Morning.
A cold breeze passed through the silent pathways of the memorial park.
The sky was dull.
Grey.
As if even the heavens refused to shine today.
Rows of people stood dressed in black.
Friends.
Relatives.
Office colleagues.
Even strangers.
All gathered for one reason—
To say goodbye.
⸻
Three graves stood side by side.
Ryuk's father.
His mother.
And Sally.
Fresh flowers rested over the soil.
The scent of incense lingered in the air.
One by one, people stepped forward.
Offering flowers.
Murmuring prayers.
Sharing condolences.
"Stay strong, Ryuk…"
"We're here for you…"
"This must be really hard…"
But their words…
felt empty.
Formal.
Like something they had to say.
Not something they truly felt.
⸻
Hours passed.
Slowly…
everyone began to leave.
Until only two people remained.
Ryuk.
And Max.
⸻
Max glanced at him, concerned.
"Ryuk… we should go."
"You've been sitting here for two hours."
Ryuk stayed silent for a moment.
Then nodded slowly.
"…Yeah. Let's go."
He stood up.
Walked toward the graves.
Placed flowers gently.
Closed his eyes.
And whispered—
"Mom… Dad… Sally…"
"We'll meet again soon."
⸻
SLAP.
A sharp sound echoed.
Ryuk's face turned to the side.
Max stood there, furious.
"Are you insane?!"
"I won't let you do something stupid like suicide, got it?!"
⸻
Ryuk blinked.
"…What?"
Max pointed at him.
"You just said you'll meet them soon!"
"What else was I supposed to think?!"
⸻
For a second—
Ryuk just stared at him.
Then suddenly—
he started laughing.
"You idiot…"
"I'm not going to kill myself."
⸻
Max crossed his arms, embarrassed.
"Tch… I wasn't worried or anything."
"I just didn't want police trouble."
⸻
Ryuk smirked slightly.
"…Yeah. Sure."
⸻
For a moment, silence returned.
Ryuk glanced at Max.
Should I tell him about the system…?
⸻
Suddenly—
A screen appeared in front of his eyes.
Glitching.
Distorting.
⸻
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
[EVALUATING TARGET…]
⸻
Ryuk froze.
⸻
[IF TARGET IS TRUSTWORTHY → DISCLOSURE ALLOWED]
[IF TARGET IS UNWORTHY → PENALTY: ELECTRIC SHOCK]
⸻
Max waved a hand in front of him.
"Ex… where did you disappear?"
⸻
Another flicker.
⸻
[RESULT: APPROVED]
[MAX = TRUSTWORTHY]
⸻
Ryuk's eyes widened slightly.
"…Thanks."
⸻
Max frowned.
"Why are you thanking me?"
⸻
Ryuk smirked.
"Not you."
"The system."
⸻
"…What?"
⸻
"Yeah… I'll explain."
⸻
Max listened.
Confused.
Skeptical.
Half-annoyed.
Half-curious.
⸻
"Bro… you've lost it."
"A system? Seriously?"
⸻
Ryuk sighed.
"Fine."
"Just watch."
⸻
At that exact moment—
Another screen appeared.
⸻
[QUEST ALERT!]
[OBJECTIVE: SAVE THE GIRL]
[WARNING: INCOMING VEHICLE DETECTED]
[REWARD: 50 W POINTS]
⸻
Ryuk smirked.
"…My first quest."
⸻
Max raised an eyebrow.
"Now what?"
⸻
Ryuk pointed ahead.
"In a few seconds… a girl will cross that road."
"And she's about to get hit."
⸻
Max laughed.
"Bro, this isn't some movie."
⸻
"…Just wait."
⸻
A few seconds later—
A small girl appeared.
Crossing the road.
⸻
Max blinked.
"…Okay that's creepy."
⸻
Ryuk got ready.
Tension rising.
Eyes focused.
⸻
The girl walked.
Step by step.
⸻
…And crossed safely.
⸻
Silence.
⸻
Then—
Max burst out laughing.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA—"
"Your system has a virus, bro!"
⸻
Ryuk frowned.
"…That's weird."
⸻
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
[PATIENCE, RYUK.]
⸻
Suddenly—
From a nearby convenience store—
Another girl stepped out.
Older.
Wearing headphones.
Lost in her music.
⸻
At the same time—
A car sped toward her.
Fast.
Too fast.
⸻
She didn't notice.
⸻
Ryuk's eyes widened.
"…NOW."
⸻
He sprinted.
Full speed.
Heart pounding.
⸻
The car got closer.
Closer.
Closer—
⸻
At the last second—
Ryuk jumped.
