Chap1

"The mistake wasn't the scythe let loose... but the heart that wavered."

A gloomy sky cloaked the silent space. A sacred forbidden zone in the Realm of Death – where only souls who broke the rules were summoned. No light. No time. Only hundreds of invisible eyes watching.

At the center of judgment, Suael stood still within a faintly glowing summoning circle. She bore the form of a death god: a black cloak trimmed with silver, quiet ashen eyes, and long white hair trailing along the ground. The scythe that once reaped thousands of souls now lay strapped across her back – a symbol of her crime.

A voice echoed through the space – no form, no mouth, only pure authority:

— Suael, Death God number 0982, you are charged with releasing a soul before its time.

— No objections, Suael answered, her voice calm and soft.

— Do you feel no remorse?

— None.

Silence lingered. Other souls present remained quiet as well. Sinners usually begged and wailed. But this girl... stood still as though she had already accepted eternity.

— What was that soul to you?

— Something that made me... want to live.

That confession seemed to shake the realm of judgment itself. A death god who wanted to live – the greatest taboo of all.

— Then, you shall taste what you desire: life.

— We sentence you: banishment from the Realm of Death.

— You will be placed into the body of a dying mortal.

— If, within 100 collected souls, you fail to find the one you let go... you will vanish forever.

A burst of light.

Awakening.

Her breath caught, air thick with blood and damp earth. She lay in the frail body of a child. Small trembling hands, searing pain in her chest.

"Initializing Divine Balance System... Activating Punishment Contract."

A transparent interface appeared before her eyes – visible only to her. In the top-left corner, glowing red text:

TARGET: 0/100 SOULS. TIME REMAINING: 365 DAYS.

Special Soul: NOT YET DETECTED.

"This child's name is Suael Elberg. What a coincidence."

Suael's lips curved in a brief, ironic smirk.

The pounding of hooves broke her thoughts. From the forest, a group of horsemen charged forth. One man dismounted – long cloak, ducal crest on his chest.

He strode forward and stopped before her. The girl – now Suael – lifted her head. Their eyes met.

— My daughter...? His deep, cold voice faltered.

— ...

— Why... why are you still alive? Her blood soaked the ground... her heart had stopped.

The girl said nothing. She simply stared at him – her birth father in this new life. His face remained expressionless, but in his eyes... a flicker of guilt.

— Suael...?

— Yes.

The reply came like a whisper on the wind – emotionless, but certain. The man was silent for a long moment.

— Your voice... it's not the same.

— People change after dying once... don't they?

The answer made him flinch. A cold wind brushed past. Neither said another word.

Three days later, Suael awoke in a strange room. Lavish furniture, silk fabrics, golden mirrors – the lifestyle of a noble lady. A young maid bowed as she stepped out:

— Lady Suael... you're awake.

She didn't answer. Her eyes scanned the room – a cold, deathly gaze that had yet to adjust to living again.

The maid instinctively stepped back.

— F-Forgive me. The housekeeper said someone would come to check on you once you recovered. It's... Master Violet.

That name sparked something.

System activated: Potential connection to special soul detected.

Name: Violet Elvine.

Profession: Young Physician.

Threat Level: Moderate.

The door creaked open. A boy entered – twelve years old, icy eyes, gloved hands, and a leather medical bag in tow.

— I was summoned to see how much of you is still human.

Suael looked up, silver-ash eyes calm and unreadable.

— Take a guess.