Lappland Saluzzo—she was the only daughter of Alberto Saluzzo, the head of the Saluzzo Family, one of the Twelve Families of Siracusa.
She never knew who her mother was... or maybe it simply wasn't important enough for her to remember. But as a member of one of the most powerful families among the Twelve, her lineage granted her great influence in the country.
Yet, it wasn't because her father or her family members were stronger than the others—it was because they were masters at concealing their claws and clever enough to always choose the path that yielded the most benefit.
Her father was especially skilled at that. On the surface, he was just a humble middle-aged man obsessed with tending vineyards and making wine on his estate. But beneath that calm exterior, he was the most power-hungry and greedy man she had ever known.
Growing up as the only daughter of the Saluzzo Family didn't mean much to Lappland. She was like any other rich child, raised with care and taught etiquette, grace, and all the foundational knowledge one might expect. She was molded into a refined and elegant young lady under the finest tutors Siracusa had to offer.
But she always felt different from the other children.
She loved her vineyard, tending to it every day. There, she once found a scruffy little rat with a crippled leg. She never gave it a name. She had discovered it stealing grapes, scolded it, but couldn't bring herself to chase it away. Its injuries and bite marks suggested it had been cast out by its own kind due to its disability.
She brought it in and cared for it like a pet. Strangely enough, the rat loved her grapes and even became a helpful assistant in her grapevine research.
Lappland was also naturally gifted in combat—shockingly so during her training sessions with instructors.
She performed so well that her father, upon seeing the joyful smile on her face during sparring, was so disgusted he couldn't bear to look at her. She remembered that, at the end of that day, he had her dragged to a locked room where a large beast awaited.
When it saw her, the creature tried to break free from its chains to attack, but the thick iron links held it back.
Even so, as a child facing a monstrous predator she had never seen before, Lappland had no idea how terrified she truly was. She cried for hours, screamed for help, begged her father to stop—but no one came.
Not her father. Not the servants. They all stood silently behind the steel door while she was left with nothing but the sound of snarling and rattling chains.
After three long hours, she was finally released and sent back to her room.
That punishment was something her father had devised himself. He told her it was training—meant to help her, a mere wolf pup, grow into a real wolf like him, capable of one day leading the Saluzzo Family.
Lappland wanted to believe that. She truly did. So she buried her sadness and anger deep inside. She believed that one day she would become the kind of wolf he wanted her to be.
She even learned to hide her expressions. Her father had once told her that her smile while fighting was grotesque. As a proud Saluzzo, he probably saw joy in battle as inappropriate, unbecoming of their family's elegance.
Lappland tried to understand that too. She tried to suppress all her genuine emotions—just as he had ordered.
As his only daughter, all she wanted was a bit of his approval. She didn't care what kind of punishment she had to endure. She believed that everything he did had a reason—that he was merely preparing her to become the next head of the Saluzzo family.
She truly believed that...
But no matter how much time passed, no matter what she did—perfectly or not—it was never good enough for him.
Even the tiniest gesture at the dinner table, or the smallest mistake in her tasks, would earn her severe punishment. Beatings. Isolation. Or another stay with the beast—that had become routine in her daily life.
She kept telling herself she just wasn't good enough yet. That's why her father punished her so often.
That was her belief—until the day her father killed her first pet.
That day changed everything.
To Alberto Saluzzo, the injured sewer rat was nothing more than a filthy, lowly animal—unworthy of a place in his prestigious household.
So, to teach her a lesson, he demanded she kill it herself.
Of course, Lappland couldn't do it. To her, that rat was more than a pet—it was a friend, a companion, a source of comfort that had kept her spirit intact all those years.
She didn't see it as filthy or disgusting. To her, it was family.
That was the first—and perhaps the last—time she ever begged her father. She pleaded with him to spare the rat. Promised she would release it. Swore she would do anything—anything at all—if only he let it live.
When he smiled and gently patted her head, she dared to believe... maybe he still had some fatherly love in his heart.
But Alberto had no heart.
He grabbed the creature she loved like family—and crushed it in his hand as if it were a useless, rotting grape.
Lappland stared at the bloodied pulp and the mangled shape in his palm.
Her world shattered.
From that moment on, the image of her father in her heart ceased to exist. All that remained was a monster—far worse than the beast locked in that room.
She wanted to kill him. Tear him apart.
That was likely Lappland's first act of rebellion—her first murderous thought toward her own father.
But she was still just a child. How could she stand against the head of a family that ruled in a nation soaked in blood?
She was punished. Her body was broken. She was thrown into solitary confinement with the beast again—this time for an entire year.
But she no longer feared it. It was as if her heart had been ripped out. Sympathy. Sadness. Joy. She no longer felt any of it.
When she looked at the beast struggling against its chains, it felt like she was staring into a mirror.
Finally, Lappland understood—
To that man, she had never been a daughter.
She was just another beast. Something to train. To tame.
Just like the creature in front of her.
They were no different now.
Lappland let the smile she had always hidden slowly spread across her face.
