I thought Eris would be furious.

  I thought she would recoil in disgust, reject me, maybe even look at me like some kind of monster.

  But reality?

  The exact opposite.

  Not only was she not angry—she wasn’t even slightly upset.

  Instead, she was understanding. Patient. Genuinely worried about me.

  Eris is… really nice.

  Like an angel of some sort.

  And as I sit here beside her, warmth settling in my chest, I can’t help but wonder—

  Am I… just incredibly lucky?

  The thought brings a small, genuine smile to my lips.

  ——————-

  “But… you don’t seem that surprised?”

  “Huh? Surprised?” Eris tilts her head, ears twitching slightly. “About what?”

  “The fact that I’m from another world!” I blurt out, still baffled by how casually she’s taking all of this.

  “Oh. That.” Eris chuckles and reaches over to ruffle my hair. “Maybe that’s because it was already one of the possibilities I considered.”

  “…Eh???” I blink at her, utterly stunned.

  She knew?!

  Eris laughs at my expression, clearly amused. “You see, we live in a world where hundreds of new dungeons appear every day, each connected to different dimensions. So far, we’ve only encountered two worlds with thriving civilizations, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t more, right? The possibility of intelligent life existing elsewhere has always been on the table. It’s really just a matter of time before another world is discovered.”

  Ohhh!

  Hearing her explanation, it finally makes sense.

  To Eris, the idea of other worlds isn’t shocking at all. In fact, she had already suspected it!

  But then—

  “I was surprised when you mentioned reincarnation, though…” she admits, her gaze sharpening slightly. “I’ve read about it in ancient magical texts, but I never actually believed it… until now.”

  She leans back, crossing her arms as she studies me. “And even among reincarnation cases, yours is… unique.”

  “…Unique how?”

  Eris tilts her head, thinking. “Normally, reincarnation means being born again as a baby and starting a new life from scratch. But you… you woke up in an already-existing body. And not just any body—the same girl you tried to save.”

  I nod, my throat tightening.

  “And you said the other soul is always asleep?”

  “Y-yeah…” I swallow hard.

  “Did she ever try to take control?”

  “No… or at least, nothing has happened yet.”

  That’s the truth. So far, I’ve had complete control. The real Felicia has never tried to take back her body…

  …Or at least, not that I’m aware of.

  But still… there were weird moments.

  Moments where I felt emotions that weren’t mine.

  Moments where my mind and body reacted in ways that made no sense.

  Like when Eris slaughtered those men—

  That overwhelming thrill. The strange, intoxicating rush of ecstasy that left me grinning uncontrollably.

  It terrified me.

  I was still me, and yet—at that moment—I wasn’t.

  And then, there were the other moments.

  Like when I touched Felicia’s dress and jewelry, only to be struck with such deep sorrow that I nearly broke down in tears.

  It was as if her lingering emotions were bleeding into me, whispering from the depths of this body.

  Of course, I’ve already told Eris all of this.

  And now, as she sits beside me, ears twitching, she exhales a deep sigh.

  “I wish I could help… but I really have no idea what’s happening inside you.” Her expression softens. “This is a complete mystery.”

  I force a shaky smile. “It’s okay… I guess, as long as this body isn’t rejecting me, I should be fine… right?”

  At that, Eris’s eyes widen slightly.

  Then—she nods.

  “Right. That’s a good sign.” A quiet relief washes over her features. “Still, if you ever feel anything strange—anything at all—tell me, okay? We’ll figure it out together.”

  “Nn.” I nod, a flicker of comfort settling in my chest.

  But then—

  Eris’s face turns serious again.

  “Felicia… don’t ever tell anyone else about this.”

  A cold shiver runs down my spine.

  “About being from another world. Keep it a secret.”

  I gulp, the weight of her words sinking in. “Right…”

  It makes sense.

  If the wrong people found out—

  I could be captured. Interrogated. Experimented on.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  The thought alone makes my blood turn to ice.

  I absolutely don’t want to be experimented on.

  I just want to live a peaceful life.

  Maybe explore some dungeons.

  Maybe have fun with Eris and everyone else.

  “But… should I keep this from Gordon and Guildmaster Karl too?” I ask hesitantly.

  “Of course.” Eris’s response is instant. “I trust them, but… the fewer people who know, the safer you’ll be.”

  I nod slowly. “I… I see…”

  A quiet moment passes.

  Then, I hesitantly murmur—

  “But… I have another question.”

  Eris tilts her head. “Hm?”

  I clutch my hands together, my gaze dropping. “How did you know I wasn’t a bad person? I mean… what if I was some criminal on the run? What if I was a monster pretending to be a lost girl?”

