Chapter 190 …

Amid the dazzling cluster of light, a particularly noticeable red glow stood out.

It was something he had seen before.

“…The necklace.”

The Broken Necklace of Truth.

The necklace Angela used to wear, and the Fourth Fragment of Destiny. He had already seen it once when he first came here.

However, the intensity of the light it emitted was on a completely different level compared to before.

Previously, only the necklace itself had glowed red.

But now, brilliant light was radiating around it.

[The Fourth Fragment of Destiny, Broken Necklace of Truth, reacts to the Ember of Purification.]

[The fragment reacts to the material of the key.]

“So it was because of the Ember of Purification.”

Do-hyeon had thought that a hidden event might immediately start here.

But it seemed that the Fragment of Destiny was simply reacting to the Ember of Purification.

Unlike the first time, when only Do-hyeon could see the reaction, the light was now so bright that everyone could notice it.

Gilberun couldn’t close his mouth.

“…What is this?”

“The necklace… seems to be reacting.”

“But Angela isn’t here. How could it react?”

It was a surprising sight, yet at the same time a familiar one.

Whenever Angela conducted purification rituals while wearing the necklace, it always emitted a brilliant light.

That was the light of purification—something only Angela, who could see the flow of mana, could produce.

In other words, since Angela had fallen into eternal sleep, it was a light that had never been seen again.

“And such intense light… even Angela would have had difficulty producing this much.”

“Your Majesty, look at where the light is heading.”

“Hmm…? That is…!”

“As expected… it’s reacting.”

Gilberun’s eyes widened as he followed the direction Knight Commander Hyde pointed.

Ruriel was also murmuring something under her breath. What they were witnessing was truly mysterious.

The brilliant light that had covered their vision gradually weakened, then gathered into one point—

And extended toward Do-hyeon.

The one most startled by this strange phenomenon was Do-hyeon himself.

‘H-Huh?! What’s that? Why is a beam suddenly shooting out of the wall?! Run—! Huh? It doesn’t hurt?’

“…Please maintain some dignity.”

‘I saw you flinch too.’

“Ahem. You must have imagined it.”

…Actually, if anything, those guys seemed even more flustered.

But there was one key difference between their confusion and Do-hyeon’s.

[Signs of excessive force used while the fragment is broken have been detected.]

[The necklace is struggling to withstand the fragment’s power.]

[Hurry and complete the key to restore it to its proper form.]

“This is new.”

The necklace wasn’t reacting violently just to show its presence.

It was sending Do-hyeon a message.

A message that it could no longer endure much longer and that the Fragments of Destiny must be completed quickly.

Though surprised at first, thinking about it gave him a rough idea why.

The Hourglass of Faith of the Destroyer Gaiman.

The Bell of Harmony of Sargis.

They both gained power from Fragments of Destiny, but only simply by possessing them.

They never forcibly drew out their power to perform purification rituals like Angela did.

So the broken fragment could no longer handle the strain.

“Does someone else use the other fragments’ power like this?”

If that were true…

What would happen if the power of a broken fragment kept being used?

Would it shatter completely?

Or would it simply shut down like a drained battery?

If it were the latter, that would be fine.

But if it were the former…

How would he even find the pieces?

“…Don’t tell me I’d have to find every shattered fragment piece by piece to complete it?”

The thought alone made Do-hyeon shudder.

No matter how insane the difficulty of the main quest was, surely it wouldn’t be that crazy.

…Right?

Anyway, that was something to think about later. For now, he needed to focus on what was happening in front of him.

[Hidden Event “Final Lantern Ritual” has begun.]

[At the crossroads of choice, you must make a careful decision to perform the Final Lantern Ritual.]

[Sudden Quest “Angela’s Wish” has occurred.]

Angela’s Wish

Rank: Sudden Quest

Description:
A woman who handled the power of the Fourth Fragment of Destiny.

Angela, the unfortunate woman who broke a taboo and fell into eternal sleep, has a wish.

Grant her wish.

If you grant it: The second route of the hidden event will proceed and the first route will be deleted.
If you refuse: The first route will proceed and the second route will be deleted.
Time Limit: 40 minutes

“So the routes split into two.”

The hidden event that opened after the special event disappeared.

It seemed this one also had two different paths.

It was strange that Angela—still asleep—could give a quest, but it didn’t matter.

He would find out soon enough.

“Hero, are you alright?”

“Did something happen?”

“Ah, I’m fine. The necklace just seems to have reacted to the Ember of Purification.”

“It’s the first time the necklace has reacted to someone other than Angela. Truly… the Apostle of Prophecy is different. So that’s why you asked for the necklace.”

Gilberun and Hyde spoke with admiration, expressing their honest feelings.

Do-hyeon answered casually and changed the subject.

“Then… shall we go now?”

“Ah. Right… you said Luidra has been defeated.”

“Your Majesty…”

In the suddenly solemn atmosphere, Do-hyeon turned first.

Angela, the unfortunate woman.

Now it was finally time to wake her.

* * *

Fortunately, the trip only took a few seconds.

[Using Teleport Scroll.]

[Moving to designated location: Center of the Restricted Forest.]

[Guardians are forcibly transferred due to location change.]

“So this is a king’s privilege?”

