Chapter 30: The Price of a Promise
Ethan exhaled sharply, frustration simmering beneath his skin.
His system was a scammer.
Ten million karmic points for a single skill? Ridiculous.
[The Mind is a fragile and complex subject, Host. Anything related to it is expensive.]
'What grade is this skill?'
[S-grade, Host.]
'Will it protect me from everything I'll have to endure?'
[Yes.]
Ethan clenched his jaw.
At this rate, his dream of awakening his bloodline was slipping further away.
And worse—
He had promised his family resources superior to those of a Stage 1 True Dragon God.
Damn it.
Me and my big mouth.
Now, he had to make good on that promise.
He sighed.
First, let's finish this trial.
'Buy it, you scammer.'
A small, unexpected sound echoed.
Eh.
Ethan froze.
Did… someone just "eh" at me?
[Yes, Host.]
…
[Ding! You have purchased Mind Prison (S-grade).]
Mind Prison (Passive - S-Grade)
A passive skill that allows you to create a prison within your mind to store unwanted memories. You may unlock and access them at will.
…
As soon as the notification appeared, Ethan understood the skill.
That was the benefit of buying from the system—instant comprehension.
All that was left was training and getting used to it.
He pushed himself up, exhaling deeply.
"Now, I'm ready."
His gaze flickered to the girl.
Ethan took slow steps forward but stopped five meters away from her.
…Yes, he was afraid.
Who wouldn't be?
They were talking about a damn angel.
There were no records of angels in the Tower's library or anywhere he had studied.
And yet, here she was.
He crouched. His voice was quiet but firm.
"Do you want to be saved?"
The girl responded instantly.
Her voice trembled—not with fear, but with urgency.
Her bleeding golden eyes locked onto his.
"Can you do it?"
Ethan met her gaze.
"I believe I can."
She moved.
Fast.
In the blink of an eye, she was in front of him.
Her tiny hands clutched his arms.
Desperate.
"Can you really? Can you really?"
And then—
Her next words froze him in place.
"Can you really kill me and end my nightmare?"
"I want to join my father and mother."
Silence.
Ethan's breath hitched.
His heart pounded.
His lips parted, but no words came.
Because when he looked into her eyes…
He saw grief.
Despair.
A soul crushed beyond recognition.
To her, salvation meant death.
Not a second chance.
An end.
Something inside Ethan twisted.
His chest ached in a way it never had before.
But even so—
He forced a smile.
His Aura of Devotion surged, wrapping around her like a warm light.
"No."
His voice was soft but unshakable.
"Not death. I want to save you by giving you another chance at life."
The girl tilted her head.
She didn't understand.
How?
How could she possibly have another life?
But then—
Her golden eyes met Ethan's green ones.
And suddenly…
For the first time since that night—
She felt peace.
Why?
Why was she willing to trust this stranger?
This man who had stepped into her nightmare, seen her worst memories, and still reached out to her? Is that why ?
She didn't know.
She didn't need to know.
She was tired.
She had once been just a little girl, happy and loved.
Until it was all ripped away.
Her mind was broken.
Her soul, shattered.
All she wanted was peace.
And in this moment—
She felt it with him.
So, she whispered—
"Yes… yes… save me."
Her hands clenched tighter around his arms.
"Don't leave me alone."
Don't abandon me.
She held onto him like he was the last warmth in a world of endless cold.
Ethan swallowed hard.
He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.
For someone like him—so sheltered, so loved by everyone he had ever met—
This was pain unlike any he had ever known.
To witness a child like this.
A child who had lost everything.
…
Ethan lifted his head.
His voice was rough.
"Tower. I will save this girl."
The response came immediately.
As if the Tower had been waiting.
{Take her burden.}
{She will not forget… but the weight of that night will no longer stop her from moving forward.}
Ethan's brows furrowed.
A thought struck him.
If he saved her—
Wouldn't she move on?
Wouldn't she pass into the Soul Realm?
Wouldn't he… lose her?
He could reach the Soul Realm too, as a reward for completing the trial.
But an E-rank being stepping into that place? Even with his limited knowledge he knows—
That was suicide.
His voice was firm.
"I want her to stay with me."
{Not possible.}
{She is already dead in the living world. And you, you are only here because of the Tower's protection.}
{And she is a soul. A soul needs a body or a medium to exist in the living world.}
Ethan clenched his fists.
"I will give her a body."
For the first time—
The Tower fell silent.
Then—
{You cannot—}
It stopped.
Abruptly.
Ethan frowned.
This feels… familiar.
Like something interfered.
Then—
{You can take her.}
{But you will bear the consequences of this action.}
Ethan narrowed his eyes.
"What consequences?"
{The Keepers of Souls will take notice of you.}
{And you will become their target.}
…Pardon?
Ethan felt his entire body freeze.
This was only his second trial.
And he was already attracting the attention of big players?
He felt the girl's grip tighten.
As if she could sense his hesitation.
He looked at her. Her pure golden eyes that still have tear of blood.
And in that moment—
He made his decision.
I said I would save you.
And that's exactly what I'll do.
Ethan took a deep breath.
His voice was steady.
"Tower. I take her."
Silence.
Then—
{As you will, O Giver.}
—End Of Chapter 30—