“No… this can’t be.”
No way.
“No… no way!”
This just wasn’t possible.
Who was that woman?
Why was I the one shown there?
Could it be a doppelgänger?
Wait—did I just see a warp ability?
Could the user who appeared be…
But I heard it was a man.
The carefully organized thoughts in my mind unraveled in an instant.
No matter how much I am Jegal Haesol, accepting the image before me at face value was a stretch.
It was far beyond common sense.
Then, the cold touch of a blade pressing firmly against the back of my neck snapped me back to reality.
Bandahee was staring at me with her usual icy, venomous gaze.
It felt like a screw had come loose in my temple.
Cold sweat trickled down my spine.
“…There must be some misunderstanding.”
I forced myself to stay calm and spoke carefully.
“I can’t verify the authenticity of this footage, but it’s definitely a trap. Because I’ve hardly left this room recently.”
“That’s right. Hardly at all.”
Cha Seunghyun said calmly.
“But didn’t you step out a couple of times? One of those times seemed to be quite a long absence.”
He was just stating facts.
“W-well…”
Jegal Haesol found herself at a loss for words again.
I had indeed left the room before.
More precisely, when Kim Yuhyun and I appeared, and once more when I sensed something and went out to check.
But the only reason I could detect that was thanks to my ‘mind’s eye that looks down from the heavens.’
There was no other user nearby with similar abilities, so I couldn’t even prove an alibi.
“I had my reasons for stepping out. There was something I needed to confirm.”
“What exactly did you need to check?”
“Think about it. This is the Northern Continent, but the footage is from Atlanta. Do you really think I could have traveled back and forth that long distance in a day or two? Everyone knows warp abilities have limits.”
“Well? You don’t know for sure. No one but the user themselves can know their personal abilities.”
Bandahee’s tone grew harsh, as if she had already branded me a traitor.
Jegal Haesol squeezed her eyes shut.
This wasn’t about excuses anymore.
Even if I tried to explain, my allies were beginning to doubt me.
No matter whose scheme this was, I was trapped in a dead end.
Then—
“I believe you.”
Suddenly, the sharp, piercing tension vanished as if it had never been.
At the same time, a soft, warm hand covered both of mine, and I blinked in surprise.
Yuhyunah stepped forward, pushing Bandahee aside, and looked me squarely in the eyes.
Her gaze shone brightly with trust.
“Unni!”
“Quiet.”
Bandahee snapped angrily, but Yuhyunah cut her off with a low, firm voice.
“I… believe in you.”
At that moment, Jegal Haesol bit her lip hard enough to leave a mark.
But those words cleared the fog of confusion in her mind.
Yes, this was who I really was.
The sovereign believed in me.
Then this wasn’t the time to cling to problems I couldn’t solve right now.
“How’s the situation?”
Though her expression was still troubled, Jegal Haesol asked calmly.
“It’s not good. No… it’s very bad.”
Yuhyunah spoke slowly.
The Eastern Alliance had moved into Atlanta, Go Yeonju’s declaration of war, and just now, all the warp gate connections managed by the East had been severed.
“Jegal Haesol, if you’re truly innocent, can you prove it? If your innocence is revealed, the East might…”
“No. That won’t happen.”
Jegal Haesol cut her off sharply as she listened.
“Why not?”
“It’s simple. If the Shadow Queen I know were involved, she wouldn’t have sent this footage or made an official announcement.”
She clenched the beads in her hand until they crumbled and continued.
“More likely, she’d be secretly communicating with the Southern Alliance, hiding everything quietly, and only betraying at the decisive moment.”
Yuhyunah’s face turned pale.
In other words, the Eastern Alliance had wanted to break the alliance from the start.
Then, when an excuse came along, they jumped at the chance without hesitation.
A heavy silence stretched between them.
Yuhyunah opened and closed her mouth dozens of times, unable to find the words.
Asking about the chances of victory was pointless.
With hope gone, even the will to fight had faded.
The Northern Alliance alone was struggling to handle both the East and South.
As despair settled, Yuhyunah let out a long sigh.
Then she spoke.
“Actually, I just got a message through the comms—from the Southern Alliance.”
The moment the Southern Alliance was mentioned, Jegal Haesol’s eyes snapped open.
“From them? What did they say?”
“They want to meet… to talk.”
“That tyrant? Kim Suyeon said that?”
“Yes. Unless I misheard, that’s exactly what she said.”
“The issue?”
“Ending the civil war on the Northern Continent. In other words, an alliance between East, South, and North against the demons, and plans to advance into Terra.”
Even as she spoke, Yuhyunah looked like she couldn’t believe her own ears.
“Jegal Haesol.”
Then, with a half-resigned expression, she stepped closer.
As if she had no idea what to do.
Her voice was slightly hoarse as she continued.
“What… do we do now?”
“I’ll accept it.”
Atlanta.
“I don’t know about Bandahee, but Jegal Haesol holds the real power in the Northern Alliance.”
Goseong.
“So even if she sets conditions, she’ll accept it. She’s not the type to play a game she can’t win.”
Kim Suhyun’s voice echoed in the old room.
After donning the Shirt of Hope and the Armor of Chiwoo Cheonwang, he tapped the box on the table.
The baby Chaos Mimic obediently spat out the Red Moon’s Cloak and the Blessing of Rasillas.
Kim Suhyun’s large hand gently stroked it, and the mimic let out a high-pitched “Pii! Pii!” as its body (the box) trembled.
“A game, huh.”
