Chapter 811
Real World. Crossroad.
Serenade stood atop the eastern wall.
The southern wall was off-limits due to safety concerns, so she had stationed herself at the eastern wall's tower, the closest vantage point to the battlefield.
And in this final battle, the World Guardian Front had emerged victorious.
They had successfully repelled the invasion of the monstrous horde.
People laughed and cried, embracing each other, overjoyed to be alive, confirming each other's warmth.
However, even in the face of this joyous scene, Serenade couldn't find it in herself to feel truly happy.
'My lord… '
Ash had not yet returned.
With the winter wind blowing against her back, her blue hair tousled by the breeze, Serenade clasped her hands together in prayer.
'Please… just let him be safe… '
It was then.
Flash-!
A light suddenly flickered from the eastern plains of Crossroad. Startled, Serenade turned her gaze in that direction.
In the heart of the withered and nearly dead Everblack tree, a magic gate had formed, and soon after, the airship La Mancha appeared, forcing its way through the gate.
Ash, who had departed on that airship, must have returned—believing this, a smile unconsciously formed on Serenade's lips.
But before she could hurry down the eastern wall, a thunderous shout rang out from the airship.
"Serenade!"
It was Emperor Traha.
The Emperor, standing at the bow of the airship, recognized Serenade on the wall and roared with a voice like a lion's.
"Gather the people immediately!"
"What?"
"There was an accident during the return trip, and Ash didn't make it back!"
For a moment, Serenade couldn't comprehend what the Emperor was saying.
A sensation as if all the blood in her body had drained away overwhelmed her. But the Emperor's next words brought her back to her senses.
"He will return!"
"…!"
"If it's him, he will surely come back! That's why we must keep this passage open for as long as possible!"
As soon as La Mancha returned to the real world, it stopped operating.
With the force it had gained while bursting out of the gate, the massive airship crashed to the ground. The Emperor and five Glory Knights tumbled out of the ship, practically rolling.
"Gather the people! We have to keep the gate from closing! Hurry-!"
Though the Emperor and the Glory Knights were all battered and wounded,
They desperately hurled themselves at the gate that had already started closing, doing everything in their power to force it open.
Without even taking in the full sight, Serenade sprinted towards the southern wall.
It didn't matter if her legs broke. It didn't matter if her lungs tore apart.
Faster, even faster, faster…!
Serenade ran with everything she had, not even pausing to breathe, finally reaching the southern wall.
And in front of the people who were still crying and laughing in the joy of victory, she shouted.
"Everyone, please listen! The Crown Prince…!"
At the mention of the Crown Prince's name, the people turned around in shock. Serenade, more desperate than ever, cried out to them.
"We must save him… our lord…!"
Thud, rumble…
The world was crumbling.
"…"
Somewhere at the very bottom of the spirit realm.
Buried under pieces of wood and piles of dirt, I blinked slowly.
How far have I fallen?
…No, does it even matter how far I've fallen?
'It's over.'
I had lost the only means of escaping the spirit realm.
And now, I had fallen to this deep, dark pit.
And soon, the spirit realm would completely collapse and disappear.
'Perhaps this is the price I pay for letting my guard down at the very end, thinking all the battles were over.'
It was an unavoidable accident, but…
Maybe, if I had been more thorough, if I had focused solely on escape rather than saying goodbye to those I might never see again, it could have been prevented.
But I shared a final connection with those precious people I might never see again, and an unfortunate series of events led to this result.
'Still, if it's just my life, it's a cheap price to pay for letting my guard down.'
I protected my world, and I accomplished all of my goals.
Though it's a shame I couldn't witness the true ending with my own eyes…
Even so, even without me, my people will reach it in my stead. They'll live on, carrying my will.
'So, I can face the end with peace of mind… '
Just as I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, thinking this,
"You're ruining my final moments."
"…?"
A familiar voice echoed from somewhere nearby.
When I looked over…
There, sitting side by side on the white sands, watching the spirit realm's destruction, were the Demon King, his body shattered and in ruins, and the former Goddess, now just a simple soul.
Startled, I shot up, my upper body bolting upright. What the hell!
"What are you two doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing…"
The Demon King muttered gruffly, and the Goddess covered her mouth with a laugh.
"The spirit realm is about to collapse. How did you end up falling here, Ash?"
Seeing that they were prepared to face a serene end, I let out a hollow laugh and explained honestly.
I told them that I made a mistake at the very last moment. That I had missed the only escape method, the airship.
After hearing my story, the Goddess tilted her head in confusion.
"But why are you just sitting here?"
"What? Well, you see, it's basically over…"
I laughed bitterly and put my hand to my forehead.
"I let my guard down at the end, and I missed my chance to return to the real world. In the end, it's my mistake. So…"
"Are you really going to give up everything just because you made one mistake?"
The Goddess's voice had taken on a slightly stern tone.
"Even if time is short, even if you've lost countless things precious to you, no matter how hard, how exhausting, how painful it has been."
"…"
"You haven't given up until now. That's how you got this far."
Meeting my dazed eyes, the Goddess nodded firmly.
"Your life isn't over yet. If that's the case, then you have to fight. Just like you always have."
She no longer had any divine power. But there was still an indescribable dignity about her.
With a groan, the Goddess got to her feet. The Demon King also stood, struggling with his broken body.
They both approached and extended their hands to me. I grabbed their hands, albeit a bit dazed. But I was still sitting, hesitant.
I mumbled awkwardly.
"But… there's no way… From down here, how could I ever…"
"How foolish."
The Goddess smiled brightly and nodded toward the sky.
"The kindness you've shown to others will pave your way."
"…"
"If you truly seek it with all your heart, there will always be someone around you to help. You should trust in the goodwill of others, just a little."
The Demon King spoke up next.
"As you promised, it was the best stage, the best show."
He chuckled briefly and gestured toward the sky with his chin.
"So, shouldn't you show them the best curtain call fitting for that?"
"…!"
"The applause you deserve is up there, Player. Go and revel in it…!"
Then, as if they had planned it,
Both of them pulled me up with all their might.
Neither the Goddess nor the Demon King had the strength left to send me flying into the sky. But.
They had the heart to lift me, who had fallen.
With a burst of energy, I kicked off the ground and soared into the sky, gritting my teeth.
I squeezed out the last of my dragon's power to form wings. Then, as if climbing against a waterfall, I began clawing my way up through the collapsing world.
"An adventure isn't complete until you return home."
The Goddess's voice echoed faintly from behind.
"Finish your adventure, Ash…!"
I shot upwards.
Breaking through the crumbling debris, smashing the falling wooden fragments, and piercing through the raging torrents, I flapped my wings desperately.
But soon, I began to tire.
As the spirit realm collapsed, the magic power in the world was also fading. The dragon power I was using quickly began to lose its potency.
How far could my struggles reach before the world ended?
As I wondered this, I looked up at the sky,
"…!"
And opened my eyes wide.
Glowing comets were falling toward me.
No—those weren't comets.
They were the many racial deities.
To save me, they had all rushed down to the collapsing world below.
Though they were all destined to head to the afterlife with the spirit realm's destruction,
They had come, willing, to save me like this…
"Fly, my friend."
Each of them who spotted me reached out and grabbed my hands,
"Just once more!"
And threw me upwards.
"Just once more-!"
