The sound of soft breathing drifted down from above—Yeon Sora was asleep. 

Only then did Yeom Juwan lower the blanket covering his face.

‘Why am I being like this?’

His longtime friend had awakened to incredible power. 

He should be celebrating wholeheartedly. 

Yet every time he tried to smile, his face would freeze, refusing to move. 

He despised himself for it—this ugly inability to truly celebrate his friend’s good fortune.

‘Am I… jealous?’

Perhaps he was. 

Yeon Sora had always been weaker than him. 

While her ‘attacks’ now only struck during intense physical activity, as a child she would collapse without warning. 

Yeom Juwan had looked after her since they were five, from their very first day at daycare.

It hadn’t been his choice at first. 

During playtime, the teachers would guide them to a corner, offering them the best toys with a casual: “Just play here together.” 

They were the misfits—Yeon Sora with her fragile health, and Yeom Juwan with his inability to get along with others.

Yeon Sora would fidget restlessly and frequently collapse. 

Whenever she did, Yeom Juwan would cover her with a blanket and call for a teacher. 

This pattern repeated so often that before he knew it, Yeon Sora started following him around like a baby chick. 

It might have been bothersome, but he didn’t mind. 

For the first time in his life, someone needed him.

— “My princess!”

He could still vividly recall the day he first met Yeon Sora’s father. 

The man, handsome enough to be carved from marble, had rushed over to sweep Yeon Sora into a tight embrace. 

He’d spun her around so vigorously that Yeom Juwan had panicked, worried she might break. 

His behavior was utterly foolish, and for some reason, it irritated Yeom Juwan.

— “Ah, you must be Yeom Juwan! Thank you for always looking after my little princess!”

When the foolish man reached out to him, Yeom Juwan growled.

— “Get lost.”

Most adults would freeze at such bluntness, force a laugh, and scold him with a perfunctory “You shouldn’t say things like that.” 

But not this foolish man.

— “Hahaha! That’s perfect! A knight who protects a princess should have some spirit!”

Yeom Juwan knew what a knight was—a hero from fairy tales, someone brave who wielded a great sword to protect the weak.

‘What an idiot.’

That was exactly the kind of thing an idiot would say. 

Yet somehow, he didn’t hate it. 

It was the first time anyone had called him something like that. 

Before daycare, he’d thought his name was “Parasite.” 

“Knight” sounded much better.

— “Sir Knight, please continue protecting my princess!”

The foolish man ruffled Yeom Juwan’s hair with a warm hand. 

The touch was so gentle, the warmth so comforting, that Yeom Juwan found himself crying without understanding why.

‘Don’t cry!’

If he cried, he’d be forced to sleep on the bathroom floor. 

It was winter, and even the living room floor was freezing, let alone the bathroom tiles. 

Yet no matter how hard he fought it, the tears wouldn’t stop. 

It wasn’t sadness; it was something else entirely.

— “Oh no, no, I’m not a bad person! I’m Sora’s dad, her dad!”

The foolish man recoiled in alarm, but Yeom Juwan grabbed his hand and placed it back on his head. 

The world outside was too cold, and he wanted to feel that warmth for as long as possible, even if it meant spending the night in the bathroom.

As Yeom Juwan sobbed and pressed his head against the man’s hand, the foolish man asked with unexpected gravity:

— “Where are your parents?”

After that, Yeom Juwan’s life changed completely. 

The foolish man rescued him from hell and brought him to a warm home.

— “From now on, we’re family!”

He gained a new family. 

And someone he would protect for the rest of his life.

— “Honestly, I don’t know what we’d do without Juwan!”

Even as Yeon Sora grew older, her attacks persisted. 

Yeom Juwan willingly became her guardian, staying in the same class and sitting beside her to keep watch. 

He had remained by her side for twelve years—three in daycare, six in elementary school, and three in middle school. 

It could have been a burden, but he didn’t mind. 

As long as she needed him, he wasn’t a parasite. 

He was a hero protecting the weak.

But today, he had almost lost her. 

When the monster’s savage claws snatched Yeon Sora away, every drop of blood in his body turned to ice. 

If Yeon Sora disappeared, would he have to go back? 

Back to that cold, dark place?

A void opened in his chest, revealing a bottomless abyss. 

Before that abyss could swallow him whole, he had sworn to burn the entire world to ashes.

Whoosh!

And so, Yeom Juwan awakened. 

But reality was merciless. 

His flames couldn’t even singe the monster before him, let alone consume the world.

Crash!

Then the ground shook with a thunderous roar. 

The sheer force sent chills down his spine. 

The blazing inferno that erupted with terrifying power wasn’t his—it was Yeon Sora’s. 

The person he had always protected was now protecting him.

— “I’ll go too.”

Yeon Sora, newly awakened to her power, stepped forward without hesitation. 

In all their twelve years together, she had never willingly sought the spotlight. 

Yet in the midst of crisis, she had acted with quiet confidence, wielding her newfound abilities. 

Yeom Juwan could do nothing but hand her potions. 

He felt worthless and out of place.

Suddenly, his chest constricted. 

The solid ground beneath his feet crumbled, revealing a cold, bottomless void. 

A chilling voice echoed from that abyss.

