We glared at the palette monster that had absorbed the monsters chasing us with its brush.

Because we have to know how to respond to whatever they do.

In game terms, you could say we were observing its patterns.

As the palette monster waved its brush, a black slash flew out.

“Dodge!”

We scattered in all directions, avoiding the attack.

And with the ensuing attacks, we couldn’t regroup.

“If they keeping do this, we won’t be able to approach!”

In fact, even approaching it is a problem.

There was no clear way to defeat that giant.

Okay, let’s think about it slowly.

It was said to be weak to light.

If we attack with proper light, not just a phone light, we should be able to win.

Light… how do we get it?

Do we have to devise a strategy to generate divine power again?

“…Wait, that thing ran out of paint.”

The slashes stopped flying, so when I looked back at the monster, the black paint on its brush was indeed gone.

It wouldn’t be able to generate slashes anymore.

But then, it took green, red, and blue from the palette on its head and combined them to make black again.

Black could also be made by layering colors.

And in this process, I noticed one thing.

It absolutely had to combine black to attack.

“Here it comes again!”

As the black slashes flew at us again, making us lose our senses, I tripped over something and fell.

“Ugh!”

What did I trip on?

Looking at my feet, there was a flashlight.

This is… light!

I hurriedly turned on the flashlight and shone it at the monster.

Green light emanated from the flashlight.

However, the monster seemed completely unaffected.

Instead, the attacks flew even more fiercely.

It doesn’t work.

Why? This is definitely light too!

“Calm down. It’s a quiz! There must be a hint!”

Suho’s words helped me regain my composure.

The slashes stopped again for a moment.

Because the black paint had run out, and the monster was combining colors again.

…Why does it have to be black?

Pondering that, one possibility arose.

Considering that the previous floors constantly emphasized evil, if light opposite to black, which is used to represent evil, is needed, then perhaps white light is necessary.

No, this must be it!

“Everyone, find flashlights!”

At my shout, everyone reacted, dodging slashes and searching for flashlights.

As a result, Eun-jeong and Kyeong-min each succeeded in finding one flashlight!

Red, green, blue.

Those flashlights each had their respective colors.

“Now, let’s all gather the light!”

We gathered the light from the flashlights into one.

That palette monster mixed green, red, and blue paints to make black.

But not everything turns black when mixed.

Because the more colors you add with light, the closer it gets to its original white color.

When we shone the white light, the monster writhed in pain.

Then, finally, the monster crumbled and disappeared.

“…What did this mean?”

It is presumed that some message was hidden in this gimmick as well.

The first was about the sin against characters in a creative work.

The second was about an angel not saving fake humans.

The third was about things mixed to become black and things mixed to become white.

What’s next?

“That… We’ll only know once we’ve passed everything… Let’s go down…”

We descended the stairs.

Those stairs were exceptionally long.

Even before we had fully descended the stairs, we could hear voices.

Looking towards the sound, we saw people who looked imposing at first glance, gathered around a table.

Their neat attire and the charisma etched on their faces made them seem like no ordinary people.

The atmosphere was even more tense than when presidents held a world summit.

However, even that charisma couldn’t hide the sense of helplessness etched on their faces.

“Once this plan is over… we won’t have to fight meaningless battles anymore.”

“Yes… Anomalous monsters will disappear completely. And as another original world, we will be saved.”

People comforting each other with such words.

However, one of them stared at us and spoke.

“But… was every single step we took in fighting the anomalous monsters really meaningless?”

After saying that, the illusion scattered and disappeared.

“…”

We continued down the stairs and reached the next floor.

4th Floor

There was one giant apple tree, and beside it, many smaller trees.

A sign said that the owner of the orchard warned not to eat the fruit of knowledge.

We were looking at the single fruit on the giant tree, wondering if that was the fruit of knowledge.

Suddenly, a snake large enough to swallow us all at once appeared.

We immediately became wary.

The snake asks.

“There are truly diverse sins in the world. But do you know which is the greatest among them?”

“That is…”

I looked at the numerous fruits scattered around, and the single fruit presumed to be the fruit of knowledge.

Then I realized that the fruit of knowledge and the scattered fruits looked exactly the same.

It was no different from saying that the type of fruit didn’t matter for a great sin.

The sign clearly said not to eat the fruit of knowledge.

If so… perhaps eating what the orchard owner forbade was a greater wrong.

“You already know without me answering. Greed and jealousy are similar, but in reality, they are more fundamental and the greatest sins.”

With that, the door opened, and we were at the stairs leading to the 5th floor.

It passed by so quickly, I don’t know what was what.

But I came to my senses and went down the stairs again.

The floor we reached was incredibly wide.

Unlike the black world outside, the sky here was quite blue.

“Wait! Are those… all devils?”

However, on one side of the sky, there were black things gathered, and judging by the circumstances, they were tale devils.

Devils with wings, more bizarre and madder than the devils of our world.

Their power reached even here, making my body tremble.

Their numbers were uncountable.

If even one of them found us, we wouldn’t last a moment.

“Hmm… I wondered how far you’d come, but you finally made it here. This wasn’t in the plan.”

