While everything unfolded, the hunters inside the dungeon weren't sitting idle.
"Let's take a better look around this forest."
In particular, the priests of the Moon Sect were the most active.
"The flow of time is different inside and outside the ruins. There's no need to split up — it would be better for everyone to move together."
"Yes. Even if we take our time exploring this vast ruin, time barely passes outside. All siblings, gather here."
"Our Saintess has stepped forward for us sinners. We can't just sit still. Let's do what we're best at."
The Moon Sect priests discussed among themselves and came to a quick agreement. One of the hunters awkwardly tried to interject.
"Um, hey... can we talk a bit...?"
"We understand that you all may feel discomfort or resistance toward the sins of our Moon Sect. There's no need to accommodate us. It would be best if everyone just did what they needed to do."
"Wait, don't jump to conclusions like that."
"We're simply sorry to have exposed you to such unpleasant truths. But since our Saintess has gone so far for the sake of the Moon Sect, we can't stay idle. We'll ensure we cause no inconvenience, so please don't worry."
"I said, let's talk, people. Are you doing this on purpose?"
An experienced hunter grabbed one of the Moon Sect priests by the scruff and dragged them into the group of hunters. Though the priest went along with a mumbled "uhhh," their expression looked like they were bracing to be beaten. Hunters began murmuring at the sight of their wrinkled, self-defeated faces.
"...Was the Moon Sect always this... I'm not too familiar with religious circles."
"As far as I know, they were always dry and individualistic, focused solely on knowledge and wisdom... cold and rational."
"Cold and rational? After seeing those dumb expressions?"
"I mean, that's how they used to be."
The hunters picked up on something off about the Moon Sect priests. It wasn't that they had uncovered anything deeply hidden — the priests' expressions had completely collapsed. The Moon Sect priests seemed unhinged somehow.
Even after their gravest sins were exposed, they didn't try to hide their shame.
"Ghh...! Please, kill us!"
"What the hell is wrong with these people?"
The hunters were simply bewildered. They didn't place heavy meaning on the Moon Sect's sins.
"Even if there's been trouble, that's the Moon Sect's internal matter. There's no reason to grovel to us. And what's this nonsense about begging for death?"
"What, are we shooting a period drama? We've already got too much to do in this dungeon, so let's not make things awkward among ourselves. You priests, lift your heads. Just go out and clean things up. Geez..."
"If you're doing something, at least include us. Our guild leader finished dreaming a while ago and left. Share your wisdom with us."
The Moon Sect's history — offering saints to divinity for the sake of the world — was chilling. Some were even furious. But in today's individualistic society, what did that have to do with them?
"So what exactly should we be doing?"
They just wanted to wake up from this damn nightmare.
"Are we supposed to explore the ruins?"
"You mustn't involve yourselves with sinners like us. We'll find our own way to atone..."
"Then share it with us. I didn't think the Moon Sect was so selfish — hogging the strategy to themselves."
"We are sinners who stood by and watched the pitiful ends of noble ones...!"
"H-How could you say something so harsh...!"
Some of the hunters caught on to the true nature of the Moon Sect.
"...Ah. Social ineptitude."
"Oh... that makes sense."
"No wonder we couldn't communicate with them."
The Moon Sect's closed-off culture — once masked by their reputation as cold, scholarly ascetics — now became apparent. Always studying and researching among themselves, they had never developed social skills. It was an inevitable outcome.
"Very different from the Sun Church priests."
"Those people drain me just by talking..."
"Before you know it, you've d money."
There were reasons the Moon and Sun churches had long been at odds. Their temperaments were simply too different. Some Sun Church priests mingling among the crowd were looking at the Moon Sect with visible contempt.
"Hah... How could you treat a noble saint like that..."
"If that's how they treat them, they should've handed them to us."
"Sister, please, ears are listening. Speak with decorum."
"Honestly, we would be better suited to serve the Saintess than the Moon Sect."
"Exactly. That's the point."
The Sun Church was already displeased that Hunter Sergio — believed to be a saint — had recently taken up residence with the Moon Sect. Once this dungeon wrapped up, they would likely stir things up inside and out to take back both Hunter Sergio and Saintess Aram.
The Moon Sect, aware of this brewing resentment, had no strength to object. Their dejected demeanor made the Sun Church feel more uncomfortable. It would've been better if the Moon Sect just fought back with their usual sharp words.
"...Tch. Now I can't even say anything."
"They're so deflated. Should've done better from the start..."
In the midst of this strange atmosphere, Seo Seo-Hee smiled.
"Well, shall we get moving now?"
With the Moon Sect priests — experts in organizing knowledge and information — at the center, the hunters analyzed the ruins. The site was vast, like a fortress surrounding a large city. It contained many stories about the Evil God.
Most of the information had already been explained by Saintess Aram before she left...
Seo Seo-Hee, guildmaster of Justitia, stared at a wall.
"Guildmaster? Is there something there?"
There was nothing there.
"Just thought it was well made."
All over the ruin walls were countless works carved in bas-relief.
Some were so detailed and lifelike that one might think they were real. Others were abstract — depictions of landscapes, animals, or humans with faceless features. Seo Seo-Hee looked up at the ceiling.
"Isn't it beautiful?"
The vice-guildmaster also looked up. The ceiling depicted a twilight sky.
At first, they thought it was a magical illusion — but it wasn't. It was purely made with torches, shadows, and engraving. They realized instinctively that it was a human-made creation.
Seo Seo-Hee asked his friend's reaction.
"Amazing, right? It must've been left untouched for a long time, but it's still in great shape."
"...You might be the only one thinking about that inside a dungeon."
"No way. Guildmaster Bisa Beul is like that too. Looking for romance in dungeons."
"He's kind of an eccentric case, isn't he?"
At the mention of another Symbol of Eternity, the vice-guildmaster fell silent. It was fine to talk about other guilds like the Collectors, but he clearly didn't want to comment on their leader's close friends.
Seo Seo-Hee chuckled lightly.
"For some reason, I really like works ."
In a world where magic is real and mysteries abound, you could easily make impressive creations using skills. But Seo Seo-Hee preferred this kind — the pure miracle and emotion of human hands.
Something massive, intuitive, and not conventionally beautiful — wasn't it wonderful?
"I wonder who made it."
"According to records, it would've been the last dragon to die in this forest."
"If it was a dragon, wouldn't they have used magic? They're called the pinnacle of mystery. They could've done this far more easily — and yet chose this painstaking method."
"The broken chairs and ladders we saw — I guess they were for this."
He clicked his tongue.
"He must've been an amazing artist."
"And now that artist is trying to kill us."
"He's not trying to kill — he just doesn't know what to do with his rage."
"Do you pity that dragon?"
"You can't help but think 'what if'..."
If things had gone differently, he might've become an artist who led an era. A great sculptor and painter. A magnificent dancer who turned joy into art. But he didn't get that chance.
'...One day, this kind of tragedy could happen in our own world.'
That's why he kept an eye on the Moon Sect's situation. His friend and fellow Symbol of Eternity, Jeong Hae-Woon, was preparing groundwork for just that.
Even though they couldn't put their preparations to use, it felt good to have helped prevent the Moon Sect's tragedy in an unexpected way.
Yes. Think of the good outcomes.
"So, where should we head next?"
"Shall we explore the ruins further?"