Grabbed her.
And rolled across the ground.
⸻
SCREEEEEECH.
The car barely missed them.
⸻
Silence.
⸻
They were still in each other's arms.
Breathing heavy.
Eyes locked.
⸻
Her earphones slipped.
Music started playing—
"And if a double-decker bus crashes into us…"
⸻
For a moment—
Time felt… slow.
⸻
Then—
Max walked in.
Paused the music.
"…Okay romance scene khatam?"
⸻
The girl quickly stood up.
"…Thank you."
And walked away.
⸻
Ryuk called out—
"Hey—"
She turned slightly.
"…Yeah?"
⸻
He smiled faintly.
"Nice song."
⸻
She stared at him.
Blank.
Then turned—
And left.
⸻
Max BURST out laughing.
"Bruh rejected "
⸻
Ryuk frowned.
"Bruh? I was serious!"
⸻
Suddenly—
Pain shot through his arm.
"…Ah—"
⸻
Max grabbed it.
"Let me see—"
CRACK.
⸻
"AAAAAAAAA—"
Ryuk screamed.
People nearby stared.
Some laughed awkwardly.
⸻
"Leave my hand idiot!"
⸻
Max backed off.
"…Okay yeah that's broken."
⸻
Suddenly—
A screen appeared.
⸻
[QUEST COMPLETE]
[REWARD: 50 W POINTS]
⸻
Ryuk's eyes lit up.
"…Nice."
⸻
Another window opened.
⸻
[WRATH STORE]
1. Heal Your Wounds Lv.1 — 30 W Points
2. Speed Boost (Temporary) — 50 W Points
3. Stamina Boost (Temporary) — 50 W Points
4. Regenerate (Special) — 500 W Points
⸻
Ryuk narrowed his eyes.
"…Why is Regenerate so expensive?"
⸻
[SYSTEM RESPONSE]
[REGENERATE: RESTORES LOST BODY PARTS]
⸻
Ryuk froze.
"…Oh."
⸻
Reality hit.
This isn't a game.
⸻
He took a breath.
"…How long to reach 500?"
⸻
[ESTIMATION: AFTER FIRST GOD ENCOUNTER]
⸻
Max stared at him.
"…You're definitely not okay."
⸻
Ryuk ignored him.
"…Buy Heal."
⸻
[CONFIRMED]
⸻
Ryuk focused.
His breathing steadied.
"…Let's try this."
⸻
Before he could act—
A new screen suddenly appeared.
⸻
[SKILL MANUAL UNLOCKED]
[HEAL YOUR WOUNDS – LEVEL 1]
⸻
Ryuk blinked.
"…Manual?"
⸻
[ACTIVATION CONDITION: COMMAND BASED]
[KEYWORD: "HEAL"]
[COOLDOWN: 2 HOURS]
[EFFECT: HEALS MINOR TO MODERATE INJURIES]
[LIMITATION: CANNOT FULLY RESTORE CRITICAL DAMAGE AT CURRENT LEVEL]
⸻
Ryuk narrowed his eyes as he read everything carefully.
"…So I can't just spam it."
⸻
[LEVEL UP REQUIREMENT: CONTINUOUS USAGE & QUEST COMPLETION]
[UPGRADE EFFECT: FASTER HEALING + GREATER DAMAGE RECOVERY]
⸻
Ryuk exhaled slowly.
"…Makes sense."
⸻
He looked down at his injured arm.
Bruised. Weak. Painful.
For a moment—
his fingers tightened.
⸻
"…Heal."
⸻
A soft green aura bloomed around his body.
Warm.
Almost comforting.
⸻
His arm began to recover.
Slowly…
Bones realigning.
Muscles stabilizing.
Pain fading away.
⸻
Within seconds—
Everything was normal.
⸻
Ryuk clenched his fist.
No pain.
No weakness.
⸻
A faint smirk formed on his lips.
"…Now this…"
"…is useful."
⸻
Max blinked.
"…Wait."
"…WHAT?"
⸻
Ryuk smirked.
"Told you."
⸻
Max exhaled slowly.
"…Okay."
"…I believe you."
⸻
Ryuk looked ahead.
Eyes calm.
But dark.
⸻
"Tomorrow."
"We start training."
⸻
Max sighed.
"…Why am I involved?"
⸻
Ryuk smirked.
"Because you're my partner now."
⸻
They walked away.
Side by side.
⸻
Above them—
The sun was setting.
⸻
But inside Ryuk—
Something else had risen.
⸻
Not hope.
Not peace.
⸻
Wrath.
⸻
To be continued…
⸻