[Chapter 224]
[Precious]
The spear that separates world lines.
The spear left behind as the witch annihilated was to be kept by Pandora Clan.
From now on, Precise Memory will lead the people from Byeokhaesoo's workshop in researching the spear.
"Wouldn't it be better to just transfer to Pandora Clan for clan access?"
"I welcome PM unnie!"
Meanwhile, Precise Memory often visited Pandora Clan even without business after that day.
She had developed a sense of closeness to the Pandora Clan members who glimpsed her memories.
She even seriously considered transferring to the point of wondering about it.
"We would welcome <Witch of Time>'s transfer, but people from the Mana Management Organization and the industry might not view it favorably."
"Is that so? Then it can't be helped."
Han Seo-hyeon declined her transfer.
Eun-ha was the same.
Eun-ha, who was now known as the lord, could bring her from the Mana Management Organization if he wanted to.
But there was no reason to do so.
Even if Eun-ha didn't do that, the Mana Management Organization had essentially become his in all but name.
Since I'm the leader of the Twelve Seats, and Baek-yeon will become the Fairy someday.
There's no need to bring <Witch of Time> to the clan.
If we do that, we'll just end up watching others' reactions?
The disadvantages outweighed the advantages.
Pandora Clan already had five of the Twelve Seats.
If Precise Memory was added, they would have six of the Twelve Seats.
Although Eun-ha's position is high now, as time passes, there might inevitably be talk that the power is unbalanced.
Above all, it couldn't be said that having many Twelve Seats was unconditionally good.
It might be fine in normal times.
But what if a disaster strikes?
Then we'll be dying?
When a crisis situation occurs.
Twelve Seats had to mobilize a certain number of troops from their affiliated clan.
In Pandora Clan's case, they would have to mobilize troops equivalent to five Twelve Seats in a crisis.
Pandora Clan's size and troops couldn't handle that.
So Eun-ha hoped Precise Memory would continue to stay at the Mana Management Organization.
"I think the same as Seo-hyeon. I'd like Witch to stay at the Mana Management Organization and help me."
"If that's what Pandora Clan Lord thinks, I'll do that." "Instead, I'll make a special honorary clan member access card so you can freely enter Pandora Clan-owned buildings. Come visit our clan anytime with that."
"If you do that, I'm really grateful. Honorary clan member, not bad."
Eun-ha proposed an appropriate compromise.
The strange rank of honorary clan member was the third after Yoo Do-jun and Noh Eun-ae.
From that day on, Precise Memory used that access card to visit the clan whenever she was bored.
"PM noona!"
"Yu-seong, hello? You might get hurt if you run like that. You should be careful."
Of course Im Baek-yeon, but.
It's said that Noh Yu-seong greatly welcomed Precise Memory.
Meanwhile, research on the spear that separates world lines made little progress.
Even people with the <Miracle> gift like Noh Eun-ah, Iriya, and Shin Seo-young hadn't discovered much about the spear.
It would probably take a long time.
But they believed without doubt that they would find a method someday.
☆
After Baek Seo-jin died.
Park Hye-rim and Kang Hyeon-cheol not only stepped down from the Twelve Seats for childcare, but retired as players altogether.
"It's really fortunate that <Yama> oppa came back alive. I kept feeling bad about Hye-rim unnie crying."
"<Yama> oppa... Do you know his age when you say that?"
"Then should I call Hye-rim unnie 'unnie' and <Yama> 'ahjussi'? That's a bit strange, isn't it?"
"Ugh... That's true."
It happened recently.
Park Hye-rim finally gave birth to a child.
It's said to be a healthy boy.
Hearing the news, Eun-ha headed to the hospital with Noh Eun-ah to meet them.
"Ah, Eun-ah, Pandora Clan Lord."
"Oh, you came? You must have bought a lot of expensive things?"
"This person really... Please stop saying undignified things now that you're a father. Thank you for the gift. You didn't have to bring anything, why bring such things?"
<Yama> was <Yama>.
He who was stuck right next to Park Hye-rim welcomed Eun-ha happily.
When he first revived, he had difficulty handling the mechanical arm, but now he could even peel fruit well.
Meanwhile, Eun-ha was enveloped in a strange sentiment watching Kang Hyeon-cheol peeling the fruit he brought.
That squid finally became human.
He was inwardly deeply moved.
