Darkness. Silence. A void that stretched endlessly.
Then—
A sharp gasp.
Rin's eyes shot open. His vision was hazy, his mind struggling to grasp reality.
'Where… am I?'
The ceiling above him shimmered under soft candlelight, intricate golden patterns carved into the luxurious white marble. It was nothing like the damp, cracking ceiling of his old apartment in Suwon.
His breath hitched.
This wasn’t his room. This wasn’t even his world.
Rin slowly turned his head, feeling an unfamiliar warmth beside him.
A woman lay there, her golden hair
cascading like silk over the embroidered pillow. Her gentle breathing was steady, her elegant features serene.
Even in his dazed state, one thing was clear—this woman was breathtaking. Her presence radiated warmth, a motherly aura that made Rin’s heart ache with something foreign.
‘Wait…’
He lowered his gaze.
Tiny hands.
His hands.
Small, pudgy fingers that barely moved.
His heart pounded as realization crashed down on him like a tidal wave.
"I… I've been reincarnated?!"
Shock, confusion, and a spark of excitement swirled inside him. He wasn’t just alive—he had been given a second chance. And judging from his surroundings, he wasn’t born into poverty. This was nobility. Wealth.
This… was everything his old self had lacked.
Rin took a shaky breath, trying to process it all.
‘If this is a fantasy world… then that means…’
His heart pounded with anticipation.
‘System!’
A golden interface flickered into existence before his eyes.
[System Synchronization: 60%]
[System Name: The Unfulfilled Path]
Rin’s breath caught in his throat.
It worked.
He really had a system.
Lines of text continued to fill his vision, each one making his pulse race faster.
[System Explanation]
The Unfulfilled Path is a unique system designed to grant the user everything they lacked in their previous life—but at a steep cost.
System Features:
Regret Quests – High-risk, high-reward quests based on past regrets. Failure results in extreme penalties.
Unbounded Potential – No natural power limit, but failure to improve results in severe consequences.
Treasure of the Path – Extraordinary rewards with costly failures, including stat loss, curses, and enemy attraction.
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Arcane Adaptability(sealed)– Magic evolves based on emotions, regrets, and experiences, allowing spells to be combined and surpass elemental limits.
System Restrictions:
Cannot be transferred, copied, or stolen.
Failure to progress may lead to unpredictable penalties.
Rin’s hands trembled.
‘This system… It’s dangerous.’
The penalties were severe. There were no second chances. If he failed… he would suffer.
But at the same time, it promised everything he had ever wanted.
‘This isn’t just a cheat… It’s a gamble.’
And he had no choice but to play.
Swallowing his nervousness, Rin took a deep breath and focused.
'Status Window!'
[Status Window]
Name: Rin von Everhart
Age: 0
Race: Human
Class: (Locked until age 5)
Talent: Tyrant of Commerce (Legendary+)
Vitality:
HP: 15/15
MP: 25/25
Stats:
Strength: 1
Agility: 1
Stamina: 2
Constitution: 3
Intelligence: 8
Stat Points: 0
Special Stats (Max 10):
Charisma: 7.5
Luck: 6.5
Perception: 5
HP Recovery: 2
MP Recovery: 3
Skills: None
System Features:
System Storage (Available)
Beginner Package:
Max HP +5, Max MP +10
Life-Saving Necklace (Stored in System Storage)
Rin’s sharp mind immediately dissected the information.
His Intelligence was the highest stat—likely a reflection of his past-life experience. That meant he wasn’t starting from scratch.
But what truly caught his attention was his Talent.
[TALENT: Tyrant of Commerce]
Description: Rin possesses an innate ability to perceive the true value of anything—whether it's gold, land, artifacts, businesses, or even people.
Grade:Legendary+
Effects:
*Instantly recognizes the real worth of items, investments, and trade deals, even if others fail to see it.
*Has a sixth sense for market trends, allowing him to predict which goods, lands, or businesses will flourish or fail.
*Can spot hidden opportunities, such as undervalued treasures, secret-rich lands, or even people with hidden potential
*Works in political and social dealings, letting him gauge the worth of allies, lovers, and enemies to make the best long-term choices.
Rin's breath came in short gasps.
‘This… This is insane.’
This wasn’t just a business-related skill. This was power.
‘If I use this wisely… I won’t just become rich. I can control everything.’
His fists clenched.
'This time… I'll be different.'
His excitement was interrupted by a new notification.
[Beginner Package Rewards Granted]
[Max HP +5, Max MP +10 (Applied)]
[Life-Saving Necklace (Stored in System Storage)]
And then—
[Beginner Quest Issued]
Mission: Give your mother a surprise smile when she wakes up.
Rewards: Strength +1
Failure Penalty: Mother will not take care of you.
[Accept] [Decline]
Rin froze.
'What kind of penalty is that?!'
Would she… abandon him if he failed?
His lips twitched. ‘No. There’s no way I’m taking that risk.’
[Accept]
At that exact moment—
The woman beside him stirred.
Her golden lashes fluttered open, revealing warm, golden eyes that reflected pure love.
She turned toward Rin, her gaze landing on him.
Rin panicked.
‘S-Smile! I have to smile!’
Forcing himself, he grinned—his tiny lips curving upward as his chubby hands reached toward her.
[Charisma: 7.5] – Effect Activated!
The woman’s entire expression melted.
“Oh my… My baby Rin, you’re smiling at me?” she whispered, her voice trembling with overwhelming love.
A soft gasp came from the maids in the room.
“Young master is so adorable!”
“He’s smiling already at just a few days old?!”
Rin’s face burned from embarrassment.
Instinctively, he covered his face with his tiny hands and turned away.
His mother and the maids laughed warmly, their eyes filled with affection.
[Quest Completed! Strength +1 Granted]
[Status Window]
Vitality:
HP: 20/20
MP: 35/35
Stats:
Strength: 2 (Increased from 1 → 2)
Agility: 1
Stamina: 2
Constitution: 3
Intelligence: 8
Stat Points: 0
Special Stats:
Charisma: 7.5
Luck: 6.5
Perception: 5
HP Recovery: 2
MP Recovery: 3
Skills: None
Rin let out a small breath.
A good start.
As warmth surrounded him, his tiny eyelids grew heavy.
Just before sleep claimed him, a single thought echoed in his heart—
'This time… I will live my life to the fullest.'
For the first time in both lives, he felt truly at peace.