From hand to hand, from hand to hand…
Once more, they sent me soaring.
Leaving behind the spirit realm's collapsing ground, I continued to ascend toward the sky.
Upwards.
Upwards.
Upwards…!
This time, the previous reincarnators appeared before me, forming a circle in the sky, hand in hand, waiting for me.
One of them, a woman who reached out her hand toward me—my mother, Dustia, who gave birth to me—shouted with a radiant smile.
"When you entered this spirit realm
from the real world, you opened the gate at Everblack's trunk, didn't you?"
"…!"
"It seems the same gate was used when your airship escaped to the real world. And, right now, that gate at the tip of the trunk is still holding!"
With a sharp movement!
My mother grabbed my hand with a firm grip and grinned.
"These little hands have grown so much."
"Mother…!"
"Hurry up, the world is waiting for you!"
The reincarnators, who were holding hands in a circle, spun around and gathered their strength.
My mother tightened her grip on my arm and nodded.
"It's okay to fail. It's okay to break down. Even if you don't have the power to turn back time, you can always stand up again. So—"
With tears in her eyes, my mother smiled.
"Live on, keep going…!"
Smiling back at her, I nodded firmly.
The circle of reincarnators, which had been spinning, straightened out into a line and transferred all their strength to the end. And at the right moment, I was catapulted into the sky.
Now, I flew close to the black thorned tree that was crumbling below me. And halfway up Everblack, two men were waiting for me.
"You reckless, foolish kid…"
"How much more are you going to worry us?"
My two brothers, Lark and Fernandez, were waiting, their sword and staff embedded in Everblack.
"I'll give you my avalanche."
"And I'll give you my spark."
The two of them infused their respective weapons with swirling sword energy and flickering magic.
With a sharp movement!
I grabbed them with both hands, and at the same time,
Whack!
My two brothers smacked my back with a powerful slap.
With a jolt of pain, I soared even higher. The sword and staff in my hands unleashed sword energy and magic, propelling me further upward.
"Falling is not a disgrace for those who challenge the heavens. It's just a part of the journey."
My two brothers shouted from behind as I ascended.
"No matter how many times you fall… If you still have the courage to try again!"
Then.
You can fly again.
Holding onto their words in my heart, I shot upwards.
Now I reached the uppermost part of Everblack.
The altitude was dizzyingly high, and the air around me grew rapidly colder. The sword and staff, too, stopped emitting sword energy and magic and gradually came to a halt.
At that moment, a warm sensation enveloped me.
When I looked around, I saw four red dragons surrounding me, as if escorting me on their flight.
The massive dragons I once knew were gone, reduced to fragmented and shattered pieces.
They scattered their scales along their path like a trail of fireworks, soaring through the sky like the mothers of my heart.
"You know what we're going to say, don't you?"
The first Dusk Bringar asked playfully.
With a bright smile, I nodded and replied.
"I love you!"
A satisfied smile crossed the faces of the four dragons. I shouted once more.
"I love you with all my heart…!"
One by one, the four dragons approached and kissed my forehead.
Each time they did, warmth spread through my body, and the dying flame within my heart rekindled, blazing brightly once more.
Finally, the second Dusk Bringar transformed into a human form and left a long kiss on my forehead.
And then, she smiled serenely.
"Your tomorrow will surely be bright…!"
The Dusk Bringar drifted away.
After sending me up, the four dragons quickly disappeared from my sight.
The world's destruction, which had started from below, had now reached the sky and was closing in behind me. I gritted my teeth and accelerated.
At the very top of Everblack—
"Over here!"
The Succubus Queen was waiting.
"Salome!"
"This way, this way! Into the tree!"
Following the path Salome had secured, I entered Everblack.
Inside the tree, it had transformed into a vast cavern.
And at the far end of that cavern… was a gate, different from the ones I had seen before—a gate of alien magic was open.
It was a gate opened by dimensional translocation magic. And even as the thorned tree was crumbling, it was desperately maintaining the path to that gate.
Even though the passage between the spirit realm and reality was sealed.
With its already dead body, the tree was struggling to keep the path open to the gate that would open and close just once.
"I won't bother saying goodbye."
Before I could even say anything, Salome tied her parasol to my cape.
"Because we'll see each other again soon… Besides, a good succubus always knows when it's time to wake up from a dream."
"Salome…!"
"Don't worry about me! Now, go! Fly, handsome!"
With a flourish-!
Salome's parasol sparkled with a dazzling pink light, and I was shot forward, unable to do anything but follow.
"So many people are waiting for you… so many who wish for your happiness!"
Salome waved at me with a mischievous grin.
"So—give it your all!"
In an instant, I was far from Salome, and a blinding flash filled the area.
Thud! Rumble, rumble-!
As the spirit realm's collapse accelerated, it reached right beneath my feet.
Even though its entire body had crumbled and disintegrated down to its roots, Everblack struggled to maintain the passage until the very last moment.
I gritted my teeth and gathered every last bit of strength I had left, shooting upwards. I flew through the crumbling, narrowing passage as if climbing.
At some point, the weapons from my brothers, the warmth from the four dragons, and the parasol from Salome—all of them were destroyed and vanished.
The dragon wings, the dragon heart, and the halo of authority that floated above my head like a crown were all gone.
I was left as a mere human, breathing heavily as I clawed my way up the passage.
The gate was still far away.
I was out of breath, and my vision blurred. It was so difficult that I wanted to give up and collapse right there and die.
But it wasn't over yet.
The people who cheered for me hadn't given up on me.
So I won't give up either.
I'll fight, against this world, and against myself.
Just a little more.
Just a little more…!
Real World.
Crossroad Eastern Plains. Everblack's Trunk.
"Keep the gate open!"
"Everyone, get in there-!"
"We must hold on, no matter what!"
All the members of the World Guardian Front clung to the gate in the tree, doing everything they could to prevent it from closing.
The mages who once wielded miraculous power, the knights who cleaved mountains with their swords and blocked dragons with their shields, had all lost their strength.
Now, they were all just ordinary humans.
And all they could do was hold on to each other and endure.
They placed their hands on the closing gate, desperately trying to slow its closing. With their hands, their shoulders, their backs, their foreheads, with their whole bodies, they struggled to push the gate open.
"We have to keep the path open…!"
The magical gate continued to narrow, and the strength of ordinary humans couldn't stop its closure.
"Until he returns…!"
But because so many people gathered their will and heart and resisted desperately,
The gate closed much more slowly than it originally would have. But it was only slower; the closure itself continued.
"Hold on-!"
The people screamed in unison as they endured.
And then.
"Ah!"
A young man who once possessed far-sight shouted as he looked into the passage.
"It's the Crown Prince!"
"What?!"
When everyone looked inside, it was true.
Ash was struggling to climb the final stretch of the passage. And right behind him, a blinding flash and destruction were close on his heels.
"Your Highness!"
"This way, quickly-!"
The gate narrowed once more.
The people gritted their teeth, their grips tearing apart, but they held on. Everyone desperately shouted, as if vomiting blood.
"Just a little more…!"
Ash, spotting his people, found new strength in his eyes.
And at that moment, the passage behind and beneath him disintegrated into pure white.
Ash lost his balance and was about to collapse.
In that instant,
Snap!
A branch of the tree reached out to support him.
It was the last will of a tree that had lived only for people.
