In a place where time no longer moved,
between the world of humans and the world of dreams, stood the Tower of Avalon—
rising high through gentle mist, surrounded by fields of flowers that never wilted.
The wind there carried no sound, only the sweet fragrance of a world untouched by mankind.
At the top of the tower, a woman sat casually upon a stone chair adorned with runic carvings.
Her silver hair flowed in soft waves, dancing each time magic light passed through the air.
Her eyes—clear as crystal reflecting Avalon's sky—rested on the table before her,
where human food was laid out in a manner completely unfitting for such an elegant place.
"Hmm… today's login reward is fast food, huh?"
Her voice was soft, calm, with a hint of boredom hidden within her faint smile.
She looked at the hamburger that had just materialized from the Chat Group system's light.
"Hamburger, fries… and soda," she murmured, letting out a small breath.
"Ah, the human world does have strange tastes, but… not unpleasant."
She took a small bite.
"Well then… bon appétit, me," she said with a slight smile—her gentle voice echoing faintly in the room that itself had no echo.
But before she could finish her second bite,
the small phone beside her vibrated, glowing with soft blue light.
"Oh?"
She turned her head, her silver hair shifting gracefully with the movement.
"A message from the Chat Group, I see."
She set the burger down and picked up the phone.
A holographic screen appeared, displaying a new message.
---
[Hatsune Miku]:
Everything's taken care of with Kido now. 🌈
Lady Avalon—though some might call her Merlin—narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Oh? Already?" she murmured, resting her chin in her hand.
Her slender fingers tapped the screen to view the rest of the conversation.
---
[Yamato]:
It's done? That's great! How is he now? He's okay, right??
Merlin smiled lightly, her gaze soft.
"Ah, Yamato… always overflowing with energy," she murmured.
---
[Hatsune Miku]:
Yes, he's alright 😊
He's started smiling again.
I think… he finally found a reason to keep living.
---
A new message appeared.
[Irene Belserion]:
So, [Kuroneko], what did you find out about that new member's world?
[Kuroneko]:
Ah, that… he's just a normal human.
Modern world, like mine. No magic, no weird things.
A peaceful, ordinary world.
Merlin stared at the screen for a moment.
She recognized that tone—the kind of explanation too clean to be the truth.
But she didn't confront it.
She simply exhaled softly and closed her phone.
---
"Kuroneko… you're hiding something, aren't you?"
She smiled faintly, gazing at her reflection in the crystal window of the tower.
"Ah, well. Human secrets… are always the most interesting part of any story."
The gentle wind of Avalon blew past, brushing her silver hair.
The blooming flowers below seemed to wave at her,
but Lady Avalon's eyes remained fixed on the softly glowing phone.
Then, a new notification appeared.
---
[Kuroneko]:
Everyone, it seems Kido has accepted his reward.
The system should have broadcast the item's name to all devices.
Let me check.
Silence fell.
The light of the screen pulsed slowly, as if anticipating something significant.
[Irene Belserion]:
So… what is it, [Kuroneko]?
A few seconds later, a message appeared so quickly the hologram flickered twice.
[Kuroneko]:
This is… unbelievable!!! 😱
Check your screens!!
He got something insane—especially you, [Lady Avalon]!
You're gonna want to see this yourself!!
---
Merlin, who had just taken a sip of her drink, blinked.
"Hm? Me?" she said, a trace of childlike curiosity entering her tone.
She set her cup of chilled, lightly fizzing cola aside.
"Well then, let's see what has you so excited, Kuroneko."
She opened the notification.
A holographic message appeared in the air, glowing softly, yet unmistakably clear:
[First Login Reward — Yuuto Kido]
Body of Arthur Pendragon (Prototype), including the entirety of his life experience, has been integrated.
For a moment, all magic around her fell still.
Time in Avalon itself seemed to stop.
Merlin was mid-sip when her eyes processed the words.
The next second—
"PFFT—!!"
She choked violently, nearly dropping her glass.
"Cough—cough—! Hah—!"
She patted her chest lightly, her silver hair now slightly disheveled.
Her violet eyes widened—an expression of rare shock.
"Arthur Pendragon's body?! And his entire life experience, too?!"
Her usually soft voice rose—a tone almost unheard from the ancient mage.
She stared at the screen in disbelief.
"H-how could the system give that to an ordinary human?"
She stood quickly, her movement elegant yet urgent.
Outside, the flowers of Avalon quivered, as if reacting to her surprise.
"Arthur…" she whispered, her tone turning bittersweet.
"Your body, your memories… now living within someone else?"
She gazed at Avalon's bright, starless sky.
Her faint smile held a touch of emotion—difficult to name, but undeniably real.
"So that's how it is… The world still holds miracles unknown even to me."
She sat again, eyes soft with deep curiosity.
"Yuuto Kido… the human who now bears the weight of a King."
Her smile grew sweeter—almost fond. "I look forward to seeing what path you walk from here."
---
POV: ???
A scream erupted from the room next door.
A loud, drawn-out scream filled with raw pain.
"AAAAAHHHHH!!!"
Everyone fell silent.
The scream cut through the apartment hall like a blade.
"What the hell…"
the man muttered with annoyance, his expression irritated at having his intimacy interrupted.
"Why is he so loud? Did he finally kill himself or something?"
His tone held no concern—only impatience.
"Calm down, dear, no need to be upset,"
the woman beside him said softly, though her eyes showed the same disinterest.
"That scream was quite long. It likely drew attention. Let's go check—this might be entertaining."
"Fine."
The man pulled on a shirt lazily.
He wasn't muscular, just fit enough—skin slightly tanned, hair dyed blonde, the color fading unevenly.
The woman slid back into her thin dress, smoothing her hair before taking his hand.
Her smile was sweet—yet completely hollow.
"Tch… he's still screaming," the man muttered.
"Maybe he took poison that works slowly."
The woman simply sighed lightly, amused.
They walked into the hallway hand in hand.
The corridor was now dim, lit by a flickering ceiling lamp.
Several neighbors had gathered—eight in total.
All of them stood in front of Yuuto Kido's door.
Some whispered.
Some looked uneasy.
But most… simply looked curious.
"He still hasn't come out?"
"That scream… sounded like torture."
"Should we call management?"
"Eh, leave him. Probably just losing it again."
The woman stood at the front, staring at Kido's closed door, expression unreadable.
The man stood behind her, hands in his pockets, bored.
From inside the room, there was no sound now.
No crying.
No screaming.
Only silence.
A silence so heavy it felt like the world beyond the door had stopped breathing.