Reader of the Novel’s Extra

After finding the hidden passageway, Lee had led the way, Rachel and Nayun following behind him. Eventually, the passageway ended.

And at the end, there was a small room that looked like a playroom for a kid. There were even a few wooden blocks and toys scattered all around.

But that wasn't all.

There, in the middle of the room, there was a little girl with pale skin and black hair, molding a squishy blob that looked a bit like a slime.

"...Hello?" Lee tentatively called out to the little girl.

She paused and tilted her head, looking at Lee. After that, her mouth moved. But no words came out.

Lee frowned.

But then Rachel said, "She's asking if we're here to take her out, Lee."

Lee paused. "Take her out...?" He swept his gaze across the room. And as he did...

Old and yellowed pages scattered on the floor. Scribbles on the wall that looked like from a young child. A moth-eaten bed in the corner of the room...

Rachel nodded, looking at the little girl with soft eyes. "...What's your name, little one?"

The little girl tilted her head and smiled, mouthing a word.

Lee couldn't hear it. But he didn't have to.

Rachel smiled and held out her hand. "Hello there, Evandel. I'm Rachel. Those two are my friends, Lee and Nayun."

Evandel.

Lee's eyes widened and then they narrowed, things clicking into place as the faint memories came back.

'...Hajin killed a girl like this? For his own purposes?'

He remembered it now.

In the story, Hajin said that since someone else had killed Evandel, it didn't matter. That it was something that 'had to be done.'

All because he needed Aether... which must be the blob that Evandel was playing with.

Because of that, he killed a cute little girl like this.

Nayun hesitated and said, "Uh... Are we... playing with a ghost girl?"

Evandel tilted her head to look at Nayun. Then she smiled and waved, mouthing something else.

Rachel tilted her head and said, "Evandel says she isn't a ghost. She's a witch- A witch?!" Rachel's eyes immediately widened and she glanced back at Evandel.

Evandel just tilted her head, staring with innocent eyes.

Nayun's hand twitched towards her quiver. But she stayed still and glanced at Lee. "...Not to sound like I wanna murder a kid. But... isn't a witch worst than a ghost girl? That's a monster, isn't it?"

"No." Lee walked forward and then knelt on the ground, smiling at Evandel. "A witch isn't a monster unless they're turned into one. And right now, she's just a little girl. Right, Evandel?"

Evandel blinked. Then she smiled and poked at Lee's hand, letting out a silent giggle.

Rachel stared at Evandel and her caution slowly faded into a soft concern. "...She must have been lonely."

Lee watched as Evandel tottled over to the corner of the room and picked up a yellowed piece of paper with scribbled shapes that must have been etched with a dusty rock.

Evandel waved it and smiled, looking proud.

'...Ah. I'm getting kind of mad now.'

Lee could understand where Hajin had been coming from.

After all, that guy wasn't trained-

Actually, no.

Lee COULDN'T understand where Hajin was coming from.

Because that guy had been moving under assumptions the entire time. That 'it couldn't be helped.' That 'it must go this way.'

Hajin was the author. He wrote the setting, the entire world of the novel. He was functionally a god, especially with that cheat of his.

And he couldn't think up a way to deal with this situation other than to kill Evandel?

Just like with Nayun's brother too... Hajin didn't even TRY to resolve it another way. He just decided it had to be done.

...No.

The blame couldn't be put on Hajin.

Right, Lee had forgotten.

Hajin was a 'character' too.

Because this was 'The Novel's Extra.'

Meaning that the author of THAT story had decided to make Hajin that way. To lock him into a fixed mindset because other paths were too difficult.

'Well, screw that.'

Lee thought it was wrong. And so he was going to make it right.

Starting with this.

Evandel looked at Lee's still outstretched hand. Then she tilted her head and mouthed something again.

Rachel pursed her lips, looking at Lee with a hesitant expression. "...Evandel is asking if you'll give her some of your blood. That's how she can leave, apparently? But Lee-"

"That's fine." Lee pulled out his spear and immediately sliced his palm.

Nayun gasped. "Lee?! What the hell are you doing?!"

