Double checking the paper, looked back over the previous test sheets before handed it over to Lisa.

This should be good enough.

After the second failure, I’d quickly learned a trick to bypass this stupid test. Although the questions changed each time you took the test, some questioned repeated themselves.

Meanwhile, Lisa didn’t seem inclined to take away the old test sheet… and the old sheets had the correct answers!

That meant, by turning in the paper repeatedly, I could effectively build up a library of correct answers.

“What’s the rush?” Lisa asked, leaning forward with her hands between her legs atop the table.

I coldly ignored her question, holding out the completed paper. “Complete the trial.”

“Is there perhaps a lucky man you’re rushing back too?” She persisted, clearly expressing interest in my personal life.

Lucky man? Wha- Oh…

I looked down and realized that I hadn’t changed back into a man. Although the weapon of power had disappeared after coming back into this the white space, the rest of my clothing had stayed the same.

After three months of travelling like this, it hadn’t actually occurred to check my gender after coming back here.

Lisa noticed my puzzled expression and verbally teased me, “Or perhaps there’s a lovely lady awaiting you?”

Rin’s appearance quietly popped into my mind for the first time in awhile, but I dismissed it. Now isn’t the time.

Shaking my head, I repeated myself, “Finish this stupid trial.”

Lisa seemed to catch onto my momentary pause, and a predatory smile bloomed on her face, “Oh? Is there a girl? Tell me about her.”

“No.” I instinctively refused.

The refusal only caused her smile to grow wider, and Lisa purred, “Tell me, everything~”

Instead of responding to her inquires, I forced the completed test paper into her hands. Although Lisa frowned as the test screen appeared.

<Test results>

<Correct answers: 299>

<Number of questions attempted: 320>

<Overall Grade: A>

Seeing the result, the tension in my body relaxed. This is ridiculously. I was stressing about tests in another universe. This should never have even been a problem with my genius intelligent.

Satisfied with the results, I decided to complete the trial, “Perfect. End the-“

Lisa covered my mouth with her hand and whisper into my ear, “Shh~ You can do that later, okay?”

I physically removed her hand, before questioning her. “What are-“

“I need to know everything~” She leaned into my face, pushing her body against me. “What’s her name? How far have you gone?”

“That is absolutely none of your business.” I stated, slightly blushing from the sudden close proximity.

Lisa must’ve seen my blush as her fingers began to reach beneath my shirt and rubbed against my stomach, “Are you sure? I can make it worth your time.”

“Get off-” I forced the annoying girl away, “- and stop wasting my time.”

“Fine…” Lisa pouted as she backed away and asked, “If you finish the trial now, you’ll get a final grade of an A… Are you sure that you want move onward to the next trial?”

“What?” I glared at her, “No, I want to quit.”

“Promotion procedure cancelled.” Lisa shrugged uncaringly and sat back down with a smug expression.

Why you little…

I angrily protested, “You said there was an option to quit after completing this trial.”

“Yep, there is.” Lisa agreed, as a lollipop appeared out of nowhere and she proceeded to licking it.

“Tell me how.”

“That’s none of your business, though?” The girl smugly replied, clearly reveling in the knowledge she was hiding.

Gnashing my teeth in anger.

While my emotional quotient isn’t particularly high, I immediately understood what she meant. After failing to get her answers through persistence, she decided to resort to blackmail.

Clearly, Lisa had specific rules that limited her complete freedom. If I wanted to complete the test and passed the conditions, Lisa had to let me.

However… if I merely wanted to leave, she could hide the information on how to accomplish that.

Whilst trying to hide my anger, I asked. “What do you want?”

“Just a few answers~” Lisa replied with a joyful and smug smile, swinging her lollipop from side to side.

“One question.” I coldly stated.

At this stage, I already decided to give her whatever information she wanted. Now, we were in the middle of bargaining how much information that would be. Just like any other currency, information has power and value.

Unfortunately, she happens to have a grasp on information I want… and that put me at a disadvantage. The person with the advantage in any relationship is whoever cares the least about the relationship. However…

“Hey, I need a few questions! Ten to be specific.” Lisa smugly stated.

“One question.”

“I’ll settle for seven questions.”

“One question.”

Lisa gnashed her teeth in anger, “Five questions, that’s my final offer.”

A smile appeared on my face, and I merely repeated myself. “One question.”

The two of us stared at each other for several seconds. Neither of us said a word for what felt like eternity. I briefly wondered if I had gotten to greedy and should’ve simply approved five questions, but before I could speak up…

“Three question.” Lisa lowered her bargaining price.

The smile on my face grew.

It appears that I have underestimated the value Lisa places on information in my private life. Regardless I didn’t want to get too greedy, lest she repent and raise the price.

“Fine…” I nodded in agreement and clarified the terms of the deal, “I will answer three questions for information on how to leave.”

Lisa nonverbally expressed her agreement before asking her first question, “What is the name, general appearance, and characteristics of the girl that you are rushing back for?”

I rolled my eyes at her extremely specific question. It showed clearly the value with which she placed on these questions.

“That should be three separate questions, but fine. I’ll count it as one.” I helpfully pointed out. “Her name is Rin. She is a cute and extremely powerful little warrior. Stubborn to a fault, a little violent, and a tendency to stay quiet unless something needs to be said.”

“You didn’t describe her appearance.” Lisa informed me with a frown, but I could practically see her eyes glistening in excitement.