Watching with interest, Kim Yuhyun chuckled.
“The wording’s a bit off… but yeah. I saw Jae-su’s expression earlier—she was definitely enjoying it.”
“You have a weird personality.”
Click.
Kim Suhyun, wearing a bracelet on his left wrist, muttered lightly.
“Don’t speak carelessly. She’s your wife.”
“You don’t get it. When she got pregnant with my child, do you know what she said? Honestly, it shocked me.”
He tightened his cloak and tapped the box again.
From the mimic’s narrow opening, the Obelo Knight Boots were suddenly spat out.
“Still, thanks to Jae-su, the job got easier.”
“That’s true.”
Kim Suhyun muttered as he slipped his foot into the boots.
“But I can’t exactly praise her.”
“Why not?”
“This isn’t our world. I won’t tolerate anyone making a mess just because they’re leaving anyway.”
“I agree we should think about the future, but honestly, don’t you have some explaining to do yourself?”
“Not at all. Brother, my opponent was a demon. Not a human.”
“Yeah… that’s true.”
Kim Yuhyun flinched at the sudden drop in tone.
He thought his hatred for demons still burned strong and quietly fell silent.
Kim Suhyun continued.
“Anyway, I’ll try to resolve this as smoothly as possible.”
“Well, nothing wrong with that.”
“It’s actually a good opportunity. Honestly, I wanted to have a proper talk at least once.”
“…With that woman?”
He hesitated but didn’t answer.
A faint shadow crossed his face.
How could he ever forget?
‘I know. Doing this now won’t change anything. But…’
‘Did it really have to end in death?’
Zero Code had said that.
If she had embraced Seonghu, a better future aligned with your goals might have been possible.
‘How did it come to this? I just wanted to get along with you.’
‘I still can’t understand it.’
Kim Suhyun closed his eyes gently.
He knew.
Or maybe, deep down, he had already accepted it.
‘Think about it. A stranger suddenly radiating murderous intent—how would I have felt?’
‘Did I really have to decide to kill without question?’
He deeply sympathized with Go Yeonju’s words he’d heard long ago.
Looking back, he couldn’t understand why he had been so obsessed with killing.
Just like when he embraced the Shadow Queen.
Just like when he brought Woo Jungmin into the fold.
Yuhyunah could have done the same.
At least, there was a chance she could have tried.
Even if she pretended to be kind on the outside while secretly planning to use them.
‘I can never forgive her…’
‘But I wanted to hear even a single word of apology.’
That’s why he wanted to know.
The sacred queen, Yuhyunah.
Soon, he would meet her.
“Let’s go.”
Kim Suhyun turned, the earrings of Victoria’s Glory shining on his left ear, the swordless blade hanging at his waist.
He glanced at his brother sitting on the table, as if seeing him anew.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Nothing.”
Kim Yuhyun smiled softly.
“That look suits you.”
After a brief silence, Kim Suhyun shrugged.
The two men then stepped out together.
The morning sky was clear and quiet, with white clouds drifting by.
Because preparations had taken longer than expected, Kim Suhyun hurried down the stairs.
As the clinking noise echoed through the room, everyone waiting on the first floor turned their heads.
It was just as Kim Soo-hyun appeared.
“Sorry I’m a bit late.”
In the next moment, gasps rippled through the crowd.
The previously bustling hall suddenly fell into a heavy silence.
Kim Yoo-yeon, who had been eagerly wondering, ‘What would my little brother look like as a user?’ dropped the recording orb she’d been clutching so tightly that its fall echoed loudly.
“You dropped this.”
With a graceful motion, Kim Soo-hyun caught it and offered the orb back with a refreshing smile.
Without realizing it, Kim Yoo-yeon took a couple of steps back and suddenly bowed her head deeply.
“…Yes…”
Her voice barely above a whisper.
“Thank you… very much.”
The unexpected formality made Kim Soo-hyun tilt his head in curiosity.
“Oh. Are you ready?”
“Y-yes… all done…”
Her neck, delicate as a fawn’s, flushed deeper by the second.
“Well then, shall we go?”
“Y-yes… that sounds good…”
Like a blushing bride, Kim Yoo-yeon gently grabbed Soo-hyun’s arm.
Her eyes completely softened as she quietly rested her head on his shoulder.
“Shall we go too?”
Kim Yoo-yeon smiled warmly and glanced back at Kim Soo-yeon.
But she wasn’t looking at her brother.
Her gaze was fixed intently on Soo-hyun’s retreating back.
Her small, red lips parted slightly.
“Soo-yeon?”
Waving her hand to block the view, Kim Yoo-yeon swatted it away with a hint of annoyance.
“W-wait a minute!”
Then she hurried after Kim Soo-hyun.
“Me too!”
“Huh?”
“I want to come along too!”
“O-okay.”
Kim Yoo-yeon watched, stunned, as Kim Soo-yeon clung to the other arm, throwing a little tantrum.
Left alone in an instant, he was overwhelmed by a sharp sting of betrayal.
“Ah…”
He almost shouted, ‘Don’t help her!’ but swallowed the words for the sake of pride.
Though he couldn’t hide how his lower lip stuck out like a pout.
“Damn it, raising a little sister is useless after all.”
Just like that, the fleeting affection he’d felt for his sister shifted back to his little brother.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
I often see readers surprised that I update at this hour.
But honestly, I’m even more amazed.
How do some of you manage to read and leave comments right after I post in the middle of the night…?
It’s a strange feeling. :)