Ch.40First Clear

# Mental World

A realm that only those who have reached lofty heights, like Sword Masters or Great Sages, can manifest.

Most create their domain based on their happiest moments, but there are occasional exceptions.

Because they’ve never been happy,

Because there exists an emotion greater than happiness,

Because their happy memories have worn away.

Among many reasons, Mother’s case was the third.

“Mom, I…”

Because her happy memories had worn away.

“I am…”

Selena’s gentle voice,

Her soft gestures,

That smile resembling moonlight.

Each time she failed to be a mother she could be proud of, she forgot a little more, like stone eroded by wind.

She had been reaching for the moonlight, but if only she had realized sooner that her feet were stuck in inescapable mire.

…No, that’s not right.

Even if I could go back in time, I would make the same choice to save you.

Yes.

That’s the kind of person I am.

A terrible monster and hypocrite who would sell out any number of innocent people for the safety of those I love.

So, Luna.

“You…”

You, the brightest moonlight in the world.

“Please… don’t… live… like… me…”

As Mother’s outstretched hand was about to touch Luna’s cheek, it dissolved.

It was inevitable.

In the real world, Mother was merely a thought-entity parasitizing Luna’s body; it was natural for her to lose form as the mental world collapsed.

Of course, she could have returned to her thought-entity state and parasitized Luna’s body again, but that was only possible if the thought-entity’s power remained intact.

Balkan,

Black Wolf,

Dark Wolf, and others.

Mother’s thought-entity, which had protected Luna from all manner of threats, was already destined for extinction, and she herself was aware of this.

To be honest, it was regrettable.

Just when she had finally become honest, there was no time for a lengthy conversation before dissolving.

She wished she could at least wipe away tears with a whole hand.

…Thud.

Because of these pitch-black lingering attachments that could no longer maintain human form.

But it’s alright.

Because Luna, the last remaining ray of light who loved even someone like her,

-Please take care of my daughter.

-…Have no worry.

Would surely be happy.

So she could close her eyes without regret.

【Time, as always.】

Time would flow as it always does, and along with it, sorrow and attachments would fade.

“Lu…na.”

May you please.

Be happy, and happy again.

Just as Mother was about to close her eyes.

“…No.”

Luna, who was embracing her, wiped away her tears and met her gaze.

Reddened eyes,

Disheveled hair,

Trembling lips.

Despite her face being a mess of tears and snot, Luna smiled and added:

“My dream is still to be like you, Mom.”

“…?”

“I… I want to become strong like you and protect the people I love.”

A smile barely holding back tears, looking as if it might crumble at any moment.

But even so.

“Thank you, Mom. I love you. So much.”

Because that expression never crumbled, Mother was able to grasp a shining ray of light in her fading consciousness.

-I’m going to be a strong mercenary like Mom!

Memories and recollections vividly surfacing, with Luna smiling at the end of them.

“…Ah.”

Mental World.

A realm that only those who have reached lofty heights, like Sword Masters or Great Sages, can manifest.

Most create their domain based on their happiest moments, but there are occasional exceptions.

Because they’ve never been happy,

Because there exists an emotion greater than happiness,

Because their happy memories have worn away.

Among many reasons, Mother’s case was the third.

“Mom, I…”

Because her happy memories had worn away, but,

“I’ll definitely… definitely become someone like you, Mom.”

-I’m going to be a strong mercenary like Mom!

Now that she recalled all those memories.

【<Mother(S-)>’s Mental World – <Wandering Troupe Disappearance> is changing.】

【Mental World – <Moonlight Ripple> is manifesting.】

In the vision of one facing her final moments, in the vision of Mother who had lived her entire life under darkness, clear moonlight shone through.

Thus obtained,

【Under <Moonlight Ripple>, the caster’s rank breaks through its limit.】

【The physical body is temporarily reconstructed.】

For a brief few seconds.

Mother, who could finally grasp the moonlight, reached out toward it.

“I love you, Luna.”

She whispered as she wiped away the stained tears,

Click.

She removed her mask and placed it on Luna, embracing her one last time and whispered again.

“I love you, my daughter.”

You were,

“The only light in my life that had not a single point of brightness.”

A pure white smile filled with sincerity.

That was the end.

【Part of <Mother(S-)>’s power is transferred to the fourth member – <Luna(S)>.】

【<Moonlight Ripple> is terminated.】

【The Unredeemed One – <Mother(S-)> falls into a deep sleep.】

The mental world vanished in an instant,

Mother scattered like mist,

Luna left alone beneath it all.

A complete farewell.

“Aah…!!”

Luna, who had finally stopped crying earlier, burst into tears again and trembled for a long time.

-Smile brightly, and you’ll find a way to live.

-That’s right, smile a little more.

-More brightly, smile like the moonlight in the sky.