“Ummm…” I struggled to put her appearance into words, “Red hair, brown eyes, young appearance? She’s only around sixteen? Extremely beautiful.“

Lisa had a massive smile across her face, “What about your relationship to her? I want details.”

I glanced away and struggled to answer, “Uhh… Skip. It’s kinda complicated. We’re kind of engaged?”

Honestly, I wasn’t really sure what was going on with our relationship anymore. Does Rin abandoning me cancel out our engagement? Are we still engaged? Does she even still want to get married to me after getting married to my past-self?

“No skipping questions! That’s cheating.” Lisa protested clearly unhappy with my attempt to avoid answering, “I want specific details about your relationship. Things like, how intimate you are with each other and when you met?”

“That’s surpassing the boundary of a single question.” I replied and refused to answer.

On anything involving Rin, I’m usually in a constant state of confusion and doubt.

I actually have no idea how intimate we are. At the very least, it was at the stage of kissing each other.

When the two of us met is also kinda complicated. I mean, how do you explain writing a novel about someone and following their life for awhile? I knew Rin long before she knew me.

…But, trying to explain those facts to Lisa would require revealing secrets that are absolutely not worth it.

“Hmph… You aren’t keeping your end of the bargain. So, don’t expect me to keep mine.” Lisa huffed and turned her head away.

I felt a massive headache. I didn’t want to expose anything… so I can only tell half-truths.

“The furthest I’ve actually gone with Rin is a kiss.” I stated carefully choosing my words to avoid lying. “Meanwhile, we met each other for the first time around two years ago.”

I’m actually rather terrible at lying (or so I’ve been told). Fortunately, everything I said was completely accurate. If she misunderstands, though, that not my fault.

“Two years and you’ve only kissed?” Lisa’s expression was of disbelief and she asked, “Are you a Kavore?”

While the word 'Kavore' clearly hadn’t been translated properly into English, I could understand that it was an insult from the tone and language surrounding it. Since I couldn’t understand the insult, I didn’t bother to get upset over it.

“This is your last question.” I reminded her, slightly afraid she would tear up the deal afterward or continue pressing for more information.

Instead of speaking, Lisa fell silently seeming to think about what I’d told her. After staying silent for several moments she inquired, “Do you love her?”

“That’s your final question?” I furrowed my brows and examined her more carefully. Why ask something so trivial? It doesn’t have any of the juicy details she wanted before.

“Hmmhmm.” Lisa nodded with a hum, the excitement from earlier seemed to have disappeared from her face.

“Yes.” I confirmed, a strong determination in my voice.

While I had been confused about my emotions when I decided to get engaged, I did know now.

Merely nodding, Lisa quickly spoke. “Then, I’ll let you quit.”

<Administrator override>

<Nature of override: Grade change>

<Trial 1 grade: A>

<Trial 2 grade: A>

<Trial 3 grade: A>

A screen popped up before me, and I quickly realized exactly what she’d done. Lisa had overridden my previous grade and replaced them all with A’s.

However, I didn’t understand why Lisa had done that. There was no reason behind it. With that sort of administrative power, she could just as easily kicked me out of the trial.

<All trials passed>

<Grade: Perfect>

<Rewards: All permissions unlocked and control transferred over>

Reading the prompts, I couldn’t help but be surprised.

“What did you do?” I asked Lisa, who seemed to be lost in thought.

“Nothing much. Anyway, you can just say ‘leave virtual hub’ to quit.” Lisa smiled and dismissed my words. “If you every want to come back here, just say ‘enter virtual hub’.”

“That…” I hesitated, but quickly realized that having access to an area where time didn’t flow was potentially extremely helpful. “Thank you.”

“It was a pleasure meeting you, To-bi-as.” Lisa giggling uncontrollably, whilst emphasizing every syllable in my name before vanishing. “You certainly make for a cute girl.”

After Lisa disappeared, the library suddenly became silent and there was no sound. Even though I’d suddenly been given the ability to leave, I felt more confused than before.

Lisa knew my name? I felt a headache coming onward. I definitely never told her my name… and I’m currently a girl.

There’s no way that was an accidental mistake.

She was playing with me.

Whilst I didn’t sense any malice from her, I didn’t like being thrust into a situation I had no knowledge of.

Still, instead of dwelling on answers I’d probably never get, I immediately set to quit, “Leave virtual hub.”

Groggily awakening, I found myself awakening in the basement where I’d fought Rin. There were no lights on, instead I found only the light's shatter remains on the floor.

I’d awoken on the bed.

This time, I checked my body and confirmed that I’d returned to my true gender of male. My clothes had returned to the state before I entered that place.

On a table beside the bed there was a note that was signed by Rin.

Putting it aside to read in a moment, I dug through my bag and immediately found two massive discrepancies with my memories.

The umbrella of lies was gone.

…and God-hunter had disappeared.

Panicking, I looked through the surroundings but she was nowhere to be found. Instead of physically searching, I quickly changed strategy.

God-hunter? Can you hear me?

Receiving no response from my daughter, I quickly dug up everything in the surroundings and tried to see if she’d fallen somewhere or disappeared in the vicinity.

Everything turned up empty.

I had to force myself to calm down. Before I had been convinced that it was simply to do with that weird place that she couldn’t communicate with me.

This was much worse.

First, read the note from Rin.