I opened the underground door and stepped forward. Yet, I hadn't taken even a single step before realizing there was no ground beneath me. In an instant, my entire body plunged into a seemingly endless descent. It was like bungee jumping without a cord, or skydiving without a parachute.0

My clothes fluttered wildly as the air resistance pressed against my entire body. With my eyes closed, I focused on the rush of the wind. Silently, I endured the pull of gravity. The fall continued for what felt like an eternity, until, just as I began to adjust...0

Thud—!0

I landed. My body, stretched out straight, slammed into the ground. I lay there, struggling to manage the pain in my lower back. Whether it was my tailbone, ribs, or both, something was certainly fractured. Yet, the body of the Iron Man began to heal quickly. As I waited, I gazed up at the sky. It was clear and blue, with the letters of the status notification flickering above.2

[Darkness of the Imperial Palace—Demon’s Mirror: First Cycle]0

◆ Quest Overview: Explore the Demon’s Mirror within Sophien’s regression.0

It was the first cycle, Sophien’s first life—one in which she had never regressed.0

"... Hmm," I murmured.0

The area around me appeared to be the Imperial Palace’s garden, though not a single person was in sight. The world seemed eerily empty. However, upon closer inspection of the ground...0

Rustle— Rustle—0

With the sound of sweeping, scattered leaves were neatly gathered. Then—0

Clip— Clip—0

The pruning of the garden’s shrubs continued. The trimmed branches floated into the air and settled into a sack. Tasks that should have required human hands were happening on their own. Suddenly, I noticed a shard of glass on the ground. Using Telekinesis, I lifted it and held it up to the light. … Indeed, there was no one in my world.0

"Retel, are you done...0