Evan... Where is This...?

"Evan... where... is this...?"

After finishing everything, I brought Hayes to the World Tree. Her eyes widened at the spot, far removed from the Shadow Forest. Unlike the Shadow Forest where the dense leaves blocked out the sky, this place welcomed us with the open heavens and vibrant greenery.

Saaah—!

A golden glow appeared, and the World Tree manifested before us.

"...Who...? That's my face..."

The World Tree smiled at Hayes's words. It was still hard to get used to seeing Hayes's own face smiling back at her. The World Tree met Hayes's gaze with a smile.

"Ah..."

Just as she had done with me, the World Tree sent her thoughts directly into Hayes's mind. Hayes instantly understood everything that had happened and burst into tears.

"I... wasn't cursed from birth... Evan."

Hayes looked up at me. The elves' words that her very existence was a sin. Those words had bound her entire life. And now, her own mother, the World Tree, had denied them. If not for the false prophecy of the firstborn daughter, she would have lived a blessed life.

Hayes kept crying endlessly. It was a sob mixed with all sorts of emotions. I didn't offer words of comfort.

"Ah..."

I simply pulled her into my arms. I could feel her body trembling against me. Hayes, who had endured alone for 50 years. I just wanted her to know I was here.

"It's okay."

"...Yeah."

I straightened the bangs of Hayes in my arms. Her covered eye came into view. The Death Eye was shattered. Even after consuming the World Tree Fruit, one of Hayes's eyes hadn't returned.

"You can heal it? How?"

The World Tree smiled and pressed her forehead against Hayes's. One side shedding tears, the other smiling. They looked more like sisters than mother and daughter. A golden glow and life mana rose from the World Tree's body. The life mana, flickering like fireflies, clung to Hayes.

"...!? I can see... not death... but life..."

The shattered Death Eye filled with gold. Hayes, stunned, touched her eye. Now, both eyes shared the same pure color.

The World Tree pulled back from Hayes's face. At her will, a scythe of finality rose from Hayes's shadow. With a light gesture, the scythe came to the World Tree's hand. I asked the World Tree, who was reclaiming the power of death.

"Won't an excess of life force be a problem?"

The World Tree's thoughts: 500 years would be fine. It was because the underworld was endlessly open here, pouring out death.

"So, Hayes's power has turned her into an ordinary elf now."

It meant we'd never see the power of the Dark Lord boss again. It couldn't be helped. This idiot had kept opening the underworld and dying after I left. Still, living a new life might not be so bad. Even though the Swallower had revived, there were no more world-threatening entities left. We could manage without Hayes's power.

The World Tree shook her head. The golden glow gathered in her hand, forming a single branch. She extended it to Hayes.

"Mother, this is...?"

Her thoughts revealed what it was. An incredible item. Far beyond the hidden piece, the scythe of finality. The World Tree's oldest branch, Yggdrasil. An item that had only existed in data, just like the fruit.

As Hayes took the branch, multicolored glows began gathering around her. Fire spirits, wind spirits, earth spirits, darkness spirits... Various energies emanated from the glows. A power similar to yet distinct from mana.

"Spirits...?"

The spirits that had fled from the Abyss swarmed to Hayes. They welcomed her, circling around gleefully.

The thoughts: Since the World Tree awoke, the risk of Abyss corruption had lessened for the spirits. With Yggdrasil and the Eye of Life, she could repel the Abyss.

"Mother... thank you."

Hayes bowed her head in gratitude, and the World Tree smiled with her eyes. She had taken death from Hayes and given her the power of life. Everything had worked out well. The outcome was good, but I was curious why this idiot Hayes had kept opening the underworld.

Time to find out the cause.

"Hayes, more importantly, why did you open the underworld? I left a letter and items."

"Letter...?"

Hayes tilted her head in confusion.

"Didn't you see the letter when you equipped the gear I left? I wrote that I'd be gone for a bit alone."

I hadn't expected 5 days to turn into 50 years. But I had left a letter, yet Hayes looked completely clueless.

"...When I got there... only these shoes were left..."

So someone else took it?

"Who came first?"

"..."

Hayes fell silent.

"Then, do you know where the others are?"

"...No."

Headache. I wanted to smack her. Hayes was just as much of an idiot as Rapi. But no need to ruin the touching moment. I sighed inwardly and extended my hand to Hayes.

"Anyway, give me back my shoes. I need them."

"...Okay."

The Star Relic Set. The gear I'd left behind. Top-tier performance in Adenia. Among them, Hayes had the Shadow Moon Boots. They allowed shadow manipulation. At max potential, Shadow Dive—teleport to a marked shadow. Full of restrictions, but incredibly useful mobility. It was how ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I'd visited Hayes daily while confined in the Great Forest.

And most importantly, the Star Relic Set ignored the Drift debuff. It even mitigated it. Like an anchor pulling a drifting soul back to Adenia.

"Long time no see. This sensation."

Slipping on the boots after nearly a month, I felt all my abilities strengthen. Muscles evolved, mana filled to the brim. Long-dormant senses awoke. I quickly opened the Status Window.

