“Really? From now on?”
‘As long as you possess the Key of Heart, you’ll continue to hear thoughts! Even without specially summoning it.’
Kiki excitedly scurried over to Liria and sat down. The way he closed his eyes while smiling was adorable.
“Wow, this is amazing! To think that I can hear Kiki’s voice…”
Liria also smiled while stroking Kiki’s head.
‘Yes, it’s my voice. I thought I’d die of frustration not being able to communicate all this time. Now I can finally relax!’
“But I can hear animal voices too, not just people?”
‘Of course. The power of the key doesn’t discriminate between species.’
“I see. Suddenly talking with you feels strange to get used to.”
Liria said while scratching her forehead.
‘Ahem! It’s okay. Let’s get used to it gradually, friend. You’ve obtained a very important key, so you can do many things now! You did very well. Now, let’s go inside there!’
Kiki pointed to the door of the heart with sparkling eyes.
“Wait, but Kiki. How about finding Noah… No, it couldn’t be that easy to find…”
As Liria spoke with presumption, Kiki proudly stroked his whiskers.
‘Hah! Do you know who I am? I am the great and mighty key spirit Kirkiel. Noah is in Conrad’s palace in the Duke’s castle.’
“What? You found him? You’re really amazing, our Kiki, you’re the best!”
‘Ahem, I accomplish everything I set out to do!’
While praising Kiki, Liria thought to herself.
Just like in the original work, Osdel really did imprison Adrian in the Duke’s castle. Though the timing has been moved up.
“But you said Conrad, not Osdel?”
Liria asked anxiously, wondering if the original story was continuing to change.
‘Yes, Conrad discovered the passage from Osdel’s study bookshelf to the underground and found out about Noah’s existence. Anyway, Conrad is in cahoots with Osdel. He’ll keep Noah as a servant.’
Kiki also informed her that Osdel planned to leave Noah with Conrad for 1-2 years before taking him to the laboratory.
Hearing this story, Liria tightly gripped the hem of her dress.
“It’s really flowing throughout, according to the original work. I won’t let things go according to Osdel’s plan.”
‘Huh? Original work?’
Kiki tilted his head and asked. Come to think of it, only Liria knew that this was inside a novel.
Since Kiki was a spirit contracted with her, wouldn’t it be good to share everything with him?
He was the most trustworthy being right now.
“Kiki, listen. What would you think if I told you I know the future?”
‘Huh? The Key of Power doesn’t have that ability though?’
“No, I mean hypothetically. What if this is a world inside a book, and everything flows according to that content?”
She waited for his reaction, testing him.
‘Liria, don’t you have too much imagination? That’s the kind of story you’d only find in a fairy tale.’
Kiki blinked his watermelon seed-like eyes and looked at Liria strangely.
Liria let out a groan.
Where and how should she explain it to make him believe?
She would have to reveal it gradually.
It was a difficult fact to accept, after all.
Anyway, finding out where Adrian was located was already a great achievement.
She wanted to bring him back immediately, but she needed to prepare a proper rescue plan first.
If she acted rashly, she might face opposition from Osdel.
Having obtained the new weapon of the Key of Heart, gathering information would be easier.
Now she needed to open her father’s heart. With the key, wouldn’t it be much easier?
At that moment, the magic book shone brightly.
“Ah! I should check the abilities of the Key of Heart.”
With expectant eyes, Liria looked into the magic book.

[♟Key of Heart
-You can hear inner thoughts when looking into someone’s eyes.
-You can gain favor with desired targets.
-You can visit the heart room of registered subjects.
-Unopened]

“Oh, I thought I could learn about hearts, but this is even more amazing than I expected!”
She had occasionally seen stories in movies and dramas about protagonists who could hear inner thoughts.
Anyway, being able to discern someone’s heart had countless applications.
That alone was amazing, but to think it also had the ability to gain favor.
She couldn’t quite grasp what it meant to be able to visit someone’s heart room.
And seeing that something was labeled “unopened,” it seemed there was another hidden power.
With this…
It would be easier to obtain various information and clearly distinguish between enemies and allies.
It would also be easier to track the movements of enemies like Osdel.
She could quickly find information about new keys, too.
All while increasing the favor of people who could help her.
“The Key of Heart, I really like this.”
Liria gazed preciously at the key.
At that moment, the translucent door flickered and was about to disappear.
‘Liria! Let’s go in there once.’
“Ah, yes. That must be the door to the heart room.”
Liria inserted the Key of Heart into the keyhole on the doorknob and turned it.
Click!
With that sound, Liria and Kiki entered together.
Inside was a room that looked like a drawing room.
A large pink heart-shaped rug covered the floor, and there was a cozy sofa and table.
From somewhere came a warm feeling along with the sound of heartbeats.
Thump, thump.
“It looks just like an ordinary room…”
Liria muttered while tilting her head.
Gently.
At that moment, the Key of Heart circled around Liria and then shot up into the air, and frames began to appear one by one on the wall.
Inside those frames were portraits of people Liria knew very well.
From Classid to her grandfather, Kiki, Eugene, and finally Adrian.
The portraits of her grandfather, Kiki, and Eugene were in vivid color, but Classid and Adrian were in black and white.
All the targets Liria had been working on were there.
They seemed to be in black and white because she hadn’t fulfilled all the conditions yet.
Looking closely, there was a keyhole under each frame.
Liria tilted her head and guessed with curious eyes.
“Could these be the heart rooms of other people?”
She was right.
When she thought about wanting to open them, the Key of Heart gently landed in her hand. She inserted it under Kiki’s frame and turned it, and the lights went out as the entire wall changed.
When Liria turned around, the room’s appearance had completely changed.
Trees that could be climbed stretched to the ceiling everywhere, and the floor was covered with sand and soil for digging burrows freely.
There was a magnificent cave bed fit for the king of ferrets and a table full of jerky dishes.
There was even an elegant spa bath made for pets.
“Kiki, is this your heart room? But why isn’t there anything about the keys…”
Liria muttered with cloudy eyes.
‘Look up.’
Kiki pointed upward, seeming both shy and pleased.
Key-shaped lights sparkled on the ceiling.
She wanted to check Grandfather’s and Eugene’s rooms, too, but Kiki pointed to the magic book that was still shining brightly.
‘Liria. It seems there’s more to check in the magic book!’
“Oh? You’re right.”
The magic book flipped pages and opened to Classid’s page.

[1. Classid von Roberg]
Target’s heart is opening.
Affectionate title (0/300)
Piggyback ride (0/1)
Writing letters (5/5)
Cheek kisses (0/15)
Hugs (4/100)
Receiving luxurious gifts (2/15)
Self-made gift (0/1)
Self-drawn picture (0/1)
Eating together (0/10)
Town outings (0/2)
Festival viewing (0/1)
Escorting to lessons (0/7)