After breakfast, I stood up and went away while grabbing the tray. That was when things became even stranger.

As I reached the door, Viora also stood up and followed right behind me.

That wasn’t all. Whenever I sat down, she somehow ended up sitting near me shortly afterward.

And if I moved, she moved with me.

At first, I thought I was imagining it. Then, it happened for the fifth time.

Without saying anything, I walked into the library located at the end of the villa.

I didn’t have any kind of work there, nor did I want to read anything. I just wanted to see if Viora would follow me there, and if she did, then it would confirm my suspicion.

I went and sat on a chair, then began waiting for Viora to appear. Five minutes later, she was there.

I don’t know how she was able to find me when she couldn’t see me, or how she was able to walk without any help, but she was here in front of me.

’Something is wrong... Really, really wrong.’

.....

Now, I was sitting on the balcony while drinking tea. Meanwhile, Viora sat beside me quietly and also drank the tea I made.

’I know something has happened to her, but seriously, what...? What is it?’

Also, just now when I was coming back from the library after confirming my suspicion, I stopped walking for a specific reason.

Bonk.

Viora walked into my back and then immediately acted like nothing happened and passed by my side.

"Viora." I called her after lowering my cup.

"Mhm?"

"Are you following me?"

I wanted to ask this question for a long time. Yet somehow, I stopped myself as much as I could, but the question escaped before I could stop it.

Immediately, she froze and turned her head away.

"I am not."

At her answer, I raised an eyebrow and rubbed my forehead. Maybe I was overthinking. Maybe this was just my imagination.

Still...

As I glanced at Viora from the corner of my eyes, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed.

It felt like she was making sure I was still there and I hadn’t disappeared.

The thought made me pause and subconsciously, my hand reached toward her head.

Pat.

Viora froze at this gesture. For a second, she looked completely surprised. Then her expression gradually relaxed and a small smile appeared on her face.

Witnessing it, I smiled too.

’Yeah. I must be overthinking.’

Whatever was bothering her... As long as she could still smile like this, it couldn’t be anything too serious.

At least, that was what I believed. Completely unaware that every time I walked away from her, Viora’s mind repeated the same question over and over again.

’Who hurt him?’

And more importantly...

’Would they try to do it again?’

....

Finishing our tea, we kept sitting there. Neither she initiated any other conversation nor did I try to ask anything.

And while looking at the flowing lake and the trees beneath us, a thought appeared in my mind.

’Those traits?’

Out of nowhere, I was suddenly reminded about the traits I had gotten from the goblin’s core.

’I have those traits now and Viora is also with me, so I think I should try to use them.’

With that, I called up the system and it showed me the full menu.

[ <Menu>

Skills

Powers/Traits

Stats

Wife’s Stats

Wife’s Evolution

Quests.]

I clicked the ’Wife’s Evolution’ text and it showed a series of lines, including everything related to Viora’s evolution.

[Wife’s Evolution Information:

Current Evolution Phase: Phase 0

Current Effects:

- Speech Recovery: Complete

- Physical Mobility: Partial Recovery

- Vision Recovery: Incomplete (Psychological Problem)

Current Physical Alterations:

- Enhanced Hearing

- Enhanced Sensory Awareness (Small)

- Demonic Horn Formation (Permanent)

Locked Features:

- Advanced Evolution Paths

- Form Customisation

Future Locked Traits:

???

???

???]

’Hmm, where are the traits I got from the goblin? Why aren’t they being shown?’

I went back to the previous screen by hitting the back button shown at the top. There, I pressed the ’Powers/Traits’ text and a new screen appeared.

[Traits:

- Mana Link

• While maintaining physical contact with Wife:

- Mana Recovery Speed +100%

- Stamina Recovery Speed +100%

Stored Traits For Wife:

- Heightened Smell

• Greatly enhances the Wife’s sense of smell

- Toughened Skin

• Increases the durability of the Wife’s skin by 0.5×

- Predatory Instinct

• Evolves instinct beyond human limits

• Allows limited detection of ill intent

• Significantly enhances senses when activated

• Can trigger a temporary "beast-like" combat state under extreme conditions

Note: You can choose only one trait to evolve Viora. The other two traits will disappear. Please make a decision.]

"What?!" I subconsciously let out when I read that I could only use one trait and the others would disappear.

I turned and looked at Viora, but she didn’t seem to hear it or she just decided not to react.

Whatever the reason was, it didn’t matter. What mattered most was that I went through all that stuff just so I could get only one Trait?

’Now, I feel a little bit disappointed in the system.’

I stared at the screen for a few seconds, hoping the words would change if I looked at them long enough.

However, they didn’t.

Everything I risked my life for inside that Gate, every broken bone, every second I thought I was going to die, boiled down to a single usable option.

"Seriously?"

I muttered under my breath. And this time, Viora responded and tilted her head, unlike before.

"Woo Jin?"

"Oh, it’s nothing."

I closed the system screen quickly. The interface faded from my vision, but the problem didn’t disappear with it.

One trait.

Heightened Smell. Toughened Skin. Predatory Instinct.

All of them were useful. No, more than useful. But in a situation like yesterday, only one of them could’ve been the difference between life and death.

I leaned back in my chair and exhaled slowly.

’Is Instinct the best possible choice for now?’

Heightened Smell... useful for tracking. But in a city? It might be overwhelming with too much information.

Toughened Skin... simple. Direct survival boost. Less chance of dying. Always useful.

Predatory Instinct...

My thoughts paused at this one. Because it felt... I mean, read differently.

I glanced at Viora again.

She was calmly drinking tea, completely unaware of what was happening in my head.

’That trait...’

Predatory Instinct wasn’t just strength. It was awareness, detection, and combat instinct.

The system had even said: Can trigger a temporary beast-like combat state.

I swallowed slightly.

If Viora ever activated something like that without control... No. That wasn’t the problem right now. The real problem was simpler.

What was I trying to protect her from?

Danger in fights?

Or herself when she loses control?

’Don’t overthink it.’

I am just trying to save her from external danger, so ’Predatory Instinct’ would only help her if she ever gets pushed to a point where she can’t protect herself anymore.

I called the traits screen back and it showed up again in front of my face.

’Predatory Instinct.’

I hadn’t spoken it out loud, but the screen in front of me still changed.

Ding.

[Selection Confirmed.]

[Stored Trait Processing...]

[Warning: Irreversible conversion initiated.]

The moment the screen changed, Viora paused mid-sip and called my name.

"Woo Jin?"