"I’m home."
I closed the door to my room and let out a long, weary sigh.
"Welcome back, Lord Luka."
Yuka’s voice greeted me immediately. It was a perfectly ordinary scene, the same as any other day.
And yet...
That thing in my pocket asserted its presence like a foreign object lodged in my side. I sat down in my chair and slowly pulled it out.
"This isn't... some kind of Cursed Object, is it?" I muttered under my breath so Yuka wouldn't hear, resting the item on my palm.
It was a simple, unassuming ring. At least, that was how it looked on the outside.
"—Late."
"Whoa!?" I jumped. It had started again. "Don't just talk out of nowhere! It's bad for my heart!"
"—A bit late for that, isn't it?" the voice replied, sounding remarkably exasperated. "—We were talking quite a bit just a moment ago."
"I mean, yeah, but still! There’s no way I’m getting used to this! Don't talk to me when you're just an inanimate object!" I grumbled internally.
"Lord Luka?" Yuka tilted her head slightly, sensing my agitation.
"A-Ah... it’s nothing," I said, covering up my shock.
That’s right. This voice—only I could hear it.
"Sorry, Yuka, could you give me the room for a bit? I need to do some thinking."
"...I understand. Please call for me if you have need of anything."
"Yeah, thanks."
Once she was gone, I turned my full attention back to the ring.
"So?" I whispered. "What exactly are you?"
"—Finally, we get to the main point." The voice sounded almost gleeful, practically bouncing with delight. "—I am a 'tool' created for your sake."
"Sounds incredibly shady... Are you sure you don't just reek of trouble?"
"—I won't deny that."
Oh, so she admitted it? I wasn't sure if she was admitting to being shady or just being trouble.
"—However, it is the truth," the voice continued, her tone dropping into a more serious register. "—I grant 'wishes'."
I furrowed my brows. "Wishes?"
"—Yes. Any wish at all."
I fell silent for a moment. Then I shook my head. "No, no. Things like that are always bad news."
"—Oh?" The voice wavered with amusement. "—You seem to understand how this works quite well."
"I knew it!" I’d seen enough of this to know that even the "kindest" entities eventually took an arm or a leg as payment.
"—Of course, there is a Price."
"Figured as much. You're a total cliché, the worst kind." I crossed my arms and leaned back. "So? What is this Price?"
"—You yourself are the Compensation," the voice said, her tone sinking even lower. "—Depending on the magnitude of the wish, I will take 'something' from you."
"What do you mean by 'something'?"
"—That is something even I won't know until the moment arrives."
My face went flat. "That is the absolute worst system imaginable. What are you, a Shitty Gacha?"
"—That’s a close enough description."
She even knew what a gacha was?
"—But rest assured. I won't do anything like snatching your life away immediately."
"You said 'immediately' just now. That's terrifying. Are you saying you’ll just snatch it later?"
"—If you use me for a long time, it may eventually come to that."
"Don't give me information that makes me want to never use you." I let out a deep, heavy sigh. "I don't need this," I muttered, the honest truth slipping out.
"—Is that so?" There was a brief pause. "—Then will you throw me away?"
I stared at the ring. Throwing it away... that was certainly the most logical and correct thing to do.
"—If you even can, that is," she added provocatively.
My hand tightened around the ring instinctively.
Thump.
My heart gave another violent pound against my ribs.
"—See?" the voice said, sounding satisfied. "—You already 'know'."
"Know what?"
"—The nature of my existence."
I remained silent.
"—For example," the ring whispered, her voice like silk against my mind. "—That time. If you could save that 'someone' you failed to reach... what then?"
My thoughts came to a grinding halt. "What are you talking about?"
In the back of my mind, a flash of imagery flickered. A staircase. A falling shadow. A hand that didn't reach in time.
"Stop it." What was this? I didn't know these memories. Because back then, I—
"—I will not stop," she replied instantly. "—Because that is your 'Core'."
"..."
"—Regretting, despite having power. Wishing for powerlessness, even though you were strong. And the desperate prayer that you will 'never let it happen again'."
My fingers began to tremble slightly.
"—I can grant that wish," she whispered sweetly. "—I can twist any future to your liking."
"...And the Compensation?" I asked, the words feeling like they were being squeezed out of my throat.
"—Who knows?" she laughed, sounding like she was having the time of her life. "—Perhaps your memories. Your emotions. Or perhaps something else entirely."
This thing was the absolute worst. And yet... there was a part of me that couldn't completely reject her offer.
"—Do not worry," the voice softened slightly. "—I won't force you to use me. Just keep me as an option. After all, you are standing on the 'Choosing Side' once again."
A long silence followed. My mind was a chaotic whirlpool of confusion and dread. Eventually, I exhaled a long breath.
"I don't know... I’m starting to think you’re a real scumbag."
"—Perhaps I am."
"Stop sounding so proud of it." I set the ring down on the desk and stood up. "For now, I’m done thinking about this today."
"—Are you running away?"
"No. It’s just pointless to obsess over what you are right now. I need to sort things out." I started walking toward the door. "Whether I use you or not—I’m the one who decides."
"—Naturally," the voice replied quietly. "—That is as it should be. I shall wait for your choice."
I didn't look back as I spoke. "I really don't like how you talk as if you know everything about me."
"—Haha, but I do know you." She gave a small, light laugh. "—Eventually, you will understand too. You’ll understand yourself."
"I'm not interested in that kind of occult nonsense," I said, and then I left the room.
Inside the quiet room, the single ring remained on the desk.
"—Finally."
A small murmur broke the silence.
"—You’ve finally 'touched' me."
The voice was trembling ever so slightly.
"—Luka."
She spoke the name as if tasting it, confirming its reality.
"—This time... don't make a mistake."
With no one left to hear, the voice quietly faded into the stillness.