Do-Hyun slipped in through the side entrance of the Shin-Hwa mansion.

  Warm air hit him immediately—too clean, too normal. The faint scent of expensive air freshener filled the hallway, like the house was trying to erase the smell of blood and snow from the outside world.

  He headed straight for the kitchen.

  It was deserted. The staff were nowhere in sight, probably hiding in their quarters, pretending the night hadn't happened.

  His stomach twisted painfully.

  He opened the fridge, grabbed a container of leftover pasta and a bottle of water, and ate right there at the counter, too tired to even sit.

  [Vitality: 8.2%]

  [System Note: Look at you. Eating leftovers like a rat. A God should be eating grapes on a throne.]

  "Quiet," Do-Hyun said.

  He set the empty container down and walked into the main living room.

  The lights were still on.

  His father, Kang Dae-Ho, sat on the leather sofa, posture rigid, eyes locked on the massive TV as the news played on repeat.

  Nearby, Yoo Hana paced back and forth with a glass of wine, her movements sharp with unease.

  "You're back," his father said. His attention stayed on the screen, as if his son standing there wasn't even the most important problem tonight.

  Do-Hyun stopped. "I am."

  "Where is the car?" his father asked.

  "I left it," Do-Hyun lied.

  "We got a call from the Han-Sung Group," his mother said sharply. She stopped pacing. "They said you dropped off their daughter. In a stolen car."

  She looked at him with disgust. "Stealing? Have you lost your mind? The police are already overwhelmed. We had to pay a lot of money to keep your name out of the report."

  Do-Hyun looked at the TV screen.

  [BREAKING NEWS: TRAGIC ACCIDENT AT GRAND HYATT]

  [Reporter: "Authorities say a gas pipe exploded, causing hallucinations and panic. Several wild dogs from a nearby zoo also escaped, injuring guests. The situation is under control. The snow is expected to stop by morning."]

  Do-Hyun let out a short, dry laugh.

  "Gas leak?" Do-Hyun pointed at the screen. "Is that what they are calling it?"

  "It doesn't matter what it is," his father said, finally turning to look at him. "What matters is the stock market. Shin-Hwa stocks dropped 4% because of the panic. And you... you were running around playing hero."

  Dae-Ho stood up bored.

  "Go to your room," Dae-Ho ordered. "You are grounded. You will not leave this house until the press forgets about this mess."

  [System Notification: The 'Denial' Phase. Humans are so cute. They think if they close their eyes, the monsters will go away.]

  Stolen novel; please report.

  "Fine," Do-Hyun said, already turning toward the stairs.

  "And Do-Hyun," his father called after him.

  He stopped.

  "The doctors are coming tomorrow," Dae-Ho continued, voice sharp. "To check your head. You've been acting… strange."

  Do-Hyun gave no answer, just went upstairs.

  His room was dark when he entered, quiet in a way the mansion never truly was. He left the lights off and walked straight to the window.

  Outside, the snow had started to ease. City lights flickered back on, one block at a time, and the panic was already thinning out. People were posting jokes, laughing about the "Gas Leak," turning terror into a trend.

  They thought they were safe.

  For now.

  [System: They bought the lie. You have about 3 weeks before the next 'Event'.]

  Do-Hyun sank onto the edge of his bed, exhaustion crashing down all at once. His fingers trembled.

  A thin wisp of shadow curled above his palm—faint, unstable.

  "Three weeks…" he murmured.

  That was the gap between now…and disaster. He had to be ready, because in three weeks, the real nightmare begins.

  [Quest Generated: 'The Shadow Training']

  [Objective: Increase Vitality to 15% before the next snowfall.]

  [Method: Daily exercise (boring) or... hunting small spirits in the garden at night (fun).]

  Do-Hyun fell back onto the soft pillows, closing his eyes.

  "Tomorrow," he said.

  And for the first time in his new life, sleep took over.

  Morning.

  The sun was shining when morning came—weak and pale, but real. The snow outside had already begun melting into dirty slush, as if the city was trying to pretend last night hadn't happened.

  Do-Hyun barely had time to process it before a loud banging shook his door.

  "Wake up, Trash!" Kang Tae-Soo's voice cut through the hallway like a blade.

  Do-Hyun's eyes opened slowly. The digital clock on his bedside table blinked 7:00 AM.

  "Breakfast!" Tae-Soo shouted again. "Father wants everyone downstairs. And try not to look like a corpse—we have guests."

  Do-Hyun pushed himself upright, muscles stiff from exhaustion, but his body already felt… slightly better than it had last night.

  [Vitality: 9.0%]

  [System: You slept like a rock. Good job. Now, go deal with your annoying family. I detect high levels of 'Ego' downstairs.]

  Do-Hyun got up and crossed to the mirror. The boy staring back still looked sickly, but not as death-pale as yesterday. Rest had done something, at least.

  He splashed cold water on his face, changed into a simple white shirt and black pants, and skipped the suit entirely. There was no point pretending to be presentable. Then he headed downstairs.

  The dining room was already busy.

  His father sat at the head of the table, posture rigid as ever. His mother was beside him, composed but sharp-eyed. Jin-Hyuk ate in silence, calm and superior, while Tae-Soo looked far too pleased with himself. Seo-Rin didn't even glance up from her phone.

  But Do-Hyun's attention caught on the unfamiliar presence at the table.

  Next to Tae-Soo sat a man in a military uniform, a thin scar cutting across his chin, his expression stern enough to make the air feel tighter.

  [System Analysis: Alert. Awakener Detected.]

  [Name: Captain Park.]

  [Rank: D-Class (Physical Enhancement).]

  [Note: The government is already moving. They know about the monsters.]

  "Sit down," his father said without looking up.

  Do-Hyun lowered himself to the far end of the table.

  "This is Captain Park," Dae-Ho continued, gesturing toward the man in the military uniform. "He's here to assess security… after the 'gas leak' yesterday."

  Captain Park's gaze shifted to Do-Hyun, eyes narrowing just slightly. It wasn't an appraisal of strength — it was something else. Something off. Strange.

  "You were there yesterday," Park said, his voice calm but direct. "At the hotel."

  "I was," Do-Hyun replied, not meeting his eyes as he reached for a piece of toast.

  Park didn't look away. "Did you see anything? Anything unusual?"

  The room quieted. Every eye was on Do-Hyun; some with curiosity, some with barely hidden doubt. They expected something embarrassing… something foolish.

  Do-Hyun took a slow bite of the dry toast, chewed once, and set it down. His voice was casual, almost rehearsed:

  "Just a gas leak. And some dogs."

  For a moment there was silence.

  Then Captain Park exhaled and leaned back. "Good," he said simply. "That is what the report says."

  Tae-Soo snorted and laughed, like it was his turn to fill the quiet. "See? Even the idiot knows it was just an accident. He was probably hiding under a table the whole time."

  Do-Hyun ignored Tae-Soo, letting his gaze drift toward the window. Outside, the sun was weak, but frost still clung stubbornly to the glass.

  Everyone in the room was acting like yesterday never happened. But winter had only just arrived.