"Skill: Cradle of Memories—activate."
Ray's voice echoed.
Ting.
A system notification buzzed in my mind.
[Condition required for activation: Fulfilled]
[Skill Activated]
My consciousness was pulled into another dimension.
I awoke on a surface that felt like both ground and water. My body… was still Roy's.
And in front of me—
I saw myself.
Or rather… Ray, using my body.
"Why do you look like me? It's annoying," I asked.
"As if I know," he replied—the same answer as he did before.
"Why did you activate this skill?"
"We need to be prepared before meeting the real main character."
"Ugh… you know he isn't the main character yet. Not until the transmigration happens. There's still time… two days, I think."
"Yeah, yeah. I know. But we still need to be careful."
"…Fine."
Ray smiled, as if he had expected my answer all along.
Just like before, a bright white orb formed in his hand and floated upward. It trembled—then split into branching streams of light. Smaller orbs formed along those branches.
One orb drifted toward us—
—and burst into white light.
The world changed.
We were now in my old room… from my previous life.
A book lay on the table.
"Hm… you continued this from before?" I asked.
"Yes," Ray replied, already flipping through the pages.
"Hey, don't ignore me. Let me read too."
Ray sighed and lifted me onto the table.
"…Hm."
I couldn't help but smile as I read along.
This world—the one I was living in—was based on this very story.
Thorny Love.
"Why are you smiling?" Ray asked.
"Nothing. Just turn the page."
Ray chuckled and flipped it.
Scene Changes…
After hours of travel, they finally stopped to rest.
Aiden's POV:
"Humph."
I pouted, staring at my older brother, Aamon.
"Brother, I want to stay with Brother Roy too…"
"No. Go with Mother and Father," he said sternly—colder than even Father.
Why does he hate me so much…? I muttered, watching Aamon carry Roy away.
He seems less cold when Roy is around…
"Aiden, what are you thinking?" Mother asked, lifting me up.
"Ah—Mom!" I said in surprise.
She giggled softly. "You look lost in thought."
"…I was wondering if Brother hates me."
"No, he doesn't," she said, gently pulling my cheeks. "He's just jealous of you."
"Jealous?" I asked curiously.
"Yes, my adorable child," she said, ruffling my hair. "You see, in the past, he was jealous of Roy too. At some point, that jealousy turned into a kind of cold affection… like how Father loves you."
"Really?"
"Of course. Have I ever lied to you?"
"No… but what about Brother Roy? What was he like in childhood?"
"Roy?" She smiled faintly. "He's always been a special child."
"Special?"
"Yes. He inherited both mine and your father's traits. He rarely cried, accepted everything quietly… and he's been curious and intelligent since birth."
"…Then what about me?"
She smiled warmly.
"That's something you'll decide yourself."
"Mom, what does that mean?"
"Nothing."
"Aiden, Carrie it's time to come inside."
Father's voice called from behind.
"Okay," she replied, carrying me inside.
Scene returns to Roy and Ray inside the [Cradle of Memories] dimension…
"…Ray, how many times does this make it? Five?" I asked, staring at a translucent system screen.
"Hm… six, if we don't count the first one."
The screen displayed:
---
Sleep Magic Tier 1 has been detected.
---
"What is that brat doing with my body?!" I snapped, throwing the screen. It shattered and vanished.
Ray laughed. "Don't be angry. He's actually helping us."
Another screen appeared in front of Ray.
---
Due to repeated use of Sleep Magic on the user:
[Endure] has upgraded to obtain
→ [Partial Sleep Resistance I]
→ [Partial Abnormal Condition Nullification I] has been obtained
---
"You call that helpful?" I scoffed. "Partial means only half of the maximum effect. At Level I, that's barely ten percent. It'll take way more upgrades to matter."
"And abnormal condition resistance is capped at fifty percent," I continued. "So partial means twenty-five percent—and at Level I, that's only five percent."
"Still," Ray shrugged, "reduction is reduction. And thanks to him, we can stay here longer."
He gestured toward the books we had already read.
"…You're impossible."
Ting.
---
Due to repeated exposure to Sleep Magic Tier 1:
[Tome of the World] has leveled up → Sleep Magic Tier 2
Further information may be recognized
---
"See? Another benefit," Ray said with a smug grin.
"…Looks like the sleep effect is weakening," I noted.
"Yeah. Cradle of Memories is about to end," Ray added.
Moments later, the world distorted—
—and returned to reality.
"…Hm? Is it already night?" I muttered, looking around the dark room.
I was lying on a bed.
Aamon was asleep beside me, holding my hand tightly—as if I might disappear.
This brat…
He forgot to cast sleep magic because he fell asleep himself.
Ray burst into laughter.
"Shut up, Ray," I muttered. "…My temper's getting worse lately."
"…Hm?"
I glanced around.
"Where's Aiden?"
Then it clicked.
"He must've gotten jealous of Aiden… so he kept you to himself," Ray said for me, barely holding back laughter.
"…Didn't I tell you to shut up?"