The hall echoed with Ganesha’s voice, filled with fury like a storm. What on earth had happened? My already tangled thoughts felt even more chaotic. I pressed my throbbing forehead, trying to stay calm as I spoke.
“Ansol, Vivian. Tell me what you wished for, right now.”
Silence. Instead of answering, they both averted their eyes. Instinctively, I knew they were the reason for Ganesha’s wrath.
When it became clear they wouldn’t speak up, I pressed them further.
“Are you not going to talk?”
Ansol and Vivian flinched, then hesitantly looked at me, their voices barely above a whisper.
“Kim Suhyun, that’s not fair. Why are you only blaming us? It might not even be us…”
“Yeah, and even if it was us, weren’t we supposed to keep our wishes secret…?”
Their earlier bickering forgotten, Ansol and Vivian were now united in their refusal. I clenched my hair in frustration. They only seemed to think clearly at times like this.
“I don’t mind sharing.”
Yujeong stepped forward, her red hair swaying. She gathered her long hair into a ponytail, which suited her well.
“Even if we agreed to keep it secret, given the situation, we should talk. Are you really going to ignore what he says?”
Yujeong twirled a dagger on her finger, but Ansol and Vivian shook their heads vehemently, unwilling to reveal their wishes.
“No way! It’s a matter of privacy! You haven’t shared yours either!”
“Exactly! If you keep pushing, we’ll just lie!”
Yujeong raised an eyebrow.
“Fine, I’ll go first. I wished for Sangyong to be saved. Happy now?”
Her candidness left Ansol and Vivian staring at her, as if to say, “Is that even allowed?”
Before they could respond, Han-gyeol and Shin Jaeryong chimed in.
“Uh, Yujeong, I wished for the same thing. For Sangyong to be saved…”
“Indeed, Yujeong. We share the same wish.”
So, three of them had wished for the same thing, and none of their wishes had been granted?
One by one, the clan members began to reveal their wishes. Sun Yuwon already knew, and Woo Jungmin wished for Won Hyesoo’s mind to be restored. Hanna asked about the location of the last ancient priestess’s power.
When it was Cha Sorim’s turn, she seemed anxious for some reason.
“Actually!”
One of the two fools, perhaps realizing they had no choice, spoke up in a small voice.
“I… I wished for something similar… for Shin Sangyong to be saved…”
“Me too. I did the same.”
Vivian quickly added to Ansol’s words. Though it seemed like they might be lying, it wasn’t entirely implausible. Vivian had spent the most time with Shin Sangyong, and Ansol had been with him for a long time too.
“So, five people wished for the same thing… Is Ganesha annoyed because of the repeated wish?”
“Yeah, Ganesha kept saying it was a ridiculous wish, right? So, in the end, she’s just a petty goddess. It’s Ganesha’s fault.”
Vivian’s words, though nonsensical, somehow made sense coming from her.
I tilted my head, looking at the central stone. It glowed red again, and Ganesha’s angry voice filled the air.
Huh?
“Ahhh! Oh, Pierre! Oh, Queritatous! Ahhh!”
“Brother! Don’t listen! Eek! Eek!”
Vivian started shrieking and flailing, while Ansol rushed over to cover my ears. I was left bewildered, having caught the word “indecent.”
After the storm of chaos subsided, we managed to continue making our wishes. Despite being called a petty goddess, Ganesha didn’t close the portal in anger.
Only two clan members hadn’t made their wishes yet: Hanbyeol and Heo Junyoung.
Heo Junyoung volunteered to go first, despite Ganesha’s lingering anger. He walked into the central space, seemingly unfazed.
Watching him kneel, I turned to Hanbyeol. Her face was blank, and I couldn’t guess her wish.
Sensing my gaze, Hanbyeol slowly turned to face me.
I spoke quietly.
“Hanbyeol, please.”
”…Yes?”
She blinked, and I gestured to the two fools huddled in the corner.
“Don’t be like them.”
“Oh… okay.”
Hanbyeol nodded with a shy smile. I didn’t think she would act like that anyway, so I turned my attention back to the central space.
Then, suddenly—
A flash!
Heo Junyoung emerged, and the stone glowed yellow, illuminating the area. It wasn’t a success, but it wasn’t a failure either.
“Oppa, I’ll go now. Don’t worry too much.”
“Uh, okay. Good luck.”
Hanbyeol nodded and walked briskly to the center.
Heo Junyoung returned slowly, carrying a reddish box large enough to cover his chest. It was unfamiliar to me, and I couldn’t help but wonder.
“Whew. It’s heavier than I thought.”
“Hey, what’s that, Kkongkkong?”
Vivian approached, curious as ever.
Kkongkkong? An ice-related nickname? It seemed fitting.
But Heo Junyoung’s response was cold.
“None of your business, shameless woman.”
“What? Why! I’m not! I told you!”
“Fine. Just ‘shameless’ then.”
“I’m not! And why do you sound like you’re doing me a favor?”
Sensing another commotion brewing, I decided to ignore it. Keeping them quiet was a full-time job. Why couldn’t they stay silent for a moment?
