Reunion with Diabolica, Opener of the Abyss
She had returned safely—her longing, her aspiration, her expectation, her plea, her long-cherished wish, her heart's desire.
The third seed, Diabolica the Opener of the Abyss, had believed her mother would come for her again someday.
I promise. If I ever awaken from this slumber, I'll save you.
Those had been her mother's very words, right before she was sealed away in that distant land long ago.
Someday, her mother would return. Even if she suffered in this torment at the hands of vile wretches, if she just waited, her mother would welcome her back someday.
Even though she herself had failed to uphold her mother's will, even as a failure, she believed her mother would surely come for her again.
"Mother...?"
At some point, she opened her eyes.
Liberated from endless agony. Her long-awaited mother had come for her.
"...Diabolica greets Mother once more, after these long ages."
She welcomed the mother who had appeared before her.
"Eueueue...! W-wait a sec... Can't... breathe...!"
"Oh dear! My apologies. I never imagined Mother would become so small and adorable."
She had hugged her so tightly in her longing, only for her shrunken master to panic, so she let go.
"You're the super cool sis my sis was looking for, right?"
"Pardon...?"
Diabolica froze for a moment. There was no doubt—this was her mother before her...?
Through their bond, she could clearly sense the soul of all plants' creator, the great ancient being.
Wait... she might be a little different now.
She delved deeper into the bond. There, she confirmed something pure intertwined with her mother's soul.
It wasn't an impurity she could simply excise—something perfectly fused with her mother.
And at the same time, she read the memories. She understood immediately how her mother had changed.
"...You've lost so much. I will serve you."
"Huh...?"
"Yes. I am the super cool sis you've been seeking."
"Waaah! Finally found her! This rules!"
Watching her joyful mother, Diabolica reached her conclusion.
How it had happened. What had been lost. None of that mattered greatly.
The one before her was undoubtedly her mother. Even if her form had changed a bit, she had no doubt this was the being she must devote her loyalty to.
The moment I met super cool sis, those hard-to-read letters flew by again, just like last time.
"Longed-for garden...? What's that?"
Shall we try making a flower field next?
A cozy home where lots of friends can gather together.
"A garden, hmm. Yes, that does seem necessary. Unlike the first or second seeds, some seeds do require a nest."
Super cool sis—Diabolica sis—answered my mumbling, pointing at nearby Deobseok-i and the Kkumteuli on my wrist.
"Um... so besides Deobseok-i and Kkumteuli, there are more friends? We gotta make comfy homes for them too? What about you, Rica sis?"
"I'm fine. But Deobseok-i, Kkumteuli, and Rica sis... Truly, you are Mother through and through. Hehe..."
Diabolica smiled faintly when I shortened her long name.
Everyone seems to love the names I give. Deobseok-i and Kkumteuli did too.
"But why does everyone call me Mother when they see me? I'm not a mom though...?"
If anything, until recently, shouldn't it have been "dad"?
It feels a tiny bit burdensome every time I hear it.
"It's a term of respect. You deserve to be called that. Does it burden you?"
"Yeees... a little. My name's Yeon Chorok, so call me by name?"
"A human name, I see. Understood. From now on, I shall address you as Chorok-nim."
"Rica sis, drop the 'nim' please? Just Chorok is fine...?"
Mother or Chorok-nim feels a bit much. I get that my friends like me, but still.
"That would be difficult... How could one of my lowly station...?"
Eung? She's making such a sad face. Is it that important? "Ah, got it... Call me that then!"
"Thank you. Chorok-nim. I shall continue to serve you."
This sis reminds me a bit of the greenhouse plants from before. They talked like they were in a historical drama too.
Is Rica sis older than she looks? Like those pretty, youthful, perky long-lived folks in comics.
"Anyway, now that we've beaten the old man, we should get outta here...?"
People outside must be worried. I came in alone, and Seonhwa sis tried to stop me at the end.
"Ah. Allow me to guide you. This way, please."
"Yup!"
Following Rica sis a short way, something familiar appeared before me.
You know, the round orb. The dungeon core at the end. Third time now, so I'm used to it.
"This repulsive chaos has thoroughly defiled it. I'll restore it briefly. Please wait a moment."
—Kugugugugu!
Rica sis touched the dungeon core, and the walls rumbled and crumbled like an earthquake.
Isn't this gonna cause a real quake?
"Chorok-nim, it's dangerous—take my hand."
