Back at the Jernova mansion…
Morning came quietly.
Too quietly.
I sat on the edge of my bed, staring blankly at nothing.
A strange weight pressed against my chest.
Not pain.
Not fear.
Just… emptiness.
Why…?
"Ugh…" I muttered under my breath, pressing my temple. "Why is this… melancholy coming back…?"
Fragments.
Memories.
Not of this world.
Of before.
"I don't know too…" Ray's voice was unusually subdued. "This isn't Internal Mana Interference… and it doesn't feel like interference from gods either."
Yeah…
That's what made it worse.
"This isn't part of the novel…" I whispered.
Something deeper.
Something… wrong.
A silence lingered.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
"…Forget that," I exhaled slowly. "There are bigger problems."
"The Time Witch…" Ray added.
Right.
"It's about time the world rewinds."
A chill ran down my spine.
"We won't even notice it," I said. "No time protection. No memory retention…"
"Envious?" Ray asked lightly.
"…A little."
But I shook my head.
"Her life is hell."
A 12-year-old girl.
Transmigrated.
Broken in her old world…
…and shattered again in this one.
"Yeah…" Ray murmured. "She's one of the most tragic characters."
Silence returned.
Then—
Ting
A translucent system window flickered into existence.
---
Mental Strength has been exhausted by skill "Poisoner"
Body Alteration has been completed
---
"…Huh?"
Before I could react—
A sudden wave of drowsiness hit me.
"Ugh…"
My body swayed.
My vision blurred.
Ting
---
Condition for "Poisoner" has been fulfilled
› Passive Skill "Poisoner's Authority" has been upgraded
› Passive Skill "Poisoned Claw" has been unlocked
---
"…What… is… happening…"
My thoughts slowed.
My breathing grew heavier.
Ting
---
Memory Synchronization has begun due to upgraded "Poisoner's Authority"
Mental Strength will be consumed
---
"Ah…" Ray spoke, realization dawning. "So that's it…"
My vision dimmed further.
Ting
---
Due to preexisting memories, mental consumption has been reduced
---
"…Ray…"
"You're running out of mental strength," he said quickly. "That's why you're collapsing."
So that's it…
My body gave in.
Everything faded.
And then—
Ting
A new notification appeared.
---
Quest:
Objective: Interact with "███████ ███ ██ ████████████ ████: Shefarim" and survive
Reward: 100 pt, +10 Levels
Failure: Being Crippled
Time Limit: None
---
…
"…What?"
My pupils shrank.
"Shefarim…?" I whispered weakly.
Why now?
Why here?
Before I could think—
Darkness swallowed me whole.
Inside the Mind Palace:
"Sheet —!"
Ray's voice echoed sharply.
Gone was his usual playful tone.
"Hey! Wake up!"
He shook me—
But my body didn't respond.
"Raphael!"
No reaction.
"…No, no, no—this is bad."
For the first time—
Ray sounded panicked.
"If you don't wake up—"
His voice tightened.
"—we're both getting crippled."
Silence.
"…Damn it!"
He looked around frantically.
"I can't control the body… I can't force you awake…"
His fists clenched.
"Where the hell is Shefarim even at?!"
The outside space trembled faintly.
A presence.
Unseen.
Unfelt.
Yet…
Overwhelming.
Ting
A notification appeared before Ray.
He froze.
Then—
His eyes widened.
"…This is…!"
A slow grin spread across his face.
"Perfect."
The atmosphere shifted.
From panic—
To something far more dangerous.
"Alright then…" Ray muttered.
"If you won't wake up…"
His gaze sharpened.
"…I'll deal with this myself."