‘Did they ever mention the name?’

I searched my memory but couldn’t recall the name of that “plus one.” 

At least not in the sections I had memorized.

‘I’ll need the text files to be sure.’

Gyun Junhwi gained the ability to view others’ status windows and access text files after unlocking the second pillar. 

Maybe I’d get something similar? 

But that wouldn’t happen until much later, and I couldn’t just sit around waiting. 

I’d have to investigate the culprit myself. 

What a headache.

‘I’ll deal with it later.’

Though important, there wasn’t much I could do about it right now. 

I decided to set aside this unsolvable problem and focus on something else. 

First, I wanted to check out that new screen that had appeared when I spoke with Gyun Junhwi!

【Affinity with characters has been established.】

【Would you like to view it now? Y/N】

Ah yes, this! 

I hadn’t known this feature existed.

【Viewing affinity with characters…】

▶ Yeom Juwan (Lvl. 99, Affinity 99%)

▷ Gyun Junhwi (Lvl. 99, Affinity -39%)

▷ Ha Sunwoo (Lvl. 79, Affinity 32%)

The brutal numbers hit me like a slap. 

My number one favorite, Gyun Junhwi’s affinity with me was…

“Minus 39?”

That’s not affinity; that’s outright hostility. 

Sure, it stung, but given our awkward first meeting, it made sense. 

This wasn’t about being disliked; it was just circumstance. 

No need to take it personally. 

Besides, with affinity at rock bottom, the only way was up! 

Our relationship could only improve from here!

‘At least Ha Sunwoo’s affinity is decent.’

While 32% wasn’t impressive, it was practically saintly compared to that -39%. 

After that bit of optimism, I clicked the triangle next to Yeom Juwan’s name.

【There are 62 skills available.】

– Fireball

– Firebolt

– Firestorm

…

This was useful. 

I was already starting to forget some skill names. 

I closed Yeom Juwan’s screen and tried clicking on Gyun Junhwi’s name.

【Affinity too low for access.】

【Affinity of 90% or higher is required to view or use skills.】

The rejection notice felt like a knife to the heart. 

To nurse my wounded pride, I tried clicking on Ha Sunwoo…

【Level too low for access.】

【At the current level (Lvl. 1), you can only access characters ranked 1–5 in your favorites list.】

My favorite ranking was a list I’d compiled and regularly updated. 

Most people had just one favorite, but I managed my favorites by minimizing risk. 

By maintaining a roster of 20 favorites, I could switch to another if something happened to one, helping me stay emotionally balanced. 

Gyun Junhwi was #1, Ki Hyunmin #2, Yeom Juwan #3, and Ha Sunwoo #7… but right now, I could only access the top 5. 

There were more restrictions than I’d expected, but that would probably change over time. 

Level 1 → access to top 1-5, Level 2 → top 1-10, Level 3 → top 1-15, and so on. 

Something like that, I assumed?

‘So the next person I could copy would be…’

My top two favorites were out. 

Their affinities were so tricky that reaching 90% overnight was impossible. 

I was already maxed out with Yeom Juwan at #3. 

#4 was an exchange student who wouldn’t appear for a while, leaving only #5…

“Yeon Sora.”

Just as I was deep in my “possessor’s duties,” Yeom Juwan’s voice pulled me back to reality.

“We’re here. Let’s get out.”

#

“See you when school starts!”

“Take care, Sora!”

After bidding farewell to my teammates, I walked off with Yeom Juwan. 

Yeon Sora’s home was in an old apartment complex nestled on the slopes of Mount Bukhan. 

Standing before the door, Yeom Juwan glanced at me before opening it.

“Our families have probably been notified about today, right?”

“Yeah, they must have.”

We both heaved deep sighs, exchanging knowing looks. 

Yeon Sora’s family was something else. 

With her original memories now downloaded, I knew that all too well.

“Ready?”

“Open it.”

Beep! Beep-beep-beep! Ding~

Click.

The moment I turned the handle, there was a rush of footsteps inside. 

A crowd came running toward us.

“Sora!”

The stunning woman was Yeon Sora’s aunt.

“Sis!!!”

The doll-like child was her younger sibling.

“Juwan!!”

The man waving a camera was Yeon Sora’s dad.

“My precious!”

The silver-haired elderly man radiating elegance was Yeon Sora’s grandfather.

Yeon Sora’s family consisted of her grandparents, parents, an uncle, an aunt, twin younger siblings, and a toddler. 

Excluding Yeon Sora, it was an eleven-member household. 

Their relatives, who had lost their homes to the Rift, had all moved in together.

“Oh my, your clothes are torn to shreds! Are you hurt, my precious?”

“We’re alive… sniff, sniff.”

“Sora, are you injured?”

“Hyung! What’s with all this blood?”

All eleven family members swarmed over our bodies, poking and prodding to check our condition. 

I felt like fresh meat in a crowd of zombies.

“That’s enough! Now that you’ve confirmed they’re alright, back up!”

A commanding voice from behind quieted the crowd, and they stepped back. 

The voice belonged to Yeon Sora’s mother, a beautiful elf-like woman who was the spitting image of her daughter.

“Goodness, what happened to you two? Go clean up right now!”

At her command, the zombie horde parted, allowing me to head straight for the bathroom. 

