Chapter 395 |
Early morning.
The sky, once tinged with a murky light, was gradually brightening from the east as the clear sun began to rise. The wind blowing through the open window felt cool, a sign that the traces of dawn still lingered.
The fresh air carried by the wind cleared my head. I slowly sat down and reached out my right hand. My fingers touched a hot teacup. It was Go Yeon-ju's special herbal tea, for which I'd paid the price of a single kiss after breakfast this morning.
A smile naturally formed on my lips as I recalled their threatening me, saying I'd have to pay the price every time I wanted tea from now on.
I savored the fragrant aroma for a while before taking a light sip. As the pleasant warmth spread through my body with a gentle swallow, I spoke quietly.
Loud enough for someone standing outside the door to hear.
"Come in."
They must have heard me, as I sensed a flinch from beyond the door. After a moment of hesitant shuffling, the sound of footsteps quickly running down the hall followed. Now it was my turn to be startled.
"...?"
I could roughly guess who it was. It had to be either Ahn Hyeon or Vivian, both of whom had been stealing glances at me all through the meal. They must have had something to discuss with me ever since I heard they planned to use a wish to revive Shin Sang-yong.
The thought of that problem made me pause and contemplate.
'A User who has died once can never return to Earth.'
This was a fact I had only learned right before I reversed time, and there was a reason I was hesitant to bring it up with the others.
From what I'd heard, Ahn Hyeon felt a deep sense of responsibility for Shin Sang-yong's death and had only managed to get back on his feet with the goal of using a wish. But if he learned the truth, he might have to live with that guilt for the rest of his life.
And that wasn't all. Since this fact was closely related to the Zero Code, it was also questionable whether the angels would willingly tell me.
I still didn't know for sure why the angels hadn't told me this in the first playthrough.
I never asked because I'd assumed I could naturally return, and the angels, for their own reasons, never told me.
In this situation, how would the others react if I told them, "He can't go back?"
It was true that I hadn't acted like a 0-year User in the Hall Plain, but I could at least make excuses. Since I was known for frequenting the library, most of the information I had could be attributed to what was written in the 'records.'
But the fact that a User revived by a wish couldn't return was not written anywhere.
The direct keywords related to 'returning' aren't revealed until the assault on 'Terra.' If the others were to ask for the source of my information, I'd be in a rather difficult position.
To be honest, I have no intention of reviving Shin Sang-yong. I believe that's the right choice, and that won't change.
I had only given Ahn Hyeon permission to use the wish; I planned to watch from the sidelines in a supportive role.
But setting that aside, I did think it would be better to tell him beforehand if I could. If Ahn Hyeon truly cares for Shin Sang-yong, I don't want him to experience the same pain I did.
'In the end, does the answer lie with Seraph?'
In the first playthrough, I never asked because I assumed I could return. And Seraph had told me she didn't say anything for my sake.
Of course, I didn't fully trust her words, but I felt the need to visit the temple soon regardless. Her answer would determine whether or not I could tell the others.
'Should I just go right now?'
At the sudden thought, I looked up at the sky for no particular reason.
Had I been lost in thought for too long? A good amount of time must have passed, as the hazy sky had now taken on a clear hue. I downed the slightly cooled tea in one gulp and slowly rose to my feet.
"A User who has died once can no longer be revived as a User. As such, you can consider them to be generated as an entirely new resident."
"...Then one more question. Are there any cases of a resident going to Earth?"
"There are not. Earth and the Hall Plain are connected by a one-way relationship, not a two-way one. Earthlings can return since they have a path they came through, but residents cannot travel there in the first place."
The Hall Plain, the Summoning Room.
In a space cloaked in a faint darkness, an angel with fluttering white wings stood on the altar, and before her, a man sat slumped. They were Seraph and Kim Soohyun.
"In that case..."
After their exchange ended.
Kim Soohyun trailed off, his gaze fixed on her, and Seraph gave a heavy nod.
"A User revived by a wish is a resident. There is no difference."
At Seraph's answer, a strange light flickered for a moment in Kim Soohyun's eyes.
"...I see."
Kim Soohyun replied calmly, letting out a short sigh as he composedly stood up. He didn't look overly shocked, but a closer look revealed a complex expression.
"Then that fact... Why..."
Kim Soohyun started to speak again, but trailed off once more as if pondering something.
"..."
While Kim Soohyun was lost in thought, Seraph gazed into his eyes and thought to herself.
His tone and attitude toward her were still cold, but at least she couldn't see any killing intent. More importantly, his gaze, once like thin ice, seemed to have softened slightly.
Even if that gaze wasn't directed at her, she felt a sense of relief and an inexplicable satisfaction.
"Tsk. Never mind. In any case, I'll keep what you've told me myself."