"There are plenty who can do that better than me — like the Moon Sect priests."
"You're right, Guildmaster."
"We've torn through this house. So it's about time the homeowner showed up, but... he's nowhere to be seen. That massive dragon we saw at the Dream Amusement Park — where is he now?"
"If he's the Demon King, then he's probably at the Demon King's Castle. If he's not home, he's at work. Not like he has a lot of places to be."
"That's a solid guess."
Seo Seo-Hee drew his sword and began walking.
"Sad as it is, we don't have much time."
"It's about time the public back in reality starts reacting badly."
"If we drag this out, things will get worse."
The Saintess seemed busy on her end. They had to handle theirs.
"I wonder how much that brilliant Saintess has foreseen?"
It was time to ask for some help.
And the human in the prison replied.
Ather still held a strong will to live.
"Well... if you ask me why... I don't really have an answer."
Isn't living better than dying?
"...Of course, some lives are worse than death. I've lived such a life — trapped in that horrid thorn prison. Back then, death was a mercy I couldn't even hope for, so I called out to you... Argio."
"It was a triumph that my companions and I achieved by giving up everything."
And Ather destroyed it with his own selfishness. If he had simply endured the pain, the boredom, the Evil God would have remained sealed. Would have — surely.
That knowledge gnawed at him constantly.
"...But what could I have done?"
Ather had perhaps suffered in the thorn prison for thousands of years. And yet, as a human who'd be considered long-lived at 80, he had tasted undeserved glory.
"Of course, that's all just an excuse. I know that well. During the sealing, my 14-year-old companion was crushed by a dragon's foot. Another friend of the same age was torn apart alive and devoured. A third, who was 16, cried endlessly under the Evil God's curse until his eyes bled and finally melted — only then did he rest."
The Evil God's curse was horrific.
"I remember it vividly. The curses... yes. They were nothing like magic. Nothing like the holy powers of saints. In those times, all the laws of the world were warped and came for me without hesitation. That sight... it was truly... bewildering."
The royal archivist, who prided himself on knowing the laws of the world better than anyone, said:
"Rotting flesh and hallucinations were mild symptoms."
Some things he remembered too clearly. The Evil God was hypersensitive to the emotion of rage.
"Those who betrayed their lovers and earned their wrath merged with their affair partners — sharing a single leg, their torsos detached. They died soon after from exhaustion."
"Parents who abandoned their children and earned their hate lost their tongues, vocal cords, and lips — unable to eat or drink, they died. It wasn't pleasant to witness."
"Cruel, grotesque, filthy, and repulsive. Unlike the fear of war, this was a defilement by unknown laws. The disgust of bugs crawling on you..."
No wonder the Evil God earned such hostility.
It was, in a way, divine punishment. But no one believed that anymore. Even now, Ather agreed — it was nothing more than a twisted god of rage seeking a sacrificial offering.
In other words — a natural disaster.
"...And humans have always tried to defy nature..."
Ather, trapped in the Evil God's grasp, blinked slowly. A strange drowsiness crawled up his back, settled in his brain, and wrapped around it gently. The weight of sleep pressed on his brow.
He pressed two fingers firmly to that heavy brow.
And then spoke again.
"Why wouldn't I have gone mad?"
Ather was already a lunatic.
"I suffered for so long. I can no longer claim to be human. The Evil God reshaped me into human form — but how could that be called human? I'm a ghost of the ancient past. A monster. Nothing more, nothing less."
Still, he was glad to have met the Saintess. Grateful to follow her views. As a mere wraith, he was at least able to mimic humanity. It was a little different from speaking with the Evil God Argio.
"When I talk to the Evil God, I don't feel alive. I feel like I'm just a mystery drifting in the air. Not human. And yet, I must've still been alive... but why? That's how it felt."
But with Aram, he felt like he was human.
He wouldn't differentiate. He accepted and loved both sensations. What Ather wanted to say was simple: he could become human, but he wasn't one.
"And if I'm a monster shaped by the Evil God, then take my head."
"Even with such will to live, you wish for that?"
"I'm simply fulfilling my role. My time should've ended with my era."
The Evil God, resting in his palm, let out a small laugh.
"Then I will take you."
My hand is empty, after all.
-x-X-x-
In the Dream Amusement Park, there was a place known as the Demon King's Castle.
It stood at the very edge of the fortress beyond the dazzling, eye-blinding attractions of the amusement park — a massive castle. Those who had received an official guided tour of the Dream Amusement Park were also granted access to visit that place.
However, no one had ever seen the owner of dreams there.
"Still... are we sure this really is the Demon King's Castle?"
"Feels more like some sort of theme park attraction, honestly..."
"There's a familiar friend, at least."
He looked at the man in front of him, who held a massive sword.
The man's eyes, dyed in an unnatural golden hue, held no focus. Thick tears, the color of molten gold, continuously streamed down and hardened into solid chunks that clinked onto the floor with a dull metallic sound.
Seo Seo-Hee used a skill to read the man's presence.
[Ancient Wraith, Ather]
"In eternity, even pain may become mercy."
It seemed the hero had fallen into the Evil God's grasp.
"The Saintess will be saddened by this."
"Didn't she already anticipate this? She seemed well aware of how things were unfolding."
"But back then, it was just one of many possible outcomes."
There's a big difference between imagining a scenario and actually facing it.
"Not that this is a bad outcome for us."
They had scouted all areas they could inside the dungeon. The ruins, the Black Forest — no trace of the Demon King's true body. Only one place remained: the Demon King's Castle, decorated with all manner of gold and jewels.
'Until now, the Evil God had been blocking entry here.'
That's why he came only with the vice-guildmaster — just in case.
So, the human-shaped monster they encountered inside was a welcome sight. At the very least, it meant things were progressing. Of course, it was likely all part of the Evil God's plan — but that didn't matter.
When facing mysteries, going along with the rhythm was always effective.
'The Saintess also seemed to have roughly understood the situation. That's likely why she passed on all the information she could. Thanks to her, I know what kind of person this hero was when he was still sane.'
And syncing with the rhythm — that was Seo Seo-Hee's specialty.
"...I'm not sure what the Evil God's exact intentions are, but this stage he's set up is quite something. Though now even he seems to have forgotten everything and is standing confused on stage..."
"I heard that the bishop of the Moon Sect has defected. Ah, of course, only a few of us know that — myself and a few friends. It would be troublesome if such bad news spread widely in a time ."
Information was being tightly controlled. He hadn't had time to hear more after rushing back into the dungeon, but he believed that the awakened Saintess would be handling the Moon Sect's situation well.
In that case, Seo Seo-Hee would assist her the way he knew best.
"Judging by that greatsword and your stance, I'd say you're quite strong."
Seo Seo-Hee playfully twirled his one-handed sword.
"That's something I'm pretty confident in too."
"Not much of a talker, huh."
He grinned and tilted his head.
Seo Seo-Hee motioned for the vice-guildmaster to fall back.
"Will you be alright on your own?"
"Just look at those solid muscles. You, my scrawny vice-guildmaster, wouldn't last a minute against that guy."
"I'm not that fragile... but understood."
The vice-guildmaster's true strength didn't lie in direct combat — he was a healer, a buffer, and a debuffer. If Seo Seo-Hee was injured, he'd heal him. If the monster posed a threat, he'd curse it.