"…!"
Using that branch as a foothold, and taking the falling soil and wood fragments with his whole body, Ash kicked off into the air from the end of the passage.
But—it was far.
Despite his desperate effort to close the distance, it was far. It felt like an insurmountable chasm lay between him and the gate.
And then.
"My lord-!"
Serenade jumped into the gate herself.
"My liege-!"
Lucas followed closely behind.
"Senior!"
"Your Highness!"
"Your Highness-!"
Evangeline, Damien, Junior, and everyone else…
They threw themselves into the air, simultaneously grabbing each other and reaching out to Ash.
Like a blooming flower, the hands of those ordinary people reached out to Ash, who desperately reached back…
-Clasp.
Hands that, under normal circumstances, could never reach each other across that vast chasm—
Undoubtedly, grasped each other.
"I'm sorry."
I managed to choke out in an exhausted voice.
"I'm a little late."
Now completely sealed beneath Everblack's trunk,
Covered in dirt and blood, we had all made it out of the gate safely.
As I stroked Serenade's back while she sobbed in my arms, I suddenly realized and corrected myself.
"No, it's not the time to apologize."
I looked up and scanned my surroundings.
"Thank you."
And to everyone who waited for me, who surrounded me… I beamed at them.
"I'm back."
Everyone rushed toward me at once.
Without any hesitation, they threw themselves at me. All of our hands tangled together, seeking each other's warmth, wrapping our arms around each other's shoulders and backs.
Surrounded by countless warm embraces, holding on to me as if never wanting to let go again, I felt breathless but incredibly happy.
I cried with my people.
And I laughed with my people.
Laughing and crying, we held each other for a long time.
It was a truly long adventure.
It was, indeed, a magnificent adventure.
Chapter 812
The Black Lake.
The lake, once filled with black water tainted by malice and nightmares, was now…
Whoosh!
Completely evaporated.
With the closing of the passage to the otherworld and the destruction of the spirit realm, all the curses that had once filled the Black Lake vanished.
As the contaminated water evaporated and dried to the very bottom, the ancient kingdom submerged beneath it finally revealed its full form to the world.
The time of the people of this land, who had been petrified by the curse of eternal life, began to flow once more.
"Gasp!"
"W-What is this…?"
"How long… How long were we lost in that nightmare…?"
One by one, the people who had been freed from the Demon King's nightmare began to regain their senses.
Most of the citizens of the Lake Kingdom had succumbed to the curse of eternal life not long after, unable to endure the hellish pain beneath the lake, and had accepted the Demon King's offer. They had surrendered themselves to the nightmare and submerged into the depths.
As they emerged from their long, long dream, they were bewildered by the unfamiliar air of reality. And when they saw the completely transformed world, they were shocked.
"All the buildings are in ruins…!"
"How did the entire kingdom end up at the bottom of the lake?!"
"My magic won't activate! There's no magic power in the air!"
"Even the artifacts aren't working! What in the world…?!"
The Lake Kingdom, a kingdom of ancient magic, had possessed a level of magic far beyond that of any modern nation.
Conversely, they were excessively dependent on magic.
The people of the Lake Kingdom were stunned by the absence of magic in the air and the sight of their moss-covered civilization, now at a standstill and unresponsive.
Like an ax handle rotting away while a woodcutter is lost in a dream.
After a five-hundred-year gap spent in hell, the encounter with a completely transformed world left the people of the Lake Kingdom in shock.
The entire kingdom was on the brink of descending into chaos, but…
"Calm down!"
A leader with a cool head remained.
"This is a royal command! Everyone, stay calm! Maintain order!"
A man removed his jester's mask.
It was Crown—no, Prince Christian.
Having woken from the nightmare, Christian stepped in to manage the kingdom's turmoil in place of the king, who had fainted again.
The royal family still held some authority, and most importantly, Christian had grasped the reality of the situation.
With the Nightcrawler unit by his side, Christian quickly brought the kingdom's internal chaos under control. He led the people to restore order, invoking the royal command.
After all, restoring the country freed from the nightmare was a task he had dreamed of for countless years.
Christian and the Nightcrawler unit moved busily through the city, guiding the people.
"The water and food supplies are depleted, Your Highness."
"I've stored dried food and purified water in the royal warehouse. Start distributing it immediately and post notices in the main government offices throughout the city. Also, gather the personnel who originally handled public affairs."
"It's still cold, and night will soon fall. At this rate, many will freeze to death."
"Tear down all the rotten wooden buildings and use them for firewood. Light fires in all the main squares and smaller squares."
As Christian issued orders quickly, he pointed to the distant land above.
With the entire kingdom now settled at the bottom of the lake, the surface was an unreachable height away.
"We also need to carve a path up to the lake's surface. The work begins tomorrow morning, and everyone able-bodied will be conscripted. See to it."
One of the high-ranking officials stammered.
"Y-Your Highness. That's something that should be done with magic…"
"Magic no longer exists!"
Christian sharply retorted.
"From now on, we must do everything in this world with our own two hands."
"W-Why has this happened… Why has our Lake Kingdom…"
"Our glorious magical civilization, why has it fallen like this…"
To the nobles trembling, unable to adapt to the situation, Christian spoke in a stern voice.
"We are paying the price we deserve."
"…!"
"For being captivated by the light of magic, clinging solely to it, spreading malice across the world, dividing and discriminating against people—this country's sins are finally being paid for."
Then, Christian murmured quietly.
"And… it's my sin as well."
After all, it was undoubtedly his fault that he had allowed the Demon King inside and brought the kingdom to ruin.
"I, too, will pay the price."
But atonement must come after saving the people of his country.
"Let's move, Nightcrawlers."
Leading the ones who had followed him from hell to now, Christian marched forward.
"Though the long night is over, we must keep busy for a while longer."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Christian headed toward the outer district.
Unlike the panicked citizens in the inner district, the non-citizens of the outer district were already moving quickly under Christian's orders.
The non-citizens of the Lake Kingdom had never been able to use magic, even in the age of magic.
So, for the sake of immediate survival, they were much more prepared to live stubbornly.
Christian, advancing at a brisk pace, eventually stopped. Someone was standing in the road ahead, waiting for him.
"Your Highness!"
It was none other than the Sword Demon, the Spear Demon, the adventurers from the base camp, and… the people from the Bottom Town.
They were the ones who had survived this hell for as long as Christian and the Nightcrawlers had.
And they were ready to welcome the new era.
"Need a hand?" The Sword Demon and the Spear Demon asked with a grin, and Christian immediately nodded.
"I'll gratefully accept your help. We must at least organize the essentials before Ariel returns… Your assistance is crucial."
As they all resumed the busy work of restoring order, Christian glanced up at the distant sky.
No longer was the sky above the Lake Kingdom filled with the black, polluted water of the lake. The winter sky, clear and bright, shone in a vivid blue, painfully pristine.
"…Ariel."
Christian softly murmured his sister's name.
"Please, come back soon. This country… needs you."
He believed in Ash's promise, and in Aider's determination.
He believed that in this world, now free of nightmares, his sister would be safe…
Long, white eyelashes trembled.
Eventually, eyelids slowly opened, revealing clear turquoise eyes to the world.
"Ah…"
Ariel had awakened.
Hearing that she would soon wake, I had come to her room to wait for her, and now I greeted her.
