As a child who had just found his favorite toy, I transformed the ring into various types of swords, different kinds of spears, and even firearms.
But when I tried to fire a bullet by channeling mana into it… I couldn't.
Why?
Because the ring was still not fully developed.
Even though I had expected this outcome, disappointment was still clearly written on my face.
I sighed and pushed away my gloomy thoughts.
My work here was done, which meant it was time to return.
I checked the time again—it was getting late.
I reverted the weapon back into a ring, and it slipped onto my finger once more. Fixing my appearance, I headed out of the cabin.
"The house."
I thought with a faint smile, before my expression returned to its usual coldness. But even that couldn't fully hide the slight warmth in my eyes.
. . . . . . . . . .
Growl…
As I left the deserted area surrounding the mansion, my stomach growled loudly, and the sensation of hunger returned.
"Have I become greedy now?" I thought with a hint of amusement. But my hunger simply reflected the time I had spent unconscious in that ruined cabin.
I kept walking toward the city, and soon the streets began to show a faint sense of life—unlike before. People were walking, children followed their parents, and the night held a strange, beautiful charm.
"Hmm…"
Suddenly, I felt a strange sense of detachment… as if I didn't belong in this world.
In my past life, I had nothing but both of my identities. No family, no friends… I spent most of my time working or training in cold, empty halls.
The light in my eyes dimmed slightly as sadness filled me.
I was alone.
A crushing loneliness crept inside me, tearing at my heart.
I continued walking in silence, my eyes gradually becoming hollow.
"Is it really fine that I ended up inside a novel? I know some of the future events… but… is this really a good thing?"
With power and knowledge comes responsibility. I hated it, yet it still fell upon me—especially since I chose this path of training myself.
I raised my hand and touched my chest… where a necklace hung around my neck.
It contained a picture of her.
The hatred and anger inside me didn't fade.
I kept walking with an empty expression—until something suddenly bumped into me.
I looked down in surprise.
It was a small girl.
Her black hair was soft, and she wore a coat protecting her from the cold. But what caught my attention the most were her eyes.
Bright green eyes filled with life… like a warm sun melting away the cold of this harsh winter.
I stared at them for a moment. They were… beautiful.
I looked at her in slight confusion, the sudden interruption pulling me out of my thoughts.
"Rose, apologize to your brother immediately."
A rough voice came from the side, but it carried warmth and life. It was the voice of what seemed to be her father.
"Okay, Dad."
The girl replied with a soft voice and a smile that seemed to erase all negativity.
"I'm sorry for bumping into you, big brother," she said while bowing politely.
"It's fine," I replied gently, my voice softer than usual.
"I have to go now, there are customers waiting," she said again, smiling even brighter before heading back to her father.
I turned my gaze toward where she went.
It was a small food stall surrounded by customers, with only a few empty seats left.
People were smiling as they watched the girl serve food, some patting her head while others greeted her warmly.
I looked up slightly.
The stall's sign was a bit dusty, but the name was still visible:
"Angel's Smile."
That…
I smiled faintly when I saw her smile earlier, then lowered my hood slightly to cover my eyes and entered the stall.
The girl returned after a few minutes.
"Big brother?" she asked in slight confusion before smiling again.
"What would you like to order?"
I chose a simple dish.
"Alright!" she said happily and returned to her father.
I watched her as she continued smiling despite this harsh and cold world, in the middle of this freezing night.
A few minutes later, she returned with two simple plates.
"Your order, big brother."
She placed the food down with a bright smile before leaving again.
I picked up the spoon and began eating.
Although it was simple—perhaps even worse than my own cooking—it was warm.
It replaced the emptiness inside me with a quiet calm.
"It deserves the name 'Angel's Smile,'" I thought as I finished my meal.
I stood up and called her again to ask for the price.
"Two bronze coins," she said with a cheerful smile.
I took out a silver coin and handed it to her.
"We don't have change," she said sadly, trying to return it.
"Keep it. Think of it as thanks," I said, patting her head before leaving the stall.
I heard her thanking me energetically behind me as she returned to her father.
I walked away with a small smile on my face.
Today… was a really good day.
I thought as I kept walking.
What's the point of thinking negatively? I'm here now, and that fact won't change.
I will live. And I will keep living in this world. I will live my life to the fullest from now on.
At that moment, these thoughts were neither entirely Raven's nor Jin's.
The loneliness belonged to Jin… yet it was not the same as before.
This loneliness was different.
It was Jin's emptiness—his sorrow, his pain, his isolation—that had once again resurfaced.
But this time… it began to merge with Raven.
The cold path he once walked under city lights, watching people smile while his face remained empty, began to fade.
Something else began to grow instead.
A faint light.
A fragile warmth.
"...I will live."
And with that thought, Jin's voice faded, and the emotions finally calmed.
. . . . . . . . . .
After leaving the subway and heading toward my apartment building, I felt a sense of uncertain hope about the future… even if it wasn't particularly bright.
I entered the ten-story building and headed to the elevator.
But when the doors opened…
I froze.
A girl around my age stood inside.
Her hair was light pink, like cherry blossoms, with a single purple strand woven through it.
Her skin was pale, smooth like fresh snow.
Her face was almost unreal—like she belonged to another world entirely.
A charming, soft smile rested on her lips… but what truly captivated me were her deep crimson eyes.
They looked like the most precious gemstones in existence.
Although my expression remained unchanged, something inside me… paused.
For a moment, I couldn't help but stare.
She looked like a princess acknowledged by the world itself.