【New Beginning】

【Reflection on the Previous Life】

【Skin Collection】

【Unknown Instance】

As Eirik opened the simulation interface in his mind, four options appeared before him.

The **New Beginning** option was self-explanatory—it allowed him to start a new session.

Curious, Eirik decided to check out the **Skin Collection**.

To his mild annoyance, the majority of the skins were his own.

Each one depicted him in an outrageously handsome manner, to the point where even *he* felt a little embarrassed.

Meanwhile, Elvynna’s skins were incredibly rare, with only one or two available—most of which were paired sets with him.

“What’s the deal with this game’s design? Shouldn’t there be more skins for the girls? What am I supposed to do with skins of myself?” Eirik grumbled.

In his previous life, games usually rewarded players with gorgeous female character skins—perfect for admiring and indulging in eye candy. In some cases, the more extravagant ones even required cash to unlock.

But this game? All it gave him were his own skins.

“What’s the point of looking this good? I’m already handsome enough as it is. If I get even better looking, I might become *too* handsome to the point of making people uncomfortable…”

Little did Eirik know that, at the same time, Pixie and Elvynna were both also logged into the game.

“Oh my gosh, these skins are amazing! They’re so handsome! As expected of the man I have my eye on!” Pixie flipped through Eirik’s character portraits, her excitement evident, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Pixie had always been a sucker for good looks, but to her dismay, all of Eirik’s skins belonged to Elvynna—each one of them locked and grayed out in Pixie’s menu. She could only get a brief glimpse by clicking on the “Preview” button, which gave her a few fleeting seconds of vibrant color.

“Ahhhh, I want Eirik’s skins too! Whether it’s in the game or in real life, I *must* get my hands on this card!” Pixie clenched her fists with determination.

Meanwhile, Eirik looked at the **Unknown Instance** option, which remained grayed out.

**【This feature is currently unavailable. Continue exploring the current simulation to unlock it.】**

、

“Huh, guess this system isn’t fully accessible yet. I wonder what kind of content this instance will unlock?” Eirik mused for a moment but didn’t linger. He quickly selected the **New Beginning** option.

“Elvynna, my love, I’m coming!”

Eirik shouted silently in his heart as he eagerly began the familiar path—pledging himself to Elvynna once again.

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He still hadn’t succeeded in helping her become the Queen of the Elves, so how could he abandon her now?

In the past, he might have even shouted aloud, “Elvynna, I’m coming for you!”

However, this time he held back.

After all, Elvynna lived next door to him in real life—and she was a skilled mage. Who knew if her heightened senses could pick up on his words through the walls?

Getting overheard would be the least of his worries. He might even be labeled a creep or a lunatic.

**【You visit Elvynna and request to become her retainer, but… she politely declines, explaining that she prefers working alone and does not need an assistant.】**

“???”

Eirik was stunned.

“What the heck? Why is it different this time?”

“Wait… I get it! It must be a probability thing!”

Eirik stroked his chin, deep in thought.

It wasn’t guaranteed that visiting Elvynna would make him her retainer. After all, she was a genius mage, and he was just an ordinary guy in the simulation.

He had gotten lucky the last two times—like hitting a jackpot in a game and scoring a rare item on the first pull.

This time, though, his luck had run out.

“Oh well. I’ll just try again tomorrow.”

On the other side, Elvynna let out a quiet sigh after rejecting Eirik.

She didn’t really want to turn him down, but she had her reasons.

After careful thought, Elvynna concluded that rejecting him was the better choice.

This was only a simulation—a space to explore possibilities and influence reality.

It was crucial not to get lost in the simulation. Reality mattered far more.

Her goal now was to prepare for the possibility that Pixie—the sly little schemer—might snatch Eirik away.

In real life, she was already facing this exact challenge.

With her cold and distant personality, Elvynna wasn’t quite sure how to deal with such situations.

That was why she needed the simulation: to test various strategies and figure out the best way to win him back.

“Junior Sister, I’ll let you have him for now. But just wait—I’ll take him back soon enough!” Elvynna muttered under her breath.

Meanwhile, Pixie was overjoyed when she noticed Eirik had failed to become Elvynna’s retainer.

“Hahaha! My chance has finally come! That idiot senpai didn’t even realize the golden card was right in front of her!”

**【Pixie has noticed your exceptional qualities and hopes you will become an honored guest of the Ravenshadow family. Will you accept?】**

Eirik chuckled at the offer.

“This is starting to feel a bit too close to real life.”

After a brief moment of thought, he declined the offer.

His path with Elvynna still wasn’t complete!

He hadn’t fully explored the experience of growing from an ordinary man into someone extraordinary in this world. Other transmigrators always managed to go from zero to hero—there was no way *he* couldn’t do the same!

As for becoming a noble’s guest? That felt too easy and unchallenging. He could try that another time.

“You turned me down?” Pixie pouted but remained undeterred.

“The fact that he didn’t immediately pledge himself to senpai is already progress. I’ve still got a chance!”

The next day, Eirik visited Elvynna again.

**【Your request has been declined.】**

“???”

Pixie was lying on her bed, clutching her hair in frustration.

“Why is he so obsessed with Elvynna? What’s wrong with this guy?”

Eirik tried several more times, only to be turned down each time.

**【Pixie invites you on a lake excursion and offers you a rare magical tome as a gift.】**

The young lady from the Ravenshadow family really was generous. Eirik almost felt like crying.

She had been giving him gifts both in real life and in the simulation. How could he not feel moved?

Since her offer was so sincere, Eirik accepted the tome. But he declined the lake outing—learning magic was more important.

He couldn’t afford to get stuck at the Demon Tree again!

“I’m going to become the Queen’s consort. I can’t afford to waste time!”

But after several more attempts, Elvynna continued to reject him.

Eirik was baffled. Had the system secretly adjusted the probability, or was there some hidden condition he hadn’t met?

“Or… maybe it wasn’t bad luck this time, but good luck the first few times?”

He frowned in thought.

Realistically, he was just an ordinary person, while Elvynna was a genius mage. It made sense for the odds to be stacked against him.

“No way am I giving up! I’ll become your retainer if it’s the last thing I do!”

Just as Eirik prepared to try again, a knock at the door interrupted him.

He set the game to autopilot and went to open the door.

Outside stood Pixie’s personal maid, who gave him a graceful curtsy.

“My lady has sent you a gift, Eir—a box of *Essence of Mana*.”

Eirik’s heart soared with joy.

Though he had awakened the Eye of Divine Insight, he hadn’t yet had time to study magic. This mana elixir was exactly what he needed!

Finally, he had a chance to improve his abilities. He couldn’t afford to remain powerless and vulnerable.

With a grin, Eirik accepted the potion, eager to drink it.

As for the simulation? He figured the system could manage it for a while.