"You've come to, Nameless? No…"
I hurriedly corrected myself, calling her by name.
"Ariel."
"…Ash…?"
Ariel, who had been looking at me with a dazed expression, suddenly sat up in alarm.
"Where am I…?!"
"The temple in Crossroad. It's dawn."
I showed her the bandages wrapped around my body.
"You've been asleep the entire day. The final battle ended just yesterday."
"What do you mean the battle is over? What are you talking about…"
"It means all the nightmares have ended."
With a smile, I gestured toward her.
"So, how does it feel to sleep soundly without any nightmares for the first time in a while?"
"Ah…"
Only then did Ariel seem to realize that all the nightmares that had plagued her were truly gone.
"It's true. They're gone. All the darkness and curses…! How could this… Such a miraculous thing…"
"…"
"Then, my kingdom too…!"
Finally, Ariel bowed her head repeatedly to me.
"Thank you, Ash. I will properly express my gratitude in the name of the Lake Kingdom later, but… truly, thank you. I don't know how I'll ever repay this debt…"
With tears welling up in her large, lake-colored eyes, Ariel clasped my hands in hers.
"You saved me… my kingdom, and this world. Truly… thank you…"
"No need to mention it. We're friends, aren't we? It's only natural."
Once Ariel started to cry, she couldn't stop. Tears streamed down her pale cheeks, endlessly.
A bit concerned, I asked her carefully,
"Are you okay?"
"I'm… fine. Don't worry. I'm crying because I'm happy…"
Ariel tried her best to smile, but she soon lost control and burst into tears.
She clutched her chest with both hands, struggling.
"I'm really happy, so happy. But, it feels like… I've forgotten something very important."
"…"
"Why does my heart ache like this… On such a joyous day, why… do I feel such a deep sense of loss…"
I remained silent.
Beside me, Ariel continued to sob quietly.
"I'm sorry, Ash. Just… let me cry for a moment…"
Ariel cried for a long time.
I stayed by her side, quietly, until her tears finally stopped.
Dawn passed, and it was early morning.
As soon as she had gathered herself, Ariel left.
She couldn't bear the worry about the Lake Kingdom's condition. The journey there would take three days even on horseback, so I lent her the best horse I had.
I also didn't send Ariel off alone; I assigned some of Crossroad's soldiers to accompany her.
Their task was to assess the situation in the Lake Kingdom and provide any necessary supplies as quickly as possible.
With a graceful motion, Ariel mounted her horse and gave me a faint smile.
"Thank you so much, Ash. Words can't express how grateful I am for all your kindness and consideration."
"You're welcome."
"Once I've taken care of the situation in the Lake Kingdom, I will return to formally express our gratitude to the World Guardian Front."
Then, Ariel added cautiously,
"And… I will come to officially apologize for the harm I caused this world as the Mistress of Nightmares."
"…"
"I know it's not something that can be resolved with just an apology, but… I will do my best."
Ariel said she had no memory of her time as the "Sleepless Lake Princess."
But she was aware that she had become the Mistress of Nightmares and had attempted to destroy the world.
I slowly nodded.
"I'll help too. I'll do my best."
We shared a faint smile.
"Then, see you soon! Hyah!"
Ariel spurred her horse and galloped southward like the wind.
As I watched the Princess of the Lake Kingdom and her escort troops quickly fade into the distance…
I slowly turned my head to the side.
"…Are you really okay with this?"
Then, a man staggered out from the shadow of a nearby building.
With a heart full of pity, I called out his name.
"Aider."
"…"
The man who had been my accomplice, the Director—Aider—managed a feeble smile.
With a large hole in his chest, his entire body was shedding gray particles.
He had overloaded and burned out the system of the outer gods, and had used his own soul as the price to heal the wounds etched into Ariel's soul.
And at the end of this long battle, he was completely broken… just existing seemed to be a struggle for him.
"I destroyed the destructive play that tormented our world, and I saved the one person I've wanted to save my whole life."
The Director, now back to his old, lazy drawl, gave a weak smile.
"It couldn't be better than this, hehe."
"…"
"Don't worry about me. Everything is going according to plan…"
Aider limped forward with difficulty, coming to stand before me.
"More importantly, my lord. What matters now is the story of the great deed you have accomplished."
We stood silently, looking at each other.
Aider continued in a slow, weary voice.
"And, my lord… it's finally time to fulfill that long-held wish of yours."
Chapter 813
As dawn passed and morning just began, Aider and I climbed the eastern wall of Crossroad together.
"You already know why your achievements are so great, my lord, but…" Aider's voice was much quieter now, so I had to listen more closely than usual.
"It's because you continued to walk the difficult path."
Hearing him constantly praise and call me great was honestly a bit embarrassing.
I awkwardly scratched the back of my head. "You don't have to keep flattering me like that."
"Hehe. I'm merely stating the facts."
"I just stumbled along, taking one step at a time on the path in front of me."
"But you never stopped looking at the stars above," Aider whispered as we stood atop the wall.
"That's why you've reached this place."
"…"
We both stood, facing east.
The rising sun illuminated the sky with its brilliant light.
A new day was beginning.
A day without monsters, without nightmares, and without those who treated us like mere playthings. The first day… was just beginning.
"The easy path was always right in front of you. You could have forged ahead without conflict or anguish, fighting and killing the enemy to clear the way."
"…"
"But you didn't give up on the harder path. You struggled, you agonized, you attempted dialogue."
Standing there with his eyes closed, facing the sun, Aider took a deep breath.
"If you had decided that your enemies were born wrong, that they were to be killed, and made that choice without hesitation."
I listened to his words intently.
"If you had given up on talking to those across the deep chasm from the beginning. If you hadn't tried to love even what was ugly about them, hadn't tried to pity the pain of even your enemies."
A faint smile appeared on Aider's lips.
"If you had given up on the courage not to hate… this world wouldn't have reached this conclusion."
It was as if, before the game's credits rolled,
The Director was recapping the achievements I had accomplished.
"All those moments when you struggled and agonized, all that inefficiency had meaning. Those painful and difficult days led this world to the true ending… no."
Aider raised his hand and gestured behind us…
He pointed to Crossroad.
"They led us to 'today.'"
I turned around and took in the city standing before us.
The early morning sunlight poured over the city where we had fought our final battle just yesterday. Now, it was steeped in peaceful silence.
It was a time when all my people, who had cried and laughed through the night, were still enjoying the sweetness of a morning slumber.
The "tomorrow" I had longed to reach… had finally become "today."
"Congratulations, Player."
Aider slowly bowed deeply to me, with all the respect he could muster.
"I pay my respects to your great achievements."
"…"
"And now… it's time to grant the wish you were promised."
Aider gathered the gray particles from his body and forged them into a brilliant light.
It was a power separate from magic, the ability to access the otherworld as a system administrator. A part of that power still remained within him.
"You've waited a long time. It's time to deliver your message… to that child."
"…Aider."
"Don't worry. I've saved enough strength to grant your wish and transmit your message. I saved just enough life for this very moment."
My wish.
It was also the wish of a certain RetroAddict on Earth.
To send a message of encouragement to a child who lay in a coma in the hospital.
It was something I had waited so long to do. But…
I cautiously asked him, "If I fulfill that wish, then you…"
"Then I will finally be free."
