The warm rays of the early morning sun slipped gently through the narrow gaps between the curtains, spilling golden light across the dorm room. Tiny dust particles drifted lazily within the sunbeams, floating aimlessly through the quiet air.
Rosalie had already been awake for quite some time.
She stood beside her bed, neatly folding blankets and arranging the sheets with calm, practiced movements.
At that moment, Mia and Lily slowly began waking up.
Mia remained sitting on the bed without climbing down immediately. Her sleepy eyes stared blankly toward Rosalie, who was tidying the bed beside the window.
Meanwhile, Lily stretched lazily before hopping down from the bed. Without hesitation, she walked toward the curtains and pulled them open completely.
Bright sunlight instantly flooded the room.
"Ahhh— Lily! It's too early!"
Mia groaned dramatically.
Her eyes squeezed shut painfully from the sudden brightness. Hugging one pillow against her face, she grabbed another and threw it directly at Lily.
"My eyes are burning already!"
Lily burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Wake up already, princess!"
She immediately jumped onto Mia's bed and started tickling her mercilessly.
Mia struggled helplessly beneath her while laughing so hard she could barely breathe.
Rosalie watched the familiar chaos while suppressing a smile.
This scene had become a normal part of her mornings.
Every single day, once sunrise arrived, Lily would pull open the curtains and force everyone awakes regardless of whether they wanted to get up or not.
"Stop— stop it! I'm dying!"
Mia gasped between laughter before suddenly narrowing her eyes suspiciously.
"And why didn't you wake me when you came back last night? I brought the vineyard wine and you drank it without me, didn't you?"
Lily collapsed dramatically across the bed while laughing shamelessly.
"You were sleeping too peacefully,"
She replied lazily.
"And you hate getting woken up."
She pointed toward the small refrigerator nearby.
"I only drank a little. I was saving the rest so the three of us could drink together after Erika came back. Oh— and I got really good cheese too. My older brother brought it."
Mia instantly sat upright.
"Wow… my lovely friend truly understands me the best."
She opened her arms dramatically.
"Come here. Let me hug you."
Just as the two girls continued fooling around, the dormitory door suddenly opened.
Erika walked inside carrying several bags in both hands.
The moment Mia and Lily saw her, they immediately jumped off the bed and rushed toward her like excited puppies.
"Careful,"
Erika said calmly.
She wasn't someone who talked much. Most of the time, she expressed herself through actions rather than words.
Still, despite her cold appearance, she patiently handed the bags over to the two girls fighting over them.
Then she reached into her backpack and pulled out a neatly wrapped package before walking toward Rosalie.
"Rosie… here."
She held out the package with a faint smile.
"You like seaweed snacks, right? These are mixed-flavor sheets. They're really good."
Erika lightly tapped the package.
"My grandfather brought fresh seaweed back from the harbor yesterday. These were made from that batch."
Rosalie accepted the gift quietly before looking at Erika for a moment.
In her previous life, they had never been this close.
Back then, they had only lived in neighboring dorm rooms— merely acquaintances who exchanged occasional greetings.
But in this life, they had somehow become roommates.
Close friends.
People she laughed with every single day.
And strangely enough…
Rosalie found herself cherishing these peaceful mornings more than anything else.
---
Somewhere Inside an Abandoned Factory Compound…
Far away from the warmth of the dormitory, the atmosphere inside an old abandoned factory was cold and suffocating.
Under the dim gray light of the morning sun filtering through broken windows, a man sat slumped against a stained concrete wall, breathing heavily.
Blood trickled slowly from the side of his head.
His lips were split open, and bruises had swollen across his face from repeated blows.
Four men surrounded him silently.
One of them had grabbed another middle-aged man—likely his companion—by the collar and pinned him violently against the wall. Blood streamed from the older man's temple as he struggled weakly against the grip.
Meanwhile, standing slightly apart from the others was someone who appeared to be their leader.
He leaned casually against the wall with one shoulder while smoking a cigarette.
Thin streams of smoke escaped slowly from his lips as he exhaled calmly into the cold air.
Unlike the others, his appearance immediately stood out.
His clothes were expensive.
Tailored…Clean.
The kind worn by people born into wealth and influence.
Even his posture carried the confidence of someone accustomed to power.
The injured man suddenly let out a low laugh. Then he spat a mouthful of blood onto the dirty floor. His swollen lips curled upward into a mocking grin despite the condition he was in.
"Hey… Kakāmora…"
Even while half-dead, the injured man forced out a mocking laugh through bloodstained teeth.
"Tell your boss this for me… Even if you kill me today, you'll never get the secret you want. And I'll never beg either. Tch…"
He spat blood onto the floor again, glaring fiercely despite his battered condition.
Beside him, the middle-aged man being restrained suddenly shouted desperately.
"Gaing! Stop provoking them already! There's nothing to gain from this!"
"Back down?"
The injured man barked hoarsely.
"These bastards think they can do whatever they want forever? Master won't just sit there watching this happen. He'll make them pay for everything."
Blood dripped slowly from the corner of his mouth as he laughed bitterly.
"Even if I die here today… I'll die satisfied."
"Gaing…!"
The atmosphere inside the abandoned factory grew colder.
After listening quietly to their exchange, the young leader finally pushed himself away from the wall.
The cigarette between his fingers dropped onto the dusty floor before he crushed it beneath his shoe.
Slowly, he approached the injured man.
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the silent warehouse.
Without warning, he lifted the man's chin roughly using the metal baton in his hand, forcing him to look upward.
Their eyes met.
Sharp…Predatory…
Like a beast staring down wounded prey already trapped beneath its claws.
The corner of the young man's lips curved slightly.
"I never take back words I've already said,"
He spoke calmly. His voice was low and controlled—far more terrifying than shouting.
"And I'm not the kind of person who suddenly grows sympathy just because someone puts on a brave act."
He tilted his head slightly while studying the bloodied man before him.
"You've probably heard stories about me already."
A faint smile appeared across his face.
"The Wine Harbor incident."
His eyes narrowed slowly.
"Your organization was involved too, wasn't it?"
The metal baton tapped lightly against the injured man's shoulder before suddenly pressing hard against an already broken wound.
CRACK—
"Aghhh—!!"
The man screamed in agony as unbearable pain shot through his body.
Veins bulged violently around his neck while sweat poured down his face.
But even then—
Even while trembling in pain—
He still refused to lower his head.
The young leader watched him silently for several seconds before giving a cold, humorless chuckle.
"…Interesting."
The warehouse fell quiet once again except for the sound of strained breathing and the distant dripping of water somewhere inside the ruined factory.