"Yggdrasil's Seed... You've Picked a Troublesome One."

"Yggdrasil's seed... You've chosen a troublesome fellow."

As I emerged from the Curtain God's report chamber, the Curtain God regarded me with an unexpectedly wry smile, lowering the corner of his mouth.

"Just as you said, there wasn't much there worth taking. I just grabbed something that looked interesting."

"You're not asking me to believe that, are you?"

"Believe it or not, that's up to you."

"If you picked that one, you must've heard what it was tempting you with. Its stem reaches the heavens, its roots plunge into the demonic realms, and its leaves can open the gates to the spirit world. For you, who holds the connector's authority... it probably offered something a bit different, didn't it?"

"Why ask? Weren't you watching? Let's not waste time with pointless banter."

The Curtain God shrugged regretfully.

"Fine. Since you chose the chatty old tree, I've clearly failed to pique your interest. Shouldn't have shown you the report chamber."

He lightly tapped the floor with his staff.

Woooong...!

A folded cloth appeared in his palm.

Flutter!!

Unfurling it revealed not a scroll, but a cloak of deep crimson-black.

"My report chamber may not have much, but there were a few things that might've tempted you. I had high hopes since you made it through the trial—sharp eyes and all."

With a flick of his staff's tip, the cloak floated toward me.

The Curtain God dangled the cloak before me like a taunt.

Compared to the 300 defense from the White Dragon Lanselro's dragon scale trait I'd recalled via Memory Borrower's effect before, this Shadow Cloak lived up to its description—truly phenomenal performance.

"Definitely an item that turns heads."

"Exactly. Shame. I was looking forward to seeing you draped in it, under my curtain's blessing."

"If it's such a shame, why not just hand it over now that it's out?"

"Heh heh... Does that mean you're warming up to becoming my incarnation?"

"Just like the seed said."

"...Hm?"

"If you're sending me off, do it quick. 'Even gods can be petty' fits you perfectly."

At that moment, the Curtain God's amused smile froze.

"Keep the cloak. If you ever feel like joining me, bring your soul along with it."

I headed toward the drawn curtain behind the jade throne where the Curtain God sat.

"You shouldn't trust it."

"I don't trust anyone."

I glanced back at him.

"Not even you."

Whoosh—!

As the curtain parted, Isabel Silver's frantic shouts rang out.

***

"Hey!! Kim Do-hyun!! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Where are you!!"

Her voice was hoarse from all the yelling.

"Kim Do-hyun!! Get a grip!!"

"I'm right here."

"...!!!"

She whipped her head around at my voice.

"Kim Do-hyun!"

"How many times you gonna call me? Calm down."

"Haa... What the hell happened? I thought the curtain swallowed you. Non-successors trigger the trial upon entry. But if you resist the temptation, you escape quickly... Someone like you, trapped that long? First time I've seen it."

"Worried about me?"

"...Just didn't want to lose the Fairy's Eye."

"Good thing, then."

I pulled the gem from my inventory.

"It's fine. Let's go see the Veil's leader. She probably got the report and is waiting."

"You won't tell me what happened?"

"Nothing much."

I started walking slowly.

"Met the Curtain God or something?"

"...What?!"

Isabel Silver yelled at me, her face shocked.

"Is that for real?!"

Instead of answering, I quickened my pace, and she followed, practically screaming.

***

"I've heard your report. Welcome."

A woman sat on a chair woven from branches, like a miniaturized version of the Curtain God's jade throne.

[Hrm... What a fine aroma.]

Yggdrasil's Seed spoke to me, scanning the Veil's domain.

'Quiet.'

I lightly tapped the World Tree belt where I'd stashed the seed.

The belt from the White Swamp thankfully held the same World Tree power, allowing it to store the seed.

"I heard you found the Fairy's Eye and discovered a hidden chamber in Geshutalt. On behalf of the Veil, I thank you for your efforts."

Leader Asera Tanubiel rose from her chair and bowed slowly. The Veil successors behind her followed suit.

'Thought they were all stuck-up since they never showed during calamities... Guess not entirely.'

