As the young maid scampered away with quick, light steps, Eirik hurried back to his room and opened the ornate box labeled *Essence of Mana*.

The moment he lifted the lid, a heady fragrance hit him like a wave, making his mind momentarily dazed. Inside the silk-lined box lay nine bottles of glimmering magical elixirs, each perfectly aligned in neat rows.

“The legendary *Essence of Mana*, and high-grade ones at that…” Eirik muttered, both awed and excited.

Essence of Mana came in several grades: defective, low-tier, mid-tier, high-tier, and supreme-tier. High-grade elixirs like these were typically reserved for powerful Practitioners of Level 3 or even Level 4. Yet here it was, a full set, dropped into his lap on the very first day by Pixie.

“That’s one hell of a gift!” Eirik chuckled to himself.

“Well then, let’s see what this stuff can do.”

He inhaled deeply, anticipation bubbling in his chest.

According to Pixie and Elvynna, tonight was supposed to be a night of rest. Tomorrow, the plan was to head to a quiet meditation room to practice magic together. Both girls were eager to see what it felt like to be near Eirik, who, due to his *Eye of Divine Insight*, acted like a natural amplifier for spellcasting.

Eirik had assumed they just wanted to mentor him, a novice in the mystical arts. Little did he know their true intentions.

But now, faced with the treasure trove of high-grade Essence of Mana, Eirik couldn't hold back. With one swift motion, he uncorked a vial and downed it in a single gulp, then crossed his legs, settling into a meditative position.

Drawing on the most basic magical cultivation method he knew, he began to channel the newfound energy.

In Aelsryel, magic flourished, and rudimentary cultivation techniques were widely available. In the past, these techniques had been utterly useless to him—his body lacked the aptitude for magic. But with the *Eye of Divine Insight* awakened and the potent Essence of Mana flooding his system, things were different now.

He felt a surge of cool energy flowing through his veins, rushing to every corner of his body, strengthening him from the inside out. His soul seemed to shimmer and expand with the intoxicating power.

This was magic in its purest, most exhilarating form.

While Eirik was lost in the euphoria of cultivation, the simulation game outside his awareness continued to run.

---

**【Your persistence has moved Eirik. He has accepted your request.】**

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“Hahaha! Yes!”

Pixie punched the side of her bed, unable to contain her joy.

“Seriously? All this just because he agreed to hang out with you once?” Elvynna muttered bitterly from the adjacent room, her sharp hearing easily picking up Pixie’s excited squeals.

**【He has accepted your gift. Your relationship has grown stronger.】**

**【Your bond deepens…】**

Pixie knew she had the upper hand in this game. Her strategy was simple: bombard Eirik with gifts until he couldn’t possibly resist her. As a self-proclaimed wealthy little tyrant, she sent gifts every day, overwhelming the game’s Eirik with endless tokens of affection.

Elemental Stones, Essence of Mana—those were just the basics. She didn’t stop there. Magical steeds, enchanted swords, and even enrollment passes to prestigious academies were among the offerings.

But what Pixie enjoyed the most? Dressing him up. She showered Eirik with robes and outfits, each more elegant and dashing than the last. Watching him strut around in her meticulously selected outfits made her eyes sparkle with joy, and her mischievous laughter echoed through the room.

It didn’t matter what world it was—girls would always love their dress-up games.

“Wait, how is their relationship progressing this fast?!”

Elvynna, glancing at the simulation’s progress, felt her stomach twist in frustration. In just a few months, Eirik and Pixie’s bond had skyrocketed to an unthinkable level.

“Next thing I know, they’ll be married!”

It had taken Elvynna nearly *ten years* to build such a close connection with Eirik, and now Pixie had managed it in just one month.

“That’s not fair! I don’t accept this!”

Gripping the hem of her robe tightly, Elvynna felt a surge of regret rise within her.

Why had she thought it was a good idea to push Eirik toward Pixie in the simulation? Now, every time she heard Pixie’s giddy, almost indecent laughter from the next room, her mood worsened.

“Junior Sister! If you laugh like that again, I swear I’ll come over and beat you senseless!”

Elvynna couldn’t hold it in any longer and shot a voice transmission to Pixie.

“Oh, is someone jealous? Tsk, tsk. Jealousy really does make you ugly.” Pixie’s smug grin was practically audible.

Elvynna took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Fighting with Pixie would only fan the flames, giving the younger girl more reason to gloat.

“Calm down, Elvynna. It’s just a simulation. None of this is real. Besides, I let her have this round—this was *my* choice.”

She reassured herself, remembering that Eirik had visited her first several times in the game. This was all part of the plan.

But now... it was time to act. If she waited any longer, it might be too late.

“Elvynna, you can still win this,” she whispered to herself.

Ending her meditation early, she sent an olive branch to Eirik within the simulation.

**【Your invitation has been declined.】**

“Declined? No big deal. It happens.”

Undeterred, she continued sending invitations day after day. But every time—without exception—Eirik refused.

Until finally...

**【He once longed to serve you, but you turned him away. Now that he has found new purpose, why come knocking?】**

Elvynna’s heart sank. Though it was just a simulation, the rejection stung as if it were real.

She had pushed him away, ignoring his earnest offers to follow her. And now, when she wanted to take it all back, it was too late.

The worst blow came when the system announced that Eirik and Pixie had officially become a married couple. Less than a year into the simulation, the two were inseparable.

“You achieved in one year what took me over a decade...”

Elvynna clenched her fists, barely holding back tears.

And when she saw the elegant, limited-edition wedding skins the game awarded them, her heart felt like it was being crushed by an invisible hand.

Her eyes reddened. Her chest tightened with sorrow.

The plan had been to see how close Pixie and Eirik would get before she swooped in and “saved” him. But things had moved far too quickly, leaving her dazed and helpless.

**【Congratulations! You have earned the title: Regret Beyond Measure.】**

Elvynna stared blankly at the system message.

“What kind of twisted reward is this?!”

Her chest rose and fell with anger, her large breasts trembling in frustration.

This cursed simulation. This cursed game. And most of all—

This cursed Pixie!