Right then, Rica sis grabbed my hand tight. Super shaky, but holding on kept me from falling. Nice!
"Whoaaa..."
A moment later, I gasped at the sight before me. You know those little houses in gardens for tea? One like that was nearby. The surroundings felt like a meadow.
"All the useful ones have returned to the soil. Even the remnants of that repulsive chaos linger uncleaned."
As she said, everything was charred black. No healthy plants left—all withered and twisted...
"This land isn't suitable as a garden foundation right now. We'll aim for later. It's just a small plot anyway—better to take our time."
"Was this originally Rica sis's land?"
"Yes. But long ago, much was destroyed. No need to cling to it."
"Hmm... Still, let's come back someday! It's pretty here. I wanna restore it to how it was!"
We need a separate garden, but abandoning this feels wasteful.
Plus, it's land Seo-ah's grandpa bought—what if we fix it up pretty and show him? He'd be happy, right?
"Hehe... Understood. We'll return someday. Then, as you wish, let's exit."
"Yup!"
But wait, Rica sis isn't wearing anything right now. Gotta cover her up before going out.
And tell the worried folks I'm okay!
. . .
"Still... still no opening?"
"We're doing everything we can. Please calm down, Seonhwa Officer!"
"Damn it... All of Yusung's elite hunters suffering physical overload, civilians unconscious... What kind of disaster is this...?"
Stepping outside, the entrance was packed with Management Bureau folks, Seonhwa officer, and hunters with shiny weapons ready for action.
Everyone's faces looked even graver than before.
"Huh...? That person...?"
"Chorok!"
Spotting me, Seonhwa sis dashed through the crowd to my side.
"Are you okay? Nothing happened!?"
She must've been really worried. Like hugging tight and whispering "thank goodness" in my ear?
"I'm fine! It's all over. I handled everything!"
"Is that true...? Unbelievable. Really..."
"With Chorok-nim's power, it was entirely possible. I shall testify to that."
"And who might you be...?"
Seonhwa sis let go of her hug and faced Rica sis.
"Ah! My new friend! Her name's Rica sis!"
"A friend...? Chorok's new summon?"
"Hmm... kinda like that?"
Deobseok-i and Kkumteuli don't seem human, so summons fits, but Rica sis... not sure.
"Pleased to meet you. I am Chorok-nim's third seed, Diabolica. What is your relation to Chorok-nim?"
"I'm Seonhwa, officer in the Hunter Management Bureau's Personnel Division. I'm in charge of Chorok's Awakener Protection Program."
"Hmm... like a human guardian of sorts."
—Beep! Beep!
Right then, ambulance sirens blared loudly near the gate.
What's this? Are tons of people badly hurt?
"Seonhwa sis, what's going on?"
"Haa... Civilians who appeared at the gate entrance earlier passed out from the monsters. Hunters resisted somehow, but civilians still haven't woken."
"Seo-ah and her grandpa too...?"
"..."
Seonhwa sis clamped her mouth shut.
I scanned around frantically and soon spotted them.
"Seo-ah! Seo-ah's grandpa!"
They were laid out on blankets nearby. Healer hunters shone blue lights over them nonstop, but no one woke.
"No skills are working...!"
"We have to do something! At least emergency treatment before hospital transfer...!"
The healers looked deadly serious. This is bad, right? Seo-ah and her grandpa will wake up, yeah?
"...The foul spawn of Shagai, no doubt."
"Huh...? Rica sis, you know something?"
"Yes. I know the cure. With my power, no issue."
"Then do it now! I hate seeing people down! It's all those bugs' fault!"
"Yes. As Chorok-nim desires."
Rica sis reached toward the sky. Green light shimmered brightly from her hand.
"Huh...? What's that light...?"
"It's spreading this way...?"
The nearby healers panicked too. Sure enough, Rica sis's green light scattered like fireflies, drifting to everyone lying down.
As the light touched them...
"Ugh... Where am I?"
"I was definitely running..."
"Grandpa, why are we lying here?"
"Hmm... Can't remember. We were evacuating..."
All the downed people shot up at once!
"How is this possible...?"
"All evacuating civilians were fully unconscious. And she..."
A healer by Seo-ah's grandpa pointed at Rica sis.
"All is Chorok-nim's grace. The seed merely follows her will."
"Eung?"
Starting with Rica sis, eyes from Seo-ah, her grandpa, healers, and everyone else turned to me all at once.