Meanwhile, Hanbyeol knelt in the central space. As I prepared to leave, I opened my user information window to check the power of the dragon.
The voice was calm but carried a hint of rigidity, echoing through the space.
Hanbyeol opened her eyes slowly, but there was no sign of the deity. Only the green-glowing stone stood before her.
“No, I’ll say it now. But first, I have a question.”
Hanbyeol was usually quick-witted. She knew it was unwise to delay, given Ganesha’s lingering anger.
So she spoke carefully, trying not to provoke the deity.
“Ganesha, can a wish be made for someone else, not just oneself?”
“Yes. Do you remember the man who first entered this place among us?”
Hanbyeol blinked rapidly, worried she had said something wrong.
Her question was harmless, but Ganesha’s reaction was understandable.
Initially, Ganesha had been in a good mood. Meeting a god after so long and witnessing the first man’s talents had been entertaining.
The second woman’s shy yet sincere confession had even brought a gentle smile to Ganesha’s face.
Since then, the wishes of the humans who came to Ganesha weren’t particularly entertaining, but they were reasonable enough. They weren’t much different from the wishes of those who had come before. At least they didn’t stray from the norm.
As Ganesha was sending them off one by one, a woman knelt before him. When he realized she was a priestess from the now-defunct Angelus Order, his waning interest piqued once more.
The Angelus Order was known for its rigorous selection of priests, choosing only those with pure hearts and no greed, and training them through extreme prayer and discipline to master their inner selves.
Priests who emerged from such harsh training were often revered as saints. Though this priestess seemed young, when she asked, “Oh, divine one, will my wish be kept secret from others?” Ganesha couldn’t help but smile warmly.
“You remember the first man who came here, don’t you?”
“Hoho, of course, I remember.”
So far, so good.
But then.
The wish that followed shattered not only Ganesha’s expectations but also his divine composure.
“Well, it’s simple. I wish for the ability to be with him, naked, in bed, anytime, anywhere. And I want to use this ability for the rest of my life.”
“What, what did you say?”
“Shall I repeat it?”
“No, no. Are you talking about… a physical relationship between a man and a woman?”
“Yes, exactly! Sex!”
“What, what? You shameless woman! A priestess of Angelus, no less!”
In a fit of extreme anger, Ganesha banished her without a second thought.
Before he could even collect himself, another woman burst in.
“My name is Vivienne La Clasidus. As the most beautiful alchemist in Espinion, I have a wish of a lifetime to share with the god of language and wisdom, Ganesha.”
Putting aside her claim of being the most beautiful, her casual tone was a bit grating, but Ganesha forced a smile. Her serious demeanor suggested she had something significant to say.
However, when Vivienne also asked if he remembered the first man who came, Ganesha felt his unease return. It was the same routine as the previous priestess.
“That man made a very important promise to me. But he hasn’t kept it yet.”
“A promise, you say. That’s a relief.”
“Hmm?”
“No, nothing. So, you want him to fulfill this promise?”
“That would be nice, but no. I believe a promise only has meaning if I claim it myself.”
“Oh, really? Then what do you want me to do?”
Had she stopped there, Ganesha might have thought well of Vivienne.
But her ensuing wish not only confirmed his worst fears but also unleashed his suppressed fury.
“Make my butt more alluring.”
”…What?”
“My butt, you know? I want it to be so tempting that the man I mentioned can’t resist giving it a playful smack every time he sees it. You know, a good slap!”
“You, you insolent woman! How dare you!”
Thinking Ganesha hadn’t understood, Vivienne demonstrated by sticking out her rear and patting it with her hand.
And with that, Ganesha’s patience snapped, and he banished Vivienne as well.
Recalling the recent events made his anger bubble up again, but Ganesha managed to suppress it. He had just struck an amusing deal with the previous man, which had lightened his mood, and the woman before him was still innocent of any wrongdoing.
At least, for now.
”…Okay?”
Hanbyeol swallowed nervously. She had already decided on her wish, being the last in line, but Ganesha’s reaction was harsher than expected.
Still, she didn’t think her wish was unreasonable, so she quietly began to speak.
“The man I mentioned earlier… I just want him to be well.”
Hanbyeol paused to think, then shook her head.
“No, that’s not what I mean.”
“Specific… Alright. Sometimes he seems really exhausted. It seems to be a physical issue, but he doesn’t talk about it openly, so I’m not sure. Could you perhaps boost his stamina, even just a little?”
“Why not?”
Ganesha, about to send Hanbyeol away, paused. He looked down at her with newfound interest.
“I’m not refusing to accept it. But knowing the limitations makes it even harder to understand.”
For a mere human, it was a bold statement.
Yet, instead of feeling offended, Ganesha found himself calming down. Hanbyeol’s wish wasn’t unreasonable, and her eyes held a challenging glint, as if she wanted to engage in a debate with the god of language and wisdom.
With that thought, Ganesha felt his interest, which had been shattered, begin to rekindle.
At Ganesha’s question, Hanbyeol closed her eyes. After ten seconds, she opened them and spoke quietly.
”…Just because.”
”…”
“No.”
It was then.
Hanbyeol, who had immediately denied it, looked at the stone with calm eyes. Then she began her rebuttal in a quiet voice.