Elves were proud. Bowing to others was rare, yet Asera, as leader, expressed gratitude without hesitation.

'Or maybe the Fairy's Eye means that much to them.'

"Hrm, Isabel mentioned you got something from Ainheri..."

'That's what matters to her.'

"Yes, there was a hidden chamber inside Geshutalt. Do you know anything about Ainheri?"

I paused before pulling the stand from my inventory, mindful of the eyes on me.

"Hrm... Ainheri is a small report ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠chamber made by Alteeman, the half-elf who founded the Veil. Legend says it housed the heart of the ancient flame dragon, Red Dragon Riseria."

"Then this must be the stand that held that flame dragon's heart."

As her words ended, I revealed the stand from Ainheri.

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

'What's with that reaction?'

It wasn't even a real Dragon Heart—just the stand that held it—yet they were stunned.

"The stand itself may mean little, but it proves the legend of the first king passed down in the Veil is true."

Asera Tanubiel's eyes gleamed at the stand.

"Legend of the first king? Never heard of it."

"No surprise. It's not in human history. Bring it here."

At Asera's command, a subordinate fetched a small box.

"This is the blood oath dagger used by the first king in the era of continental unification. Exhausted now, it's just a worn relic."

Inside was an old sword, its blade side pierced with seven holes—impractical for combat.

I eyed the sword in the box.

I tried Appraisal repeatedly, but even after succeeding on a god's relic before, it showed no sign of working.

"Probably won't work. It's sealed as a relic itself."

Asera seemed to notice my attempts.

"Why show me this?"

The sword's nature intrigued me, but the leader's intent mattered more.

"I heard you need the Fairy's Eye."

I nodded.

"Then I'll give it to you. If needed, we can provide Geshutalt's ancient texts—to the extent possible."

"What do you want?"

"Purification of this sword."

"Hrm..."

Her offer was bold, but suspicious.

"Ha, too much. Even you, the Veil's leader, couldn't do it—how could I?"

"You can. No, you will. I heard you asked her about the first king. She probably said he was the first prophet to conquer the tower, before unifying the continent."

"..."

Asera smiled knowingly.

'Elves really are impossible to read.'

But her smile felt off-putting.

"Know anything about the tower?"

"Of course. Every race except humans was invited."

She gestured, and a subordinate served clear tea.

"Tea from leaves unique to the Veil. Clears the mind for better judgment. Aids mana growth too."

Asera sipped, but I ignored the cup despite her words.

"Continue the story."

"You met Norpa Jeran. Good he's alive."

"Aren't dwarves and elves on bad terms?"

"We just don't care. Not enemies. As the tower's sole survivor, he deserves respect."

"Don't you think that's excessive? How'd the Veil know his location when even dwarves didn't? And why rescue him personally? Curious."

I pressed her.

"The tower the first king conquered differs from the one we fled. This one's a later creation."

Undeterred, she answered calmly.

"Did Norpa tell you about the tower? What they saw there."

Snap.

A curtain-like barrier isolated us instantly. Only she and I remained.

As a Curtain God servant, wielding similar powers was no surprise.

"Calamity."

She'd excluded others to hear my answer.

"As expected..."

She nodded.

"Per ancestral decree, I've sought ways to counter the calamity sealed in the tower. Alteeman, who conquered it with the first king, may have created the Veil to prevent its recurrence."

Duty burned in Asera's eyes.

"The tower's seal may break someday. Everyone who knows it is dead—save Norpa. We sought him to protect the continent from the tower."

Her voice trembled faintly.

"The calamity sealed in the tower's upper levels will ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠emerge one day. The Veil must continue the first king's god-slaying legacy. Will you help me?"

"This is top-secret, even on the continent. I ask because of your ties to Norpa and tower knowledge."

"Funny."

I couldn't help but scoff at her earnestness.

"...?"

Her face hardened.

"Duty? Please. You?"

Through endless calamity loops, I'd never seen the Veil fulfill any duty.

"Hey."

I faced her.

"Cut the bullshit."