RAGNA POV...
Ever since the day I was branded a cursed child at birth, my world had gradually shrunk into something small and suffocating, a space defined by walls and whispers, until interacting with anyone outside my family began to feel like stepping barefoot across shards of glass; and so, like a wounded beast that learns the safety of its cave, I chose silence over conversation, distance over connection, convincing myself that every exchange with strangers was nothing but wasted time that would inevitably spiral into trouble.
I didn’t care about normal humans, not their fear, not their hatred, not their fragile morality—so why should I care about two demon pipsqueaks I had just met? My mood had already been dragged through enough filth since the beginning of this mess, and if there was anything I needed, it was time to heal, not more complications.
Yet I also understood something far more inconvenient: if I wanted a way out of this situation, I couldn’t let my emotions rot me from the inside; talking to strangers might feel like torture, but isolation would kill me faster.
"Ragna."
My voice came out low, controlled, audible enough to be acknowledged but distant enough to discourage familiarity. I had kept them waiting for a few seconds before responding, and when I finally lifted my gaze, I made sure the warning in my eyes was unmistakable.
"Great, my name is Reiner, and this is my younger brother, Berthold."
His tone was bright—too bright—and that smile on his face carried a strange stiffness, as though it had been practiced in front of a mirror. After introducing himself, he extended his hand toward me for a handshake.
I stared at it.
For a brief moment, paranoia wrestled with practicality inside my mind. Physical contact meant vulnerability. Vulnerability meant risk. But refusing outright would only attract attention I didn’t need. Eventually, I exhaled inwardly and reached out.
Our hands met.
The instant our skin touched, something felt wrong—not painful, not hostile, but intrusive, like a foreign current brushing against the edges of my consciousness.
Then the system’s voice rang out in my head.
[Warning!!!]
[Unknown entity has been detected]
[Use of unknown system inspection ability has been detected]
[Unknown system inspection ability has been blocked!]
[Warning!!!]
For a split second, my body stiffened.
So it wasn’t my imagination.
The shock that surged through me was sharp and electric, but years of swallowing my reactions allowed me to keep my expression unchanged; my face remained cold, indifferent, as though nothing unusual had happened, even while my thoughts accelerated at a frightening speed.
For the first time since my reincarnation, I had encountered someone else who might possess something similar to a system.
That realization alone was enough to alter the balance of everything.
If he had a system, then this world was far more complicated than I had assumed. But exposing my awareness would be foolish, so instead I did what I always did best—I pretended.
As expected, Reiner’s gaze lingered on me strangely, his expression shifting into confusion while he stared at something invisible to ordinary eyes.
[Use of user ability has been rejected]
[Unable to use an ability on non-existent entity]
After a few seconds, he withdrew his hand, still staring at his floating blue panel, flustered at first—then smiling again, that same unsettling cheerfulness resurfacing.
Curiosity overtook him.
"Do you also have a system?" he blurted out suddenly, startling Berthold beside him.
I looked at him calmly, measuring the impatience in his eyes, the eagerness he failed to conceal.
"No."
The lie left my mouth smoothly.
Reiner searched my face, studying every twitch, every breath, trying to determine whether I was hiding something—but I gave him nothing. Years of being feared had taught me how to erase myself from my own expressions.
Although he was clearly unconvinced, he didn’t press further. Instead, his smile widened, as though my denial had only fueled his curiosity.
They were odd.
Far too composed for our circumstances.
Most people would either be trembling in a corner or crying in despair, yet these two were disturbingly active—alert, engaged. That alone separated them from ordinary children.
Berthold, standing quietly beside his brother, carried an aloof air.
"Hi..." he muttered, the single word sounding as if it required significant effort, and then he fell silent again.
"Don’t worry about my brother," Reiner said lightly. "He isn’t the type that communicates well with others."
I said nothing, though my suspicions only deepened.
"I assume you don’t want to starve yourself," Reiner continued. "If you had woken up a few minutes later, you might’ve missed dinner entirely."
Food.
My body still felt strained from earlier, and while I had little appetite, I couldn’t ignore reality. Recovery required sustenance. Refusing to eat would only slow me down, and when an opportunity to escape presented itself, weakness would not be forgiven.
As I weighed my options, a pair of small hands grabbed my arm and helped pull me to my feet.
"What are you thinking about?" Reiner asked, tilting his head.
"Nothing," I replied, shaking my head slightly.
This time, he didn’t attempt to probe me again. That alone confirmed my earlier suspicion—it hadn’t been an accident.
When I glanced around, I realized the carriage was spacious and empty aside from us. No wonder they had approached me directly.
I stretched my body slowly. There was still a dull ache in certain areas, but it no longer restricted my movements, and the pain at the back of my head had nearly vanished.
Then a notification surfaced.
[Congratulations! +55 Attribute Points have been added to Family Member: Banshee]
As I walked, my mind drifted back to the moment before I lost consciousness.
The last thing I remembered was activating the ability—’Bestower.’
The memory snapped into clarity, and immediately I attempted something on instinct: accessing Oge’s interface.
The moment the thought formed, a translucent screen appeared before me.
[Family: Oge Ringwood]
[Level: 1]
[Class: Cursed Creature]
[Race: Banshee]
[Exp: 0/10]
[HP: 10/10]
[Strength: 1]
[Perception: 1]
[Agility: 1]
[Stamina: 3]
[Mana: 3]
[Attribute Points: 55]
{Abilities and Skills}
[Sprint - Level 1]
[Banshee Regeneration - Level 1]
[Immunity to Toxin, Fire, Cold, Illusion - Level 1]
[Harbinger of Death - Level 1]
[Vision - Level 1]
------------------------------
Relief settled heavily in my chest.
It worked.
Ogee was alive, and stable.
If she was fine, then Mother and Adah might still be safe—for now. I didn’t know what was happening around them, and the uncertainty gnawed at me, but at least this much I could confirm.
Guilt over Father’s death still lingered like a stain I couldn’t wash away, but I had already made one decision: I would not allow anything to happen to the rest of my family again.
That was why I had given som of my attribute points to Oge.
With fifty-five points at her disposal, and with the guidance I had already given her, she would grow quickly—strong enough to survive, strong enough to become my eyes and ears if needed.
"Alright!" Reinr’s voice broke through my thoughts. "Dinner is about to start. Let’s head there before it finishes."
I dismissed Oge’s panel quietly and followed them, my steps steady, my expression unchanged—but inside, my vigilance had sharpened.
If Reiner truly had a system, then this encounter was no coincidence.
And I would not be the first to reveal my hand.