I had a dream last night. It came from my childhood memories.
It was my seventh birthday. My dad—my mom was still alive too—was singing "Happy Birthday" to me, their eyes on me as I leaned over the table, ready to blow out the candles.
I saw myself—a small boy, smiling with anticipation.
I could feel the pure happiness and excitement I had back then.
Back when I didn't have to think about when I might die.
I opened my eyes. Morning had already come, and I was in a room I had only stayed in for a few weeks.
I got up and prepared for the day as usual.
Standing by my bed, I opened my status again.
[Name: Ezekiel Solace]
[Alias: The Villain]
[Age: 27]
[Occupation: Hunter (Warrior)]
[Rank: S+]
[Status: Alive [Resurrected]]
S+ and resurrected…
I had seen this a few days ago when I woke up in Viola's house, but I hadn't mentioned it to her. It might be connected to her somehow, and asking her now would only lead to the same result as before—Viola refusing to beat around the bush, refusing to tell the truth.
So I decided to wait.
But I had a few hunches.
I had… already died.
---
Viola's fingers moved carefully as she tied the black tie around my neck.
Each motion was slow, precise, as if she were handling something fragile.
I felt a little awkward, but I forced myself to stay still. Even the slightest twitch might reveal how nervous I truly was.
Her eyes never left the knot, studying it with an intensity that made the task seem monumental.
"There. Finally done!"
She stepped back, pressing her hands against her cheeks, a bright smile lighting her face.
"This is it! Today is Ezekiel's… I mean, Abel's first day of work!"
Her excitement was palpable.
Everything had been prepared.
The disguise.
The story.
The documents.
Every tiny detail had been arranged meticulously.
The earrings were in place.
The glasses softened the sharpness of my features.
My build had been altered, making me appear slimmer and less intimidating.
For now, I wasn't Ezekiel.
I was Abel Zion.
A completely new identity.
A background far removed from the past that had always haunted me, judging every step I took.
Today, that past had to vanish. At least for now.
I just hoped nothing would go wrong.
Elizabeth stared at me silently for a long moment.
Then she suddenly burst out laughing.
"GAHAHAHA! No way—that's you!"
She slapped her knee, laughing uncontrollably.
"You look like you'd break if I pushed you! But I guess the suit fits. You look like… a completely pathetic worker."
She stood and circled me dramatically, inspecting me like some strange exhibit.
"So fragile, so harmless. You'd probably cry if someone raised their voice."
Her laughter echoed in the room, but strangely, I didn't feel insulted.
It sounded more like a child teasing someone she knew well.
"Elizabeth."
Viola's sharp voice cut through the room.
Elizabeth froze and looked at her.
"Okay, okay. I'll shut up."
She raised both hands in surrender. Elizabeth only ever listened to Viola.
Returning to the couch, she resumed eating her sandwich as if nothing had happened.
Viola turned back to me. Her expression softened.
She really is beautiful…
Ehem. Not that it means anything. It's just an objective fact—anyone with functioning eyes could see it.
"Stay safe out there," she said quietly. "And don't get caught."
"I will," I replied softly.
She watched me walk toward the door.
As I stepped outside, we both raised our hands and waved.
For a brief moment, the air felt warm—like the world had paused just for us.
Then the door closed behind me, and the moment ended.
---
Ozburn Company.
The building was large but unremarkable.
Just another place where money moved silently between desks, papers, and quiet conversations.
I was led to the finance department for a brief introduction.
No one paid much attention to me.
A few employees glanced over.
Some whispered to each other.
Others chuckled quietly.
"Another replacement?" someone murmured.
"He looks like he'll quit in a week."
After a short introduction, I was shown to a desk and told to begin working.
It was still my first day when one of the senior employees approached.
"You're new, right? From what I heard earlier, your name's Abel?"
He leaned casually against a nearby desk.
"You might not know this, but every newbie here has to do something to gain recognition and trust."
I slightly lowered my head and adjusted my glasses.
"May I ask what it is?"
