What appeared before Suran were the former butler and maids of the Crimson Garden.

To be precise—puppets clad in butler uniforms and maid outfits.

Their arrival clicked like a key sliding into a lock, unlocking the deepest sealed door within Suran’s heart.

A flood of memories surged back into her mind.

“Accept me… and become ‘me’.”

As Nightmare Queen Lyasis finished speaking, she transferred nearly all her power into the unconscious assassin boy cradled in her arms.

His body began to change.

Skin turned smooth, fair, dewy. Sturdy limbs and torso softened into slender, graceful curves. His chest swelled; below, all traces vanished. Absorbing the Nightmare Queen’s bloodline, *her* features reshaped—beauty peaking in an instant.

The assassin who challenged the Nightmare Queen a thousand times was chosen… and reborn a beautiful girl.

Shuran ceased to exist, leaving only the legend of “challenging the Nightmare Queen a thousand times.” In his place, Suran was born.

Lyasis hadn’t truly “restarted” as Lyasis II—the queen’s descendant, the young mistress Suran now served. There was never a First or Second. Lyasis was always one person. She simply became “mistress” after giving Suran her power.

The butler and maids who taught Suran etiquette and skills? Never real. Puppets temporarily animated by Lyasis’s magic.

Lyasis taught her everything. That’s why one “person” vanished each time Suran mastered a skill.

All to make Suran her sole maid—forever by her side.

“So… I was… Shuran?”

Suran stood frozen, face dazed. She remembered everything.

She was from Earth—a beta tester for the holographic VR game *Loren Chronicle*. After her family shattered, her parents vanished to escape debts, leaving her millions in arrears. She chose assassin work: taking contracts to “eliminate targets.” She became the strongest bounty hunter… and cleared every debt.

To survive, she grew stronger. Her path? Repeatedly challenging the hardest dungeon: the Crimson Garden.

She never cleared it—not after a thousand tries. Worse, the BOSS took a liking to her. Transformed her into a girl. Trapped her here… for eight years.

Or was this world—the Loren Continent—real all along? Had she truly transmigrated?

It no longer mattered.

One thought burned in her chest: *I want to go home.*

Back to Earth. To peace. To safety from debt collectors. To reunite with family. To return to school. To heal old wounds.

That was her dream.

She was *so close*—right before official launch—when the Nightmare Queen “kidnapped” her.

Eight years! A full eight years! Do you have any idea what I endured?!

Forced into a girl’s body. Forced into a maid uniform. Serving the one who stole my youth, my life—endless chores, endless humiliation!

And remembering how she’d once protected Lyasis while mocking her former male self? Suran’s mind shattered.

“Suran.”

Lyasis’s voice came from behind.

Suran turned. Lyasis stood at the doorway, lifting the fallen seal strip. Softly: “Who gave you permission to enter here?”

“Miss, I’m sorry!”

Suran instinctively curtsied—a perfect maid’s apology.

Wait…

Something’s wrong.

*What am I doing?!*

This is the criminal who stole eight years from me! Why am I bowing?!

*Pfft—*

Lyasis burst into laughter. “Oh my, oh my~ Suran. You’ve regained every memory, learned the whole truth… yet you still default to maid protocol?”

“You… knew?” Suran froze.

“Of course. Who do you think made you? I see every change.” Lyasis smirked. “The moment you heard ‘Shuran’ from that knight, I knew you’d dig up the past. Just didn’t expect it so fast.”

Her grin widened, teasing. “You curtsied on instinct, then doubted yourself—but your posture stayed respectfully poised. Hehe… so utterly adorable.”

“ENOUGH! STOP IT!!”

Suran shoved her down.

“Oh my~ Is it proper for a maid to pin her mistress like this?” Lyasis stayed calm, eyes locked on Suran’s.

“Sorry, Miss! My rud— Uh!”

Suran started to rise, then recoiled. *Why did I apologize?!*

*Is she controlling me?*

She met Lyasis’s knowing gaze—and knew the truth.

This was *her* instinct.

Once, assassin instincts disrupted her maid role. Now, reclaimed memories warred with ingrained loyalty. Two selves. One heart. Tearing her apart.

“I’ve hidden this too long… I’m at fault too.”

Lyasis’s smirk vanished. Sincere apology bloomed on her face.

(All an act.)

Suran hesitated—just a heartbeat.

Lyasis seized it. Arms wrapped around Suran’s neck, pulling her close. A whisper, warm against her ear:

“So… please punish this naughty girl properly~ ❤”

*No. Don’t fall for it. It’s a trap. Resist!*

But her body moved anyway.

Slowly, Suran unclasped her own collar, fastened it around Lyasis’s neck. Picked up the thin chain waiting nearby. Click. Locked.

“A misbehaving young mistress must be disciplined.”

Suran rose. Eyes dark. Gaze heavy upon Lyasis beneath her. Voice low, deliberate:

“Come. Follow me inside.”