Chapter 23

The cold wind had subsided, and the sun was warm. I looked at the carriage at the castle's entrance, then at Belial standing in front of it, and finally at Sen. Sen was wearing a thick velvet cloak, his light brown hair twisted into a neat style, as he gazed up at the castle.

As if to prove that the description in Heart of Winter was not an exaggeration, he was more beautiful than ever standing under the northern sun. Indeed. Even the proud prince deserved to fall in love with him. No, it was a waste of Sen.

"Thank you, Your Highness. I'm truly sorry for leaving so suddenly." Sen bowed.

Kyle looked down at Sen with his characteristic blunt expression. Even though he didn't say anything, a faint smile spread across Sen's face. It must be because he sensed the concern and support for him in Kyle's silence.

Kyle Blake was such a person. Contrary to his cold and blunt demeanor, he possessed a heart that genuinely cared for his people.

Sen smiled brightly. "I'll be fine wherever I am. I will never forget the grace you have shown me."

"Yes," Kyle said curtly. However, from that short answer and gaze, I could feel his feelings for Sen, who was once his own spiritual citizen.

Sen and I didn't speak any further. I had asked everything I wanted to ask anyway, and I had heard everything I wanted to hear. So, all we had to do was give each other a friendly look.

Belial was also quiet. He came close to me and briefly thanked me for saving him during the chandelier incident. He gave Kyle a slight shrug and uttered a few arrogant words, but his tone wasn't as sharp as it had been in the study.

Kyle also saw off Belial by politely extending his hand, as if he didn't want to cause a disturbance in the courtyard as they left.

Okay, okay. I want you to take Sen. Go and live well without shedding tears. Don't beat me up for revenge, and don't be rude to Kyle.

I gave Belial a look that urged him to leave. Fortunately, he departed quickly as I had hoped. Seeing the carriage move away, people breathed a sigh of relief.

"I thought something was going on."

"I know. Ten years old..."

"I still dream of a chandelier. Damn it..."

I could feel Kyle looking at me with a surprised expression, as if he thought I was about to die. Yes, I'd rather die than get sick. I'm glad I blocked it with my back.

However, my eyes were still fixed on the carriage. It was because I felt strange seeing the few carriages getting farther and farther away, soon becoming black dots. Why did it seem to be swallowed up by the fog?

...There they go. What are you worried about?

This guy who lives as a pet hamster for most of the day is the biggest problem.

"You asked me to go to the study for a while, right? To see the demon beast." I winked at Kyle, signaling that we should leave. Only two hours a day. Time is money, so let's hurry up, Your Highness.

The roads in the city were now in the palm of my hand. It was thanks to my previous life's ability to find a shortcut to the restaurant anywhere in the company. Workers who have no energy do their best to walk one step less.

"Let's see. Is this the fastest way?" I strode ahead. Of course, in front of him, I must have looked like a small bird strutting before a large one, but instead of catching up with me, he decided to follow one step behind.

Soon, I went up the stairs to go to the study. Climb the spiral staircase, climb again, climb...

...My pace began to slow down. It was when I had climbed more than fifteen flights of stairs, to be exact. I had definitely 'called' upon the physical stamina of a modern office worker...

"Damn. Without any escalators..."

"What?" Kyle strode closer. I grunted.

"Well, there is such a thing." Don't you even know what an escalator is? Hey, tsk, it's like a northern villager. "The stairs move by themselves, and they lift people up without having to walk."

"..."

Kyle looked at me like someone who had heard the most astonishing thing of the century, and then, in a flash, he scooped me up.

"The stairs are made of bricks, so they won't move on their own, but I want you to feel comfortable anyway."

"No, hey..." He lifts people up like a bale of hay.

I looked at Kyle once, then up the stairs in the distance, and quickly put my rebellion aside. Okay. Even if I went to Moro, I could only go to the study.

While he climbed the stairs steadily, I quickly opened the shop.

[Love Love Corner~❤]

...I can't get used to this at any time.

[Current Holdings | ❤ ×323]

[Replica Hamster to Soothe Loneliness (Duration: 30 minutes) | ❤ ×100]

No, the last time I saw it, it was 320. Where did you get 3 from? Does it multiply on its own?

Even if it had increased, it was only about three hundred. You needed a hundred to buy a replica hamster... This meant that almost a third was needed.

It's expensive, it's expensive.

I stared into the air. What about the price?

[(〃｀ 3′〃)]

To be honest, it's not cheap. In addition, only the replica hamster that is needed right now is expensive.

...Yes? No way.

[（*゜ー゜*）]

Don't avert your eyes.

I narrowed my brows, stared at the system, and nervously bought a replica hamster. Then, a system window decorated with a pink heart flashed into my mind.

['Replica Hamster for Loneliness' has been added to your inventory!]

Nope. Nope! Don't put it in your inventory, put it in the hamster house! I pretended to pull my hand out of my pocket and said, 'Voila, you hamster, here~'... As soon as 'Voila' ends, I'm going to be in deep trouble. Don't you know Kyle's personality!?

['Replica Hamster for Loneliness' has been added to your inventory!]

Stupidly, really.

