In the building were Moon Hyunah, Kang Soyeong, Mari, and Emily. Hyunah approached and studied my face.
“I think you’re looking a bit better. What happens now, brother?”
“Well... Yun-yun and Park Hayul, toss them into a room in this building. Hand Hayul a Peace doll and wake up first.”
“Got it!”
Yun-yun dragged Park Hayul off toward the souvenir shop. How was I supposed to explain this? I glanced at Seong Hyunjae.
“First, whatever you hear now, do not ever ntion it to anyone.”
“Should I have them sign an NDA?”
Hyunah hesitated at her own joke, then shook her head. If the Transcendents got involved, everyone would know sooner or later. Better to confess now than be found out later.
“In one or two days, the Transcendents’ underlings will appear. Their target is Guildmaster Seong Hyunjae.”
“Only Seong Hyunjae? What about our world?”
“Well... we’ve sealed it off with a dream barrier, so it should be safe. Even Transcendents can’t pass through here. People who are dreaming won’t be hard.”
“So we just have to dump that guy and it’s over.”
Hyunah said lightly, but...
“If Seong Hyunjae falls into the Crescent Moon’s hands, it could be dangerous.”
“What’s so dangerous about it? What does the Crescent Moon Transcendent intend?”
“...It seems she wants to destroy the current Origin and create a new one.”
Hyunah tilted her head.
“Origin is what swallows worlds, right? It sends monsters, sets up the system and dungeons to help us fight easily.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Then the Origin itself is the problem. The Crescent Moon wants to eliminate it. But what is this new Origin?”
“...I’m not entirely sure, but I think she hopes for an Origin that doesn’t consu worlds.”
“Is that even possible? With just Seong Hyunjae?”
“It’s theoretically possible.”
The Puppeteer spoke, looking between Hyunah and .
“He’s traversed countless worlds and accumulated their power. Once that power fills him completely, he becos a Full Moon. In other words, he can contain every world and more.”
“...But isn’t that different from Origin? Origin actually creates worlds.”
“Then it swallows the Origin as well. That’s why she calls it the Full Moon. Though it’s the Crescent Moon’s child, once it’s full, it reflects the Sun’s light—so it shines.”
The Puppeteer glanced at Hyunjae.
“A Full Moon that has devoured the Origin, absorbing its creative power and unleashing it. A new Origin.”
“But if it’s just a copy, won’t the new Origin also consu worlds?”
“The Crescent Moon can control it. If she doesn’t let it, it won’t. There’s a theory that only by Origin consuming worlds can it replenish its spent creative power. There are five Origins. The Full Moon would eat them all. Powers of this sort, when combined, multiply rather than add. We might see an Origin that uses almost no creative power.”
...A safe, perfect god.
“This is just my hypothesis, though. The Crescent Moon must be certain of sothing to act like this. One thing’s for sure: that being is a pseudo-Origin.”
“...Having absorbed multiple worlds, that much seems true.”
“Then here’s what I think.”
Hyunah frowned slightly.
“Isn’t it better for the Crescent Moon to take Seong Hyunjae herself?”
The words I’d tried to avoid ca out. Soyeong shot a glance at her guildmaster. Emily fell silent, lost in thought.
“She said it’s to save the world, too.”
Mari spoke hesitantly.
“But I think the Guildmaster’s opinion matters. I wanted to go to sleep to protect the world. But even if I’d refused then, it wouldn’t have been wrong... right?”
“Of course it wasn’t your fault.”
Hyunah nodded. Her heavy gaze turned to Mari.
“But if there’s no other way, Mari, I would have grabbed you and jumped into the dream with you, even knowing it was wrong.”
“Because there are people we need to protect?”
“Right. I’m not that moral. I can’t say I’ve never done sothing dirty.”
Hyunah looked at briefly.
“I tried splitting you and Brother apart and stealing Yerim.”
I rembered that ti. Hyunah had reason to distrust .
“If sothing needs doing, I do it. Then I don’t dodge responsibility afterward. No matter how long I talk, it’s just excuses.”
“I understand.”
Mari answered. Emily sighed softly.
“I don’t like sacrificing a few for the many. But this is difficult.”