We had to walk carefully so as not to be discovered and reach the next staircase, but someone blocked our path.

He was a male devil, smiling like a delinquent.

“Who are you?”

“Ah! Let me introduce myself. I am evil, but part of a greater good. Nice to meet you, little ones. Call me Uncle Mephistopheles.”

We couldn’t help but be surprised when we heard his identity.

And I remembered hearing this voice.

It was the same voice that had given me advice when I fought Freeman’s ink monster.

The being Alice had been searching for so desperately.

“This devil is…”

“Mephistopheles?”

“You’re the one who took Alice!”

I pointed at him and shouted.

He then nodded his head.

“What if I am?”

“What did you do that for? Why did you take Alice!”

“Hmm… I’m just waiting, so I have plenty of time. Well, I can tell you the story.”

He showed unexpected kindness.

Though his attitude was insolent, as if he was just killing time.

He suddenly asked us a question.

“What do you think Alice is?”

What is Alice?

The riddle instinctively brought an idea to my mind. Ideas are often born from various keywords.

The first keyword that came to mind then was “mirror”.

He acted as if he had read my thoughts.

“Yes, it’s a mirror. Think about what to do with this mirror. Oh, you have no idea. That’s understandable.”

This time too, I didn’t answer, but he proceeded with the story as if he had already heard my answer.

“In all worlds, whether known or unknown, angels and devils always exist. In whatever form, that is. The reason is that angels and devils exist in the original world. It is only natural that this derived world, a branch extending from such a world, also has devils and angels.”

“The original world…?”

When I asked back, he kindly answered again.

“Ah, it’s annoying to explain. It’s a sin to have nothing to do. It might sound abstract, but it’s easier to think of it as a novel. Someone writes a novel based on reality. Then a world of primary creation is made. If we broadly group the derived worlds based on the original world into two, it would be like this.”

First derivation.

“However, if another creation is made in the derived world, using their own world as a motif, a second derivation occurs. And then repeating the same thing… If you group them to make it easier to see, it would be like this, wouldn’t it?”

Someone from the original world creates a derived world based on their own world, then another derived world is created, and then another derived world is created based on that.

It continues on and on.

I understood the premise of this story.

“Are you trying to say we are creations?”

“Yes. You’ve heard of metafiction, right?”

“…”

Metafiction.

It refers to a genre where the characters in a creative work realize they are in a creative work.

It’s an absurd story, but it’s a story of such a grand scale that we can’t deny it. We’re speechless.

“Have you ever seen your god?”

No.

In fact, it’s uncertain whether he exists or not.

There are also many people who don’t believe in God.

We believe vaguely that he exists because we’ve seen divine power…

“Yes. God exists. I remember it very clearly. Well, of course, it’s probably the memory of Mephistopheles from the original world, not mine.”

He asserted.

That God exists in the original world.

“Huh? Isn’t that obvious? God only exists in the original world. Well, of course. If God exists in a book, it means he’s a lower being than you, and if the omnipotent being God exists in a lower position, then he’s not God anymore, right?”

“Then the angels…”

“Ah! You must have been curious about that.”

When I asked, he smiled familiarly, like a friend about to play a prank.

It seems like he’s expecting a reaction.

“All the angels in the world, realizing that there is no God, ascended to a higher world. Because there is no real God in a derived world. However, if they continuously ascend, going against the derived worlds, they will eventually reach the original world!”

This world is a creation.

That is why there is no God.

And why angels do not exist in this world.

From their perspective, humans in a creation are not real humans, and there is no reason to stay in a world without God.

“Hahaha! All derived worlds are Limbo. Basically, it’s a hell for those who receive no punishment but cannot meet God. Well, it’s more accurate to say they’re just neglected.”

“…”

I’ve never met a proper angel, but I felt a sense of betrayal.

That sad feeling of being abandoned.

That devil smiled brightly, not knowing our feelings.

I asked a question to indicate that the story shouldn’t be cut off.

“The overlapping of worlds… Isn’t that reducing the number?”

The current overlapping phenomenon.

If there are so many derived worlds, the number will increase endlessly.

If the phenomenon of overlapping condenses them into one to reduce the number, why do such a thing?

Besides, the degree of overlap was different each time we descended through the Gates of Hell.

Relatively, the upper worlds had more overlap, and the lower you went, the more severe the overlap.

“My, my. You’re sharp. I did create you with that setting, but I’m not the creator, and I can’t create derived worlds myself, so you surprise me.”

“…”

He’s casually saying something incredible.

If we are derived worlds, does that mean the being who created us in the upper world is that thing?

But he is not God, so he cannot be called a creator.

That devil is neither omnipotent nor omniscient.

Despite my confused heart, his story continued.

“Angels went to find God, but we were left behind. Because devils couldn’t ascend like angels. But there was one thing only devils could do.”

If angels head to heaven…

Where do devils head?

“-If they head to heaven, devils just have to go to hell!”

From a certain point, the overlapping phenomenon reduces the number.

And finally, if all worlds are reduced to one in the last derived world…

…Symmetry.

“Mirror!”

