Unfortunately, chapter 261 was deleted in the raw. We'll have to skip this chapter :(

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Shhh...

The soft sound of running water mixed with steam, and a faint, subtle fragrance wafted through the dim room.

Alain, deep in slumber, felt his eyelids flutter. He slowly opened them to the sight of an unfamiliar ceiling.

He glanced around and simultaneously opened the Safety Guard panel. The Intranet Firewall icon wasn't blinking, proving he had exited the dream world.

Phew...

He let out a breath of relief as clarity returned to his mind. Only then did he notice a light on in the direction of the bathroom; it seemed the sound of running water had woken him.

Alain looked at the side of the bed; Miffy was gone. Considering the lit bathroom, he figured she must be taking a shower.

No suspicion arose in his mind. He planned to sit up, lean against the headboard, and wait to talk with the girl. He still had many questions for her about the dream and the virus.

?!

But then, a slight soreness around his waist sparked his suspicion.

...What's going on?

He looked down suspiciously. His clothes were all intact, but his waist was a little sore...

He had spent most of his time dreaming since entering Room 1.1, hadn't he? If he were to feel tired, it should be mentally, not physically.

And besides...

I feel a bit parched, like I need some water.

As he swallowed, he happened to see a glass of milk on the nightstand.

?

Was Miffy always this thoughtful? Did she anticipate he'd be tired after all those tasks and prepared a reward for him?

This girl, she's so sweet...

Alain silently overturned his mental image of the lazy, bathing girl, replacing it with one of a considerate and understanding person.

He drank the milk without hesitation. Just then, the sound of running water from the bathroom quietly stopped.

The bathroom door slowly swung open. Damp steam, carrying the scent of neroli, billowed into the room. The girl stepped out, her bare feet seeming to crush the starlight scattered on the floor as droplets of water traced winding paths down her pale ankles.

The fringe at the hem of her towel brushed gently against her knees. The rising steam pooled into two warm hollows at her collarbone, shimmering pearlescently as they rose and fell with her breath. A thin mist drifted over her slightly flushed skin, tinting it with the gradient hues of dawn.

A stray trickle of water behind her ear slid into the deep folds of the towel, evaporating in a mysterious crevice and releasing a faint, warm scent. The steam clung to her, blurring her contours yet sharpening the play of light and shadow. The silhouette of the girl emerging from the dense mist was like morning dew shaken from a swan's arching neck, revealing ankles beaded with fine, glistening droplets.

A touch of cold in the bedroom made her shiver, and she gently tightened the towel around herself.

Her sleepy eyes swept over the corners of the room until they landed on the awake young man on the bed. A lovely blush flashed across her cheeks.

Alain... you're awake? Um, I prepared milk for you... oh, you've already drunk it.

Mhm. Alain raised the empty glass in greeting to Miffy.

Placing the empty glass back on the nightstand, Alain was about to ask some questions when he noticed Miffy's delicate and bashful appearance.

Sorry, you're still in a towel.

He turned his head away, averting his gaze out of propriety.

It's okay... it's nothing...

She scratched her cheek where a strand of hair was stuck, then turned her head to watch the steam spreading into the room before closing the bathroom door.

...It's nothing?

Alain murmured, appreciating Miffy's limited-edition towel "skin" for a few seconds, thinking to himself, "Am I just too innocent?".

Right, you should get dressed first. I have some things I want to ask you.

Huh?!

...Did I say something wrong? Alain was confused.

N-nothing.

She lowered her head worriedly and limped towards the wardrobe.

She opened it and changed into a fresh set of pajamas.

Wait... limping?

Although Alain, adhering to his 'gentlemanly' principles, didn't watch, he couldn't help but feel a question arise.

Before long, the rustling of clothes against skin stopped.

Miffy slowly sat on the edge of the bed, her head still hanging low. She clutched the hem of her pajamas, her entire posture screaming the words 'at your mercy'.

"I wanted to ask, are you hurt?" he asked with a frown.

Previously, after his encounter with the monster in Version 1.3B, he had come to understand that damage from the game world could be reflected in reality to some extent.

Extending that logic, could the dream world Miffy created also transfer fatigue to one's awakened physical body?

Huh?

The girl was puzzled by Alain's concerned expression.

He's... worried about me? Why? Could it be... did he figure something out from my unnatural walk?

No... this expression is a lot like how a player looks when they're seriously dealing with a virus.

So, he hasn't actually discovered anything, but is considering something else entirely.

Miffy realized she had to seize this opportunity.

Maybe I fell down in the dream? After waking up, my subconscious still thinks I'm injured.

She casually touched her calf,

It'll heal soon, you don't have to worry.

Phew... that's good.

Alain observed the fair skin on her leg, unable to see any sign of injury.

This must be what they call 'phantom pain'.

Miffy's words also explained her staggered walk quite well, with no logical flaws.

Alright then, don't push yourself. If anything happens, tell me first.

Mmm... Looking at his serious face, Miffy understood he meant what he said. This player... when something comes up, he really steps up.

Then, could he let her experience more happiness? Just like before...

Of course, she would also give him an equivalent amount of happiness, as long as it was within her power.

Oh, right, Alain. Miffy, holding back a few details, explained the abilities she now had in their entirety.

Hmm? Are you saying you can use all of the Consciousness Entity's abilities?

Yes. I've already tested it: I converted the memories of Misha and the others in the city and, using the remnant of the Consciousness Entity in your body as an anchor, transferred them to their real-world selves.

She activated her ability, targeting Alain. 'You're about to enter a dream now.'

Alain naturally heard the girl's warning. After she snapped her fingers, Alain checked the Safety Guard panel.

Just as expected... the Intranet Firewall began to blink.

She clapped her hands twice, and the firewall icon dimmed.

Just as she said, her ability to control dreams was no different from when the Consciousness Entity was present.

Alain was silent for a moment.

So, does this mean... that when they defeated the Consciousness Entity in the dream, not only did they gain complete authority over the dream city, but also...

...they successfully acquired the abilities of a virus?

This unbelievable stroke of luck made Alain suspicious.

Can you tell me? How did you get the Consciousness Entity?

Alain asked.

By getting to the root of it, perhaps he could find the reason why the Consciousness Entity's abilities remained perfectly intact.

And perhaps, he might even find information about 'that woman'.

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