Ever since they stepped into the building for the first time, Ciara had felt something.

—Something invasive.

As an expert in mind games and Mind Magic, she was familiar with the sensation and concept. That was why she knew the truth immediately.

‘We’re in an illusion.’

Ciara acted naturally, though, trying her best to gather as much information as she could. She studied the building’s structure, and the denizens within.

Everything felt real.

‘Impressive… very impressive!’

The illusion was incredibly powerful, and the hold it had on them was very strong. However, with her Original Magic, Phantom Link, Ciara was confident in her ability to escape.

Still… there was no way she would simply cut her adventure with Jerry so short.

They had to have some fun first!

Thus, the whole monster attacks that she instigated. Then, the wild goose chase she created. Everything was for the purpose of mutual bonding.

However, once Ciara realized that they had to get to the real world eventually, she faced a dilemma.

‘If I tell him about the illusion now, he’ll wonder why I didn’t mention it earlier. Well, I could just lie to him, but…’

Jerry was currently battling a lot of self esteem problems. Ciara knew he felt inferior to her, and while it was cute, she wanted him to also grow.

‘If I point out the problem and help him solve it, he’ll probably feel worse.’

It was while she was brainstorming the issue that Ciara found the perfect excuse to use.

‘A kiss!’

By causing him to kiss her, she would pretend as though it was the power of the kiss that broke them out of their predicament.

That way, Jerry would be the one to take the active position and feel good about himself after achieving the result.

‘Plus, I get a kiss. Hehe… I’m such a genius!’

It was perfect, and foolproof too!

Well, there was one major issue that determined the success or failure of the plan. And that was simply Jerry’s willingness.

As she’d feared, the boy initially didn’t want to go along with it. Thus, she stole his Spell Cards before he even noticed.

‘The Spell Card won’t transport us to Jared since this is an illusion, but that’s precisely the problem.’

If the Spell Card didn’t work the way it was supposed to, Jerry could determine that they were in an illusion or under a certain effect. And that wouldn’t bode well.

Worst case scenario would be if they indeed teleported to Jared, but were still within the illusion. That would just make the whole thing continuous, and Ciara would ultimately have to break them out without getting her kiss.

‘I have to get my kiss!’

Thus, the Spell Cards had to go.

By giving Jerry time to think things over, by pretending to be asleep, he was slowly convinced.

Ciara knew how attractive she was, and that Jerry was attracted to her. If a kiss was the only feasible alternative, and she was practically waiting beside him…

….Jerry would ultimately kiss her!

And, just as she planned, everything came together.

‘Sure, it was a forehead kiss, but it still works… for now.’

Ciara sent a mental pulse the moment Jerry planted his lips on her forehead, expertly utilizing her Original Magic to break down the false reality they were trapped in.

>BZZZTTTZZZ<

“W-what’s going on??!” Jerry exclaimed, watching as the reality around him started to fizzle out.

“U-uh…?” Ciara stirred, pretending she was just waking from her sleep.

“T-the kissed work! It actually worked?! Were we trapped in a barrier before?” Jerry beamed, glancing around him as the environment faded from sight.

The garden turned to dust, and the environment dissolved. Slowly, darkness crept all around them, and then light emerged.

*

*

*

“Well done.”

A voice woke Jerry and Ciara from the darkness, and both of them opened their eyes to perceive the one who spoke.

The moment their eyes flashed open, the first thing they noticed was the change in scenery.

They were within the mansion once again, but this time things were different.

The chandeliers were well-lit, and the hall they stood in was full of light and life. The tiled ground was exquisite, the rug looked brand new too.

There were murals on the walls, and the entire environment seemed habitable and friendly enough.

The warmth felt nothing like the dark eeriness from earlier.

It was clear that this was the same building they’d entered previously, but… everything was different and amazing—as though brand new.

Sofas were well arranged, and the curtains were beautiful and well-placed. It was simply exquisite.𝑜𝓋𝑙xt.𝒞𝓞𝔪

“Is this… another illusion?” Ciara murmured.

“Not quite. Also, I would prefer you didn’t ignore me.”

Ciara’s focus, as well as Jerry’s attention, finally centered on the most conspicuous entity in the room.

It was a man seated on the master’s sofa. He had a cup of tea in his hand, and he seemed like a classy nobleman.

The way he was dressed depicted elegance. His simmering blue hair felt like the ocean itself, and it completely matched his eyes. His face was perfectly chiseled, he had the perfect skin tone. He was definitely the most handsome person the duo had ever met.

This man—whoever he was—was simply the epitome of perfection.

“Who… are you?” Jerry was the one to ask the question.

He felt awkward being in the presence of such a powerful and elegant man without saying a word.

‘Is he the owner of this place? Is he the Boss? Do we need to fight him? How can we defeat him?’ Those were the thoughts that echoed in Jerry’s mind as he greeted the perfect human.

They couldn’t be careless.

‘For all we know, this could also be an illusion.’

“H-hey! You don’t have to think of me as an enemy, you know? Yes, I’m the owner of this house, but I’m not some kind of Boss or anything. This isn’t a Dungeon.”

Jerry was both surprised and relieved.

“You can read my mind?” He gasped, slightly wishing he hadn’t been so quick to judge.

“Yes, I can. Alright… let’s take this from the top, shall we?” The seated man sighed.

He rose from his seat and smiled at the two who stood before him—as elegant and as charismatic as anyone could get.

“My name is Lancelot. I am an Apostle of Aether… wielder of the Arcana of Judgement.”