I peeled off my blood-soaked clothes, scrubbed the sticky blood from my body, and changed into the fresh pajamas they’d provided. 

A pink pajama set with bunnies on it. 

Sure, Yeon Sora was 17, but wasn’t this a bit childish? 

…Though I quickly took that thought back.

“Sora, they’re calling for dinner!”

I had just spotted Yeom Juwan in an orange tiger onesie. 

What was this? 

Cuteness overload! 

Seeing him, usually so tough-looking in illustrations, in an adorable animal onesie was a rare treat indeed! 

Grinning to myself, I headed to the living room, where more family members greeted me.

“You’re here, sis?”

“Sora! Over here!”

Everyone in this family, young and old alike, was impossibly good-looking. 

Pure eye candy. 

Unfortunately, the setting didn’t match. 

The wallpaper was yellowed, with torn patches held together by tape. 

The furniture looked ready to collapse—the sofa, chairs, and dining table were all wrapped in tape like patients in casts. 

Remove that tape and everything would surely fall apart. 

In short… Yeon Sora’s home was dirt-poor. 

The fact that they’d taken Yeom Juwan in despite this showed just how extraordinary they were.

“Today, in celebration of having two awakened people in our family, we’re having a feast! Pork belly!”

“Woohoo!”

The meal brought tears to my eyes. 

There were exactly 13 pieces of pork belly for 13 people—one piece each.

“Let’s have today’s stars, Sora and Juwan, go first!”

We were expected to make that single piece last until the end of the meal. 

In Yeon Sora’s family, a piece of pork belly had to be eaten in five bites. 

You took tiny nibbles to coat your tongue with the rich, oily taste, then quickly followed with rice and mushrooms to fill your stomach. 

Flavor from the meat, fullness from the mushrooms—a true miser’s pork belly feast. 

Compared to those old-fashioned families who hung fish from the ceiling to eat from its scent alone, we were at least a step up since we got actual meat.

Of course, I wasn’t someone who could eat a single piece of pork in five bites.

I popped the whole thing in my mouth at once, chewed, and swallowed. 

And then… felt even emptier.

‘This isn’t nearly enough!’

Having lost so much blood today, I was famished. 

I’d barely gotten to savor the delightful grease when my portion ran out. 

But then—

“Older folks shouldn’t eat too much meat. It’s better for the young ones.”

A beautiful piece of pork belly landed in my rice bowl.

“I’m on a diet, so you eat it, Sora.”

“Ha, who eats meat these days? The trend is vegetarianism now. You eat it, hyung!”

“*Veganism,* actually.”

My rice bowl and Yeom Juwan’s began filling up with our family’s precious pork belly. 

I appreciated it, but… it was rather heartbreaking.

“We even have dessert tonight! Cheesecake!”

“Yay!”

Dessert followed the same miserly pattern, with each of us savoring a single bite of cheesecake before filling up on soft tofu. 

Once again, everyone gave up their share for me and Yeom Juwan.

‘Yeon Sora, you’re truly loved.’

I already knew this from her memories, but experiencing it firsthand made my heart sink like a deep-sea creature.

“We’ve even got fruit! Just a moment!”

Yeon Sora’s mom darted to the kitchen to prepare the final course, and I followed. 

If I was going to live in this body, there was something I needed to do.

#

Yeon Sora’s mother was carefully washing eight strawberries and slicing them into thirteen pieces. 

The emotions hitting me were overwhelming.

“Excuse me, Mother?”

“Since when did you start calling me that?”

“Well, since I awakened, I should be more mature… and speak more respectfully…”

“Heh, look at you.”

I knew Yeon Sora usually called her “Mom,” but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. 

Honestly… being with Yeon Sora’s family felt like theft. 

I wasn’t really her; I was an imposter. 

Usually, I’d just go with the flow, but this felt wrong. 

Even I had a conscience.

“Could I have your bank account number?”

“Why?”

I’m here from the Possessor Compensation Committee! 

While I can’t tell you that I’m borrowing your daughter’s body, I thought I could at least offer some compensation… 

I explained that I’d earned some money today from dealing with monsters.

“If you could give me your account number, I’d like to transfer it…”

“No, Sora. Keep it for yourself.”

Yeon Sora’s mother firmly declined.

“But you raised me, and I want to help with expenses…”

“How could I take money my daughter earned while bleeding?”

Wow. She was adamant. 

Her expression softened as she gently touched my arm.

“There’ll be more dangerous times ahead… Keep that money and use it to buy a shield, armor, potions, or something.”

She’d acted cheerful about having two awakenings in the family, but clearly wasn’t thrilled about it deep down. 

I tried persuading her several more times, but each attempt was met with gentle yet unyielding refusal.

‘At least I tried my best.’

Even if I got hit by a truck tomorrow, I could say I’d done everything possible without regrets.

‘I’ll repay you someday. I’ll try to be a good daughter in Sora’s place, and I’ll do my best to prevent the apocalypse, too.’

With those thoughts, I brought the plate of thirteen strawberry slices back to the living room, where the family was watching TV. 

Owning a TV in this world showed just how poor they were, as televisions were now considered relics.

[This afternoon at 3 PM, an outbreak occurred on the first floor, Test Room 3 of the Tower.]

Unexpected news was coming from the screen.