Chapter 191 …

“…What?”

What did I just hear?

She has to die?

I’ve been going through all this hardship to save her—so what kind of absurd thing is that supposed to mean?

Maybe the shock showed on his face.

Angela continued speaking with a bitter smile.

“—You’ve heard about the Lantern Ritual, Ruidra, and the current situation in the city, haven’t you?”

“…Yes.”

“Then this will be quick. I can maintain my sanity because I can sense the flow of mana and received an external stimulus. But the others can’t. They are simply asleep.”

A true slumber where even dreams are not permitted.

A state with no stimulation whatsoever—only the body remains, like a half-corpse.

That was the condition of the residents afflicted by the curse.

“Then all the more reason for you to wake up, isn’t it?”

That’s why it didn’t make sense.

The only things capable of awakening someone from that eternal sleep were the Ember of Purification and the power of the necklace.

And the person who could handle it best was Angela.

There was absolutely no reason for her to die in this situation.

But she shook her head.

“I can see it. The unstable flow of mana from the necklace that’s on the verge of completely shattering. In its current state, it could wake up at most one person.”

“Then…”

“You’ll have to take the power of the necklace that has melted into my body. Only then will it regain its complete form.”

At that point, Dohyeon finally understood.

What she was trying to say.

She wasn’t wishing for death.

“If you save me, the necklace will break. But if you absorb the energy fused into my body… you can save countless people.”

There was simply no other way.

To absorb the energy within her body meant taking all of her life force as well.

And that meant death.

No… so this is what it meant when they said she would become the key?

He thought it meant using her ability to see the flow of mana.

But the truth was that Angela herself was the key.

The situation was so absurd that he couldn’t even speak.

Where should he begin explaining this?

Should he try to stop her, or encourage her?

He had no idea.

“I broke a taboo. This is a chance to atone for that sin. If anything, I should be grateful for being given this opportunity.”

“…Is that true?”

This time, the response came from somewhere else.

Not Dohyeon.

It came from nearby.

Gilberun—who should have been busy trying to wake Angela—was standing a short distance away.

He stared into the empty space Dohyeon had been looking at, his eyes filled with deep sorrow.

“Is that truly the truth, Angela?”

“Rune? How…?”

“The hero was staring at empty space, so I focused my mana just in case. Though I must say—I’m a little jealous that you spoke to another man before speaking to me.”

“B-But I definitely controlled the mana flow…”

“Have you forgotten how enormous my mana is? Even you struggled with it when you were whole. I think you underestimated me.”

“…Ah.”

Gilberun couldn’t see Angela.

She could see him, but to his eyes there was nothing but empty air.

Yet somehow…

To Dohyeon, it looked as though the two were gazing straight into each other’s eyes.

They look alike.

Their eyes carried the same expression.

The eyes of people who sensed the coming of a final farewell with the one they loved.

Bitterness. Sadness. Resentment. Longing.

A whirlwind of emotions impossible to explain with a single word flickered through that brief moment.

“Angela…”

If there was one difference between them—

Angela had already made up her mind during the long time she had been asleep.

But Gilberun had not yet accepted it.

Seeing the sorrowful look in his eyes, Dohyeon quietly stepped back.

…Let’s give them space.

“Yes, Master… that would be better.”

“I agree as well, my lord.”

This wasn’t Dohyeon’s moment.

It was the last time given to Gilberun before he had to send away the wife he had devoted everything to.

Perhaps thinking the same thing, Luriel and Hyde also quietly stepped back.

“…It’s nice seeing you like this again, Rune. You’ve gotten a lot more wrinkles.”

“…Because someone caused me a great deal of worry. So you’ll have to help me again like before. Without your nagging, I haven’t been taking care of my skin.”

Angela burst into laughter, her eyes curving warmly.

It must have reminded her of one of their ordinary days.

Just thinking about it made her happy enough to laugh.

But Angela shook her head.

“Rune…”

“…Don’t say it. I don’t want to hear it.”

