"Grace, I want to go out for a walk..."

After eating her fill, Mushiyu made this request to Grace.

Seeing those gentle, rabbit-like eyes, Grace’s heart itched uncontrollably. Unable to think clearly, she absentmindedly took Mushiyu’s hand and whispered, "I’ll go with you!"

A surprised smile spread across Mushiyu’s face. She happily yelled "Yeah!" and jumped off the bed barefoot, pulling Grace outside.

"Hurry up, hurry up!" she urged nonstop.

Watching Mushiyu’s excitement, a smile touched Grace’s lips. But it vanished instantly when she realized how thrilled Mushiyu was just to step outside the carriage. Gazing at her petite back, Grace silently hardened her resolve.

At the door, Grace suddenly remembered the lunchbox on the table. She called for Mushiyu to stop, turned back to grab it, and checked for anything left behind. Only after confirming no traces remained did she step out.

Since she’d promised to take her out, she must do it perfectly. Any slip-up could mean failure—something Grace absolutely wouldn’t allow.

Stepping out of the carriage for the first time, the courtyard lay pitch-dark under the night sky. Only a few scattered oil lamps glowed faintly, barely holding back the thick darkness.

"Hmm... so desolate!" A cold wind swept over Mushiyu, making her unconsciously tighten the blanket around her.

Grace quickly shed her coat and draped it over Mushiyu’s shoulders.

Mushiyu froze, turning to look up at her. The oversized coat hung past her perky hips, making her look adorably small.

Grace swallowed hard: I want to hug her.

"Thank you," Mushiyu murmured, clutching the coat collar and smiling warmly.

"No problem," Grace replied.

A sudden idea sparked in Grace’s mind. A faint smile curved her lips. "I know a spot with a full view of the town."

Mushiyu’s eyes lit up. "Where?"

"Hmm... I’ll need to carry you up there... Is that okay?" A blush rose on Grace’s cheeks, hidden by the night.

Mushiyu gave her a puzzled glance. "Of course."

Why ask permission for a simple carry? Boys hugging boys might be weird, but girls? Totally normal. Then again, this was another world—customs could differ.

Heart pounding, Grace stepped closer. She gazed into Mushiyu’s sparkling eyes, then carefully slid one arm under her shoulders and the other under her knees, lifting her in a princess carry.

The light yet fiery body in her arms radiated strange energy, igniting an impulse deep within. Grace took two sharp breaths to calm herself. She tightened her grip, glanced up at the inn’s rooftop, bent her knees, and leaped.

The sudden weightlessness made Mushiyu gasp. She instinctively wrapped her arms around Grace’s neck, squeezed her eyes shut, and pressed her face into Grace’s shoulder.

"Don’t be afraid," Grace whispered in her ear.

Wind whistled past as Grace leaped again and again. Mushiyu never opened her eyes, her arms locked tight.

Feeling that dependence, Grace wished the building would stretch forever.

But Magestown was just a border town, thriving on mercenaries and adventurers. Its tallest structures had limits. Soon, Grace landed on the rooftop.

She made no move to set Mushiyu down. Her arm under the girl’s knees pressed against soft skin, an intimate warmth spreading between them.

After a long pause, Mushiyu tentatively opened her eyes—meeting Grace’s intense gaze.

"Here already?"

Mushiyu barely noticed the heat in Grace’s stare. She peered over the edge and gasped in delight.

Unlike the courtyard’s gloom, the entire town glittered below—a sea of lights in the deep night, as if no one slept.

"This is Magestown’s charm," Grace explained. "Mercenaries and adventurers keep it alive."

Noticing Mushiyu showed no sign of moving, Grace’s eyes crinkled with quiet joy. She stayed silent, content to hold her.

"This is Magestown?"

Mushiyu scanned the town eagerly. Night blurred the details, but building outlines were clear. It mirrored the game’s Magestown yet held stark differences.

Similarities: the setting—prosperous from mercenaries and adventurers; the rugged, stone-built architecture, giving a Western frontier feel.

Differences lay in layout—streets and structures didn’t match the game. Darkness hid whether it was partial or total.

This shattered her theory that "this world spawned from the game." Why the discrepancies? She couldn’t fathom it.

The worldview matched. Town names aligned. Central Empire existed in-game. Loran served as Elvenkind guard captain in both worlds, looking nearly identical—though "nearly" mattered. Heavenly Wonder Continent was an anime-style game; no matter how realistic, it couldn’t replicate true 3D life. Here, Loran was flesh and blood.

As for Grace... Mushiyu tilted her head, studying her face. It felt familiar, but the memory slipped away.