It’s just one person. Yerim watched anxiously. Gyuri’s expression was hard. Only Seolyi, caring only about her sister and the star in my arms, munched on snacks without a care. Yuhyun never paid attention unless it was her business.
“I guarantee our world’s safety. And we don’t know if the Crescent Moon will succeed. She might make things worse.”
I started to defend myself, then glared at Hyunjae. Why was he silent?
“This is your fight. Say sothing.”
“It’s not my concern.”
Hyunjae tilted his head faintly. What?
“What conclusion could we reach here? Neither the Crescent Moon nor I can be stopped.”
“...Wow, what a jerk.”
Hyunah muttered. Concerned Soyeong’s face hardened—she was clearly opting out.
“...Hyunjae’s not wrong, but he’s really a jerk.”
“Right, right. Brother, just dump him. He said he can handle it himself.”
For a mont, I was tempted. But Hyunjae, who’d spent a long ti with , was still waiting. He’d promised to win back my trust before returning—what bad luck.
And one more thing:
‘A Transcendent who might directly intervene alongside their underlings.’
That would be quite the feat. I still held System Admin privileges: Diarma, Ruga the Pest, the Devourer King. Even the chatterbox. The powers I’d gained by capturing them.
Transcendents targeting Hyunjae looked like opportunities. If I could take down even one, I might gain the strength to bring my sister back. It wouldn’t be easy, but maybe.
“Problem is, the Crescent Moon is interested in , too. Other Transcendents will go after Hyunjae, but she won’t let go easily.”
“So we have to fight?”
“Yerim, Peace, Yuh...yun, you.”
“I’m not going.”
“...Right. I want to send two of you back first.”
“Sir! I’m not going either!”
“Yerim, even if you go ho, the dream barrier will bring you back. It’ll actually be safer—”
“With the System applied, we can use our full power here. But Hyunah wouldn’t be able to. Right?”
That... Gyuri and Mari looked at together. I looked to the Puppeteer. He shrugged.
“It’s a dream. Sensations are a bit dulled compared to reality.”
“See?”
Yerim crossed her arms, refusing to go. If she didn’t agree, we couldn’t send her... Would Peace agree? My head spun.
“First... let’s wait for the new recruit’s contact and gather more information before deciding. We can’t answer now. We only know the Transcendents are attacking.”
I felt helpless. Hyunjae might suggest death again. Should we find a way to escape the dream world once the System is active? Could I use my Admin rights sohow? If we could just run to our world, it would still solve everything... except for Yuhyun.
“Yes. We have «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» ti. We’ll go out and co back, too. If we keep sleeping, we’ll drain our strength.”
Hyunah nodded, saying they’d return in ten hours. Soyeong, Mari, and Emily also woke from the dream and vanished. In the silence, I heard the crunch of snacks. Gyuri eyed Hyunjae.
“Let’s rest while we can. Hyunjae, head to the Sesung Guild.”
Facing him was still awkward. Hyunjae looked hurt at my words.
“So you’re abandoning .”
“...What did he say?”
“After all I’ve done, caring for Han Yujin’s kids... does fairy form suit you?”
“What are you talking about? You—”
I t his composed golden gaze. Hyunjae smiled. ...His mories were intact. In other words, he could imitate perfectly. Director Song, knowing Hyunjae’s state, gave him a stern look before speaking to .
“To exchange information, I think it’s better to keep them nearby for now.”
“...Understood. Gyuri, prepare rooms on the first floor of the nursery for those two. Include a dining area.”
“Okay, Dad.”
“And put up a high screen display so Noah and Riet can see.”
I wish they’d co to the nursery if they were still in Seoul. Maybe we could ask the broadcaster for airti.
“As for Hwangrim....”
“Don’t worry about that guy.”
The Puppeteer said.
“Do you know where he is?”
“Roughly. It’s safer he’s not here.”
“Really?”
“It’s sothing like that.”
I didn’t understand, but since Hwangrim had contracted with the Puppeteer, he’d handle himself. I also asked Gyuri to set up the Puppeteer’s room— as far as possible from Hyunjae.
– 키잉! 컁! 컁!
As soon as we entered the nursery, we heard crying sounds. A tiger cub bounded over and clung to Peace. Peace looked down at the fox winding around his legs with mild annoyance.
