EMST 02

chapter 02

My brother was shouting at me, spitting everywhere, his face turning bright red.

“Hey! Why did you tell Mom I stayed out all night! You want a beating to come to your senses?!”

This was my dreadful home.

Was it a dream?

It felt like I was waking up from a long sleep. As I sat up in a daze, I opened my eyes wide at the sight of a piece of paper falling beside me.

Lottery winning numbers, and a building deed.

It’s not a dream. I’ve returned again.

I let out a deep sigh—unable to tell whether it was relief or despair—and buried my face in my hands.

When I lifted my head again, my eyes were filled with clear determination.

Third life.

Titiana Este, winter of her 20th year.

✦ ✦ ✦

The time I returned was one week before the saddest day of my life.

The day my mother died of tuberculosis.

My mother handed me a pouch of gold coins she had hidden all this time. It was the same pouch she had once used to pay off my father and brother’s debts in my previous two lives.

“Titi, my daughter. I saved this for you… for when you get married.”

“Mom.”

As I looked at it, countless thoughts flooded my mind.

In both past lives, I had struggled to take care of the Este family in her place—to clean up after my hopeless father and older brother.

Looking back, it was the stupidest thing I could have done.

I spoke to my mother, who looked at me with worried eyes until the very end.

“Don’t worry about me, Mom. I won’t live like that this time.”

My mother smiled even though she probably didn’t understand what I meant, as if she were encouraging me.

That day became the last I spent with her.

As soon as the funeral ended, I boarded a train bound for the capital. I had packed in a hurry, wearing mourning clothes and carrying very little luggage.

Sitting in the cramped seat, holding my bag, I repeated like a mantra:

“The only person who can make me happy is myself. Cheer up. I can be happy this time…”

Then I looked out the train window. The scenery passing by no longer seemed as gloomy as before.

On the third day of the journey, I finally arrived in the capital.

The capital was humid.

But the weather was a bright spring day.

I tucked my coat under my arm and looked up at the three-story building standing before me.

87th Street, Unditch.

It was the first time in this life I stood in front of this mint-colored building—but it didn’t feel unfamiliar. On the contrary, it felt nostalgic.

Because this was the building where the Master’s tavern was located.

To think that what he gave me… was the deed to this building.

I fixed my hair and clothes, then approached and knocked on the door. I felt nervous for a different reason.

“Hello?”

“….”

No answer came from inside.

Even when I pressed my face to the window, I couldn’t see anything due to thick dust.

Is no one here?

There was no sign of life on the first floor. Even the lights seemed off.

“Don’t tell me… it’s an empty building?”

That might be the case. After all, five years had passed between the present and the future I knew.

No. The Master clearly said there would be someone to help me.

Standing there wouldn’t solve anything. I had to go inside to find out.

But when I actually reached for the door, I hesitated.

What if they think I’m a suspicious woman?

But it felt even more awkward to just stand here waiting.

Just as I leaned against the door in frustration—

Creeeak.

The door suddenly opened on its own.

“Ah!”

I yelped and almost fell backward, barely catching myself.

Inside was just as dusty as it looked from outside.

It really was an abandoned building.

I swallowed hard and spoke quietly:

“Excuse me… I’m coming in…”

Did I even say it properly?

Well, I’ll just show the deed later anyway.

I set my bag down and stepped further inside.

✦ ✦ ✦

The building had three floors.

On the second floor, things were different.

Unlike the untouched first floor, there were signs that someone had been living here.

For example…

Trash?

More precisely, eaten food remnants were scattered around like shells casually thrown aside.

It looked fresh—no dust on it at all.

Someone had been here recently.

I decided not to overthink it and kept going upstairs.

Halfway up to the third floor—

“What is that?”

A blanket?

Something like a giant caterpillar was lying across the stairs, blocking the way.

“Why is that on the stairs?”

It blocked the entire staircase. I’d have to step on it or jump over it to pass.

Well… whatever.

If someone left it here, it’s their fault. I’ll just say I thought it was laundry.

I stepped on it hard.

“Ugh!”

“Huh?!”

A voice?!

Startled, I jumped back and grabbed the railing.

What… there was someone inside?

The blanket wriggled like a caterpillar… then a face suddenly popped out.

A young man with soft pink curly hair and bright blue eyes appeared.

“You chased me all the way here… how awful… huh? Who are you?”

His angry expression turned to shock when he saw me.

And I, on the other hand, was relieved.

“Master!”

Was this the Master the person who would help me?

I couldn’t be sure—but the pink hair alone made me feel safe.

I jumped onto the blanket in excitement.

“So you were here! I was so worried when I saw the first floor!”

But the man wriggled out of the blanket, confused.

“Uh… excuse me. I’ve never seen you before. Who are you?”

“…Huh?”

I rubbed my eyes and looked again.

This time I realized—

“Now that I look closely… aside from the hair color, you don’t resemble the Master at all!”

Even the Master in my past life didn’t remember me.

So maybe this was just… someone else.

Embarrassment flooded me.

“What are you doing…?” the man muttered.

Then he said:

“First, get off the bed. We need to talk.”

I quickly stepped away from the blanket.

He stood up. He was tall.

After fixing his bedding, he looked at me curiously with bright blue eyes.

Pink hair like cotton candy. Sky-blue eyes.

But unlike the Master I remembered—this man had no burn scars, no harsh aura.

He wasn’t the Master.

Awkward…

But fine. The Master wasn’t important anyway.

I had returned to become rich and live for myself.

And to do that, I needed a base.

This building.

The man tilted his head.

“I have many questions… but first, why are you here?”

I clenched my fists.

“Because this is MY building now!”