Of course, there was also an uneasy feeling.
They say people die if they change suddenly, is that person going to die again?
Or did I revive him wrong and something's wrong with his head?
Anyway, looking at Kang Hyeon-cheol felt very unfamiliar.
"Ah, if only my internal mana was like before, I wouldn't be peeling apples but slicing monsters somewhere... I'm really so bored, how do I live."
"Ah, yes..."
It seemed there was no need to worry.
Eun-ha decided to shift his attention.
Kang Hyeon-cheol was still useless as ever.
Meanwhile, Eun-ah was looking at the child Park Hye-rim was holding.
Eun-ha was curious too.
"Does he have all his fingers and toes?"
"Of course. Look here. You can't see the hands because they're covered with cloth, but you can see the toes, right? There are 10 in total?"
Park Hye-rim showed the child's feet.
Extremely tiny toes.
Eun-ah let out an exclamation seeing the child's feet, finding them cute.
"Unnie, can I hold him?"
"Sure, go ahead. The way to hold is..."
"I know. I've held Eun-ha's children a lot."
Noh Eun-ah held the child.
The corners of her mouth lifted.
She expressed joy with her body, shaking her ponytail.
Noona seems very excited these days.
It's good to see, but.
Eun-ha thought while watching Eun-ah doting on the child.
She had been very excited recently, as if something good had happened.
But when Eun-ha asked, she didn't give a proper answer.
'I just enjoy every day.'
That was all her answer.
Noh Eun-ah had been spending her days like that for some time now.
It seems there was some special change in Noh Eun-ah's heart.
Eun-ha understood it that way.
"Eun-ha, do you want to hold him too?" "Me? Okay, give him here."
Eventually Eun-ah passed the child.
Eun-ha, who had become a father of three children, skillfully held the child right away.
Eun-ha smiled slightly watching the squirming child.
To think this child is <Yama>'s child.
There doesn't seem to be much resemblance, ah...
"...The eyes seem similar?"
"Right?"
"Isn't he handsome like me?"
"Ah, yes..."
There was quite a resemblance between <Yama> Kang Hyeon-cheol and the child.
The eyes seem fierce.
He resembled the bad part.
Park Hye-rim seemed to think so too.
She let out a chuckle.
"He resembled the bad part as if someone might say he's not this person's child, right?"
"I'm worried he might grow up and just get into fights all the time."
"We'll have to raise him well so that doesn't happen."
Eun-ha returned the child.
The child seemed to know his mother's arms, smiling brightly when held by Park Hye-rim.
"Oh my, is our baby sleepy?"
The child yawning small.
Park Hye-rim looked lovingly at the child opening his mouth wide.
It was right then.
Whoosh!
"""...."""
It was just for a moment.
A flame came out of the child's mouth.
A flame as small as a lighter flame came out and disappeared when he closed his mouth.
The four people just blinked at the situation that passed like a dream.
"Unnie, could this child..." "No way..."
"Hahaha! As expected of my son!" "..."
Noh Eun-ah spoke first.
Eun-ha had a guess too.
Park Hye-rim was flustered by the situation just now and just blankly held the child.
In the end, Eun-ha and Noh Eun-ah decided to check the child's body.
"Unnie, can I help the child manifest mana?" "Okay... Can you do that?" "Buldak, you check too."
"Bibi bibi papa papa pupu pupu!"
"No, since he's my son, I should..."
"You who have no power now should step back. Eun-ah will do well. I need to learn now."
"Park Hye-rim, you said that? Just wait until I'm discharged...!"
"What will you do when you're discharged?"
"No, well... I'll treat you well so rest comfortably at home."
Conveniently, Buldak was there too.
Buldak who was asked gladly flew and landed by the child's head.
Noh Eun-ah carefully touched the child lying on the bed.
She sent mana to help the child's internal mana manifest outwards.
Buldak took charge of controlling the flames just in case.
And so─
─Whoosh!
The mana flowing out of the child's body soon became sparks and fluttered in the hospital room.
Although they were just very small sparks, they were definitely flames.
Impossible.
It was undoubtedly the <Flame> gift.
Eun-ha opened his eyes wide.
Others were the same.
Gifts are not inherited.
Yet for this child's gift to be <Flame> now...
It means the child was born with <Flame> not by inheritance, but by extremely good luck.
It was unbelievable.