In other words, he was Seo Seo-Hee's lifeline. And such a person couldn't be dragged into a brutal melee. Seo Seo-Hee locked eyes with those golden irises glaring unsteadily at him.
The smile faded from Seo Seo-Hee's face.
Their blades clashed.
And that was no metaphor.
'...So this building was an illusion after all. The way it's crumbling so easily means it wasn't particularly cherished.'
Just like the rest of the dazzling amusement park.
'In the end, it was just a stage prop.'
Never truly someone's home or castle.
'If the Evil God truly cherished this place, he wouldn't have let it crumble so easily.'
Kang Eun-Seong, vice-guildmaster of Justitia, silently activated a barrier around himself. Though he wished he could do the same for his guildmaster, it would only get in the way.
The sound of the world collapsing pounded painfully in his ears — a roar that shook his brain. Through the thick dust and flying debris, Kang Eun-Seong watched the battle with bloodshot eyes.
"...Still the same..."
Still refusing to protect himself.
'When is he going to fix that terrible habit...'
With a precise gesture, he healed the guildmaster's wounds from afar.
From the start, Seo Seo-Hee had always preferred being injured and healed over not getting hit at all. All his natural talents were optimized for one thing: making sure he didn't die easily.
Even when hurt, it never disrupted his combat. His own defense and healing always came last. Swinging a weapon one more time was always more important, he claimed.
'And he knows how much this worries people...!'
Kang Eun-Seong gripped his staff tighter. Remote healing wasn't an easy task. Especially in a battle of this scale.
'Don't tell me he's pushing harder because he trusts me to fix everything...'
Seo Seo-Hee trusted his friends too much. He probably believed Kang Eun-Seong would just heal him — again. And because he couldn't not heal him out of spite, it just made the guildmaster's habits worse.
Still — this opponent wasn't easy.
'They weren't kidding about him being an ancient hero...'
Ather was a man who hunted dragons. A hero who fought Demon Kings. A chosen one among humans.
Driven mad, his instincts and destructive power had only grown more intense — enough to shake the world and destroy the "Demon King's Castle."
'His swordplay is refined — yet so brutal it almost feels savage.'
His greatsword was larger than his own body. A truly monstrous weapon.
And yet, the way he wielded it was terrifying. Even a single graze would be fatal for most.
'Is the weapon designed to inflict pain?'
Kang Eun-Seong soon understood.
'Well, it was made to slay dragons.'
Recalling the Evil God's massive form and terrifying curses — it made sense. Only something as destructive and relentless could stand a chance.
'But to use such a massive weapon with this level of agility — that's a miracle in itself.'
He launched dozens of attacks in the blink of an eye. His defensive use of the greatsword was excellent. His use of terrain, debris, even the flow of air — flawless.
'There's not even a sound...'
He was intentionally demolishing the castle, using the falling debris for aerial combat. Leaping between the rubble as if weightless — dodging, countering, striking back.
"...Among humanoid monsters, this one's extremely troublesome."
Not just destructive, but intelligent. The Saintess had said he was once a royal archivist — and it showed. But that wasn't the only issue.
There was the overwhelming curse surrounding him.
The vice-guildmaster poured mana into the air to block the curse from reaching his guildmaster.
Blood poured from his orifices. His flesh decayed. His mind warped. But none of it was fatal — he could maintain function, so he ignored the pain.
The guildmaster and vice-guildmaster were alike in that way. Justitia's core belief had always been: the right cause is more important than personal well-being. They debated it endlessly and looked at the world through that lens.
'If I didn't think I could help, I wouldn't have come this far.'
Through bloodshot eyes, he stared at his guildmaster. He was nearly crying blood, but he couldn't miss a single moment — Seo Seo-Hee trusted him with his life.
'...Curse detected. Corrosive-type curse. Targeting equipment and weapons — especially metal. Counter it. Reflect it. Monster's far too cunning. Even in madness, it's targeting specific materials? Wound — neck this time. Stop the bleeding first. Reconnect vessels. Don't let him feel pain. Anesthetize. Yes, clamp the largest artery right there...'
Remote healing — an art only three people on Earth could perform. Like doing surgery with forceps from a kilometer away on an unanesthetized patient. No magic button made it easy.
But Kang Eun-Seong did it. He was used to it. His guildmaster often treated this as a "side job" for his close friend. Yes — a side job.
'...Each of us does what we do best.'
And the one with room to spare bears the burden of the other's leftover weight.
'Guildmaster's job is to hold that monster back. Mine is to keep him from losing focus or getting fatally injured. To help him do his part.'
All while blocking the attacks flying his way. If he died — who would support Seo Seo-Hee? He couldn't afford to leave him alone.
'No one ever said the hero was this strong...!'
But thinking about it — of course he was. A premium ingredient in the Evil God's hands. That horrific curse surrounding him was likely the Evil God's doing. It was all too overwhelming.
If I knew this would happen, I would've brought more people!!
'...With all this noise, someone's bound to show up. Our guildmaster doesn't lose. If we can just hold the line, support will arrive. But if it's someone incompetent, they'll just become a burden or be taken hostage. That would backfire completely.'
He wanted to send a message. As a skilled mage, he was adept at telepathy — enough to reach people on the other side of the planet. But right now, he didn't have the bandwidth.
Telepathy was nothing like spoken words. Done wrong, he might blow someone's head up remotely. That was to be avoided.
Even if he could call for help — who would he summon?
'If I have to screen candidates , what do I even write? Only strong ones? A-class or higher? No — has to be upper-tier A-class. This field is saturated with curses, so curse-vulnerable people are out. Damn it, are there no S-classes?!'
The red-haired Collector came to mind — but he immediately dismissed it.
'That guy is useless!'
Not the type to help out easily. His personality was one problem, but not the only one. Bisa Beul was weak. Hard to believe an S-class could be weak — but he was.
'As a manager of bizarre relics, he's knowledgeable about curses, sure — but in a battlefield this dense, he'd get hurt. His combat style relies on using his collection. He's better at defense and leadership. If he interferes now, it could ruin everything.'
And he didn't trust him. Always going on about art and whatnot. Bisa Beul had no regard for life — except his precious relics.
'Worst of all, he hates the guildmaster.'
On the surface, relations were fine. But Bisa Beul had always loathed Justitia — calling them naïve fools. And yet, he always d generously.
His feelings toward Justitia bordered on love-hate. So maybe, if they begged hard enough, he'd show up while clicking his tongue — but no. No way. That was a terrible idea.
The Collector was not to be relied on.
'Damn it...! If only Hunter Sergio were in shape — I would've asked him!'
S-rank in secret, known as a Saint — Hunter Sergio. A priest of the Black Cloak. Surely adept at handling curses. A rare all-rounder: tank, damage, and support.
'And he has a good personality too.'
Unlike his parents. Nearly a walking disaster once, but thankfully avoided that fate. Either way, Kang Eun-Seong had no time to indulge in such thoughts now.
'Collector's support is out of the question. That whole guild is just here on vacation. They're too busy attending to him. Is there any competent A-rank among the raid team? No? No one? Damn it, no one fits!'
The qualifications for someone who could turn the tide here were absurdly high. Powerful, smart, versatile — near S-rank level.
And yet, as always — Kang Eun-Seong found the answer.
He slammed his staff into the ground.
A massive white magic circle bloomed around him, and within seconds, a pale figure appeared beside him.
