I Got a Fake Job at the Academy

Chapter 841 – Side Story 114: A Week of Happiness (1)

Rudger told Franz he would handle it himself, but that was half a lie. It wasn't that he didn't intend to resolve it. In fact, it was safe to say he had already resolved it.

'This memory isn't some false dream. It actually happened. And this is, precisely, something I experienced. Not me from this world, but me from another world.'

The hazy memories gradually became clearer. Once the floodgates opened, the rushing waters widened the path and invaded his mind.

The feeling of information flooding his brain was like recalling memories that had been submerged underwater, forgotten.

After Franz left, Rudger sat still in his seat for quite a while. And finally, when he stood up, it was after he had organized all the information flooding his mind.

"So that's how it was."

Rudger clenched and unclenched his hand.

"This world was a very happy place."

He finally remembered. Rudger had used the mirror world to cross over with Rene. And this time too, it seemed to be in the form of possessing someone who already lived here.

Whether this was the default or a special case, there was no way to confirm since this was only the second time. So he decided to set that part aside for now.

What was important was the current world.

It was a peaceful place. The major events and history were similar to the original world, but there were many differences.

Among them, the most crucial part was this.

"A world where gods don't exist."

Gods didn't exist in this world. It wasn't that they never existed from the beginning, but that they had completely disappeared.

A world where the gods had died. There was no Lumensis here either. Therefore, there was no cage created by Lumensis, and naturally, the curse that followed space magic users like an inheritance had also disappeared.

Rene's mother hadn't died, and the same was true for Rene. Since those two hadn't experienced major incidents, Gabriel Cosmo was also doing well.

That wasn't all. Since there was no goddess who played a major role in the Dreamland incident, Clara Cowen hadn't died. The incidents related to the Bretus Holy Kingdom had also disappeared, and perhaps because of that, the world was quite peaceful.

"An ideal place."

Yes. This place was like a dream too sweet to want to wake from. A place to live forever. In a sense, it was no different from paradise.

'In this world, I'm in the position of Rene's fiancé.'

Was it because he crossed over with Rene? In this place, Rudger was engaged to Rene and about to get married.

He recalled what happened this morning. The happy times spent with her. Just imagining it felt like warm warmth filling the depths of his heart.

Everything in the world was dyed in beautiful colors. He realized anew that he was such a sentimental person.

'This is a bit troublesome.'

Rudger scratched his cheek. If he didn't know anything, it would be one thing, but now that he was aware of what kind of world this was, troubles came flooding in like a tide.

'How do I think of Rene?'

To Rudger, Rene was a cute younger sister and student. It wasn't that he had no romantic interest in her.

'But I've never even thought about going beyond that kind of relationship.'

Everything must proceed calmly through proper stages because people need time to adapt. But right now, he had leaped over about 10 steps of that process.

Moreover, in memories rising like a subtle fragrance, Rudger could recall the experiences he had with Rene.

Since they were already in a romantic relationship, the two had done everything there was to do.

'...Well, of course.'

A man and woman in their prime were living together in one house. Rather, wouldn't it be more serious from a social perspective if nothing like that had happened?

The problem was that Rudger had become aware that he had used the mirror world.

The personality of Rudger who was Rene's lover and the personality of Rudger who only had friendship with Rene were in conflict.

Naturally, since they were the same person, there wasn't much resistance. It was like when he quickly adapted to Rudsela's female body. Rather, the similarity was even higher now, so it was impossible not to adapt.

'The problem is the situation.'

Rudger had used the mirror world to cross over with Rene. That meant the current Rene was also the Rene he knew.

'But Rene isn't aware of it right now. I also only recalled my memories after forcibly chasing that subtle sense of incongruity through dreams. It's natural that she doesn't remember.'

Rudger pondered. Should he tell her this or not? Or subtly asking might be a method too.

Such contemplation continued until work hours ended and he returned home.

As soon as he opened the door and returned home, a sweet fragrance tickled his nose.

Someone was cooking in the kitchen. After taking off his coat and hanging it on the rack, he headed to the kitchen. There he saw Rene cooking while wearing an apron.

Under the hazy crimson sunset shining through the window gap, she was humming while concentrating on cooking.

Rudger stood silently in place and stared blankly at that scene.

Rene, who had just finished transferring the completed dish to a plate with a happy face, turned around and met Rudger's eyes.

Instead of being surprised, she smiled brightly, put the plate on the table, and came running into his arms.

"Welcome home!"

Rudger naturally embraced Rene. Along with warmth came a pleasant fragrance. The two shared a hug for about 5 minutes like that.

"Hehe. How was your day?" 

"Same as usual." 

"As always, a steady life then." 

"What about you? You got off work earlier than usual. I thought you'd come home later than me." 

"Hehe. Today the project went better than expected, so I got off work early. So while I was at it, I was making dinner to surprise you." 

"I see." 

"Oh right. Mom and uncle are eating separately. Let's eat dinner just the two of us."

Dinner for just the two of them. Rudger nodded in acknowledgment.

