The quiet park had grown even more still by the time Damon found himself seated on the same bench he had intended to ignore just moments earlier, the soft glow of the mana lamps casting a pale light over the two figures now occupying it.
Lunaria sat beside him.
Or rather—
Half-slumped beside him.
Damon stared straight ahead, his posture stiff despite the calm surroundings, while from the corner of his vision he could clearly feel her presence—her half-lidded eyes fixed on him with an unblinking, almost absent-minded focus that made the situation increasingly uncomfortable.
Just how the hell did I end up like this…
The thought ran through his mind as he continued staring forward, pretending not to notice her gaze.
After a moment, his eyes shifted slightly to the side.
She was still looking at him.
Without saying a word.
Without even changing her expression.
Is she just going to keep staring at me like that?
His brows twitched faintly.
Doesn't she have anything to say…?
And then—
A soft weight suddenly settled against his shoulder.
Damon flinched slightly at the unexpected contact and immediately turned his head, only to find that the source of the weight was nothing more than a cascade of pink hair now resting against him.
Lunaria's head had tilted sideways.
Leaning directly onto his shoulder.
"Hey—"
The word barely left his mouth before he stopped.
Her breathing had already evened out, as he realised she had already fallen asleep.
Damon stared at her for a moment, his expression flattening as the realization settled in.
"…What a weirdo," he muttered under his breath.
Carefully, he began to shift his body, attempting to distance himself from her without making any sudden movements, his hand moving slightly as he tried to slide out from beneath her.
But the moment he did—
The situation somehow became worse.
Lunaria's arms moved instinctively, wrapping around his arm with surprising firmness as though she were clinging to a pillow in her sleep, her body leaning even closer into him as she snuggled in, a faint, content sound escaping her that almost resembled a soft purr.
Damon froze.
His attempt to escape had only trapped him further.
He stared down at her for a moment before cautiously lifting one hand and nudging her lightly with a finger, trying to wake her without causing a scene.
"Hey…"
No response.
Instead—
Her grip tightened.
Damon's expression darkened slightly as he tried again, this time with a bit more insistence, but the result remained the same as she only shifted closer, completely unbothered by his attempts to free himself.
For a few seconds, he simply sat there.
Trying. Failing.
Then finally—
He exhaled quietly.
Damon eventually stopped struggling altogether, his body slowly relaxing against the bench as he accepted the situation for what it was, his arm still firmly trapped within Lunaria's surprisingly strong grip while her head rested comfortably against his shoulder.
With nothing else to do, his gaze drifted upward.
The night sky stretched wide above the academy, deep and endless, scattered with stars that shimmered faintly like distant fragments of something unreachable, while the moon hung quietly among them, casting a soft silver glow over the peaceful park.
For a while, he simply watched.
The steady rhythm of his breathing returned.
His heartbeat, which had long been accustomed to tension and alertness, gradually slowed until it settled into a calm, almost unfamiliar pace.
A quiet exhale left his lips.
It's been about a week…
The thought surfaced naturally.
About a week since I came to this world.
His eyes remained fixed on the stars.
And only now do I realize how quickly that time has passed.
Memories began to surface, one after another, threading together into a strange and almost unreal sequence.
Transmigrating into a game…
A faint crease formed between his brows.
While having sex…
The absurdity of it still lingered.
Then confronting the mirror image of my father… returning to the academy… learning about this world… interacting with all these people…
His gaze softened slightly.
And trying to survive through all of it…
A quiet pause followed.
I haven't really stopped… not even once… to think about myself… or this situation.
The question lingered at the edge of his thoughts.
Is this all just a dream?
His eyes flickered faintly.
Or some illusion my dying mind is showing me?
The night air felt still.
Or…
He stared deeper into the sky.
Is this truly another reality?
The stars above seemed silent.
Unmoving.
Distant.
His lips parted slightly as a quiet murmur escaped him, almost unconsciously.
"Left behind some broken bonds…"
His voice was soft.
Barely audible.
"Is this reality… or just me in a trance…?"
The words lingered in the air before fading.
"If someone can…"
"…please respond…"
His eyes remained fixed on the sky.
"Is there still my home… among those stars?"