“Tiger cub? Were you dreaming too—”
“Ah, Mar! Mar!”
Yerim ran out with arms wide open. A baby sea dragon, which had been flying through the air as if swimming, wagged its tail in greeting.
“Gyuri brought him because he thought it’d cheer you up.”
They said everyone was sleeping at just the right ti. I smiled back at those shining golden eyes.
“Thanks, Gyuri. And Bellaer’s here too!”
– 시익!
“Wasn’t Ppiyak with you?”
“Well, Ppiyak was strangely impossible to bring.”
Gyuri tilted his head. Ppiyak... must be related to that white bird. A precognitive species never yet seen in reality.
– 매앵.
A black lamb hopped over and head-butted Director Song’s leg. Startled, she bent over.
“L-long ti no see.”
– 메~
Director Song stamred, “Recently I was short on ti and it was napti....”
Songie kept poking her head at Director Song, who then knelt to pet her. Soon Sorok the young stag approached and tapped Director Song with a raised foreleg, as if complaining. Director Song looked flustered.
“Director Song, play with Songie again—it’s been ages.”
“I... I’m fine.”
“It’s okay. You’ll go ho soon anyway.”
She would. Not just Songie—countless people awaited her back in her office. Instead of answering, Director Song petted Songie one more ti, greeted the other young monsters, and headed ho. Even in a dream, it felt just like reality and put my mind at ease.
“Mar, let’s wash up together.”
Yerim led Mar to her own bathroom. Peace stretched out in the living room, and the tiger cub mirrored him. Byul bounded in, burrowed into Peace’s mane, while Seolyi and Gyuri held her steady, and I walked into the bedroom.
“We should still send Yerim and Peace back first, though.”
Seeing the familiar bed made want to jump in imdiately. Ho really is the best.
“And you, brother?”
“I’ll go too, of course.”
I heard the door click shut. Yuhyun approached from behind as I searched for pajamas.
“If there’s a way to escape, you’ll go straight away?”
“Straight away. Why would I stay here?”
“Can you prove it?”
I turned around, pajamas in hand. Her dark eyes stared at .
“Prove what?”
“Like a contract. It could double as a lie detector.”
“Co on, that’s—”
“Hyung.”
“.......”
I swallowed hard. I have to go, I know I have to.
“Yuhyun. Why would I stay? If we could all go together, of course I would.”
“I’ll ask Hangyeol to draw up the contract.”
“No, hey!”
I grabbed Yuhyun as she tried to leave. She looked back at , then slowly spoke.
“Is it because of ?”
“...What?”
“The you before regression.”
...My ears rang as though underwater. Her voice echoed in my mind.
“...What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“Such a desperate reason.”
Her voice continued.
“The reason you hesitated to give Park Hayul power.”
“That’s because, if we wanted a safe return—”
“You said once the System normalized, your power alone could get us ho. Yet you went to find Park Hayul. You insisted on including a wish in that contract. That ans you had a wish beyond our safety.”
“.......”
I drew in a deep breath. How she learned about pre-regression , I didn’t know. But many knew that fact: the new recruit, the Elder, the Crescent Moon, other Transcendents. Probably not the Elder, though. Maybe the Crescent Moon whispered it.
“...The you before regression was still you.”
My voice trembled. I hadn’t wanted to explain it like this.
“That you died protecting . So I wanted to at least bring you ho—even if as a corpse.”
“A corpse?”
“...Yes.”
I exhaled slowly.
“I heard from Diarma that you stayed behind. I wanted to bring you ho and give you a proper funeral. That would ease my heart. But if there truly was no choice... then I had no choice...”
I would prioritize my living sister. I will. Even if I can’t give up, I’ll leave that for another ti and return now.
“I planned to leave you behind and go ho.”
“Okay.”
Yuhyun said. She lifted her previously bowed head. A faint smile appeared.
“Because the before regression died.”
“.......”
“If that’s what you say, fine. Let’s rest. Should I draw a bath?”
Yuhyun turned away as if nothing had happened. I stared at her back in a daze, then let out a relieved breath.
‘I didn’t expect her to agree so easily.’
I was surprised, but glad it worked out.
Reviews
All reviews (0)