The world around me was gelid and dark.

  There was nothing restraining me, yet somehow I was unable to move a single finger. My own weight kept dragging me down—deeper and deeper to the entrails of that vast darkness.

  I knew it was a dream from the moment I realized I was too scared to open my eyes. Because from the moment I became Park Eun-Woo, I had never felt my heart ache the way it was aching in this place. Nor had I been so utterly dominated by my own terror that I couldn’t move.

  The world became even more ruthless.

  Even more distant.

  Yet even though I refused to move and open my eyes to face that dream—that hellish nightmare that was no longer a part of my reality—I could still hear that voice.

  And its tone still made my very core shake and crumble.

  「I knew you had been a mistake, yet I kept hoping you wouldn’t become a failure.」

  「But I guess the only thing you know how to do well is disappoint me.」

  Perhaps because those words were probing into my memories, trying to grab hold of something—someone. Or perhaps it was the simple fact I was too aware of who was speaking them. Regardless of the reason, hearing them made me wish for death.

  For a bittersweet end to that painful nightmare.

  As I sank, the voice grew more distant. Yet the cold, it entered my very skin and bones.

  「Remember this, for the remaining of your life.」

  「The one who chose this path was no one other than you.」

  I woke up with a gasp, sweat dripping from my face. Yet even with my shirt soaked, my body would not stop shaking. There was not even an ounce of warmth within me.

  “For fuck’s sake, Eun-Woo… Get a hold of yourself,” I whispered the words as I grabbed my own shoulders, trying to force them to stay still. Yet my voice failed me, just like my body refused to listen.

  It took me a few deep breaths to calm my racing heart, for my body to start warming up again. All the while, I remained completely oblivious to the floating notification only a few inches from me.

  [A new Trial will commence!]

  Whenever I thought the system couldn’t surprise me, it managed to destroy all my previous assumptions and make me rethink everything I believed I knew.

  [Fourth Trial – By Clashes of Blood, Sweat, and Tears]

  [Your participation in this Trial is optional]

  A dry laugh left my lips, my hands going through my hair as I processed what I was reading.

  I need to check with the others.

  And before I could think of doing anything else, I received a message.

  [Let’s meet. Come to my place.]

  At that moment, my stomach growled. I had been so exhausted the day before, after the Third Trial, the moment I laid down in my bed I passed out. I couldn’t even remember the last time I ate.

  [I need to eat first.]

  It was all I replied.

  The answer took a couple of minutes to arrive.

  [Let’s meet at the Food Court then. Don’t be late.]

  I shook my head, smiling.

  How did this guy sweet-talked me into working for him?

  The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  I wouldn’t be surprised if he had graduated in some business major.

  Since I had sweated a lot during the night, I took a quick shower and got dressed before making my way to the Food Court.

  By the time I arrived, Kurosawa and the twins were already there.

  Once again, Hil was the first who spotted me and waved—her smile warm and bright. I tried to recall how many times in my previous life I had seen that same joy reflected in someone’s face, regarding my presence. Apart from Hyeon and Jiho, there were no people around me who would demonstrate anything close to happiness to see me.

  They were my only friends, after all.

  And even with my family—with Hana—what she would show me whenever she saw me was not joy. It was not as if she was happy to see me.

  It was more like comfort. Assurance.

  I shook my head, pushing all those memories away. Apparently, that dream was still trying to find ways to haunt my thoughts.

  “I take you also got the notification about the Fourth Trial,” I said as I took a seat, a plate filled with meat in front of me.

  It was time to see if the BBQ place was any good.

  “Is Miss Aída coming today?” Hal asked, crossing his arms.

  Miss Aída?

  “Aída had a minor complication with the others. She will join us later.”

  I gave a quick scan, trying to figure it out who were the ‘others’ Kurosawa was talking about. But then I remembered.

  That’s right…

  This guy already had a group.

