Chapter 11: Cas’s Family

A towering, modern building that seemed to touch the clouds.

Cass watched the floating numbers on the elevator, stopping at the 33rd floor.

In reality, every floor was the same—the whole building was Cass’s home.

But there was someone on the 33rd floor Cass wanted to see.

When the elevator doors opened, the view spread out brightly.

A clean, spacious corridor, evidence of the cleaning staff’s meticulous work.

Cass walked through the complex hallways.

This floor was protected with the {Vision Misalignment} tool, making it nearly impossible for first-time visitors to even return to the elevator, let alone reach their destination.

Cameras were hidden in every corner of the corridor, equipped with heat-sensing devices.

The monitoring room was staffed 24 hours a day.

Cass approached a door with luxurious decor, distinct from the rest, and entered after passing an eye-sequence scan.

“Young master, welcome home.”

The elderly butler named Hyder bowed respectfully to Cass.

“I’m back, Hyder. Did my brother wake up today?”

“I’m sorry, young master, no. Although his heartbeat and eye movement are normal, there’s still no sign of awakening…”

“I see. I understand.”

Cass felt neither expectation nor disappointment—this was just part of daily life.

“I’ll change my clothes before seeing him. Hyder, you can go rest.”

Hyder nodded lightly.

“Thank you for your kindness, young master, but taking care of you both is my job. Besides, I don’t feel tired. Since today is your school day, I’ll ask the kitchen to prepare some good dishes.”

“No need, just something simple is fine. I’ll be heading to the Dungeon later.”

“Then I’ll prepare a lunchbox for you to take, young master.”

“Alright, sorry to trouble you.”

Hyder left gracefully.

Cass moved to another elevator inside the room and took it up to the 36th floor.

This was Cass’s true room.

Entering the dressing room, Cass first unbuckled the belt and removed the pants, then shrugged off a tight outer jacket, and finally slipped off a silver ring from the left ring finger.

The moment the ring came off, a girl’s face appeared in the mirror.

With the true appearance released, the aura returned to a feminine, gentle beauty.

The Expulsion Ring—it could eliminate any sense of discord others felt toward the wearer.

Even if you walked naked down the street, people would accept it as normal.

“Hmm~ Mm~”

Humming softly, she picked her favorite loungewear from the closet and changed.

Now, in the mirror, stood a uniquely beautiful girl. Her short hair, brushed, was just long enough to cover her ears.

Cass—or rather, her real name—Cassia.

Cass’s younger sister.

After changing, she went back to her brother—Cass’s—hospital room.

Warm sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Cass slept peacefully, surrounded by ever-running machines, large and small.

“Brother, today I officially started going to school in your place. If you don’t wake up soon, I’ll end up graduating for you, too. I don’t want to have to help you finish university, you know?”

The doctor said the patient was dreaming, always dreaming, and it was best to talk to him more—maybe it would help bring him back.

Cassia didn’t mind.

There weren’t many people at home she felt comfortable talking to, anyway.

“The entrance exam wasn’t as hard as I expected. Maybe because we’re siblings, my talents are just like yours. I can already control the activation range to fit in my palm. How about that? Amazing, right?”

Cass’s breathing was steady, heart rate normal.

“Hmph, you still look down on me, don’t you? Yes, yes, compared to you my talent isn’t as refined. I had to team up with others just to pass the exam. Unlike you, who started training to be an Explorer in elementary school and always ranked First Place in the graduation exams. I only joined halfway and still made it into the National Explorers School, but you’re here sleeping all day…”

Cass didn’t respond.

“You might not believe it, but I ended up in the same class as the person I teamed up with. We promised to go to the Dungeon tomorrow to level up. That’s right, our goal is to become ‘The Strongest’ team! In that case, brother, this ‘First Place’ can’t beat my ‘Strongest’!”

‘The Strongest’ and all—that’s like something out of a shounen manga.

Cassia muttered the last part shyly.

In the spacious room, Cassia spoke proudly to her brother.

“Believe it or not, I was challenged to a duel on the first day.

That guy obviously wasn’t a good person—acting arrogantly just because he’s a high Lv.

I really dislike people like that.

And his friend tried to do something bad to my friend—the one I mentioned before, named Kersey, a really cute girl. I’ll never let them lay a finger on her.

Bried will team up with us, too. That red-haired girl boasted she’d take on all three of us.

Just what I wanted. I’ll give him a good beating then!”

Cassia paused.

“…Actually, I was a little scared, brother. Don’t get the wrong idea—I’m not scared because I regret accepting the challenge! It was the first time we met, and he suddenly punched me. Are all high Lv people so unreasonable?”

