I didn't waste any more time. My hand rose slowly, my movements calm yet fully controlled, my fingers spreading as if reaching for something invisible in the empty air.
In an instant, purple flames appeared before me—slowly swirling like a living vortex, pulsing gently with a rhythm that was almost imperceptible.
The glow of the purple fire was dim, yet strangely captivating. It felt out of place in the ordinary world, as if its very existence refused to be fully understood by simple logic.
The flames did not emit heat like normal fire. Instead, the purple fire carried a peculiar aura—warm, yet oppressive.
The air around it felt slightly heavier, as though the space itself was aware that something unusual was happening and chose to remain silent, holding its breath without a sound.
From within the purple flames, I pulled out a marker. The object emerged slowly from the vortex, as if being drawn from another unseen dimension.
Without hesitation, I stepped toward the kitchen wall with steady movements, unhurried. Each step felt firm, as though I already knew exactly what needed to be done.
With precise, practiced motions, I began drawing a circle. Line by line formed neatly, its curves smooth and flawless, not a single stroke wavering.
My hand moved as if following a pattern ingrained in memory—something repeated so many times it had become instinct.
At a glance, the symbol looked simple—just a circle with several additional lines connected in what seemed like a random pattern.
But behind that simplicity lay a far more complex function, something that couldn't be understood with a single glance or by an untrained eye.
The circle was not merely a drawing—it was a barrier. A protective layer that would conceal all the abnormalities about to occur within this apartment unit from the outside world, wrapping it in an almost perfect illusion of normality.
No one would realize what was happening here. No sound would escape, no energy would be detected by any device.
Even if someone stood right behind this wall, they would feel nothing but ordinary silence, as if the room were completely empty, devoid of activity.
Why did I create another barrier? Because the one in Yaeko's room earlier had already been removed.
That was precisely why I created a new one in the kitchen—ensuring that everything about to happen in this apartment unit remained hidden without the slightest gap.
After finishing, I took a slow breath, making sure nothing had been overlooked. My eyes scanned every line once more, ensuring everything was perfect without the smallest flaw, before I finally turned back to face Ito.
"You're quite quick in making decisions," I said lightly, though my gaze remained sharp, observing every subtle change in Ito's expression. "Alright… here it is."
I summoned the purple flames once again. The fire appeared immediately, swirling more steadily than before, as if responding to my call without delay.
Without hesitation, I reached my hand into it.
From within the purple flames, two objects slowly emerged—the Positive Energy Multifunction Water Kettle and the New Life Candy Tin. Both Cursed Tools came out as if piercing through the boundaries of reality in an unnatural way.
Without wasting time, I opened the candy tin. The soft click of its lid echoed clearly in the increasingly dense silence, and I took out a single piece of candy that glimmered faintly under the dim light.
"Go ahead," I said, offering the candy to Ito.
Ito stared at the candy for quite a while. Their eyes narrowed slightly, clearly still filled with doubt and caution, as if trying to determine whether that small object was truly safe—or something else entirely.
However, that hesitation did not last long. Slowly, Ito reached out and accepted the candy.
Without saying much, Ito immediately placed the candy into her mouth, swallowing that decision without looking back.
I didn't stop there. With the teapot in hand, I poured warm tea into a glass. The soft sound of the liquid flowing was clearly audible, filling the silence that had previously felt tense, followed by the aroma of tea that quickly spread through the air—calming, yet still in contrast with the situation at hand.
"Drink," I said briefly, my tone flat yet firm, leaving no room for refusal.
And Ito obeyed, this time without hesitation, as if her previous decision had completely erased any remaining doubt.
Ito picked up the glass and drank from it, her movements calm, though still carrying a trace of caution.
The warm liquid passed her lips, and in an instant… the change began to occur—swift, yet not abrupt, like something that had long been waiting for that very moment.
Ito's body began to emit a soft glow, not blinding or piercing to the eyes, but warm—like the gentle touch of midday sunlight against the skin on a quiet day.
The light enveloped her evenly, not excessive, yet clear enough to draw the attention of anyone who saw it.
The air around her seemed to vibrate faintly, almost imperceptible, but enough to shift the atmosphere. The silence deepened, as if the world around them was holding its breath.
A few seconds passed, feeling longer than usual, and the change began to take visible form, no longer just a faint sensation.
Ito's hair, which had previously been filled with gray, slowly changed color—from dull white to a soft pale pink.
The transformation happened gradually, not all at once, as if time itself were being carefully reversed.
Strand by strand, the color returned, a natural luster reappearing, replacing the fragile impression that had once lingered.
Ito's eyes changed as well. The grayish-blue that had once seemed dull now became clearer and more vibrant, as though a long-held layer of fatigue had finally been erased.
Her gaze, once heavy, now felt lighter and more focused—like someone finally freed from a long, unseen burden.
Her skin did not escape the transformation. The wrinkles that had once been clearly visible began to fade slowly, those fine lines disappearing one by one without leaving a trace.
Her skin became smoother and firmer, yet still natural, without any sense of being forced.
Everything felt like a restoration that should have happened, not something strange or unnatural.
Ito's face, which had once carried the marks of age, now appeared far fresher. The traces of exhaustion vanished, replaced by a calm youthful presence.
She did not just look younger, but more alive—like returning to the best version of herself, a version that may have long been lost.
The transformation continued without pause. Ito's posture became straighter, her shoulders, which had once slightly slumped, now naturally aligned again.
Her breathing became steadier, deeper, and more regular, as if her entire body system was now functioning with far greater efficiency than before.
The aura she emitted also changed significantly. Where she had once seemed like a woman who had lived through many hardships, she now appeared like someone who had just regained her youth—lighter, more stable, yet still carrying the same depth.
The difference was far too clear to ignore. From a woman who appeared to be around fifty years old… Ito now looked like someone in her mid-twenties.
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[Note: This novel is updated on every even-numbered date]
[Note: This is my other novel: As the White Spider-Man in Earth-76 with the Spider-Man System]
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