Light stepped back into his room.
On the bed lay his school uniform—freshly ironed, folded with neatness that felt eerily out of place. As his eyes lingered on the fabric, a strange déjà vu struck him. A flicker of recognition. A tug in his gut.
"Wait," he muttered. "What class… am I in again?"
He sat down slowly, trying to recall the timeline, his current school year, the state of exams. And then it all clicked into place—like a steel door unlocking inside his brain. Dates. Teachers. Schedules. All clear. Crystal clear.
He blinked, stunned. My memory's never been this sharp before. Not even close.
A creeping thought emerged. Is this because I've come back in time?
And that's when the voices returned.
That irritating, eerie chorus.
They echoed from all directions—low, raspy, amused. Light's lips curled in frustration as he stormed toward his cupboard. He flung it open, staring at the seven glowing artifacts placed carefully inside. Their presence was undeniable, like relics from a dream forced into reality.
"I swear, if you start again..." he muttered through clenched teeth, "I'll toss you all out. I'll bury you in concrete. I'll make sure no one ever finds you again!"
The artifacts fell silent.
Completely.
Until one voice broke through, quieter this time—mocking but curious.
"You won't throw us away. You can't. We're bound now. Too late to back out."
Light narrowed his eyes. "Why?"
Another voice answered, solemn this time. "Because we're not separate from you anymore. You chose us. And now... we can't stray far. Not until it's done."
"Done?" Light asked. "And what exactly is 'done'? How did I end up in the past? And what the hell do multiple Karma Points really do?"
But before he could go further, all the voices said in unison—
"Silence."
The room trembled slightly, as if the air itself had hushed. Light, gritting his jaw, stayed quiet.
One of the voices, clearer than the rest, began to explain.
> "We can't always talk. Only at intervals. Think of it like a cooldown. A system reboot. Once we're out of charge, we go quiet until the energy builds again. Right now, you've got a small window. So listen closely."
The air seemed to thicken with invisible power.
> "You tricked death. Twelve times. Each time, you gained a Karma Point. That's nearly impossible. The universe gave you twelve keys to reality.
Seven of those… you spent summoning us.
The remaining five activated something far beyond your understanding.
They didn't send you back in time…
You destroyed time.
Not just rewound it. Rewrote it.
Time didn't move. It shattered. And you're the only one standing on the other side."
Light felt the weight of the revelation settle in his chest.
"So this world… isn't the same one I failed in?"
> "No. This world was real. But now… it's your stage. One change caused a million ripples. Magic doesn't exist in this world—but now it does. Because of you. Because of us. And because you alone hold all seven artifacts."
Another voice added:
> "And you didn't just take us. You absorbed us. When someone chooses all seven sins... and has more than seven Karma Points... the rules change.
You become our master."
That word echoed.
Master.
It didn't feel heavy with glory. It felt dangerous.
> "Your bond with us removed all natural drawbacks. Any limits that come with our artifacts… gone. Except for a few minor ones that may fade over time.
But there's more. Choosing all seven unlocked… something rare.
The ability to evolve us. But only if you complete our quests."
Another voice chimed in, impatient now.
> "You wanted answers? Then remember our conditions. Complete them—and you'll unlock new traits within each artifact. Fail, and we remain stuck."
Light sat on the edge of the bed, listening carefully as each sin declared its personal Quest:
---
1. Ring of Pride
Quest: Top your final exams. No excuses. Beat everyone.
---
2. Wallet of Greed
Quest: Spend every single dollar the wallet gives you, every day, for one month. You can't save it. You can't cheat the rule.
---
3. Flask of Gluttony
Quest: Work out for two hours every single day for thirty days. No rest days. No skipping.
---
4. Spectacles of Envy
Quest: Expose the deep secrets of ten people. The kind that would shock them. Shake them. You'll know what to say when you wear the glasses.
---
5. Watch of Sloth
Quest: Use it only once per day. Only for an hour. Never more. Never less.
---
6. Locket of Lust
Quest: Make ten girls your genuine friends—inside ten days. Not lovers. Not flings. Friends. Real connections.
---
7. Gun of Wrath
Quest: One kill. Every day. Only with the gun. "Only when the target deserves it. But the trigger must be pulled, and blood must flow"
---
The room went silent.
As if the artifacts had said all they could. One final whisper came:
Complete them, and our power will evolve with you. But fail… and this reality will stay as it is—unchanged. The items will remain in your hands, yes… but we—us—their voices faltered, tones tight with dread—we will vanish. And you... you'll be stuck here. Powerless. Alone. With no second chance to rise again.
Then… silence.
True silence.
Light glanced at the artifacts—no glow, no voice. They were dormant now. Waiting.
He stood up slowly.
"Seven quests," he whispered. "Some easy. Some insane."
But a slow smile formed on his lips.
But I've got all seven items now.
His eyes narrowed with determination.
"Let's see what this 'game' really is."