"Hah..." I let out a sigh that felt heavy enough to sink the ground, and Kyle waved his arms slightly at me.

"What's wrong?"

"It's hard to make ends meet."

"Is there not enough money?"

"It's not that I'm rich. So, give me a lot of money to pay for it."

Kyle opened the door to the study with one arm still holding me. "Since I asked for help first, I don't intend to compensate him inappropriately."

Okay. I couldn't even spend my first settlement money because I was possessed, it's hard to earn miracle numbers, and I don't know if it's Love Love or Laburaboo, but 1/3 of it has been blown away. So let's touch the money.

"I'm looking forward to it."

I stood with him in front of the hamster house. Naturally, he began to look for Cashew by searching through hides and sculptures.

"Where did you go?"

I don't think so, man. Because it's here.

My heart pounded. I can't even say that I'm your pet hamster. Right? I can't even speak!

Anyway, come out.

"If you search like that, the demon beast will be surprised." Kyle's hand stopped. Then he nodded slowly.

"...Makes sense. I'm sorry." The latter was probably directed at Cashew. Well, that's me, too.

I pushed him away, telling him to get out of the way, and carefully groped near the sawdust. I have to take out the replica as immaculately as possible...

"You can just touch it." He said with pride. "Cashews cover the toilet. Isn't that genius?"

...Are you crazy? If you don't cover the toilet, it's a beast, not a person... Yes, he might look like a genius in your eyes.

I looked at him for a moment, confused. Kyle looked genuinely happy.

"I think he'll be able to talk in a minute. How cute and clever he is."

[Current Holdings | ❤ ×224]

Isn't it strange to say it yourself? There is no way that a demon beast can speak human language. My kid said he's already a dad! This is it? There's no escaping this. Are you happy just thinking about it...

"Then Your Highness, if the demon beast speaks, he will fly away."

Kyle was quiet for a moment. He seemed to imagine Cashew talking. What can you imagine? I'm talking like this right now.

While he was doing his part, I quickly reached into the hiding place and pulled out a replica hamster.

"Oh, here it is." Naturally. Naturally.

I am a magician. He was a magician in his previous life. He is a magician who turned Korea upside down with a dove, a cloth, and a hat. It is easier to fool a Northern Grand Duke than to blow his nose.

I put the replica hamster in my hand and pretended to look around.

'Hmm.'

The fake hamster was more sophisticated than I thought. It breathed, blinked, and moved its limbs properly. It looked like a real hamster, but it was gentler than I expected.

When I flipped the replica over and pretended to examine its belly, Kyle muttered strangely. "It's a little different..."

I flinched for a moment. ...Does he know the difference? What's the difference? Is it different? Or is it my acting?

When I glanced at the system, the replica hamster let out a soft cry. Look at this. He also cries. Even his voice is the same.

However, Kyle frowned even more at the sound of its voice. "Where does it hurt? He's not this quiet."

"How do you know?" I was going to make the system narrow the gap. Now, please give us specific feedback.

However, Kyle's answer was a bit out of the blue. "I know it with love."

"Love..." Honey was dripping from Kyle's eyes. ...I really can't get used to it.

[Current Holdings | ❤ ×225]

Unlike miracle numbers, hearts are created even if you don't do anything. Yes, do your best. You never know when you'll have another expensive item.

I glanced at Kyle, turned my back on him slightly, and pretended to shake the replica hamster.

"Let's see, our demon."

Kyle said nervously, from behind my back. "It's my beast."

What are you saying? Don't be so possessive. Don't look at me jealously.

"You don't have to worry about it. He looks healthy. However, he's... a little fat."

Did I eat that much? The thought made me feel a little frustrated.

"He's chubby, but he won't have a big problem, so just leave him alone. He's about to grow up, so don't make him a vegetarian. Don't make him eat raw food because it can burn. Mealworms, you're not giving him something like this, are you?"

Kyle flinched. "...I heard that rodents like that. He can also hunt."

"What kind of barbaric thing is that? Is your goal to raise them well and release them into the north?" I slipped the replica hamster into its hiding place and said sternly. "Don't give him something weird like that, give him something that people can eat well. Cooked beef, chicken. Well, something like this. Demons are surprisingly good at eating fatty things, so you don't have to boil them."

Yes, it doesn't taste good when boiled. If I ask him to season it, will it be too much trouble?

"Give him some fruit or something."

Kyle listened to me and nodded seriously. "Yes, I will. By the way, Sen isn't here, so it's hard to get those things..."

He glanced at me, asking if I could take care of it. It's important to get to know Kyle anyway, so two hours a day should be enough.

I nodded with a conscientious expression. He will give you a trick. Even for the quality of life as a companion hamster.

"Thank you," Kyle said frankly. "I don't know how to describe it... Yes, thanks to you, I was relieved. Is there anything else you want for Cashew?"

What is there to worry about? The price of all the hardships, after all.

"Money." I bent my thumb and forefinger to form a circle. "All you need is money."

"..."

"If you can, make it a thick wad."

Now, let's empty Prince Blake's pockets. You have to have a lot of money to have a pet hamster, you know?