I finally did it. The feeling of relief washed over me as I sank into my bed, nestled at the top of the bunk bed. It was the only place where I could write privately, away from the prying eyes of the others. The room was quiet, the flickering candlelight casting soft shadows on the wooden walls. I pulled out my notebook and pencil, my thoughts already racing ahead.

I had been jotting down the main story of the game, the plot unfolding like a grand tapestry in my mind. It felt strange, but in this world, I could see the game’s story as if it were my own. It wasn’t just about playing anymore; it was about influencing the fate of the characters, steering them away from the bad endings that awaited them. I knew where the traps lay, where the mistakes happened, and I was determined to change it all.

Right now, we were in the year 192 E.E. (Era of Existence). The MC—the protagonist of the game—had just started going to school, and the game’s beginning was set around 1101 E.E., making it nearly nine years since the world started. There was so much I needed to do, so much to prepare. I still had time to get stronger and help the MC, but that meant learning as much as I could about this world—particularly about ancient magic. To master it, I needed to journey to the Fairy Kingdom. But I had to be smart about it. I needed information—hidden quests or rare artifacts along the way. There was no harm in being thorough.

But before I rushed off, I needed to focus on the basics. Sure, I had an enormous amount of mana at my disposal, and I had been blessed with the ability to control all the elements—wind, fire, water, earth, light, and darkness. But raw power meant nothing if I couldn’t control it. I’d seen a kid use a wind ball, and I could replicate it, but that wasn’t enough. I needed to master the fundamentals first. Only then would I be able to fully harness the power of the elements that were now mine to command.

Before I got too lost in my thoughts, I remembered that I still needed to visit the church. The priest who appraised me yesterday—Father San—had mentioned something important. I recalled his surprised look when he saw my abilities. I think he expected me to return today, especially since the head priest was supposed to be there. They probably had some offer for me. After all, my abilities were rare.

But before I went, I needed to hide my notes. No one could know what I was writing—especially not now. I said the word under my breath, barely audible in the stillness of the room. “Inventory.”

A soft glow surrounded my notebook and pencil, and then—poof—they disappeared. I watched as a floating icon appeared before me, showing the items I’d stored in my inventory. It was convenient, almost too convenient, and I hadn’t expected this power to be something I could actually use. I thought it was just part of the game mechanics, but it felt real. It was real.

With a quick glance around the room, I made sure everything was in order. I had to tell the nuns and my big bro before I left for the church. Speaking of which, I couldn’t help but think about the strange appraisal yesterday. When the priest had tried to appraise my big bro.

I remembered how Father San had looked at big bro Gain, my twin, with a curious expression.

“You two are twins, right?” he’d asked.

“Yeah,” big bro Gain had replied, his usual carefree smile in place.

Father San had suggested, “How about trying the appraisal on yourself? Maybe you’ll discover some affinity for magic, like your sister.”

Big bro Gain had perked up. “Really, me?”

The priest nodded enthusiastically, though he seemed a bit nervous. Big bro Gain, ever the optimist, had eagerly agreed. But when the appraisal was done, the priest’s expression shifted from excitement to confusion.

“W-wow,” Father San had stammered, his voice trailing off. “This is the first time this has ever happened...”

Big bro Gain’s smile had faltered as the priest continued, “There’s nothing... no magic level, no affinity... This is unprecedented.”

Silence had filled the room. Big bro Gain stood frozen in shock, disappointment settling over him like a heavy fog. For a moment, it was as if the world had shifted on its axis, and everything had become just a little less certain.

“I’m sorry,” Father San had said awkwardly, breaking the tension. “I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

Big bro Gain hadn’t responded, but I could see the disappointment in his eyes. It was as if a part of him had believed—no, hoped—that maybe, just maybe, he had some hidden power, something extraordinary. But there was nothing. Nothing at all.

As I prepared to leave, I couldn’t help but wonder what this meant for big bro. His lack of magical ability was puzzling.

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Gain's POV

As I added the last few ingredients, the aroma exploded in the kitchen—rich and inviting. The air shimmered with the smells of a comforting, hearty meal. I stirred the barley and mushroom soup, watching the grains soften and absorb the earthy scent of mushrooms and leeks. The combination of barley, parsley, and fresh vegetables was simple, yet it felt like something from home.

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Alongside that, I worked on the spiced apple tart. The apples were sweet and ripe, and I couldn’t help but marvel at the smell of the nutmeg and cloves. When I added a touch of sugar, the scent intensified. Sugar. I thought. Isn’t that supposed to be a luxury item reserved for the wealthy or noble class? How could it be so readily available here in the orphanage? Surely, there was a mistake. This place wasn’t anything like I had expected.

Then again, nothing here made sense. After all, this world had magic, and who knew what could be possible in a place like this? It was almost like I had stepped into one of those fantasy games I used to play with Saya. If magic existed, perhaps sugar was as common as salt in this world.

I glanced up from the counter to see Sister Anna, who had been quietly working on the soup with a touch of magic. Her hands moved gracefully through the air, weaving gentle threads of light that stirred the broth. She noticed my gaze and smiled, making her way over.

"So, you're done baking the apple tart?" she asked. "Let me see."

I gave her a small grin. "Have a taste, then."