“Yes, he has done me a favor, and I won’t deny that I hold him in special regard.”
“No. I’ll only admit up to that point. But to say I like or love him…”
Hanbyeol and Ganesha interrupted each other. Hanbyeol’s eyes were cold, and the green waves of the stone flowed with dignity. As they exchanged words without yielding, Hanbyeol’s next statement made Ganesha take a step back.
“No. I don’t know.”
In a slightly dazed voice, Hanbyeol nodded calmly.
“Yes. I don’t know. I’ve never liked or loved anyone in my life. So, I don’t know exactly what those feelings are.”
“And about the one-sided feelings you mentioned. That’s true. I hold him in special regard, but he might not feel the same about me. Probably not. But that doesn’t mean I want to use this wish to advance our relationship. Do you think I’m lying?”
Ganesha couldn’t say anything in response to Hanbyeol’s question. It was proof that her words were not lies. And realizing that Hanbyeol’s words were true, Ganesha felt his arguments being dismantled one by one.
“I don’t want a special relationship with him. I don’t wish for him to notice me because of this wish. When he’s struggling, I feel uneasy, and if he collapses, it pains me. When he calls my name and smiles, it puts me at ease. But my wish for him to be well is just that. Simply, I just want him to be well.”
“Yes. Just because. Honestly, I don’t understand my own feelings. It might seem cowardly. So, Ganesha, please tell me. If what I’m feeling is liking or loving, I’ll accept it and step back. But if it’s not, please grant my wish.”
Ganesha murmured quietly to himself.
In truth, Hanbyeol’s words were precisely following Helena’s advice.
Human emotions are strange, complex, and subtle. And Ganesha’s judgment is subjective.
Hanbyeol was essentially handing over the decision to Ganesha, seeking another answer. In a way, it was as if he had expressed two wishes at once.
Ganesha pondered deeply and soon realized that he couldn’t provide a clear answer.
Human emotions aren’t something that can be defined with a single correct answer. They can change unpredictably depending on the situation. Especially when emotions are being formed through a process, even a god cannot easily predict how they will evolve in the end.
“Indeed, the wish you’re speaking of is difficult for even me to judge with certainty. It’s not something that can be easily linked to selfish desires. Even if it were, it’s not the priority.”
“Yes.”
Hanbyeol nodded, and Ganesha smiled warmly.
“Hohoho. Child, I still don’t think my words were entirely wrong. I can tell you this much: the feelings you’re experiencing now have the highest potential to develop into what we call liking or love.”
“That’s true.”
“However, I don’t think your words are wrong either. You made a wish for that man without expecting anything in return. When I couldn’t answer your question, this was the only way I could respond. It’s the difference between the present and the future… truly, it’s quite ambiguous.”
“So then…”
Sensing Hanbyeol’s unspoken question about what to do next, Ganesha paused to gather his thoughts. Suddenly, he recalled a conversation with a man from earlier and made a decision. In such ambiguous situations, there was only one option left.
“Child, how about we make a deal?”
“A deal?”
Hanbyeol asked, puzzled. A playful tone echoed faintly around him.
“Yes, a deal. Or perhaps a gift. I’ll grant your wish to a reasonable extent. And I’ll arrange things so you can find the answer to your question on your own. Hohoho. How does that sound?”
”…What?”
Hanbyeol tilted his head in confusion.
Meanwhile, at the same time…
“Oh, I’m really curious!”
“Get lost, you pest.”
“Why not just tell me?”
“No.”
Amidst the commotion surrounding the box Huh Junyoung had brought, Kim Suhyun calmly gazed into the air. Then, with a satisfied sigh, he smiled faintly.
“Hmm. What I can use now… Polymorph and Dragon Transformation. There are some limitations, but this is really quite good.”
After closing the user information window, Kim Suhyun turned his attention to the reddish box Junyoung had brought.
Though he wasn’t sure of its exact nature, he could sense the box’s aura was unpredictable. It seemed both ominous and fortuitous at the same time.
Kim Suhyun spoke up.
“Junyoung, what is that? Why not just tell us?”
“Oh, it’s nothing much. They call it Pandora’s Box.”
“Pandora’s Box?”
“Yeah. I originally asked for a Chaos Mimic. I was curious after hearing you guys talk about it. But Ganesha said it was ambiguous and suggested a deal. So this is what I got.”
Vivian looked incredulous as Junyoung explained in detail. He hadn’t shared anything when she asked, but he readily answered when Suhyun inquired.
“Hmm. Pandora’s Box.”
Curious, Suhyun activated his third eye to examine the box.
That’s when it happened.
A flash!
A yellow light burst from the monument, filling the hall.
Suhyun instinctively turned his gaze to the central space, just as he was about to inspect the box.
In the center, a yellow light slowly faded, and Hanbyeol emerged, sliding smoothly into view. His face was marked with unmistakable confusion.
The moment Suhyun and Hanbyeol’s eyes met, two messages appeared in the air before Suhyun.
『User Kim Hanbyeol has made a wish for User Kim Suhyun!』
『The usage conditions for Eve’s lineage have been updated!』