NOVEL NEXT WORLD 7
[‘Reload’ can be used once per day at 00:00.]
[The current duration of ‘Reload’ is 30 minutes.]
[The location of ‘Reload’ has not been designated, so it will be automatically set to the nearest available spot.]
[Good luck! (ෆ`꒳´ෆ)]
In an instant, my vision blacked out and then quickly returned.
A slight headache followed, but fortunately, it only lasted for a brief moment. …The problem was, that was the only fortunate thing about this situation.
As expected, ‘Reload’ was a skill that turned me human. According to the system’s information, I could use it once a day, with a 30-minute time limit.
But that didn’t matter.
The real problem lay elsewhere.
“…….”
I stared down at my body, my face frozen in sheer disbelief.
“Fucking hell….”
Nothing.
No clothes.
Right now, I was completely stark naked.
Shit. Seriously, what the actual fuck. Dear god. How the hell…?
[๑‘͡o_‘͡o๑;;]
Before I could even process my thoughts, I sensed movement.
Creak—
Has the sound of a bathroom door opening ever felt this terrifying before? I stood there, stiff as a board, my mind racing through every possible thought a human could have in just 30 seconds.
And in the end, I reached one conclusion.
‘Run.’
If I get caught here, I’m finished. I don’t want to die as some pervert with no identification who broke into the Grand Duke’s study completely naked.
Not just a suspicious person, but a suspicious fucking pervert! This is even worse than my previous life. This is beyond miserable—it’s humiliating. At this rate, I’d rather be a damn hamster.
‘…Clothes! Where are the clothes?!’
I frantically grabbed a black shirt draped over a chair, shoved my arms into it, and bolted out of the study. There was no time to grab pants—not that they’d fit me anyway.
…More importantly, why the hell didn’t I get at least one piece of clothing?!
“Guards!”
A split second later, Kyle’s furious voice rang out from inside the study. My shirt fluttered wildly as I ran. I had never run this desperately in my entire life.
“Haa, huff…!”
Panting, I pressed myself against the corner of the hallway.
If it was going to be like this, couldn’t I have turned into a chameleon or a cheetah instead?! So all that time on the wheel was just training for this moment?!
I was about to curse at the system when, suddenly, a group of guards came rushing down the opposite hallway. Peeking out slightly, I saw Kyle stepping out of the room as well.
“Gone.”
His voice was so cold it sent a chill down my spine. If someone cluelessly asked what had gone missing, I wouldn’t be surprised if he answered, “Your life,” while neatly separating their head from their body.
As the soldiers hesitated under the weight of his murderous aura, Kyle barked at them.
“Cashew Nut is gone!”
…So that’s more important than an intruder?
“You mean… that rat…? Mmph—”
“Did anyone see the beast leave?”
“No, Your Highness. However, the door was half-open. I have no idea how it was unlocked…”
I knew I had to run, but I couldn’t help but listen, captivated by Kyle’s voice.
Not that running now would do me any good. With his sharp hearing, he’d catch me the moment I took a step. It was better to stay hidden and silent.
“Gone. It disappeared.”
“We’ll seal the gates and windows and search the premises. Since it’s small, it shouldn’t have gone far, Your Highness.”
“Summon the magicians from the 4th Division. They should be on the top floor of the West Tower.”
“…Pardon? The guests, Your Highness?”
“It may still be young, but it’s a beast nonetheless. I don’t know if it’s formed a magic stone yet, but we need to at least track its traces.”
Kyle ground his teeth as he spoke.
“Offer them whatever they ask for. No—offer double their price.”
“U-Understood! But, Your Highness…”
One of the knights who had arrived late hesitated before shrugging off his cloak and holding it out.
“Why are you not wearing anything, Your Highness?”
…Sorry about that. Someone, please bring the Grand Duke a new shirt. I kinda need this one. It’s already freezing—I can’t be running around naked.
[↓ᏊꈍꈊꈍᏊ↓]
Oh, shut up. What, am I supposed to put on the pants too and get caught on the spot? What. What? Never seen a bottomless fashion statement before?
I ignored the snarky system and carefully slipped away in the opposite direction of the guards.
‘Turning into a human was great and all, but…’
Climbing the stairs barefoot left my soles so numb that I could barely feel them anymore. My legs, hands, and even my ears were freezing.
‘How the hell do people even live in this ice-cold castle?’
Was this place really built for humans? Blowing warm air onto my hands, I squeezed myself between the cleaning supplies and waited.
“Close the windows! Start with the windows first!”
“Even if the beast is dumb, do you really think it would just jump out?”
“Hey. You never know, okay? If something happens, we’re all dead.”
Yeah. That hamster wouldn’t be flinging itself out the window, but it’s still a good mindset. Life is unpredictable. You never know what’s going to happen next—just look at me.
