More often than not, he found himself deliberately ignoring the equipment Lana had given him.

’I don’t want to rely on her things... I need to become stronger on my own,’ he would insist inwardly.

Instead, he relied heavily on his spellcasting abilities, pushing himself to handle as many ghosts as possible through sheer skill alone.

However, that stubbornness came at a cost. He struggled...far more than he expected.

And during all of it, Gwen stayed by his side.

She never left him alone, always stepping in when things became overwhelming.

Sometimes, she would calmly instruct him on how to deal with certain ghosts.

Despite being an unawakened individual, she was exceptionally skilled with the advanced weapons developed by Nixon Corporation, wielding them with precision.

Time and time again, she proved just how capable she was.

And because of that, James couldn’t help but grow curious about her.

Curiosity slowly turned into admiration... and before he even realized it, admiration turned into love.

Once he acknowledged those feelings, he confessed to her.

And she accepted.

Yet, even after they became a couple, James often found himself being overly clingy.

The reason was simple...since childhood, he had always been alone. There had only been a nanny... and Lana.

The nanny had passed away before she could truly be there for him.

And Lana... she was like a fleeting dream. She had only been in his life for a week, yet she had left behind an impression that was impossible to erase.

She was kind, dependable... someone he could trust.

But Gwen was different.

He had spent months with her, getting to know her, growing closer to her, and building something real. And honestly, he had never felt happier.

After they became a couple, James often shared the resources Lana had given him, offering them to Gwen without hesitation.

Sometimes, Gwen would tease him lightly.

"If I didn’t know better," she said once with a playful smile, "I’d think you actually like this Lana."

James chuckled softly, shaking his head. "When you meet her, you’ll understand. She’s not that kind of person."

Gwen tilted her head slightly, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "Oh? Then what kind of person is she?"

James paused for a moment, as if searching for the right words.

"She’s... too beautiful," he admitted slowly. "Like a goddess."

The moment those words left his mouth, Gwen’s expression changed.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"If I didn’t know better," she said, her tone suddenly sharper, "I’d think you used to have a crush on her."

James rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, letting out a small, embarrassed laugh. "Well... to be honest, I did feel a little attracted to her at one point. I mean, anyone would."

Gwen’s lips pressed into a thin line.

"Then why didn’t you just stay with her?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of hurt. "Why come to me instead?"

James blinked, momentarily caught off guard.

"It’s not like that," he replied quickly. "She would never see me that way. To her, I’m just a younger brother... nothing more. I gave up on that a long time ago."

Gwen bit her lower lip, her gaze dropping slightly.

"What if... one day she changes her mind?" she asked quietly. "Would you go back to her?"

James couldn’t help but laugh softly, thinking she was simply being jealous.

But he misunderstood. Gwen’s expression darkened, and without another word, she turned away from him.

For the next two days, she barely spoke to him.

It was only after James repeatedly promised, "I won’t bring her up again... I swear," that Gwen finally softened, though a faint trace of displeasure still lingered in her eyes.

And just as they were preparing to leave the area completely, a sudden voice pierced through the heavy silence behind them.

"Wait!"

Both of them froze and turned around.

The moment they saw Raymond approaching, Gwen immediately raised her hand and called out to him. She stepped forward, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied his face.

"Have you decided to leave as well?" she asked, her tone cautious yet direct. "Or are you still going to stay with them?"

Raymond slowed his pace, bending slightly as he caught his breath.

"I’ve decided to leave," he replied, nodding firmly. "After that argument with Aurora and Jeremiah... I realized something felt off. Both of them... they didn’t feel right. It’s very possible that one of them is a ghost."

Hearing those words, both James and Gwen’s expressions shifted instantly.

’So I wasn’t the only one who felt it...’ James thought, his eyes darkening.

"If that’s the case, we shouldn’t stay here any longer," Gwen said quickly, tightening her grip on James’ hand. "We leave. Now."

Raymond nodded in agreement, turning slightly as if ready to lead the way. However, just as they were about to move, James suddenly extended his arm, blocking their path.

"Wait."

His voice was calm...but there was something sharp hidden beneath it.

Raymond blinked, slightly confused. "What is it?"

James tilted his head slightly, a faint smile appearing on his lips, though it did not reach his eyes.

"The note Gwen gave you... when did she give it to you? Did you read it? What was the password written inside?"

For a brief moment, Raymond hesitated.

"Huh...?" he repeated and let out a soft chuckle, the sound low and almost amused. "I never thought you’d be the one doubting me," he murmured. "But since you’re asking... the password was ’cupcake. ’"

The moment he said that, both Gwen and Raymond relaxed slightly, their guarded stances easing as they began walking again.

At first, everything seemed normal. But after a while, something felt... wrong. The trees looked the same.

Even the faint markings they had passed earlier appeared again.

James slowed down, his breath growing uneven as a cold realization crept into his mind.

"We’ve been walking in circles," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "There has to be a ghost nearby... otherwise, we wouldn’t keep ending up at the same place."