“User Kim Su-hyun.”

After what felt like an eternity, Seraph finally spoke. Her lips, which had been sealed for so long, parted at last. Despite the creeping anxiety, I waited quietly for her words, thinking that this was finally the end.

Seraph took her time, her voice as steady and emotionless as ever.

“I’m not sure how to explain this, but… I’ll try. Users summoned to the Hall Plain possess a unique essence that distinguishes their souls. In other words, they are the originals.”

Her explanation was far from what I had hoped for. The vague unease I had felt before began to take shape, but she continued speaking.

“The essence of a soul can be defined as a unique entity. Reviving a deceased user is not about restoring or reconstructing their essence; it’s about creating something new.”

“Seraph, what are you saying?”

My voice rose, betraying my agitation.

Seraph pressed her lips together for a moment before delivering her conclusion without hesitation.

“The essence of a user before death retains the qualities of an Earthling. However, once a user dies and is resurrected in the Hall Plain, their essence is recognized as that of a resident, not an Earthling. The two are incompatible.”

”…”

“They are completely different. Because they are different, they cannot be reconciled. The users you mentioned, Kim Su-hyun, are all those who died in the Hall Plain. In other words, requests for their return are impossible.”

As I heard her conclusion, my mind went blank. It felt as if a hammer had struck my once cluttered thoughts.

What Astaroth had hinted at, what I had hoped was just a possibility, was now a harsh reality.

”…What?”

My heart sank. Something inside me began to tremble.

Even so, I refused to accept it. I denied Seraph’s words.

No, it can’t be. Even if it’s true, there must be another way, right?

Clinging to the fraying thread of hope, I asked again, my voice trembling.

“I must have misheard, right?”

“Let me clarify… It’s not that we won’t do it; we can’t.”

“No. Say it again. I must have misheard.”

“User Kim Su-hyun…”

Seraph opened her eyes slowly and focused on me. Her calm, green eyes were as serene as ever, but beneath that gaze, I felt a silent message: “Your circumstances are not my concern.”

Suppressing the urge to explode, I managed to speak.

Or rather, I was about to.

“User Kim Su-hyun understands my words.”

“You…”

“I recommend calming down. Your current mental state is extremely unstable. While you understand, you refuse to accept it.”

“I must have misheard!”

Seraph’s words hit the mark, and I shouted before she could finish. She fell silent immediately.

My throat felt dry. After taking a few deep breaths, I held out the Zero Code in my hand.

“What are you talking about? I’m not trying to use GP. I’m not making a wish. I’m talking about the Zero Code, the omnipotent power.”

”…”

“Seraph? Please?”

I pleaded with Seraph, something I would never normally do. Pride was irrelevant now.

I was so close. I could finally achieve what I had longed for.

Yet, just one step away, I was forced to stop against my will.

I looked at Seraph with desperate eyes.

But.

”…”

“Seraph!”

Despite my plea, Seraph remained unresponsive. She simply watched me quietly, as before.

‘I can’t accept this.’

Yes. I might understand, as Seraph said, but I can’t accept it. Because if I accept her words as truth…

Something I’ve barely held onto by a thread will shatter completely.

I tried to remain calm, speaking in the most composed voice I could muster.

“Then what should I do? What else must I do for my request to be accepted? Do I need to find the First Code?”

“User Kim Su-hyun.”

“Fine. Tell me. I’m listening.”

”…Ha…”

Seraph sighed and slowly began to speak.

“The users you mentioned, Kim Yoo-hyun and Han So-young, are already deceased. They can be revived by any means. You can use the Zero Code or your GP to make a wish. But…”

“But? It’s not just ‘but,’ is it?”

”…In a way, the Zero Code is a superior version of a wish. Ultimately, the result is the same. As I mentioned, once a user dies, if they are revived, they are reset as residents. Whether it’s the Zero Code or a wish, the fundamental issue remains unchanged.”

I listened, hoping for a different answer, but it was the same story. Seraph’s unwavering response was like a death sentence to me.

The arm I had extended fell limply to my side.

Seeing my reaction, Seraph added more.

“User Kim Su-hyun has never died. There is no issue with your return to Earth.”

“Then… you want me to go back alone?”

”…You won’t remember your time in the Hall Plain, but the users still exist and live on Earth. Even if they are copies…”

At that moment.

I felt something inside me, which I had barely managed to suppress, shatter completely.

Srrrng!

“User Kim Su-hyun?”

Seraph’s puzzled voice reached me softly.

When I came to my senses, I saw a sword aimed at Seraph. I must have drawn it reflexively, without realizing it. Watching the tip of the sword tremble slightly, my vision blurred.

Simultaneously, memories I had tried to ignore but could never forget flashed through my mind.

‘So it ends like this… Well, it can’t be helped. Anyway, enjoy it while you can. Congratulations, User Kim Su-hyun. And my condolences.’

‘What nonsense are you spouting?’

