Snow returned to his apartment late into the night. His body felt heavy—not from fatigue alone, but from the invisible weight of the system's relentless demands.
The door creaked open into a dimly lit, one-room space. It was a mess. Unwashed dishes sat in the sink. Books and loose papers covered the floor. The air smelled faintly of stale coffee and old wood. Still, Snow didn't care.
He collapsed onto the narrow bed, arms splayed as he stared at the cracked ceiling. Despite all he'd done, his account was nearly empty.
And for what?
His gaze drifted toward the pile of high-quality herbs, toxins, and obscure black market components now cluttering the corner of his room. Each was rare—sourced from A to S-rank dungeons—and painfully expensive.
Twenty-five million credits gone in a flash.
"Are you trying to rob me blind?" he muttered, glancing up at the ceiling as if the system was watching.
Right on cue, a glowing screen materialized before his eyes.
==========================
[SUB-QUEST COMPLETED]
You have successfully gathered all required ingredients for the Enhanced Body Potion.
REWARD:
BODY STRENGTHENING POTION (C-GRADE)
+20 POINTS
==========================
==========================
[NEW SUB-QUEST]
Craft a potion of at least B+ Grade using the materials acquired.
REWARD:
SKILL CARD
TITLE
+10 POINTS
==========================
Snow groaned and covered his face with his arm. "You really don't want me to rest, do you..."
Still, deep down, he couldn't deny it: the rewards were worth it.
With a reluctant breath, he pulled up his profile screen.
=========================
[PROFILE]
NAME: Snow Quincy
GENDER: Male
AGE: 22
TITLE: None
LEVEL: 11
STATS:
• Strength: 25
• Stamina: 19
• Intelligence: 28
• Arcane: 30
• Dexterity: 27
UNIQUE SKILL: Pathfinder
PASSIVE SKILL: Eyes of Truth
ACTIVE SKILL: Twin Star Blade Dance
POINTS AVAILABLE: 350
============================
"Hm..." Snow stared at the numbers. They weren't awful—but nowhere near enough for what he had in mind.
With a bold move, he made a decision.
"All in."
===========================
[STATS UPDATED]
• Strength: 95
• Stamina: 89
• Intelligence: 98
• Arcane: 100
• Dexterity: 97
Points Remaining: 0
============================
He smiled faintly. "Now we're talking..."
Then, without warning—his vision blurred.
A wave of dizziness hit, and everything went black.
He awoke hours later, drenched in sticky, foul-smelling residue. It clung to his skin and clothes like a decayed film, reeking of sulfur and decay.
"What the hell...?!"
He gagged, jumping to his feet and staggering into the bathroom. The mirror greeted him with a stranger's reflection.
His skin was flawless—smooth and radiant, free of blemishes. His frame was lean yet defined, muscles toned in all the right places. Even his hair, once shaggy and unkempt, now flowed down in silky waves.
"...What is this transformation?"
As he washed up, the face that stared back seemed almost too perfect. He made a mental note to get a haircut—he had to look presentable. After all, he was picking up Ruciel tomorrow.
That reminder jolted him back into action.
He rushed out of the bathroom, towel still around his shoulders. The apartment was still a disaster zone. But now—he moved with speed and grace.
He cleaned, sorted the herbs, organized the tools. Every movement was efficient. Fluid.
"This is insane..." he muttered, almost laughing at how light he felt.
Finally, he set up the equipment and began the task the system had asked of him.
His hands moved on instinct, like he'd done it a thousand times. The herbs reacted perfectly under his guidance.
And before long—a soft glow enveloped the cauldron.
=========================
[SUB-QUEST CLEARED]
You have successfully created a potion of above B+ Grade using the acquired materials.
REWARD:
SKILL CARD
TITLE
+10 POINTS
=========================
=========================
[YOU HAVE ACQUIRED A SKILL CARD: "PROTECTION"]
=========================
=========================
[NEW TITLE ACQUIRED: "PATHFINDER OF UKRIS"]
=========================
=========================
[+10 POINTS ACQUIRED]
=========================
=========================
[YOU HAVE LEVELED UP]
=========================
Snow exhaled in disbelief.
"...It worked."
With renewed focus, he continued. There were more ingredients. More to be done.
