[Location: Morningstar Manor, New York]

After having a nice, long bath, with Zeraphira washing my hair far too attentively for comfort, I finally sank back against the steaming marble edge. The scent of black rose and sandalwood clung to the air — courtesy of whatever overly romantic concoction she'd picked out.

Zeraphira sat beside me, her knees drawn close, chin resting on them, red eyes half-lidded. "Darling looks peaceful," she murmured.

"More like exhausted," I muttered, letting the warmth lull my mind.

Just as my body began to melt into stillness—

Tti-ring!

The familiar crystalline chime echoed inside my head. My heart jolted.

[Will you take on the Class Change Quest now?]

[Y/N]

Yeah, this is still left...

But...than I glanced at Zeraphira from the corner of my eye, 'It's not like she would leave my side anytime soon for me to —sneak away unnoticed,' I finished internally, sighing.

'System, would it be any different than a dungeon from before?'

Tti-ring!

[Job Change Quest is special and requires a direct soul dive. Time flow will differ from the outside world. Estimated duration in reality: 0.00001 seconds.]

My brow twitched. "Convenient," I murmured quietly. Zeraphira blinked at me, half-drowsy, her crimson gaze warm and affectionate.

"Darling?"

I smiled faintly. "Just thinking…"

"Oh..."

"Let's go, I will whip something up, been starving." With that, I washed away the last of the suds and stood, water cascading off my skin like liquid glass. Zeraphira followed, stretching languidly before wrapping herself in a black silk towel that barely qualified as clothing.

"Cooking for me?" she asked with a teasing lilt. "My, my… the great Dominic Nocturne can cook?"

"Don't get used to it," I said dryly, grabbing a towel and slinging it over my shoulder. "Last time Grayfia asked the same way, is it so hard to believe that a Morningstar prince can handle basic survival tasks?" I muttered, letting the towel absorb the last of the water from my hair.

Zeraphira chuckled softly, the sound like warm embers. "Hmph… I suppose even princes must eat. But don't think I'll let you ruin the kitchen."

"Yeah, yeah," I said, heading toward the small but well-equipped kitchen. "Help is optional."

She padded behind me, towel slipping slightly at the shoulder, but I ignored it. Her presence alone was enough to keep any errant thoughts in check.

I walked all the way to my room in nothing but a towel clinging around my waist, feeling the lingering warmth of the bath still clinging to my skin. Zeraphira followed silently, the soft pads of her feet making no sound against the polished marble. The faint scent of her hair, still damp from the bath, trailed behind her, mingling with the lingering steam.

After wearing green joggers with a simple black tank, I stretched once, feeling the lingering warmth of the bath ease the stiffness from yesterday's fight. Zeraphira had already taken the corner of the kitchen, tying her hair back neatly, crimson strands catching the sunlight streaming through the windows. She moved with casual precision, humanly effortless, yet every motion carried that subtle predatory grace that betrayed her demonic instincts.

I approached the counter, letting my fingers brush over the ingredients I had set out. Eggs, bread, fresh herbs, and a few spices—simple, but enough. Zeraphira's gaze followed each movement, sharp yet lazy, like a cat observing a mouse that already knew it couldn't escape.

"You're… serious about this?" she murmured, tilting her head slightly.

I smirked faintly. "Even a prince needs breakfast. And don't think you'll get out of helping entirely."

Her crimson eyes flickered with amusement. "I'll supervise," she said, stepping closer, the scent of her hair mixing with the faint steam lingering in the air. "That counts as… help, right?"

I grinned, cracking eggs into a bowl, letting the yolks swirl. "Sure, supervisory assistance. Very official."

In no time, plates were set with steaming breakfast ready to be devoured. I slid one toward Zeraphira, the golden yolks glinting under the morning light, while the toast smelled faintly of browned perfection. She leaned forward slightly, crimson hair brushing her shoulder, and caught the edge of my sleeve with a teasing flick.

"You always make it look effortless," she said, voice soft but edged with curiosity. "Even when it's just… breakfast."

I shrugged casually, sitting across from her. "Human internet can be wonderful," I lied smoothly.

Her lips quirked, and she tilted her head, watching me with that patient, obsessive gaze that carried centuries of memory. The kind that knew loyalty and danger in equal measure. "Hmm… I'll hold you to that," she murmured, cutting into her toast.

***

After having a filling breakfast, I turned on the TV in the living room. This immediately attracted Zeraphira's attention, as this is the first time she has seen people moving, talking in a box. Her words, not mine.

