Tristan Ruelberta.

Choi Jae-man had also heard about that character.

A man called the ruthless pig count in the game. The worst villain who manipulates a country using money and status… Probably the first villain NPC players would encounter when the game service starts.

Of course, he’s just a game character. The day Choi Jae-man heard that name again was the day he fell into this world.

‘Let’s ask Tristan for help.’

Park Se-hee told them, exhausted from evading wild animals and bandits. She convinced them that Tristan would help. Choi Jae-man wanted to ask why Tristan of all people, but Park Se-hee’s eyes were serious. As if Tristan was the only one who could save them.

In fact, Choi Jae-man and the others had no other options. They tried everything but couldn’t even summon the system window. They couldn’t log out. They were resigned to being trapped in this world.

They had no choice but to trust Park Se-hee, who had experience as a game tester.

After days of journeying with her leading the way, they reached the outskirts of the empire’s capital, Ludlow. Finding Tristan’s mansion wasn’t hard. A grand mansion stood out in the outskirts. Clearly the mansion of the Ruelberta family, boasting the empire’s highest power.

After much trouble, Choi Jae-man finally met Tristan and couldn’t help but be surprised. A sharp jawline, intelligent looks, and a face so handsome it could be mistaken for a woman’s. Tristan’s appearance was far different from what Choi Jae-man had known.

But his cold gaze and aura were closer to a villain among villains. An arrogant attitude and tone that seemed to consider everything in the world beneath him.

Choi Jae-man realized Tristan was of the same breed. A man born into power, raised as a noble among nobles. He smelled like Choi Jae-man, who was born into a wealthy family and lived like a noble.

Of course, he was startled when Tristan had his subordinates give them ‘etiquette lessons’… But it was inevitable. The subordinates, thought to be ordinary NPCs, had acted rudely.

‘Right. Lowlives deserve to be beaten.’

They are inherently vulgar. Though he had to join hands with them to control the system, they are people he wouldn’t normally associate with. Bottom feeders who survive through illegal program manipulation and hacking. Yet they act out of line, worse than bugs. The kind of people Choi Jae-man hates the most.

Since falling into this world, they have been utterly useless. Unable to find an escape back to their original world, they flail around. Choi Jae-man was depressed. To think he had to entrust his future to such useless people.

Tristan seemed like a much better option. At first, he was unsure, but Park Se-hee’s judgment was right. A villain with power rivaling the emperor in this world. Asking for his help seemed like the best chance of escape.

Even as his subordinates groveled and bowed their heads, Choi Jae-man thought of ways to gain Tristan’s help.

‘Should I offer him a large sum of money to get out of this world? No, he doesn’t seem like the type to be satisfied with just that… Besides, there’s no guarantee I can even leave this world…’

Choi Jae-man’s wealth and power were useless here. In his current state, he couldn’t think of any way to persuade Tristan.

But then, an unexpected opportunity came to Choi Jae-man, who was fretting internally. By sheer luck, Tristan showed interest in the gem business.

‘Right! That’s it!’

The richer the person, the better they smell money. Surely this young count has realized it too. If trade between the two worlds succeeds, he could earn an astronomical amount of money in the future. And the only one who can pioneer this new trade route is Choi Jae-man himself.

Although the plan to colonize this world has hit a snag, this isn’t a bad alternative. No, it’s the only way. If he can’t leave this world, everything will be for nothing.

‘I’ll survive. Once I get back, that bastard Park… Huh?’

Just as Choi Jae-man was convinced he had persuaded Tristan, a girl appeared. She looked to be around high school age. A girl with chestnut twin tails, dressed in a maid outfit, started brewing tea for the two.

‘A maid?’

She had followed Tristan in earlier, but Choi Jae-man hadn’t noticed her due to her small stature. Even if he had, the outcome wouldn’t have changed…

‘Definitely a slave.’

Though he doesn’t know the specifics of this world’s culture, a villain like Tristan must have many who threaten his life. Using ignorant young slaves is better than using those who might betray him. Such a girl serving Tristan must be a ‘purchased item.’

So Choi Jae-man got angry. He had been humiliated by being doused by a mere ‘item.’ He thought Tristan, who likely thought the same, would defend him…

“…Ugh?”

When he came to, he was on a cold stone floor. Where… is this?

“You have quite the nerve.”

“Who, who… Ugh…!”

Choi Jae-man tried to get up but winced from the pain.

“Insulting the count’s fiancée without fear. You should know your place.”

“What?!”

Choi Jae-man, startled by the voice’s owner, stepped back. Beyond the iron bars, a furry creature was glaring at him. Like a monster from a nightmare… but thankfully, it was Tristan’s subordinate.

No… Why are there iron bars?

“A prison…?”

Looking around, Choi Jae-man was in a prison surrounded by stone walls. What is this sudden situation? Helga answered Choi Jae-man’s bewildered question.

“This is the detention room in the mansion’s basement. The count was very angry.”

“What?!”

“Consider yourself lucky to be locked up here. The count has shown mercy.”

“I’m innocent!”

Choi Jae-man shouted, clutching the bars.

“If I had known that girl was the count’s fiancée, I wouldn’t have done that!”

“Sure, sure. But you know… treating a 12-year-old as an item and shamelessly asking the count how much she cost?”

“That, that was…!”