“Rune…”

“I’m begging you. Can’t you just stay with me? It’s been 2,148 days since you disappeared. Not a single day has passed when I forgot you.”

“….”

“The world calls me a great king, but I’m not someone so grand.”

Gilberun stepped closer.

His voice trembled.

“I’m just… an ordinary man who wants to walk through the garden with you again and share a warm meal. A man who treasures his wife and family above everything else.”

“Rune…”

“Call me selfish if you want. Even if the whole world throws stones at me, I’ll accept it. So… can’t you just close your eyes and take my hand?”

He slowly reached out his hand.

It stopped slightly beside Angela.

Angela squeezed her eyes shut.

She wanted to take that hand.

She wanted to eat warm meals together, stroll through the garden admiring flowers, drink tea, be scolded to go wash and sleep, and fall asleep in his arms.

When she had been trapped in that eternal sleep, she had promised herself she would do anything if she could regain that life.

Just once.

If she closed her eyes and grabbed his hand—

She could have it all back.

“…I can’t do that.”

She simply couldn’t.

“We broke a taboo. Innocent people died because of it. Even now, they lie like cold corpses. I can still see their faces… and the faces of those crying beside them. I always wanted to set things right.”

“….”

“That chance has finally come. And you’re asking me to betray the people who believed in us? For my own selfish desire?”

Angela’s voice trembled.

Her eyes reddened.

Blue tears rolled down her cheeks.

Out of habit, she tried to turn her head so he wouldn’t see.

But then she remembered—

Gilberun couldn’t see her anyway.

And at that moment—

A shadow fell over her.

Something embraced her.

“Angela.”

Gilberun had approached.

He had walked toward the sound of her voice and carefully wrapped his arms around her.

An embrace between a soul and a living person.

They couldn’t feel anything.

Yet somehow… they felt everything.

The warmth of his arms.

The words he wanted to say.

Even the thoughts in each other’s hearts.

“I know everything. So please stop blaming yourself.”

“…Sob….”

“I’m sorry for being selfish.”

“I… actually lied. I want to walk with you, eat with you, and fall asleep beside you. I wanted to close my eyes and pretend I didn’t know anything… and take your hand.”

“…I know.”

“I missed you so much.”

“I know. I missed you too.”

Both of them closed their eyes.

They stood there quietly.

Instinctively, they knew.

This moment would be their last.

The moment to finally let each other go forever had come.

Ding—

[20 minutes remain for the sudden quest “Angela’s Wish.”]
[The purification ritual must be completed within 20 minutes.]
[The hidden event “The Final Lantern Ritual” will begin shortly.]

The message shattered the moment they wished could last forever.

“Oh, that ruined the mood.”

“Master, don’t you know about silent mode?”

“…How do you know that?”

“I heard the apostles talking about it. Isn’t that what you say at times like this?”

Apparently some NPCs quoted player slang.

Still, hearing something like silent mode was absurd.

Dohyeon chuckled quietly.

Just then—

The sunset faded, and night arrived.

Angela stepped back, looking at the moonless dark sky.

“There’s no time. We have to begin now. I’m reaching the limit of maintaining this form.”

Her soul was fading.

Time was truly running out.

“Rune. This is the last chance. Let’s correct our mistake.”

“…Angela… can I really do this?”

Unlike Angela, who had wiped her tears and spoke bravely, Gilberun looked hesitant.

“You know I can’t control mana. If I lose control during the ritual… it could become an even greater sin…”

Tap.

Something strange touched his lips.

He widened his eyes.

He hadn’t felt anything.

But somehow… it felt familiar and warm.

“What are you saying, Rune? You’re not alone.”

And her gentle voice followed.

“I’m here.”

“But you’re already… we can’t feel each other anymore.”

“We’ve done this countless times before. Listen to my voice and imagine what we used to do together. Slowly control your mana. You’ve always been capable. The only thing holding you back was your own fear and the limits you placed on yourself.”

