The Returnee Wants Peace

The content of the operation was very simple.

It was to find the source of power leading the trials and uproot it.

'The source... is most likely to be paradise.'

The only group that benefits as the trials progress is that place. At least, everyone participating in this operation thought so.

In other words, they were now trying to pioneer a passage to paradise.

-Although the situation is quite different from what we expected... the flow is almost the same.

-There's the question of whether we can make a hole in the surface of the world, but given that rifts are appearing randomly, why can't we do it? Let's give it a try.

Hajin, hiding behind a distant tree, waved his hand as if to say he was here.

There seemed to be two or three more people beside him, but their faces weren't clearly visible due to the concealment curtain.

'Are those the reinforcements Hajin brought?'

She wondered if they were people she knew, but if so, he would have told her in advance. Still, her heart started to pound gradually.

-Oh, noona. Can you ask the Duke how many people he can usually move at once?

Froy's ability was the key point in this operation.

Because they had to finish quickly before Hajin's 'illegal resident' status became an issue.

"Froy, he's asking how many people you can usually move at once."

"It depends on the situation. Whether people are gathered in one place, how far the destination is... But are you in conversation with him now?"

"Yes. He says we should start soon."

"But why..."

Froy slightly furrowed his brow, looking at Rosha's flushed face.

Unlike her, who could look beyond the concealment curtain with [the Guiding Lantern] ability, he seemed to only recognize Hajin's existence.

However.

There was no time to delve deeply into his psychology.

"I'll share my vision with you first."

Rosha, holding hands with Froy, poured all the mana she had been saving into her eyes. Then she took out the broken orb of the water dragon from the subspace of her cape.

Swish-

Just then, strange black energy was seeping out from the cross-section of the orb.

They had to not miss the movement of that.

"Hurry and follow it!"

Even without Koko's words, Froy seemed to have that intention and moved immediately.

The surrounding scenery rushed by quickly.

The lake could be seen below what had clearly been land before, and the compressed sound of wind distorting all around constantly buzzed in their ears.

However.

What actually caught their attention was the beautiful golden cloth unfolding before their eyes.

The delicate fabric forming the world rippled beautifully.

When looking at this cloth that could only be faced when [the Guiding Lantern] was fully deployed.

They realized that the golden lines Rosha had seen so far were just one of the countless threads making up that cloth.

'It's a sight that naturally brings to mind the adjective "brilliant".'

The more so, there was a movement that particularly stood out in their vision.

The movement of the black energy.

"Rosha."

As they approached the point where the black energy was gathering, Froy quietly called her name.

Rosha reflexively felt her thigh.

"What are you doing, hurry and shoot!"

Even without Koko's advice, she had already grasped Hildor.

Seeing the fabric that forms the world with your eyes and tearing it to make a hole are worlds apart.

Isn't this when you need a sacred relic imbued with divine power?

Bang!

Confirming the black energy disappearing as if being sucked somewhere, she pulled the trigger right away.

Bang, bang, bang!

Not just once, but several times.

Perhaps because it was a weapon bestowed by the Guide God, it created a tiny flaw in the fabric while sparking.

And Hajin's sword mercilessly plunged into that flaw.

Rip!

The sacred relic 'Kilinesa', said to cut even invisible ghosts, tore through space with a white sword energy.

Surprisingly, it was a rift just big enough for the upper body to somehow enter if one curled up tightly.

"It, it's done."

"No, we need to break through more. I'll try."

"We need to repair the concealment curtain quickly too!"

Come to think of it, the sound of the concealment curtain breaking had been eerie for a while.

The people Hajin had brought as reinforcements were working hard to repair it, but unfortunately, it was breaking much faster than they could fix it.

But right after that.

Rosha realized that an extremely powerful invisible concealment curtain had enveloped this place.

'The Guide God' clears his throat loudly and takes credit.

She smiled slightly and filled Hildor with magical power.

In fact, since paradise was related to the gods, even the Guide God, who had a long connection, couldn't be completely trusted.

However, seeing him exert power like this sometimes, she couldn't help but smile.

Bang!

As Hildor's bullet passed through the middle of the rift, there was a sound like something breaking through on the other side. At the same time, bright light began to leak out.

World and world were connecting.

And.

Ding!

You have discovered part of the 'hidden truth'.

The promotion quest 'Crossroads of Choice' begins.

The trial will not end but will be temporarily suspended until the promotion quest is completed.

...Huh?

* * *

The suspension of the trial didn't mean that rifts and demonic beasts disappeared and everything returned to normal.

It just meant that new trials wouldn't open, which means...

The huge lake that formed on the plateau, the merpeople, and the water dragon would still remain in this world.

-What... what have I done?

The beautiful emerald lake.

The water dragon, quietly settled on the grass near it, muttered softly.

The water dragon's body was huge, but perhaps because it was deflated with depression, it looked much smaller than its actual size.

Amidst its scales beautifully shining in the sunlight.

Its crystal-like eyes, now free of black energy, were directed towards the merpeople who had just come out of the lake.

-It's late, but I'm glad you've come to your senses now, Lord Water Dragon.

-Ugh...

-Does your head hurt? Shall I play the flute for you?

Friel, sitting on a rock near the shore, began to play the flute.

It was the 'Clear Melody Flute' that Rosha had restored to its original function and handed over to the merpeople.

Pililili-

A clear tone that clears the mind rings out. It was on a different level from the 'whistle' heard during the trial.

"That's right. This is music."

Koko, sitting on a tree branch, nodded his head as if satisfied.

Regardless.

"..."

Rosha, who had been observing the lake situation from a distance, quietly began while listening to the flute melody.

"I have something to ask you, Froy. Did you help me in paradise?"

"...I'm not sure either. It seems so, though."

He leaned against a tree and slowly continued while watching the troops withdraw.

"During the 3 years you disappeared to take the sacred relic's trial, I asked my god for help to find you, and the god said he accepted my request."

"So that..."

"I don't know in what way. But if I imagine, if there's a way to split my soul in two and send one half to paradise..."

"Is there such a method?"

"No, I mean if we imagine it that way. Anyway, if it was something like that, and if there was a condition not to reveal myself to you... I wonder if I might have secretly helped in that way."

He shrugged, saying he couldn't be sure since it wasn't in his memory.

But Froy had a serious look in his eyes as if he would really act that way if such a situation arose.

Suddenly, she wanted to ask.

"...Froy, do you..."

But what would she do with the answer?

Whether the answer was positive or negative, what was she going to do after hearing it?

After hesitating for a moment, Rosha finally decided to change direction.

To something a little easier.

"You know, Froy. If we come back alive from that rift... shall we get engaged?"

"...Engaged?"

"You know, what was mentioned before. About fake engagement."

The man who heard Rosha's words raised his head abruptly, then furrowed his brows as if to say 'what are you talking about'. It was a very strange reaction.

What? Did I say something wrong?

"...I'm fine with just that."

"Pardon?"

"Nothing. You postponed the answer last time, I don't know what change of heart this is. Anyway, I should prepare in advance for that time then."

He spoke as if ticking, but soon straightened his body that had been leaning and dusted off his clothes.

...But.

"You're preparing already?"

"I'll have to prepare anyway because of that rift, so I'm doing it together."

He said he'd be busy soon because of this and disappeared with long strides.

Dumbfounded, Rosha suddenly turned around.

About 30 centimeters above the surface of the lake.

A new rift, carefully wrapped in multiple layers of concealment curtains, was waiting for her, emitting a soft light.