Meanwhile, I glanced to my side.
Ronald had fainted.
Not dramatically. Not with flair. Just—fainted.
His eyes were still open, glassy and stunned, as if fear itself had short-circuited his brain.
Miss Judy tilted her head, utterly unbothered, and chuckled like a kindly older sister. "Young Master Ronald always faints when he sees us. It's so adorable."
Adorable, huh?
I watched as she casually pulled out a tiny glass bottle from her inventory and uncorked it. A pungent smell wafted through the air as she brought it near Ronald's nose. A few seconds passed.
Then—
JOLT.
Ronald snapped awake, blinking like someone hit with a resurrection spell. "Wh-What happened?"
Miss Judy laughed again, a melodic sound that somehow still sent chills down my spine. "Fufufufu. Young Master Ronald is always like this after waking up. He's like a broken record."
I gave an awkward smile.
Humorous? Yes.
Unsettling? Absolutely.
I wasn't sure if Ronald's trauma was the punchline or the warning.
Miss Judy glanced at her watch and clapped her hands gently. "Well, look at the time. It's time for lunch." She turned to Ronald with a soft command. "Young Master Ronald, please do guide Miss Llyne to the dining room."
Still rubbing his eyes, Ronald gave a sluggish nod.
Miss Judy offered a graceful bow and left, her presence vanishing like mist.
"Wow. It's lunch time already?" I said, stretching. "My stomach didn't even complain. Guess the excitement must've killed it."
Ronald chuckled sheepishly. "I'm sorry, Llyne. You must have been scared."
I waved it off. "Nah. It was seriously fun. You must love living here."
His cheeks tinged pink. "Yes, I do. Aside from the horror and the practice room… every day has been wonderful."
I smiled. "I'm glad you're having fun."
"But… why are you here? Did your Master allow you to leave?" Ronald asked, eyes filled with concern.
"Yup! But let's talk about that after lunch. I've got a whole bunch of stories to tell you."
He nodded, and we headed for the dining room. The air inside was filled with warmth, the scent of seasoned meat and fresh bread lingering in the air like a comforting embrace.
I spoke with enthusiasm as we ate, recounting my story from the moment I left my House, through strange trials, shifting dreams, monsters that shouldn't exist, and the eccentric old man who carried me skyward. Ronald listened with wide-eyed fascination, occasionally gasping or bursting into laughter.
After lunch, we wandered deeper into the House of Vodka. The once mysterious structure, cloaked in clouds and awe, now felt alive—with rooms full of aging barrels, intricate fermentation chambers, and tales of vintages dating back centuries.
Miss Judy even offered a tour of the vast vineyard we had seen from the sky. Grapes stretched endlessly, their colors gleaming under sunlight like treasures ripening in silence.
The House of Vodka—once a strange and slightly terrifying place—had turned into a pocket of wonder, brimming with secrets, stories, and warmth.
When night finally arrived, I flopped face-first onto a ridiculously soft bed in the guest room.
"Fuwahh! It's a bed. It's a bed! It's been so long since I've seen or slept on one!" I shouted, kicking my feet in delight.
Ronald peeked in, curious. "What do you usually sleep on?"
"Futon!" I said proudly, rolling around like a delighted child.
"I've never seen a futon before," Ronald admitted.
"Never?" I sat up.
"Never," he repeated.
"Then we're going shopping tomorrow! You have to try it!" I declared.
"But… you're leaving tomorrow," Ronald reminded.
"Ah, true." I paused.
Then—
"Little Chad here can take you shopping," came a familiar voice.
The old man had returned.
"You're alive!" Ronald and I said in unison, half in cheer, half in disbelief.
"So how about it, huh?" he asked, smirking.
"Brilliant! Thanks, old man!" I beamed.
"But… what about training, Master?" Ronald asked, visibly conflicted.
The old man waved it off. "Skipping a day ain't gonna kill you. You should relax once in a while. Let your muscles breathe."
"I totally agree," I nodded vigorously.
"But Miss Judy—" Ronald began again, worry in his voice.
"Don't worry. I'm the Master of the House. Listen to me, got it?" the old man said, tone turning just enough to silence doubt.
Ronald nodded, visibly relieved.
The old man ruffled his hair like a proud father and sent him off.
Once Ronald left, the old man looked at me with a gentle smile.
"Good night to you, L. Have a sweet dream."
"You too, old man," I said with a wave.
The door closed softly behind him.
I lay there, surrounded by plush blankets and quiet thoughts.
Oui. What a hectic day it has been.
I smiled to myself, the image of Ronald's goofy embarrassment, the vineyard winds, and the sheer absurdity of everything playing back like a vivid dream.
Sleep claimed me swiftly.
The next morning.
I jumped out of bed, excitement coursing through my veins. Dressed and ready, I hummed to myself:
"A day to remember, a sunny bright day~"
Just then—
Knock knock.
"Miss Llyne, wake up. It's time for breakfast," Miss Judy's melodious voice rang through the door.
I flung the door open. "I'm up, and my stomach is more than ready!"
She smiled. "Oh my, how earnest. Let me lead you to the dining room."
"Alrighty!"
The moment we stepped in, the aroma of breakfast hit me like a wave—fresh pastries, grilled meats, bubbling stews. Around the table sat the old man, Ronald, and a few other cheerful faces.
They greeted me with warm smiles.
And just like that, I was home.
Stories, laughter, second servings. The table buzzed with joy and teasing. Even the old man was uncharacteristically generous with compliments—though he still managed to toss a few jabs Ronald's way.
Once breakfast ended, Ronald and I began preparations for our next destination—to Rona's house.
"Isaac's closer, but let's go to Rona's house first," I suggested. "We can visit the market near her place, alright?"
Ronald brightened. "Sure!"
I tucked the map safely into my inventory, and just as I turned to leave—
I caught Ronald reaching out. Hands poised like he wanted to carry me.
"…What's wrong?" I asked.
"We're going back down, so I need to carry you."
"Huh? Didn't you know there's a teleportation port connecting from here to the grape farm?" I blinked.
"…Huh?" Ronald looked like he'd just had his world shattered. "There was?"
I nodded and pointed him to it. "Here."
He stared at it. Mouth open.
Then blushed. "Ugh… I think I'm going to die…"
I patted his back, laughing. "It's not your fault. It's the old man's fault. He likes teasing you all the time."
Ronald nodded sheepishly. "Yeah… he's always like that."
Before we stepped in, I handed Miss Judy a bottle of wine from my inventory.
"Mission done. I'm sure one reliable soon-to-be-but-don't-know-when disciple," I said.
Miss Judy nodded gracefully.
We stepped into the teleportation port.
FLASH.
The world shimmered—and then reassembled.
In a blink, we stood at the edge of the grape farm, the scent of dew and soil greeting us like old friends.
Ronald blinked in awe.
"Woah… That was amazing."
I laughed, "Same!"
The sun greeted us like an old friend. The sky above was painted blue, and before us… the market.
Bustling. Vibrant. Alive.
"This place is so lively," I said, eyes drinking in the colors and sounds.
"It sure is," Ronald beamed. "Best produce, best snacks. It's a wonderland."
As we walked through the streets, he introduced me to merchants, handed me samples, even insisted on treating me.
The food?
A burst of joy.
And as I laughed beside Ronald—shopping bags in one hand, stories spilling from the other—I realized:
This world might be dangerous.
Twisted. Wild. Even cruel.
But today?
It was beautiful.