There is no way. No matter how long I struggled, I was eventually dragged to the brink. All the years piled up were nothing but traces of failure—enough to crush even the strongest person under their weight, suffocating them to death.

Everything was stolen. The only thing left in Seong Hyunjae’s hands was himself—and even that he was about to lose. He had even missed the final escape, death, before regression. He still felt anxious.

Yet he chose to live.

“I cherish all who live.”

Seong Hyunjae, standing beside me, spoke.

“Those who find and walk their own path hold value, great or small. And I favor those who never yield.”

“Like Director Song?”

“Outwardly upright, but inwardly even more fierce. He loves another’s life as though it were his own death. How could I not love him?”

His slanted eyes turned toward me.

“Han Yujin also caught my eye. He lacked something then, but now he seems to have found his life. However—”

Even if it is one’s own life and death:

“The subject is myself. Even if Song Taewon returned, pleading, I would not abandon myself to crush me and claim a place not my own. He might offer a drink, though.”

That is Seong Hyunjae—and that was why I could not understand him.

His single golden eye slowly closed and opened again. The present Seong Hyunjae still wore a smile. Light from the window seemed to gather around him, dust motes glittering like seeds of sunshine.

These were Seong Hyunjae’s memories. In those memories, he shone brightly. The feelings he had before regression were conveyed to me intact.

Beautiful.

Not in appearance, but his very being. A person who, at the end of a broken path, seeks to take another step.

“Indeed... so it is.”

A dry voice flowed out.

“If I were another, no matter how my heart was shaken, I would have put myself first.”

“I am not you, yet at the same time I am you.”

One who fiercely chose to live. The perfect ideal in Seong Hyunjae’s eyes. It was an irresistible, cruel temptation.

His lone hand reached out. As if conceding defeat, he offered his palm and bowed slightly.

“And so I—”

As though a curtain fell, the illusion vanished.

“Stand here.”

In the center of the vast hall, Seong Hyunjae turned to face me.

“Has that answered you?”

“...Yes. More than enough.”

He had no choice but to leave his own time and come here. He exhaled lightly.

“Well, in the end it is love.”

“In love, the one who falls is the loser. As with Han Yujin.”

“I, too, fell for my brother first. What else could I do when it felt so right?”

I never imagined Seong Hyunjae would throw himself away for an emotional reason. It must have been possible only because it was for himself. Still, I felt the distance between us narrow.

“So, Han Yujin, what proposal will you make? A simple glass of juice?”

“Please, no oranges.”

Seong Hyunjae stepped forward. I followed almost in step.

“As you know, deliberately losing is impossible. Depending on the game, a draw might be close—but beyond that, no.”

“There’s no need. I only ask that Seong Hyunjae participate sincerely in the wager.”

What matters is what happens after the result. My game truly begins at that moment.

—Kyaa-ong.

Peace, lying at my feet, stretched his forepaw. He yawned wide, then pressed his cheek against my leg. A gentle breeze stirred his fur and my hair. Under bright sunshine, the canopy cast shade; a comfortable chair cradled me, and the table brimmed with drinks and snacks.

“You must ride the wind currents well.”

Noah spread his golden wings and explained to Yerim.

“Even if you fly using mana rather than wings, you still face air resistance. Blue has a Skill to reduce drag, so he’s faster.”

“Couldn’t we mimic that? Block the wind with water—oops, ah, cold!”

Yerim had erected a water shield to speed up, but lost control and crashed headfirst into the water mass. Beyond, I saw Yuhyun, Riette, and young Chaos. Chaos was handling both of them at once—no Skills, minimal mana use.

At first, Yuhyun and Riette stumbled, even struck each other, but soon found their rhythm. It seemed they might overwhelm young Chaos—

“You charge in too headlong.”

In a flash, Chaos was behind Riette, grabbed her nape, and flipped her. Splash—water flew. Yuhyun had braced to defend, but Chaos’s whip found a gap and snapped her waist.

“Already you’ve let the Sovereign’s Blade hone into you. Rapid-strike is good for defense, but don’t overuse it.”

“Ugh, yes.”

“Relying on weapons always creates more openings.”

“I’ve stopped using weapons lately!”

Riette shouted as she sprang from the river.

“So you’ll just rely on your body.”

“It’s sturdy, though~.”

“Those with thick scales have that problem.”

Chaos, a swordmaster who’d battled many foes over the years, pointed out. A brief but instructive session. I wasn’t idle either.

[That’s right, Honey. Ninety percent of the system is nearly automatic. That’s why Honey and Chain can handle it well.]

“So it’s the difference between administrator and maker. Anyone with enough mana application can manage, but making or fixing it is impossible.”

Multiple system windows appeared around me. The volleyball, instead of nodding, bounced happily.

[There are many who can use computers in Honey’s world. But far fewer who can build them. The program and even the components are all made—by us.]

“So right now, you’re the only maker, Newbie?”

[Among awakened Transcendents, yes. The Blacksmith will soon be able too!]

The Newbie darted toward Myungwoo. Myungwoo, preparing lunch, waved a hand as if annoyed—but not unhappily. They seemed to have grown close.

[The Dragon Lord left, saying ‘A Newbie has come, so I’ll retire!’ Lately makers don’t appear much. Transcendents appear more than before, but makers... I thought I’d be Newbie forever!]

It was the difference between natural growth and being born from one’s own world. During rest, I learned as much from Newbie as I could. There were things Newbie said I shouldn’t know, but I gleaned most of what I wanted.