The girl dragged by the teleport spell blinked in brief confusion.
"I formally apologize for the rudeness."
"Coming back into the dungeon, and this is the welcome...?"
Saintess Aram raised her silver moon.
"You called the right person."
The advantage was now theirs.
-x-X-x-
'I figured this would happen.'
It wasn't something she had agreed on with Ather beforehand.
But when she had no choice but to abandon him in the castle and escape, they had both known what the future held. That Ather would fall into the Evil God's hands. That's why Aram had carried the Moon in her arms.
Now it was her turn to bring Ather back.
Aram lifted the Moon into the air.
It soared high—so high it soon filled the sky. The entire world was dyed in crimson-black void. The Moon stabilized the center, and stars began to sparkle. That pale, silver gleam—cold and luminous—was the color of their Moon Sect.
It was the power of the saint, Aram.
"...You've waited long enough."
As the shifting heavens cast a vast cosmos overhead, she curled her lips upward. Her white hair sparkled like a meteor shower forged of silver and gems, merging with the stars.
Her red eyes—within those pupils, a white moon bloomed.
"From now on, this is my stage."
She intended to take the stage away from the Evil God.
The first thing Aram did after taking the Moon from the bishop was awaken the "stars." The ones who had been entranced by the Evil God quickly returned to their senses under the bishop's guidance. To those who were now filled with guilt, Aram made a request.
This time, don't sacrifice yourselves because of someone else's choice. Become my stars. Be stars who awaken of your own will. And let yourselves be held in my universe.
Her fellow disciples accepted her plea.
"There's no one in this world smarter than the Moon Sect's priests."
She had confidence in them. She could see it in their eyes. In the eyes of her fellow disciples—children of the Moon—she could see every curse and mystery laid bare.
The material of Ather's weapon, its direction, its effect. The fate that wrapped around him. His will. His physical movements. The range of influence stemming from it. And beyond all that, even more.
The starlit cloud whispered: 'And I am listening too.'
Aram called out to the deputy guildmaster of Justitia, the one she had summoned.
"Deputy Guildmaster?"
"I'm Kang Eun-Seong. Please, just speak comfortably."
"I intend to wrest control of Mr. Ather away from the Evil God."
Kang Eun-Seong paused. Then responded, a beat later.
"Please don't overextend yourself."
It felt wrong to accept the help of a young Saintess. But it was something to be grateful for. If they were lacking, then it was right they receive help. Even if he felt guilty, he would accept it gladly.
"I hope you won't get hurt, if possible. Do you think that's possible?"
"In a situation , avoiding injury completely is difficult. But that, too, is mine."
Floating like a ghost in midair—within the universe—Aram placed a hand on Kang Eun-Seong's shoulder.
"Still, I'll try not to get hurt. Since you're concerned."
The curses surrounding Kang Eun-Seong dissolved for a moment. The ones that made him cry blood, choke, hear hallucinations and see visions—gone. That alone was proof of the Saintess's power. Her strength and identity were undeniable.
"Then I'll leave it to you."
"I'll take full responsibility for the Guildmaster. May I?"
"Then I'll block the curses emanating from Mr. Ather."
Aram waved her hand like a conductor. Her hair lit up brightly, and the stars answered—sparkling in a flurry. Like chimes. Like drizzle falling. The light scattered.
It resembled a musical score. The stars moved into position. An immeasurable number of stars pooled their wisdom.
That one's a curse. This one's a mystery. Then they offered countermeasures.
And then, they sealed it.
"Now focus on supporting Guildmaster Seo Seo-Hee."
"That's the best thing I've heard all year."
"There's no need to protect me either. My brothers are watching over me."
"If that's the case..."
Aram was physically very weak. In that sense, she was similar to Bisa Beul the Collector. But Kang Eun-Seong believed her. The vast cosmos spread out before him made him believe.
And as Kang Eun-Seong fully concentrated on his commander, Seo Seo-Hee let out a booming laugh.
"—Ahahahahahaha...!!!"
"It's been such a long time—this kind of battle! This kind of coordination! To be on this dangerous battlefield with someone whose rhythm fits mine—It's an extraordinary stroke of luck! A miracle!!"
Seo Seo-Hee's sword shattered.
—And countless daggers appeared in his hands.
"I'll take it all. Until your rage is spent—I'm good at this kind of thing!!"
Unlike earlier, when he was heavy and upright, Seo Seo-Hee now danced with agile, sweeping motions. Like a circus performer, the daggers flew from his hands.
They scratched Ather's greatsword, used the falling shards to obscure vision, and inflicted countless wounds.
Watching it, Aram thought:
'As expected of Korea's number one hunter.'
His signature skill—Friend. He's influenced by anyone who recognizes him as a friend.
'In other words, he can copy them.'
Seo Seo-Hee could keep fighting as long as his stamina and regeneration were infinite. A day, a week, even a year—there were records of him fighting for four years straight in a dungeon where time flowed differently.
'That's why the role of his supporter is even more critical.'
No matter how vast Seo Seo-Hee's talent, no matter how wide his strategic range—and even if he had the mental endurance to sustain it—he was still human. He needed healing. And healers or supporters made that possible even in the midst of battle.
That's why the Guildmaster and Deputy Guildmaster of Justitia were like one body. She'd heard they were always together in battles of this scale. Kang Eun-Seong was the second-best person in the world at supporting Seo Seo-Hee.
'And the one said to be the best... is Jeong Hae-Woon, the guildmaster of Korea's second-ranked guild.'
He was one of the Symbols of Eternity, like Seo Seo-hee.
Recalling that much, Aram turned her focus back to the present situation.
She saw Ather's eyes—now transformed into gold.
Golden tears of blood were streaming down.
—...The same symptoms as Mother.
And they faintly resembled the eyes of the evil god.
—Is that what happens when one falls under the evil god's sway?
Aram dug into that curse, into that mystery. Do not hold prejudice. There is no right or wrong in knowledge. Focus only on the fact itself.
She closed her eyes and fell into the darkness.
What she had to do now was to wrest control of Ather back from the evil god. She had already done something similar as the Moon's vessel. She could do it. She had done it. She only needed to recall that familiar sensation.
—Ather, you were already mad from the beginning.
The only reason he had managed to act normally was because he endured it. It had never been because Ather had truly found peace.
He was a rotting lump of flesh that had plummeted into a state less than human, locked in a thorny prison for thousands of years.
Ather himself described it that way.
And perhaps he was right.
The evil god had remade him into a human, but he couldn't erase the hatred and fury rooted in pain.
Ather had howled like a beast at the remnants of his comrades. He had laughed. He had collapsed.
—What the evil god, what Argio did... was probably just nudging it along.
How easy it must have been to seize someone who was already insane.
I know that will to live. That vitality that survived no matter what. The conviction he never let go of, even as he was reduced to a slab of meat.
Ather was not someone who would submit so easily to the evil god.
Though the two had never spoken of it, as if by mutual agreement, Aram believed in Ather.
This belonged not to emotion, but to intellect.
She grasped it through reason, not feeling.
Aram reached out her hand.
The stars wept. They resonated.
Like the sound of a harp, it rang out through the entire universe.
One over there, and another beside that one, and another farther away—
They drew a diagram among themselves and filled the cosmos.
—Untangle every thread of the mystery that binds him.
And replace it with mine—no, with the Moon's.