The two had dinner while conversing. Rene mainly led the conversation, while Rudger mostly listened quietly, occasionally responding or adding a few words.

When the meal ended, Rudger stood up with the empty plates.

"I'll do the dishes." 

"Ah. I can do it too though." 

"You already cooked, so you can leave this to me."

Rudger said this and naturally washed the plates with magic. Mages were truly convenient beings in this regard.

After finishing cleaning up, the two sat on the living room sofa with their shoulders touching. Actually, Rudger sat first and Rene followed, sticking close to him.

"It's been really long since we rested together like this." 

"It hasn't been that long. I think we did this last week too." 

"A week is a really long time! Do you know how hard it was holding back all this time? This won't do. I need to recharge as much as I've been lacking. Come here!"

Rene said this and buried her face in Rudger's chest, clinging to him. At that sight, like a puppy begging for a walk, Rudger couldn't refuse and let out a chuckle.

"Puha! I can't breathe like this, so it's hard. I should stop." 

"You give up faster than I thought." 

"It's not just today."

Rene said this while glancing at Rudger's appearance.

"What's wrong?" 

"U-uh? No. It's nothing."

Was there something bothering her?

"You look like you're worried about something. Don't keep it to yourself, just ask." 

"U-uh? I said it's nothing." 

"You know it shows when you lie, right? Even now you're not making eye contact."

As soon as those words ended, Rene stared intently at Rudger. She intended to deny those words out of stubbornness but when Rudger didn't avoid her gaze, her trembling eyes eventually turned to the side again.

Rene raised the white flag with a sigh. She leaned deeply against the back of the sofa and said.

"It's just. I suddenly remembered the dream I had yesterday."

At the mention of a dream, Rudger paused for a moment. But Rene didn't notice Rudger's reaction and continued speaking.

"I don't remember exactly what it was about. I forgot when I woke up, but you know how it's strangely sad and painful?" 

"...It's just a dream anyway. Just think of it as a nightmare and move on." 

"I guess so, right? But even when I usually have nightmares, the feeling doesn't last this long. So I wondered if something was wrong. I thought about asking Julia."

Rudger pondered for a moment. Rene was the same as him. Perhaps due to the aftermath of using the mirror world, she had noticed a slight sense of incongruity. However, unlike him, she was treating it merely as a kind of hazy dream.

He wondered if he should tell her the truth here.

'But.'

The anxious appearance of Rene now contrasted with what he saw in the morning. In this world, Rene is happy.

Her uncle is alive, her mother is alive. She lived a satisfying life and still does.

If this were a sweet dream, he would have let her wake from it. But the mirror world isn't simply a dream. This is another world where possibilities have manifested, a world that actually exists.

A world where Rene is happy. Did he need to remind her of the cruel reality again, when she had come to such a world?

If he left things as they were, eventually Rene wouldn't be able to bear the sense of incongruity and would go find Julia Plumhart. And she would ultimately realize the truth. That in the end, she was merely a visitor to this world.

What would happen if she witnessed the truth of a world so sweet, and therefore cruel?

Even if the current her had overcome her past wounds, that didn't mean there were no scars. Just recalling past memories makes those wounds throb and ache.

"Rene." 

"Yeah?" 

"That's just a dream. So you don't need to worry about it." 

"Mm. I guess so, right? I just thought it was strange." 

"Come here."

When Rudger gestured, Rene's eyes widened.

"Ooh. What's this? Usually I have to hug you first before you'd hug me back." 

"If you don't want to, then don't." 

"As if I don't want to."

Rene took the opportunity and nestled into Rudger's arms again. Rudger gently stroked Rene's head.

"This is so healing~" 

"I'm not really sure." 

"It's like my own routine that oppa doesn't know about. Hehehehe. This kind of experience isn't common, so should I regularly whine in front of oppa that I'm having a hard time?" 

"Should you be saying that in front of me?" 

"What does it matter? Anyway, unless I'm really having a hard time, oppa won't listen. You've been like that since my student days. Even when giving assignments, you'd give just the right amount we could handle." 

"I did that?" 

"Oppa, you weren't aware of it, but all the kids taking the class back then looked at you like you were a real ghost, you know?"

Rudger pondered briefly, but soon agreed that Rene was right. He remembered when giving assignments, he would take into account what assignments the students had from other classes.

"Even when that consideration was amazing, the moment there was even a little room, you'd mercilessly pile it on, so do you know how hard it was? I really thought oppa seemed to spare us but was actually ruthless." 

"...It was all for your own good." 

"Ah! That's totally an old man comment!"

Rudger gave a small cough. Finding that amusing, Rene giggled and played with Rudger's lips with her finger.

"Still, to think we'd end up here."

Rene showed a bright smile.

"I think I'm the happiest person in the world. At least that's what I think."

Rudger quietly looked at Rene's smile. The mirror world's effect would disappear at most after a week, and they would return to the original world.

So, even if it's just for a week, as long as Rene could smile this happily, Rudger decided he would gladly go along with this situation.