Return (10)

“Seohyun. Welcome…!”

I heard Yeriel’s voice after a long time.

However, unlike before, it was tinged with urgency and impatience.

When I looked around, there was so much dust in the temple that even the dark blue blood had faded.

Yeriel was still imprisoned and hanging on the throne.

“Yeriel. Are you okay…?”

“Yes. It’s okay if I’m with Seohyun…”

Contrary to what he said, I felt sorry for his helpless, limp appearance.

A whole year. This is the period of time she was imprisoned.

Since I had endured alone in an empty space, it was natural for my patience to run out and my mind to wear out.

I knew that my meeting with Yeriel would not last long, so I quickly got to the point before I woke up.

“I even took down Makiella. Now, all of the Four Great Blades have been subdued and the road to the Demon World has been opened.”

“Really…?”

“Now only the Demon King remains. If we capture the Demon King’s Castle, the road to Andrei Snow Mountain will be opened.”

The plan is to defeat the Demon King and then immediately head to Andrei Snow Mountain to rescue Yeriel.

Yeriel’s eyes lit up at my words.

“One month from now. Please wait one month. “I will definitely save you.”

“Yes… ! “I will only trust Seohyun… “

If there is good news, there is also bad news.

Yeriel, who was happy for a moment at my words, immediately darkened his face.

“But a problem arose while Seohyun was away.”

“What…?”

“The system is starting to break down again.”

At her words, I quickly looked towards the back of the temple.

A gem that was just a crack before.

Now the crack has become deep enough to invade the center.

It wouldn’t collapse right away, but it looked quite dangerous.

“As before, gold grew at certain moments. But the cause has not yet been found.”

“What on earth is the problem?”

The collapse of the system is virtually the same as the destruction of the world.

Everyone will die except me, Erina, and the goddess.

I will lose everything, from my precious colleagues to the relationships that helped me.

I thought I was in a hurry enough so far, but do I need to move even more hastily?

However, even if we reach heaven, it is useless unless we can find out the cause.

‘Does Erina know the cause?’

She is clearly aware of the existence of the system.

Also, there is a suspicion that even the status window is being manipulated.

I’m guessing that Erina may be using some of the system’s power.

It was said that even the goddess could not handle all of the power of the system, so it was unknown to what extent Erina could use her power.

‘…Wait a minute.’

Now that I think about it, there was one problem.

Even though Erina knew how to use the power of the system, why did she keep the goddess alive?

“Yeriel. “I have one question to ask.”

“Yes. Please ask me anything.”

“You have been imprisoned in Heaven for the past year. “Without food or water.”

Then Yeriel nodded with an expression that seemed obvious.

“Yes. “I can live forever because I am dependent on the system.”

There is pain from hunger and thirst, but there is no death. In other words, it means that it is an immortal being.

That is why I have been able to survive even though I was imprisoned in heaven.

Of course, there was no way Erina didn’t know this.

Then maybe Erina’s purpose is.

“Yeriel. If you… If I kill him with my own hands… “

“Yes…?”

“Then won’t I become immortal by absorbing your power…?”

Immediately Yeriel’s expression became one of astonishment.

So far, I have defeated the snow maiden and used ice magic.

After defeating Ragnar and Katrin, he learned necromancy and black flame magic.

Just as you can absorb power by defeating a specific named boss.

If I kill Yeriel, I will be able to absorb her power.

In that case, it makes perfect sense that I would also become immortal.

Yeriel must have been shocked by my words, and her pupils began to tremble.

“That’s right… That’s right…! My ability is the power that governs the system. “Whoever defeats me will absorb my power.”

“That means you gain the power to manipulate the system and become immortal at the same time, right?”

“Yes. It’s clear. Erina loves Seohyun…!”

Trick me into killing the goddess and then make me immortal.

And.

“If the system collapses in that state.”

“Ah…!”

“Then only me and Erina will survive.”

A world where all living things except me and Erina have died.

It was the ideal that Erina hoped for, but it was the worst ending for me.

“Does Erina really want this kind of ending?”

“I don’t know yet. But there is plenty of possibility.”

I’m still not sure if this is the ending Erina wants.

No matter how hostile Erina is to others, would she be this cruel?

I didn’t want to believe it, but her actions up until now had passed me by like a flash of light.

“There is a lot of potential.”

“You must be prepared. If we’re not careful, Erina might destroy the world…!”

So, is Erina the culprit behind the system collapsing?

Although there was no confirmation, all speculations were pointing to Erina.

“Don’t worry too much. “I will never do anything to harm you.”

