For a while after that, I couldn't see Siwoo at all.

It was all because of the doctor who had been incredibly focused on providing emergency care, ignoring everything we said.

When she pressed the emergency bell, it summoned the medical staff waiting in the ward in an instant, and we were quickly isolated.

Honestly, I felt a bit disappointed that I couldn’t stay with Siwoo longer, but...

I quietly accepted it when they said if I didn’t rest now, I might spend the rest of my life in bed.

Their intentions were clear, trying to keep us apart, but Siwoo had thought it through and acted accordingly, so I didn’t resist.

With the writer gone and Siwoo out of reach, I initially worried about how I'd cope with the boredom, but...

Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, I ended up busier than ever.

"···Sorry."

"It's okay. We'll take it one step at a time."

Dorothy encouraged me with a calm smile.

Was she being considerate, or did she really think it was fine?

Sighing, I looked at the recently graded paper.

Red marks rained down like blood.

"But this... This is more shocking than I thought. We'll need to adjust our plans."

"···."

Dorothy spoke in a troubled voice, but I couldn't say anything. I just sat there, feeling ashamed.

"How have you managed so far?"

Dorothy waved the paper in my hand, and I hastily reached out to grab it, worried someone might see it.

But Dorothy skillfully avoided my hand and kept waving the test paper, like she was showing me my own reality.

Embarrassment washed over me, and I covered my face with my hands.

···I couldn't help but offer a small excuse.

"But... Most of the time, the writer handled things... They told me what I needed to know..."

Yeah.

I was learning the basics of this world, one step at a time.

It had been about a year since I landed here.

A long time, or a short time, depending on how you look at it.

Honestly, considering all that had happened over the past year, it felt like time had flown by.

···Yeah, that's right. It must be.

"Sigh... That writer guy..."

"···."

Dorothy had listened to my story about the writer and me, and surprisingly, she accepted it calmly.

Was it because she hadn't experienced it herself, or did she not fully understand and just let it slide?

I'm not sure.

But one thing was certain: Dorothy was more interested in me than in the writer, who could no longer affect anything.

"If you go out into society like this... Ugh."

I’m not an idiot.

Feeling a bit stung, I was about to say that I didn't need Dorothy to worry about me, but then I saw the red-marked paper in her hand and shut my mouth.

···Dorothy had been shocked to learn I had only been in this world for less than a year.

And that's how this started.

Learning basic knowledge.

"How did you manage to attend academy classes without knowing these basics?"

"I slept."

"···."

Was it because of my half-closed eyes that no one noticed whether I was sleeping or not?

"Sigh..."

Dorothy sighed, as if she found my future bleak, and I felt a surge of frustration.

It’s not fair.

I mean, I came from a world where mana was only a figment of imagination, and I was suddenly dropped into a world where mana actually existed and people used it like superpowers.

Even if using it was possible, I wouldn’t have known the theory behind it.

I wouldn’t know what even elementary school kids learn here.

···But to Dorothy, it must sound ridiculous.

To her, it would be like hearing that someone her age didn’t know their multiplication tables.

"Didn't you answer well when the teacher asked questions sometimes?"

"···The writer told me."

"···."

Dorothy seemed to decide that this line of questioning was pointless and changed the topic.

"···Okay, let's assume you didn't know."

"Yeah."

"But not knowing this is a bit much, isn't it?"

Dorothy brought out another paper, also marked with red.

···Seeing what was written on it, I instinctively turned my head away.

Even I thought it was a bit much.

"How do you not know your menstrual cycle?!"

Dorothy's voice rose in frustration.

I looked around quickly, hoping no one had overheard the embarrassing topic, and tried to cover Dorothy’s mouth, but she was relentless.

"Well, it's just that..."

The reason I didn't know my cycle was simple.

I had never had one.

Honestly, it wasn't something I paid attention to.

Before coming to this world, it was irrelevant, and after arriving here, daily crises kept me from thinking about it.

···Since the writer created this body, I don't even know why I don't have periods.

Dorothy had been appalled when she discovered I didn’t know my cycle and took me to a doctor, but they said there was nothing wrong.

