‘Well, that’s how it is.’

Kana smiled gently. It seemed her habit of summoning to say goodbye right after the ending when working on novels where she could be with Celia had unconsciously emerged.

The wind spirit blinked her round eyes as she noticed her contractor’s strangely different atmosphere, slightly flushed cheeks, and the ruby ring on her ring finger.

[Wait, Kana! Did something happen with Kiriel?]

‘As expected of Celia. You noticed right away.’

[How could I not after spending so much time together? Is that ring a couple ring?]

‘Yes.’

She carefully affirmed. Celia zipped around the room before stopping right in front of her contractor. Interest settled in her shining round eyes.

[Tell me what happened!]

‘Well, there’s not much to explain. I kissed him.’

[Whew, that’s bold. Did your star rating survive?]

After whistling briefly, the wind spirit gave her a worried look. Kana smirked while raising one corner of her mouth.

‘Ah, of course it was deducted. About 400 points. The reason was that it exceeded my role.’

[How stingy. It was so quiet I thought it had gone bad, but it only displays warnings and strictly deducts points at times like this.]

‘That’s what I’m saying.’

Kana enthusiastically criticized the Otherworldly Library with her spirit. What would be the problem when there was no one related to hear them anyway.

When the conversation reached a lull, Celia carefully broached the subject while observing her contractor’s expression.

[So Kana, have your feelings about ‘him’ gotten any better?]

‘Honestly, thinking about being forgotten and parting makes me feel a bit lonely.’

Kana lowered her eyes while confiding her true feelings to her partner. Her elevated mood plummeted. Though she had been prepared for this from the start, actually facing it made her feel sorrowful.

[……Ah.]

‘Will I have to endure until my heart grows numb? If only I had met him after collecting all the star points……’

Then she could have imagined the possibility of a future together. Unfortunately, their parting was predetermined.

Kana squeezed her eyes shut. Her hands gripping the hem of her dress tightened.

‘This is why I didn’t want to get too close to story characters. Why did I have to meet him when I still had quite a few star points left to collect.’

[Hmm, how about choosing this world to settle in after you collect them all?]

‘I thought about that too, but there’s no guarantee I’ll meet him with all conditions perfectly met regarding the timeline and various other aspects. It would take considerable luck for everything to align.’

Kana shook her head weakly. Her heart ached knowing it was an extremely low probability, as many supporting role actors who had grown attached to characters in novels had tried. Celia let out a deep sigh.

[Ah, I see. What should we do……]

‘What else? I’ll accept the farewell while keeping the good memories. Later when I collect all the star points, I’ll bet on it with a half-gambling mindset.’

Her green eyes shone with determination. It was unlike her, who always claimed she would choose the world where she settles carefully. The wind spirit’s mouth opened wide.

[Dear contractor, you’re serious.]

‘Of course.’

Kana closed her eyes and carefully engraved his memories in her mind and feelings related to him in her heart.

* * *

The next night. The time for the exit door to open was approaching.

After using up all remaining spirit stones during the day and finishing all preparations, Kana changed into comfortable clothes and put on a hooded robe.

Of course, she had summoned both Celia and Gnome. The spirits had said they wanted to see her off as she exited. Celia looked at her contractor with wavering eyes.

[I hope the next novel will have strong fantasy elements too.]

‘That depends on the Otherworldly Library’s update list, but I’ll try my best.’

[Don’t push yourself too hard. When you collect all your star points, we can be together.]

‘Yes. Then we won’t have to keep separating and reuniting—we’ll stay together continuously.’

[Right.] 

As Kana was about to leave with spirits on either side, the communication crystal on the desk lit up. It was Kiriel’s code. She hesitated before accepting his contact.

“……Lord Kiriel, why are you contacting me at such a late hour?”

— I couldn’t sleep thinking about earlier, and then I thought of you while spacing out. What are you doing?

His voice was pleasant to hear, low even when filled with emotion. Kana pulled her robe tighter while trying to lie casually.

“I was looking at the moon through the window and was about to go to sleep.”

— I see. Sleep well.

“You too, Lord Kiriel. Don’t overdo it and get some good rest.”

— Yes.

The communication crystal turned off.

‘Usually when it’s time for the exit door to open, all activities should stop….. Did Kiriel contact me just before getting blocked? Well, it’s not bad to hear his voice one last time.’

Kana smiled faintly. She shoved the communication crystal she had been holding into a drawer along with her remaining attachments. Strangely, it felt like her feelings were being shoved away too.