Aider smiled softly, and I immediately understood what he meant.
As I feared.
If this wish is fulfilled, Aider will die.
"Don't look at me like that. I wouldn't have lasted a few more days in this state anyway."
"…"
"Rather than just fading away without purpose, wouldn't it be better to use the last of my life to deliver your words to that child?"
Aider chuckled softly.
"I'm just glad your wish is a small one. If it were any bigger, I might not have been able to fulfill it."
"Aider."
"I've achieved all my wishes."
Aider's gray eyes were clear and resolute.
"My lord, you've granted every one of my wishes."
"…"
"So now it's my turn."
I clenched my fist tightly.
"Now, my lord," Aider said, looking at me with an uncharacteristic tenderness.
"What do you want to say to that child?"
I took a deep breath.
I…
I…
"Wait, wait, wait!"
Suddenly, an energetic voice interrupted.
"Save that life! Hold on, hold on! I've got a better way!"
Startled, I turned to see the space in the air above the eastern wall rippling, and soon, a small door opened…
"Yoo-hoo!"
Salome popped out!
As the pink-haired, tanned troublemaker suddenly wedged herself between us, I shouted in disbelief.
"Salome?!"
"Tada~ That's right! The most seductive woman in the universe, Salome, reappears~!"
"No way, you're really alive!"
Genuinely shocked, I watched as Salome, who was making peace signs with both hands, narrowed her eyes.
"What's with that tone? It's like you were hoping I was dead…"
"No, I was hoping you were alive, of course. It's just… surprising…"
How did she manage to escape that chaos?
"Mm-hmm-hmm. Didn't I say? Now that I'm just a 'mind,' I can go anywhere I want! Even to another world!"
Salome puffed out her chest arrogantly and smirked.
"Since I'm essentially a spiritual entity, it costs me less to pass between worlds, and with you as a clear mental anchor here, I was able to just hop over!"
But then Salome started gasping for breath, looking like she was about to keel over.
"Heck, heck, but… there's barely any magic left in this world. It's suffocating…"
"Are you okay…?"
Magic, miracles, and powers like that had mostly disappeared from our world now.
As someone like Salome, who was a mix of all those things, it must be tough to hang on.
"Well, the truth is, I probably won't be able to survive in this world much longer."
Salome wiggled her fingers hesitantly.
"I'll have to leave for another world… But before I go, I wanted to see your face one last time, so I came here."
"Salome…"
I swallowed hard.
This succubus, who had fought to help me, had come to say goodbye before she left for another world.
"Ha… What a shame. What a waste… Leaving you behind is such a waste…"
Salome licked her lips as she looked me up and down with regret. What's that supposed to mean?
She gave me a greasy smile, raising her thumb and index finger into a V shape and placing it under her chin.
"Anyway, I'm heading to a world I've always wanted to visit!"
"…A world you've always wanted to visit?"
No way…
"It's a very distant world, but there's a definite mental anchor there."
"Could that mental anchor be…"
"Hehe, yes… Ash! I got the coordinates from peeking into your past!"
I gasped, my mouth hanging open.
That's right.
My personality was a copy of RetroAddict's.
In other words, Salome… had read RetroAddict's memories and knew RetroAddict's "mind" as well!
She planned to go to Earth!
Salome spun around, showing off her outfit.
"In fact, I prepared this outfit in advance for that world! This is Salome's foresight!"
"C-Crazy…"
I knew something was off when we reunited, but to think she planned this from the beginning…!
And what part of RetroAddict's memories made her choose that look? They might be a little… scared of her there…
"The new legend of the Succubus Empress Salome begins! Hahaha, look forward to it~!"
"What exactly are you planning to do…?"
Salome just grinned mischievously instead of answering.
I silently apologized to the people of Earth. I'm sorry, Earthlings. I'm about to export something pretty scary…
"Anyway, enough talk! I'm heading to that world now."
Salome extended her hand and drew a large circle in the air.
"I'm going to connect a passage between this world and that world for a moment… And as you know, I'm such an extraordinary woman that I can carry at least one person's 'mind' over with me."
I caught on to her meaning and asked,
"You're saying you can take my consciousness… to that world for a short time?"
Salome nodded.
"It's a bit different from the gray man's method, but the result is pretty similar. It'll be a short time, but you'll be able to reach that child's heart."
Salome smiled brightly.
"And more than anything… I want to watch your wish come true!"
I chuckled softly and nodded.
If it's her, she's more than qualified.
"Please, Salome."
"Alright, I'm getting ready!"
Salome began opening a door in the air.
Aider, who had been watching from the side, suddenly spoke urgently.
"Wait, my lord…!"
When I turned to look, Aider shook his head.
"You can't… do this!"
"Why not?"
"I promised you, didn't I? That when you reached the true ending, I would grant your wish…!"
Aider clutched his chest with trembling hands.
"You kept your promise to me. So, I have to… repay you."
"…"
"I must reward you, who fought on without giving up for so long! But…"
"Hey, Aider."
I smiled warmly at him.
"I've already received more than enough reward."
"What?"
"It's right here."
I gestured toward the city behind us. Aider's eyes widened.
There was the peaceful landscape of Crossroad, bathed in the morning sunlight.
"What greater reward could there be?"
"…"
"Our wish to save the world was something we achieved by fighting together. You don't owe me anything more."
"But…"
In the first place, fulfilling my wish at the cost of someone else's life was never an option.
I came this far carrying my wish to save someone.
So, the idea of fulfilling my wish at the expense of your remaining life is completely out of the question, you idiot.
"…"
Perhaps unexpectedly given a slight extension of his life,
Aider's voice faltered in confusion.
"Then… what should I do with the life I have left…"
I gently patted Aider's shoulder.
"Why not use that remaining life… to fulfill your last wish?"
"My last… wish?"
"Yeah."
I smiled softly.
"Think about it. What you want to do at the very end of your life."
"…"
"Find your true last wish for yourself."
At the end of this long journey, I wanted my accomplice to be happy too.
I wanted him to use his last moments for himself.
"…My last… wish…"
Leaving the dazed Aider behind, I stood before Salome.
"Well, Ash! This is the moment you've been dreaming of!"
Standing in front of the wide-open magical door, Salome grinned brightly.
"You've carried your banner, walked to the very end, and now… it's time to deliver your heart's message in person!"
For some reason, I started to feel nervous, my heart pounding in my chest.
I took a deep breath and steadied myself.
Salome extended her hand to me.
"Come on! Let's go fulfill your wish!"
"…Yeah!"
I took Salome's hand.
With a mischievous smile, Salome pulled me forward, and a blinding white light filled my vision.
And then…
Chapter 814
In a dark, silent arcade.
All the other machines had stopped, their screens off, surrounded by stillness.
In the center of the arcade, a single, massive game machine buzzed with rough noise, radiating the unique warmth of machinery.
The only machine still powered on in the entire arcade had a small child sitting in front of it.
The boy was dressed in a baggy hospital gown that didn't fit his small frame, his head covered by a beanie, his skin pale from lack of sunlight.
"…"
The boy stared at the large game screen.
On the screen, marred with static, a single phrase flickered:
— CONTINUE?
Would you like to continue?
Next to that phrase, the number ticked back and forth between 1 and 0, also distorted by static.
