“Ought we to help?”
Moon Hyunah’s words drew Sigma’s gaze as if asking Why? There was no hint he thought the Puppeteer would be overwheld. One of the fast-approaching thralls halted and stared at Sigma.
“...Pseudo-Source? How?”
The other thrall by his side also paused, cocking his head.
“Similar, but different.”
Yik-In, with his keen eyesight, studied the target, while Scale-Wing perceived magic and heat. As the two hesitated, the Puppeteer’s irises shifted to bright blue. The lake’s surface beneath the thralls rippled.
Ssshhh—
Thin jets of water erupted. Tens of thousands of filants of water shot skyward, instantly forming a net overhead. Before the thralls could react, the glowing, razor-sharp sh closed in.
“Aquatic hybrid... yes. Puppet-craft has always been my specialty.” Sigma murmured from mory. The Puppeteer’s outstretched hand snapped back, and the net tightened at once.
“Kugh!”
Yik-In, wrapped in his wings, gasped as the sharp water cut into his feathers. Scale-Wing, rolling into a perfect armored ball like an armadillo, repelled the water entirely. Yet—
Sploosh!
Both had folded their wings and plumted into the lake. The mont they sank beneath the water, the Puppeteer vanished.
“It’s over.” Sigma muttered. With the flying types dragged underwater, the fight was decided. Soon the Puppeteer resurfaced, water cascading from his body like rain, his eyes returning to their normal hue.
“Now, then.”
In an instant the Puppeteer reappeared atop the glass railing behind the three. Moon Hyunah jumped and turned. After all, this was the kidnapper of another’s real child—seeing the guardian’s face felt awkward.
“Shall I hear your excuses? So this is what that plea ant.”
“Hyunah? You noticed too.” Moon Hyunah flushed and rubbed her neck. “First, you entrusted with your precious son, and I’ve failed your expectations. I apologize.”
“Well, don’t call him your son. I’m closer to his father’s age.” Sigma interjected with displeasure. “But I had to prioritize our world.”
“I can’t say I didn’t foresee it.” The Puppeteer sighed and flicked his fingers. The parasol unfurled above them caught in his threads, folded swiftly, and flew at Hwangrim, who’d been inching away. With a crack it stuck just before him; Hwangrim smiled and raised both hands in surrender.
“Yet, Ms. Moon Hyunah, I thought you wouldn’t trade an unconscious person to others.”
“Hm, true. That’s why I waited for Sigma to wake.”
“And now?”
“I told Sigma we must save our world.”
“And?”
“That you must hear for yourself.”
The Puppeteer’s gaze shifted to Sigma standing beside Moon Hyunah. But instead of asking Sigma’s opinion:
“Now go back to sleep. Staying awake is dangerous.”
He urged retreat. Sigma refused outright.
“No.”
“The Gardener’s thralls may still catch up—even from this distance.”
“I’ve decided to help Moon Hyunah.”
At Sigma’s words, the Puppeteer furrowed his brow. Moon Hyunah averted her eyes slightly but continued:
“Even treating as a child, you should at least listen.”
“My experience is lacking, but I am not young.”
“Ms. Moon Hyunah. How did you persuade him?”
“I didn’t. I rely stated my position.”
She had only inford him. Deciding was entirely Sigma’s own. The Puppeteer sighed again, looking at Sigma.
“You have no reason to protect this world.”
“You plan to make of this world. Protecting my world is natural.”
“Not yet.”
“Before this, Moon Hyunah, you invited . If I had nowhere to go, I could co with you. You offered to take responsibility and bring to C–Rank. I was invited before you asked the Puppeteer to protect .”
Long ago—though Sigma felt it was re days past—there was an outstretched hand and a promise to wait. The Puppeteer’s gaze weighed heavy at those confident words.
“Yes. I heard it. All the more reason I ca here—to a ti before this world reached proper civilization—so even if you’re an S–Rank, you’d be welcod.”
The more powerful an otherworldly being, the harder it is for that world’s protection to bar them. That was why the Crescent Moon erased Seong Hyunjae’s mory and sent him to a pre-Awakened era.
“But you’ve barely set foot here. This world you know counts on one hand its people.”
“I was a guard.”
Sigma’s lips curved into a round line.
“I beca one unknowingly. Solemnis at first planned to charm and bind a powerful stranger. Yet they gradually treated as Sigma.”
Sigma accepted his role and acted to defend the city. He did nothing extraordinary—fulfilled his duty as a guard: prepared for monster outbreaks, minimized citizen harm, trained fellow guards, and led on the front lines. That simple devotion was enough.
“Solemnis was indeed a great city. Lambda’s mory says it changed drastically after Sigma’s departure. My brother complained you caused him trouble, but—”
“That was C–Rank’s fault. No guard ought wander at night without registration. They’re criminals. So even kidnap lower guards to sell to Akrates—imdiately arrested.”
Han Yujin even carried high–grade weapons.
“Of course, curiosity played a part. But it «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» was dull then.”
A chanically repetitive life. Sigma quietly traced the mory.
“My past world may have been similar. Guard duties beca so familiar they bored .”
“Nevertheless, Seong Hyunjae here was diligent in safeguarding the world. Though bored to death.”
Purely for the world, his actions were guardian-like. Moon Hyunah reached out and rested her chin on Sigma’s shoulder.
