The End is Another Beginning
Amon's wounds healed in just a week. The gash that had started at his side and covered half his abdomen mended so quickly thanks to healing magic, but even more so because of Amon's own exceptional regenerative abilities. He'd always recovered unusually fast, and this time was no different.
'Well, this too...' It had to be his Divine Power. It was a force so convenient it could explain every phenomenon that defied magic or science. Of course, the theologians trying to unravel its principles must have been tearing their hair out, but that wasn't Amon's concern.
After completing discharge procedures, Amon handed the bill to the paladins. It was a four-figure sum in dollars at a glance, but none of them batted an eye. They swiped their card without hesitation, covering his hospital stay. Sonia's face paled at the absurd amount, but Amon remained unfazed.
'After all I've done for the Vatican.' It was a fortune to someone like her, scraping by on the orphanage's pittance of a budget. But Amon, who knew the value of his indirect contributions through the game, saw ten thousand dollars as pocket change.
Megacorps were super-sized enterprises that supplanted nations themselves. The money they handled was on the scale of national budgets. Amon had struck a deal with the Vatican at that very level. Ten grand? 'They'd probably cover a year in the hospital.' What he'd done for them was on another plane entirely.
That was why Amon could hand over the bill without a shred of guilt.
"Let's go, Sonia."
It wasn't a big deal anyway, so he led her out of the hospital. The paladins' escort ended there. With Hickzen Group no longer a threat, the Vatican had no further reason to protect them. Calling it heartless would be unfair—it had been a mutually beneficial arrangement from the start. Expecting more would make the two of them the ungrateful ones.
Still, out of courtesy for their service so far, the paladins offered to escort them to the cathedral. The pair declined.
"We have a stop to make before the cathedral."
"Thank you for everything."
When asked where, Amon flashed an awkward smile.
"Chosun Town."
*
The two hopped in a taxi bound for Chosun Town, where immigrants from the Unified Chosun Republic had gathered. It wasn't their first time there—they'd wandered into it plenty during errands. But going specifically to shop, and by taxi instead of bus, was a first.
In the cab, Sonia watched Amon. His lips curved up in anticipation of their purchases. She fidgeted, lips parting as if to speak, then stopping, over and over.
Amon noticed.
"Something on your mind?"
"Oh, no... just..."
Sonia hesitated before mumbling, "I was just thinking... could we get some meat for the kids too...?"
Amon pondered, then nodded.
"Sure. We've got plenty from the deposit anyway."
Even after the steady annual payments, the upfront sum was substantial. Enough to buy a real pig and throw a barbecue bash.
But Amon had concerns.
"Think the kids'll like it?"
Objectively, real meat had more off-flavors than bug synth-meat. Sure, it was fattier and richer, but tastes varied. Plus, real meat was vulnerable to antibiotics and bacteria, giving it a poor hygiene rep. Plenty refused it as "dirty" despite it being safe.
But his worries were unfounded.
"I thought the same till I tried it. Turns out, no," Sonia said. Once you tasted the real thing, synth-meat was off the menu forever. The gap was that stark.
"Alright, if you say so."
Amon pulled out his phone and added an item to today's shopping list.
─ Garlic
─ Ssamjang
─ Ssam veggies (if available)
─ Kimchi (if available)
─ Whole pig (NEW!)
─ Bell peppers (NEW!)
─ Potatoes (NEW!)
─ Tomatoes (NEW!)
"Johnson Gramps at the merc brokerage used to grill a mean barbecue back in the day. Let's call him up. Might as well invite everyone we've indebted ourselves to."
One whole pig fed about 260 people. Way more than the orphanage kids could handle, so Amon planned to invite all who'd helped them before graduation.
He grinned ear-to-ear, texting the Orphanage Director. Sonia watched quietly, then turned to the window. Her lashes trembled.
***
That evening, a joyous feast unfolded at the orphanage under repair. Johnson, the goat beastman from the merc brokerage, grilled with gusto, soot smeared on his goatee.
"Hah! Never thought I'd live to do this again!"
The old mercenary captain, who'd led a decent crew in his prime, always shared war stories when tipsy. They invariably ended with barbecue, betraying his nostalgia. Maybe that's why longing seemed to flicker in his mechanical eye.
"Meh-heh... Smoke's messing with my eye. Waterproofing's leaking."
He turned away lest droplets spoil the food. His wife dabbed them with a handkerchief as he slaved over the grill.
Thanks to the elder's efforts, many tasted real pork for the first time. With the environment in ruins and meat scarce, plenty had never tried it. You could if you wanted, but it cost a month's wages per meal—unthinkable for most. Amon's invite was a godsend.
