"Haah… what do you want? State your terms."
I met her cold gaze with my own, dark and unreadable. My voice carried no warmth, yet it lacked hostility. I simply wanted to understand—What did she want from me?
She sighed, her expression distant yet burdened. "Is it because you're from another world that you understand your situation so clearly? Or is it because you yourself are special?"
Standing up, she took slow steps toward the exit, her long, flowing white hair barely shifting. But her voice, though steady, carried a weight that could not be ignored.
"I only want one thing from you—my freedom. Free me from these chains that bind my soul to this place."
Freedom.
I followed her, my footsteps echoing in the vast emptiness. With every step I took, she seemed to shrink, her once-imposing figure now merely matching my height. I met her gaze as realization settled within me.
"But I don't know how to do that," I admitted, a bitter truth. "I don't have the power to free you."
Her small frame regained its previous height in an instant. She observed the process blankly, yet beneath her gaze, I could sense both displeasure and amazement.
She studied me as if she could see straight through my soul. Then, without warning, she stepped closer.
"You do have the power," she said quietly. "You're using it subconsciously in my domain."
I froze.
"You broke my illusion to clear the trial. That was not a normal method. No one has ever done such a reckless thing before. And this is my domain." She narrowed her eyes. "But—"
Something in the air shifted.
A strange sensation spread through my body. My limbs tingled, my heartbeat slowed, and the world around me twisted. My figure stretched, limbs elongating with unnatural grace. My voice deepened, resonating with eerie clarity. My silver-white hair, once tousled, smoothed into flowing strands.
The warmth of my youth disappeared.
I felt distant. Refined. Untouchable.
My childlike face aged—ten years in mere moments.
Her eyes remained locked on mine, unreadable. "But—it's truly interesting how you can interfere with it."
Interfere?
I clenched my fists. What was she implying? That I had a power I wasn't aware of? That detecting lies was only the beginning?
She could see someone's past… but what was it that I could do?
Wait.
"Could detecting lies be the power I was born with?" I murmured, the thought slipping from my lips before I could stop it.
A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. "Looks like your brain grew along with your height."
Her amusement faded as she continued.
"You adapted to detecting lies while in the trial. But your real power… is entirely different. Even I don't know what it is, but I do know this—your eyes directly interfere with laws and fate. Even the gods struggle to do what you can."
The fate?
The weight of her words pressed against me, yet before I could respond, we stepped outside.
The rain had stopped.
The clouds had cleared.
But we were still surrounded by darkness.
Night had fallen, yet there was no moon.
I stared up at the empty sky, an inexplicable urge rising within me.
I focused.
Flick—
With a simple motion of my fingers, a violet moon materialized in the sky, its glow casting an eerie beauty over the desolate landscape.
A sharp intake of breath.
She inhaled sharply. I turned to see her staring at me, eyes slightly widened—like she had just witnessed something unsettling.
"Hey!" she snapped.
"Stop doing unnecessary things while I'm talking! It's creepy. It's like you're using my body without permission."
I barely spared her a glance, my eyes locked on the moon's glow.
"I just wanted to see something violet," I murmured. Something like—someone's eyes.
She watched me for a long moment before sighing. "So, what do you think about our deal?"
I turned to face her.
"I will remove the seal on you so you can regain your memories and the Blessing of God," she said.
I didn't care about the blessing.
But my memories…
"And in return," she continued, "you will grant me freedom."
I exhaled slowly. "Alright. Deal. But I don't know what kind of freedom I can give you."
"Even if it's death," she whispered, "I will accept it."
Something twisted in my chest.
How long had she been trapped here? How many years—no, how many centuries had passed with no one to set her free?
No, that wasn't quite right—she hadn't even known that someone could free her. But my existence had given her hope. And I never wanted to break that remaining hope.
But then she spoke again, her voice calm but firm.
"But there's one thing I have to tell you," she continued.
"What?" I was surprised she was offering information without me having to ask.
"This is not the only dungeon created by the Zoldyck family," she said. "There are more. You must find them and receive what they offer. I don't know what the trials will be or what rewards you'll gain, but I do know this—no one in the entire Zoldyck family tree has ever been as talented as you."
A slow grin spread across my lips.
"Well, obviously. You don't need to flatter me."
She groaned. "Agh, this bastard is full of himself now."
But then, her expression turned serious.
"One day, a new era will come. Someone from the Zoldyck family will be at the center of it. This was foretold by our family's founder."
A prophecy?
"And I can tell you now," she murmured, "that prophecy is about you."
A heavy silence settled between us.
The family founder must have been powerful to see that far into the future.
"If I'm the 'centered one,' freeing You is just the first step."
"So give it your best. And… sorry for placing such a burden on you."
