The one-week restraining order worked perfectly. Cassius, acting like a man who committed a crime, declared he would accept every word Sierra said. His behavior annoyed her, but she had no choice. She bought herself a week of time. During those seven days, she intended to find out exactly what happened to him. I must discover what changed him so much. Contacting Cassius now was the worst possible move. He would only repeat four things: regret, apologies, guilt, and kneeling.

Five years passed since Sierra moved to this quiet village to raise Hanael, her sister's daughter. Today was no different. Sierra walked toward the nursery to pick the girl up, but an odd sensation hung in the air. First, the weather. A bitter wind howled, and the sky turned a bruised purple. Thunder threatened to break at any moment. [Sierra] "The weather looks grim......" Bad weather happened often in the countryside. Sierra arched an eyebrow and kept walking. Then, a stran

Years ago, a one-night stand ended. Now, that man returns as a Duke. Cassius Ideos claims he regrets abandoning Sierra. What is he talking about? We ended things cleanly. Why the regret? To make matters worse, he looks at her sister’s daughter—the child she raised—and reaches a bizarre conclusion. "I never knew. I never imagined you raised our child alone." What is going on? Just then, her niece hides behind her back and sticks out her tongue at the Duke. "I hate you, bad mis

[Kalart] "......No, does it even matter?" His lips twisted into a sharp, bitter smile. The expression pierced Roserikta like a jagged blade. [Kalart] "I can't separate your nature as a witch from your soul. You came to me as a witch. You helped me as a witch. Your voice charms me because of your power, and you try to leave me because of it. That is why I cling to you." He reached out his hand. He waited for her to take it. [Kalart] "The excuses you give mean nothing to me. So

[Countess] "Where are you going? Are you trying to run away now?" She walked through the air with ease, trailing Roserikta. Roserikta yanked the broom, suddenly changing direction and picking up speed. Even in a massive castle, the corridors felt cramped for flying. The constant turns and obstacles made her stomach churn. [Countess] "What are you doing?" The Countess showed her irritation. Though she appeared calm, the constant movement drained her mana. [Roserikta] "I’m tryi

Something was wrong. The voice would never say such things. The person Kalart knew would never demand the death of another without a reason. [Countess] "Don't just cut her throat. Slice her as much as possible. Cut her slowly so she screams in agony. I will watch everything with a happy smile." [Kalart] "......" [Countess] "Well? Hurry." The woman, now a confusing blur to him, wrapped her arms around his neck and tried to press her lips against his. Kalart twisted his shoulde

[Countess] "......What?" [Kalart] "I doubt I looked that foolish to you. You already knew only you appeared beautiful to my eyes. That means you caused it. What is this? How do I reverse it?" [Countess] "......" She realized why he gripped her dress so tightly. He wouldn't let her escape until she spat out an answer. [Countess] "How arrogant." She let out a dry laugh. His face hardened. [Kalart] "To speak to me like that... you aren't human." [Countess] "You are quick to noti

The Countess clutched her stomach and vomited. Since she turned her back on the moon, everything touched by moonlight clashed violently with her body. Even the smallest amount felt like poison. Nausea surged through her, impossible to suppress. [Countess] "Ugh! Urgh! Ack!" She crawled across the floor, gagging. The life force she had stolen from the Royal Guards crawled out of her throat like insects. [Countess] "Ha... haaa... ha." She wiped her mouth with the back of her han

[Clobell] "Ack! What is it!" Clobellina jumped, tears and snot clinging to her face. [Roserikta] "It's just me. I’m back." [Clobell] "Waaaaah! Rosie!" She dashed forward and leaped onto the window frame. [Roserikta] "Wait! Careful, Clobell." The inner window frame offered no space for a cat's backside. Roserikta quickly caught Clobellina in her arms. [Clobell] "Rosie! Rosie!" Clobellina clung to her, acting like a spoiled child and ignoring her own weight. [Roserikta] "Oh, Cl

The weight of divine knowledge pressed down on Rosaline. The moment she woke from the revelation, the branch in her hand crumbled into ash. She grabbed a single fruit that had fallen to the floor. When she returned to the bedroom, Hannah lay curled on the ivory bed. [Rosaline] "Hannah. Why aren't you sleeping?" [Hannah] "Rosaline. Help me……" With sunken eyes, Hannah begged her friend. [Hannah] "The water in my awakening dream keeps vanishing. I can't find a single drop of pur

Zion didn't look back, even as the voices of Johan and Viktor echoed behind him. He already expected them. No matter how much power he unleashed, the Calamity had refused to vanish. Once they found the opening that had swallowed Odette, Viktor and Johan would have jumped in without hesitation. However, their arrival wasn't the most important thing right now. What on earth is this? Zion looked down at his right hand while holding Odette. After he shattered the barrier, a stran

Bright moonlight spilled through the window. Rosaline, lying atop an ivory bed, snapped her eyes open, gasping like someone fleeing a nightmare. Only a single rose? One tiny teacup? Yes. That dream was a distinct nightmare. Injustice and resentment flared so violently she could barely draw breath. How can this be?! How can my power be so pathetic and insignificant! She wanted to scream, but she held it back. She wasn't alone in the bedroom. Hannah, who shared the room, slept

The knowledge that the entity speaking through the status window was a god, sent a chill down her spine. And why had it waited for her so long? [Odette] "You waited for me? Why……?" [So please, say my name. Odette.] The status window offered no other answer. It simply displayed that final message. She understood the situation. The entity behind the window, the First Transcendent, awaited her to speak his name. How am I supposed to know your name……? In The Only Savior, "God" wa

Golden rays of light enveloped Zion. The beams tangled together like thread, forging chains of solid gold. Just as he had done on Athena Island, he gathered all the energy used for the capital's defensive barrier. It was a magnificent sight, but Odette couldn't keep her eyes on him. The deeper she fell into the Calamity, the stronger the pull became. My arms and legs…… they feel like they are tearing apart. The force yanking her in every direction stretched her skin and muscl

A sense of déjà vu washed over her first. From that feeling, buried memories slowly clawed their way back to life. Paula remembered the road to the Albrecht estate, riding in a carriage with her mother. In a mountain village, they had received a green liquid inside that very jewelry box. Back then, the old apothecary who handed over the medicine had spoken clearly. [Apothecary] "This is Mengele. It mimics the scent of a Purifier. I am a master of my craft, so you can use it i

Odette watched Karl's retreating back. Hatred, guilt, and pity swirled within her, a chaotic storm of emotions. While trapped inside that prison of time, the dark red sphere looked like a miniature universe. A thunderous crash echoed as Johan and Viktor shattered the cage. The tiny universe broke into hundreds of pieces, raining down onto the floor. Odette's eyes widened. She stared at the fragments falling like a meteor shower. Each shard acted as a mirror, reflecting a diff