Darkness filled Kondo's vision.
Because of the overwhelming light, he couldn't see anything clearly. He tried to open his eyes, but the radiance was so intense that all he could make out were a pair of pure white wings, as white as fresh milk.
Unable to bear it any longer, Kondo closed his eyes.
The moment he did, his body disappeared like smoke, as if his existence had never been there in the first place.
When Kondo opened his eyes again, all he saw was darkness.
Slowly, he blinked.
Everything around him looked blurry.
"Huh...? Why can't I see properly?" he muttered, rubbing his eyes.
As the haze gradually faded, his vision became clear.
The first thing he saw was Kim standing right in front of him.
Smiling brightly, she said,
"Why not?"
Kondo didn't answer.
He simply stared at her.
A smile slowly appeared on his face—a smile filled with relief.
He couldn't believe it.
Kim was alive.
Standing right in front of him.
Seeing him stare at her so intensely, Kim tilted her head.
"Is there something on my face?"
She touched her cheeks.
"No... there's nothing there. Then why is he staring at me like that? And why am I suddenly feeling embarrassed...?"
A faint blush spread across her face.
"Kondo, you said you wanted to ask me something. Then why are you just staring at me like that?"
Without saying a word, Kondo walked toward her.
Seeing him approach, Kim asked worriedly,
"Kondo, what's wrong? Is everything alright? You're acting strangely all of a sudden."
Shin, who had been standing behind them, watched curiously.
Kondo stopped in front of Kim.
"Kondo?" Kim called once again.
But instead of answering—
Kondo wrapped his arms around her.
Kim froze in surprise.
Shin's eyes widened as well.
"W-WHAAAT?!"
Kim was startled, yet strangely happy.
She had no idea why Kondo was hugging her so suddenly, but... it felt nice.
Gently, she placed her arms around his back.
I wanted to hug him too... but I never thought he'd do something like this so suddenly.
However, as she held him, she noticed something.
Kondo was crying.
"Kondo?" she asked softly. "Why are you crying all of a sudden?"
Kondo wiped his tears.
"I'm just... really happy that you're alright."
Kim blinked in confusion.
"What happened to me? I'm perfectly fine. You're the one acting weird."
Meanwhile, Shin finally snapped out of her shock.
"What exactly are you two doing?!"
Hearing Shin's voice, Kondo returned to his senses.
He quickly wiped away the remaining tears.
He had something important to do.
Slowly, he released Kim and erased the smile from his face.
"I'm sorry, Kim."
Kim looked away shyly.
"It's fine... you can hug me whenever you want."
"Ahhh! What do you mean whenever he wants?!" Shin protested immediately. "I'm here too! He should hug me instead!"
She shook her head.
"Forget that. More importantly, Kondo!"
Pointing at him, she asked,
"Why did you suddenly hug Kim? I was here too, you know!"
Kondo looked toward Shin.
"Oh... Shin, you're here too."
Shin puffed her cheeks angrily.
"What do you mean I'm here too?! I was the one who brought you here! You're clearly ignoring me on purpose!"
Kondo lowered his gaze and chuckled softly.
Shin stared at his eyes.
Something felt different.
"Kondo... what's wrong? Your eyes seem... different somehow."
Kim also looked surprised.
Even though Kondo was standing right in front of her, she couldn't sense his presence at all.
Kondo laughed lightly.
"You've started reading people's eyes now, Shin?"
The two girls exchanged glances.
Then Kondo's smile disappeared.
His expression turned serious.
"I need both of your help."
Seeing his sudden change in mood, Kim and Shin looked at each other before nodding.
"What kind of help?" Shin asked. "If you don't explain, we won't understand anything."
Kondo took a deep breath.
"What I'm about to say will sound strange... but I've seen what is about to happen."
Neither of them understood.
After hesitating for a moment, Kondo finally said,
"I came from the future."
And then, he told them everything.
How he had died.
How he had met God.
How he had been given a second chance.
However, there were certain things he deliberately left out.
He didn't mention the existence inside him.
Nor did he tell them about falling into the black hole.
"I came back after the incident that is about to happen,I came from future" Kondo explained.
"The future?" both girls repeated in shock.
Kondo nodded.
"I know it's hard to believe, but it's true. In a little while, demons will attack this place and kill all of us. I died too... but God saved me and sent me back to the past, giving me one chance to change everything."
Shin crossed her arms thoughtfully.
"Future, huh...? But you just came here with me. How are we supposed to believe you're really from the future? What if you're just joking?"
Kondo thought for a moment.
"That's a fair point... How can I prove it?"