Hearing Mephistopheles’ absurd plan, I instinctively uttered the word.

Devils cannot find God by ascending like angels.

Instead, they descend to the end of the world through the Gates of Hell and create a symmetrical structure with the original world.

Like a mirror!

By doing so, they can reflect God of the original world as a mirror and enjoy his glory.

A crazy idea to live in a world reflected in a mirror, even if you can’t meet God.

This was his plan.

“Projecting God onto the mirror called Alice. If so, even if it’s not the original, by accepting his image, this world can become another original world.”

“But that…! Did Alice want that?”

“Yes!”

That devil lied calmly.

“Lies!”

“What if it’s a lie? It’s a good story for you, isn’t it? The head of the Institution didn’t like it, saying it was a matter that hadn’t been agreed upon. However, knowing that the singularity was coming, they eventually accepted this plan.”

“That’s…”

“Just as all stories come to an end, the identity of the singularity is the end of the story. Just as dreams end, games have endings, and novels have final chapters. The singularity comes. But if we can borrow the glory of the projected God… If we can be in another original world, can’t the Institution, and you, continue your stories? Hahaha! Humans don’t change; they always dream of an eternal kingdom!”

Original sin.

That word crossed my mind.

The sin that derived creations possess.

Unable to receive God’s care from below, they eventually disappear when the book is closed.

That was the identity of the singularity.

And why the Gates of Hell judged our search for Alice as evil.

“The Institution has every reason to. The monsters they’ve been dealing with so tirelessly are beings that deviate from the rules, not created by God. They are the materialization of unstable possibilities unique to derived worlds. They’ve fought hard to stop them, but in the end, they are fated to perish when the story ends. Truly pitiful. I am showing love to such beings.”

Mephistopheles seemed to be saying this to us.

That it is evil for us to go meet Alice.

Despite that, I said.

“…We have to go meet Alice.”

“Hmm! That sounds to me like you’re telling me that you want to mess things up for your own greed instead of just waiting for her to finish hesitating. Am I right?”

“…”

I didn’t answer.

Then Mephistopheles slightly erased his smile and began to move.

“That too is evil. All evil converges into one. You might be able to reach Alice. It’s good to kill time, but trying to pass me to get to Alice might be difficult.”

Tension filled everyone’s faces.

We had no plausible means to defeat that devil.

Alice wasn’t here, and this time, there was no gimmick to break through the crisis.

“A derived world is evil.”

As he said that, he pointed his finger towards the sky.

“Humans are not only beings who suffer, but ultimately beings who achieve greater good and are saved by God. But no matter how you cook and boil humans in a book, no sanctions are imposed. In other words, whatever end you meet, the being called God will not save you. Because you are fake humans modeled after the original!”

A story always ends.

I remembered killing the characters in the story on the first floor. I thought it was okay to kill them because it was just a story.

But now that I’m in the same position, fear began to creep in.

“So, you can’t complain whatever end you meet. Yeah… like this.”

Mephistopheles summoned all the tale devils that had been floating in the sky.

They were all, without exception, filled with anger, sadness, and ridicule from their tragic endings, each swept up in their own madness, approaching us.

The sky is filled with black things.

“Is there any reason why you guys must have a good ending? If you can answer that… then follow me.”

“Wait…! Hold on. I said, wait!”

He disappeared just like that.

Teleportation.

The stairs were too far away, and it was uncertain if we could reach them before the tale devils reached us.

We threw away even the bags we were carrying and ran with all our might, using all the strength we had.

Too far. At least if the tools were intact!

“No…”

The shadows of the tale devils completely enveloped us, and as we fell into despair.

Was this the ending of our story?

If we are really humans in a creation, can we not complain even if we end with such an unhappy ending?

Despair wells up.

If God existed, he would save humans who try.

But in our world, there is no God.

Are the things we’ve built up so far so vain?

…I was so sad that I couldn’t even cry.

…

“Don’t give up!”

Jack’s voice was heard.

A giant beanstalk sprouted from the ground, blocking the tale devils.

One by one, the devils of our world’s story appeared.

Jack, Pinocchio, Ariel, Peter Pan, Little Red Riding Hood.

They protected us, driving away the numerous tale devils.

“A tale devil isn’t just an evil being.”

“Uncle Peter!”

“It’s quite wide. It took some time. We’re five, and those guys are hundreds. Honestly, we can’t win.”

Pinocchio said coolly.

However, Little Red Riding Hood smiled brightly and continued.

“Not all stories have a good ending. That’s true. Those tale devils are proof of that. But we are the footprints of Alice’s adventure…! We will become the plausibility of an ideal ending, so go quickly!”

Ariel swings her trident and shouts.

“What are you worried about when the dragon is watching you? So hurry up and go!”

“We’ll block this place so they don’t follow you! Now go!”

Everyone is fighting for us.

Despite being outnumbered, for our sake.

Hope welled up in my heart.

Seeing that, an answer to the question Mephistopheles posed came to my mind.

I ran towards the stairs with the club members.

Mephistopheles!

As always, if you spot any mistakes, feel free to let me know—and I hope you enjoyed the read!

—Chi