And then—one of the cauldrons emitted a brilliant, golden light.
The system flared again.
=========================
[CONGRATULATIONS!]
You have successfully created a LEGENDARY-GRADE POTION.
NAME: ???
GRADE: Legendary
ALCHEMIST: Snow Quincy
DESCRIPTION:
A potion crafted with unwavering intent and care for a specific individual. Upon ingestion, the body is healed beyond comprehension. A true elixir—capable of curing all ailments, restoring lost limbs and sight, lifting curses, and even reviving those at death's door.
EFFECT:
Cures All Ailments
SIDE EFFECT:
None
==========================
==========================
[Would you like to NAME this potion?]
==========================
Snow stared at the glowing screen, heart pounding.
For once... he felt like he was truly standing at the edge of something incredible.
Snow stood frozen, staring at the pot of golden liquid that shimmered like molten sunlight. It radiated a soft glow, its warmth tangible even from a distance.
"...I really made this?"
His voice trembled, disbelief settling in his chest. It was surreal. To think he—once a washed-out, struggling nobody—had created a potion so powerful it bordered on the divine.
His eyes welled up before he could stop it. A stream of silent tears rolled down his cheeks.
He didn't cry because he was weak—he cried because, for the first time in his life, he had done something extraordinary. Something that couldn't be ignored.
The kind of creation wars would be waged over.
He wiped his face, exhaled deeply, then looked at the potion again. This time, not with disbelief—but pride.
He reached forward, hands steady as he whispered, "I'll call you... Ruciel."
[YOU HAVE NAMED YOUR FIRST LEGENDARY POTION]
[THE POTION "RUCIEL" HAS GAINED TWO BONUS EFFECTS]
[ITEM INFORMATION]
NAME: Ruciel
GRADE: Legendary
ALCHEMIST: Snow Quincy
DESCRIPTION:
A potion crafted with unwavering care, designed with a specific individual in mind. Its healing properties surpass that of known elixirs—capable of curing any ailment, restoring lost limbs, recovering lost senses, breaking curses, and pulling individuals back from the brink of death.
EFFECTS:
• Heals All Ailments
• +5 Bonus to All Stats
• +250 Experience upon Ingestion
SIDE EFFECTS: None
Snow exhaled in wonder. Carefully, he portioned the golden elixir into five elegant vials, each sealed with gold-plated caps—also acquired from the black market. They looked regal, almost sacred.
He kept two for himself. The remaining three, he decided, would be sold alongside the rest of the high-grade potions he'd crafted that night.
He reserved one specific potion for his ongoing quest and then began cleaning the room. Once done, he dressed in dark, simple clothing, slid on a black face mask, and headed for the hidden alleyway marketplace.
The black market.
Following all the necessary protocols, he handed over his vials to the vendors. His potions—totaling over a hundred bottles—were quickly assessed, verified, and priced.
Moments later, a discreet transfer was made.
500 million credits.
Snow didn't react much on the outside. But deep down, his chest swelled with pride. He had done it.
What he didn't know was that the moment those potions hit the market, they sold out instantly. Word of their quality spread like wildfire. Buyers were desperate. Offers surged.
But no one could trace the seller.
No name. No contact. No records. Just one detail remained in memory.
The man with the black mask.
The next morning arrived.
Snow, now exuding a refined aura, stood by the side of an extravagant sports car—one of the most luxurious models in the world. Dressed in sleek, high-end fashion, he leaned casually against the polished frame, sunglasses shielding his gaze.
He looked like a celebrity.
The scene gathered attention—hunters, guild reps, and civilians whispering amongst themselves at the C-Rank gate.
Then... the gate shimmered and collapsed behind a lone figure who emerged.
Gasps filled the air.
It was Ruciel—beautiful, radiant, though drenched in sweat. The dungeon had clearly put her through her paces.
Snow pushed off the car with a smile and approached her.
"Was the C-rank gate that challenging for you?" he teased lightly.
She froze, ready to bite back at whoever dared mock her—until her eyes locked onto his.
"You...!" she stepped closer, squinting. "You look... different."
"Yeah? Tell me more," Snow said with a playful smirk, drawing her gently closer.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Camera flashes went off nearby. Onlookers were stunned—watching what looked like a power couple kiss in front of the cleared gate.