Shin thought for a few seconds before speaking.
"If you know something that I told no one else... then maybe."
Kondo suddenly remembered.
"Oh, right! When Kim brought me home, she proposed to me. You panicked after seeing that and later proposed in front of Mom as well ,you panicked and"
"STOP! STOP!" Shin screamed, her entire face turning red.
"T-That's embarrassing! H-How do you know that in such detail?!"
Kim nodded seriously.
"Alright. I believe you."
Shin looked at her before sighing.
"...Fine. I believe you too."
Kondo smiled.
"Thank you."
Kim immediately said,
"We need to tell everyone else."
Hearing that, Kondo placed a hand on his chin and fell into thought.
"We don't have much time. Besides, they won't believe children no matter what we say."
Shin frowned.
"But why would they kill us?"
Kondo looked at her.
"I don't know everything... but they're coming for my mother."
Both girls froze in shock.
Kondo continued,
"I have a plan. It might be able to change some things."
Kim and Shin exchanged glances before nodding.
Then, Kondo began explaining his plan to them.
Meanwhile, Lawine was talking with Ishita when she suddenly stiffened.
A look of fear appeared on her face.
Seeing her reaction, Ishita asked in confusion,
"Lawine, what's wrong? Why are you acting like that all of a sudden?"
Lawine's eyes darted around anxiously.
"I-I can't sense Kondo anymore."
Ishita frowned.
"What do you mean you can't sense him?"
Lawine turned toward her, her eyes wide with worry.
"I can't feel Kondo's presence at all."
Ishita's expression immediately became serious.
"You do realize what you're saying, right? If someone's presence suddenly disappears, that means—"
"I know," Lawine interrupted, clutching her chest tightly.
"No... that's impossible. I'm going to find him."
She quickly turned to leave.
Just then, a familiar voice reached her ears.
"Mom, where are you going?"
Lawine froze.
She slowly turned toward the voice.
Standing there with Shin and Kim was Kondo.
A look of surprise appeared on Lawine's face.
Even though Kondo was standing right in front of her, she still couldn't sense his presence.
"Kondo..." she said softly. "Is that really you?"
Kondo chuckled lightly.
"What do you mean, Mom?"
Lawine instinctively reached out to touch him, but Kondo gently grabbed her hand.
"Mom, please come with me."
Although confused, Lawine followed him.
"Kondo, what's wrong? Where are you taking me all of a sudden?"
Kondo smiled.
"Just come with me, Mom."
Leading the way, Kondo guided Lawine upstairs.
Kim and Shin quietly followed behind them.
There were two rooms on the upper floor. In the first room, King Veld and King Rose were discussing something.
Kondo ignored that room and headed toward the second one.
He led Lawine inside.
Kim and Shin remained outside.
"What is it, Kondo?" Lawine asked.
Kondo lowered his gaze.
"Mom... please stay here."
Without another word, he stepped outside.
Before Lawine could ask anything else, Kondo shut the door.
Confused, Lawine immediately walked toward it.
From outside, Kondo said quietly,
"Mom, please stay in this room for a while."
Lawine began knocking on the door.
"But what happened? At least tell me!"
Kondo lowered his voice.
"Mom... if you come outside... you'll end up seeing my dead body."
The knocking stopped instantly.
Kondo didn't like saying something like that, but he knew it was the only way to make Lawine stay.
Just then, he sensed something.
Turning around, he saw Kim kneeling on the floor behind him.
Kondo's eyes widened.
No... we don't have much time.
Seeing Kim on her knees, Shin whispered,
"So what you said really is coming true..."
Kondo and Shin helped Kim back to her feet.
Looking at her, Kondo asked, "Kim, can you lock this room?"
Kim stared at the door. Exhaustion was clearly visible on her face, as if her strength was steadily slipping away.
"I'll... try," she replied in a tired voice.
She extended her hand and clenched her teeth. A red magic circle instantly appeared around her wrist. Kim then turned her gaze toward the door, causing another magic circle to form on its surface.
However, the moment it appeared, it shattered.
"No..." Kondo muttered as he looked at the broken circle.
Kim tried once more. She stretched out her hand again and repeated the process.
This time, Kondo gently held her free hand, silently telling her that he believed in her—that she could do it.
Feeling Kondo's support, Kim poured every last bit of strength into the spell.
A large crimson magic circle suddenly manifested on the door. Then, four smaller circles appeared around it. One by one, the smaller circles moved toward the larger one, locking themselves into place around it.
The moment they connected, the entire magic formation stabilized, sealing the door shut.