Evandel blinked. Then she let out a soft smile and held Lee's hand.

Rachel looked concerned. "If it's blood that she needs..." She hesitated and then cut her palm too, holding it out to Evandel.

Evandel's eyes widened and she smiled, holding out her other hand to Rachel.

"Are you two crazy?!" Nayun ran her hand through her hair. "We're in a Dungeon, in front of a CLEAR ghost girl monster in a hidden stage and you two are...! Argh! Forget it. Fine! If you want to be take a risk, I'll keep watch! But I SWEAR TO GOD if you two drop dead and revive as monsters I'm leaving you here!"

Lee laughed and said, "I don't think that's necessary, Nayun." After that, he stared at Evandel's eyes.

She was changing.

Before, she was definitely like a ghost, half-transparent.

But the blood from Lee and Rachel was flowing into her body, making it more solid. And as it became solid, her form was changing too.

Rachel's eyes widened in surprise as she watched Evandel slowly change to look like her. "That's...?"

Evandel tilted her head, just like Rachel did when she was confused.

And after a few more minutes...

"...Mommy?"

Rachel gasped.

Nayun gasped too.

Lee paused. "...Huh."

Evandel smiled and patted Rachel's hand, healing the gash shut. At the same time, she patted Lee's hand. But when she saw that it wasn't healing, she frowned and then grabbed the blob she was playing with, stitching it shut. After that, she smiled and patted Lee's hand. "Better!"

Rachel covered her mouth, her eyes wide as she stared at Evandel. Or rather, at the little girl who looked like a three-year old version of her... except with dark brown hair. A perfect mix between her golden hair and Lee's black hair.

Nayun cleared her throat. "Uh. So like, what the hell?"

Evandel giggled and then held her hands up to Lee. "Daddy! Up!"

"D-Daddy?!" Lee coughed. "I-I mean. Yes. Daddy. Here." He scooped her up into his arms.

Evandel giggled and nuzzled against his chest.

Rachel just stared at Lee and Evandel, her face slowly turning a bright red. But at the same time, a completely silly and happy smile blooming on her face.

Nayun groaned. "Okay. I don't know what the hell- I mean heck, just happened. But you two realize this is an international incident and a half just WAITING to happen, right? Not to mention the fact that we're students."

Evandel looked over at Rachel and held out her hands.

Rachel immediately closed the gap and pulled Evandel from Lee, hugging her close. "...You're so warm, Eva."

Evandel giggled and nuzzled against Rachel too. "Mommy~"

Nayun covered her face. "Oh great. She's hooked. It's over."

At that time, clattering echoed. Skeletons, drawn to the flow of magic power.

Rachel's eyes widened and she held Evandel close, maternal instincts clearly kicking in as she shielded the toddler with her body.

Meanwhile, Lee pulled out his spear and said, "Well. I wasn't planning to be a dad or have a magic baby girl with Rachel today, but I'm up for it. And as my first act as a father... STAY AWAY FROM MY FAMILY!"

With that roar, he threw caution to the wind and spammed <Lightning Rush> to clear out the room.

Nayun groaned. "I should have just stayed home... Whatever!" She started firing her arrows at the skeletons. "You guys owe me sooooo much when we get back!"

Evandel squirmed in Rachel's arms and then held up a tiny fist in Nayun's direction. "Auntie! Fighting!"

Nayun paused. Then a silly smile crossed her face and she said, "Argh! That's unfair! This is why I hate kids! Stupid little people making me feel all weird!"

Evandel giggled.

Rachel held her close and said, "Don't be too much trouble, Eva. Let Daddy and Auntie fight."

Nayun shot a flurry of arrows at a group of skeletons rushing towards them and said, "Aren't you getting too much into the role already?!"

Rachel hugged Evandel tighter and said, "Eva is my baby and no one will take her away from me. If she gets hurt, I would kill everyone in the room and then myself."

Lee bashed the skull in of a skeleton shining an ominous black hue and said, "Agreed."

Nayun sighed. "...Let's just hurry up and kill these things so we can leave..."