Ch.124The Last Key

# 1.

The 13th Bad Ending set according to the original sequence.

【Bad Ending 13 – <Seed of Destruction – Germination> begins.】

Immediately after a blue window appeared, countless crimson windows filled my vision.

【Warning.】

【Abyss – <Savior of Reincarnation> has approached <Hestia>, the final key that sealed the <Dragon Elder>.】

【Warning.】

【Abyss – <Savior of Reincarnation> has approached <Reina Babylonia(SS-)>.】

【Warning.】

【Bad Ending 13 – <Seed of Destruction – Germination> is accelerating.】

【Warning.】

【The probability of failure for the Unsaved Ones – <Lactea & Reina> is skyrocketing.】

The First Elder – Abyss snorted at the threatening system windows and waved his hand dismissively.

“For someone who values balance so much, you’re certainly throwing a tantrum now that you’re about to lose the bet.”

The system windows scattered with a crack under his malice-filled gesture.

Watching the fragments disperse like shattered glass, Abyss asked the woman before him:

“How were you able to maintain the barrier without the protection of Heaven?”

A question filled with genuine curiosity.

【Emitting <Malice(Ex+)>.】

Even the slightest trace of power in that simple question was overwhelming. Hestia bit her lip, barely maintaining her sanity as she answered:

“Kill him.”

A clear resolve dwelled in her amber eyes.

Seeing this, Abyss stepped back with a troubled expression, raising both hands.

“That was merely a light greeting. No need to be so hostile.”

“Shut up and kill him.”

Faced with Hestia’s unwavering demeanor, Abyss smirked and nodded.

“If that’s your wish, I’ll grant it.”

With a slight movement of his fingertip toward the window, Abyss reached the Gardner mansion.

“However, you’ll be the very last.”

“Wait—!!”

【Abyss makes a <Gesture(SSS)>.】

A crimson flash erupted before she could stop him.

—!!!

The direct hit on the mansion consumed the entire area, swallowing even the faintest sound.

“Aah…!! Aaaahhhh!!!”

Having lost everything in an instant, Hestia wailed at Abyss.

“Why!!! What reason do you have for doing this?!”

Abyss, who had been gazing at the ruined mansion, smirked at her desperate cry filled with anger, resentment, and despair, and muttered:

“So that’s it.”

Only then did Hestia see what was happening.

【The Founder of the Gardners – <Iron Wall Balak(SSS-)> manifests!】

【<Iron Wall Balak(SSS-)> activates his ultimate skill – <Cradle of Iron(SSS+)>!】

-[Everyone, flee!!!]

“F-Founder?! What is—”

-[No time for questions, run!!! That being is not something you can face!!!]

The Gardner founder, Balak Gardner, had manifested and was helping evacuate people while protecting them, assisting Hestia in maintaining the barrier.

Abyss, making eye contact with Balak, raised the corner of his mouth beneath his robe.

“Next is the heart of the Empire.”

“…!!”

“I’ll give you two choices. The location of Heaven’s Shield. Or cooperate with me.”

Panicked by the overwhelming malice moving toward the Empire, Hestia crawled on the ground and grabbed Abyss’s leg.

“Just kill me!! Kill only me!!”

“Shh. I wasn’t talking to you.”

True to his words, his gaze was fixed on Balak’s manifested spirit.

…Crunch.

Realizing that Abyss was holding countless lives hostage, Balak stopped helping with the evacuation and moved to Hestia’s side.

“It’s been a while, Iron Wall Hero.”

-[Monster… Did I fail to kill you back then?]

“You did kill me. That’s why the bet began.”

-[You will die again. This time, you’ll never wake up.]

“I look forward to it. That’s what bets are about.”

An incomprehensible conversation.

-[…What about that child?]

“I’ll use her as a vessel and return her safely. Though everyone will die anyway.”

-[How can I trust that?]

“Don’t worry. I can’t touch her until I regain my body. As you know, that’s the nature of this ‘bet’.”

Immediately after his sinister response.

Balak’s spirit form rippled greatly before seeping into Hestia’s body.

-[You’d better keep your promise. Demon King.]

“I gave up that title long ago… but I still like the name.”

After their conversation.

Balak stroked the trembling Hestia’s head and whispered:

-[Don’t worry, just sleep for a while, child.]

“But…!!”

-[It’s alright. He will help us.]

Why?

For a moment, the face of Black Wolf flashed through Hestia’s mind, but that was all.

【Warning.】

【The soul of <Balak Gardner(SSS-)> dwells within <Hestia(F)>.】

Her consciousness faded.