It wasn't clear, but it seemed to be slowly dropping from 1 to 0.
And when it finally hit 0… the game would be over forever.
"…"
Watching the slowly ticking numbers, the boy felt a strange sense of peace. Perhaps it was a kind of resignation, or maybe he had simply lost interest.
He just stared at the screen with empty eyes.
As if hoping the number would reach 0 soon.
As if waiting for the words "GAME OVER" to flash across the large screen.
At that moment,
"Not going to play anymore?"
A young man's voice echoed from the entrance of the arcade.
Then, the young man walked into the arcade, his footsteps echoing in the quiet space.
"It'd be a shame to stop now, after getting this far. Why not give it one more try?"
"…"
The boy, who had been waiting for the game to end, reluctantly responded.
"I'm sick of this game."
The boy's eyes, still fixed on the screen, held a hint of resentment.
"It's hard. It's painful. And it's not even fun."
"…"
"I'm done."
Step. Step.
The approaching footsteps stopped behind the boy.
The boy glanced back, blinking in surprise.
"Wait, Retro?"
The man resembled the famous streamer RetroAddict that the boy often watched on TV.
…Or so he thought, but upon closer inspection, he realized it wasn't him.
The man's appearance was completely different. Plus, he was dressed in a unique uniform the boy had never seen before.
Why did I mistake him for someone else? The boy tilted his head in confusion.
"Sorry. You just reminded me of someone I know… But who are you?"
The man hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully before replying,
"A friend."
He gave a sheepish smile.
"An old friend of RetroAddict's."
"Oh, that makes sense."
The boy scratched his head, still covered by the beanie.
"You don't look anything like Retro, but your vibe is similar. That's why I got confused."
"Haha. I get that a lot. People say Retro and I are quite similar."
The man laughed as he pulled a chair from a nearby game machine and sat next to the boy.
"So, you know a lot about RetroAddict?"
"More or less? After all, I was his first viewer."
"How did you end up watching his stream?"
The boy smiled faintly, recalling the past.
"Retro's a pretty popular game streamer now."
"That's true."
"But back when he first started, he was a total newbie. His stream setup was a mess, and he only played really old games. Because of that, no one watched his stream."
Talking about his favorite streamer seemed to cheer the boy up a bit.
"I was stuck in the hospital, bored out of my mind, so I started wandering around different streams… And that's when I stumbled upon Retro's. A stream with 0 viewers, broadcasting some ancient game that nobody even knew existed."
The boy paused for a moment.
After a brief silence, he continued.
"That was the day I was thinking about dying."
"…"
"Treatment was tough, surgery was scary, I kept throwing up the meds, and I felt so guilty towards my parents… Everything was just so exhausting, I thought maybe it was time to just give up."
The man listened quietly.
"I entered that stream that no one else was watching, and the game looked incredibly difficult. His life bar was almost empty, down to the last sliver, and monsters were closing in from all sides. And I thought to myself…"
The boy lowered his gaze.
"If this guy loses, I'll give up too."
His small, worn-out hands, bruised from countless injections, clenched into fists.
"I decided that I would die that day."
"…"
"But… he beat it."
A faint excitement crept into the boy's voice.
"He actually did it. He was literally on the verge of a game over. But he gritted his teeth and fought desperately… He kept pushing forward, refusing to give up, until he finally reached the final boss and won. He saw the ending."
"…"
"Seeing that… somehow, I didn't want to die anymore."
The boy repeated softly,
"I wanted to live."
The man quietly studied the boy's profile.
The boy continued.
"Even after that, Retro never gave up. No matter how tough the old games were, no matter how unpopular his stream was… he kept going. Eventually, he cleared every difficult game, and his stream, which no one watched, slowly started to grow."
The boy nodded to himself.
"Watching him, I think I found the courage to keep going too."
Slowly, the boy lifted his gaze to the large game machine in front of him.
"So, I think that's why I kept fighting against this thing."
Still.
— CONTINUE?
The number on the game screen was nearing 0.
"…Well, it's over now."
The boy raised both hands in defeat.
"I'm not playing anymore."
"Why not?"
"Because I can't win."
The boy kicked the game machine's base with his hospital slippers.
"I can't even count how many times I've fought this thing. But no matter how hard I try, I always end up getting knocked out."
"…"
"I watched Retro and found the courage to get back up and try again, over and over."
The boy shook his head slightly.
"But not once… not even once did I win."
"…"
"Even when I tried to hold onto hope, even when I took my meds and went through surgery, things only got worse. The treatment failed, the surgery failed, and my efforts failed. I tried my best, but I can't escape this hell."
A long sigh escaped the boy's lips.
"It's always like this. No matter how hard I try, no matter how much I struggle, the world keeps taking things from me. Nothing changes."
"…"
"I'm done. I don't want to live like this anymore."
Scrreeech.
The boy pushed his chair back and stood up from the game machine.
"Game over."
He declared, ready to turn away from the machine.
But then.
"Kid."
The man suddenly spoke.
"Do you think this world is unfair?"
The boy paused for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes."
"Do you think life is just suffering, even after you've overcome the hardest parts?"
"…Yes."
The man smiled faintly.
"I used to think so too."
"What?"
"This world… I used to think it was a hell where only an iron man could survive, a place full of nothing but pain."
Hell.
Iron man.
The boy mulled over the man's words, his head tilting in confusion.
"You used to think that… does that mean your perspective changed?"
"A little."
The man smiled faintly, reminiscing about his past.
"I used to think that one failure meant it was over… But even when I hit rock bottom, there was someone who reached out to me."
"…"
"Life may be a hell full of suffering, but there are moments, rare but real, where beauty blooms like wildflowers."
The man gestured toward the boy.
"You've had people like that, and moments like that, haven't you?"
"…"
The boy didn't answer right away, but he didn't deny it either.
Standing in front of the boy, the man slowly stood up straight.
"I won't say this world isn't hell. I won't say the world doesn't demand you to be an iron man. But."
The man looked the boy straight in the eyes.
"This world is a far more beautiful hell than you think."
"…"
"And even for people like us, who are far from iron men and full of failures… as long as we don't give up, there's always a chance."
The boy growled softly.
"What are you trying to say?"
"…"
"What did you come here to tell me?"
The boy's voice was tinged with frustration.
"You don't know how hard it is for me, and you're not going to live my life for me! You're not going to take my treatments, my surgeries, throw up in my place, or cry in my place! So what good is your empty consolation…!"
"RetroAddict wanted me to tell you something."
The boy's eyes widened in shock.
The man smiled gently.
"He wanted to tell you to hang in there. That he's rooting for you."
"…"
"And to cheer you on, he cleared the hardest game in the world while you were asleep."
741 game overs.
And a three-year journey.
The man recalled it all.
"Do you know why he did that?"
"…No."
"Because you saved him from hell."
The boy froze.
The man spoke with conviction.
"You reached out to him, introduced yourself, when he was isolated and dying in his own personal hell."
In this hellish world, all that ordinary people who aren't iron men can do is reach out to one another.
And sometimes, that's enough.
The man believed that.
"I know. It's irresponsible. We can't live your life for you. We struggle just to face our own personal hells. We're barely managing to endure the hardest games we've ever faced."
"…"
"But just like you gained courage from that friend."
With all his sincerity,
"That friend gained courage from you."
Hoping that even a little bit of this would reach him.