My voice came out hesitant.
Soft.
Timid.
Playing weak had started to become natural.
After several days of training with Viola, I had been awkward at first, but she corrected me again and again.
I should listen to her.
After all, acting is literally her profession.
"You do know this company isn't the top in dungeon material trading and modification, right?" he continued. "That means everyone here has to be competent. So there's an unofficial rule. Newbies prove themselves before they're accepted."
"M… may I ask what I need to do?"
His smile widened slightly.
"Just do a little extra."
A towering stack of documents dropped onto my desk.
The pile was so high it nearly blocked my view.
"I trust you can finish this. It's not hard. We usually complete that in half a day ourselves. So I'll give you the whole day to check the logs and organize everything."
What a ridiculous lie.
The workload alone made the truth obvious.
These were unfinished tasks.
Documents that were already overdue.
He simply wanted someone else to take responsibility.
And he had chosen the quiet new employee.
But I accepted it calmly.
Causing trouble on my first day would only ruin everything.
Besides…
This wasn't really a problem.
In fact, it could be useful.
There might be something hidden inside these documents.
Something connected to the case.
So I started working.
Reading.
Checking.
Editing.
Page after page.
Every detail was examined carefully.
Time passed without me noticing.
By the time the workday was nearly over, I carried the completed stack back to the senior.
"I've finished reviewing them."
He stared at me.
"You're done?"
I may not have continued my formal studies.
But I had trained myself to understand things quickly.
Especially tactics.
Ways to survive.
Ways to defeat monsters.
Because if I didn't learn those things, my life would have been at stake.
Even after spending most of my youth fighting monsters, my mind had remained sharp.
Compared to that…
This task was simple.
Just another type of battle.
But in the past, I had made a mistake.
Because the enemy hadn't been monsters.
It had been humans.
The senior began flipping through the documents.
His expression slowly changed.
He turned another page.
Then another.
Suddenly, he patted my shoulder.
"Well done."
The gesture felt exaggerated.
A wave of disgust rose inside me.
I didn't like strangers touching me carelessly.
Ever since the day I returned from that dungeon…
Something inside me had changed.
I felt disgusted when looking at people like him.
How could humans throw away their morals so easily for the sake of greed?
I hated it.
I hated them.
Sometimes it even felt like I could never trust people again except—
"Just as expected from someone who works here. Keep this up, alright? I like capable people."
His loud voice interrupted my thoughts.
He made sure others nearby could hear him.
I lowered my gaze and pushed my glasses slightly up the bridge of my nose.
"T-Thank you, sir. I'll work harder."
A small, grateful smile appeared on my face.
But inside, my thoughts remained cold.
This wasn't praise.
He was claiming credit.
Making it seem as if he had guided the new employee well.
But that was fine.
I needed this.
Their trust.
Their underestimation.
The weaker they believed I was…
The less suspicious they would become.
After finishing that task, I gathered the documents that were actually assigned to me and walked toward the boss's office.
I knocked twice.
"Come in."
The boss didn't look up immediately.
I stepped inside and bowed slightly.
"Sir, I've completed the internal review logs."
He took the files without saying anything and skimmed through them.
His eyes paused for a moment.
Just briefly.
Then he waved his hand toward the door.
Dismissal.
No feedback.
No acknowledgment.
Nothing.
I hesitated.
"Sir… about the transaction logs."
He finally looked up.
His gaze was sharp.
"Yes?"
I lowered my head slightly.
"There seem to be… irregularities. Some gaps in the financial flow. Possibly missing allocations."
The room fell silent.
He stared at me for three long seconds.
Then he leaned back in his chair.
"Not your concern."
His voice was flat.
"Focus on what you're assigned to do if you want to continue working here. Just check everything and hand it to me afterward. If you don't, I can't promise what will happen to you."
An obvious threat.
He waved his hand again.
More firmly this time.
"...Understood."
I stepped out quietly.
Missing allocations.
A polite phrase.
In simpler terms—
Money was missing.
And not a small amount.