—Dispel the curse that wraps around him.
So that the threat Ather never wanted could be lifted.
—Ather is looking for me too. I must ask him a question, and he must answer me. All I need is to reach him. Just reach him briefly—just enough to speak. That alone...
And Aram, at last, reached Ather.
She touched his inner world.
The roaring ceased, and the world fell still.
"Yes, the Saintess is safe."
"I meant to ask about my friend first."
"You know I'm always fine."
"There's no such thing as someone who's always fine, is there?"
Seo Seo-Hee dropped the broken spear onto the ground. With a light crack, the already-fractured weapon crumbled at that small impact. While in battle, it had been held together by magic, but once released, it fell apart.
It was the 48th replacement weapon. Seo Seo-Hee mourned it briefly before stretching her shoulders.
"Aigo... my aching body..."
"I'll treat your wounds, please stay still."
"No, I can take care of something myself."
"But there's no need for the guildmaster to trouble herself over—"
"It's fine. Things are different now, aren't they? We've got a moment of breathing room."
Seo Seo-Hee looked at 'Ather'—still frozen in place, greatsword in hand.
"Looks like the Saintess did well."
Aram, too, had her eyes closed. Her long hair swayed like a living river, and the stars embedded within it twinkled in beautiful colors as it moved.
Looking around, Seo Seo-Hee smiled.
"Do you think the Collector would like it?"
"That person, unlike me, is the type who covets these mystical scenes."
"I still don't know how he finds aesthetic beauty in something ..."
"Why? Isn't it beautiful?"
"To me, it's more... unnerving."
"...It reminds you how insignificant humans really are."
Only the stars' whispers faintly filled the cosmos.
They were still in the universe. Proof that the Saintess had yet to fully wrest control from the evil god. Still, it was safe—for now. This place was under the domain of the Moon Sect's saint.
—But that aside, it's not a pleasant place.
The universe was vast. Fragments of what looked like man-made castles drifted through the emptiness. It was a space where no temperature could be sensed, yet somehow, it felt cold. Chilly. Lonely.
Kang Eun-Seong, listening to the murmuring stars, touched his earlobe and looked toward his superior.
"Have you recovered?"
"I'm good at this much, Kang Eun-Seong."
"Your combat style always sends my guts dropping."
"You can stick 'em back in, can't you? Don't whine."
"That's not what I meant."
"It means I trust my friends that much."
"Would you be vice-guildmaster for no reason?"
The vice-guildmaster cleared his throat and turned to look at the Saintess and Ather.
"Hopefully this improves the situation..."
Then, the universe shook.
"Prepare for battle."
"But the Saintess hasn't yet—!!"
"This is how you fight an evil god."
A sudden and surreal sight.
Kang Eun-Seong looked at the blood scattered through the cosmos, at the ghost's closed eyes, at the Saintess slowly opening hers.
The entire scene was bizarre and beautiful, like a piece of art no mere human could understand.
And then, Kang Eun-Seong understood everything.
"...Did the Saintess fail?"
"Well, I suppose... we'll have to see."
Crack, cr-cr-crack—!!
The universe began to fracture as if it were made of crystal.
"We haven't defeated the Demon King yet."
The Saintess's universe didn't fully shatter but held its form. The stars screamed in pain—agonized shrieks. Through the cracks, layers of dimensions bled into view.
The Black Forest. Ruin explorers. Hunters who had struggled to endure inside the dungeon—
They now exchanged startled glances through those gaps in dimension.
And then, the evil god descended into the universe.
Shrunken to the size of a human, he reached out his empty second hand and grabbed the head of the hero drifting through the universe.
Then, he held it close, gently.
With the third hand—his left—he lifted the ghost's arm like a puppet. His red hair, thick as wool, billowed across the cosmos like a pelt.
Bare feet, adorned with all manner of jewelry, stepped upon the void. Around one leg coiled a voluminous tail like an aurora. The silk draping his form fluttered like that of a heavenly maiden.
Golden fluid from the shattered head overflowed, coating the divine body, gold upon gold, staining the head cradled in his arms.
And with it, he dyed the universe gold.
『Friend, friend, my friends...』
The radiance of red feathers bent grotesquely as it looked down upon the world.
『Prove you are human.』
Within the golden eye of the third hand, a human was reflected.
『I stand before you.』
『Why do you not join me?』
And then, across the universe, decaying dragons appeared.
All of them bore red fur. Their snake-like bodies writhed and screamed, tangled in the universe's debris, thrashing, or clumped like corpses forming mountains and nests.
Like stagnant, congealed blood.
The evil god's second hand gently stroked the ghost's head and gave his command:
The ghost's shut eyes opened.
And the dragons, filled with rage, roared.
"Rage grants worth to the prepared."
"Will it be your weapon, or your mire?"
"Are you human, or beast?"
And among the dragons, the evil god smiled.
The calamity spread like a plague.
-x-X-x-
The fierce battle had begun.
"W-What the hell is that...?"
"It's a dragon...!! A dragon has appeared!!"
"Everyone snap out of it and get ready for combat!!!"
Strange phenomena erupted all across the Dream Amusement Park. The entire sky turned into the cosmos, and soon it cracked open with a rupture. From the mirror-like shards of that rupture, grotesquely distorted dragons crawled out.
They weren't particularly large, but they were deformed and repulsive. Some bore human body parts.
Instead of dragon claws, they had human limbs. Some had human heads in place of dragon ones. Their forms were rotted and twisted as if cursed beyond recognition.
And from the rift in space, the evil god whispered:
A petty whim or a test. Either way, it was a catastrophe for humans.
"Stay sharp! Don't listen to the whispering!!"
"Everyone, do not let the curse consume your minds...!!"
"Hold on—we'll come help you!!"
In the face of human endurance and will, the dragons screamed.
"Hnghh... Uh... Uwaaaaahh!! AaaaAAAHHH!!!"
"KIEEEEK, KIEEEEEEEEEK!!!"
Any dragon with eyes glared with hatred. Those with mouths screamed curses.
They tore into humans with their hands and feet, coiled around them with their massive torsos, pouring out their fury.
"Aaaahhh, humans, humans, humans...!!"
"You abandoned me...!!"
"Father, answer me! Father!!!"
"How could you forsake me!!!!"
And their voices... were young.
"T-That's insane...."
"...Fuck, this is sick...!!"
Most of them looked barely older than ten. When a dragon with a child's hand tore through people, the wounded reeled from the grotesque sensation.
It was a repulsive sight.
Not a few went mad in response.
"Ah, ahaha...!! That's right, humans are disgusting!! Aaah, we abandoned these children! We deserve to die!!"
"Grab that bastard—don't let him do anything stupid!!"
"AAAAH!!! AAAAAAAH!!! Please—don't let me live!! I can't go on , please kill me...!!!"
Many of them attempted suicide. Some were stopped. Others weren't.
Amid the absolute hellscape, a few composed hunters managed to glance up at what was showing through the cracks in the sky.
"It's the evil god—it's there!!"
Through the mirror-like break, the evil god's face appeared. Half a face. A head filled with golden liquid.
The hunter who met that ecstatic smile collapsed, losing all will to fight.
That was the fate of anyone who faced the evil god.
"Don't look directly at the evil god!!!"
Though it had no eyes, it possessed a gaze. To face such a twisted divine mystery head-on was pure folly. But the situation wasn't in their favor.
