Ch.147The Unredeemed

1.

Pain was something I was accustomed to.

From the previous world to this one, my life had been far from peaceful.

【Warning.】

【You have sustained a fatal injury.】

【If <You> die, according to the <Black Wolf(Ex+)> contract restriction, the contractor – <Abyss(???)> will also die.】

Nahan removed Iaso’s ring from his finger as he closed his eyes.

His body, which had been healing faster than the dagger could penetrate, ceased functioning.

“『This…!! You insane human…!!』”

Though a terrible malice more dreadful than pain pierced his ears, even this would soon disappear.

“Thanks for the compliment.”

Nahan raised his middle finger toward the Abyss, then surrendered to the overwhelming dizziness.

‘…What was it all for?’

Why was I sacrificing my life for a world that had nothing to do with me?

No sooner had this small question crossed his mind than countless faces flashed before him.

Emperor Reina,

Hero Asha,

Vice-Captain Lactea,

The Black Wolves, Gwangmyeong, mercenaries, the many people he had briefly encountered, and the unfortunate souls sacrificed by the Abyss who were connected to them.

Remembering their pain made his chest ache as if it were his own.

But following that came the gratitude of those he had saved and those who had been rescued.

-I am fortunate to have you.

-…Thank you.

-For saving us… we will live for the Captain from now on.

Recalling the voices of those closest to him provided some comfort.

【Caution.】

【Your body is weakening as multiple <Black Wolf(Ex+)> contracts have been canceled.】

But everything would soon depart.

Fortunately, unlike the previous world, it wasn’t them leaving him, but him leaving them.

【Grade is being adjusted.】

【<Black Wolf(Ex+)> → <Black Wolf(D)>】

As the contracts with his unit members were canceled, excruciating pain enveloped his entire body.

It was to be expected.

Before him stood the Abyss, the worst and strongest entity that hadn’t even appeared in the original work.

With a body reduced to D-grade, he wasn’t even permitted to stand before it.

Crack,

Crunch.

Terrible rupturing sounds from inside and outside his body, and his limbs twisting.

His body, now without Iaso’s ring, stopped healing, and death approached rapidly.

There was no worry.

The original owner of this body, the Black Wolf, was an agent who had gone through countless cycles with the Goddess.

When blocking the Abyss’s skill with Invincibility, hadn’t he confirmed that the Goddess’s divinity resided within the Black Wolf’s skills?

Although he lacked skills suitable for attack and had to resort to this method,

*However, if the contract target dies, you will also die.

This restriction would surely work, so if he closed his eyes now, the Abyss would certainly disappear as well.

Therefore…

“I have no regrets, no lingering attachments.”

As death approached and he lay down, just for a moment.

…Pat, pat, pat.

Someone who had walked barefoot through the Abyss and approached him asked:

“『Do you really think so?』”

Despite his closed eyes, the brightness made Nahan slightly open them.

Only then did he fully face the being before him.

Just as he had recognized the divine nature upon seeing the Abyss, it was the same this time.

“…Goddess?”

Nahan asked unconsciously, but the Goddess, who had somehow embraced him, merely wore a sad expression and whispered softly:

“『If I had known you would make this choice, I shouldn’t have believed Hyeseong’s words.』”

“……What?”

2.

Hyeseong.

The savior of Nahan in the previous world, and now his only friend who had become a star.

The moment that name left the Goddess’s lips, Nahan instinctively grabbed her arm.

“How do you know that child?”

At Nahan’s fierce question, the Goddess raised her head and met his eyes.

“『That child… was the savior of possession in the cycle right before you.』”

“…What?”

As soon as he understood what the Goddess said, his grip on her arm tightened.

“You used that sick child as a tool?”

“『…Please calm down and listen.』”

“Calm down? After making that sick child go through all that suffering? Don’t tell me Hyeseong’s sudden deterioration was because of you…!!!”

As Nahan’s anger spread like fire, the Goddess spoke calmly.

“『It was what Hyeseong wanted.』”

“What…?”

