As Ren drove his Space Sprinter toward his home, the faint chime of system messages echoed in his mind. Since he was still driving, he decided to read them once he arrived.
After a long ride, Ren finally reached his mansion in the evening.
"Just in time," he muttered, parking his vehicle in the garage.
Before entering the house, Ren stored his concealment robe and other artifacts in his space ring to avoid raising suspicion. The last thing he wanted was to drown in questions from anyone.
Ren stretched his arms before walking to the entrance. On the way, he glanced at the row of sleek, futuristic vehicles parked in the garage.
'Compared to these high-end models, my Space Sprinter sure looks like a potato on wheels,' Ren mused. 'Maybe I should upgrade to a new Quantum Racer soon.'
Chuckling at the thought, he made his way into the mansion.
As soon as Ren entered, he noticed two familiar figures standing in the lobby — Elara and Lyra.
Their beauty was undeniable, yet their expressions made it clear they were anything but happy.
Elara Holmes, Ren's ambitious and calculating sister, wore her hair in an elegant upside braid. Dressed in a sleek dark blue outfit with silver embroidery, her presence was as commanding as ever. Her calm, refined features often masked her true intentions. Beneath her poised smile hid resentment — a growing bitterness toward Ren.
For Elara, Ren wasn't just her brother; he was an obstacle standing in her path. She had always believed she deserved the position of head of the Holmes family — a position Ren was destined to inherit.
To her, his presence was a constant reminder that she was second-best.
Lyra Rose, the princess of the Fontaine Family, stood beside her. Her once-vibrant pink hair, tied back in a simple ponytail, seemed duller than usual. She wore a delicate white blouse with soft pastel-colored accents and a flowing lavender skirt. Her outfit radiated elegance, yet her face told a different story.
Her once lively, cheerful expression had long since disappeared. Her eyes, once filled with warmth, now seemed lifeless — as if they were windows to a broken soul. Her smile, which once shone brighter than any gemstone, had been replaced with a guarded, tired look.
Her posture mirrored Elara's — rigid and defensive. Even her delicate hands were clenched tightly, her fingers digging into her palm as though she was bracing herself for something unpleasant.
Spotting Ren approaching, both girls turned to face him.
Ren, seeing the tension written all over their faces, decided to lighten the mood.
With an exaggerated grin, Ren dramatically winked at them like some self-proclaimed heartthrob.
"Well, well…" He smirked. "Congratulations! You've succeeded."
The two girls blinked, stunned by his sudden outburst.
"...Succeeded in what?" Lyra asked, her voice dry.
"...What are you even talking about?" Elara added with narrowed eyes.
Ignoring their confusion, Ren simply smiled smugly, turned on his heel, and walked away like a mysterious rogue who had just delivered the greatest one-liner in history.
The two girls exchanged glances.
"...Did he seriously just wink at us?" Lyra muttered.
Elara scoffed. "I think he's been watching too many bad romance dramas."
"Or maybe he's just lost it," Lyra grumbled.
Despite her irritation, the corner of her lips twitched — a flicker of the smile she had forgotten how to wear.
Back in his room, Ren lay on his bed, finally remembering the system messages.
→ [Congratulations to Host for clearing the F-class gate alone. You have managed to achieve an unprecedented feat. The worth of applause.]
→ [Reward: Skill — Iron Fortress Mind (Passive Skill)]
→ [Detected: Host already possesses the skill 'Calm Mind'. Fusion of skills will commence now.]
→ [Calm Mind + Iron Fortress Mind = Mental Bastion (Passive Skill)]
Ren's eyes widened.
'A fusion? This is new…'
He quickly opened the skill description.
→ [Mental Bastion (Passive Skill): This skill grants a powerful mental fortitude, allowing the user to resist mental attacks such as mind control, hypnosis, and manipulation. The user's mind remains calm and unaffected by external influences.]
"That's awesome!" Ren grinned. "Now no one can mess with my mind."
Satisfied with his new skill, Ren closed the system and flopped onto his bed.
As Ren lay in bed, his thoughts drifted back to Lyra.
Lyra Rose, the once cheerful and radiant girl, had changed drastically. The trauma she endured had left her cold and withdrawn.
Years ago, Lyra had adored her teacher, Professor Darion — a man respected for his wisdom and kindness.
But behind his mask of charm, Darion had sinister intentions.
During a school trip, Darion had lured Lyra away under the guise of extra lessons. No one knew what happened exactly, but Lyra's father had arrived just in time to stop the worst. In a rage, her father ended Darion's life on the spot.
Though the physical harm was prevented, the damage to Lyra's heart and mind had already been done.
From that day on, Lyra despised men and withdrew from society. Her parents, feeling guilty and helpless, indulged her every wish.
Years later, during Lyra's 10-year coming-of-age ceremony, Ren had tried to reconnect with her.
But Lyra, still scarred by her past, rejected him.
Despite the cold stares and harsh words, Ren persisted. He believed their bond could be repaired.
Unfortunately, each attempt only fueled her resentment.
In her eyes, Ren had become nothing more than a pathetic fool — a 'licking dog' that refused to back down.
Ren knew their relationship was hanging by a thread, but he couldn't let go of the memories they once shared.
Elara, too, carried her own burdens — but hers were far darker.
After their father's death, Elara had become obsessed with gaining power. She believed Ren stood in her way, preventing her from becoming the rightful head of the Holmes family.
She convinced herself that Ren's inheritance wasn't due to talent or strength — but pure luck.
To her, Ren was nothing more than an obstacle — one that she would one day eliminate.
As Ren lay on his bed, memories swirled in his mind like an endless storm.
"They both built walls to protect themselves..." he muttered to himself. "Walls so high they can't even see the memories we once shared."
His thoughts drifted to Lyra — the girl who once smiled so brightly it could warm even the coldest of hearts. Now, that warmth was gone, replaced by cold glares and bitter silence.
And Elara... His so-called sister. Ambitious, cunning, and ruthless. After their father's death, she turned into someone unrecognizable — someone who viewed him as nothing more than an obstacle.
"They pushed me away," Ren whispered bitterly. "Forgotten our past... Forgotten the love we once had as family and friends..."
His fingers clenched tightly around his bedsheet.
"And in the end…" His voice wavered. "They even killed me."
He remembered it vividly — the final scene from the novel. His own sister and childhood friend standing side by side, their hatred unified.
As Ren lay bleeding, gasping for air, they had turned away from him — faces twisted with triumph and disgust.
And then... they embraced the protagonist.
The very person Ren had tried to protect them from.
"Even when I was dying..." Ren's voice dropped to a whisper. "They were smiling. Like my death was something to celebrate."
For a moment, Ren just lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling. His chest felt tight, and the weight of those memories seemed unbearable.
"...Fuck," Ren suddenly muttered, shaking his head.
He sat up abruptly, rubbing his face with his hands.
"I'm getting too emotional..." he scolded himself. "I'm not that Ren... His memories are nothing but baggage for me."
Ren exhaled deeply, forcing himself to smile.
"Good thing I've got this new skill now... At least I can protect myself this time."
A cold determination replaced the sadness in his eyes.
"I won't end up like that Ren. Not again."