For example.
Let’s not think like a rookie fresh out of boot camp with a warrant in hand, but rather from the perspective of a sergeant who’s just finished two years of service.
There’s a common saying around that time: “It was really tough, but looking back, I gained a lot. The military is just like any other place where people live.” But if you ask, “Would you do it all over again?” a hundred out of a hundred would say, “No way. Not a chance.”
From that viewpoint, isn’t it similar for the user?
Fifteen years by the calendar.
Five thousand four hundred seventy-five days by the work count.
One hundred thirty-one thousand four hundred hours.
Seven million eight hundred eighty-four thousand minutes.
Four hundred seventy-three million forty thousand seconds.
These aren’t numbers you can call short by any means. Of course, I can’t say every single day in all those years was miserable. There were definitely good times, moments of happiness. But that’s all there was. No matter how many times I think about it, the thought of starting over never crosses my mind—not even for a second. On that, I can be absolutely certain.
Because—
“Seraph.”
This was something I never should have had to go through in the first place.
“You know that.”
My gaze remains fixed. The half-raised look stops somewhere around the philtrum of the other’s face. Seraph’s lips are still tightly sealed.
“How much it hurt… how many times I wanted to die… no one else knows that—not even me. But you, you know better than anyone.”
Because you’ve been watching me all along. For a full fifteen years.
“I know how much you’ve helped me, how much you cared. I won’t deny that.”
Normally, I wouldn’t be able to say this to the Seraph of the present. But between the end of the first cycle and the start of this one, something unknown to me happened. When Ansol came to save me, I was suspicious, and now, here, I’m certain. More than anything, the brief parting of Seraph’s lips just now is proof.
“But since you know…”
I take a calm breath in. As I exhale, I lift my gaze again.
“What I’m doing… it’s not wrong, is it? Right?”
I reveal the sharpened blade I’ve been honing.
At last, the Seraph I see wears an expression of extreme calm. Just as always, quietly watching me. It’s unexpected. Is that face deliberately put on? If so, does that mean there’s no answer, no words to say? Or is it just another round of sweet talk?
Whatever.
“Yes.”
…No.
“Of course, I understand. Our angels forcibly summoned Earth’s humans to fight demons on their behalf for the safety of our kind. The users of the Whole Plane were stripped of the lives they deserved and suffered pains they never should have. I do not deny this.”
“…Seraph?”
“Therefore, that anger is entirely justified and reasonable. Also, user Kim Suhyun has now succeeded in acquiring overwhelming power. Enough strength that even tens of thousands of angels could be wiped away with a single gesture…”
“You…”
My heart, which had been still as if dead, begins to pound again. What is Seraph saying now?
“However.”
Amid the confusion, Seraph twists the words. My tangled thoughts suddenly quiet down. Yes, this is how it should be. I don’t know what excuse will come next, but I’m willing to listen. Only then can I finally let go of my lingering regrets.
“One unfortunate fact is…”
When I hear the low voice.
“Most angels, including Gabriel, have left their posts.”
Suddenly, my breath stops, and time seems to freeze.
“Outwardly, they claimed they were reporting to Heaven after confirming the demons’ extinction…”
Seraph’s eyes narrow as her voice trails off.
“But to think that nearly seventy percent, including the archangels, abandoned their posts for such a trivial reason is incomprehensible. I believe they fled out of fear of user Kim Suhyun, acting on assumptions.”
A bitter laugh escapes me. Ridiculous. Unbelievable. So most angels, led by Gabriel, have backed out? Leaving only Seraph behind?
“What about you?”
“I was entrusted with full authority over this war from the start. I was ordered to oversee the situation to the end and wrap up the Whole Plane’s affairs.”
It feels like a hammer just slammed into my head. Back then, I only vaguely thought she was trying to help properly. But Seraph’s words mean Gabriel had been preparing all along.
“…Ha, ha. So that’s why they handed over full authority? Crazy. They’re really impossible to warm up to.”
“After all, if we won the fight against the demons but then vanished ourselves, it would all be for nothing. From their perspective, fleeing was the rational choice rather than fighting a losing battle against user Kim Suhyun.”
Yeah. Ruthlessly rational, indeed. By the way, did she just say “they”? Was that my imagination, or did it sound like she was referring to others?
“In truth, user Kim Suhyun is not without fault in how things turned out.”
Seraph continues. Even while delivering shocking news one after another, her voice remains steady.
“Of course, at some point, you became too high-ranking to touch. But fundamentally, the problem was your habit of showing hostility toward angels more than necessary.”