-And someday you’ll find a way to live.

Someday time will pass, sorrows will dull, and great happiness will come,

-When it’s too hard, wear the mask and cry.

-So your enemies can’t target you.

-But strive and strive again.

-So that someday you can smile even while wearing the mask.

But for now,

Just for a little while.

“Mom… I love you…”

“…Lean on me, Luna.”

It’s okay to be sad.

.

.

.

【Main Scenario – <The Unredeemed Ones – Luna & Mother> has been completed.】

【The fourth member – <Luna(S)>’s rank has risen to <Luna(SS-)>.】

【Rewards are being distributed.】

【Warning.】

【By clearing and accepting the <Main Scenario>, we inform you that the development may differ from <Original – Babylonia>.】

*

【”Nahan, I hope you walk a different path than mine.”】

【According to the contract between <Dark Wolf(Ex)> and <Aria(???)>, the world assists you.】

【The previously failed sub-quest – <Face Behind the Mask> has been successfully cleared.】

【The past memories of all members belonging to <Black Wolf> are being distributed.】

*

【Bad Ending 7 – <Fanatic’s Rebellion> is set upon the world’s fate.】

*

【Main Scenario – <The Unredeemed Ones – Playboy & Nasturtium> begins.】

【”You, always enchanting, are my eternal unchanging love.”】

2.

The day after Black Wolf attacked <Gardner County> again.

Rumors spread throughout the region.

“I heard Black Wolf suffered a crushing defeat against the Hero Party and barely escaped with their lives?”

Some snickered with relief,

“Are you mad?! Do you have a death wish?! How dare you speak that name!! Didn’t you hear that soldiers and mercenaries were completely annihilated…!!”

Others feared them even more than before,

“How was it, Balkan!? Those Black Wolf guys, are they as strong as Asha!?”

“I’m hungry, Marin. Give me food first.”

“…Make it yourself, idiot.”

“Oh…!! That’s an option…!!”

While some sparkled with interest at the unexpected news.

“Ugh. Maybe I’m too tense, but why do I feel sleepy no matter how much I sleep?”

It wasn’t Nahan’s concern.

“Nngh…!!”

As the sun began to tilt sideways after passing noon, Nahan finally opened his eyes in the “Ian Red” exclusive hideout, which had just enough space cleared for a person to live.

“…How did I get in here yesterday?”

He rubbed his sleepy eyes, trying to recall.

Calming down the sobbing Luna, calming down Lactea who threatened to kill everyone, calming down Ruby who begged to sleep beside him just for tonight…

“…Let’s not think about it.”

Whatever happened, the cleanup was done well and his head was still attached, so it should be fine.

He pressed his throbbing head and chewed on a piece of dried jerky.

As something entered his empty stomach, his stiffened brain gradually began to function.

“First, I need to set up ‘Ian Red’ fully… Oh. I should check these too.”

Nahan finally checked the system windows he had pushed to the corner of his vision.

Status windows he hadn’t been able to check while calming down the sobbing Luna, the extremely angry Lactea, and the whining Ruby.

“The Unredeemed Ones, Bad Ending, Main Scenario… Why are there so many?”

He was too tired to properly open his eyes, yet there was a mountain of text to read.

But what could he do?

He had to read it to survive.

Finally, he took out another piece of jerky and organized the messy system windows in order.

“Well then…”

Starting with checking the rewards,

Seeing an ominous golden status window, suggesting he had accomplished more than expected, he reached out his finger into the air to feel some dopamine, when,

“Oh, were you praying?”

A familiar voice came from right behind him.

Hastily turning his head to check, he saw an expressionless sky-blue woman.

“…When did you come in?”

“When you were about to pray, saying ‘Well then.'”

“…I see.”

Thankfully, she must have used an artifact to disguise herself as Ian Red before entering.

“You could at least knock.”

“I did. The door opened, so I came in.”

Following Asha’s gaze, Nahan saw a half-destroyed old door.

“In our society, we’ve collectively agreed to use the expression ‘broken’ rather than ‘opened’ to describe such a state.”

“…Perhaps, are you displeased that I came to find you?”

As the questioning fist was firm, Nahan extended his awkwardly waving hand to grasp Asha’s hand, bowed his head, and whispered.

“Let us pray.”

“…!!”

For another day of survival.

A little while later.

After finishing the prayer, Asha extended her right hand to Nahan, who was bringing tea, and proposed:

“Please join our party.”

“…Pardon?”

“Please join our party.”

…The Hero Party?

‘I’m already Black Wolf, Yellow Dragon, and Ian Red, and now the Hero Party too?’

Momentarily flustered, Nahan nodded with a faint smile and answered.

“I must decline.”

“May I ask why?”

“Ah, well…”

Because I already have three active accounts.