“….”

“I’m right here with you, Rune. Nothing has changed.”

She reached out her delicate hand and smiled brightly.

“So let’s do it together. Just like always.”

“…Ah.”

As if entranced, he reached out his hand.

Their hands naturally overlapped like magnets.

Just as she said.

Even if they couldn’t see or feel each other—

What did it matter?

They were together.

“I’m sorry for showing such a pathetic side.”

“You’re finally the Rune I knew again.”

“Then… shall we dance one song together? Like we always did.”

“I’d love to.”

They closed their eyes.

[The key has been completed.]
[The fragment of power within Angela’s body is being absorbed into the “Broken Necklace of Truth.”]
[The life flame of Angela, Queen of Fratel, is fading.]

Angela’s body released a radiant light that flowed into the necklace, slowly restoring it.

At the same time, the life drained rapidly from her skin.

But the two remained standing in the same position.

“We always started by holding hands and touching foreheads.”

“I remember. Then we turned our heads to the side.”

They positioned themselves according to memory.

Then turned their heads.

“Here, I step forward.”

Step.

“Here, I lead and step forward.”

Another step.

“You remember everything. Even after so long.”

“…I remembered it every day. It would be stranger if I didn’t.”

“Even if it’s just words, I like hearing that.”

“Oh? Then shall we see if it’s just words?”

And then they truly began to move.

Like dancing a waltz.

As they stepped, light began to flow from their footsteps.

Like droplets falling on water.

The ripples of mana spread through the forest like paint across a canvas.

With every movement, the gloomy forest regained life.

Wilted plants turned green.

Dry bushes rustled softly again.

“…What is this?”

“The purification ritual… I never thought I’d see it again.”

“This is the purification ritual?”

Hyde answered Dohyeon’s question.

Luriel added:

“The king couldn’t control mana. So Angela guided him along the paths of mana she could see while they danced together. It was said to be the best way to help him sense and control it.”

“I see.”

“Watch carefully. This will be the first and last purification ritual you apostles will ever witness.”

She paused.

Then corrected herself.

“No… the true Lantern Festival.”

At that moment—

BOOM!

An enormous magic circle appeared beneath Gilberun and Angela.

The forest shook violently from the surge of mana.

Gilberun—the sage king of Fratel—was famous for his uncontrollable mana.

But his sheer mana capacity rivaled that of a grand sage.

The rumor was true.

…No, this might be more mana than a grand mage.

The massive magic circle spread across the forest—

Then reached the city.

[Hidden Event: “The Final Lantern Ritual” has begun.]
[You are being moved to the city.]
[Guardians are being forcibly transferred.]

The screen flashed.

When Dohyeon opened his eyes—

The city had changed.

Under the dark night sky, lanterns floated from buildings, alleys, and shops.

They slowly pushed back the darkness.

The river running through the city glowed like a sunset from the countless lights.

But this was different from the lanterns during the festival.

[Lanterns containing the Ember of Purification are rising.]

They weren’t ordinary lights.

They contained the Ember of Purification.

“Huh? Looks like the Lantern Festival is starting.”

“Wow! It’s beautiful! Wait… aren’t the lights different?”

“Yeah… wasn’t it less fancy before?”

“Lanterns with the Ember of Purification? What is that?”

Players stopped walking and looked up.

But it wasn’t just players.

NPCs opened their windows.

“…Ah.”

“This… could it be the Lantern Ritual?”

“But… didn’t Lady Angela pass away?”

“What in the world…?”

As confusion spread—

A resident suddenly shouted.

“Everyone, come out! This isn’t the time! David—David woke up!”

“M-My daughter! Are you awake?!”

“Everyone! Come quick! My father opened his eyes!”

The cries spread across the city.

One house.

Then another.

Then everywhere.

People who had been lying like corpses were waking up.

[The Final Lantern Ritual has begun.]
[Witness the beauty of the lanterns.]

The true Lantern Festival had begun.