“『The condition for bringing in a savior of possession is that the subject must wish to leave their original world. Among all the possessed, Hyeseong was the one who desired it the most.』”

As soon as the Goddess finished speaking, a golden system window appeared.

What was visible was a central plaza.

-…Huh? It doesn’t hurt?

There, Hyeseong, possessed in his original body, examined himself curiously.

He was just as frail as when he had been lying in the hospital bed, but he could stand and walk.

A system window appeared before Hyeseong.

【Please save the world.】

-This world is destined for destruction. Please save <???? ?? ??> who will suffer for eternity after the world’s annihilation.

-Reward: Return to your original world.

-Failure: Death.

A window simpler than what Nahan was dealing with, more of a command than a request.

Hyeseong wandered around for a long time to understand the situation, and soon realized:

-This is what Han hyung liked, isn’t it?

Just as Nahan had done after possession, he realized this was a world from a novel.

And so, what Hyeseong chose was──

-Why not!

Like Nahan, he chose to save the world.

But what was slightly different was that Hyeseong tried to save everyone.

-Flora. You were deceived by the Abyss, weren’t you?

-…I will pay for my sins with death, there’s no need for the savior to understand.

-No. You should be understood and not die. You should live to make amends. The sins you committed don’t disappear so easily.

-…I know.

-But! Since you’re sincerely repenting, isn’t it okay to be happy sometimes?

-……What?

Many people were saved by Hyeseong.

The Emperor,

The Hero,

Gwangmyeong.

Even the Black Wolf unit members who existed while <Black Wolf> remained <Black Wolf>.

-Hyung told me. It would be nice if everyone could be happy together, he said.

Hyeseong moved toward the conclusion, showing behavior befitting a savior.

He even reached the Abyss and tried to understand it too.

Of course, he only tried briefly until he realized the Abyss’s ‘true nature,’ after which he chose to confront it with all his might.

Nevertheless, the result was defeat.

The reason was simple.

“『Because the Abyss was more evil than Hyeseong could imagine.』”

A twisted and crushed terrible malice.

“『That child didn’t know either. That ■■■■ ■■ ■■ was both the source of the Abyss’s power and hostages difficult to give up.』”

The Abyss sent the 2nd Elder to make an offer.

If he surrendered willingly, it wouldn’t annihilate ■■■■ ■■ ■■.

If he ignored ■■■■ ■■ ■■ and fought, he could save the world, but ■■■■ ■■ ■■ would all be annihilated.

So Hyeseong made his decision.

-Aria. We still have one chance left, right?

-『But…!!』

-I’ll protect ■■■■ ■■ ■■, so please bring in Han hyung. Hyung is… someone more amazing than me, who saved me when I was about to become this world’s savior.

A conclusion where he didn’t finish it himself, but entrusted everything to the next person.

After finishing her explanation, the Goddess closed the system window and looked at Nahan.

“『Hyeseong said that you were strong enough to never give up on anything, no matter what situation arose.』”

That was something Hyeseong often said.

He would ask how his hyung could be so amazing, how he could be so strong.

Hyeseong didn’t know.

That what Nahan refused to give up on were only the precious things around him, while he had long ago given up on his own life and happiness.

That’s why this time too, he tried to sacrifice himself to protect everyone, and until he spoke with Aria, he had no regrets.

But now.

“『If you give up on yourself like this… that child will perish along with ■■■■ ■■ ■■.』”

Now that he realized there was something he needed to protect, even by overcoming death.

…Grind!

Nahan clenched his teeth so hard they might break and rose from where he was lying.

“Explain. Everything.”

This was not a choice but a necessity.

“『…If that’s what you wish.』”

Meeting his clouded eyes, Aria carefully brought her hands together and then spread them.

【Condition met.】

【All seals on <Abyss> have been released.】

【Accessing previously restricted information.】

【Information about <■■■■ ■■ ■■> → <Those Who Were Not Saved> is now provided.】

Nahan closed his eyes and organized the information.

As he sorted through the memories filling his mind, as if imagining the past.

-Those who were not saved…?

The voice of Hyeseong, whom he had missed so much.

-What is this…? Why are people there?

It came through more clearly than before.