Realizing that discussing this with me was pointless, Dorothy sighed deeply.

"Sigh... You don't even know basic makeup application..."

"Well, isn’t that unnecessary? I think I look fine as is."

"No?! It’s very important!"

Dorothy grabbed my cheeks and shouted.

Startled by her unexpected reaction, I tried to pull away, but she held on tightly.

"I mean, you’re pretty as you are, but... You could be even prettier with makeup."

"I don’t nee-..."

"Siwoo would like it, though."

"···."

Twitch.

Did I really need to learn makeup?

I was considering dismissing the idea, but at the mention of Siwoo, I found myself reconsidering.

"Even if you don't usually wear it, doing it occasionally will drive men crazy."

"···Really?"

"Yes. You think you don’t need it because you're already pretty? That's true, but..."

Dorothy let go of my cheeks and continued.

"But when someone who usually doesn’t wear makeup does, it’s a whole different experience."

I think I understand what she means, but...

Honestly, I wasn’t sure.

How would I know, having never been in a relationship?

Having always lived a life far from romance, I couldn’t judge if Dorothy's words were true.

Makeup, huh.

"Do you really think Siwoo would like it?"

"Absolutely. You're already beautiful, and with makeup, anyone would fall for you."

"···I don't need that."

"Huh?"

When I firmly denied her statement, Dorothy's voice filled with confusion.

"···As long as Siwoo likes it, that's enough. I don't care what anyone else thinks."

"···."

Even I felt my face flush from the bold declaration I had just made.

As long as Siwoo likes it.

It was a spontaneous outburst, but I didn’t feel like taking it back.

It wasn’t wrong, after all.

"···Is today the day you're being discharged?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, it is."

Why bring up my discharge all of a sudden?

We'd discussed it a few days ago, so there was no confusion.

Dorothy rummaged through a surprisingly heavy bag and pulled something out.

"···Makeup?"

"Yes, makeup."

Pulling out makeup products mid-conversation, I was momentarily thrown off by Dorothy’s sudden action.

But then she made a suggestion.

"Would you like to learn how to use it?"

"···Okay."

If it were the me who first landed in this world, I would have fiercely rejected the idea, even getting angry about why I needed makeup.

But now, I nodded.

I had changed so much that I could almost be considered a different person from back then.

"Then how about I do your makeup today? Just to see how it feels?"

After a brief moment of contemplation, I nodded.

Honestly, I was a little curious.

I already had a pretty face without much effort...

But seeing how persistent Dorothy was, I thought there might be something more to it.

And after a while, as Dorothy worked on my face for what felt like ages, just as I was about to lose patience, she handed me a mirror.

"There, all done."

"···Wow."

Looking in the mirror, I understood why Dorothy had been so insistent.

Well, it might sound like bragging, but...

I looked really pretty.

"Pretty, right?"

"Yeah. Very pretty..."

It was amazing.

She just applied some stuff here and there, and my face changed so much.

I was glad I let her do my makeup.

Wouldn't Siwoo like this look?

"···Ahem, ahem."

"Oh, sorry."

Maybe because I was staring at the mirror for too long, Dorothy nudged me. Did she want the mirror back?

I hastily handed it over, but Dorothy waved her hand dismissively.

"Oh, no. Not that..."

"Huh?"

"It’d be a shame to wash it off after all that work... How about you keep it on for the day?"

Keep it on for the day?

···After a brief consideration, I nodded.

Sure, it was a bit tedious, but Dorothy put in a lot of effort.

While it was just tedious for me, it could be a masterpiece to Dorothy.

"Okay."

"Then... It’s almost time. Do you want to handle the discharge paperwork first? I need to clean up here."

"Sure. I'll be quick."

As Arte changed clothes and left the room, Dorothy wiped the sweat from her forehead and sighed.

"Sigh... She didn't notice..."

Dorothy quickly sent a text to Amelia.

"Arte is coming up... Great."

Hoping her efforts to doll up Arte would pay off, Dorothy finished tidying up the makeup and hurried out of the room.

Today was a big day.

A once-in-a-lifetime event couldn’t be missed.