Time started to stretch.
Through the fading scenery, Cartia’s voice rang clear.
[Kill that bastard pretending to be Frey.]
Up until just now, I hadn’t felt a thing.
But now, I sensed a rage deeper than anything I had felt from Cartia to this point.
‘So… that person is a fake Frey?’
[Yeah. It seems like another soul has invaded Frey’s body. No, more like it’s gnawing away at Frey’s soul. Sigh… Anyway, something like that. I’m certain. That’s a completely different being.]
The strong conviction in her voice made me nod instinctively.
An unfounded certainty. Yet, I knew exactly how it felt.
If it were happening to me, if another being invaded Rubia’s body and was acting as her, I’d notice right away. It had been like that even during the trial.
And even if it weren’t that reason.
If it’s Cartia saying it… even if I didn’t understand, even if I didn’t know what it was, I could trust it.
Because it’s Cartia.
‘I get it.’
[…Aren’t you going to ask anything?]
I couldn’t help but smile at Cartia’s clueless voice. Then I poked my chest with my finger and said,
‘You can feel my emotions, right?’
[Uh, well… that’s true…]
‘I can feel Cartia’s emotions too. That’s why I said I understand.’
[…Okay. Thanks.]
Though I couldn’t see it.
Though it didn’t form in my mind.
I felt Cartia’s warmth on top of my head.
It was as rough and lacking as usual, but I tilted my head to enjoy it a little more.
For a moment, I felt Cartia’s voice with a touch that sorted my tangled hair.
[Before we really get started, I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?]
‘…Uh, good news.’
[I can sense the power to open the Gate of Paradise from the bastard gnawing at Frey’s soul.]
‘The Gate of Paradise…?’
If it’s the Gate of Paradise…
Gather pieces of the key to open it…
[Moreover, that’s not just some level of key fragment. I can sense it’s a powerful entity capable of forming a complete key all by itself. So.]
Huh?
[If used well… it could go as you wish—]
‘Then… can Cartia stay?’
[Well… there’s that too.]
‘Other people too, like Carpen… everyone?’
[You could say that.]
Cartia nodded as if feeling awkward, avoiding my gaze.
Immediately, I tried to grasp Frey and take a step forward.
[What? Aren’t you going to hear the bad news?]
‘No, that’s unnecessary.’
I didn’t need it.
If no one had to be sacrificed.
If we could all laugh together, it didn’t matter.
If we all could see everyone’s wishes fulfilled together, it didn’t matter.
Of course… once my conversation with Cartia ended, there was still one thing to confirm with Laila.
But for some reason, I felt that even that would work out fine. After all, entering Paradise meant breaking the regulations of this world.
So, I put all thoughts aside and stepped forward—
[It would be better to listen, though.]
…But I stopped in my tracks.
The weight in the voice couldn’t be ignored, so I had no choice but to halt.
‘…What is it?’
[Continuing from the good news I just mentioned, saying that one soul could form a complete key means that if you’re not careful, Rubia could be at risk as well.]
On top of that.
[That powerful entity could be the ‘Nameless One’ itself, or at least, a fragment of it that’s infinitely close.]
The Nameless One.
The malevolent god that had shaped this world into its current state.
I let out a heavy breath while gripping Frey.
I sensed the solid touch beneath my fingertips.
I felt the weight contained within it.
I recalled the wishes of beings who had sacrificed everything for this world.
‘I’ll give it a try.’
If I don’t think too much about it.
If I don’t weigh things down with calculations.
If the power of ‘that’ connected to my soul is as I expect.
I can do this.
So.
‘I’ll figure it out, no matter what.’
I hid the emotions that arose in my heart. I erased my regrets. I cast away the distracting thoughts. So that Cartia couldn’t read me. So that other beings wouldn’t notice. So that even I couldn’t know.
I buried it deep, deep down.
Then, just like usual.
I thought of the one wish I wanted the most.
To save Rubia.
To protect her happy smile.
To bring her a tomorrow.
That was all I needed.
Beyond Cartia’s questioning gaze, time returned. The blurred scenery became clear once more.
The scent of flowers, filled with the fragrance of Rubia that Laila created, tickled my nose.
Into that.
I took a step forward, heavier than before.
*
“Cartia, are you really going to ignore me until the end!”