Nothing but silence answered him.
The same quiet, unchanging silence that filled the night.
After a moment, Damon lowered his gaze, drawing in a slow breath before exhaling it quietly.
Just who am I kidding…
The thought came with a faint trace of dryness.
I don't even miss anyone back home.
A subtle, almost bitter realization settled within him.
So much for feeling homesick.
And then—
Damon flinched slightly, his focus snapping back to the present as he turned his head.
Lunaria had woken up.
Her half-lidded eyes looked at him quietly as her fingers rested gently against his cheek, her expression still carrying that same drowsy, distant calm.
She studied him for a brief moment.
Then, in a soft voice, she asked—
"Are you… missing your home?"
Damon froze, his gaze locked into her cherry-blossom eyes as the night breeze slipped silently between them.
And then reacted almost instantly.
He pulled himself away from her, rising from the bench in a single motion as though the contact itself had caught him off guard more than her question had, his expression tightening slightly as he spoke with clear annoyance.
"Just don't go falling asleep on random people."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away, his steps quick and deliberate as he moved deeper into the dimly lit paths of the academy grounds, leaving the quiet park—and Lunaria—behind him.
Even so—
For a few moments, he could still feel the faint sensation of being watched.
His thoughts began racing almost immediately.
Did she hear something?
His brows furrowed faintly as he continued walking.
Did I say anything out loud…?
The questions lingered, circling in his mind as he moved through the quiet pathways until, almost without realizing it, he had reached the dormitory building.
The familiar structure stood calm under the glow of mana lamps, its entrance mostly empty at this hour.
Just as Damon stepped inside—
A voice broke through his thoughts.
"You are late."
Damon looked toward the source.
At the reception desk stood a staff member, as always facing away from him as though uninterested in turning around, their voice carrying a casual indifference that suggested this was more of a routine remark than an actual reprimand.
Damon paused briefly before replying.
"I won't be next time."
Without waiting for anything further, he moved past the desk and headed toward the staircase, his footsteps echoing faintly in the quiet interior as he climbed upward, floor by floor, until he finally reached his dorm.
He pushed the door open.
The maid was still awake.
She stood up the moment he entered, her posture straightening quickly as though she had been waiting for some time.
"Y–young master…" she said hesitantly, her voice carrying both relief and nervousness. "Y–you are late… did something happen?"
Damon glanced at her.
His expression remained neutral, though a trace of lingering irritation colored his tone.
"There was no need to wait for me," he said. "You should have gone to sleep."
The words made her flinch slightly.
"N–No, young master," she replied quickly, shaking her head as her hands clenched lightly in front of her. "You misunderstood… I was just worried that something… might have happened to you."
Damon paused for a brief moment, as he closed his eyes.
Then he spoke again, his voice calmer this time.
"Nothing happened."
.
.
"You can sleep now."
The maid nodded quickly.
"Yes, young master."
She turned and quietly moved toward the kitchen area, her steps light as she disappeared inside to rest.
The room fell silent.
Damon stood there for a moment before walking toward the bed, his movements slower now as the weight of the day finally settled over him.
He lay down reaching towards the side, and with a soft motion—
The mana lamps dimmed and went out.
***
The night deepened quietly over the academy, wrapping the dormitory in a calm that felt almost untouched by the chaos of the day, as the soft glow of distant mana lamps filtered faintly through the curtains and the gentle sound of nightingales echoed from the gardens beyond, their melodies blending with the occasional rustle of leaves stirred by the cool breeze drifting through the slightly open window.
Inside the room, everything was still.
Damon lay on his bed, his breathing slow and even, his body finally giving in to the exhaustion that had been building throughout the day, while the darkness around him remained undisturbed, broken only by the faint silver light of the moon casting a pale outline across the floor.
For a while—
There was nothing.
Only silence and calm.
And—
"Aaaaahhh—!"
The sudden scream tore through the night like a blade, shattering the stillness in an instant.
"Young Masterrrrrr!!"
Damon's eyes snapped open.
His body reacted before his mind could fully catch up, his muscles tensing as he pushed himself up from the bed in one swift motion, alertness flooding back into him as though he had never been asleep at all.
"Is there an assassination attempt?!"