All stats up from 20 to 40, and now Divinity was usable. If I found the remaining three pieces, full stats would return. I scrolled down to traits. I expected 2-3 out of many to unlock. Please let it include communication traits for the others.

"Fuck."

No communication traits, just raw power. Starlight Mana was powerful. I'd forced it via mana replication before; now it was innate. All mana infused with starlight power—a cheat trait. Meaning even non-aura magic could erase the Abyss. But unlock magic-use traits too, you crazy Status Window. At least give Mana Heart or Dual Circuit to cast spells.

Intimidation wasn't bad either. Weaker foes couldn't harm me. It enabled half-destroying the Imperial Capital. Better than duds like Soul Bond—gained from Hayes's soul wedding, boosting death power and locating souls. No need now.

The unlocked traits weren't bad... but meh. Still, gotta be grateful...?

"...Evan, is something wrong...?"

I shook my head at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Hayes's worried voice.

"Nothing at all."

Meeting the others would work out somehow.

The World Tree's thoughts came. Rapi had woken up.

"Rapi...? Who's that?"

"An idiot like you."

Hayes furrowed her brow at "idiot."

"I... am not... an idiot."

Hugging the branch, she puffed her cheeks. Just like Rapi.

"Anyway, there's a kid you'll like. She has spirit powers mixed in."

"...A girl?"

Couldn't hold back. Thwack—!

"Eek—!"

I flicked her forehead for the misplaced jealousy. Ruining a touching day with a fist. Idiot Hayes.

"What are you thinking about a kid."

"It hurts..."

Unlike thick-headed Rapi, tears welled in Hayes's eyes. She clutched ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her head, looking up at me.

"Sigh... anyway, let's go."

Following the World Tree, there was an idiot looking around.

"Waaah...!? Evan-nim! Where is this!?"

Rapi's eyes widened upon spotting me.

"The World Tree's place. And how long were you sleeping, Rapi? Everything's done."

At my words, Rapi shot up.

"Whaaaaat!?!? No way... for real?"

While she slept, Spilvena died, the revived Abyss was slain, and Hayes was met—Rapi gave a hollow laugh.

"This is... something."

Rapi crossed her arms, grumbling.

"This kid... is Rapi...?"

Hayes peeked from behind.

"Who are you...?"

Rapi tilted her head in confusion.

"Hayes, the one called Dark Lord."

Hayes nodded at my intro. Her hair shifted in the simple greeting, revealing a golden eye.

"!!!!"

Rapi's jaw dropped at Hayes's eye.

"Someone as beautiful as Professor Ariel... is the Dark Lord!? Wow..."

The shy Rapi around others acted freely with Hayes. She circled her, gasping in admiration. Probably felt familiarity from the spirits.

"...Somehow... embarrassing..."

Hayes shrank, signaling me for rescue with her eyes. I ignored her.

"...Evan!?"

Hayes looked shocked. But she'd get comfort eventually. After the trouble she caused, let her suffer Rapi for a while.

Leaving Hayes and Rapi to play, I looked at the World Tree. She watched us with a warm smile.

More business? I asked if she knew about the others.

She had no idea who. Asleep all this time, unaware of world events.

"Tch..."

With Hayes found, time for the others. Need to track the remaining three.

"Ah!!! Evan-nim!!!"

Rapi called me, playing with Hayes's hair. Hayes flailed helplessly, begging me with her eyes.

"I remember!! The person Evan-nim asked about! The Saintess!"

Hummm—!

Innumerable stars spread across the sky like a blanket. Starlit Night. The ultimate technique of Hero Style Swordsmanship she created with him. Proof he'd returned after 50 years.

"...He's back."

Even the faint starlight here was clear in her eyes.

Splurt—!

The face of the one who spoke to her vanished without a trace. Blood poured from the collapsing corpse. An Abyss entity with named-level mana perished from her indifferent tail swipe. She retracted her tail without a glance, as if swatting a bug.

Her surroundings were already piled with countless corpses. Just one more. Another Abyss entity filled the spot.

An Abyss voice echoed from the darkness. Her tail swung again. No matter how many fell to her tail, the Abyss knelt and prostrated before her.

Her red eyes, gazing at the sky, glared at the prostrating Abyss. Those touched by her gaze burst like balloons. These wretched bugs couldn't rebel even if all slain. Upon seeing her, joy exploded in their souls. Their purpose became serving her alone, whether she wanted it or not.

"Vanish from my sight, all of you."

Splurt—!

At her words, the prostrating Abyss ended their own lives. The irritants were gone. Yet endless Abyss from the abyss approached ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her. She turned from the vicious cycle.

She gazed at the star-filled sky, seeking traces of vanished starlight. His traces. Memories of their journey surfaced. A brief comfort to her weary heart. They saved the world together. Everything was new with him. Hard but joyful days. And when he vanished...

Her dormant blood awakened. She looked at her body. Abyss scales covering it, sturdy tail, horns piercing the sky.

"Disgusting."

Though unwanted, the Abyss blood made her queen.

"..."

His old tale resurfaced: Wish on a falling star, and it comes true. A story he told when she couldn't sleep. She watched the fading star traces.

With a face full of longing, she voiced her one wish.

"Father. Come kill me soon."