“Searching comes later. First, shut all the windows and doors! As long as it’s still inside, there’s a chance we’ll find it!”
“I’ll handle explaining to the guests.”
“Sen—where the hell is that guy? He’s the fastest one here.”
“Probably napping in one of the unused rooms again.”
“Ugh!”
A crowd of people rushed past. Thankfully, due to the urgency of the situation, no one bothered to glance at the spot where I was hidden between the brooms and mops.
‘Now what…?’
Sure, I had managed to grab a shirt before escaping, but that didn’t mean I had a plan.
[‘Reload’ will be deactivated in 20 minutes.]
‘So that means I’ll turn back into a hamster.’
[You can also relocate your ‘Reload’ return point within a 10-meter radius!]
That’s not the issue right now! The entire castle is in chaos—what am I supposed to do? Pop out like, “Tada! I was home all along!”? That’s way too suspicious!
I pressed my temples, sighing deeply. I should be happy that I finally turned into a human, but all I got was an avalanche of problems.
“Was I a pretzel in my past life or something…?”
My fate is so damn twisted.
On top of that, the time limit for my human form is way too short. Only 30 minutes? That means I have to spend the other 23 hours and 30 minutes as a hamster.
[Increasing your Miracle stat will gradually extend ‘Reload’s’ duration!]
Oh, piss off.
For now, once I turn back into a hamster, I need to make sure I’m seen by someone. If I’m lucky, someone will pick me up. If not, I’ll have to find my own way back.
Not because I actually want to be the Grand Duke’s pet hamster, but because with my current Miracle stat, switching between hamster and human won’t change anything. If anything, surviving like this will be an uphill battle.
Knowing the original story or getting help from the system means nothing if I get unlucky and someone boots me across the hallway. That would be a one-way ticket to the afterlife.
[‘Reload’ is ending soon!]
Damn it. I finally became human, but I didn’t even get to enjoy it before the 30 minutes ran out. This sucks.
Now that I think about it, the original novel mentioned the Northern Festival around this time. Wasn’t this when the heroine, Serena—who was a poor orphan—first met the Second Prince, Belial after reincarnating?
And wasn’t this also the time when some kind of incident caused Belial and Kyle to become sworn enemies? What was it again…?
—Click. (Damn, time flies.)
Before I could remember, the 30 minutes were up.
A blue light engulfed me, and in an instant, I was back to my original—no, no, hold on. What am I even saying? I was originally a human, not a hamster.
Ahem. Let’s try that again.
Wrapped in blue light, I shrank back into a hamster. The black shirt I had been wearing slipped off my tiny body, landing in a heap on the floor.
I clenched it between my teeth and started dragging it. Since I can turn human once a day, I might as well keep this for next time…
‘Is this thing expensive?’
Sorry, but consider this a donation. Surely, a single shirt is nothing compared to the lavish furniture you stuffed into my ridiculous three-story cage.
“The beast disappeared? I thought he was keeping it in a cage?”
“Yeah, well, it must’ve broken out. I don’t know the details—just that it happened.”
“What about the mages?”
“They couldn’t find it. They said there’s no trace of mana anywhere.”
“…How does that make sense?”
Well, duh. When I possessed this body, I stopped being a magic beast and became a normal hamster. Of course, they wouldn’t sense anything.
I felt a little bad for the mages running around in circles, but honestly, it’s not my problem. Kyle will pay them handsomely anyway.
“They said it’s about the size of a small rat, right? Then it can’t have gone far. It probably hid somewhere dark and quiet… I’ll check this way. Can you search the other side? Also, double-check that all the windows and doors are closed.”
I curled up between some stored items after stuffing the shirt into a corner. Soon, I sensed someone approaching.
Alright, whoever it is, I’ll just let them find me. That way, they’ll bring me straight to Kyle, and I won’t have to run around the castle myself.
“There you are.”
Lifting my head, I met the gaze of the maid who had discovered me.
And then—
‘Huh?’
Soft brown hair. Clear green eyes.
Freckles, like a constellation across her nose and cheeks.
Even with glasses covering half her face, I knew instinctively who she was.
[Serena.]
She was the heroine of the original novel. The same face I’d seen in the system window.
‘…I’m meeting her like this?’
I stared at her, my mind racing.
Originally, she should have been in the capital with Belial at this point in the story.
‘Ah.’
Then it hit me.
Because I possessed this body, she never got the chance to possess hers.
That meant… was she a different Serena?
Maybe the story had changed so much that she wasn’t even called Serena anymore. After all, “Serena” was just the title given to a woman chosen for the Imperial family. This was something I had suspected before.
“Sen! Did you find it?”
A maid’s voice called from behind her.
After a brief hesitation, I slowly climbed onto her outstretched palm.
‘Alright. I choose you.’
Since her fate got screwed up because of me, it’s only fair that she compensates me in return.