As the young maid scurried off, light on her feet, Eirik rushed back to his room, eager to open the ornate box marked Essence of Mana.

  The moment the lid opened, a potent fragrance wafted out, stunning him for a moment. Inside, nine vials of shimmering, magical elixirs were neatly arranged on silk, their glow almost hypnotic.

  “The legendary Essence of Mana, and high-grade ones at that…” Eirik muttered under his breath, awe and excitement mixing in his voice.

  Essence of Mana came in several grades: defective, low-tier, mid-tier, high-tier, and supreme-tier. These high-grade elixirs were typically reserved for powerful Level 3 or Level 4 Practitioners. Yet, here they were, a full set, dropped into his lap on the very first day by Pixie herself.

  "That’s one hell of a gift!" he chuckled, amazed by his good fortune.

  “Well then, let’s see what this stuff can do."

  He took a deep breath, anticipation stirring in his chest.

  Tonight, according to Pixie and Elvynna, was supposed to be a night of rest. Tomorrow, they'd head to a quiet meditation room to practice magic together. Both girls were eager to see what it would feel like to be near Eirik, who, thanks to his Eye of Divine Insight, was a natural amplifier for magic. Eirik had assumed they simply wanted to mentor him, a fledgling in the mystic arts, but their real intentions were far more complicated.

  But now, faced with the treasure trove of high-grade Essence of Mana, Eirik couldn't resist. With a single swift motion, he uncorked one of the vials and drank it down in a gulp, crossing his legs to meditate.

  He began channeling the energy using the simplest cultivation technique he knew. Magic was well-established in Aelsryel, with basic cultivation methods readily available, but they’d been useless to him until now. His body had lacked the aptitude for magic. However, with the Eye of Divine Insight awakened and the powerful Essence of Mana flooding his system, things were different.

  A cool energy surged through his veins, rushing to every corner of his body, strengthening him from within. His very soul seemed to shimmer, swelling with intoxicating power. This was magic in its purest, most exhilarating form.

  While Eirik lost himself in the euphoric rush of cultivation, the simulation outside his awareness continued to unfold.

  【Your persistence has moved Eirik. He has accepted your request.】

  “Hahaha! Yes!” Pixie punched the side of her bed in triumph, unable to contain her joy.

  “Seriously? All this just because he agreed to hang out with you once?” Elvynna muttered bitterly, her sharp hearing picking up Pixie’s excited squeals from the next room.

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  【He has accepted your gift. Your relationship has grown stronger.】

  【Your bond deepens…】

  Pixie knew she had the upper hand in this game. Her strategy was simple: bombard Eirik with gifts until he couldn’t resist. As a self-proclaimed wealthy little tyrant, she showered him with offerings every day, overwhelming the simulation’s version of Eirik with endless tokens of affection.

  Elemental Stones, Essence of Mana—those were just the basics. She didn’t stop there. Magical steeds, enchanted swords, even enrollment passes to prestigious academies were among her offerings. But what Pixie enjoyed the most? Dressing him up. She lavished Eirik with robes and outfits, each more elegant than the last. Watching him strut around in her carefully chosen clothes made her eyes sparkle with delight, and her mischievous laughter echoed through the room.

  No matter the world, girls would always love their dress-up games.

  "Wait, how is their relationship progressing so fast?!" Elvynna glanced at the simulation’s progress, her stomach twisting with frustration. In just a few months, Eirik and Pixie’s bond had shot to levels that had taken Elvynna ten years to build.

  “Next thing I know, they'll be married!” Elvynna clenched her fists, barely containing her jealousy.

  “That’s not fair! I don’t accept this!”

  Gripping the hem of her robe, Elvynna felt a surge of regret. Why had she pushed Eirik toward Pixie in the simulation? Every time she heard Pixie’s giddy laughter, her mood darkened.

  “Junior Sister! If you laugh like that again, I swear I’ll come over and beat you senseless!” Elvynna couldn't hold it in anymore and sent Pixie a voice transmission.

  "Oh, is someone jealous? Tsk, tsk. Jealousy really does make you ugly." Pixie’s smug grin was almost audible.

  Elvynna took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Fighting with Pixie would only give the younger girl more reasons to gloat.

  "Calm down, Elvynna. It's just a simulation. None of this is real. Besides, I let her have this round. This was my choice," she reassured herself, remembering that Eirik had visited her first in the game. This was all part of the plan.

  But now… it was time to act. If she waited any longer, it might be too late.

  “Elvynna, you can still win this,” she whispered to herself.

  Ending her meditation early, she sent an invitation to Eirik within the simulation.

  【Your invitation has been declined.】

  "Declined? No big deal. It happens."

  Undeterred, she continued sending invitations day after day, but each time, Eirik refused.

  Until, finally…

  【He once longed to serve you, but you turned him away. Now that he has found new purpose, why come knocking?】

  Elvynna’s heart sank. Though it was just a simulation, the rejection stung as if it were real. She had pushed him away, ignoring his earnest offers to follow her. And now, when she wanted to take it all back, it was too late.

  The worst blow came when the system announced that Eirik and Pixie had officially become a married couple. Less than a year into the simulation, and the two were inseparable.

  "You achieved in one year what took me over a decade..." Elvynna clenched her fists, barely holding back tears.

  When she saw the elegant, limited-edition wedding skins the game awarded them, her heart felt like it was being crushed by an invisible weight.

  Her eyes reddened, her chest tightening with sorrow.

  The plan had been to see how far Pixie and Eirik could get before Elvynna swooped in and "saved" him. But things had moved too quickly, leaving her dazed and helpless.

  【Congratulations! You have earned the title: Regret Beyond Measure.】

  Elvynna stared blankly at the system message.

  "What kind of twisted reward is this?!"

  Her chest heaved with frustration, her body trembling with anger.

  This cursed simulation. This cursed game. And most of all—this cursed Pixie!