For the first time since becoming a mirror, Lee Eunwoo began to notice something strange.
The temple felt… heavier.
Not physically.
But emotionally.
Inside the mirror realm, Eunwoo floated near the glass surface, watching the chamber carefully. The scholars from the previous day had left hours ago after scribbling dozens of notes and arguing quietly among themselves.
But their visit had changed the atmosphere.
People spoke more quietly now.
Priests whispered in corners.
Soldiers passed through the temple halls more frequently.
And outside the mountain temple, the kingdom of Valtheria was beginning to stir with a problem much larger than a mysterious mirror.
War rumors.
—
Far away in the capital, the royal palace had already received disturbing reports.
Spies had confirmed it.
The neighboring nation of Darmouth had learned about the artifact.
Not rumors.
Not speculation.
Confirmation.
A mirror capable of granting enlightenment to warriors and mages.
To a rival kingdom, that sounded less like a curiosity…
And more like a weapon.
King Edric III sat in the war chamber studying a map.
His generals argued loudly.
"We must move the artifact immediately!"
"No, that would cause panic!"
"If Darmouth captures it, their knights could double in strength!"
Edric raised one hand.
The room fell silent.
"We will not move it."
The generals exchanged nervous glances.
"Your Majesty…?"
Edric leaned back in his chair.
"If the mirror truly functions the way rumors claim…"
He tapped the map where the temple was located.
"…moving it would create chaos."
The king's eyes narrowed slightly.
"And there is still the possibility that the mirror is not what it appears to be."
He stood slowly.
"Place the kingdom on heightened alert."
A general asked carefully,
"You believe Darmouth will attempt to take it?"
Edric's answer was simple.
"They always attempt to take everything."
—
Back at the temple, Eunwoo had absolutely no idea a potential war was forming around him.
He was busy staring at Sir Frogbert.
"…You moved again."
The frog statue now faced almost directly toward the mirror.
Which was extremely suspicious for a rock.
Eunwoo crossed his arms.
"Listen, Frogbert. If you're secretly alive, now would be a great time to explain yourself."
Sir Frogbert remained committed to his career as an inanimate object.
From the corner of the room came a soft voice.
"You're talking again."
Eunwoo froze.
He looked toward the bench.
Constance sat there quietly with her hands folded in her lap.
She had arrived earlier that afternoon.
Her head tilted slightly toward the altar.
"You talk when the room is empty," she said softly.
Eunwoo blinked.
"…Wait."
"You can't hear me."
Of course she couldn't.
But she smiled faintly.
"I can hear someone thinking."
Eunwoo stared at her.
"…That's not how thinking works."
She leaned back against the wall comfortably.
"I know you're there."
Eunwoo slowly floated closer to the glass.
That was… new.
Most people believed the mirror was divine.
Some believed it was magical.
But none of them had spoken like that.
Not like they were addressing someone.
Constance continued quietly.
"They said the mirror blesses people."
She turned her head slightly toward the altar.
"But it doesn't feel like a blessing."
Eunwoo tilted his head.
"What does it feel like?"
She smiled again.
"Like someone watching."
Eunwoo almost laughed.
"Well, that's accurate."
Silence settled over the chamber for a moment.
Outside, the temple bells rang faintly.
A group of soldiers passed through the courtyard.
Their armor clanked loudly.
Constance listened carefully.
"There are more soldiers lately."
Eunwoo noticed that too.
She continued softly.
"The priests were talking this morning."
Eunwoo leaned closer.
"About what?"
"They said another country might come."
Eunwoo paused.
"…What?"
She brushed her fingers across the stone bench.
"They want the mirror."
Eunwoo stared at the chamber walls.
Then the altar.
Then himself.
"You're telling me nations might fight over a bathroom object."
Constance chuckled quietly.
"I don't think they see it as a bathroom object."
Eunwoo sighed.
"Of course they don't."
She turned her head toward the mirror again.
"If they take it away…"
She hesitated.
"…the temple will feel lonely."
Eunwoo blinked.
That was an oddly specific concern.
He found himself answering without thinking.
"I'd probably hate being moved too."
Of course she couldn't hear him.
But strangely—
She smiled slightly.
As if she somehow understood.
The temple doors opened again.
Two royal soldiers stepped into the chamber and inspected the room.
One of them spoke quietly.
"Double the guards tonight."
The other nodded.
"Orders from the capital."
Eunwoo frowned.
"That sounds serious."
The soldiers left again.
The chamber returned to silence.
Constance spoke softly.
"I hope nothing bad happens."
Eunwoo looked at her.
Then at the altar.
Then at the shelves.
Then at Sir Frogbert.
"…I hope so too."
And for the first time since arriving in this world—
Eunwoo realized something unsettling.
He didn't care about the temple.
He didn't care about the pilgrims.
He definitely didn't care about the frog statue.
But when Constance said the temple might feel lonely…
For some reason…
The mirror didn't like that thought very much.