“……Haah.”
Letting out a deep sigh, I tossed a treat to Kyle with one hand while gently stroking his fur with the other.
Even though the situation wasn’t ideal, the soft, fluffy texture of his fur slipping between my fingers was oddly soothing.
“What do you think, Your Highness?”
Hearing my voice over the wind rustling through the open space, Kyle perked up his ears, showing he was listening.
“It’s a quest, after all. The two of us need to complete it together. Is there anything here you’ve ever wanted to try?”
Kyle let out a low hum in thought, rubbing his chin. I followed suit, mirroring his gesture with a hum of my own as I contemplated.
It wasn’t a particularly difficult question, but…
‘It’s kind of awkward to just declare, “I want to do something at home.”’
Had he lived a life where desires were always weighed against obligations? As I mused over that, Kyle, with his naturally lean frame, climbed onto my lap and curled up.
“Your Highness……”
My heart clenched. His breathing slowed as he relaxed. Well, if this made him feel more comfortable, then so be it.
Petting his fur seemed to be quite effective at calming him. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him close, and pressed my lips against his still-warm forehead, his dark fur soft against my mouth.
“Your Highness, I think I understand why you sometimes miss Hezzi.”
Haah… That little rascal was a pretty good pet.
In my case, though, it was the complete opposite.
“But communication will be an issue. There’s still a long way to go before ‘Reload’ wears off.”
Checking the timer, I saw that ‘Reload’ lasted for 12 hours. Compared to what I had dealt with before, this was a massive improvement, but still…
‘That’s still half a day as a dog.’
Since the “Messenger of Love” ability was blocked, I needed to find another solution.
The system interface was back up, but the store was still inaccessible, which was frustrating. With a sigh, I tapped the blinking shop button using a reluctant finger.
“……Huh?”
[★☆.｡.:Exclusive Store (Republic of Korea ver.).｡.:☆★]
[Use your stored achievement points to purchase necessary items!]
The store, which had just been down a moment ago, seemed to have been renewed—its interface now flashy and glittering.
I blinked.
“…Wait, what should I even buy?”
“Do they have lamb?”
What can I buy with 5% wish fulfillment?
While stroking Kyle with one hand, I quickly scrolled through the shop page with the other. From the way his pupils subtly followed the movements of my fingers, it seemed like he could see the store interface too.
It would’ve been convenient if he could browse it himself. I slowed my scrolling speed slightly out of consideration, knowing Kyle wouldn’t be used to viewing a screen like this.
Though it was a bit disappointing that I only had 5% wish fulfillment to spend, the newly revamped shop selection was pretty good. There were plenty of options, and the prices were much cheaper than the northern version.
[Tiger Essence that Boosts Strength | Costs 0.5% Wish Fulfillment | Hair! And Divine Blessing!]
[This is solid! Honey Pill | Costs 0.3% Wish Fulfillment | A splendid crunch! A glorious taste!]
[Fortified Herbal Bath | Costs 1% Wish Fulfillment | Warms your body while you soak.]
Lots of tempting choices.
But still……
‘Did they just slap a traditional Korean theme on everything?’
It was oddly amusing and a little unsettling. But seeing familiar words I’d come across in old romance novels made it somewhat nostalgic.
I skimmed through the descriptions of traditional snacks until my hand paused over one item.
[Mysterious Five-Grain Rice Cookie | Costs 1% Wish Fulfillment | Allows mental communication with a designated person.]
This was it.
Almost on instinct, I pressed the purchase button.
Soon, a gentle flash of light appeared, and I lifted the rice cookie to my lips, taking a big bite. Then, I handed the remaining piece to Kyle.
As he accepted it, I felt something akin to an invisible thread connecting the two of us—like a childhood game where a string linked two paper cups together as makeshift telephones.
“Your Highness, can you hear me?”
Kyle perked up his ears, smoothly lifting his beast-like body. He chewed the treat hesitantly before responding.
“Yes, I can hear you.”
This was definitely convenient. Not having to go through the hassle of gauging the other person’s expression before speaking was a huge advantage.
I smiled in satisfaction, chewing on the remaining treat.
‘Now I won’t have to worry about losing him anywhere.’
A damp nose nudged my hand before retreating. It felt as if he was chuckling in his own way.
“Shu.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“I just remembered. There was something I wanted to try here.”
“Oh? What is it?”
I blinked, meeting Kyle’s gaze directly.
What does he want to do in this world? Exotic date? Shopping for unique items? Flying in a plane? If not that, then…
‘I want to walk around the neighborhood. Visit some shops.’
‘…Huh? But we already did that today.’
‘I’d prefer if it was within walking distance, no need for a car.’
‘All of a sudden?’
It didn’t seem like he just wanted to wander aimlessly. There was likely some specific goal, but he wasn’t mentioning that part. He simply wagged his tail without elaborating.
Ah, could it be…
‘Is it for Christmas presents?’
Of course, I kept that thought to myself, making sure Kyle wouldn’t hear it.
“Sounds good.”
I wasn’t sure why, but it felt like he was pushing himself a little. Thinking that, I smiled as I responded.
“Tomorrow morning, I’ll take you for a walk around the neighborhood. There are some shops about 20 minutes away on foot.”