  At that, Eris lets out a soft, melodic chuckle.

  Then—her ears twitch, and her lips curl into a playful grin.

  “You know… I just had a feeling.”

  She reaches out and flicks my forehead gently.

  “After all, a catgirl this beautiful couldn’t possibly be evil, right?”

  A wink.

  A damn wink.

  Aaaaghhh!!!

  I feel my face heat up instantly.

  “E-Eris!!!” I groan in embarrassment, hiding my face.

  She just laughs. “See? Too cute to be evil.”

  I pout. “I-It’s not fair if you keep teasing me like this…”

  Eris chuckles again, her laughter soft under the night sky.

  Then, with a sigh, she leans back onto the rooftop, gazing at the stars above.

  “The truth is,” she murmurs, “I just couldn’t leave you alone.”

  Her voice is quiet—gentle.

  “Sure, there was always a risk you might be dangerous. But if I let that fear control me… I wouldn’t be able to help anyone, right?”

  She tilts her head, looking at me with a soft smile.

  And in that moment—

  Something inside me aches.

  A warmth—bittersweet and overwhelming—spreads through my chest.

  Right…

  I can’t believe I’d already forgotten.

  That’s just how Eris is.

  So kind.

  So warm…

  I exhale softly and lie down beside her, letting the cool rooftop beneath me ground my swirling thoughts. Above us, the night sky stretches endlessly, a vast ocean of darkness adorned with countless silver stars. They twinkle like scattered shards of light, delicate and eternal. A gentle breeze drifts by, carrying the crisp scent of the night air, and for a moment, everything is still.

  Just the two of us, lying beneath the infinite sky.

  Then, Eris shifts. She rolls onto her side, propping herself up on one elbow to face me. There’s a playful glint in her eyes, a teasing curve to her lips.

  “Alright,” she says, her voice light with amusement. “What if you were me? You’d have done the same thing, wouldn’t you?”

  “Eh?”

  Her question catches me completely off guard.

  I blink, scrambling to process it.

  But… now that I think about it…

  “Nn,” I nod.

  Though, if I’m being honest, I don’t think it’s because I’m some noble, selfless person or anything like that.

  No… it’s mostly because—

  I’m a catgirl simp.

  Yes, A TOTAL SIMP.

  When it comes to catgirls, I completely lose all rational thought. My brain just shuts down.

  Eris giggles softly, her laughter like the chime of distant bells. Her blue eyes shimmer in the moonlight, reflecting the soft glow of the stars.

  “After all,” she muses, “you risked your life trying to save that catgirl, didn’t you? And earlier, instead of running away, you stood your ground to protect me—even though you knew you weren’t a match for those men.”

  Her voice quiets, becoming something softer, something almost… intimate.

  “To be honest, I was really moved.”

  She smiles, turning her face slightly, as if lost in thought.

  “Y-you noticed?” I stammer.

  “Of course,” she replies without hesitation, her gaze steady, unwavering. “And you were absolutely amazing back then.”

  Her words hit me like a sudden rush of wind—unexpected and overwhelming.

  I freeze. My heart stutters, then starts racing, pounding so hard I can hear it in my ears. Heat surges to my face, burning beneath my skin, and I suddenly forget how to breathe.

  What… what is this?

  Eris inches closer, the distance between us vanishing until she’s so near that I can feel the warmth of her breath against my skin.

  Her next words come softly—so softly that they barely reach me over the night’s quiet whisper.

  “And that’s why… I like you…”

  …

  I. like. you…

  I freeze.

  Her words linger in the air, echoing inside my head, growing louder with each passing second.

  Oh, shit.

  She said it so casually, so nonchalantly, like it was the most natural thing in the world—but my heart—

  My heart is pounding so hard I feel like it might burst!

  Without thinking, I shoot upright, scrambling to hide my face behind my coat, as if that might somehow shield me from the sheer intensity of the moment.

  What the heck was that?!

  Did she even realize what she just said?!

  Oh no… Eris…

  I don’t think my heart can handle this right now!

  It takes what feels like an eternity for me to calm down—steadying my breathing, trying to force my body to stop trembling. Even then, my voice is weak, unsteady, when I finally manage to speak.

  “E-Eris…” I stammer, gripping my coat tighter. “Y-you know that I used to be a man, right? P-please don’t tease me like that… it might… it might make me misunderstand things…”

  But before I can finish, I feel something warm—

  A gentle touch.

  I startle slightly as I glance to the side.

