Chapter 382 - Time Running Out

After finishing all my scheduled tasks and returning to the mansion, I finally had a moment to myself.

...Though I was still working on Kathedal-related matters on my laptop. Just a bit more leisurely.

Sitting at a picnic table in the garden in front of the mansion, feeling the gentle breeze and taking occasional sips of iced tea, I felt my mind and body relaxing. This pleasant spring-like weather was possible thanks to Shin-ryeong's air manipulation ability as she lay on the sunbed next to me, wearing sunglasses.

As I sat there, I thought about the message I received from Lee Seol-ah yesterday.

"Phew... I managed to make Ha-ru trust me at least."

As expected, Ha-ru had gone straight to Lee Seol-ah after leaving me.

It seems Lee Seol-ah somehow succeeded in persuading her despite how angry she was.

I felt relieved and ended our call with a promise to be more careful about our meetings.

"And Da-in. You should really be grateful to me... If you only knew what efforts I'm making alone, sigh..."

I thought I heard something strange in a small voice at the end, but I couldn't quite catch it.

Just as I was thinking about this...

"...I don't like it."

Beside me, Han Seo-eun was sitting with her arms draped over the back of her chair... puffing her cheeks and speaking in a sulky voice.

"Aren't you too busy these days, oppa? You're hardly ever home."

While saying this, Han Seo-eun rested her face on her hand and muttered while looking toward the forest.

"I want to be with you. I like you."

"...Haha."

I gave an awkward laugh in response to Han Seo-eun's direct words.

After the group confession led by Su-bin last time, Han Seo-eun had become strangely honest. Sometimes startlingly so.

I gave her a troubled smile and replied:

"Seo-eun. Do you realize how big our age gap is..."

"How big? It's just 6 years. What's so significant about 6 years? You're acting like it's a whole generation. I've been an adult for 2 years already?!"

Han Seo-eun responded as if I was being ridiculous.

...I closed my mouth at her words. Is that right...? Maybe it is. No, what am I thinking? Have I lost my mind?

Actually... I could probably just tell her I'm seeing Stardust, but some instinctive premonition warned me that would lead to serious trouble, so I kept my mouth firmly shut.

While I was thinking this, Han Seo-eun sighed deeply, then looked toward the forest again and muttered:

"Anyway... I've been feeling strange lately. Everyone's so busy. The unnies are all excited."

Just as Han Seo-eun was saying this, the sky flashed in the forest ahead, and I heard:

"Ha! Try blocking this one too!"

With those words, a massive lightning bolt appeared in the sky.

...In one part of the forest, Choi Se-hee, Eun-wol, and Halo were conducting training exercises.

They were honing their abilities after I told them we would soon resume terrorist activities against heroes.

"...Anyway, oppa. I'm worried. The world seems to be getting more chaotic as time passes rather than better. I thought things might finally be peaceful after stopping the Moon Light Cult Leader, but now ability users' powers are running wild... you're getting busier too. I wonder when we'll ever be able to relax."

Han Seo-eun spoke with concern in her voice.

...Surprisingly, her words accurately pierced through the current reality.

Of course, what Han Seo-eun didn't know was that... at this point, it was a miracle that society was functioning properly at all.

'...What was happening in the original story at this point?'

Seoul collapsed. New Seoul collapsed too. The country had basically become an apocalyptic setting. Almost all major cities had fallen. Unlike now with my intervention, the Republic of Korea had been directly hit by the Han-Eun Group, the Demon King's revival, the Moon Light Cult, and the Great Prison Break.

The original story was like that.

One disaster after another, showing that there was always a new rock bottom.

Just when you thought, "Things can't possibly get any worse," they would. When you thought, "The world is completely ruined," it would be ruined even more.

Of course.

Now those events would never happen. Because I stopped them.

And I need to prevent them from happening in the future too.

...Which means, unfortunately for Han Seo-eun, I'll be even busier from now on.

Especially since soon...

'That incident' will occur.

From that day forward, the chaos we've experienced so far will seem like nothing... society will fall into unprecedented extreme disorder. The current chaos from villains getting stronger will seem trivial in comparison. Society will be paralyzed.

