"You should have something to explain to us, Scarlet?"

"Whether it's Merlin or the King of Gold..."

"They have one thing in common, which is that they both met with you before setting off."

"I want to know what exactly you talked about?"

...

As the first ray of dawn light pierced into the treehouse, the Red-haired Girl sat alone at the edge of the bed, her mind echoing the not-so-friendly questions from her "companions." She gently raised her right index finger, and the man-sized mirror not far away floated before her.

This was a house perfectly fitting a girl's dream, with pink wallpaper adorned with many adorably styled cartoon characters. The room was filled with a sweet floral fragrance, making anyone who came here feel like they had stumbled into a fairy tale world. The story goes that a princess lived atop the Divine Tree that reached the skies.

This was a castle belonging solely to the princess, dreamy and romantic, yet it was also the loneliest place in the world.

And now, the princess residing in the castle, following the guidance of the story, faced the magic-imbued mirror and inquired, "Magic mirror, magic mirror, tell me, how should I answer their questions?"

Her bitter tone, however, received no response.

The reflection in the mirror was not the adorable face of the Red-haired Girl, and compared to the dreamy-colored treehouse, the mirror revealed a scene akin to hell.

The sky woven by tree roots, while the ground was an endless abyss, and a gigantic figure hung upside down in the center of "hell."

That was the place where the Evil God was sealed.

The Evil God's face was wrapped with countless bandages, yet this still couldn't block its gaze.

Scorching, yet filled with anger.

"Why are you angry? Merlin said it was your destiny to be sealed away."

The Red-haired Girl ignored the fury from the mirror, a lipstick slipped from her sleeve into her palm, and she attentively applied it facing the mirror that could not reflect her visage.

She talked to herself, as always.

"Is it because you feel someone is coming to save you? ... Then let me tell you some good news, at least for you: your most hated King of Gold has been killed, died in a place we do not know, and now, his killer is coming to find me."

Finally, the mirror's other side transmitted a ripple, and all the spreading energies conveyed the same emotion to the Red-haired Girl.

Mockery.

As if impatiently eager to witness her demise here.

But this was nothing particularly worth getting angry about; the window of the treehouse was opened, and one by one, delicate desserts materialized on the table. These were sweet treats made from the fruits of the Divine Tree, imprinted with her energy's mark.

They were neatly placed on the table woven by tree vines.

"Our relationship doesn't need to be like this; I am a Summoner, and all the Summoners in this world are your children."

The Red-haired Girl poured herself a cup of tea, the tea also carrying a light fruity aroma, "Therefore, O mighty Argos, I'd like to ask you something. If this world has been false from the start, would those who perish and have their souls obliterated disappear for good, or wake up from the other side?"

The magic mirror still did not give her any answer, and the Red-haired Girl seemed long accustomed to the quiet atmosphere in the treehouse and the self-talking life.

She savored the desserts on the table.

"Dishes, clothes, and a dragon egg I recently found."

This was her answer to the "companions," a lie, of course. At least, she hadn't told the whole truth, just like when she first arrived in this world with the team; all information regarding her was also false.

Before Merlin and the King of Gold departed, she asked both of them the same question.

She was curious, how would people like them view death?

A prolonged beautiful dream, worth reminiscing about once awakened?

Or perhaps a profound delusion that ensnares one, making it impossible to break free?

What was the answer again?

The chewing paused slightly.

Oh, remembered it.

Merlin always said he had reasons to return, even if it meant being perceived as a traitor by the guild, even if bearing infamous rebuke, he wouldn't hesitate.

The King of Gold's answer was much simpler; he didn't think this would be his time of death.

He was confident of victory because this was never a battle between him and that abnormal creature; it was the Goddess's judgment on the transgressor—maybe only she knew this secret.

But judging from the outcome, the King of Gold miscalculated.

This leaves two possible explanations.

The all-powerful Goddess was defeated too, or she betrayed them, betrayed everyone in the guild.

Neither of these would be good news for them, so she chose to keep it secret, as would be expected.

"In fact, the Goddess entrusted us with a mission as well."

Her eyes squinted into a line from the desserts' sweetness, as if discussing something that had nothing to do with her, "Merlin will be executed as a traitor, the King of Gold died from his arrogance... we all must die at the right time and in the right way."

Now it would be her turn.

But unlike Merlin and the King of Gold, who chose to fight till the end of their lives, she was already quite satisfied.

Thousands of years of life were enough for her to accomplish everything she desired.

To transform a barren realm into the shape she imagined, thanking the world's rules for granting them power, until there was nothing left to change, and she gradually lost her passion.