In a way, it was a miracle.
"How can this be..."
"Hahaha! I told you he's my son! I'll have to make him a player when he grows up!"
Park Hye-rim was amazed, as if she couldn't believe what had happened to the child.
Because she who was once called <Holy Mother> knew how miraculous this was.
On the other hand, Kang Hyeon-cheol was ignorantly happy and already trying to decide the child's future.
"This person really... If the child wants to do it that's fine, but if you think of forcing him when he doesn't want to, I really won't stand still." "Since he's my child, he'll want to do it! This is a future Twelve Seat reserved. Our administrator will be happy!"
Kang Hyeon-cheol suddenly picked up the child and laughed loudly.
He didn't care whether the child burst into tears at that sound or not.
Rather, he was even happier.
Doesn't that person think Regulus Clan people will be interested too?
Eun-ha looked at Kang Hyeon-cheol who was blindly happy with an incredulous face.
While turning his head.
Should I just lure him to Pandora Clan?
That wouldn't be bad either.
Although it's still a far-off matter.
But if that child really grows up to be like <Yama>... The administrator will have a hard time then.
Will Han Seo-hyeon still be taking care of the clan as administrator then?
Will I still be Clan Lord?
I'm not sure.
Eun-ha imagined the distant future and smiled slightly.
Anyway, it's a good thing.
"Grow up healthy from now on. Grow up to be good and not worry your mom like your dad."
Park Hye-rim was fine either way.
She just prayed for the child's happiness.
☆
By the time Eun-ha left the hospital room, the sun was already setting.
"It's really amazing. How can such miraculous things happen?"
"I know. I just hope that child doesn't grow up to be a future disaster..."
"Hye-rim unnie will raise him well, so we probably don't need to worry about that, right?"
"But his dad is <Yama>."
"...They'll do well?"
"My children Yu-seong, Yu-ran, and Yu-rin are already close in age, I hope they don't get deeply involved with my children."
"Afraid they'll become like you and <Yama> oppa?"
"Yeah, it's horrifying just thinking about it."
"Why? I thought you two bickering looked good. You match well subtly. Other kids will probably think so too?" "Me with that person? Noona... Please don't say such things."
They decided to eat, drink, and enjoy themselves at a clan member gathering after a long time.
Eun-ha and Noh Eun-ah talked while heading to the headquarters.
"Eun-ha."
"Oh, what?" "Shall we turn that way and not go? Let's look around a little before going." "Okay, let's do that."
The evening glow was pretty.
Noh Eun-ah showed a playful smile looking at the sky dyed red.
Eun-ha walked following her.
The view of Jung-gu came into sight.
"How many years has it been since we made the clan?"
"9 years, no 10 years?"
"It's already been 10 years... Maybe that's why Jung-gu seems to have changed a lot too."
Noh Eun-ah said admiringly.
Eun-ha nodded too.
After the Seoul disaster, Jung-gu which had been miserably destroyed completely finished reconstruction as if nothing had happened.
Starting from the subway station, tall buildings could be seen here and there.
If asked to name the center of Seoul, Jung-gu and Yongsan-gu would be in the top five.
"Really... it has changed a lot."
Thanks to Eun-ah's reminder.
Only then could Eun-ha take in the changes to Jung-gu with his eyes.
It really changed a lot.
It was hard to believe he fought the Legion Commanders here, and also fought Ye-gyeong.
And that's not all.
Namsan could be seen in the distance.
I fought Armageddon there.
Was that two years ago?
Time passes so quickly.
Namsan Tower where he battled Armageddon 2 years ago had become considered a landmark of Seoul.
The Fairy government was even minimally maintaining the top floor observatory to commemorate that day.
Many other things had changed, and many things were related to Eun-ha.
"It's good to see it changed like this."
Eun-ha stopped walking.
He spoke immersed in sentiment.
Then Noh Eun-ah responded.
"Right?" "Yeah, it seems we walked well."
Noh Eun-ah seemed immersed in sentiment too.
She chattered while walking matching steps with Eun-ha.
Eun-ha answered while appreciating the cityscape.
It was then.
"So? Are you happy now?"
"What?"
"I'm asking if you have no more worries now."
An abrupt question.
Eun-ha paused at Noh Eun-ah's question as she looked at him gently.
He fell into thought.
"Hmm..."
29 years since regressing.