Frey’s shout echoed immediately.
Cartia responded with her usual mischievous expression.
[If you’re upset, go beat my disciple first.]
“A disciple? You call that a disciple…?”
[Yeah. My one and only disciple in this lifetime.]
Khee, khee—
Frey’s sharp gaze pierced through.
Cartia’s trusting hand tapped my shoulder.
“A disciple, huh… but you looked completely different from what I expected.”
[I don’t force people into someone else’s style like someone I know.]
“If that’s the fastest way to victory, then it’s only right you follow it without question. Didn’t you think that the same way?”
[Yeah, I used to think that way too. But I was wrong. That kind of victory is not a perfect victory. It’s just a hollow win. You know how we ended up with that kind of victory.]
In an instant, fragments of hidden rage from Cartia colored her voice. But no one there, including Frey, felt her anger.
How could they?
Even I, whose soul was directly connected, only sensed it for a fleeting moment.
[Tch, anyway, the brat you call adversary is my disciple, so if you want to spar with me, beat my disciple first.]
Soon, Cartia, having gathered all her emotions, gently pushed me forward.
[Of course, it’s not a life-or-death situation. Just a simple spar… a light match. I still have things to say to you, Frey.]
“I guess you’re saying that I absolutely have to lose here.”
[Yep. You’re really going to get wrecked!]
Crash— The heavy great sword that seemed immensely cumbersome was plunged into the ground by Frey, who did not respond further to Cartia’s words.
She merely pressed the helmet she had tucked under her arm onto her head in silence.
[That’s how it is. The old man over there has to just sit back and watch, right?]
“Then I shall place a condition.”
Aaron, who had been silently watching, finally opened his mouth.
“Regardless of victory or loss, once this match is over, you must listen to our story.”
Cartia’s gaze swept across me, Rubia, and Ser. Following her gaze, I nodded slightly towards Rubia and Ser.
Immediately, Rubia replied.
“I understand.”
Next, Ser, sounding rather displeased, responded.
“Fine, I accept.”
[Is that good?]
Aaron stepped away.
In response, Frey took a step forward.
I also took a step forward.
And then, Laila, who had been observing distant Cartia, stood up.
Perhaps she sensed that the primordial beast with great power had been subjugated, as a lighter expression crossed her face.
[Looks like you’re stirring up something interesting, Cartia.]
I wondered if Laila had caught on to Frey’s oddity.
[Shut up and come judge the match.]
Swish—
[Let’s do that.]
Without a sound or presence, Laila approached us, lightly waving her hand to form a barrier around me, Frey, and Cartia.
It was a barrier filled with an unknown strength I felt when I first entered the end of the world.
Thump—Thump— Cartia was struck by the barrier with a look of utter disbelief.
[It feels strange getting trapped in this shitty place again.]
[But isn’t it completely different from the last time?]
Unlike Cartia, Laila seemed to recall joyful past memories and chuckled—chuckle, chuckle—
[It’s sturdy like before, right?]
[I wouldn’t lie. No being can easily escape this barrier.]
[That’s nice.]
Although it was light-hearted, Cartia received a heavy reply and seemed satisfied as she looked ahead.
[We can’t accidentally die, right?]
“Shut up.”
Crash— Finishing all the preparations, Frey pulled out the great sword that had been stuck in the ground.
[Noah, keep an eye on things too. Show some respect for the elderly. Got it?]
I nodded.
[Swinging Frey is the same. Just make sure you’re aware of what you’re cutting. ]
I keenly engraved the next message ringing in my head.
[It’s a simple but difficult explanation. You’re good at using your senses, so it should be easy for you.]
A vague explanation.
But I understood what those words meant.
[And as Laila just said, no one can recklessly go outside of this barrier… so if something weird pops out, don’t be scared.]
Taking a step, then another.
[You can do it, right? I called you my one and only disciple, so don’t embarrass me.]
I smiled softly.
I held my breath. Focused my mind. Expanded my senses. Erased everything around me, sketching only the being in front of me.
Heavy armor.
Within it, Cartia’s comrade.
And.
The unknown darkness slowly gnawing at her soul.
It resembled the appearance of Jong-eon that Valoran had shown me.
But it was something entirely different that was overlayed onto Frey’s soul.
Recognizing it accurately,
I raised Frey high.