‘Good.’
As if in thanks, Kyle lightly patted my shoulder with his front paw before lifting it away. For some reason, it felt like we had reached an unspoken understanding, and the warmth in my chest lingered.
Neither of us realized it at the time.
That going out during the day… meant going out together as a dog.
***
“Isn’t this uncomfortable?”
I whispered while looking down at Kyle, but he didn’t even flinch. Without any hesitation, he looked up at me and responded.
“Does it have to be this way?”
”Yes. Without it, pets aren’t allowed to walk around outside.”
In my hand was a leash—specifically, the leash connected to the collar around Kyle’s neck. I hesitated, shaking it lightly. The sight of the leash swaying, restricting his movement, made me instinctively release it.
“…Just bear with it.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Click, click, click.
With each step, the rhythmic tapping of his paws echoed against the ground. Kyle, with a solemn expression, steadily followed alongside me, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. But watching him, I couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
‘Ah, I shouldn’t laugh…’
I bit my lip to suppress the smile creeping up, forcing a neutral expression. Of course, my efforts were pointless—Kyle had already noticed and spoke with a slight tremor in his voice.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“Not at all. It’s just amusing. I mean, you’re taking this very seriously, fulfilling your duty with absolute dedication.”
‘Isn’t the thought of experiencing something money can’t buy pretty thrilling?’
“……”
Walking a northern ruler through the streets of South Korea on a leash… As he said, this was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience that money couldn’t buy.
I quickly adjusted his collar and cleared my throat.
“See? I told you it wasn’t a big deal. Now, Your Highness, look over there. That’s a bakery.”
To give him a better view, I bent my knees slightly and blocked part of the sign with my sleeve so he could focus on it. Kyle didn’t respond, only staring blankly at the shop window.
‘…I thought he’d wag his tail or something.’
Feeling a bit unsure, I glanced down at him and asked,
“Your Highness? Can you hear me? That over there is a bakery, right?”
Kyle suddenly jerked his head up to look at me. Did something feel off? I adjusted my grip on the leash and leaned down further.
“Your Highness.”
At that moment, a passing couple walked by and whispered,
“Look at that dog’s name. ‘Your Highness’—how adorable.”
“He looks really dignified…”
“And he understands human speech? The way he responds so seriously is kind of impressive.”
……Shit.
I looked at Kyle with an expression that clearly said, Don’t you dare.
‘Your Highness, please…’
Behind him, his dark tail gave a slow, sorrowful wag.
‘Are you seriously taking revenge for making you wear a leash?’
A voice filled with worldly indifference echoed in my mind.
‘I did nothing.’
Kyle flicked his ears in a composed manner just as a slightly excited system message popped up before us.
[Current Wish Fulfillment: 12.24%]
***
‘How long has it been since I’ve prepared for Christmas like this?’
Seated at a restaurant overlooking the city, I found myself lost in that thought.
For years, survival had been my only concern, forcing me into places that resembled dimly lit, backstreet diners rather than warm, festive eateries.
Restaurants like this—where the atmosphere was cozy yet refined, the food was expensive enough to feel indulgent, and soft piano music played in the background—were settings I had only ever seen in dramas or movies.
But now…
’Well, I’ve got money to burn, so why not?’
Even after spending freely, my account still had more than enough for a comfortable life. Apparently, the game I developed had performed better than expected.
If this were an ordinary life, I’d be worried about how long this money would last or what I should spend it on. But in the end, no matter how I used it, I’d soon return to the world I had chosen.
And that was the real issue.
There was no need to be frugal with money.
—“Order whatever you want. Even if you decide to get the entire menu, I can afford it.”
Kyle skimmed through the English menu before giving me a small smile.
—“You seem pretty well-off. And not just because of luck, either.”
—“Well, I at least have enough to handle one person’s expenses.”
Instead of responding, Kyle simply smiled.
Maybe it was the unfamiliar atmosphere, but my heart pounded in a strange way. His neatly swept-back hair, his sharp black suit—it all added to his striking presence. He was elegant yet effortlessly charming.
The way he casually leaned back and scanned the menu felt completely different from when he stiffened up at a military briefing or inspected an escalator with a perplexed expression.
‘Even the way he enjoys luxury feels different.’
And now that he was in a setting where he had the upper hand in conversation, his demeanor carried an unmistakable air of leisure.
As he traced his fingers over his wristwatch, I watched him effortlessly pick up his knife and begin cutting into his meal. Even in an unfamiliar setting, his composed and graceful movements remained impeccable.
“So, this is Christmas. Spending time with someone you care about, listening to music, decorating trees… exchanging gifts, right?”
“Yeah.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“What kind of special day would you consider worth experiencing at least once?”
Kyle exchanged our plates, giving me his steak while taking mine. I hesitated, unable to focus on the food in front of me, my gaze locked on his face.
A composed expression, a determined smile, a steady, deliberate motion as he cut his steak. When talking, his gaze was always warm, his actions natural. He treated me as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
This was the man who made me think, Maybe I could entrust my life to someone for the first time. My polar opposite. My counterpart. My Kyle.
Before I could even process my thoughts, words escaped my lips.
“Your Highness.”
“……”
“I want to have you.”
