Ch.1515 – Entry Restricted, Miss

<15 – No Entry, Young Lady>

After a meal set A of anger and resentment.

For several days, I barely even spoke with Jona.

“Did you perhaps have a fight with the butler?”

“It’s not like that.”

“You seem to be in quite a bad mood.”

Is it that obvious even to Leaf?

No, that’s not it.

If I was ignoring him so blatantly, he couldn’t possibly miss it.

Looking back at the past few days, I realized how childishly emotional I had been.

“I felt hurt.”

After saying it out loud, I felt the sincerity of it even more.

“I guess I was hoping Jona would say he’d stay with me forever, even if it was a lie.”

“Young lady…”

“I know. Adults have their own circumstances. And that being stubborn would only make things difficult for Jona.”

Maybe that’s partly why.

These past few days, I’ve been focusing solely on training.

As if asking: would you still abandon me like this?

Could you really leave?

Of course, it makes sense.

In the game, the butler is supposed to be a bound item.

One that should never leave the player’s side.

To think such a butler isn’t eternally on my side.

I can’t help but feel insecurity beyond mere hurt.

“It’s the same for you too, right, Leaf?”

“Yes. I too am employed by the master and ordered to serve you. If the master calls for me, I must return to the main house.”

“I see…”

I have no one on my side.

Just like my real-life relationships that became blank in an instant.

Game relationships can also become blank in a moment.

“So what?”

“Doesn’t that bother you, Leaf?”

“Flowers bloom only to wither, and when money runs out, servants find new employers. Harsh as it may be, that’s the way of the world.”

“…I hate you, Leaf.”

“That’s why I hope Oknodie young lady doesn’t fail. There’s no one else who has the talent to hide in every corner, or who pretends to enjoy tasteless candies.”

No matter how harsh life is, the desire for relationships to continue doesn’t just disappear.

“Look at this candy basket.”

“I see it.”

“How many candies remain?”

One, two, three…

“A whole lot?”

“Until I give you all these candies, I won’t leave your side.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“Even if they call you back from the main house?”

“Even if I’m ordered to be reassigned, I can simply say I never received the order.”

That’s pushing it.

Knowing how forced that promise was made me both grateful and sorry.

“When I said I hated you, Leaf, it was a lie. I’m truly happy that you’re my maid.”

Where did her usual cold expression go? A gentle smile spread across Leaf’s face.

“Then will you make up with the butler as well?”

“Hmm… Oh, what the heck! Just for seeing Leaf’s face, I’ll let it slide this once.”

* *

Let’s make up.

I’ll buy Jona the Evening Full Course Set A.

That’s what I decided, but…

Paying with real money is a bit burdensome.

So I have no choice but to use the money duplication event.

“Leaf, take me to the gambling hall!”

It’s time to enter the “gambling hall.”

In the game, the gambling hall was a convenient time-skip feature where one hour would automatically pass per visit.

You could just pull the lever on the cheapest slot machine and time would fly by. Players who enjoyed this convenience would suddenly fall into temptation.

With a bit of luck, couldn’t I duplicate money?

Maybe I’ll be lucky today?

Of course, the fate of those seeking to get rich quick is predictable.

Eight or nine out of ten ended up failing miserably.

However, a tiny minority of veteran players had at least one secret technique to counter luck.

Even I managed to overcome luck in the previous ticket exam with my “Special Menu” strategy to designate a guaranteed exam subject. Similarly, there’s a trick for guaranteed money duplication at the casino.

“Our gambling hall prohibits entry to children under 15 years of age and customers under 150cm in height to prevent gambling addiction among children and foster healthy gambling habits.”

I never expected to be denied entry due to height restrictions.

“This is fraud! What kind of rule is this?”

“It’s our casino’s business policy. I’m sorry, but please visit us again after you’ve grown taller.”

“I can gamble too!! If I stand on my tiptoes, I’ll be taller!!”

I tried standing on my tiptoes with all my might, but the casino employee pushed my head down with his hand, forcing my heels to the ground, and marked my height on the measuring board.

<133cm>

Leaf protested with an expressionless face.

“Although our young lady is short, she’s mature enough to aim for Academy admission.”

“Customer, are you aware that the average height of a 9-year-old child is 132.6cm? Even an Academy that accepts anyone under 20 wouldn’t have a 9-year-old freshman.”

“That’s not true! I’m not a child!”

“Is that so? If you’re not a child, what business do you have entering a gambling hall?”