“That’s quite… an innovative suicide method, but sadly, it failed.”

“Wait!”

Desperate, Choi Jae-man shouted at Helga’s retreating back.

“I made a mistake by not distinguishing between public and private matters. So I admit I was entirely wrong. If you want, I can make a deal favorable to the count with our world. Or I can offer more money.”

“Excuse me, but do you lack a brain?”

“What…?”

“You think the count is angry because you couldn’t distinguish public and private matters? It’s not just the insult…”

Helga’s eyes, visible through the costume’s gaps, glowed like a beast’s. Seeing that, Choi Jae-man instinctively stepped back.

“It’s natural to be angry at someone like you, treating a 12-year-old as an item and valuing her worth, right?”

“Ugh… ugh…”

“Apologies or anything else won’t help. Just stay here and reflect on your foolishness.”

With those words, Helga left the basement detention room without looking back.

Left alone in the detention room, Choi Jae-man groaned, covering his face.

“Damn it…”

Who would have thought the count’s fiancée would be working as a maid? Naturally, he thought she was a lowly slave or commoner… And that girl too. Looking at her height and build, how could she be 12…

“Huh? Wait, if she’s 12…”

Grumbling, Choi Jae-man suddenly realized something strange. Something that had passed unnoticed but now seemed odd…

“…He’s engaged to an elementary school student?”

*

I blamed myself for my mistake.

Swept up by emotion, I ended up throwing a punch. This makes me no different from Helga.

“A-Are you okay…? Y-Your hand is bleeding…”

“This isn’t my blood.”

I must have hit him hard, as my fist was stained with Choi Jae-man’s blood. Seeing this, Wendy wiped the blood off my hand with a handkerchief.

“Are you okay?”

“Huh? Y-Yes… I’m fine…”

“…I showed you an ugly sight.”

“N-No… I was actually happy…”

“…Happy?”

Wendy looked up at me, placing her hands on her chest.

“You called me your fiancée…”

“…What?”

“Well… I thought you’d hide it… that I’m your fiancée… But you introduced me as your fiancée, so… I was happy…”

It’s true, it’s hard to say it outright. Even with Tristan’s mentality, it’s hard to proudly say he’s engaged to a 12-year-old. Yet I told Choi Jae-man that… Probably because I couldn’t stand him treating Wendy as an item and got angry.

“…You’re my fiancée. Are you happy I said something so obvious?”

“Yes… Hehe…”

“Strange girl…”

Having said that, Wendy shyly tried to kiss my cheek. I quickly blocked her lips with my palm.

“Not allowed.”

“Ugh…”

“…”

Wendy looked up at me with sad eyes. Those teary eyes that looked like they could burst into tears at any moment made my heart soften.

Finally, I sighed and spoke.

“…Just this once.”

“Yes!”

Wendy’s face brightened as she kissed my cheek. Hmm. Is this what it feels like to have a cute daughter? If I voiced my thoughts, Wendy might feel sad, but it can’t be helped. It’s the truth.

“T-Then I’ll go clean up!”

Watching Wendy cheerfully wave and leave, it felt even more so. Though her body had grown like a high schooler’s, her face still had a lot of childishness.

‘A child is a child…’

Feeling like a dad sending his daughter off to elementary school, I turned around. Then, a figure waiting for me approached.

“…Did you go to the detention room?”

“Yep! I locked him up in the detention room as you ordered, poing!”

Helga answered, dancing like a strange mollusk. At this point, I couldn’t help but notice.

“…Stop adding ‘poing’ at the end of your sentences.”

“Hehe… I get it now. You’re shy, right?”

“…Are you listening to me?”

“You want to hug me but are holding back, right?”

“No.”

Why would I hug a furry yeti?

“Sigh… But it’s been really hot since earlier. How long do I have to wear this?”

“…Did I ever tell you to wear it?”

“You didn’t say it, but your heart reached me. You wanted to see my bunny outfit.”

“I don’t know what kind of heart that is, but it’s not mine.”

“Ah, it’s hot and itchy… Count. Can you scratch my back? I can’t reach it.”

Really, she’s something else…

I had no choice but to scratch Helga’s back.

“Here?”

“Ah, ah… A bit higher.”

“Here?”

“Ah, ugh… That’s it, but something…”

“Of course, scratching won’t help if you’re wearing that.”

“Ugh… Then can you unzip the back for me?”

“Refused.”

“What!? Why!?”

“Didn’t you know? That outfit is your new prison.”

“Gah! Count! Stop joking and please! I’m so itchy!”

Helga struggled to scratch her back. She looked like a bear trying to scratch its back against a tree. No matter how you look at it, it wasn’t a feminine sight.

“…Fine. Stay still.”

Unable to watch a female bear rolling around the hallway, I finally unzipped her back. Like shedding skin, Helga popped out of the costume.

“Phew, fresh air!”

“Where’s the itchy spot…”

I was about to ask Helga where it itched but stopped. The dampness on my hand. And seeing Helga’s current state, I was at a loss for words.

Perky ears, slender legs revealed by high-cut leggings, and a cute bunny tail.

“Huh? Count. What’s wrong…?”

“You…”

“Ah? This is the second bunny outfit I prepared, wondering what you’d like, poing.”

Helga, wiping the sweat from her forehead, grinned. What came out of the costume was… a bunny girl soaked in sweat.