Now she understood everything. In that man's eyes, only the Saluzzo name mattered.
And for the first time ever, Lappland had a desire that was entirely her own—
She would make that man pay. She would make him suffer. Watch his precious family fall to ruins before she killed him.
He would be held accountable for everything.
Maybe... just maybe, he was right. She would never become the "true wolf" he wanted.
Perhaps she would always be just a lonely little cub.
But who's to say? One day, she might become a real wolf—on her own terms.
And on that day, she would finally claim the freedom she truly desired.
....
The memories she had once forgotten suddenly resurfaced mid-battle, sending chills down her spine and making her feel nauseous.
"Hah... how utterly disgusting," Lappland muttered, laughing as she stared up at the dark sky.
She lay flat on the ground, a spear pointed at her throat, and someone's foot pressed firmly on her chest.
She glanced at the young man who looked like a Lupo and had just defeated her. But she knew—he wasn't a real Lupo.
Yet his movements, his posture, even his thought process in battle...
"It's like staring into a mirror."
"That's your power, huh? Mimicking my essence? No... judging by the memories flooding into my head, you saw even more. Memories from the past... or maybe something else—ah, whatever. I suppose it doesn't matter anymore," she said with a sigh, frustrated with herself for failing to properly assess her opponent—something completely unlike her.
Even now, Lappland's smile never faded.
Ren, the one standing on her chest, glanced at her broken leg and the twisted arm from their fierce battle—injuries he only vaguely remembered.
He recalled the fight—both of them clashing weapons, Ren using a spear technique he had never seen before, pressuring her. It wasn't a technique from him, but something born from his understanding after experiencing Lappland's memories.
Even though Lappland wasn't in her best condition, she was still a formidable fighter. In terms of speed and strength, she remained superior. Even though Ren had gained a much stronger body after becoming a Looper, his physical ability was still nearly half as weak as hers.
She had inflicted countless wounds all over his body. If it weren't for Ren sacrificing his right shoulder—allowing the sword to pierce it in the final moment in exchange for victory—he would probably be the one lying on the ground now.
"It's over, Lappland," Ren said. After seeing all of her memories and gaining temporary experience from them, he had been able to defeat her. But now that the effects of those memories had faded, he could no longer rely on them.
Even though he was lucky to have dealt with the woman in front of him before time ran out, Ren wasn't exactly happy. It was as if he were watching a pitiful woman being chained up right before his eyes.
And he, merely a bystander who had witnessed her memories without living through them, felt like someone helplessly forced to watch the scenes unfold through a pane of glass—unable to intervene.
No matter how hard he tried to convince himself he didn't know her, he couldn't. That's why he felt both sympathy and pity for her at the same time.
But that wasn't enough reason to let her go.
When she saw the seriousness in the young man's eyes, Lappland seemed to realize that he had made his decision.
"Go ahead... But let me give you some advice. After you kill me, you'd better dig a good grave—or destroy the body. If the Famiglia from Siracusa finds out, you'll be in big trouble."
It really was just like her—completely insane. Even while speaking of her own death, her expression didn't change, and she even offered him advice. Maybe she accepted his skill, or perhaps she just wanted to hide the shame of losing to a rookie.
Ren asked,
"What if I told Texas?"
Lappland turned toward him, smiling with amusement.
"Oh! You can try, but I'm pretty sure she wouldn't feel anything. She might even be glad I'm dead. In fact, I kinda want to see her smile at that moment myself," she said, laughing.
Ren couldn't help but sigh deeply when he heard that.
"...Just as I thought. You don't understand Texas at all."
"What did you say?" Lappland looked at him, confused. Ren didn't hesitate to lean down, poke her forehead, and speak with irritation.
"Just like I said, you idiot. You don't understand Texas at all! You're obsessed with her because you think she's different from you. You keep clinging to the idea of what a 'true Siracusan' is, even though the answer's been right in front of you the whole time! The truth is—you two aren't any different at all."
Lappland's eyes widened before turning cold.
"Watch your mouth. Someone like you—who isn't even from Siracusa—what would you know?"
It was probably the first time Ren had seen Lappland express anger toward him. But he didn't care, because he was angry too.
"You're right. I don't know anything... I haven't known Texas as long as you. I'm not from Siracusa, not a mafioso, and I don't have some screwed-up family like you do. Ever since I was born, all I've had is a trash body that couldn't do anything but lie there waiting to die in some damn hospital bed!"
"..."
"I never had the experience of having friends like everyone else. But I did have a family who cared for me. Even if they died and left me behind in that crazy hospital... I'm still proud to have been part of their family!"
"At that moment... in her memories—the way Texas looked at her—it was the same look my family gave me. That kind, worried gaze. That's the one thing I'm sure was real. But you never understood any of it. You thought Texas pitied herself. And that pisses me off!!"
"I'm not saying this to defend Texas. I've only known her for two days. But I already see her as a close friend. And after seeing all the years of memory stored in your thick skull, I feel like I understand Texas more than some idiot who can only think about revenge!"