  Eris is sitting beside me, her expression soft yet serious, her hand resting over mine.

  My breath catches.

  “Yes,” she murmurs, her voice steady, unwavering. “I’m aware.”

  My heart stops.

  She’s… aware?

  Then why?

  Why did she still say that?

  Why is she still holding my hand?

  I don’t understand.

  I’m so confused.

  So overwhelmed.

  My thoughts are spiraling, my heart pounding—I want to scream!!!

  And then—

  “Felicia…” Eris looks straight into my eyes. Her gaze is intense, filled with something I can’t quite name. She hesitates, her lips parting slightly as if debating whether to continue. After a moment, she bites her lower lip before finally speaking again, her breath uneven.

  “…D-do you... like girls, or boys?”

  My mind blanks.

  “W-what do you mean?” I barely manage, my throat suddenly dry.

  “I mean…” She pauses again, her grip tightening slightly. This time, her fingers tremble. “Do you like girls… or do you like boys now?”

  …

  BA-DUMP!

  Ohhhhhh shiiiiiit.

  That is—

  That is a seriously hard question.

  A question that could change everything between us.

  If I say I like girls…

  That means I’m a lesbian now.

  Will Eris be weirded out? Will she even want to be my friend anymore?

  But if I say I like boys…

  That would not only be a lie—but also a betrayal of myself.

  Aaaaaaa—

  I’m screaming internally, my thoughts spiraling into absolute chaos.

  WHAT DO I DO?!

  …

  “I… I like…” My voice shakes as I force the words out.

  The moment the sentence starts leaving my lips, Eris’s hand suddenly clenches around mine—so tightly that it almost physically hurts.

  “…Girls.”

  …

  Ahhhh…

  Dang it.

  I said it.

  I brace myself for impact.

  For rejection.

  For awkward silence.

  For something—anything.

  But instead—

  A giggle.

  Wait.

  A giggle?!

  I whip my head up, completely thrown off—

  And then I see her.

  Eris, her face impossibly red, staring at me with an expression that nearly knocks the air from my lungs.

  Then she smiles.

  Bright. Beautiful. Devastating.

  “Then…” she whispers, her voice teasing, her eyes gleaming mischievously, “what about me?”

  The world stops.

  “Do you like me?”

  …

  Wait.

  Wait.

  WAIT.

  Suddenly, everything clicks.

  All the teasing.

  All the playful touches.

  All the moments that made my heart race but I dismissed as just my own overthinking.

  WAAAAAIT.

  HOW THE HECK WAS I SO OBLIVIOUS?!?!

  I want to answer—I really, really do—

  My heart is practically leaping out of my chest, my entire body trembling in anticipation—

  But then—

  “Ah, Gordon’s back!” Eris suddenly announces, snapping me out of my thoughts.

  “W-WHAT?!” I jolt, my voice cracking. “Already?!”

  “Yeah,” she hums, standing up with that same damn smug smile, as if nothing had just happened. “He just knocked on the door. Let’s go down.”

  Still dazed, I feel Eris gently take my hand, helping me to my feet.

  And just like that—

  The moment is gone.

  But my heart—

  My stupid, traitorous heart—

  is still beating like crazy.

  ————————————-

  A few minutes later…

  Eris and Gordon are outside, deep in conversation about the current situation, leaving me alone in the room.

  And honestly?

  I think I’m dying.

  I bury my face into the plush pillow, my entire body burning, my brain spiraling into madness.

  My tail—traitorous, treacherous tail—refuses to obey me. It twitches wildly behind me, flicking uncontrollably like it’s been zapped with an electric current.

  Eris… she asked me that question.

  Does that mean she likes me?

  It was a confession… right?

  RIGHT?!

  AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

  I kick my legs against the mattress, writhing in sheer emotional agony.

  The more I think about it, the less certain I become. What if she was just teasing? What if she was just curious? What if she wasn’t actually interested in me like that?!

  OH NO.

  OH NO NO NO.

  I MAY HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD EVERYTHING.

  My ears flatten against my head as I curl up tighter, my tail still absolutely losing its god damn mind.

  And besides—

  It’s only been two days.

  Two. Days.

  There’s no way things could move that fast… right?

  Right?!

  I groan into the pillow, muffling my own pitiful wails.

  “Aaaaa… hic… I’m so screwed, nya… That was so embarrassing, nya…”

  The shame. The absolute shame. I want to disintegrate.

  The wait for Eris to return stretches into eternity—every second dragging on, tormenting me with my own overthinking.

  I just know that when she comes back…

  I won’t be able to look her in the eyes.

  Ever.