By Zephyria 
✽ ✽ ✽
Blood trickled from one of the five patterns engraved on the back of his hand. The dragonfish was dead. Edokus wiped the blood away, his mind troubled.
The Servant of Chaos had briefly lent power to Edokus through Gu Yeong-min, and with that power, Edokus had been able to evolve the magical beast. Having experienced borrowing power like a seed bearer, he now knew for sure. The way of manipulating magical energy was different from his own.
The one Gu Yeong-min referred to as ‘that person’ was not a chaos grand warrior, but an apostle. As someone whom Chaos no longer wished to communicate with, he could not discern the difference between the two.
‘More importantly, the dragonfish died first…’
He had struggled for days preparing the evolution of the named magical beast, and the one he had put the most effort into was the dragonfish intended to face the Apostle of Death and Beauty. He had expected it to at least cause some damage, even if it couldn’t kill the apostle in one blow, but he hadn’t expected it to be the first to die.
His heart burned with grief over the death of the dragonfish he had grown fond of over the past few days. If this were the case, the death of the remaining four beasts was only a matter of time.
‘…What should I do?’
Edokus chewed his lip anxiously. The fear that had gnawed at him his entire life began to creep back in. Rationally, he understood that he had to flee as quickly as possible before the Apostle of Death and Beauty tracked him down, but on the other hand, he couldn’t stop thinking about Gu Yeong-min.
They had been in a cooperative relationship, so fleeing alone felt unsettling, and he needed Gu Yeong-min’s resourcefulness to hide on Earth.
He tried calling just in case, but there was no answer. For now, he decided to observe the situation a bit longer. Had he known that even Gloiuken had crossed over to Earth, he would have fled without looking back, but unfortunately, he was unaware of that fact.
✽ ✽ ✽
The collapse of condensed magical energy and the appearance of a magic stone signified the complete death of a magical beast. As soon as he confirmed the dragonfish was dead, Kim Si-baek immediately looked back. It was because he couldn’t believe the sight he had just witnessed. He couldn’t shake the suspicion that he might be seeing an illusion, as the dragonfish might have released hallucinogenic toxins or possessed a related ability during its evolution.
That was how unbelievable it was. That people he missed had appeared, crossing dimensions.
“….”
Even as he watched Gloiuken approaching with quick steps, staying alert to her surroundings, Kim Si-baek checked his own body for abnormalities. He wasn’t poisoned. He wasn’t hallucinating. There was no infiltration of magical energy.
Only after confirming several times did a foolish laugh, “Ahaha,” escape him. This sight was his reality. A dream-like reality, just like when he had met his younger brother.
After confirming there were no magical beasts nearby to worry about, Gloiuken lowered her helmet lens and dashed forward. Her voice, calling out to him, was brimming with joy.
“Your Excellency! Apostle Your Ex— mmpf!”
However, her joyful greeting was cut short by a baby crow crashing straight into her face.
“Gloiukeeeeeenn!”
Tears streaming down her face, Gloiuken managed to peel Biyendwe off her face. Seeing that she was safe, a mischievous joke came to mind.
“My, is this not Lord Biyendwe? You were alive.”
“I’ve died a hundred times in my heart!”
“Oh dear. But aren’t you going to maintain your speech concept anymore? You should have said, ‘Thy god hath died a hundred times in heart.’”
“I don’t know, I don’t know!”
As they had their own tearful reunion, Nasluik sprinted past them with fierce speed.
“Your Excellencyyyyy!”
Letting out a scream that was halfway between a shriek and a call, he lunged forward and hugged Kim Si-baek. Easily absorbing the weight, Kim Si-baek couldn’t help but laugh at Nasluik’s unchanging fussiness.
“You’re still the same, Nasluik.”
All while remaining unaware that Na Jeong-woo, who had delivered him to the dragonfish, was standing behind them with his mouth agape.
The expressions of the other hunters were similar to Na Jeong-woo’s. It was shocking enough that people in strange clothing had suddenly appeared as if they had teleported and slaughtered the magical beast, but they were even acquaintances of Kim Si-baek. Furthermore, they had effortlessly neutralized the attack of the evolved dragonfish that had given them such a hard time.
And, and furthermore… a crow talks. Very fluently.
In truth, this was the part that shocked them most emotionally. Was it not just a mascot for some cult? Was it really a creature created with magic?