"Captain, the damage is too severe...!"
"Fuck, why are these dumbass brats staring straight at a god like that?!"
"You're yelling at the wrong person...!"
How many times had humanity fought against divine beings on Earth?
"Well, we used to have more, but lately we haven't had such large-scale battles."
Thanks to the Symbols of Eternity. Thanks to the planetary system's protective mechanisms.
The younger hunters were simply inexperienced.
"Hey hey hey, spread the word! Quick! Tell them not to look at the sky!"
[―Attention, hunters! Attention, hunters! A message during combat! Do not look up at the sky! Do not look upward! We earnestly ask you to concentrate on the battle on the ground!!]
"That's right, good job, kid!!"
"You only compliment me at times , Captain!!"
"When else do you think we use loudspeakers, huh?!"
"That's not a loudspeaker, though...!!"
"Who cares, just keep shouting!! Keep broadcasting!!"
[―...Repeating the message! Do not look up at the sky! Do not look upward! Please focus on the ground battle immediately...!!!]
Once one person regained their senses and began coordinating, other hunters from various guilds began relaying the same message.
With the help of the veteran hunters, the chaos slightly subsided.
"We're already swamped trying to fight down here—who the hell has the time to look up, you dumbass brats!!!"
The rough encouragement from the seniors jolted the young hunters back to their senses.
"...So this is what divinity really means...."
"This is insane. Are we even supposed to win this?"
"Who cares?! If you don't wanna die, grab your axe!!"
The same confusion broke out near the Black Forest and the Ruins.
"Dragons are crawling in from the amusement park!!"
Hunters who had been researching data from the old world, in the abandoned dimension, immediately went into combat mode.
Through that narrow hole connecting to the forsaken world, lifeforms oozed in like liquid.
Naturally, they were the rotted dragons.
"W-What the hell is that...!"
Like sticky swamp creatures, they poured into the abandoned world and stirred up the Black Forest.
Their mucous-like bodily fluids were toxic, threatening the hunters.
Fortunately, the hunters gathered in the underground realm were experienced and sharp.
They quickly recovered from the shock and began suppressing the dragons.
The priests of the Moon Sect were the same.
"With the wisdom of the Moon upon us, guide and shield this unworthy vessel...!!"
When fighting divine powers, it was always the priests who shone brightest.
Even if their faith had been sinful, they used it to protect their comrades.
With the priests' help, the hunters fought more freely.
And it wasn't only the humans who were fighting.
"W-Wolves...!! The wolves!!"
Even the dungeon animals rose to aid the humans.
"L-Look at that...!!"
"The crows! The crows are helping us!!"
"Hell yeah!! Block their sight!!"
The wolves used their massive frames and agile, powerful bodies to crush the attacking dragons with their jaws.
The crows flew through the sky, obstructing the dragons' vision and clawing at their eyes.
"H-Hnngh... ngh... huh?"
The wounded were cared for by foxes.
"Wait, where are you taking...."
"...What? There was a burrow here?"
The foxes gathered the weakened into the ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ dens they had dug.
With their soft fur and affectionate gestures, they eased the humans' fears, leading them into their dens to recover.
Even those who were mentally broken or completely mad found peace with the foxes' help.
They nestled into their arms, licking them with warm tongues and wrapping them in fur.
"...Th-Thank you...."
Hunters who regained their senses slowly emerged again to support their allies.
"Then maybe we can do it!!"
"Bring it on, you worm bastards!!"
Whether it was the artificial world or the abandoned one, the animals all lent their strength.
The sight of beings from other species fighting alongside them inspired hope.
The hunters, regaining some morale, began fighting back the grotesque dragons pouring in.
But the situation still wasn't good.
"This place is still a dream. It's the evil god's dungeon."
"We can hold on, but how long can we keep this up...?"
And as expected, it was the seasoned hunters who answered.
They had always built history .
"Someone will save everyone."
"We've lived through it that way until now. And what else can we do?"
A middle-aged hunter said as he plunged his blade into a dragon.
Because among them, a hero always rose.
Yeah, it was a fierce battle.
"Just charge in—I've got your back!!"
Seo Seo-Hee brought his greatsword down.
The slash flew and shattered the evil god's form.
『Hey there, friend. Why are you so angry?』
『Go on, tell me. I'm listening.』
『I'll help you. I'll embrace you...』
A sound like shattering glass or broken pottery echoed out.
The once silent cosmos was again filled with thunderous noise.
Seo Seo-Hee batted away a massive hand like a withered tree reaching for him, then struck back at the evil god.
He called for the Moon Sect's Saintess.
"Proceed as planned."
She didn't stand idle either.
"Every curse that touches you—my brothers and I will sever it."
Aram stood with the massive Moon at her back, supported by her siblings who shimmered like stars. Many priests gathered their wisdom and reached out their hands.
They purified all visible and invisible mysteries in a single sweep.
The curse that had blazed with heat now cooled under the Moon's frost. Aram didn't stop there—she gestured to the stars and began composing a score.
Ting! Ding! Tiding, Ting—!!
The stars responded with bold sound.
"My beloved siblings."
She fluttered her hand like a butterfly, and a meteor shower rained down like daggers.
"Have courage, hold on to your will, look upon the world. I am with you. The Moon's boundless wisdom is with us! The day our faith rewrites history is coming!"
One, two, three—and then countless stars began to twinkle.
The stars gave birth to light. That scattering of brilliance soon became moons—small and large—that radiated their will.
Their stars touched the evil god, diffusing and exploding.
"Our wisdom forges the mystery!!"
They had touched the essence of the evil god. Divinity was mystery—and these stars were humans mimicking mystery.
"Read that sublime blueprint! If you read it, then fall like rain! If you fall and touch, then dismantle the mystery! I will help you—the mystery of me, of the Moon, of the universe is aiding you!!"
And then all the stars blazed brightly in unison. Aram smiled along with them.
"...See? You're doing great."
As the Saintess gestured, the stars erupted in clamor.
Aram was grateful for all of it. Her mother, present in the real world and bishop of the Moon Sect, was gathering the minds of the four sibling saints, harmonizing their intentions so that each could shine in their own way.
As expected of her—she was an excellent coordinator.
Yes, even failure becomes knowledge and wisdom.
"The eyes, that's right...! Target the eyes! Block its vision!!"
"Saintess, you're... kind of enjoying this a little too much!!"
"Crush that insufferable evil god's pride for me!!"
Seo Seo-Hee moved diligently even as he gave an awkward smile.
Apparently, the Saintess had a lot bottled up from when she'd been abducted. Maybe it was a relief to see her so full of energy now.
Well, anger can be a useful tool.
It was effective for overcoming fear, for finding a reason to live. Through anger, conflict could be mediated. Sometimes it lent people strength far beyond their usual limits.
A weapon, and a fortress.
The evil god had been right.
Indeed, it was divine rage.
Seo Seo-Hee stared directly at the evil god.
Unlike what he'd seen before, it had shrunk down to a human-like size. No—this was likely its original form.
It had grown bloated from accumulated curses and hatred. What a pitiful tale.
"How long do we have to keep doing this?!"
"Hold out—we can do this!"
"We wait until Ather finishes persuading him!"
Whether this would end in annihilation or enlightenment—that was ultimately their choice.
