“Lia, did I say something strange?”

Lia shook her head with a guilty look. “No, I was the one who misunderstood you earlier. What do you want to ask? I’ll tell you everything.”

*Hmm… what’s her bust-waist-hip measurement?*

Su Hong clenched his empty fist, tucked it beneath his nose, and let out a light cough. “Back in the changing room, I saw you pull out a blue sword. What was that? Magic?”

At the words “changing room,” Lia’s cheeks flushed slightly—but thankfully, she didn’t bring up the past. “Not magic. This—the Spirit Card of the Frostlight Blade.”

As she spoke, she produced a metallic card. Bronze-hued, etched with intricate glyphs. Su Hong couldn’t read them, yet they felt oddly like circuit diagrams.

He waited quietly. Lia fumbled for words, stammering and hesitating. “Um… everyone has magic power, but it can’t be released or even felt. Once you wear a Spirit Card Slot, you can control it… um…”

Her explanation was a jumble, but Su Hong pieced it together instantly. “So you slot the Spirit Card into the Spirit Card Slot, channel magic to activate it. Different cards, different effects—right?”

“Yes! Exactly—wait, *what*?!” Lia stared, bewildered. “How did you get it so fast? Did you remember something?”

“For me, it’s not hard to grasp.” Su Hong smiled casually. It felt strangely familiar. Magic power = battery. Spirit Card Slot = wires. Spirit Card = circuit board. Together—they made a flashlight.

—Something like that. ✧(≖ ◡ ≖✿)

Lia froze, a cold flicker of panic rising in her chest. *My explanation was messy… I hadn’t even finished… and he deduced everything. Good heavens—his mind is terrifying!*

*What kind of person was he before losing his memory?!*

For the first time, she glimpsed why the warden feared him. Yet unlike them, pity swelled deeper within her.

“Such a brilliant, capable person… how much suffering must he have endured to end up like this…” she murmured absently—then froze, hand flying to her mouth, cheeks tinged pink.

Su Hong, still focused on the card, shook his head instinctively at her words. “Thank you, but ‘brilliant’ is too kind. As for persecution… I’ve lost count. Most are forgotten. The world never stops piling new hardships on me—I’ve no energy to recall each one. Resistance is all I have left.”

“The… the *entire world*?!” Lia gasped, feeling utterly lost.

Su Hong shrugged lightly. “So who makes the Spirit Card Slots and Spirit Cards?”

Lia scrambled to organize her “small-capacity brain,” then spoke carefully. “Those who wield Spirit Cards professionally are Spirit Cardmasters—powerful fighters. That’s my goal. Those who craft the cards and slots are Spirit Glyphsmiths.” She glanced at him with quiet admiration. “You seem incredibly strong. In this town, no Spirit Cardmaster can punch through a wall barehanded. Without cards, they’re barely stronger than ordinary people.”

Su Hong glanced at the patched-up wall. *Misunderstood again.*

Whatever. However fascinating this system sounded—he would *absolutely*, *absolutely* not touch it. Luck had toyed with him enough. Staying put was safer.

Then Lia added: “Spirit Glyphsmiths are rare. Many try, but quit—it’s too hard. Even those who succeed struggle to survive; bad luck means failed or low-quality cards. I know little… but I’ve heard powerful Glyphsmiths can *control luck*. Sadly, few endure the basics.”

“Control luck? *Really*? I’ll become a Spirit Glyphsmith!!” Su Hong shot to his feet, startling Lia.

“I-I only heard it said that way… Why so sudden?!”

Seeing her flinch, Su Hong bowed his head apologetically. “Sorry. Got carried away. Lia—please call the warden back. Have them prepare everything I need to become a Spirit Glyphsmith. ASAP.”

“Eh? Um… okay…”

Dazed, Lia rose and left the cell.

Outside, the warden and guards had been eavesdropping the whole time. “Understood. Procurement starts now.” The warden turned to Lia, eyes pleading. “Lia… I was wrong. Please stay. Su Hong treats you differently. Only you can calm him. If he loses his temper again…”

Lia hesitated, then shook her head firmly. “I’m sorry. I won’t work here part-time anymore.”

As disappointment settled over them, she added softly, “But Su Hong is pitiful. I shouldn’t have locked him up. I’ll visit him often.”

Without another word, she walked away. The warden and guards watched her retreating figure, gratitude glowing deep in their eyes.