“Yes. I trust Seohyun…”

Even as I comforted Yeriel, who was trembling in fear, my heart was heavy.

If I hadn’t been able to contact Yeriel.

I might have been deceived by Erina’s words and ended up killing her.

Fortunately, I didn’t think about the revelation, so it was a disaster.

I was led by Erina’s hand and almost committed a crime.

After the story ended like that, Yeriel slowly approached me.

Of course, I couldn’t move properly because I was chained, and I also knew that I was an illusion.

He slowly approached me and looked at my face.

“Seohyun. “If you save me, I want to continue to be with you in the future…”

Yeriel suddenly said that to me.

I couldn’t understand why he had affection for me, but I could tell that Yeriel’s words were sincere.

“…Yeriel. “I don’t want to be separated from Erina.”

“Yes. I am prepared. I can’t forget what she did to me… “I want to stay by Seohyun’s side.”

I hope to live with my comrades after the war is over.

Among them, it would be good if Yeriel joins.

Thanks to Yeriel, I learned about Erina’s plot and was able to grow until now.

I was able to meet a trustworthy colleague and lover named Kayla.

So, if only Yeriel could stay with Erina.

Wouldn’t it be okay for me to embrace her too?

“Yeriel. “I have one favor to ask.”

“Yes. “I’m listening.”

“The day I meet Erina again. Yeriel, can you reach out your hand first?”

Then Yeriel nodded without hesitation.

I accepted it naturally as if it was something I already had to do.

“Yes. “I will forgive Erina for Seohyun’s sake.”

“Sorry. “It’s too much to ask.”

“No. Just… It’s okay as long as I have faith that I can be with Seohyun.”

A person who puts himself on the brink of death, imprisons him for a year, and may destroy this world.

They say they will forgive just because of the person I am.

‘Erina, Kayla, Tyria and Yeriel.’

In fact, all of my colleagues except Celica have affection for me.

Even though I didn’t intend to, my clothes became strangely overflowing.

“I’m sorry, Seohyun… I don’t think it will be difficult to talk any more… “

A much shorter time than before. Is it because Yeriel’s energy is gradually decreasing?

The meeting, which had lasted at least an hour, was becoming shorter.

“Yeriel. “Don’t worry too much and just wait.”

“Please don’t push yourself too hard. It is dangerous to provoke Erina hastily…”

“Okay. “Don’t worry about me.”

The sunken eyes were gradually losing energy.

I couldn’t stay sane because I had to spend time alone again, away from me.

I closed my eyes, hoping that I would be able to meet Yeriel quickly.

***

“Master…”

Kayla’s voice when you wake up.

As I slowly opened my eyelids, her jet black hair and horns came into view.

Why did Kayla come into my bed?

Of course, Erina was lying on the other side, but there didn’t seem to be a fight.

Otherwise, there would be no way for the two of them to sleep soundly.

By the way, you say ‘Master’ while you are sleeping.

How many times do you follow me and use honorifics even unconsciously?

“Ugh…”

Suddenly, along with the feeling of my arms being tightened, a murmur reached my ears.

Erina was fast asleep with her head resting against my body.

Does this mean that you shouldn’t take your eyes off it even while you sleep?

A close embrace of the arms with soft skin touching.

Even though Erina was clearly a decent woman, she didn’t feel lustful.

We were together for a long time, and because of his usual behavior, he was no different from a child.

‘Is Erina really planning something like that?’

I couldn’t call her a child, because she complained endlessly and clung to me.

Although he showed somewhat impulsive behavior, he was thorough in his discernment of self-interest.

Also, there were many times when I didn’t know what she was thinking.

Is it natural since they dragged me into this world in the first place and pretended not to notice?

“Erina.”

“…”

I wanted to reveal the whole truth to her right away.

Why did you deceive me, why did you drag me into this world?

And what will you do when you reach the ending?

Of course, the questions couldn’t be said out loud and just lingered in my head.

Meanwhile,

“Ugh…”

A sudden sound of someone talking in their sleep.

It was definitely not Kayla and Erina’s voice.

If you think something is strange, raise your body slightly and look around.

“Tyria. Celica…”

Tyria and Celica were lying side by side next to Kayla.

Why did they come up to my bed even though they obviously had their own beds?

I thought it would be nice to be able to sleep in a big bed for the first time in a long time, but it doesn’t mean anything.

At least Tyria confessed that she liked me, so I was able to get over it.

‘Why is Celica…’

I guess it was because I was lonely sleeping alone. I couldn’t understand it, but I decided to move on.