"We want you to live."
The man said.
"We want you to keep challenging your life, keep trying to conquer your world, and not give up."
"…"
The boy bit his lip.
The man continued.
"Life will still be hard for you. Treatment will still be tough, and continuing to live will still be painful. Even if you overcome one challenge, unimaginable difficulties will keep coming."
"…"
"But still, just one more time. Just one last time."
The man reached into his pocket, pulling something out…
He flicked his fingers and tossed it to the boy.
"Fight again."
The boy caught the object out of reflex.
What the man had thrown him… was an old coin.
As the boy stared down at the coin in his hand, the man smiled warmly.
"It's your choice."
The man turned around.
Then, striding away, he left the arcade.
"…Wait."
The boy hesitated, then shouted urgently.
"Hey, mister! Wait a second!"
The man stopped at the arcade's entrance.
The boy called out to him, his voice trembling.
"How do I repay you for this coin?"
The man chuckled softly,
Then slowly turned around.
"You're not the one who needs to pay it back."
He pointed a finger at the boy.
Then, he raised his thumb, pointing it at himself.
"I'm the one who paid it back."
Leaving the boy with words he couldn't quite understand,
The man opened the arcade door and vanished outside.
"…"
Standing there, the boy stared at the entrance where the man had disappeared for a long time.
Finally… he slowly turned around.
— CONTINUE?
The same old phrase still flickered on the screen, on that infuriating game machine.
The boy walked over to it and plopped back into the seat.
He stared silently at the coin in his hand.
"…One more time."
With the coin clutched in his fist,
"Just one last time."
— Insert A Coin
The boy pushed the coin into the machine's slot.
Clink…
As the coin clattered down, the number that had been so close to 0 suddenly shot back up. A new phrase flashed across the static-filled screen in bright, clear letters.
— Here Comes A New Challenger!
— Get Ready For The Next STAGE
A new challenger has appeared.
Prepare for the next stage.
"…Phew."
Taking a deep breath,
Opening his eyes wide,
The boy's small, dry hand gripped the game's joystick…
— PRESS START
And he pressed the start button with all his might.
Chapter 815
Click.
The stream went live.
The camera shook slightly before settling on the man seated in his gaming chair.
"Goha~"
He waved at the camera with a cheerful smile.
As the notification for the live stream popped up, viewers started flooding the chat with messages.
— Goha~
— Hey, Retro!
— Feels like it's been a while, haha.
— It's because it has been a while, lol.
— Is this your first stream since getting out of the hospital?
— Looks like it…
— How was hospital food? You look even more puffy than usual.
RetroAddict scratched his messy hair with a wry smile.
"Yeah, so I kinda collapsed during the last stream… got rushed to the ER and ended up staying in the hospital for a few days to get some rest. Fired up the stream as soon as I got home from being discharged."
— I was watching that live, scared the crap outta me; you just suddenly keeled over.
— For real, Retro legit passed out, lmao.
— Guess clearing Protect the Empire was too much of a thrill…
— Clearing the Ironman mode of that nightmare is totally worth it, though.
— The news even covered your clear on international gaming forums, dude.
— But in Korea, the headline was about you fainting, lmao.
— You were streaming for, like, an entire day at the end there. No wonder you conked out.
— LOL, 10k viewers for the clear, 50k viewers for the ambulance, legendary.
As they discussed the day he collapsed, RetroAddict looked pretty embarrassed.
"Man, yeah, everything started spinning all of a sudden, and I just blacked out. But hey, thanks to you guys for calling 911. Lucky my manager knew my address too…"
— So basically, we saved your life.
— How about thanking us with some ice cream?
— The good side of streaming, LOL.
— But like, you wouldn't have collapsed from overwork if you hadn't been streaming in the first place…
— Shh! Don't bring that up!
— Can't even joke that streaming is more important than your health now…
— Old and fragile RetroAddict, smh.
— Retro, man~ you gotta take care of yourself from now on, okay?
And then,
Ding!
The notification sound played, and the first donation message of the day popped up.
['BlackBox' donated 10,000 won!]
— What did you eat in the hospital? I'm asking for the third time.
"Thanks for the ten bucks… But why are you all so curious about what I ate?"
— Food is serious business, LOL.
— This country is obsessed with food, hahaha.
— Seriously though, what did you eat? (4th attempt)
— (5th attempt)
— (6th attempt)
— (741st attempt)
"Okay, okay, chill! No need to go up to the 742nd attempt. I figured you'd ask, so I took pictures of everything."
— Haha, now he knows to take photos before we even ask.
— 'As expected of Retro.'
— Honestly, taking pics before eating is just common courtesy at this point.
— For real, lol.
— Seriously, if you don't, we'll unsubscribe, no cap.
RetroAddict started showing the pictures of his hospital meals on the stream.
The viewers recoiled at the sight of the bland, healthy hospital food, but RetroAddict just waved his hands dismissively.
"Honestly, I thought it was pretty good! The food was lightly seasoned, which I liked. If the hospital were closer, I'd want to eat there every day. You guys really underestimate hospital food—it's actually healthy and tasty."
— Okay, boomer.
— I'm a boomer too, but that's too much…
— 'Mom! Bring me some real kimchi!!!'
— Real Koreans should eat spicy and salty food, tsk tsk.
The silly conversation about hospital food soon led to RetroAddict sharing stories about his time in the hospital.
Since there was a chance he might have had a serious health issue, RetroAddict had stayed in the hospital for almost a week, undergoing thorough examinations and resting.
He talked about the scary tests he had to go through, the shady vendors selling alcohol and cigarettes at the hospital's convenience store, the power struggle between "King of the Patients," Mr. Park, and "Queen of the Ward," Mrs. Hong, and their epic showdown…
RetroAddict shared these stories in detail, and then suddenly clapped his hands.
"Oh, right! And something super weird happened too."
— Here we go, Retro's overreacting to something minor.
— Retro's nonchalant stories are the ones that are actually insane.
— But seriously, what happened between Mr. Park and Mrs. Hong?
— Yeah, who became the new ruler of the ward in the end?
"No, guys, this is no overreaction. This was actually the most bizarre thing that's ever happened to me."
— Something crazier than the ward's royal rumble…?
— Hmm… intriguing.
— Okay, let's hear it.
— This better be good, or I'm unsubscribing, lol.
RetroAddict took a deep breath.
Then, in a more serious tone, he slowly began.
"A woman suddenly appeared in my hospital room!"
— Already boring;
— Skipping ahead.
— Alright, thanks for the story, it was fun~
— Lemme guess, it's just a fan who tracked you down.
— 'I'm a fan! Let's hang out!'
— Classic stalker meetup, LOL.
"No, no, I'm serious! She said she was a fan and everything!"
— ?
— Really?
— What's going on?
— But how did she even find out which hospital you were at?
— Sounds like stalking…
Viewers started to worry that RetroAddict might have been stalked by a crazed fan.
But what he said next was even stranger.
"She just appeared in my room out of nowhere! Or did she even enter? Suddenly, she was just there! She said she came to this world just to see me!"
— ?
— ??
— ???
"And she was foreign! She had this super unique style—pink hair, tanned skin… She said she wanted to take care of me!"
—…?
— ?????
— What is he talking about now?
The chat was flooded with question marks.
