Then, I'll just grind for the LVL 100 fire resistant wings

“No…” The word escapes my lips, barely audible. “No, no, no–”

What was it? The thrill of playing god? Oh, forgive me. An angel. Playing angel.

“We,” she continues, her voice laced with disdain. “the losing heroines, are nothing but two-dimensional drawings without souls to you, aren’t we?”

My head snaps up, my face streaked with tears. “No!” I cry, my voice cracking with anguish.

You were clearly the reason they could even have the sense of sentience.

"Even if you tell yourself otherwise,” she presses, stepping closer. Her footsteps echo in my skull, piling on one after another, driving me insane. Vertigo spins my eyes behind my lids. Nausea charges through me like a wild boar, trampling every nerve. A parasite. A curse. A devil. Even something worse. I clench every fiber of muscle, holding back the urge to vomit.

“Deep down, you know that’s what we are. Puppets to be collected and saved for your amusement. Isn’t that the truth, Renyuki?”

“No!” I scream, my voice echoing in the room. My hands clutch at the floor as if I can anchor myself against the storm of her words. “You’re wrong! That’s not–”

Wasn’t it melancholic that those who were themselves born of the pen went on to pen other worlds, which came to be known as fiction?

“You can lie to yourself all you want,” she says, her tone softening -not with kindness, but with bitter pity. “But you can’t fool your mind or body. That’s why you’re like this, isn’t it? That’s the real reason for your vertigo. Deep down, you’ve never seen us as human.”

“No!” I cry out again, my voice hoarse and broken. I rise to my knees, trembling, my tears falling freely now. “You’re wrong! You’re–”

But have you heard the saying: the road to hell is paved with good intentions?

The room shifts again, and her voice fades.

“Renyuki-san!” The voice that greets me now is gentle, warm -a soothing balm to my fractured thoughts. I blink rapidly, my vision slowly clearing to reveal Falin standing beside me, her expression alight with concern. The sharp edges of the nightmare begin to dull, replaced by the soft radiance of her presence.

I’m back in the nurse’s office.

I stare up at my hands, my breaths coming in uneven gasps. My palms are clammy, trembling as if trying to shed the remnants of the nightmare clinging to me. The ache in my chest lingers, but it softens when I meet Falin’s worried yet vivacious gaze, and the hands that embraces me, warming my cold sweat. Her green plus-shaped pin catches the sunlight streaming through the window, a quiet beacon of calm in the haze of my thoughts.

Her brows knit together. “Are you alright, Renyuki-san?” she asks immediately. Known as the walking hospital, she modulates her voice carefully according to the situation and her patients, now serious and reassuring. “You are fine. I’m here.”

The softness in her voice anchors me, tethering my wandering mind. For a moment, I struggle to find words, the lines between dream and reality still blurred. But then, the warmth in her gaze draws me back to the present. She’s real. She’s here.

“I…” My voice catches briefly, and I force myself to sit up, ignoring the lingering dizziness. “I’m fine now. Just a bad dream.”

Falin studies me, her brown eyes searching for something unspoken. After a moment, she nods, her worry softening into a small, reassuring smile. “The nurse should be back soon. Rest a little longer, drink water. You can talk to me if you have anything in your mind too.”

“Thank you," I manage, my voice barely a whisper. I reach for the glass of water on the stand beside the bed. The cool liquid is refreshing after the sweat of my restless sleep.

She sits back in the chair beside the bed, her attention shifting to the textbook resting on her lap. As she focuses on its pages, I watch her in silence. The lingering echoes of the nightmare weigh heavily on my mind, but her presence feels like a steady light cutting through the shadows.

“I promise,” I whisper under my breath, my resolve hardening with every word. “I’ll never let myself believe that.”

Her head tilts slightly, as if she heard something, but she doesn’t question it. Instead, she simply smiles. A small, knowing expression that somehow strengthens my determination.

I need to work harder. Even if this vertigo kills me, I can’t falter now.

“Falin-san,” I say, my voice steadier now, though my heart still pounds faintly in my chest. “First, I want to thank you for all the trouble I’ve caused today.”

“Don’t even mention it, Renyuki-san,” she replies almost instantly, her tone cheerful. Her smile widens slightly, its radiance making my chest tighten. “Seeing people doing well and helping them brings me happiness. I was worried for a moment, but it’s good to see you’re okay.”

Her sincerity shines so brightly that, for a fleeting second, I feel my breath hitch again. I smile back, but for a moment, a faint wave of vertigo hits me as I take in her existence as a whole once again. I ignore it, steadying my breath. This is something I’ll have to confront, and adapt to.

“Let’s talk about how we can get through Ukaru’s thick skull,” I say, my tone firm yet playful.

Falin shivers slightly, clearly caught off guard by the sudden shift in topic. She peeks over the edge of her book, her wide, brown eyes meeting mine. The sight makes my heart skip a beat. How could someone be so effortlessly charming and oblivious at the same time? It’s maddening, and infuriating how Ukaru can’t see what’s right in front of him.

“Are you… serious?” she asks, tilting her head just enough that her green plus-shaped hairpin glints faintly in the light. The innocent curiosity in her expression nearly disarms me. Might as well be ice, become water and evaporate instantly at this point... these are to much even for me...

“I am,” I reply resolutely, able to holding my composure. “I’ll help you however I can. Whether it’s brainstorming ideas or just being there for support. Even if it embarrasses you, as long as you don’t hate me for it, I won’t stop.”

Falin lowers her book slightly, her delicate fingers clutching its edges. For a moment, the room feels quieter, as if the air itself is holding its breath. Then she smiles faintly, her gaze softening with an unmistakable gratitude that tugs at my chest.

“Would you hate the idea of me helping you?” I ask gently, tilting my head.

Her smile grows just a little wider, and she shakes her head. “No,” she says in her usual calm tone, though there’s a trace of something warmer behind it. She places the book on her lap, her fingers absently smoothing the cover. “Why would I? I can tell you’re someone who respects boundaries. You’re surprisingly mature for your age, aren’t you?”

“I’d like to think so.” I stand and move toward the open window, letting the breeze cool my flushed face. Turning back to her, I add, “I could say the same about you. But also, behind that composed, mature demeanor, I see the heart of a lovely and caring maiden. A maiden in love.”

Her cheeks flush faintly, her lips pressing together in a mix of embarrassment and disbelief. “T-Thank you,” she murmurs, then lets out a soft laugh. Covering her mouth with her hand, she continues, “Sorry, sorry. I’m just amazed. Meeting someone like you -so honest and straightforward- on the very first day of high school feels… unreal. It reminds me of Ukaru’s bluntness, but in a completely different way.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I say, puffing my chest out slightly in a mock display of pride. I gesture toward the open sky. “The world is vast, Falin-san. These three years at Kotton Academy are just the beginning. There are so many people to meet, so many experiences to share.”

Her brown eyes glimmer with curiosity and something akin to wonder, catching the sunlight streaming through the window. But as I continue, I notice her expression shift -a subtle hint of unease creeping in. Still, I press forward, knowing this is something she needs to hear.

“And I want you to experience those things with someone who truly values you,” I add, turning to face her fully. I bring my thumb and index fingers together over my chest, forming the shape of a heart. “The person who inspired you to carry that medic backpack, who made you realize how much you love helping others.

“Ukaru might be dense, but your passion, your kindness, exists because of him. That’s why I want to help you win his heart. You deserve that happiness.”