"Now you're apologizing? We Zoldycks sure are selfish yet selfless," I muttered.
She smirked and placed her hand on my chest.
"Indeed."
I placed my hand over her heart, ready to free her from the chains binding her soul to this world.
"Close your eyes," she instructed. "We will do this simultaneously. I don't have much power left, so you'll be unconscious for a few days. And if something goes wrong… you may experience pain."
"Pain!?" I scowled. "That wasn't part of the deal!"
She chuckled softly.
"My descendant… do you trust me?"
I blinked. Then, with a smirk, I answered—
"No. I'm trusting a pervert."
Her lips twitched. "Do you really want to lose your First time to such a pervert?"
No, I really didn't. I thought about reminding her that she had admitted to being a pervert,
I opened my mouth, then promptly shut it. A certain memory of her drooling face surfaced in my mind, and I decided against arguing.
"Just trust me," she whispered, "and close your eyes."
"Okay. I'll also try to control my power."
I closed my eyes. My thoughts ran wild, but I forced myself to silence them and focus only on the girl in front of me.
"You can't control it easily," she said. "I'll help you this time. Focus your thoughts on me—on my existence. Try to see my soul and everything you cannot perceive with normal eyes."
I did as she asked.
Who is she? I don't know.
What is her name? I don't know.
What burden was she carrying that would soon become mine? I don't know.
What is the nature of her soul? I don't know.
Is she a good person? I don't know. But I wanted to believe in her.
Pain flared in my eyes. Blood dripped down my cheeks. But I didn't stop—I needed to know. The more I focused, the more answers came to me.
I opened my eyes. The world stood still—for me, for my vision, for my existence.
I looked at the young woman before me. Her eyes were closed, yet I could see how beautiful they were. Her hair, turned white from pain, was once smooth and long, as black as midnight. She only ever showed me a cold, fake smile, but I could see her real expression now.
Not just her physical form—I could see her soul—shining, pure, untouched by darkness. A burden so heavy no human could bear it, yet she had carried it alone.
I closed my eyes again. I couldn't endure the depth of her loneliness and suffering. Blood and tears streamed down my face. But then, I received the answer to the question I had never asked.
Her name.
"Sofia von Zoldyck." spoke in a soft yet commanding voice.
Her fingers trembled against my chest, but she did not lose focus. She was trying so hard—for me.
"You were born under the full moon," I continued, my voice steady despite the pain. "The fifth Matriarch of Zoldyck. You led your people on the path of wisdom, yet they scorned you for your failures. You committed no crime, yet you were bound by the chains of fate—chains that brought you nothing but pain. But today—"
I exhaled, my body trembling.
I could barely focus on my words. The pain in my eyes and head clouded my thoughts, but I forced myself to keep speaking. I had to. Even if it killed me.
"Today, you will be free."
Her fingers tightened over my chest.
"And your destination—will be me. This is the only freedom I can offer you. Will you still accept this?"
Silence.
Then—
"Y-Yes…" Her voice wavered. "I would be honored."
Tears shimmered in her eyes.
"Thank you, my descendant. No—thank you so much… Lucy."
Her voice carried a weight, something deeper than mere gratitude. I couldn't understand everything she was trying to say, but her last words reached me clearly. She was truly thankful.
"I've also removed your seal," she murmured, her voice quieter now. "Sorry for causing you pain."
She pulled her hands away. As I slowly opened my eyes, ignoring the warm trickle of blood sliding down my face, I saw her. Tears glistened in her eyes, falling silently down her cheeks.
"You'll learn soon enough," she whispered, smiling through her sadness. "You shouldn't trust young women so easily."
Despite the pain, I let out a small laugh. "I'll remember that."
Her smirk returned, but this time it held something softer, more genuine.
"Your grown-up form is… exactly my type." She sighed dramatically. "Why were you born so late? If you weren't my family and had met me earlier, I definitely wouldn't have stayed single this long."
I raised an eyebrow. "Are you not going to ask if I have to marry you?"
She tilted her head, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Why would I need your permission when I could just kidnap you?"
I couldn't help but smirk. "Scary."
Her laughter was light, almost weightless. For the first time, it wasn't forced. It was real.
"Our time is up." She exhaled softly, her expression growing serious again. "You will remember everything… and you will finally be able to use the Blessing of God. But be careful."
A natural smile graced her lips—not one of amusement or teasing, but one filled with quiet warmth.
"Bye-bye, pervert Granny," I murmured.
As my vision blurred, she unraveled into golden light—like a thousand falling stars, each carrying a fragment of her pain, her longing, her hope, towards my body.
I wanted to hold on, to witness her last moments as she became free. But the weight of exhaustion dragged me under.
The world faded.
And I fell into the void.