And besides—wasn't this rage the ghosts' to begin with?
Ather recognized this sight.
"...Is this... the ruins?"
The ruins were full of life.
"Ah, that's mine...!"
"You were slow, that's why!"
"That's so unfair, seriously!"
Children with unfamiliar faces were playfully arguing over food. They bickered, then made up just as quickly—and laughed. It was the image of children growing up strong and healthy.
"No way, that's such a lie, isn't it?"
"It's not! I swear it's true!"
Young people laughed in clear, bright voices. They were probably enjoying a cheerful chat. Some were weaving silk or crafting accessories with it—apparently quite skillful with their hands.
"Okay, now spread your hands ..."
"No, not like that—!"
Others were sharing the magic and martial arts they knew. They gathered in groups to discuss things; when someone gave a demonstration, others exclaimed in awe. Adults were seen kindly teaching children who held weapons.
Ather opened and closed his hand.
Can they not see me?
He couldn't tell exactly where he was. Was this a dream? A vision before death? Or maybe, by some fortune, he'd arrived where he had longed to go.
Ather walked through the ruins.
They were far more radiant than he remembered. The walls were filled with neat inscriptions, and stunning paintings adorned every surface.
At the sound of small metal clinks, Ather looked up at the ceiling.
Twilight, crafted by human hands, was being formed.
"...Mmm, let's see..."
The one perched on a ladder tall enough to touch the ceiling looked down at Ather with a broad smile.
Long red hair swayed lazily like an animal's tail, brushing at his waist.
The last dragon met the last hero.
"...Of course you're not."
Ather let out a hollow laugh.
-x-X-x-
"Shall I introduce you to the place?"
Argio, who had descended from a chair towering so high it was dizzying, welcomed Ather.
"Over there are the children of our home. Some were born here, and others were brought here. But most of them were brought. People who end up here are usually afraid of having children."
"Those over there, the ones deep in discussion, are mostly commoners. Hmm, yes. Do you see a few with notably pale faces? They used to be nobles. They're sharing the knowledge they've accumulated."
"And those there... Oh, they're making jewelry for me. As you know, I do have a fondness for shiny things. Ah, if only all the treasures of the world could rest in my nest."
With his bright red hair swaying, Argio led Ather along.
"This is the children's bedroom. Well, many have their own rooms, too. Those who've built families here need their own houses, of course... Luckily, the place is vast, so we've been able to respect their personal time."
"No, uh, I'd rather not... hear details like that."
"Is our dear teacher not planning to marry? Haha! Don't take offense—I asked out of pure curiosity. Relationships in this world aren't formed as easily as one might think, wouldn't you agree? Now, now, don't just stand there. Come along."
Argio also showed him a massive farm.
"This is where my friends personally tend the land. Though the sun doesn't shine here, and the soil is poor, the harvest isn't too bad. Everyone seems relatively content."
"...It's certainly impossible to maintain such farmland with just torchlight. Even so, for crops that have never seen sunlight, they look rather healthy. Have you perhaps improved the strains?"
"You could say that. More than anything, they're technically crops from the Black Forest. It seems they've changed in structure from being affected in various ways. Still, the taste is decent—quite nice, actually."
"I didn't expect you to be so serious about food. Not just you, but everyone under your care... Improving strains takes considerable effort."
"It's thanks to the capable friends I've gathered."
"Those who've come here are all different. Some I dragged along, some came on their own, and others were offered to me as sacrifices."
"There were some pitiful souls who insisted they'd rather live with beasts than pigs. Ah, even beyond that, I've taken in bratty sprouts who liked to spout nasty words and refined them."
"...The way you say that is kind of terrifying..."
"What do you take me for? Ah, no—you probably see me clearly. I'm very violent, you see."
"Right, you seemed interested in what I was making earlier."
Argio's golden eyes curved with amusement.
"...Yes. I'd like to see it up close."
"The ladder chair's too narrow for that, but I'll take you somewhere where you can get a decent view."
Together, they climbed a long flight of stairs. Eventually, they emerged onto a terrace shaped like a spire. No—what was it exactly? It jutted out to give a view of the ceiling. Ather had no idea what to call it.
But just as Argio said, the ceiling was surprisingly close.
It was a breathtaking sight.
"...There's no magic involved in this?"
"I'm not too good at using that sort of thing."
"I'd appreciate it if you'd consider how absurd that sounds coming from someone like you."
"I mean it. When doing things , magic is more of a... hindrance."
Argio scratched his neck, as if dissatisfied.
"To me, magic is all about combat. It's rough and crude. Not exactly suited for this kind of work."
"So you made this by hand?"
"That's not difficult. Whether it becomes midday, twilight, or evening, I adjust that with the size of the torches. That much magic I can manage."
"A convenient use of magic..."
"I should probably coax some clever ones into teaching me cuter spells. It's fortunate the torches are installed on this towering ceiling—if not, I wouldn't even be able to adjust their size."
Ather stared at the ceiling as if entranced.
So grand, it was hard to believe human hands had made it.
It captured nature. No—it was nature itself. Through engravings, he had recreated the passage of time and the skies it brought.
Argio's laugh rang out. When Ather looked at him, Argio explained.
"You see, ruins don't let you look up at the sky. Many were starting to fall into depression, so I thought about how I could help. That's how... I decided to show the flow of time."
"...Isn't the scale a bit excessive?"
"It has to be this much. That way, my friends accept it without question. Many of them are tough and strong, but a surprising number are delicate. If you don't take care, they'll break."
"You say things like that so casually and still claim you're not a god..."
"What kind of god would live ?"
He laughed and patted Ather lightly on the back.
"If you've seen enough, shall we go back down?"
"...I haven't seen enough yet."
"If you keep staring at a fake sky, you'll waste time before you even realize it."
On the way down the stairs, they encountered a horned deer.
"Oh, my beloved brother is here. Hey, friend—say hello. This is my little brother."
"...Your brother is very cute."
"Right? I think he's grown quite a bit, but I still wish he'd put on more weight. He's so skinny, the friends in the Black Forest might bully him."
"Um... I don't know. He seems pretty sturdy for a deer..."
"Don't you see these bony legs?"
"I see muscle, actually."
He was slim, of course. But that was a limitation of the deer species. For a deer, the one Argio introduced was rather muscular—so solid he looked like biting him would leave no mark.
Argio guided Ather along with the deer.
"Never thought such a good friend would come looking for me. Was the journey hard?"
"It was very difficult."
"My head was cut off."
"That's hilarious. Your head was cut off?"
"The rest of my body ended up in the hands of the Evil God."
"You're truly a devoted man."
"I've never thought of myself that way..."
"Why wouldn't you be?"
The Evil God laughed.
"You gave up everything to seal me."
The torches went out.
The ruins that had radiated warmth were now filled with cold, heavy air.
He looked around. Ruins collapsed and shattered. Dust had piled up, insects crawled in silence, moss crept over the stones.
In the blink of an eye, the shattered ruins filled with stillness.
It was the scene just after sealing the Evil God.
"Weren't you enjoying a happy dream?"
"I was merely appreciating a precious painting I held."
"You don't regret those old memories?"
"I'm not the type to be that delicate."
"I heard they call you the Evil God of Dreams..."
"Whatever the name, as long as it's interesting, isn't that enough?"
Argio shrugged, petting the deer beside him. Then he began to walk again. Ather followed him obediently.