Eun-ha looked back on this life.
There was only one answer.
"I'm happy, extremely."
He changed many fates.
He made many friends.
He connected with people he loved.
He even bore fruit with them.
There was only one answer to give.
Eun-ha was happy.
There were no more crises to worry about either.
"So now I have to live thinking happily about what to do with my life."
The journey to change the future has now all ended.
Having achieved his grand purpose, he will now live embracing another purpose.
Eun-ha conveyed his thoughts.
Noh Eun-ah was smiling.
"Then how will you live from now on?"
"Hmm, well... I'm not sure yet. But there's one thing for certain." "What's that?"
Noh Eun-ah asks again.
Eun-ha was shy.
Then he opened his mouth.
"To keep living happily from now on. I want to live like that together with everyone."
It might be an even grander goal than changing the future.
Because he has to live while taking care of others' happiness too.
But Eun-ha intended to do so.
He who only lost things in his previous life will not lose in this life.
He will live happily with his people and close his eyes like that.
"I see, so that's it..."
Noh Eun-ah seemed to have noticed Eun-ha's feelings.
Her voice became even gentler.
Then she chuckled.
"I'll definitely cheer you on. So you can live happily."
"What are you saying? Not just me alone, other people should be happy too. And in that noo..."
And in that noona is included too?
Eun-ha who had taken his eyes off the scenery turned his head to the side.
"..."
There was no one beside him.
Eun-ha froze on the spot.
Eventually he tilted his head.
"Who was I talking to? Was I just talking to myself? What is it? I can't remember well..."
It feels like I've forgotten something.
Something extremely precious.
But Eun-ha couldn't know what he had forgotten.
Then he even forgot that he had forgotten something.
"Oh no, I'll be late. Everyone will be preparing for the party at the clan headquarters, I should go back not too late."
☆
"I'm glad."
When they left the hospital.
Noh Eun-ah realized that the time given to her was coming to an end.
She was facing annihilation.
"Shall we turn that way and not go? Let's look around a little before going."
So Noh Eun-ah led Eun-ha and set out to look around Jung-gu.
The city had changed a lot.
A wonderful city was born because she and Eun-ha and other people were there.
The emotions were extraordinary. It was new.
She looked back on her past life and was immersed in sentiment.
"So? Are you happy now?"
On the other hand, Noh Eun-ah wanted to ask Eun-ha's feelings.
She who knew he had regressed asked if Eun-ha was happy now that he had finally obtained the life he wanted.
She thought she asked well.
Because Eun-ha answered with a relieved face.
"I'm happy, extremely."
With that one answer.
Noh Eun-ah could feel at ease.
Noh Eun-ha is happy.
That alone was enough for her.
She had no more wishes.
Anything more would be greed.
Because I wished for you to become happy.
So I'm really glad.
Before regression.
Noh Eun-ah melted into the world's will and could only watch Noh Eun-ha living while struggling hard.
She could only watch.
So she worried about Eun-ha and wished for him to live happily.
She offered herself as the price for Noh Eun-ha to live a new life before regression.
Ah...
Annihilation has begun.
Annihilation that completely erases her existence from this world.
Perhaps that's why Eun-ha didn't notice the change happening to Noh Eun-ah.
Noh Eun-ah was grateful for the world's will's consideration that wasn't consideration.
It's good.
Even if I go, I could see you smiling like that.
If I had seen you crying loudly seeing me disappear, my heart would have ached.
Although it was a selfish wish.
Noh Eun-ah was satisfied with this.
It was also why she noticed her annihilation and didn't tell anyone.
As long as she couldn't stop her annihilation, Noh Eun-ah wanted to live her remaining life happily and annihilate.
She didn't want people to be sad.
So it's fortunate.
Even if I disappear...
You won't be able to remember me.
It's fortunate you don't have to be sad.
Noh Eun-ah smiled.
If she disappeared but her existence was remembered in this world, people would surely be very sad.
Eun-ha would feel powerless.
Eun-ah didn't want that.
He had finally been able to escape from all the shackles of fate.
But she didn't want Eun-ha to be caught in those shackles again because of her.
Therefore─
"─I'll definitely cheer you on. So you can live happily."
I'll hope that you can continue to live happily from now on.
I'll become part of the world's will and watch over you and others.
Noh Eun-ah faced annihilation.
Take care.