Obelisk of Origin (4)

Episode 93

Fortunately, the Obelisk's tremors, light, and script posed no harm to me.

If anything, it felt as though the Obelisk was welcoming me with those phenomena.

So I decided there was no need to worry about the cause or consequences of this anomaly right now.

After all, what mattered most at this moment was returning to Earth.

The vibrations from the Obelisk that had shaken the Outer Dimension gradually subsided.

"Still, this is straight-up unfair. Damn it."

Honestly, even the inexplicable phenomenon and script that had just occurred were hard to process mentally, but—

『Your origin cannot be identified.』

What the hell was this about?

Earth should be the place I'm returning to—what's going on here?

Unable to even pull my hand away from the now-dim Obelisk, I stood there completely dumbfounded.

Could it be that my status as a Possessor prevented it from identifying my origin? Most likely, yes.

Just then, Tirpe—who had locked eyes with me—hurried over.

"H-Husband...? What was that just now...?"

Even Maltaira, walking over at a leisurely pace, looked perplexed as she stared at me.

Their flustered gazes demanded answers, but I had nothing to say. Still, I couldn't just feign ignorance about the localized phenomenon like before.

For Tirpe, who was already on the verge of panic, that kind of uncertainty would only be detrimental to her mental state.

"...Ugh. I'm too disoriented right now—I'll explain later or something. The important thing is... nothing's happened to us, and getting back to Earth is our top priority now."

One thing was certain: I couldn't return to Earth based on my origin.

In that case—

"Hold on, lend me your hand."

"Eh? Wh-What?"

I pressed Tirpe's pale hand against the Obelisk.

Instantly, the Obelisk shimmered anew.

A ripple of light spread across its surface from where Tirpe made contact.

And then—

Fwah!

『Tirpe's Origin — Earth』

『Would you like to return to your place of origin?』

『However, Earth is a place destined for imminent destruction.』

『Do you still wish to proceed?』

『 Y / N 』

Such messages appeared before Tirpe's eyes.

After peeking at the message—visible only to her—using Read, I inwardly cheered.

Without realizing it, I let out a long-held breath in relief.

'Th-Thank god...'

Fortunately, Tirpe's origin was registered normally.

Tirpe herself, however, looked utterly bewildered.

"U-Um, Si-hyun. A message appeared asking if I want to return to Earth..."

"Accept it right now!"

We didn't have time for leisurely conversation.

Given how unpredictable things had just been, we needed to get out of here as soon ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as possible.

"A-Ah!"

Flustered by my urgency, Tirpe quickly pressed the message with her free hand.

Immediately after—

Piiing—

The mirror-like surface of the Obelisk emitted a clear chime before glowing faintly.

"...D-Did it work?"

Tirpe's voice, unusually buoyant, trembled slightly.

『5 minutes remain until the Earth portal opens.』

『The generated portal will remain active for 10 seconds.』

Vooooom—

The very next moment, the Obelisk's engravings began filling with light as the entire structure started to luminesce. But unlike my case, the reaction wasn't nearly as violent. So I was the special case here.

'...What? Why did the Obelisk react to me like that?'

I stared holes into the Obelisk, but...

...It didn't feel like it was welcoming me fervently anymore.

It was as if it had turned into an inanimate object.

I didn't get it.

And I doubted I'd figure it out now.

For now, I'd have to be satisfied with the fact that we could return to Earth. That was all I could ask for at this point.

"...Haa."

Letting out another sigh, I leaned my back against the Obelisk. Then I turned my gaze to Tirpe, who still looked like her mind was in shambles.

"That's a relief. Noona. Thanks to you, we can go back."

Though it was rare for me to compliment her, Tirpe's wavering eyes still seemed dazed.

"...D-Did something happen to you, husband...?"

If anyone should be asking questions, it's me.

Tirpe kept shooting me worried glances.

Relaxing my expression, I replied lightly.

"...It said to take good care of you."

"!"

"Something along those lines, anyway."

Tirpe's lips twitched briefly before she let out a bitter laugh.

"...Is that so. That someone would show me such mercy......"

Without a trace of doubt, Tirpe looked up at the Obelisk.

"...You were still here."

Her murmur carried an inexplicable loneliness.

Just as I was about to say something else, a voice cut in from the side.

["Going... already...?"