"I would appreciate that."
Though he seemed to have more questions, Kim Soohyun abruptly turned and walked toward the blue portal. Watching him step into it without delay, Seraph let out a quiet breath through her nose.
"...Hoo."
Left alone in the space once more, Seraph gently closed her eyes. She seemed to have calmed down a bit, as the fluttering of her wings had returned to normal.
It was then.
Flash!
A bright light suddenly erupted beside the altar, and from within the dazzling cluster of light that seemed to stain the air, an angel walked out.
"!"
It happened without any warning. Startled, Seraph opened her eyes and turned her head. The moment she identified the summoned angel, she frowned slightly.
"...What brings you here, Lady Uriel?"
"You don't seem very pleased to see me, Seraph."
"..."
"Don't you think you're quite arrogant for a high-ranking angel?"
Despite the angel's blatant criticism, Seraph remained silent. Uriel glared at her for a moment before sweeping back her jet-black hair with a soft breath.
"Well, fine. Let's put that aside... That User was here just now, wasn't he?"
"If you are referring to the User I am in charge of, Kim Soohyun, then yes."
"You're not hiding it... Good. Then why did you tell him that? It would be best to keep quiet about the facts of the Hall Plain. If that information spreads to the Northern Continent, the Users' trust in the angels will hit rock bottom. Surely you know that?"
"I only disclosed information that could be disclosed. The User reached that conclusion on his own. Of course, I do agree with some of what you're saying, Lady Uriel. That is why I received a promise from the User that he would not spread the information carelessly."
"An oath?"
"...I did not go so far as to secure an oath."
Seraph answered every question without a hint of intimidation, and Uriel's face, which had softened for a moment, began to contort faintly once more.
"Seraph. I'm sure I've told you time and again since your User first arrived. That human is suspicious and dangerous."
"...Is that why you requested the revocation of his Tanay-rank privilege last time?"
"Yes. We can't touch that privilege ourselves, but I was planning to review it, prove it was unjust, and then submit a request for revocation to the higher-ups. Of course, it would have been a simple request without any certainty... but still, we had to at least try, didn't we? And only you, his designated angel, have the authority to initiate that."
"That is correct. But did you think I would agree?"
When Seraph replied quietly, Uriel's patience finally snapped.
"It seems words won't get through to you."
Muttering the words under her breath, Uriel casually waved her hand.
What happened next was devoid of sound or any sense of flow. But Seraph, who had been sitting on the altar, was forcibly lifted from her seat and into the air as if suspended.
An unknown force seemed to be pressing on her throat, and she let out a violent cough.
"Keak! Cough, cough!"
"Seraph. I don't know what you're thinking."
"Wh-What! Cough!"
"I don't understand why you're so protective of that User, so obsessed. Hmm? It started with giving him EternalFire. You refused to change his designation, and when I told you to guide him away from raising his Stamina, you did the opposite. And now, you allow him what useless information? What have you been hearing all this time?"
As the pressure tightened, Seraph could only let out helpless coughs, unable to answer. But even in her agony, she did not yield. Instead, she glared at Uriel, her eyes defiant, and bit her lip firmly. Her expression was a clear declaration of her will to never obey.
Her attitude seemed to anger Uriel even more, and she was about to wave her hand again.
Flash! Flash! Flash!
At that moment, three successive bursts of light erupted, bathing the Summoning Room in white, and three angels appeared simultaneously.
Uriel, who had been about to move her hand, hastily turned her head. The moment she saw the angels walking out, the force dumbfounded.
"Lady Gabriel...? Michael, Raphael."
"Ohoho. What are you doing now, Uriel?"
Just before the light faded completely, a leisurely voice echoed through the space.
Her long hair touched the ground first, followed by a pair of pristine white feet. With twelve pairs of wings on her back, it was clear that the first angel to descend was Gabriel.
"What brings you here..."
"I asked what you are doing."
"Th-This is."
With a cornered expression, Uriel bit her lip tightly and slowly lowered her hand. Seraph, who had been suspended in mid-air, fell back onto the altar. She coughed weakly, rubbing her neck with a weary face.
"Seraph. Are you alright?"
"Yes. I am fine. It was just a small, trivial dispute."
Even as they spoke, the expressions on Seraph and Uriel's faces were the very picture of awkwardness. Gabriel glanced between the two, chuckled, and said.
"A trivial dispute, you say. Don't lie. Considering Uriel's behavior up until now, it wasn't trivial at all."
"...I will not deny that."
"How refreshing. Then you'll have to accept a small punishment and swear an oath to never do this again, won't you?"
Gabriel tilted her head slightly, her face still beaming.
"I will endure the punishment. But I cannot make an oath."