Balak, now dwelling in Hestia’s body, moved her previously motionless legs and stood up.

“[Demon King… be grateful that balance exists.]”

After the ominous warning, a black system window appeared before Abyss’s eyes.

【<The Final Key> has been created.】

Though far from the original plan, this result was all the more valuable because of it.

“Yes, now I’m truly grateful.”

As Il-Sik, smirking, was about to follow Hestia with the Elders, someone shouted at the two:

“H-Hestia, snap out of it!!”

Reina Babylonia.

Only able to rise after the malice had subsided, she approached Abyss, suppressing the trembling throughout her body.

“For the crime of attacking where the Emperor resides!! You shall be severely punished—!!”

Before Reina could finish, Abyss’s hand swept through the air.

THUD!!!

Though it was a casual gesture as if shooing away an insect, the impact was enough to send her crashing through a wall.

“Cough!!”

Thud.

She tried to stand again, clearing away falling debris, but couldn’t move a limb.

CRACK!

Nevertheless, Reina rose by stabbing her sword—the Empire’s first national treasure—into the ground for support.

She was the Emperor of the Empire.

Though she had been embroiled in various incidents and gained infamy, and was infinitely weak compared to the beings before her, she had subjects to protect right in front of her.

“He-stia…!!”

Recalling her decades of painful effort, she struggled to her feet and raised her sword.

“I cannot let you—!!”

THUD!!

But Reina was thrown back again.

This time, not by Abyss’s gesture, but by the new 7th Elder at his side.

“It’s over.”

“Let’s go.”

Abyss turned away as if ignoring a non-existent person, followed by the Elders.

Reina lost consciousness.

Thus, Abyss’s destination was the ancient territory of the Blood Clan, where the Dragon Elder was sealed.

On the verge of winning the bet, he unconsciously muttered excitedly:

“Victory is within reach.”

# 2.

Immediately after the crimson system window appeared.

Nahan jumped up from his seat and rushed out of the hideout.

“Why… why on earth…!”

Normally, when a Bad Ending was set, it didn’t start immediately like this.

It would flow like slowly rising water, giving ample time to prepare.

But not this time.

The Bad Ending began simultaneously with its setting, crashing down before he could stop it.

Without properly understanding anything, the world kept pushing Nahan forward.

Just like how misfortunes had relentlessly pursued him in his previous world.

This world too was pushing him to the edge of a cliff without respite.

Even so, Nahan knew.

The reason he was helplessly overwhelmed now was because of his own complacency.

If he had led his members steadfastly as before, if he had protected key figures everywhere alongside his members.

【Character – <Hestia Gardner(F)> is manipulated by <Abyss(Ex+)>.】

【<The Final Key> has been created.】

【Bad Ending 13 – <Seed of Destruction – Germination> is accelerating.】

This wouldn’t have happened.

The moment he saw Hestia’s name, memories of her flooded Nahan’s mind.

-Are you really… really working for the salvation of this world?

-What if I am?

-Honestly, I can’t believe it. You’re the leader of the worst and strongest criminal organization. But then you saved me and fixed the barrier… So you don’t seem like such a bad person… In a way, you’re a benefactor to our Gardner family…

-What exactly are you trying to say?

-Well…

She grabbed Nahan’s hand and added with an awkward smile:

-If you ever have any troubles, you can confide in me.

-What? Is this personal interest?

-P-personal interest?! N-no!! I’m just trying to repay your kindness!?

Someone who had given her heart to him, just like the Black Wolf members, someone who was now in danger because of his complacency.

Come to think of it, it had always been this way, from before his possession until now.

In the other world, his big brother, the director, and his only friend.

In this world, Luna, Hanryang, Dalan, Ruby, Pedro, and Castler.

And many others including Gwangmyeong and the Emperor—he had repeatedly put those who had become precious to him in danger.

For one reason only.

Only Nahan,

Himself.

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【Warning.】

【<???? ?? ??> takes root in the heart of <Savior of Possession>.】

【<???? ?? ??> may awaken depending on future choices.】

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Barely holding onto his fading consciousness, Nahan thought rationally.

‘First, I need to go to the Gardner estate and assess the situation.’

As Nahan, who had just managed to collect himself, was about to speak a command—

Swish.

Someone approached him instantly and held a knife to the back of his neck, whispering:

“Priest… No, Ian Red’s corpse. Where did you hide it after retrieving it?”

It was Asha, the leader of Gwangmyeong.