New Arrangements

The dinner Maria prepared was nothing short of spectacular. She'd somehow conjured an elaborate feast in the mansion's mostly empty dining room, complete with crystal goblets and silverware that gleamed like starlight. The centerpiece was a roasted fowl that seemed to glow with its own inner light, surrounded by vegetables that sparkled like jewels.

"This is incredible, Maria," Olivia said, taking a delicate bite. "The seasoning is absolutely perfect."

Maria beamed with pride before her expression turned serious. "Maria is pleased that the research partner appreciates fine cuisine. But Maria must ask important questions!"

Itsuki felt his face warm as Maria launched into what could only be described as an interrogation.

"What are your intentions toward Master? Are you here for his legendary status or his genuine character? Do you have any cooking skills of your own? How old are you? How long do you plan to stay? Are you financially stable or will you be mooching off Master's resources?"

"Maria," Itsuki protested, but Olivia held up a hand with an amused smile.

"These are perfectly reasonable questions," she said diplomatically. "I'm here because I believe Itsuki can help with my research, and hopefully I can help him understand this world better. I can cook, though nothing as elaborate as this masterpiece. I'm eighteen years old. I plan to stay as long as our partnership is mutually beneficial, and I have my own funds from previous research commissions."

Maria nodded approvingly. "Good answers. But can you appreciate the effort that goes into proper meal preparation? Master sometimes forgets to eat when he's focused on training."

"I would never take such artistry for granted," Olivia replied solemnly. "And I'll make sure to remind him about proper meal times."

She's handling this perfectly, Itsuki thought, embarrassed by the entire situation. Those personality settings from Kenji's prank are really coming back to haunt me now.

After dinner, Maria insisted on showing Olivia the guest accommodations personally.

"This room," she announced, opening a door at the far end of a long corridor, "is the guest suite. Notice how it's at the opposite end of the mansion from Master's quarters, with several hallways and multiple locked doors in between."

"Very thoughtful," Olivia said, examining the elegantly furnished room. "The distance will ensure no improper assumptions."

"Exactly!" Maria nodded vigorously. "Maria has also prepared a separate workspace in the library tower, so research can be conducted in appropriate public areas of the mansion."

As they toured the mansion, Olivia's amazement grew. The observatory drew particular awe, with its panoramic sky views and sophisticated holographic displays.

"This is incredible," she breathed, studying the map table. "The resolution and scope are beyond anything I've seen."

But she also noticed the stark contrast between the mansion's elegant architecture and its sparse furnishing. Most rooms stood empty except for Itsuki's basic necessities, his gaming setup being the most elaborate installation in the entire structure.

"You're not an interior decorator, are you?" she observed.

"I was focused on other aspects," Itsuki replied, feeling slightly defensive.

"It's actually quite charming in its minimalism," Olivia said diplomatically.

◇◇◇

Once they'd settled in the observatory, Olivia spread out her collection of maps and documents across the holographic table. The contrast between her hand drawn charts and the mansion's advanced displays was striking.

"This is what I've been tracking," she said, pointing to various marked locations. "Reported sightings of individuals who don't fit normal patterns. People who appear with no traceable history, demonstrate impossible knowledge, or display capabilities that shouldn't exist."

She pulled out a leather journal filled with detailed notes. "I've been traveling since I was fourteen, documenting these phenomena. At first, I thought they were isolated incidents, but the pattern is too consistent to ignore."

She's been at this for four years. Longer than the game's even been out.

"What started you on this path?" he asked.

Olivia's expression grew more serious. "I was a sheltered child, raised by scholar parents who believed I was prodigiously gifted. I excelled at everything I attempted, never knowing failure. When I finally left home to begin my own research, the real world was... educational."

She traced a finger along one of her travel routes. "I learned that book knowledge and practical experience are very different things. I also discovered that this world contains mysteries that no amount of academic study can fully explain." She glanced up at him with a rueful smile. "This was even more evident in our mock match."

Her smile turned slightly self deprecating. "I may have developed a somewhat inflated opinion of my own cleverness in the process. But I've found that confidence, even if occasionally misplaced, opens more doors than uncertainty."

She paused, her expression turning slightly mischievous. "I've also learned that when research funds run low, there's good money in fortune telling. People will pay surprisingly well for predictions that sound authoritative, even if you're just making educated guesses based on observable patterns."

She's practically describing a scammer's approach to divination. But she's honest about it.

"And these anomalous individuals," Itsuki said, steering the conversation back to her research. "What's your theory about them?"

Olivia leaned forward, her eyes lighting up with scholarly excitement. "This is where it gets interesting. Based on my observations, I believe they come from another world. Specifically, a world that's similar to ours but with crucial differences."

She gestured to the holographic map display. "Look at how you interact with the interface systems. You use them intuitively, as if you've encountered similar technology before, yet you're surprised by basic geographical features. You fight using techniques that work perfectly but violate known principles of combat theory."

She's sharp. Really sharp.

"It's as if," Olivia continued, "you learned about this world through some kind of simplified representation. Like reading a book about a place and then visiting it in person, only to discover the book only covered a fraction of the reality."

Itsuki kept his expression neutral, but internally he was impressed. Well, you're right but wrong, haha. It wasn't another world, exactly, just a limited version of this one.

"That's an interesting theory," he said carefully.

"I think there's some kind of connection between worlds," Olivia continued, warming to her theme. "Maybe a parallel realm where people learn about our world in abstract form, then somehow find themselves transported here physically. It would explain the knowledge gaps, the impossible techniques, and the confusion about basic geography."

She pulled out another document, covered in what looked like theoretical diagrams. "I've been trying to locate the source of these transitions. If I can find where they originate, I might be able to understand the mechanism behind them."

She's trying to reverse engineer interdimensional travel based on observing transported players. That's actually brilliant.

"And the person you're searching for?" Itsuki asked.

"Someone who might have answers about the process itself," Olivia replied, her expression growing briefly darker. "There are reports of an individual who seems to understand both sides of the phenomenon. Someone who... well, let's just say they have some explaining to do."

The moment of intensity passed as quickly as it had come, replaced by her usual scholarly enthusiasm. "But enough about my mysterious quarry! Have you tried those little star-shaped pastries Maria served with dinner? I may have eaten entirely too many of them. Do you think she'd notice if I snuck back to the kitchen for more? I mean, they're practically research materials at this point - I need to understand their magical enhancement properties!"

She leaned back in her chair, studying Itsuki intently. "But I suspect I might already have found one of the key pieces of the puzzle."

Their eyes met across the table, and Itsuki realized she wasn't just theorizing anymore. She was testing him, waiting to see how he'd respond to her increasingly accurate deductions.

She knows. Maybe not the exact details, but she's figured out the core truth.

"Hypothetically speaking," he said slowly, "if someone were from this theoretical parallel world, what would you want to know?"

Olivia's smile turned triumphant. "Everything."