"All the things Texas did for you—they should be enough to show how much she cares about you."
"Texas cares deeply about you. But you never understood. Texas probably wanted to save you from your situation, but she also knew the only person who could truly save you—was yourself."
"But you never had the courage. You're just a cowardly pup who keeps using the excuse that she can't escape the chains of 'rules.' That's the only difference between you and Texas."
"Texas chose to end everything herself and broke those chains to gain freedom. You, on the other hand, still cling to those dumb chains and chose to destroy yourself along with your crazy father—the one who bound you! It's clear you two aren't any different. You just chose different paths."
"I'll admit your actions were admirable. You probably care about Texas too, thanks to your long-standing friendship. You helped her let go of her past... Sure, the reason you went looking for her was just a cover under Cecilia's contract to keep her on track—but you also knew full well that you'd serve as a warning, so no one would dare mess with her."
"Heh... for someone with such a cute tsundere personality, don't you think it's a bit unfitting for you, Lady Lappland?" Ren chuckled mockingly before pulling the spear away from her neck and offering his hand.
Lappland said nothing. She simply stared at his hand in confusion.
"...What do you want?"
"Let's make a deal. I'll help you take down Cecilia and Alberto. In return, you teach me how to fight—and don't hurt anyone in the company."
"Take down that old hag and my father? Are you dreaming...?" Lappland burst out laughing. If this were a Siracusan joke, it was a decent one. But he'd probably only get one shot at it in his lifetime.
"You nearly died just fighting me alone... What makes you think you can deal with those monsters—not even I can touch them."
"I promise you."
Ren's eyes glowed gold, radiating pressure so intense that even Lappland was stunned.
It was the same feeling as that day—when she first faced the giant beast in that room. A creature she could never defeat, making her feel like a mere insect...
"If you help me, I'll help you. Even if it means destroying all of Siracusa."
"Why... would you help me?" Lappland asked, confused. Choosing Texas would have made more sense. Her reaction, of course, was to laugh aloud.
"I'm doing this for myself. I just want to live in peace—just like Texas does. That's why this deal stays between us."
"Oh, how noble... But in the end, you're just doing it for Texas, aren't you?" Lappland said bitterly. Ren simply nodded.
"You can see it that way. But I still say—I'm doing this for myself."
Because if the company lost Texas, we'd be screwed. Just thinking about having to babysit a redheaded angel and that shameless croissant girl with her dirty jokes already gives me a headache...
"Heh... interesting."
"You're not just trying to take down Cecilia... but destroy all of Siracusa for the sake of a single friend?"
"...You're even crazier than I thought."
"But... I like that a lot."
Lappland grabbed his hand, smiling wide enough to show her shark-like teeth.
"I want to see if you can really pull it off. Because if you can't... this wolf will be the one to sink her fangs into your neck!"
"Don't worry. Those who break a pact must swallow stones whole... and I won't."
"Swallow stones? You mean literally eat rocks or what?"
"...Trust me, it's worse than that," Ren smirked mysteriously before helping her sling her arm over his shoulder to carry her back to her home.
Lappland didn't resist. She just looked at his face as if deep in thought.
"So... where do you live?" Ren asked. Lappland pointed at her face and shot back,
"Do I look like someone with a home?"
"Ah... homeless, huh? I've got money to rent a room. Pay me back when you can."
"As if someone infected like me could stay around here..." Lappland said mockingly.
Ren confidently replied,
"Don't worry. I removed the stone on your leg. No one will notice you're infected now."
"What nonsense are you spouting? You can't just remove Originium from the infected—" Lappland stopped mid-sentence. She looked at her leg, where there should have been signs of crystallization... but there was nothing. It was completely and mysteriously gone—without a trace.
Her eyes widened more than when she'd heard Ren's proposal.
And Ren didn't realize that what he'd just done—if anyone found out—could change the world of Terra forever.
And it wouldn't be long before they did...
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**Writer Note**
Hey... I'd like to take a moment of your time. I've opened a Patreon now—if anyone would like to support me, you're more than welcome to. Of course, what I can give back pales in comparison to what you've given me. And for those who can't or don't wish to support me financially, that's perfectly okay too. Just you reading my work and loving what I create already makes me incredibly happy. I'll absolutely keep posting here, even if updates slow down a bit. I promise to continue until this story is complete.
To be honest, I'm a little anxious and sad about this. I adore my work and want everyone to enjoy it together, sharing thoughts until we reach a satisfying ending. But life doesn't always let me choose—there are costs and pressures behind the scenes that I have to face. I'm sure many of you understand this too. So please, if supporting me would strain you, don't do it. Your well-being matters far more than my work, just as I'm doing this to keep writing what I love.
Alright, I've rambled enough. Thank you, truly, to everyone who's ever enjoyed my stories. I'm emotionally fragile, so I might not respond to intense messages, but if you're here to have fun with me, I'll gladly chat about anything! ...Except future spoilers, okay? ❤️
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