Ruciel swatted his chest, cheeks flushed. "You're such a cheeseball."
The two slipped into the car and took off. The drive was smooth and quiet, heading straight toward a sleek skyscraper downtown.
They arrived at the top floor of a forty-five-story tower.
Snow took her hand, leading her inside the penthouse suite.
"Welcome home," he said warmly, tossing the keys onto the plush couch.
"Wait... did you buy this penthouse?" she asked, looking around in awe.
"Not just the penthouse," he replied with a smile. "I bought the entire building."
Ruciel starred, baffled. "How...? You were broke less than a week ago."
Snow shrugged casually. "I may not look it, but I have a pretty handy job."
"Pfft!" She burst into laughter, knowing full well that wasn't the whole truth. "Yeah right. Sure you do."
"Now that's just disrespecting my hustle," he said with mock offense as he strolled into the kitchen.
Ruciel chuckled, finally letting herself relax as she dropped her gear on the couch.
"Why don't you go take a shower while I fix something for you?" he called out.
"Alright," she replied, heading toward the bathroom.
A few minutes later, she returned—dressed in one of Snow's oversized shirts. It hung off her slender frame, making her look even more delicate and alluring.
"Take a seat at the dining table," Snow said, setting down a warm meal.
But before she could, she spotted her phone and noticed an influx of messages.
"...What the—?"
Ruciel tapped through them, curiosity piqued as her screen filled with alerts and group chats. Something had clearly happened.
She sat down slowly, scrolling through the flood of notifications—completely unaware of what could have caused such a thing to happen
Just as Ruciel settled into her chair, her phone buzzed with a new message from Silvia.
||Hey, what is this?!||
Attached was a photo of Ruciel kissing Snow.
||Did you already move on after finding out that loser scammer was a piece of work?||
Ruciel rolled her eyes and typed back.
||C'mon now. Like I told you, I'm just playing along with the loser. Testing him.||
Silvia's reply came almost instantly.
||Wait, what? You mean that handsome guy is the loser? Did he take some kind of miracle drug? Or go through plastic surgery??||
||I think not.|| Ruciel replied simply.
||Fine, spill the details when we meet.||
||Sure.||
A faint smirk played on her lips as she scrolled past the exchange. They were clearly trying to make fun of her under the guise of concern—mocking her just enough to feel superior without sounding malicious. Hypocrites, she thought.
She moved on to her next message, this time from Maria.
||I see you've decided to play along with him.||
||You're sharp. Yes, I have. And surprisingly, he hasn't done anything shady. Yet.|| Ruciel responded.
||Hmmm... Just make sure you don't end up falling for him.||
Maria followed up quickly with another message.
||That would be a stain on your career.||
||No need to worry about my career. It's already ruined.|| Ruciel replied dryly.
(What a bunch of friends—pretending to care, masking their mockery just enough to look innocent.) She locked her phone and sighed.
A few missed calls from her father blinked on the screen, but she ignored them for now.
"By the way," Snow's voice broke her thoughts. "Do you know anyone who owns an auction house?"
His question pulled her attention to the table—lavishly set with an impressive spread of food. She blinked.
"Ah... yes. Why do you ask?" she replied.
"I'd like to auction an item."
She was momentarily speechless but chose not to question it. Instead, she picked up her fork and took a bite. Almost immediately, she felt something unusual—her strength and stamina... increased by one?
"What did you cook?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him.
"It's a cuisine I developed. It boosts strength and stamina by one per serving," Snow answered calmly, as if it were completely ordinary.
"..." She was at a loss for words again.
"Eat up." He smiled warmly at her.
"By the way, how was your run through the C-Rank dungeon?" he asked casually.
"Not bad," she answered, continuing to eat. Each bite granted her more strength and stamina. It was baffling.
"So nothing unusual happened?" he prompted.
"Well, I guess I got slightly faster," she admitted.
"Ah, then your clear time improved too."
"Indeed."
He took a bite of his own food while she paused, thinking. "So, was that herbal bath meant to do something?"
"Yes. It removes all fatigue and gives a 10% Dexterity bonus," he said nonchalantly.
"Such a bath would cost a fortune..." she murmured, stunned.
