

‘What was my name?’

I can’t remember. It was unsettling. I couldn’t clearly recall anything—not my name, age, or where I lived. I admit the game is progressing realistically. I don’t know how much time has passed in reality, but 2.5 years have passed in the game.

‘But I can’t even remember the name I used to hear so repeatedly until 2.5 years ago?’

I felt a chill. It felt like the game had consumed me.

Is this really okay? I tried to question Lala about it, but by then Lala had disappeared and a quest window was displayed.