But RetroAddict kept going, completely serious.
"She even said she wanted to take care of me for the rest of my life! She practically clung to me… I was so shocked!"
— ㅡㅡ
— Ugh… ;
— So… some pink-haired tanned girl showed up… and said she liked you?
— ~Sounds like an anime plot, anyone got a recommendation?
— That's your type, huh, Professor…
"No, I'm not making this up! I'm telling you the 100% truth!"
RetroAddict was clearly frustrated, but the chat was already losing patience.
— This weeb… I can't believe I actually worried about him for a second.
— Dude, are you sure you weren't just hallucinating?
— Did you forget to take your meds or take too much?
— The way you collapsed, you probably messed up your head.
— Looks like it's time for another hospital visit.
Ding!
More donations rolled in.
['BadGameSommelier' donated 10,000 won!]
— I think you've played so many bad games you've finally lost it;;;
['SuDonManPer' donated 100,000 won!]
— Hey, Mr. Ko, stop talking nonsense and play that game I sent you.
['NoFunStreamMakesMeBark' donated 10,000 won!]
— Woof woof grrr woof woof hyaaaargh!!!!!
"I'm telling you, it's true! A pink-haired, tanned woman just appeared out of nowhere and said all that… I'm only speaking facts…"
Retro's eyes started to tear up. He seemed genuinely upset.
"But who am I kidding? I'm RetroAddict, a lifelong bachelor. There's no way a woman would be that into me. I figured she was just trying to scam me and steal my kidneys, so I kicked her out."
— At least you've got some common sense left.
— Pretty sure it was just a weird dream…
— We're really grateful you're streaming even though you're this sick…
— Poor Retro, all alone for so long that he's losing it.
— Okay, I got it, I'll dress up with pink hair and a tan at the next fan meeting, alright?
— Pink Hair Gang, assemble!
Seeing that no one believed his story and the atmosphere was getting cold, RetroAddict gave up on trying to explain.
'Maybe I really was just seeing things… '
Honestly, it was such a ridiculous story that even he found it hard to believe.
Maybe it was just his imagination, but ever since then, he kept catching glimpses of pink hair in the corners of his vision… But yeah, it must just be a trick of the mind…
After that, RetroAddict and the viewers discussed the Protect the Empire stream.
Even though RetroAddict fainted at the end, he had been the first person in the world to clear the impossible difficulty mode since the game's release. It was something worth celebrating.
The stream turned into a belated review of the months-long challenge. RetroAddict started going through his old videos on his channel, reminiscing about the long journey.
From Empire 1 to Empire 742.
The battle-scarred path he had taken was all recorded there.
As RetroAddict was going down memory lane, a donation notification popped up.
Ding!
['MissionFairy' donated 10,000 won!]
— So, are you really going to donate all your stream earnings to the Children's Cancer Foundation?
This was something he had announced when he posted an update to the community after his hospital stay.
He had promised to donate all the earnings from his Protect the Empire streams to the Children's Cancer Foundation. He had even signed a pledge to that effect half a year ago.
RetroAddict nodded firmly.
"Yep. I'm going to donate everything as soon as this month's earnings are calculated."
The viewers seemed a bit taken aback.
— It's a good cause, but why all of a sudden…?
— Hey, Mr. Ko, why not use that money to buy yourself some clothes?
— Seriously, LOL. All you ever wear is a hoodie and shorts or a T-shirt and jeans.
— There are other things you need besides clothes, right?
— We gave you that money to splurge on yourself!!!
— We donated so you could afford to eat something other than instant noodles!
"Hey, I have other income streams besides donations. Don't worry about me."
— We're not worried about you; we're worried about how you're spending our money, lol.
— For real, LOL.
— For real, LOLLLLL.
"You gave me the money to use as I see fit, right? So I'm using it the way I want."
RetroAddict didn't explain why he had decided to donate to the Children's Cancer Foundation.
"I'll explain why I decided to donate… another time."
The viewers sensed his reluctance to talk about it and didn't press further.
"…"
RetroAddict bit his lip, his expression turning bitter.
Before starting the final Protect the Empire stream,
He had received a text from the child's parents.
They said they would let their child go in the next 24 hours. They would contact him again after setting up the funeral.
But after RetroAddict fainted at the end of the final stream and woke up a few days later, there was no word from the parents.
There were a few missed calls in his call history, but RetroAddict was too scared to return them.
If the child had passed away, the funeral would have been over by now, and he didn't want to reopen the parents' wounds.
Perhaps this donation was just a way to cope with the regret of not being able to send his message to the child in time.
'I knew it from the start.'
RetroAddict's blurry eyes stared at the light from the monitor in front of him.
'Beating a game wasn't going to make a miracle happen. That kid was never going to wake up just because I did.'
He knew that.
He had just done what he could.
The way he and the child had communicated was through game streams. He was the streamer, and the child was the viewer.
It might seem silly to others, but this was how the two of them were connected.
"…"
RetroAddict clenched his fist.
But.
Even if it was too late.
Even if he didn't say the words in time, even if he couldn't see the child off properly…
He still needed to convey his feelings.
RetroAddict squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them wide.
"Hey, guys, hang on a second."
With his resolve renewed, RetroAddict grabbed his phone and stood up.
"There's someone I need to contact real quick."
He started scrolling through his contacts to find the child's parents' names.
At that moment.
— Hey, Retro!
Among the flood of messages in the chat,
One line stood out, catching RetroAddict's eye.
— Long time no see, Retro!
"…"
RetroAddict rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand.
He thought he was seeing things.
But he wasn't.
— I heard you were in the hospital? Are you feeling better?
— My surgery was a success! LOL, I did sleep for a while, but I'm recovering just fine now!
— While I was out, you cleared Protect the Empire on Ironman? That's amazing!
"…"
RetroAddict stared at the chat in disbelief.
Another message from the child appeared.
— Oh right, now I have to donate for you to see my messages. Hold on!
"No."
RetroAddict's voice trembled.
"You don't have to donate. I can see it."
Tears welled up in his eyes.
"Thank you."
Wiping away his tears hastily, RetroAddict spoke in a choked voice.
"Thank you for coming back…"
He couldn't hold it in anymore and started sobbing.
He sat back down in his chair, covering his flushed face, and cried for a long time. The viewers, bewildered, tried to comfort him.
— What's going on? Why's Retro crying???
— Why'd he start crying all of a sudden?
— Sorry, we were just messing around; we won't tease you anymore!
— Should we clip this? Or will it get taken down?
— The man's crying, hurry up and donate!!!
— Hey, Mr. Ko, blow your nose, it's not a good look!
In front of his shocked and concerned viewers, RetroAddict wept openly.
This was just a coincidence.
There was no connection between him clearing the hardest game in the world and the child finding the will to fight for life again.
But at the moment when a wish he had given up on was fulfilled,
He felt more grateful than ever that he had chosen to become a game streamer.
"Thank you for staying alive."
He wiped his tear-streaked face with his sleeve and smiled.
"Thank you for coming back to watch my stream."
He couldn't see the child's face.
All he could see was the flood of messages in the chat. He couldn't physically reach the person on the other side.
But still, in this moment,
He felt that connection clearly.
"Thank you. Really…"
RetroAddict beamed through his tears.
And perhaps, on the other side of the screen…
The child was smiling back just as brightly.