"You've really suffered a lot because of me."
"It's true—over half of the suffering in my life is because of you."
"You say such righteous things—that's why the Saintess was so furious with you."
"More like, she seemed furious with you..."
"How am I supposed to resist when the reaction is that sweet?"
"You really are the Evil God."
"Of course—I mean, who else could I be?"
Argio cackled as he descended the stairs. Clip, clack—the sound of hooves echoed through the ruins. Stones settled beneath them, forming a strangely pleasant noise. A light rhythm.
Argio stroked his chin.
"Why did you come all the way here?"
The Evil God asked curiously.
"Was my embrace that uncomfortable?"
"...It was comfortable."
With his severed head, submerged in boiling hatred, Ather had screamed, gone mad, and thrashed. He saw a broken world through the cursed gazes of countless dragons.
It had been, to his surprise, more comfortable than imagined. It felt like becoming whole. A sense of fullness. A descent into the endless abyss without pain or resistance. Honestly, it hadn't been bad. It was even... pleasant.
"But I will remain human."
That was what he wished.
"There were too many things I couldn't bring myself to give up."
"Hm, is that so. As expected, these so-called heroes are awfully stubborn..."
"If I weren't this stubborn, would I have tried to seal you by burning through my own body? No one sane would do such a thing. And yet I wanted to."
"Weren't you just exiled for offending the higher-ups?"
"That was part of it, probably. My temperament never fit with the royal family. But in the end, I made the choice. I could've endured longer... I just didn't want to."
"Then the three of us were all mad."
The Evil God smiled with the satisfaction of a well-fed beast.
"In that case, let me ask you once more."
As they reached the underground tomb, Argio looked at Ather. The deer, too, gazed at the hero with unwavering eyes.
『...Why did you come to find me?』
He was wrapped in bandages.
A coarse voice, rasped and ruined. It still carried a hypnotic weight, but it was far from melodious. From head to toe, he was covered—not in actual bandages, but in torn strips of cloth. Soaked in blood and pus.
Argio's body now seemed so frail, he could barely stand. His limbs had thinned like withered branches. His golden eyes could no longer be seen.
Ather's expression twisted as he confirmed the torn-up neck, as if something had chewed through it.
The last dragon murdered in a burning forest.
The Evil God watched him in silence. Was it apathy? Or permission?
Ather reached out a trembling hand toward Argio's. Just like so many times before, he faltered—but he grasped it in the end.
A hand that seemed like it would crumble into ash at the slightest touch. He held it reverently, like a son serving his god; desperately, like a refugee pleading for salvation.
"...I wanted to meet you."
"I wanted to apologize."
The words spilled out.
"As the last remaining human of the old age, I wanted to beg forgiveness on behalf of those who betrayed and abandoned the dragons. I—I was called a hero, but before that, I was a human... I understood all those tragedies, even hated them... That's why I wanted to apologize."
These were the honest feelings he had hidden behind duty and history. It was guilt. He confessed them now, in the absurd dream of an Evil God—because he was human.
"I'm sorry. Truly sorry. We were wrong."
『...You're the one saying that?』
"I am. These are my words. My plea for forgiveness. It's an apology on behalf of humanity. We suffered many losses and tragedies at your hands... but nothing ends just because of that."
『Then what is it you wish to end?』
"Truthfully, nothing needs to end. But there are things we must do. Things we ought to do."
Resting his forehead on that frail hand, Ather cried. Then he raised his head and looked directly at the bandaged face.
A rough smile formed between the gaps in the cloth.
"...I've been waiting to hear those words."
The last dragon slowly embraced Ather.
It was a feeble strength—one Ather could've shaken off at any time. But he accepted it willingly. A faint warmth spread, tinged with the scent of a forest long burned to ash.
"Would you listen to the first name I was given by a god?"
"I had a beautiful dream."
Like an old parent in twilight years, he gently patted Ather's back.
"Thanks to you, my friend."
"...And I forgive you."
He released the embrace, pulled Ather's hand toward him, and gently brushed his lips against Ather's fingertips.
With a soft laugh, he crumbled into sand.
Ather closed his hand tightly.
The deer, who had offered its thanks, settled like it was nesting atop a small mound of sand. Then it closed its eyes.
As if falling asleep, its movements quieted... and it melted. Soon it became a bouquet of blooming flowers.
All that remained was the deer's skull.
Ather knelt and gently swept the fine sand and the cluster of flowers that had bloomed over it. He stared blankly at it for a while before reaching out.
There was something between the sand and flowers—a silver necklace adorned with a crimson gem.
"...I'll take this as a gift."
Then he left the underground tomb. His hand was heavy, but his breath was light.
He closed the tomb's door and began to climb the stairs. Up and up again. The torches of the ruins glowed faintly. It was a more aged version of the sight he'd seen when he had been reshaped into a man.
Ather continued walking.
After a while, he saw the spot where the children had been playfully running about. Past that, he passed where the young men had been making ornaments. Further on, the place where the fugitives had been sharing their wisdom.
And after that, the distant ceiling came into view.
Though the light was gone, the stars and moon still sparkled—night sky.
"It's beautiful, Seyton."
How many had found comfort in a sky shaped by human hands?
He had been a god even when he was just a man. And even as a god, he remained human. A saint who raged countless times, but still knew how to forgive.
And at last, Ather stood before the entrance to the ruins.
He put the necklace on.
"...It's time to move forward."
Ather's head shattered and fell apart.
Seeing it, Aram clenched her hand tightly.
You've fulfilled your role, haven't you?
Aram stared straight at the Evil God.
The head of the Evil God, whose second hand was now left empty, tilted to the side.
He looked down at his hollow hands, lips parting slightly—twitching faintly, as if calling out to a beloved family member.
That hand began to tremble, then shake violently, until with a monstrous scream he tore off half of his own head.
『...Ah, aaah, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh—!!!!!!』
The overflowing golden fluid looked like tears—tears of the Evil God, wailing in agony.
『Why... why... why, why did you leave me!!!』
『Forgive? Forgive? Forgive?』
『Please, give me your wrath...! Your pain!! Your contempt—!!!』
The brilliance of the red wings quivered grotesquely. It radiated the Evil God's pain and chaos. It was a sight detached from life or warmth—like the twitching nerves of a dead bird.
The rotted and withered dragons screamed in reply to the dissonance. A thunderous roar echoed, drawing the dragons together. Aram's shattered, broken, and incomplete universe once again began to fill with dragons.
"Saintess, may I ask you to explain?"
"...You probably have a rough idea by now..."
Aram answered, wiping away her tears.
"This is the first and last chance."
"This time, I'll do it."
"Will you be all right?"
"Our senior brothers and sisters should have their say, too."
With reddened eyes, she winced and embraced the broken moon.
The moon, cradled in Aram's arms, soon returned to its original form. Holding it in her hands, Aram looked upon the dragons—those who had gathered and those still gathering. Their rage had begun to blur with confusion.
The pitiful envoys of a god.
To them, she whispered softly, as if speaking to a friend.
"...We can talk, can't we?"
As Aram once again raised the moon into the sky, the silver moon shone brightly.
"We have a lot in common."
The moon's faint warmth spread across the world.
And the young dragons, at last... had their eyes captured by that warmth.
Aram gave a wincing, tearful smile.
-x-X-x-