‘You’ll find out soon enough… that you were used, and that the angels are just like us.’

‘Crazy fool. You’re spouting nonsense on your deathbed.’

“User Kim Su-hyun. I understand your thoughts. However, this action is highly inappropriate. Even if you kill me, the conclusion remains unchanged.”

”…Seraph. Forget everything else, just answer one thing.”

I spoke softly. My voice was so calm it surprised even me, like something on the verge of breaking.

Seraph sighed, closed her eyes, and nodded once.

‘Is that so? Haha.’

‘I don’t have time for your jokes, Astaroth.’

‘Really? Hey, Kim Su-hyun. Aren’t you curious? What the Zero Code is? And why you were dragged to the Hall Plain to fight for it…?’

‘What are you…’

“I obtained the Zero Code. I reached the end of the Hall Plain as a user.”

“Yes. That is an indisputable fact.”

Her immediate response made me bite my lip. But then I opened my left hand, revealing the blue orb I held.

“Then… what exactly is this?”

“Excuse me…?”

“Why did I… No, why did we have to obtain the Zero Code on your behalf? What does this item mean to you?”

”!”

For the first time, Seraph’s face showed a hint of surprise.

While waiting for my turn at the warp gate, I looked up at the sky. The sun, once high, was now setting in the west, casting a red twilight over the city.

After a moment of contemplation, I counted the remaining people in line. Seeing that it was almost our turn, I turned to my brother, who had been standing beside me.

“Hyung, I should get going.”

“Huh? Oh, right. We’ll probably be one of the last.”

“Still, I should go. It’s not good for the clan lord to be absent for too long.”

“Hmm. That’s true.”

He nodded and took a few steps back. Then, suddenly, he placed a hand on my shoulder and spoke in a gentle voice.

“Su-hyun.”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

”?”

What was he thanking me for?

Seeing my confusion, he smiled.

“I heard from the others. They all said you helped them. Thanks to you, the Haemil Clan miraculously suffered no losses. Everyone is very grateful to you.”

”…That’s good to hear.”

By “the others,” he must have meant the Haemil Clan members.

“Yes. I wanted to make sure to tell you that. And…”

”…”

“I’ll be waiting for your call. Once you’ve sorted things out, reach out. I’ll be waiting as long as it takes.”

”…Okay.”

By “waiting for your call,” he must have meant about “that matter.” I nodded immediately. Since I had already decided to talk about it, there was nothing to hesitate over.

After confirming my response, he patted my shoulder. With a final “Take care,” he turned away calmly.

I watch my brother’s figure slowly fade into the distance. He hasn’t said much since earlier, just quietly stayed by my side. It’s probably his way of showing he cares.

With a long sigh, I drift into my thoughts.

The war that began at dawn ended around lunchtime. Now, the time sits on the cusp between afternoon and night.

Despite the unexpected gambit from the Western Continent that left us heavily damaged, the priority after the war’s end was to clean up the battlefield and manage the aftermath. Gradually, though steeped in sorrow, everyone began to move diligently.

First, we contacted the South and North to update them on the current situation and requested immediate support.

Both regions replied that they would stabilize the reclaimed cities and send help as soon as possible. They might arrive tonight, or at the latest, by tomorrow morning.

Requesting support was unavoidable.

Barbara’s city was in shambles, and the fields were awash with blood and littered with bodies.

But that wasn’t all. We had to deal with the prisoners from the Western Continent, assess the damage, and manage the survivors within Barbara.

In short, there was a mountain of tasks to tackle.

However, amidst all this, the Western Gate unit, unlike the Eastern, Southern, and Northern units, was given a few days to rest and regroup. They had suffered the most from the onslaught of Western Continent forces.

Though it was a ‘miracle’ that things hadn’t reached the worst-case scenario… it was a considerate decision, nonetheless.

Naturally, the Mercenary Clan was included in this, and we were currently waiting for our turn to use the warp gate. There was no reason to stay in the already crowded Barbara any longer.

We were given a total of three days, including today, to regroup.

After wrapping things up in those three days, there would likely be another meeting.

“Next in line, please prepare.”

The line had moved up to the front. I thought about looking back but decided against it. Most of the clan members were silent, and I wasn’t in the mood to talk. Besides, with the line still long, we needed to move as quickly as possible.

There would be time to talk later.

Yes. For now, let’s head back to the clan house.

With that thought, I stepped toward the warp gate, its blue light shimmering.

---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=

Phew. Finished writing. Haha. I’m thrilled to have saved today’s daily update. (Apologies to the readers who were waiting.)

Take that, slump! Did you think I’d stop writing just because you showed up? I’ll write out of sheer stubbornness.

Ah, that was just me talking to myself. Haha.

Ha. Now, back to the clan house. There really aren’t many chapters left until the end of Part 1. Just a couple more deaths and a small plot twist to resolve. :)

PS. Good luck to all the students taking exams! You can do it!