In that moment, Aaron almost believed the person replacing his heart was genuinely compensating him for stealing his eye. He felt the mysterious figure quickly close up his chest and feed him several healing potions. As the wound began to itch and his flesh regenerated, warmth returned to his body.
"If you don't want someone to steal this heart, it's best you don't tell anyone about this. Whether it's real or not, you can check your status panel after you regain your sight," the figure said, leaving Aaron with those final words before he passed out again.
When he awoke, he groped around and found himself back in his familiar bed, with his nightstand beside him. He realized he had been returned to his apartment once more.
Rita's biggest concern during the heart transplant had been whether or not the "Heart of the Undying" would be detectable via **Insight**. However, the moment the heart touched Aaron's still-beating, crimson organ, it turned into a black mist and was absorbed. Aaron's status panel reflected this only with a new icon beside his name: a black cross.
**[Undying Curse]:** Your HP can never drop below 1.
Apart from this simple description, there were no other indications related to the curse. However, his **Divine Gift** had been downgraded, changing from S-rank to S-.
**[Breath of Winter] (S- Rank)**
**Skill 1** – *You Are Winter (Passive)*: All your skills will now include frost damage with a 7% chance to freeze enemies (reduced from 10%).
**Skill 2** – *Drink of Winter (Passive)*: When you consume an S-rank ice-based dish, you have a 3% chance (reduced from 5%) to learn an ice-based skill. This passive activates only once per day.
**Skill 3** – *Breath of Winter*: Release a freezing breath around you, affecting all targets you wish within 8 meters (reduced from 10 meters). Casting time: 2 seconds, Mana cost: 10%. Cooldown: 45 minutes (increased from 30 minutes).
**Skill 4** – *Winter's End, Spring's Arrival*: Absorb ice energy to restore HP. Each 1% mana restores 8% of HP (reduced from 10%).
Every skill had been slightly weakened. The chance of freezing enemies had dropped, and the range of his ice breath had shrunk. The healing efficiency of his mana had also decreased.
Rita found herself thinking that, in a twisted way, the curse was somewhat of a bargain. But then, she quickly corrected herself: power was everything. Without enough strength, immortality wasn't a gift—it was a curse.
What if he encountered an enemy stronger than him? Immortality would only prolong his suffering, not protect him. With his HP stuck at 1, Aaron could be dismembered—trapped in a body that could never die.
No wonder Apachi had called the "Heart of the Undying" a cursed artifact.
Rita briefly considered using it on Rick but quickly dismissed the idea. Rick deserved to die—permanently. Letting him live forever, even in torment, would never feel as satisfying as turning him to ash.
For the next few days, Rita checked in at the office building belonging to the White family, each time finding she couldn't enter the dungeon. After a few failed attempts, she decided to stop going altogether—she didn't need to keep up the act forever.
Deciding it was time to leave town for a while, she prepared to steal one of Rick's upcoming opportunities. Even though her home's dungeon was still accessible with **Phantom Shift**, she preferred to avoid being in the area if the Lopez family decided to blame her for something.
She casually announced her plans in the family group chat.
**[Rita]:** "I'm heading to JL for a while. I'll be back next month. Contact me by phone or in-game if you need anything."
**[Rick]:** "Sis, why are you suddenly heading to the next city?"
**[Rita]:** "Our local dungeon got found by another group, so we're going to check things out in the next city. @Rick, once you hit level 3, I'll take you to a great spot."
**[Rick]:** "Oh, okay."
**[Scarlett the Happy]:** "Will you take Mom with you?"
**[Rita]:** "Once you hit level 3, sure. You and Dad don't really need to level up, but I still think it's a good idea for you two to try—it's good for your health to raise your Constitution stats."
Rita didn't mind offering a few nice words in text, even if she couldn't bring herself to say them face-to-face. It wasn't much effort.
**[Scarlett the Happy]:** "Need me to take care of the cats while you're away?"
**[Rita]:** "No need. They're strays; they can fend for themselves when I'm gone."
**[Scarlett the Happy]:** "Cats can take care of themselves—your mother can't."
**[Rita]:** "@Rick, send her some money."
**[Rick]:** "…Mom, check your account."
**[Rita]:** "@Rick, I found some materials for the vitality potions, but it's rare stuff. I only got enough for five batches. I'll mail them to you."
**[Rick]:** "Thanks, Sis~ Let me send you some pocket money too!"
Rita didn't give it much thought. She packed up her things, preparing to leave, when she got a delivery from Rick. Inside was not just 1 gold coin, but also 100 dishes with various stat-boosting effects.
The note read: *"Thanks, Sis~ This is my treat."*
Rita scoffed, impressed by her own performance. Not only had she gotten some gold, but Rick had even gone out of his way to label the food as a gift. How thoughtful.
But was she moved? Of course not. Her trust didn't come that cheap.
Even though Rick had made it clear the food was a gesture of goodwill, she still wasn't going to eat any of it. She had too much of a psychological block against anything from him.
Rita got into her car and drove out of Los Angeles. As she passed through the suburbs, she noticed a White family convoy, likely heading off to raid a dungeon. This wasn't the first time she'd encountered them.
Everyone on the same mountain had been keeping busy since the beta test. The White family's activity had been especially noticeable, with players constantly coming and going. However, they had remained relatively well-behaved.
Whether it was White's strict rules or their own caution, none of them acted recklessly or intruded on others' property—certainly not to the point of hiding under someone's bed like some lunatic.
They were quite civilized.
A few minutes later, Rita got a private message from Sanchez, asking if she was selling any skill stones.
**[Rita]:** "Sorry, I'm under contract with the Special Affairs Bureau. All of the [Another Happy Day] skill stones go to them for distribution."
**[Sanchez]:** "I'll pay top price."
Rita wondered if these people simply couldn't take "no" for an answer, or if they thought she was too scared to outright refuse them.
**[Rita]:** "I'm serious. Breaking the contract would be as good as a death sentence for me. I can't even sell to the Lopez family. I don't have the strength to guard this on my own, so I let the Bureau handle it."
This time, Sanchez didn't reply.
Sighing, Rita thought to herself how much better Zoey was at handling things. Even though there had been some tension after the first dinner at the Lopez family's house, Zoey had quickly made amends, sending a truckload of gifts and never treating Rita condescendingly again.
Still, it puzzled Rita that Sanchez hadn't escalated the conversation. Usually, by now, he would have resorted to threats. Why had the conversation just… fizzled out?