"Really?" She raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. "Well, I don’t mind if I do."

She took a bite, her expression transforming as if she’d just discovered something entirely new. Her eyes lit up with delight. "Oh my... It tastes wonderful! I didn’t expect it to be this good, especially since I’ve been making them for years now."

I shrugged, a slight flush creeping up my neck as I fidgeted with the edge of my sleeve. My fingers brushed against the countertop, and I avoided her gaze for a moment, not wanting to come off too confident. "I wouldn’t say that, Sister Anna," I muttered, scratching the back of my head, my usual nonchalant smile on my face. "People have different methods of cooking, and experience counts for a lot. I also just really like cooking."

What was I even saying? Here I was, a kid with the body of a child, talking like I had decades of experience in the kitchen. What would she think if she knew I had more experience cooking than someone like her?

"What I mean is..." I hesitated, trying to sound more confident. "Back then, my mother taught me how to cook. It became a way of life for me after our parents died."

It wasn’t entirely a lie. Cooking had kept me going when everything else had felt like it was falling apart.

Sister Anna looked at me with surprise, her eyes softening. "Wow, I didn’t expect you to start cooking at such a young age, Gain. I’m really impressed. I actually started cooking only two years ago when the person who used to cook for the orphanage moved away."

Wait, what? She hadn’t been cooking for long? I never would’ve guessed.

"That said," Sister Anna continued, "What about your sister? Does she know how to cook?"

I thought about Saya for a moment. "Well, she’s really good at frying stuff," I said with a smile. "Fried chicken, fries, sunny-side-up eggs—she’s got those down when I get too busy cooking."

Sister Anna’s eyebrows lifted. "Sounds like she’s got talent."

I nodded, but there was more to Saya than just cooking. "She’s talented at other things too," I added, my voice softer. "She’s smart, and it’s a bit of a waste for her to focus on cooking when she has so many other things she could excel at."

Sister Anna paused for a moment, a smile spreading across her face. "You know," she said gently, "You act more mature than your age. Even though you're twins, you really care about her. It’s clear you don’t want her to waste time on things like cooking when she could be doing other things. You’re a good brother, Gain. You’d do anything for your sister."

Her words hit me harder than I expected. I froze for a moment, unsure how to respond. It wasn’t the first time someone had called me a good brother, but hearing it from Sister Anna felt different. She wasn’t from my old world—she didn’t know who I was or where I had come from. She was just seeing me for who I was now.

My chest tightened, and a warm, unfamiliar feeling spread inside me. I hadn’t realized how much I needed to hear those words until now.

Before I could say anything, a soft knock echoed from the kitchen door, and Saya’s head popped in.

"Big bro, are you here?" she called, her voice light.

When she saw me, her face lit up. "There you are, big bro!" But then she noticed Sister Anna and smiled. "Good morning, Sister Anna."

"Good morning, Saya," Sister Anna replied warmly. "Well, if you don’t mind, I’ll start calling some of the children to help prepare for lunch."

As Sister Anna left, Saya turned her attention back to me, a hint of nervousness in her expression.

"You're looking for me, Saya?" I asked, a bit puzzled.

She fidgeted slightly, then spoke up. "I’m going back to the church later... I just wanted to let you know."

"I see," I said, nodding. "Have a good time, but be careful, okay? We’re still getting used to this world, and we don’t know what could go wrong."

Saya nodded, her face softening. "I will, big bro. And you... you’re acting like an adult already." She paused, looking at me with uncertainty. "You’re handling everything so well."

I chuckled lightly, feeling a bit of pride. "Of course I am. Mentally, at least. So don’t worry about me. Go on."

But Saya lingered, her feet shuffling slightly. She looked like she was holding something back.

"Do you still have something to say?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Her voice was small when she finally spoke. "Sorry about what happened yesterday."

I blinked, then remembered. "Oh, about that?"

Saya quickly added, "You don’t have to worry about it, big bro. Maybe your magic ability just hasn't awakened yet. That’s why nothing showed up when the priest tried to appraise you."

I frowned, recalling the priest’s words. "But didn’t the priest say that even children have magic power? He said it should’ve shown up, but not a single bit of magic energy appeared when they tested me."

Saya lowered her gaze, biting her lip. "I know, but... maybe we can—"

"It’s fine, Saya," I interrupted gently. "It really is."

She looked up at me, concern in her eyes. "But big bro, you were so excited about it."

I smiled softly, trying to reassure her. "I’ve lived my life without magic before, in our old world. Do you think something as small as that is going to bother me now?"

Saya’s face brightened, her expression lighting up like the sun. "You really are amazing, big bro. Then I’ll do my best to learn magic for both of us."

I chuckled. "Then you better start preparing. I’ve still got things to finish here in the kitchen."

Saya nodded enthusiastically and dashed off, leaving me to finish what I started. For a moment, I stood there, savoring the rare quiet. Despite everything, things felt like they might just be okay.

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After Saya left, I stared at the wall, the kitchen feeling emptier than before.

It wasn’t a lie—I really could live without magic. But deep down, a part of me still wanted to wield it. Every boy’s dream is to cast spells, to feel the power of the elements coursing through their veins.

I clenched my fists. Maybe there was still a chance...

“Why, world? Why!?” I muttered under my breath, shaking my head.