They didn’t need to circle through the forest like last time.

Gilberun had simply taken out a teleport scroll.

After all, if a king constantly went to a restricted forest, people would surely find it suspicious.

Angela’s existence was secret, after all.

“So that’s why the quest time limit was so short.”

He had expected at least a 30-minute travel time, so this was actually convenient.

The forest looked exactly the same as before.

A silent forest with no sign of human presence.

A strangely well-maintained clearing in the center.

And there—

Angela slept inside a glass coffin.

“Ah… Angela. I’ve come.”

Gilberun walked toward her the moment he saw her.

His face twisted as he tried desperately to hold back tears.

Step.

When he finally reached her, Gilberun dropped to his knees.

No one stopped him, even though the king had dirtied his knees.

“I’m sorry. This foolish husband of yours was too incompetent… and left you alone for so long, even though you hate being alone.”

…

“I grow old, yet you remain the same. Time itself must have been denied to you.”

…

“That always terrified me. That I would grow old and die before waking you… and that you would be forgotten forever.”

How could anyone interrupt that moment?

He held her delicate hand carefully in both of his hands, crying with heartbreaking longing.

There was no king here now.

Just a man who had spent years missing his wife and fearing he might lose her forever.

“…This is kind of touching, Master.”

“Indeed. Even the strongest man becomes weak before the woman he loves.”

“Riza…”

“…Yeah.”

Do-hyeon nodded at Jihad’s words.

Maybe it was because he had heard some of their story.

Or maybe it was Gilberun’s desperate voice as he knelt and held her hand.

Watching the scene made his chest feel tight.

“There’s so much you don’t know. Ruriel has been a great support for me. And this gentleman here is the Apostle she prophesied. The one who allowed us to meet again. Captain Betar of the guard also had a child recently.”

…

“I have so much to tell you. Wake up soon so we can talk again.”

Gilberun gently squeezed her hand, smiling warmly.

Then he finally stood up.

His knees had gone numb from kneeling so long, but he didn’t mind.

“Thank you for waiting. Let’s begin.”

“Understood.”

“Then this…”

At Do-hyeon’s nod, Hyde carefully took something out and handed it over.

An old necklace with a ruby-like gem.

[You have obtained the Fourth Fragment of Destiny: Broken Necklace of Truth.]

Finally, it was in Do-hyeon’s hands.

After such a long struggle.

“…Finally.”

Maybe it was the atmosphere.

Or maybe it was the time he had invested.

Do-hyeon swallowed and carefully took the necklace.

At that moment—

Flash!

“Ugh?!”

“Huh?”

A blinding light suddenly burst out.

Just like before.

But this time, it wasn’t from the necklace.

“Angela…?”

Angela—sleeping inside the glass coffin—

was the one emitting the light.

At the same time, Do-hyeon saw something.

[Eye of Truth activates.]

A thin thread connecting her and the necklace.

“Ah… Rune.”

At the end of the thread, a woman’s figure appeared above Angela’s body.

It was a soul.

A translucent silhouette glowing faintly blue.

And it was a soul Do-hyeon knew very well.

[Luidra has been defeated. A slight crack in the eternal sleep is detected.]

[Hidden Event NPC Angela’s Soul has appeared.]

[Recorded in the Adventurer’s Journal.]

[The Fourth Fragment of Destiny, Broken Necklace of Truth, reacts to the key.]

[The fragment desires the power within her body.]

“…What?”

Because that figure—

Was Angela’s soul.

“I just heard Angela’s voice! Hyde, did you hear it too?”

“…Yes, Your Majesty. I heard it clearly. It was Lady Angela’s voice.”

“Ah, Angela… you’ve finally awakened.”

But it seemed they couldn’t see her.

Naturally.

Humans couldn’t see souls.

Do-hyeon was the strange one for having the Eye of Truth.

“Your mana flow… I see. You can see me, can’t you?”

When Do-hyeon nodded, Angela covered her mouth in surprise with her faint hands.

“I thought I would be lucky if I could only make my voice heard by stimulating the mana flow… but now someone can see my final appearance.”

Angela smiled softly.

Seeing her smile made him understand why Gilberun had called her a rabbit-like woman.

She radiated a pure aura, as if she could never harm anyone.

But then she turned her head to the side.

Her expression immediately dimmed.

“Angela! Angela! Why won’t you wake up? Please speak once more!”

…

She saw Gilberun desperately shaking her body.

He couldn’t hear her voice.

“I only adjusted the mana flow between you and me.”

“…That’s even possible?”

As expected of someone with a once-in-a-century talent for sensing mana.

Do-hyeon couldn’t help being impressed.

At the same time, a question arose.

“Why me?”

Why speak only to him?

Wouldn’t it make more sense to talk to Gilberun directly?

“My body was asleep, but through the mana flow I could hear and see everything. I always wondered about the owner of that brilliant mana… so it was you. I wanted to thank you.”

“Well… I had my own reasons too.”

Do-hyeon replied in a whisper, careful that Gilberun wouldn’t hear.

Angela continued softly.

“And… I couldn’t talk to him first.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t think he would accept it easily.”

“Accept what?”

She answered calmly.

“That I have to die.”

“…Ah, I see—”

Wait.

“…What?”