  It had completely slipped my mind since I didn’t see him with them again. Yet during the first Trial, Kurosawa and Aída had their own group. People I knew nothing about, not their faces or their names. Somehow I never questioned their absence in our meetings, much less wondered why Kurosawa never mentioned them.

  However, it was a bit odd.

  Why weren’t they here? Why hadn’t I seen them again, after the first Trial?

  As I finally tasted the meat, my eyes popped out, the rich flavors spreading within my mouth.

  This is really good.

  It was incredibly expensive compared to some other stores, but oh my, was it worth it.

  “I reckon you all received the Trial’s notification.”

  "Are you going to participate?! You are, right? Both misters!” Hil leaned closer to us, her crystal eyes glistening with an odd excitement.

  Kurosawa did not even bat an eye as he replied. “I’m considering.”

  That didn’t surprise me. After all, this Trial was different than the others—for many different reasons.

  First, we could choose whether to participate or not.

  “I think both misters should do it! You think so too, right Hal?”

  The boy averted his gaze, his voice somewhat distant. “If they want to…”

  Second, it was a tournament—among ourselves.

  No monsters, no NPCs, but a competition among ourselves, likely with their own pre-set conditions. The only thing I wanted to confirm was whether killing was a winning condition. Nothing in the rules said that was the case—

  Yet none stated otherwise.

  “From what the system provided, we can assume the rewards will be good. This can be a great opportunity to get our hands on some unique items,” I mentioned as soon as I finished chewing.

  If Kurosawa wanted to hide how bothered he was with me eating, he failed.

  “Once we enroll in the tournament, there’s no turning back. We can’t make a hasty decision simply for material gain.”

  I drank some water, meeting his gaze.

  “Until now, we didn’t have many chances to see how strong the others are. There’s nothing better to access their strength than to fight them ourselves.”

  I saw in his eyes. He knew I was right. Still, the sharpness of his gaze didn’t lessen.

  “The rules for this tournament are still too vague—there are far too many variables we must consider before making a decision.”

  He does have a point there…

  The rules were vague. Obviously so.

  [This Trial is being sponsored by ?le de Deniers]

  [Fourth Trial – By Clashes of Blood, Sweat, and Tears]

  [Your participation in this Trial is optional]

  [Advance in the Tournament to win great prizes!]

  [A special event will soon be held at ?le de Baton. Fight for honor, riches, or the thrill of the unknown!]

  [Tournament Rules:]

  - A Self's can choose to abstain from the tournament

  - Items purchased from the Store are allowed

  - Skills are allowed

  - Once a Self decides to participate, they must fight in the tournament until they are eliminated.

  - All Selves who decide to abstain are obliged to watch the event in its entirety

  [Days until Registrations open: 2D:03H:12M]

  That was all the information we had. However, there was something I could confirm directly with the other at that moment. Something that was bothering me.

  “Did your Benefactor say anything about this?”

  Kurosawa Touma narrowed his eyes, as if trying to read between the lines of my question.

  “I only received a message saying they will be rooting for my success.”

  The twins nodded in agreement.

  “Yes, we received the same thing!” Hil said with cheerfulness as she ate a chocolate crepe. Her brother, however, met my gaze.

  “Yours said something different.” It was not a question.

  I ate the last meat on my plate and finished my drink, wiping my mouth with the napkin.

  The Fool.

  The only Benefactor who showed any interest in me. The entity who didn’t give me a single combat skill, but gave me things like ‘Foolish Endeavor’ and ‘Yappy Dog’. The Benefactor who gifted me cards as they both thanked and threatened me.

  The being that was the closest thing I had to an ally on the system’s side—

  As well as the closest thing I had to an enemy, after the system itself.

  “I will participate in the tournament.”

  Kurosawa raised an eyebrow. “Because your Benefactor told you to?”

  I shook my head.

  Right after we received the notification about the new Trial, the system sent me another notification.

  “Because they didn’t.”

  [Your Benefactor highly recommends you to abstain from this Trial]

  And I was going to find out why.