I can hear the cheers and screams of the people from where I stand… It seems everyone is excited to witness my execution. How pathetic… Thinking about it, perhaps I truly deserve this. I caused people's deaths again because of my foolishness… Perhaps this has been the longest night I've had in a long time.
I once heard a wise man say that a person's true nature appears in their final moments. As I sit here knowing my death is imminent, I wonder… was all of this worth it?
Truthfully… I once escaped death before. No doubt it has been chasing me ever since to finish what it started.
I smiled and closed my eyes to clear my mind.
— Why is it that whenever trouble happens, I always find you involved in it?
That voice was familiar to me. I had heard it only a few times, yet it was a voice that always brought me comfort. I opened my eyes to find Mira standing before me!
Younes: Why am I not surprised that you're here as well?
Mira: Haha, I suppose we make a great troublemaking duo. But this time I'm here because of you. I heard that a one-armed fool is about to be executed, so it caught my interest.
Younes: Well, you almost missed the show. Just make sure you don't cry over me.
Mira: Why would I cry over you? Haha. But… are you really going to let them execute you?
Younes: Yes… This is my choice. I won't resist.
Strangely, she became angry and left without saying another word. I barely saw her face… but was that a tear?
---
I walked through the palace corridor with guards surrounding me until I saw the Queen standing before me. She stepped forward toward the crowd and said:
"Today we are not here to judge a man who merely stole from us… but someone we welcomed in order to educate him, only for him to betray us and cause the deaths of our people. As your protector, I cannot overlook such a thing."
She drew her sword and asked:
"Do you have any last words?"
I lowered my head and said,
"Let's just end this."
At that moment, Mira shouted from behind, asking her to stop.
Mira: How can you execute someone who didn't even kill your men? He was deceived just like you were!
Queen: None of this would have happened if he hadn't broken the laws. That doesn't change the fact that he allowed the demon to infiltrate.
Mira: Then will you also take responsibility for what happened during the Sacred Selection?!
Queen: By what right do you address me this way? Know your place!
---
I raised my head in surprise. For a moment, the scene felt strangely familiar. Words echoed in my mind again and again, making me question my sanity. Was this the effect of waiting for death?
As I lowered my head again, my body shivered when I spotted the man from the cellar sitting among the crowd. He was staring at me calmly, as if waiting for something.
But how could he be here? Wasn't this place forbidden to outsiders?
The moment our eyes met, he suddenly disappeared again.
I smiled to myself.
"Man… is this really what you're thinking about in your final moments?"
The queen raised her sword to behead me. The moment she swung it down, I instinctively dodged.
I didn't even think.
All I knew was that my survival instinct was stronger than my pride. Facing death brought fear rushing back into my body.
After all… I'm still human.
Mira smiled and shouted:
"I knew it—you want to live!"
I had no time to talk. All I could think about was how to survive this situation.
I raised my hand and told the queen there was no need to fight and cause more deaths.
She looked at me with contempt.
Queen: And I was the one who thought you were a man. Turns out you're just a child with no honor.
I couldn't respond. Her words wounded my pride… but I chose life over dying for honor.
So I will live.
And I will fix what I've done.
---
I looked at my hand and remembered what I had done against the demon in the dungeon.
I raised it toward the queen and said:
"Disappear."
Everyone stared at me in confusion as I stood with my hand raised.
Nothing happened.
My face turned red and I muttered to myself:
"Okay… damn it. Back to traditional methods."
If I must die, I will die fighting with the magic I learned.
Mira approached me while the guards surrounded us from all directions.
She said:
"Why don't you wipe that fear off your face? I'm with you until the end."
I don't know what happened to me then… but something stirred in my heart again. A feeling I was about to lose because of the hatred consuming me.
I lifted my head and said:
"Until the end."
---
"Allow me to interrupt this moment… but I can't allow you to die yet. I still need you."
Younes: You again! How are you appearing like this?
Queen: Demon? Human? What are you?!
???: Forgive my rudeness, descendant of Scheherazade, but this boy has completed what he came for. Would you kindly let us pass?
Queen: What do you mean? Whatever it is—none of you three will leave here alive.
???: It seems you inherited her stubbornness as well…
He snapped his fingers.
All the soldiers around us flew into the air like falling leaves. It was power beyond human comprehension.
Yet for some reason, he did not target the queen.
Queen: What kind of being are you?! Answer me, monster!
???: I'm merely someone who prefers to avoid trouble. This child is under my care, so I must protect him.