You’re no longer needed.

Yeom Juwan tried to dismiss it. 

His new family cherished him. 

They wouldn’t abandon him—not now.

You were useful before. Did you think you were really family? You’re not even related by blood.

Until now, Yeom Juwan had served a purpose: caring for Yeon Sora. 

What would his new family do once that purpose vanished? 

Would they still treat him with warmth? 

He didn’t want to know the answer—not yet.

— “Sora!”

So when Yeon Sora collapsed, he felt relief wash over him. 

For now, he still had a role. 

And he hated himself for that relief. 

It made him feel as though he wanted her to remain weak.

It’s fine. I’m not useless… I’ll just get stronger.

He repeated the words like a mantra, but his heart wouldn’t settle. 

In the end, Yeom Juwan didn’t sleep a wink until dawn.

#

I’m completely baffled right now, and the reason is… Yeom Juwan has changed!

The day after the awakening test, Yeom Juwan rose at dawn and went for a run. 

What’s more:

“Mom, could I sign up for a gym membership for a few days? I want to build up my stamina before school starts.”

My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. 

Yeom Juwan, asking for a gym membership? 

This was someone who had never understood the concept of effort. 

He used to skip classes and barely scrape by on exams. 

Now he’s running every morning and spending half his day on strength training.

‘What’s gotten into you? Do you realize you’re breaking character?’

Of course, I have an idea why. 

Whenever something strays from the original story, there’s usually one cause: the butterfly effect. 

Yes, it’s because of me. 

His “almost sibling” Yeon Sora displaying world-shaking power must have struck a nerve. 

Some kind of sibling rivalry?

‘I suppose this is for the better.’

In the original story, Yeom Juwan barely attended classes for two months after enrollment. 

Back then, I thought it was because of his troubled past, but now I know the truth—it was trauma from Yeon Sora’s death. 

Eventually, Gyun Junhwi managed to coax him out of his room, but losing half a semester had stunted his early growth.

But now, Yeom Juwan is training with fierce determination before school even begins. 

Surely he’ll grow stronger this way? 

I should encourage him! 

I want to wave pompoms and cheer, “Go for it!” 

But there’s just one problem.

‘I’m dying of boredom!’

Yeom Juwan isn’t spending any time with me. 

I had this whole Tower tour planned! 

I’d made a pilgrimage list the moment I arrived here. 

There’s a week-long break between the end of the test and enrollment, and I’d hoped to make the most of it. 

But every time I suggest going out, Yeom Juwan gives me this serious look and says:

“Sorry. I… need to get stronger.”

I can’t throw a tantrum in the face of such determination. 

His usually soft, childlike gaze has hardened into something unshakeable. 

I’d wanted to explore the Tower with him, just the two of us…

I really had.

‘But I’ll let it go.’

I’ll support his goals, even if it means touring the Tower alone! 

Or so I thought. 

But it wasn’t that simple.

“And where do you think you’re going?”

Standing at the entrance were the Four Elders—my grandparents and great-grandparents. 

The living room had been empty when I tried sneaking out, but by the time I’d slipped on my shoes, they were guarding the door like martial arts masters, their white hair flowing majestically.

“Just heading to the convenience store.”

“With what money?”

“Window shopping.”

“Wait for Juwan.”

I knew Yeon Sora was frail, but I hadn’t counted on her family’s overprotectiveness. 

She could only go out with Yeom Juwan. 

Otherwise, she wasn’t even allowed in the apartment playground. 

This was practically house arrest.

“I’ve gotten stronger since awakening…”

“Still no.”

“I promise to be careful…”

*Cough, cough.* “It’s dangerous… cough!”

The elders deployed their ultimate technique: *Respect Your Elders*. 

By demonstrating their frailty and advanced age, they silently demanded reverence. 

As someone raised in a traditional confucian household, I was defenseless against it.

*Sigh.* 

“All right, fine.”

Reluctantly, I let them shepherd me back inside. 

But give up? 

Never.

One way or another, I would see the Tower. 

I refuse to be the kind of transmigrator who doesn’t explore their new world!

‘If the direct approach won’t work, I’ll find another way.’

Back in my room, I began plotting my next move: leveraging my connections.

“Maybe I should mention this to Deputy Guild Master Ha Sunwoo…”

Speaking to the empty air, I grinned. 

As one of his special cases, Ha Sunwoo would respond if I mentioned his name or title. 

Then I could drop a hint about the bugs and arrange a meeting. 

The Phoenix Guild Hall was on the Tower’s first floor, so meeting him would give me an excuse to visit.

‘Hehe, desperation breeds creativity.’

Just as I was congratulating myself on my cleverness, a DM arrived.

|Ha Sunwoo| Are you free today?

That was quick. 

Almost like summoning a genie.

|Ha Sunwoo| I have something to ask you. Can you come to the Guild Hall?

He’s inviting me first? 

Must be urgent.

|Yeon Sora| Is something wrong?

|Ha Sunwoo| It’s not something I can explain over DM. If you’re free, I’ll send a car to pick you up.

His tone seemed serious. 

Searching through my memories, I realized why. 

I’d asked him to investigate the mysterious bug, hadn’t I? 

Could it be that he already has the results?