The employee addressed me with a face that said I was adorably cute.

Who are you treating like a fool?

“I’m going to duplicate money! Are you scared? Afraid of losing to a kid?”

I talked back defiantly.

The result?

I was kicked out miserably.

“Young lady, you lack talent in persuasion.”

“Hmph. I was trying to win some money to repay a favor.”

“Could you wait in a safe place for a moment? I’ll try to find a solution.”

“Really?”

“You must trust me completely.”

Leaf’s cold, professional expression somehow made her seem reliable.

“I trust you, Leaf!”

“Then please wait here quietly.”

“Leaf?”

“I’ll be going now.”

“Leaf! Hey, you wicked maid!”

The place where Leaf left me.

<Kids Zone>

<Entry permitted for those under 140cm>

It was an unexplored territory that had never welcomed players who only played as muscular male characters.

It was the Kids Zone.

‘This is too much.’

If Jona, Giselle, or the monkey beastkin spotted me lingering at the entrance, I’d be kicking my blankets for months in bed from the shame.

Not wanting to create new embarrassing memories, I reluctantly entered the Kids Zone.

I never imagined the airship would have such trap functions.

I had no idea because I always played as a huge muscular male character.

Now that I was inside, my player’s spirit of exploration bubbled up.

This was uncharted territory I’d never entered before.

What awaited in this unknown Kids Zone?

“Waaaaaah!”

“Abububabubububa.”

“Keeehahahaha! Kyauuuaa!”

Children were waiting.

I hate it here. I want to leave.

* *

Leaf asked the employee:

“I’ll take responsibility for the young lady as her guardian. Is that still not acceptable?”

“Well, as you know, young ladies from noble or wealthy families don’t typically follow their servants’ control very well.”

“Our young lady is different.”

“‘Our young lady is well-behaved,’ ‘Our dog doesn’t bite’—I’ve heard it all before. The well-behaved young lady flipped tables, and the non-biting dog caused injuries requiring 16 stitches.”

The employees had their reasons too.

Rules that had hardened due to strict internal policies after incidents that occurred when they happily permitted entry.

Leaf knew Oknodie, but these people didn’t.

Even thinking “our young lady is truly different,” it was impossible to convince the employee.

‘I need to find a workaround.’

Leaf asked herself:

Is it okay to leave the young lady in the Kids Zone a bit longer?

What does the young lady do when alone…

Hiding curled up in the deepest, most secluded corner or in the shadows.

Smoking under a beehive she accidentally found, claiming she’ll earn the Bee Slayer title.

Accepting and eating unfamiliar candies from strange men.

…Honestly, it’s a bit concerning.

No, that’s a lie.

Actually, it’s extremely concerning.

‘I should finish this as quickly as possible.’

Leaf’s footsteps quickened.

* *

“Kids are really annoying.”

“Ugh, there’s drool on my pants.”

“Ah, my hair. So irritating.”

In the center of the Kids Zone, a small ball pit filled the indoor playground.

Two mature children (average age 10) who were left in the Kids Zone to look after their younger siblings sat on a bench, sighing like world-weary elders.

“Max, your brother is entering the Academy this year, right?”

“Dunno. We’ll see if he gets in.”

“Entering at 15 would be amazing though.”

“He’d be called a prodigy for sure.”

The Gift Academy entrance exam is open to anyone under 20.

Naturally, the chances of passing increase as one approaches 20, when physical development and skills mature.

That’s why students who enter at a young age, far from 20, are called geniuses or prodigies for their exceptional talent.

“Do you think anyone our age could pass?”

“As if. Jessie, you believe rumors too easily.”

“Why? I’d like it if your brother was a prodigy. He’s handsome and smart.”

“Ugh. Drop it. What’s so good about that annoying guy?”

“Tsk. He’s a hundred times better than you! Who are you to badmouth my brother?”

“‘My brother’? He’s MY brother! No, actually, just take him away already.”

“Hmph!”

Jessie, annoyed, kicked the pile of balls.

Through the scattering balls, she made eye contact with a girl hiding inside.

“Aaaahh!”

“What, what’s wrong?!”

“A person? A person? No, why?!”

Rising from among the balls was a girl with long blonde hair, about their age.

The identity of the child who startled Jessie was Oknodie, the enlightened one of the Kids Zone who realized the playground was surprisingly good for raising her hiding skill—the hermit of the ball pit.