"Not like you would've believed me anyway," he added with a shrug.
"Speaking of the auction," he said, bringing the topic back.
"Right. I actually do know one—Lady Hephaestus Auction House is hosting an event tomorrow night. I was planning to go. We could go together. I'll introduce you."
"Yikes. I'm blacklisted from the Hephaestus Auction House," Snow said, cringing slightly.
"I see... it's fine. I'll contact her beforehand." Ruciel reached for her phone.
A moment later, she looked back up. "She said she'll send a pardon card to your email. Just present it when you arrive."
"Wait... did you speak to her directly?" Snow asked, his eyes wide.
"Well, yeah," she replied casually.
"..."
Snow looked completely stunned.
"Uriel Hephaestus is my aunt," Ruciel said as she resumed eating. "So she's easy to contact—if that solves your little mystery."
"I see," Snow muttered, his voice quiet, as if something inside him had dimmed.
Ruciel tilted her head slightly, watching his expression. "Are you also thinking about the rumors?" she asked, curious.
"Not really," Snow replied, his tone clipped. He stood up and began clearing the table, leaving the untouched portion of food meant for her. His sudden silence caught her off guard—he had gone completely quiet, almost distant.
She frowned. "Are you mad about something?"
Snow didn't answer. He walked into the kitchen without a word.
"Did something happen while I was away?" she pressed, her voice a little softer now.
"Calm down. Nothing happened," he said, his tone measured, almost too calm. "I was merely... concerned."
Then he added, "But it's fine. Regardless, I did my part."
A faint, almost painful smile tugged at his lips before he turned away. Once done, he moved toward the bed, leaned back against the pillows, and stared out through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The glow of the city skyline reflected in his distant eyes.
Ruciel stayed silent for a moment, unsure of what to say. Something about him felt off. Cold. Detached.
What was going through his mind?
"By the way," she finally said, "when do you intend to help me break through?"
Snow blinked, the question pulling him from his thoughts. He looked at her with visible confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"You said you'd help me become S-Rank—or whatever ridiculous 'Double S-Rank' thing you mentioned. But you've done nothing so far," she said, her frustration bubbling up.
Snow stared at her, stunned. "What?"
"Don't play dumb," she snapped. "Or have you been tricking me this whole time?"
Silence hung in the air. He could barely believe what she was saying.
"So you really think I've done nothing to help you break through in the past three days?" he asked quietly.
"Well, of course," she said with arms folded. "That bath you claimed would do something special? It didn't. And your so-called miracle meals haven't done anything to push me toward a breakthrough."
Snow closed his eyes for a brief second and exhaled slowly.
"I see," he said flatly.
Then, after a beat, he looked at her and asked, "So spending 450 million on rare herbs to heal your internal injuries—that wasn't helping you?"
"450 million? On herbs and whatnot?" she scoffed.
She pulled out her phone and, with a few swift taps, transferred the exact amount.
Snow's phone buzzed with a notification: 450,000,000 Credits received.
"There," she said coldly. "I've paid you back your measly money. Now you don't get to act like you spent a fortune on me."
Snow stared at the screen, emotionless. Her words cut deeper than she probably realized.
Without another word, he turned and walked to the counter. He placed a small vial filled with glowing blue liquid on the table.
"I guess this ends our relationship," he said, his tone hollow. "But at the very least, drink the potion."
Ruciel's anger surged. Without hesitation, she grabbed the vial and slammed it against his head. The glass shattered, staining his shirt with blue liquid—and drawing a thin trail of blood from a cut on his temple.
Snow flinched but said nothing.
Instead, he placed another identical vial on the table. "Feel free to leave the card key with security when you leave," he said calmly.
"I'll be taking a breather."
And with that, he walked out, quietly closing the door behind him.
Ruciel stood frozen. Her chest rose and fell with ragged breaths. But as the silence crept back in and the anger faded, what remained was the weight of his silence.
She glanced at the broken glass, the blue stain on the floor, and the quiet stillness he left behind.
Was I really tricked...? Or was I just too proud to see what he'd done?
Her throat tightened, but she shoved the thought aside. She dressed in silence, grabbed her things, and left the penthouse.
--------------------------------------
to be continued