Mira: Then introduce yourself instead of trying to convince us you're our ally!
???: It's still too early to reveal my name. But I'm not lying when I say I'm trying to protect you.
I could tell he was telling the truth… but the questions surrounding him never seemed to end.
The queen rushed toward him and attacked with her sword. He stopped the blade with his bare hand.
Terror spread through all of us.
It wasn't magic. It wasn't a trick.
It was pure physical strength.
He grabbed her sword and threw it away—but he didn't counterattack.
Mira (trying to exploit the moment):
"You're outnumbered three to one. Why not let us pass peacefully?"
???: I know very well she won't allow that. And given your level, she understands that this is really a one-on-one fight. But don't worry…
"In the end… I am the strongest."
He smiled.
---
From the depths of darkness, the serpent demoness watched everything while trembling with fear.
Words formed in her mind—words she wanted to say, yet she didn't know if she would survive after saying them.
???: Queen, why don't we make a quick deal?
He lifted several soldiers into the air.
"Think quickly. Us… or them."
He threw them toward iron bars, and in the same instant grabbed us and dashed out of the city at incredible speed.
---
Mira: How can you be this strong?!
???: Where I come from, people were extremely powerful… powerful enough to make you rethink your entire concept of strength. So I'm not strong. What you saw was merely a small fragment of true power in the real world.
Younes: Stop acting mysterious and tell us the truth!
???: When the right time comes…
Younes, give me your hand.
He grabbed it and released it immediately. My hand burned for a fraction of a second—but the moment was too fast for the human eye to perceive.
???: I suppose I must leave now. I still have unfinished business.
Mira: Younes… can you explain what's going on?
Younes: I have no idea. All I know is that he claims to be one of my ancestors… and that he was sleeping in our cellar all this time. How is that even possible? I honestly don't know…
Mira: Did you check your family book about him?
Younes: For some reason we don't have that book. But… somehow I feel it's him.
That king.
Mira: What king?
Younes: My mother used to tell me a story before I slept… about an ancestor of mine who was once a king, incredibly powerful.
His name was… Younes.
---
"In a pocket dimension, where the underworld meets the real world"
???: Are you enjoying yourself, Lilith?
Lilith: I swear I didn't mean to spy on you—nor did I even think about it!
???: Does that change the fact that you know about my existence now? Or rather… that you tried to steal from me?
Lilith (preparing to escape):
You know I wouldn't dare reveal that. As for the ring, I was only preparing it for your return.
???: Know this: the moment you move, I'll cut off your head. And I also know you're a serpent—you'll betray me just like before. So… how should I deal with you now?
Lilith: Forgive me and I'll be useful to you! I swear!
???: I'll ask you one last question. Your life depends on the answer.
Who sent you to retrieve the ring?
Lilith: It was…!
A magic circle appeared beneath her, forcing her to remain silent before teleporting her away.
???: A reverse summoning? Human? Original demon? It seems she made a binding contract preventing her from revealing it… I'll investigate this later.
---
"Back in the real world"
Younes: Are you leaving now?
Mira: While you were unconscious, I trained in Nevermore to achieve my goal—a goal I swore to accomplish after the incident at your palace.
To eliminate all demons.
But to do that, I first have to investigate the Wall of Worlds.
Younes: Then why don't we do it together?
Mira: I'm afraid I must refuse, Younes. You need to find your own goal—not follow mine.
Perhaps our paths will cross again.
Younes: I didn't expect I could convince you anyway. Take care of yourself.
---
A personal goal, huh…
I wonder if I still have something like that.
Perhaps it's time for me to return to the palace.
When I arrived, I felt something different. Not as if I had been gone for long… but something inside me had changed.
A familiar feeling slowly taking root within me.
I rested for a moment and looked up at the palace ceiling. When you contemplate the world and forget your worries, the world feels as light as a feather in your hand.
But only moments later I stood up.
It's still too early for me to rest.
Since that night, I stepped into a world with no exit.
So I must read more… learn everything I can… so that one day I won't need anyone.
I walked toward the library.
The moment I entered, the entire structure changed.
The ring in my hand glowed as if reacting to the palace structure—but why the library?
Reality itself seemed to shift, like curtains falling on a stage.
The space expanded. The library became far larger than before.
Was the palace even built by humans?
I wandered through it, realizing just how enormous it had become.
And that's when I understood…
A new journey had begun.
And perhaps the answers to my questions lie within the books and manuscripts that had appeared.