As she froze mid‑bite of her last doughnut, which she found in the fridge, her eyes narrowed at the flickering screen. The news anchor's voice filled the room—talking about stock markets, politics, and something about "unusual energy surges detected over Central Park." But to Zeraphira, it might as well have been sorcery.

"...what in the nine hells is that?" she asked slowly, fork still in hand.

I leaned back on the couch, stifling a laugh. "Television. Basically… human illusion magic powered by electricity."

Her crimson gaze darted from me to the screen and back. "Illusion magic? They've managed this… without mana?"

"More or less," I said, flipping through channels. "Technology, not sorcery. Mortals got creative while we were asleep."

She tilted her head, genuinely fascinated now. "Fascinating… They simulate life without essence. Artificial resonance." She leaned closer to the TV, eyes reflecting the light. "So fragile… yet so intricate."

I watched her expression shift—a mix of awe and disbelief. For someone who once razed fortresses, she looked like a child seeing stars for the first time.

Then she turned abruptly, eyes narrowing. "Darling, why is this woman speaking to you?"

I blinked. "What?"

She pointed sharply at the TV—some overly cheerful reporter was smiling right at the camera, speaking about "handsome billionaires" and "Scandals involving some Hollywood superstar."

My face flashed on the lower corner of the screen.

Oh.

"Ah…" I exhaled slowly. "She is not talking to me; she is just looking at the camera, which projects an image outward. The camera captures light and sound, not actual presence. She isn't aware of me—just the illusion the machine creates."

Zeraphira's crimson eyes narrowed further, tilting her head as she processed it. "Hmph… clever mortals. Manipulating perception without true force. Dangerous, in its own way."

I smirked, leaning back casually. "Exactly. All show, no substance—like a puppeteer with invisible strings."

She hummed softly, clearly impressed but slightly unsettled. "I see… I must study this… art." Her gaze lingered on the flickering images, calculating, measuring—even as she absentmindedly brushed a stray crimson strand behind her ear.

I used the moment to escape into my room, and immediately—

[Will you take on the Class Change Quest now?]

[Y/N]

'Yes, I'm taking it on.'

The moment I thought of taking on the quest, another message popped into my view.

Tti-ring.

[You're now partaking in the Class Change Quest.]

[A new dungeon will be generated for this quest.]

'Generating… a new dungeon?'

Before I had the chance to interpret what that message was saying, a change took place before me really fast.

Wuuonnng—

A black 'hole' formed right in front of my eyes. That was merely the beginning, too.

Wuoonng, wuuuonngg…..

The black hole, the size of a bean, expanded to the size of a coin, then to that of a volleyball, and eventually, it grew large enough for a person to walk through.

'Isn't this….?'

My eyes grew wider.

I was expecting to see a new message with the contents of the quest pop up in front of my eyes, but this….

What appeared before me was, without a doubt, a Dungeon entrance.

'To think, a Gate would show up here….'

This one didn't seem any different from the other I was familiar with. Only that, it was a bit smaller than usual.

The System sent me a new message as if to urge me on.

[Please enter the dungeon through the Gate.]

Fuu-woo….

After taking a deep breath….

I held the Muramasa blade's hilt and entered the entrance.

...

[You have entered the dungeon.]

'Eh?'

I entered in a state of taut tension, but to my surprise, there was nothing here.

I was greeted by the sight of an ordinary cave-like dungeon.

Instead, a strange message popped up in my view.

Tti-ring.

[The current location forbids the usage of potions as well as the functions of the Store, and your physical state will not recover even if you level up.]

Hold up a moment! Since when did that buy function unlock?!

[The buy function was unlocked at Level 25]

Then, when the fu*k were you going to inform me of such an important feature?!

My jaw tightened. The System's habit of casually revealing critical mechanics after I'd already stumbled into their implications was… infuriating.

I confirmed that there was no presence of monsters nearby and sheathed my blade. Then, my head began tilting left and right.

'…..This isn't going to be easy, is it?'

And as I touched the entrance, when entering a dungeon, I confirmed the presence of the exit.

[You can't leave until the Job Change process has been concluded.]

A message popped up as soon as I touched the surface of the Gate. I put some strength behind my hand, but it didn't even budge.

"…."

I retracted my hand.

'The exit is blocked off.'

If clearing this place was difficult because of all the restrictions, then didn't that also mean there was an amazing opportunity waiting for me at the end?

There was only one way to find out.

'I'll know once I get there.'

I took my first step forward.

***

Stone me, I can take it!

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