“I couldn’t activate my talent in time. That punch was so strong—I thought I’d die, like being hit by a car. Luckily, Siloque gave me an X21 Shield earlier… Speaking of which, where did he even get it…?”

If we lose the duel, will those people…

Cassia shook her head, trying to banish the anxiety.

“Sorry! Brother, I haven’t introduced Siloque yet! Unbelievable! He’s actually Bried’s childhood friend…”

“Siloque? Is he a boy, Cassia? He is, though he looks pretty ladylike.”

The hospital room’s automatic door slid open quietly, and a tall woman in sneakers entered.

Not that she couldn’t wear heels—she just found sneakers more comfortable.

If she wished, wearing heels to match her striking 2.1-meter-tall, elegant frame, every man within a hundred miles would volunteer to be her loyal dog.

If they dared to approach her, that is.

“Mom, what are you doing here?”

Cassia’s tone dropped several degrees.

The biological mother of Cassia and Cass—Vitoris Benol.

Her deep blue, glossy hair was tied in a bundle behind her head, her almond-shaped eyes of matching color clear and commanding.

Her face held a dignified beauty untouched by time, as if no years could mark her.

Anyone unaware might mistake her for a neighborhood big sister.

In truth, she was the real power behind the Benor Corporation, a woman so busy her schedule was calculated by the minute.

Cassia wasn’t surprised her mother knew about Siloque—the Benor Corporation was the largest in the city, so looking up people was easy.

“I told you,” Vitoris smiled softly, “You should call me Mother.”

“…Ugh!”

Cassia’s pupils dilated, the world spinning, but long years of willpower kept her from fainting.

Her mother hadn’t used any skills, nor a hint of seriousness.

Just a trace of perfectly controlled killing intent.

Lv94, former Dungeon Explorer, one of the first humans to push into the fifth floor of the Dungeon.

This was her mother.

“Mother…”

“Mm, mm, mm, no slacking in manners.”

Vitoris’s smile was sweet.

“I came today to praise you. Well done, Cassia. You kept your promise and got into the school. Congratulations, congratulations.”

She clapped her hands.

“Three months apart, and if this is all you wanted to say, a LINE message would suffice.”

“I sent one, but you didn’t reply.”

“I didn’t want to.”

“Is this your rebellious phase? How can you say such things to your mother?”

Devoid of her earlier dignity, Vitoris now sounded like a complaining big sister annoyed her bubble tea was missing pearls.

“When you were born, it hurt so much I wanted to die. Even the Sinscourge Centipede, the boss of the fourth floor, biting me in half wasn’t as painful. Mom hurt twice! Twice! To bring you two into this world. You should be overflowing with gratitude.”

“But…”

Cassia’s tone didn’t change.

“You’re the one who gave up on brother, aren’t you?”

Vitoris smiled silently, moving to the bedside and playing with Cass’s long hair.

A piercing memory stabbed through Cassia’s mind.

—Cassia, Cass can’t go on. If you have anything to say, say it now.

From now on, you’re the sole heir of the company.—

A year ago, Vitoris brought Cassia to Cass’s hospital room and announced the end of treatment.

Three years earlier, Cass had suddenly fallen into an unexplained coma.

Two years of treatment produced no results.

Even after pouring the company’s resources into treatments and consulting world-renowned doctors, everyone had only one answer—

No one knew the cause.

Every indicator showed a healthy body—no sign of magic or curses.

But Cass showed no sign of waking.

Cassia remembered clearly.

Her mother’s reasoning was blunt—He has no hope, give up.

She said she’d personally end Cass’s suffering.

—Since I brought you both into this world, I’ll see you off as well.—

That day, her attitude was the same as now.

Speaking with the cheer of a neighborly big sister—talking about life and death as if they were casual gossip.

No, she’d probably realized it long ago.

She just didn’t want to face her mother’s true nature.

Her mother had no interest in the weak.

—No matter what, you refuse to help brother? I’ll do anything, please…

Please save him…

Help him—

Cassia sobbed, head lowered, never seeing her mother’s expression.

After a while, Vitoris spoke, as if recalling a funny memory:

—Then let’s play a game.

You take Cass’s place and enter the National Explorers Academy.

No one can discover your true identity.

You must also graduate First Place.

The key is to keep your identity as Cass hidden.

If you succeed, I promise to care for Cass until natural death.—

“My good daughter, my precious Cassia, prove your worth and ability to me.”

Leaving those words behind, Vitoris returned to work.