“For example, if a snowy terrain is the surface terrain, it will remain connected for nine days. After a one-day gap, the next terrain, a forest, will be connected.”

“If you are in a snowy terrain and nine days pass, changing the surface terrain, you can’t leave Beltrum until the snowy terrain reappears as the surface terrain. Only one terrain, the surface terrain, is connected to Elos through a gate.”

“……What?”

So if you fail to exit before the surface terrain changes, you’re stuck in Beltrum?

Then if I had entered right before the surface terrain changed, I could have been lost in Beltrum and lost my life?

“Almost died before even seeing my most beloved character.”

I thought I was lucky, but this was a miracle.

For a moment, I put my hands together and thanked my lucky stars. I thanked the author of who created As, the amazing character.

“Thank you for writing …… thank you for creating As…… I’m also thankful for my rebirth here and the opportunity to meet As…… I’m not sure if the last two are due to the author, though.”

After hurriedly wrapping up my prayer, I picked up my pen again. I planned to take notes on this book since I had to return it soon.

Reviving memories of studying for exams, I swiftly moved the pen. But at some point, the speed at which the pen moved began to slow noticeably.

“……”

I rubbed my blurry eyes. Was it due to today’s events? I felt more tired than usual.

‘I want to finish reading this book before going to bed…’

I tried to stay awake, but my vision kept blurring.

Every time it did, my pen tapped the paper, smudging ink here and there. The handwriting was getting jumbled.

Finally, the pen rolled out of my hand and dropped to the table. My head bowed down completely.

In the end, I couldn’t hold on any longer and fell asleep on the desk.

As a result of not going to bed on time and staying at my desk, what greeted Shuria in the morning was an atrocious oversleep and muscle pain.

“It’s a disaster, it’s a disaster, it’s a disaster!”
Shuria hastily threw on the first clothes she could grab, barely rubbing the sleep from her eyes before rushing out of the room. But it was already 8 a.m., a full hour later than her usual starting time.

With the guilt of a sinner, Shuria stealthily entered the underground kennel.

As soon as Sammumma, who had been anxiously awaiting only her, saw her, he pounded his front paws on the ground and howled.

“Wooowooong—! Kkiiwooong—!”

“Ah, I’m sorry! Mom is sorry!”

Apologizing repeatedly, Shuria hurriedly prepared Sammumma’s breakfast.

Today, she added top-grade deer meat as a form of apology. Only then did Sammumma calm down and stop howling.

The morning walk that followed was more exhausting than usual due to Sammumma’s excitement, and the morning playtime, endured through muscle aches, was more painful than usual.

It was only around lunchtime that Shuria could finally take a breather. Having also completed the lunch walk, Sammumma now had free play and nap time until the evening.

“Then….”

Glancing at a romping Sammumma, Shuria discreetly pulled out a book she hadn’t finished reading yesterday. She planned to study while the kids were playing.

Ding—.

The doorbell she had installed at the front of the fence rang at that very moment.

“Huh?”

Shuria looked up from her book. Someone was standing on the other side of the fence.

A beauty with an unyielding stance, her ash-colored hair tinged with purple: Kiara, Asphayren’s chief aide.

‘Why is Kiara at the kennel for the first time? What could be the reason…’

Ah.

“Right!”

They had agreed for Kiara to visit Sammumma at 1:25 p.m. today!

Checking the time, it was exactly 1:25 p.m. True to being Asphayren’s closest confidant, she was punctual, just like him.

Shuria quickly closed her book, got down from the perch, and greeted Kiara.

“Hello, Kiara! Good afternoon. Have you had lunch?”

“Yes. And you, Shuria?”

“I’ve taken care of myself as well, of course! But Kiara, you’re the first to ring this bell. It makes such a pretty sound, why doesn’t anyone else ring it? They always just knock on the fence.”

“Maybe they don’t know there’s a bell? Why not replace it with a bigger one? Or hang several all over the fence.”

“Wow, that’s a great idea. I’ll have to string multiple bells on a long cord and wrap it all around the fence.”

Following along with Kiara’s suggestion, Shuria finally felt the tension lift from her shoulders. It was her first time being alone with Kiara, but the atmosphere was rather pleasant.

Just as she was guiding Kiara inside the fence, Sammumma rushed over and blocked Shuria’s path, lowering his body and sniffing the air cautiously, clearly on guard against Kiara.

Shuria spoke firmly to Sammumma.

“Sit. Good. It’s okay, she’s a guest.”

At that, Sammumma looked skeptical but somewhat relaxed his guard and sat down. Kiara’s eyes sparkled with interest.