I know people have different paths in life. That's a cliché fact. Sometimes they become false comfort. That means your life is not the worst. There must be someone who suffers more. I know. The red button on the TV remote is the target every time a crime, disaster, or horrific historical news is broadcast. Don't get me wrong. My empathy is fine. However, financial problems are enough to make me feel the most miserable. I'm afraid. I will end up like them.

And, yes, there is a term: you attract what you fear. When the murder scene in the film is captured directly by the eyes as clearly as this, the purpose of life suddenly becomes blurred. Any step is passed under the silence of the sloping road, while the heart continues to beat against the speed.

Sick. Arthemisya was right. Tiger Letto was sick. Mentally ill.

My arms had been crossed since earlier, stroking my white, oversized, thin-collar. If I'm not mistaken, there's a bus stop across the intersection. My brain remembers going to the old house if I take the underground route. Yes, I have to get off at the station.

BOW!

"Ow!" After passing the sloping road, I collided with a familiar man. His distinctive black hood and bangs were fluffy and peeked out when hit by the wind.

My eyes widened. "You-"

"Miss Misya! I'm looking for you! Introduce me to Zerikyu, I'd like-"

He recognized me as Arthemisya but spoke strangely about waking me from the dead. What had he done? Whatever it was, I was sure he had made a mistake he didn't realize. I'd better pretend and keep him away.

I swallowed. "Can you take me somewhere safe now?" I asked, busy looking back. With all his facilities and men, Tiger would soon catch up.

Zerikyu's eyes turned serious, and then he quickly grabbed my wrist. "Come on!"

Great. Zerikyu understands the area near this elite housing complex. Instead of taking the route to the station via the intersection, we took the opposite direction. Less than a kilometer away, there was a small uphill path surrounded by gardens. Descending ten steps, we immediately entered small alleys lined with high brick walls that protected the residents' housing.

Luckily, the place we were going to didn't require a maze of winding alleys. We took the straight path, exited the alley, and arrived at another path. This time, it was filled with warm yellow hanging lights.

Zerikyu guided me into the cafe, which looked small from the outside but surprisingly had many doors. The concept was similar to an old-time telephone shop. I was immediately taken to the reception desk to order a table and a food menu.

I chose Wagyu Steak A5 and Spaghetti Pepperoni. I don't know what Zerikyu ordered because I was busy looking at the beautiful bird bell. Zerikyu managed to get one key. Without further ado, I entered the key numbered twenty-seven, which means it is located on the second floor in a corner.

This private capsule cafe is the perfect spot to hide away. There is only one table and two sofas facing each other. Zerikyu and I take one seat each.

"So, are you in danger? Should I call the police? Oh, wait, sorry, I didn't get a chance to introduce myself," Zerikyu said. His hands were folded across his stomach as he looked down momentarily.

"My name is Earl Zerikyu, I am a student and a big fan of yours," he said.

"How did you bring me back to life?"

Zerikyu gaped. "Ah, that… isn't technically resurrecting the dead. I'm not a god. It's just that I came from a family with special blood. We have a connection to the spirit world."

The ridiculous explanation made me want to protest. However, everything that happened to me until this moment was ridiculous. Damn, even being skeptical was hard.

"Okay, so what do you do with a spirit, and how does it get back into its owner's body?"

"There is a ritual, it's called Tezja Senca. In family beliefs, rabbits are used to summon spirits and temporarily place those spirits in the body of a living rabbit," Zerikyu explained.

I tried to twitch my eyebrows to get rid of the sleepiness. Zerikyu's story was like a bedtime story. "Then, what happened to the rabbit and its spirit?"

Zerikyu's pupils brightened. "I did it. You live and he dies."

"So...?"

"Yes, the girl who fought with you on the balcony. I prepared two rabbits—a white rabbit for you and a black rabbit to sacrifice. When your spirit was safe, I killed the black rabbit that represented the soul. She has reaped the karma for your death," Zerikyu said.

The tsunami in my body is reflected in the hollow of my hot eyes—waves of water seep in. My vision begins to condense, along with the tightness of my chest.

"Sorry."

With shaking fists, not knowing exactly what to say, I stumbled to the toilet.

Sitting listlessly on the toilet's surface, I cried my heart out. No matter how hard I thought about where I went wrong, I still felt it was unfair.

Why does someone want to curse me so badly? Why did he wish for my death? More than that, strangers deliberately took my life. Do I deserve to be treated like this? Even more despicable than a despicable human being who dares to end another's life.

Tiger Letto, my admiration for him disappeared, replaced by thorns of anger. Hate. I hate everything about him, given the contrasting injustices in our lives. Even for the rest of their lives, humans who only hold fate will lose to criminals who carry even one gold bar.

"Enough."

I roughly pushed open the toilet door and returned to the table. I grabbed the meat cleaver from the self-service area. My determination was firm. If justice was the price I had to pay for my second life, then I had the right to determine my steps completely. Wilky Milkya was dead. Right now, Arthemisya Zacceline has to live as I wanted.

But before that, I will avenge Milky's death.

A knife slid towards Zerikyu's jugular vein. I felt like my hand was fast enough, but Zerikyu moved as fast as lightning and turned to ward off the object. He turned to strangle me. The look in his eyes changed, becoming more vicious. The atmosphere became silent because the capsule cafe was only aware of the critical situation.

Suddenly, from the narrow doorway, the tip of a gun pressed against Zerikyu's temple.

"Who are you trying to touch my woman?"

Tiger's firm voice filled the narrow space in the soul's recesses.