[I think it’d be fine if Honey came to our side.]

The Newbie whispered softly.

[If Honey’s brother and others become Transcendents, we could all be together.]

“They might, but it’s me who’s the problem.”

[Oh, of course. If there were a way, you’d come?]

“Well. I’m not keen.”

For an F-Rank stat to join Transcendents would be unusual—and I disliked what the Filial Addicts did. I’d rather let a few makers handle creation and have no administrators. Newbie drooped at my words.

[I thought so. Besides... exactly.]

“My position is awkward. But you like it here, don’t you?”

I reached out and patted the volleyball. Newbie formed a broad smile.

[I’d like it to stay this way!]

“So would I.”

But if things end as I plan, it’ll be hard to meet Newbie again. That saddened me most. Couldn’t Newbie just quit being a Transcendent and come to our neighborhood? Mentally, still a child—but it’s not the best work environment for kids. I’m sure Newbie would play well with our children.

‘They’re doing fine, right?’

I wondered if Byul had awoken again. I took out the necklace.

[Oh, that’s!]

Newbie saw the bead on my necklace and nodded.

[A rudimentary clone.]

“Clone?”

[A fake body, made as part of the original. Clumsy. With this, it’s hard for clone and original to both have consciousness.]

“It was made by Seong Hyunjae.”

[Chain? If an awakened made it, that’s amazing. Normally below a certain rank, making a clone is hard—you need a stable self, and beings who live less than a hundred years can’t...]

Newbie began explaining again. I let it wash over me and pushed mana into the bead.

“Show yourself.”

A tiny Seong Hyunjae appeared.

“How are the others? You visited Hyunah and Director Song—what did they say?”

“I did. Director Song handled the youngest lady quite well.”

“I don’t trust that ‘well.’”

“They were startled and dragged about.”

I couldn’t help picturing that scene—too bad I’d missed it! The Newbie made hands, clapped them.

[An unmaintainable clone, yet you use it like backup! Normally clones without consciousness collapse, but with Honey’s backup it’s possible. So Honey’s world must have backup partners.]

“Oh, right. That’s how it is.”

Seong Hyunjae said Gyeol and Byul were eating, sleeping, and playing well.

“And Ppiyak has returned too.”

“Ppiyak?”

“Thanks to him, she settled down. She’s good with Byul.”

“Ppiyak-senior stayed with her a while.”

I didn’t know what that meant, but it felt familiar. I said it seemed related to the White Bird; young Chaos nodded agreement.

“Uncle Sesung! Are Gyeol and Byul doing well?”

Yerim, spotting Seong Hyunjae, flew over in an instant. Sharp eyes.

“Why does he look like that?”

“Long time no see, Elder.”

Seong Hyunjae bowed politely. Chaos glared at him.

“I’ve been watching the children these days. Two of the three. You saw Gyeol; the other, not the Black Dragon, is here too. Byul—Han Byul.”

“Did the Black Dragon at least resist?”

“No. He said he’d help and become independent.”

Chaos raised an eyebrow.

“Help him? That one?”

“I swear—Byul and he are getting along.”

I felt Valley’s mana. Did he have something to say to Elder? I called him «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» out. No mischief.

“I have a new brother.”

Valley said as soon as he appeared. He looked down at young Chaos with arms crossed. Chaos stared back.

“There was one who could be called kin.”

“I see.”

“Now we’ll live together.”

Valley’s stern face broke into an unhidden smile. He puffed his shoulder with pride. Chaos chuckled.

“That one treated everyone as prey.”

“Because he was alone then.”

“He swallowed anyone who approached.”

“Only those who attacked with swords or begged on their knees. Why wouldn’t I eat them?”

“You.”

Chaos frowned.

“He even tried to eat the one you call your brother?”

...What? I stared at Valley in alarm. Yerim looked shocked too. Valley didn’t deny it. It was true...

“He clung to me because he liked me.”

So... Valley approached Byul to eat him. Yet Byul liked him in return.

“He asked if I was his brother since we share a body. So instead of eating me, he made me his brother.”

“We’ll live together.”

“Having a brother, I’ll adapt too.”

“Is that so?”

Not just Byul, but truly living together in society. Chaos reached out. Valley, unable to dodge, had his head patted and scowled.

“Live well.”

Chaos glared at young Chaos, then vanished. Left alone, young Chaos smiled.

“You’ll live long yet. At least I’m less worried now.”

“You were worried?”

“It’s the Black Dragon’s nature. He was my first sword, after all. Even if once foe, affection accumulates. He’s found his place.”

Chaos nodded and strolled off. Though relieved, his small figure seemed a bit lonely.

“...I was shocked he planned to eat you.”

“He’s different from us. For the Black Dragon, Byul was prey, in a sense.”

Recalling his true form, he was indeed a morsel. The thought that he nearly ate Byul still chilled me. It could have been tragic.

“Han Yuhyun, you didn’t flinch. It’s your sword.”

“Ah, sorry, Hyung. Because of me.”

At Yerim’s rebuke, Yuhyun realized and spoke. He probably thought nothing odd of eating a brother—Valley and he shared similar traits.

“No need to apologize. I should have been more careful. I’ll watch out from now on.”

“...You said you wouldn’t create more.”

“Well, if... well, three is enough. I won’t take on more responsibility.”

There’s no time or space. I sent Seong Hyunjae back and we ate lunch. The rest of the time was spent resting. And as evening came:

[Rest ends in 1 hour.]