Come to think of it, she’s not wrong. I’ve shown hostility more than once. I even openly said that after demons, angels were next. Now I finally understand my brother’s advice to hide such feelings if I truly wanted to eliminate angels.
“If you really wanted to wipe out the angels…”
At that moment, a pair of deep pale green eyes flicker with something. Seraph, who had been speaking quietly, looks at me and hesitates, then closes her mouth. Only then do I realize the tip of Excalibur I was pointing straight at her is trembling. I don’t even know what expression I’m wearing. Just… just…
An awkward silence stretches between us.
“Anyway, even though things have come to this, it’s not like there’s no way out.”
After a moment, Seraph clears her throat and speaks again.
“…?”
“If user Kim Suhyun’s will is firm, I will find a way to make something happen.”
“A way? You?”
“Yes. The angels who have gone to Heaven by now must be expecting my destruction. But if I survive, they will surely question it.”
“So you’re going to sweet-talk them into coming back and make room for them?”
“Whether they return is uncertain, but to summarize, yes.”
Seraph said the angels fled out of fear of me. If things go as she says, there’s definitely a chance they’ll come back. But more than the success of the plan, a bigger question lingers. It’s been there since Seraph answered “Yes.” without hesitation.
“That means…”
I force strength into my trembling hand, steadying the wavering Excalibur and aiming it back at Seraph.
“You’re saying this because you’re sure I won’t kill you?”
“Sure… is that what you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb. You’re needed to activate the Zero Code.”
“No.”
Unexpectedly, Seraph answers immediately.
“The Zero Code can only be activated through an angel. But that doesn’t mean I ever thought of surviving alone.”
“Fine, let’s say that’s true. But now that I think about it, we could just use the Zero Code. Didn’t they think of that?”
“I was also ordered to interfere as much as possible with requests passing through the Zero Code. Of course, I have no intention of following that order. But if you’re thinking about it, I want to stop you now. User Kim Suhyun already has more than enough power to achieve what you want. There’s no need to rush and waste the precious Zero Code.”
“…So you’re saying we should watch how things unfold.”
Strange. Why do I keep clenching my teeth? I can’t find a good argument against her. Seraph’s words are undeniably true. And she genuinely wants to help me.
Which makes it all the more confusing. To be precise, this isn’t what I wanted to hear.
“…I don’t get it.”
“Hm?”
“Is this really the Seraph I know?”
“User Kim Suhyun?”
“No matter how I think about it, I don’t understand. You’re an angel too.”
“…Yes.”
She snaps sharply, but then calmly nods.
“Then why?”
“I am user Kim Suhyun’s assistant.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Why? Why are you so willing to help me like this?”
“Um…”
Then—
“Th-that is…”
In that split second,
Seraph’s expression, which had been calm all along, changed into something indescribable. It soon returned to normal, but the difference was clear. If before it looked natural, now it was obvious she was holding something back.
“W-why? Because…”
Her trembling eyes barely meet mine.
“I…”
Her voice is trembling now.
“I…”
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Aaaaaahhh! I’m so angry and frustrated. Since 00:01, I’ve tried logging into Joara dozens of times, but I have no idea why the connection is so bad. Was it just me who couldn’t get on from my PC?
I kept typing www.joara.com in the address bar and just stared blankly at the screen over and over. The app connects fine, though.
I don’t know if it’s my computer or the server, but it’s not just once or twice—I’m seriously about to lose it from all these failed attempts. Whenever it seems to work, the page freezes or crashes. Seriously, with today’s event, cover change, and new announcements, there’s so much to click on, and it’s just the worst timing. Damn DDoS attacks.
My blood pressure’s through the roof after so long. Joara folks, please don’t let those malicious DDoS attackers win!
Phew. Anyway, enough of that!
With the story nearing its conclusion, I wanted to hold a light-hearted little event.
Right now, the cover featuring Kim Soo-hyun & Hwa-jung is undergoing some minor tweaks.
Thankfully, the illustrator kindly created a special SD character drawing as a congratulatory gift for the finale.
(You can check it out on the cover, in the announcements, or in the garden section.)
If you look at the drawing, you’ll see a phrase under the character that says, “The ‘?’ stands for love!”
Originally, the ‘?’ was the character’s actual name, but I asked to have it left blank instead. Haha.
So, readers, please take a look at the drawing and leave a comment with the character you think it represents.
Among those who guess correctly, the first five to respond and five more chosen at random will each receive 100 game cards.
I hope many of you will join in and have fun! :)