It was Maltaira, standing with her arms crossed. As the mist swirled upward, her hair became vividly clear, shimmering an icy white.

"Yeah. We have to go."

A deep sense of reluctance seeped from Maltaira.

[What a pity...]

Just then, a surge of light rose from the Obelisk.

Oooong—

With each pulse of light climbing the Obelisk, a sound like singing resonated in my ears.

"Um... Maltaira."

At that moment, Tirpe, who had been hesitating, approached Maltaira.

[?]

"Please... take this."

What Tirpe handed over was a rosary with a cross.

A religious item that wouldn't be unusual for her to possess, given her past as a former Catholic nun.

[This is...?]

"My mother... gave this rosary to me when I told her I would become a nun. It's something very meaningful to me."

Maltaira stared blankly at the rosary she had unconsciously accepted.

Tirpe smiled faintly before gently draping the rosary around Maltaira's neck.

The rosary swayed slightly as it settled against her chest.

[A mother... is she not... someone precious to you?]

"Because you, Maltaira, protected someone more precious to me than my own life."

[......]

Maltaira and Tirpe, now silent, turned their gazes toward me. Tirpe wore a radiant smile, devoid of any dullness.

"Thank you... Maltaira."

Tirpe softly took Maltaira's hands in hers.

"May the blessing of glory be upon you."

She closed her eyes tightly and prayed with utmost sincerity.

[......Though I do not believe in gods... thank... you...]

For a moment, the two women exchanged silent glances. Then, Tirpe whispered something so quietly that I couldn't hear—

No, she deliberately used the 「Whisper Transmission」 skill to ensure I wouldn't.

<If... Si-hyun ever returns to this place... I ask that you show him even the slightest mercy... Please.>

Maltaira's eyes widened.

[...You...]

Maltaira's gaze dropped to Tirpe's chest—her heart. Then, her eyes slowly closed. Her response was also conveyed through 「Whisper Transmission」.

<...Live as long as you can.>

Tirpe didn't answer.

She only smiled awkwardly.

Instead, she wordlessly stroked her swollen belly with a bitter ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠expression.

『The fetus grieves for its mother's sorrow.』

Watching from the side, I clenched my fists.

I don't know what delusions you're harboring alone, but I have no intention of letting you die. You're not alone anymore.

Is there anyone as precious to a child as their mother?

I can say with absolute certainty—no. So, to ensure the child doesn't grieve, and to ensure Tirpe herself doesn't grieve either, I will never let her die.

Suddenly, Tirpe's melancholy face flashed in my mind.

Tirpe and Maltaira clasped hands tightly before letting go.

Maltaira hesitantly touched the rosary around her neck.

As if feeling something, she gave a faint, knowing smile.

Tirpe smiled back in the same way.

"It was good to meet you."

[...Me... too...]

It was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠smile that carried the weight of farewell—one they might never exchange again.

I silently watched the scene unfold.

...No point wallowing in useless sentimentality. Focus on getting back. Ruining this moment would just be tasteless.

Precisely because Tirpe had never had a friend before now, I believed this meeting could at least soothe some of her wounds.

Meanwhile—

Oooooong—

The light, resembling a portal, grew more pronounced.

The area where Tirpe had placed her hand was gradually brightening.

Soon, we would be able to return... back to Earth.

...Or so I thought.

[Oh... my? More esteemed guests, I see...? So this is why the Obelisk acted up...?]

—Until that slick voice echoed from above.

"!"

The air turned abruptly foul.

Tirpe and I snapped our heads toward the same spot.

High up on the towering Obelisk, someone was crawling upward.

As the face slowly emerged from the mist, my eyes twitched.

[The Obelisk suddenly glowing, light converging in one place—something felt off, so I came to check, and lucky me~~]

A wanderer, gripping the smooth Obelisk with nothing but finger strength, moving like a spider.

『The Unfunny Clown』

His crescent-moon eyes shimmered like blood, and his face—locked in a perpetual weeping expression—could only be described as ominous.

Pierrot, clad in a clown outfit refined with 「Record」, descended on all fours.

[Pierrot, at your service~!]

『33 seconds remain until Earth's portal opens.』

The murderous jester from the game, grinning like a madman, had made his entrance.

『Status』

[Strength F-] [Agility D+] [Stamina G-] [Mana E]