Now it was all over. After squeezing her eyes shut then opening them, she left the Round mansion and walked toward the fountain in the central plaza.

The streets were empty and no sound could be heard. When the play ends, only supporting role actors who had finished their roles could move in the frozen world.

She met her industry friend at the fountain. Alderaan casually sat on the fountain with its frozen water streams and waved.

“Round, you came.”

“Yes, Alderaan. You look bright.”

Kana received his greeting with a slight laugh. His complexion had brightened as he clapped and said.

“Of course, since we’re about to exit. Ah right, what was the total star rating for ‘Fake Saint’?”

“3,000 points. Though I’ll only get 2,000 points from it of course.”

Alderaan’s eyes, which had been smiling brightly, widened slightly at her answer. Genuinely surprised, he straightened up and asked.

“What? Another 400 points were deducted?”

“Yes.”

“When? How?”

His olive eyes sparkled with interest. Kana shrugged and replied nonchalantly.

“Yesterday. Because I kissed Kiriel.”

“Wow, well done. People need to be bold sometimes.”

Alderaan laughed loudly and applauded. Kana shook her head while listening to her industry friend’s hearty laughter.

They waited while exchanging small jokes. Soon a black door appeared in front of the fountain with white text engraved on it.

〈Would you like to exit the novel?〉

Options should appear below that, but the text was cut off. This was the first time seeing something like this after completing the assigned role till the end.

‘What variable is this now?’

Kana frowned and looked at her industry friend.

“Alderaan, my text is cut off.”

“What?”

“Do you see options appearing below?”

“Yeah. I see them.”

Alderaan tilted his head in confusion. An angry Kana clenched her fists and gritted her teeth.

“Is it just not showing for me?”

“What’s going on?”

He wore a confused expression. Usually if one supporting role actor has problems, the other should have problems too.

If there was an issue with Kana’s exit, he should have had the same. But clearly only she was experiencing this anomaly. Kana tried to suppress her anger while asking her industry friend for help.

“Alderaan, could you exit first and inquire with the librarian on my behalf?”

“Of course that’s possible, but you’ll be left here alone?”

“Can’t be helped. Seems like the Otherworldly Library caused another problem but I can’t call the librarian from here……”

She trailed off while clutching her frustrated chest. Just then, the sound of shoes suddenly broke the quiet state. Following that, a sharp voice pierced their backs.

“What are you two doing there?”

Kana turned around reflexively. Disheveled golden hair, widened purple eyes, and slightly parted lips.

Even in the dim moonlit scenery, his striking appearance and distinct presence didn’t fade.

“……This can’t be.”

While she muttered unknowingly with rounded eyes, Kiriel strode over with his robe fluttering.

Those strange dreams, the outside scenery that seemed frozen and lifeless, the spine-chilling silence, and her voice that he last heard bothered his heart—his intuition had hit the mark exactly.

The person he loved seemed about to disappear from this world, just like in his dreams. Kiriel spoke with difficulty in a trembling voice.

“Miss Kana, you said you were going to sleep. Why are you here with Alderaan Short in such attire?”

“That’s……”

Kana hesitated. A woman in comfortable clothes with a hood and a man alone together late at night. Anyone would suspect an elopement or other unsavory business.

Finally, Alderaan explained on behalf of his troubled industry friend.

“You misunderstand, Tower Master. We are just workplace colleagues.”

“……Workplace colleagues?”

Kiriel’s gaze turned sharp. Mana swirled around his fingertips. Though the atmosphere was fierce as if he might attack at any moment, Alderaan casually asked his curious point.

“More importantly, how did you come here when you shouldn’t have been able to move?”

“Why, I could move just fine. I thought something felt unnatural, and it seems there is indeed something suspicious.”

Kiriel retorted sarcastically before looking at Kana. Tender emotions settled in his purple eyes. He held her hand and asked gently.

“Miss Kana, is what he said true?”

“Yes, Alderaan and I are just friends who work together.”

At her flat voice, Kiriel felt relieved yet asked due to rising anxiety.

“Then why are you two alone late at night?”

“We finished all our work and were about to return together. The phenomenon you find strange is the situation occurring during that process. Everything should return to normal once we return.”

Kana confessed in a strained voice while squeezing her eyes shut. Kiriel’s eyes shook violently. He opened his mouth with difficulty, doubting his ears.

“Return where?”