“Sigma, you never had an unconscious goal to escape the Crescent Moon. Isn’t that your true nature?”
“I don’t know. I only felt it was sothing I had to do. Not out of duty.”
Sigma tilted his head slightly. Hard to explain exactly.
“I think I wanted to.”
He felt no special affection for those he saved or guarded. Even as guards grew attached to him, he felt only that protection was natural, almost arrogant.
Because he was that kind of being.
Sigma looked the Puppeteer squarely in the eyes. His long black hair swayed in the sea breeze.
“This is . I can’t fully explain—I don’t know. No mory. But I’m not persuaded. Not a sacrifice.”
The Puppeteer’s eyes twisted slightly—half laugh, half cry.
“...How much ti has passed since ti flowed again? You think to grow already?”
“My ti began flowing not long ago. Yet I feel your hair has lengthened.”
The only change in frozen ti. The Puppeteer smiled.
“They say no parent can outdo their child.”
“I was born long before you.”
“Still, once the conditions are t, I’ll sever you from Seong Hyunjae and send you to the other world.”
His will to protect Sigma remained unchanged.
“I want that too.”
“You may just bind Sigma and Seong Hyunjae together and hand them over, if need be.”
Moon Hyunah watched the Puppeteer’s reaction but spoke resolutely. He sighed and shook his head.
“Ms. Moon Hyunah, you’re trustworthy in this. Fine. If I succeed, no objections—take him.”
“Yes. But if the Crescent Moon destroys the Source and our world perishes, won’t it all be for naught?”
“There are other thods—secrets.”
Now he wouldn’t reveal his hand.
“So, Ms. Moon Hyunah, any plan? The opponent is a Transcendent—who knows when they’ll break into the dream world.”
“If I had specifics, I’d have told you before Sigma’s abduction and sought your help.”
Moon Hyunah answered confidently. If she had a sure solution, would they be here now? Lacking one, she, Han Yujin, and Seong Hyunjae pressed forward with force.
“For now, I’ll stand with Sigma as the last resort.”
If both Han Yujin and Seong Hyunjae fail, soone must bear the end.
“That won’t be easy. The Gardener’s thralls are stronger than expected. Once other thralls adapt to the System, they’ll be overwhelming.”
“Escaping is less difficult.”
“Co to think, you did get out—how?”
“Just a mont.”
Moon Hyunah closed her eyes. As she slumped, Sigma instinctively caught her.
“Lambda?”
Then—
“The Goblin King has arrived~ Where to next? Hello, Captain Kim’s just like Captain Kim!”
Yunyun burst forth and Moon Hyunah opened her eyes. She smiled at the Puppeteer.
“We have many helpers.”
“Of your world. Yes, you were uniquely connected.”
“And my sponsors are deeply tied to this world—Mari and Marisa.”
They awakened Park Hayul’s swapped dream and Skill, guiding his dream into reality.
“Marisa was born S–Rank but awakened late, so her physique is lower. Yet her ntal power grew stronger. She also holds the Crescent Moon’s power by contract.”
Marisa, as promised, would aid Moon Hyunah. Unlike Han Yujin, Moon Hyunah would choose the world at the last.
“The Goblin King isn’t Han Yujin’s ally?”
“Yes! I love Captain Kim! But I’m a King.” Yunyun puffed her chest.
“Captain Kim has people to protect, and I have goblins to guard. He’ll help defend our world—and red-haired Kim too!”
After her bold declaration, Yunyun tilted her head.
“Do you think Captain Kim would mind?”
“He wouldn’t. He knows my will to protect best. Though our paths differ, the end is the sa. Reaching the sa place is best.”
If everyone could arrive together.
“With Marisa’s assistance, I can now draw more Awakened stably into dreams. Even with Yunyun alone, fleeing becos easier.”
“In dreams, there’s no Skill limit! Wake and sleep again to reuse!”
“We’re also trying to connect with Dream-Owner Park Hayul.”
“Good.” The Puppeteer nodded. Unlimited long-distance movent would make it hard even for the Gardener’s thralls to catch them.
“Then inform Chief Han.”
Moon Hyunah switched on her phone.
Seong Hyunjae still hadn’t moved. Director Song strained to turn and look at . Riette leapt from the river but couldn’t move easily, assessing the situation in a low crouch.
“...Yuhyun.”
“I don’t wish to kill Director Song. He’s helpful to the world my brother will inhabit.”
To keep Awakened from rampaging in Korea, Director Song’s presence was better.
“But now he’ll be hostage.”
Director Song flinched. The sword piercing his arm lted, the sll of burning flesh wafting. Yuhyun’s eyes were emotionless. If I continue to refuse, she’ll kill Director Song without hesitation and seize Riette. I gently lowered Seong Hyunjae. Rising, I stood.
“Co here, Yuhyun.”
Not —you. You were the one who departed. Yuhyun paused, then stepped on the butterfly and walked over. As the ground sloped like stairs and lted then re-solidified, she planted her feet on it. I looked up at my sister, now bigger than mory.
“Use the mory-erasing item. But I won’t cooperate.”
Even if it wiped everything in her head, I would never erase my sister by choice. Yuhyun’s eyes flickered faintly. Yet she produced the item: a small red, pogranate-seed–like gem.
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