Which means, before that day comes, the present could actually be considered a peaceful period compared to the coming chaos. At least society was still functioning properly.

So I'll enjoy this last peace until that day comes...

Just as I was thinking this:

"Fufu. Seo-eun, are you bothering Da-in again?"

"What? N-no I'm not...!"

"Why are you getting upset~ Da-in, I brought some fruit, please have some. You too, Seo-eun."

Lee Su-bin appeared from somewhere with a lavender scent, her brown hair swept back, wearing a cardigan and carrying a plate of fruit.

I smiled and thanked her as she set down the plate with a bright smile.

"No need for thanks. I should be apologizing that I can't do more when you're working so hard, Da-in."

Lee Su-bin said with a smile.

After saying that, she sighed softly and began walking toward where Choi Se-hee and Seo Ja-young were fighting, carrying a water bottle and towel.

Watching her walk away,

I felt complicated emotions.

"Hmm hmm~"

Behind me, Death Knight was humming while doing garden work, wearing a red apron and holding giant scissors.

Without realizing it, I began looking around at our Ego-squad members.

...These companions I gathered when I fell into this world, to increase my strength and prevent destruction.

Han Seo-eun, Lee Su-bin, Lee Ha-yul, Choi Se-hee, Eun-wol, Seo Ja-young, and Death Knight and Shin-ryeong.

At first, I had no particular feelings. I gathered them solely to save Stardust and the world. I had no special emotions. We lived together just to help them become close to each other.

But... as time passed together.

Now, facing the end of the world, I've come to realize.

These people have become precious to me, people I can't give up.

I've grown too attached.

Without realizing it, I've come to wish for their happiness.

"...Seo-eun. I'm going in first."

"Huh? Already?"

"Yeah, I have something I need to plan..."

I answered like that.

With a determined face, I headed toward the mansion where my room was.

I will absolutely prevent this world's destruction by the god.

I will continue to live a happy life with these people.

Without fail.

With that resolution,

I entered the mansion.

***

In my room after closing the door.

The first thing I did upon arriving was...

"Here it is."

Taking out a thick notebook from my bookshelf.

A book where I had written down everything I remembered about the original story before I forgot it, sealed with the Vine Witch's power.

After taking it out, I opened the notebook from the first page.

"..We've come a long way."

And so, after a long time, I recalled the original story one by one.

I looked back on the path I had walked so far.

Eliminating villains like Teleporter, Crocodileman, Scream Maker, and Weapon Master.

Preventing the monster Behemoth from destroying the southern Korean Peninsula, and preemptively stopping the Han-Eun Group, the final boss of Phase 1, from destroying the country with their weapons.

After that, recruiting original villains like Han Seo-eun, Lee Su-bin, the healer Lee Ha-yul, and Electra in advance.

Preventing Moon Priestess Eun-wol from destroying Seoul, defeating the Moon Light monsters that appeared early, and stopping the Demon King's birth.

Finally preventing the gates from opening worldwide led by the Moon Light Cult Leader, the final boss of Phase 2, which would have destroyed the world.

Preemptively stopping the Great Prison Break and strategically sending away the true final boss of Phase 3, the Wish Granter.

Avoiding all these seeds of destruction, I finally made it this far.

"..."

As I reviewed the past one by one, I flipped through the phases.

Finally...

...I reached almost the end of the notebook.

To this section marked as the final chapter.

"...Now, the true beginning is near."

I muttered quietly as I turned the page.

Phase 4.

The revival of the Sun God and the world destruction he causes.

The goal of this final chapter is to stop the god trying to destroy the world.

I was trying to change the ending of this world with my own power—an ending that in the original story ultimately ended in destruction.

And.

Soon, 'that incident' would occur, making everyone aware of this fact.

'The Sun God.'

He, who tries to destroy the world he created with his own hands, didn't quietly descend one day to erase the world.

Instead, he gave a warning beforehand, making everyone collapse from within out of terror.

And that day was finally approaching.

"...It's almost time."

The signal flare announcing the start of Phase 4, the origin of all chaos.

The fateful day when the god directly reveals himself to everyone in the world, declaring that he will destroy this world.

The so-called Judgment Day Announcement.

That day was finally approaching.