But the truly appalling thing happened after that. A small-framed young man dashed forward with flailing limbs and suddenly hugged Kim Si-baek. Seeing him cling to Kim Si-baek like a cicada on an old tree, the gaze of the crowd shifted toward Tae-un as if by appointment.
“….”
And simultaneously, they hurriedly looked away. Cold sweat trickled down their spines.
‘I-I thought I was going to have a heart attack…’
‘Oh man, they’re probably just close friends, right? If it’s anything more than that, there’s seriously going to be a murder.’
They must have become too accustomed to Tae-un’s softened atmosphere, thanks to the miraculous suppressant that was Kim Si-baek. Hoping that no stray sparks would fly their way, the people slowly distanced themselves.
The same went for the officials from the Supernatural Phenomenon Response Agency who were standing further away. Reports were coming in via wireless communication that since the other S-class magical beasts had all evolved into their prime, the prepared magical tools were effective, and the hunt was only a matter of time. For now, the raid was secure.
However, the real problem of today’s large-scale raid was exactly that scene. Flustered by the sudden situation, Gwak Yun-sang stammered before rushing over.
“G-Guild Master Tae. Those people, they…”
Gwak Yun-sang, who had been about to ask if they were people from that world where Kim Si-baek had supposedly dimension-traveled… something or other, hurriedly looked away like the others. A chill ran down his spine with the certainty that if he spoke now, his neck might not remain intact.
Instead, he clapped his hands to gather the crowd’s attention. After all, the situation had to be handled.
“Those people are also… National Intelligence Service agents. Anyway, that’s how it is.”
“What?”
Naturally, the hunters didn’t believe it. Kim Si-baek at least had a background story about operating abroad in secret, but these people were literally strangers who had popped out of thin air.
While disbelief grew, the Guild Masters, who should have countered, remained silent. Tae-un’s state… was Tae-un, Jo Byeong-seok scratched the back of his head in confusion, and even Justina, who usually stepped up first in such matters, had a deeply contemplative expression.
Thanks to that, the momentum of the hunters trying to express their distrust fizzled out. Gwak Yun-sang quickly continued.
“Now, now. First, let’s clean up the surrounding magical beasts.”
Unaware that Na Jeong-woo was slowly backing away, sensing that he wouldn’t remain intact if he stayed near Tae-un, Kim Si-baek was immersed in the joy of reunion.
“How did you think of coming all the way here? Was artificial dimension travel actually possible?”
“The name of Nasluik, the first to cast a dimension travel magic circle, shall be engraved once more in the history of magical studies. First, to the God of Omniscience and Foresight…”
Before the explanation could ramble on, Gloiuken ruthlessly cut off her brother’s words and summarized it in one sentence.
“What would we not do to bring Lord Biyendwe and Your Excellency here? I am glad to see you safe.”
Kim Si-baek smiled back at the sincere voice overflowing with joy, worry, and relief. These were people he had resigned himself to the possibility of never meeting again. The joy of reunion washed over his heart.
However, the fullness of that emotion was clouded by Gloiuken’s following words.
“You must return now, Your Excellency.”
“…Huh?”
“The passage to return to mak slechtro is currently open.”
Returning to mak slechtro.
Ever since he discovered his existence had vanished from Earth, the goal he had pursued was now placed in his hands from an unexpected place. Perhaps welcomingly. Perhaps easily. Perhaps hollowly.
“….”
The moment he realized he could go back, what came to mind wasn’t the destruction of Earth or the matter of the quest, but Tae-un.
It was certainly something to be happy about, and Tae-un, who had told him to go back from the very beginning, would be happy too, but the emotion dominating him at this moment was not joy. An indescribable turmoil filled his heart.
Kim Si-baek opened and closed his lips a few times, then asked cautiously.
“…Do I have to go back immediately?”
“Keeping the passage open puts a great deal of strain on mak slechtro, and the infiltration of void and emptiness between the boundaries of the phenomenal worlds…”
“Oh…”
He didn’t understand a word of it. It was just as he let Nasluik’s words drift in one ear and moved his gaze to find Tae-un.
“…Hyung.”
A man’s voice, as friendly as Gloiuken and Nasluik’s—no, more familiar than that—caught him.
It was Tae-un.