But Uriel's reply was blunt. In a way, it was a direct challenge to the authority of Gabriel, the Archangel, but she showed no reaction. The smile on her lips only deepened.
"Are you saying you won't obey, even after your wrongdoing?"
"I do not believe my actions were wrong."
"Why? For what reason?"
"Have I not said it time and again? The User named Kim Soohyun is far too dangerous and suspicious. Therefore, the unnecessary power granted to him must be revoked, and information must be restricted as much as possible."
Faced with her unyielding stubbornness, Gabriel calmly sat on the edge of the altar where Seraph was. Seraph tried to stand, Gabriel held her by the wing and spoke with her lovely lips.
"Uriel, oh, Uriel. It is I who does not understand why you are so worried."
"A Tanay-rank privilege granted from the very beginning. The possession of EternalFire. And his activities in the Hall Plain, as if he already knows something. You do still not see it?"
"I am curious. But as of now, there have been no negative results. There he eliminated Belphegor in the past, and this time he took care of Nergal. No. On the whole, he has splendidly thwarted the demons' plans. What part of that is bad?"
"That is certainly true for now. But Lady Gabriel."
Uriel was about to speak again in an earnest tone, but she snapped her mouth shut. A spear, radiating intense heat, was now aimed at her slender neck, having appeared there at some point.
"I advise you not to open your mouth again, Uriel."
Uriel silently looked back and forth between Michael, who was staring at her, and Raphael, who was squatting to one side with a wide grin. Then she ground her teeth in frustration.
"I was in the middle of speaking, Michael."
"Yes, yes. You were. Michael? Lower your spear."
As Gabriel waved her hand as if to say it was fine, Michael gave Uriel a placid look before taking a step back.
Uriel rubbed her neck once, then shot a fierce glare at Seraph. Gabriel leisurely shielded Seraph and continued in a composed voice.
"Uriel. Didn't the User you were in charge of die recently?"
"If you are referring to the prospective queen candidate, she was killed by Kim Soohyun a short time ago."
"There's no need to emphasize the name Kim Soohyun. In any case, I will bury this matter under my authority. You are to be on probation until a new User arrives."
"Understood. However, I would like to say one last thing."
"If it's the same old story, I won't permit it."
Gabriel's reply was curt. Sensing that this was the final line, that her patience had run out, Uriel's throat bobbed once. But after a brief moment, Uriel finally spoke.
"EternalFire is a terrifying power."
At that moment, the three newly arrived angels simultaneously held their breath. This statement seemed to have surprised Gabriel as well, as she raised her eyes slightly.
Emboldened, Uriel continued in a calmer tone.
"And he recently achieved the first awakening of EternalFire."
"Uriel. What are you trying to say?"
"At this rate, there is a very high probability that he will be the one to grasp the Zero Code. I acted this way to prevent the misfortune of him obtaining it."
"What does that...? No, wait. A misfortune, you say?"
At first glance, it sounded like an absurd thing for an angel to say. But Gabriel didn't get angry right away. She mulled over the words with a thoughtful expression before speaking softly.
"So what you're saying is... there's a possibility he might join hands with the demons?"
"That possibility is low. They are in a position where they must use the Zero Code, and the User is in the same position. Since there is only one Zero Code, their objectives conflict, so it is unlikely they would join forces."
"Right."
"However."
After her immediate reply, Uriel paused for a moment before continuing in a deep voice.
"If he were to learn the secret surrounding this world called the Hall Plain... that is, the secret of us, the demons, and Earth, how do you think he would react?"
"The secret, and his reaction."
Finally seeming to understand Uriel's inner thoughts, Gabriel nodded once or twice. Then she suddenly shook her head from side to side and replied in a much calmer voice than before.
"The activation of the Zero Code must go through us. So I doubt he would make a foolish decision. In short, your worries are premature, more than a groundless fear."
"I wonder. It may be a groundless fear. But he is hostile toward the angels. As was discussed when the issue of changing his designated helper came up, you all know what his attitude is."
"...Hmm."
"You are all thinking too lightly of this. Think deeper. When his Stamina reaches 100, the second awakening of EternalFire will begin. At 101, the final, third awakening will begin. And if, by some chance... he raises it beyond that, EternalFire is likely to break free of its own settings and reclaim its original power according to his will."
"..."
Having finally said all she wanted to say, Uriel slowly took a step back. Then, she looked at each of the angels in the room and spoke.
"That is a power capable of editing this very world."
Her entire body began to be enveloped in a bright light.
"When he learns all the secrets, I can only pray that the tip of the blade containing EternalFire is not one day pointed at us."
Fuuuah!
A moment later.
The words left behind by Uriel, who had vanished in a brilliant flash of light, lingered in the air like an afterglow, along with the slowly scattering motes of light.