Merchants who'd hired orphanage kids, housewives who'd donated goods, cathedral priests and paladins they'd leaned on, even the repair workers—all chowed down with greasy delight.
Food made fools of men, but the adults held their dignity.
"Want some?"
"Eating like a champ, eh?"
"Have plenty."
Knowing the kids were today's stars, they yielded the meat. An unspoken pact: savor, but don't gorge.
- "Eat up and stay strong."
- "Thanks. We'll make it a palace."
The Orphanage Director wiped tears watching workers gratefully accept bowls from the kids.
'Life's full of surprises. Never dreamed of a sight like this.'
As she dabbed her eyes, cheers rang out.
"Thank you, Director!"
"We're grateful, Director!"
To avoid questions about the pig's funding, they'd borrowed her name. She blushed at the unearned praise, glancing at Amon.
He and Sonia ate alone in a corner. Amon devoured samgyeopsal wraps with glee. Sonia just poked her meat with a fork.
Once sated, Amon noticed.
"Not eating!?"
He raised his voice over the din, then flinched meeting her eyes. They brimmed with sorrow.
Before he could ask, she snapped her fingers.
Snap!
The party fell silent. Amon panicked, looking around, then realized.
'No, this is...'
The space wasn't quiet—it was isolated. Their corner severed from the crowd.
He knew this sensation.
"You learned that from the Squinty Priest?"
Sonia nodded. The silence barrier from his private talks with the priest, now cast by her finger snap.
Amon clapped.
"Congrats. Knew you had talent."
He beamed genuinely. Normally, she'd puff up proudly, but not today. The more he praised, the darker her face grew.
Finally, he got it.
"...Something wrong?"
Sonia hit back with a bombshell.
"We... might need to be apart for a bit."
***
Amon froze at her words. It took a minute to process.
"Apart? What do you—"
"Amon. You're planning to be a merc, right?"
He nodded. He'd leveraged Vatican aid with a paladin pledge, but trashing Hickzen showed him the truth: he wasn't cut out for organizations. A free spirit, he chafed under authority. Suppressing it for the Vatican? Impossible. He'd charged the boss dual-wielding at the first blasphemy. Witnessing priestly corruption? Genocide wouldn't surprise.
All told, skipping the Vatican benefited everyone. He'd discussed it with Sonia in the hospital. She'd vowed to merc too.
But now this.
Amon pieced it with her earlier display.
"No way..."
"Yeah... I want to go to seminary."
Vatican was out—dating meant no vows of chastity. No nunhood. But seminary appealed anyway.
"Not 'cause I'm super devout or anything."
"The Squinty Priest said I've got talent for holy magic."
Holy magic. Blending Divine Power and mana into spells. Formalizing it expanded tactics.
Problem: magic was advanced academia, timelessly elite. Science for reactions, math for trajectories, engineering and coding to incant. No wonder mages prioritized intelligence in games.
Solo study? Impossible. Geniuses needed mentors.
Not wanting her gift wasted, the priest offered:
"He can recommend me to a holy magic seminary."
Great news—till the location: California. Far from their Colorado.
Amon's game lore: Colorado to California spanned Korea north-south. No commute.
His face fell.
"You can't come with... right?"
He nodded. Zero magic talent. Brain not wired for it.
Sonia hated parting, Amon hated sending her. But they knew: miss this chance, regret forever. She'd mourn untapped magic; he'd rue holding her back.
Not dreams over love. Love meant cherishing her dreams' beauty.
Silence swelled. Sonia's lips quivered, throat tight.
Amon broke it.
"Sonia."
"..."
"Sonia. Arm here."
She hesitated, extended it. Click. A silver bracelet clasped her wrist. Dazzling, it stole her gaze.
Amon placed a golden orb atop it. Crack. It shattered, golden aura seeping in.
Suddenly, knowledge and bonds linked to her soul.
"This is..."
"It's yours now."
She sensed it: soul-bound. Summon at will, reform if broken. Eternal companion.
But that was basic—legendary essences' default.
The real effect...
"My Divine Power... it's recovering."
Draining to maintain the barrier, now refilling. Bracelet's doing.
Divine Power recovery was limited: meditation, sleep. No potions like mana. Users tried everything to hasten it. Essences for it fetched building prices at auction.
Sonia knew the value, words failing.
"But this... you need it too..."
"Suits you better."
She couldn't argue. Legendary essence perks: fixed-value recovery on spend. Not percentage—absolute. Burn 1 or 100, regain 5. Perfect for frequent users.
Sonia over Amon.
Her Divine Power trickled out absorbing gun recoil.
"Now every shot refills it."
Combined? Empty a mag, full tank. Glitchy synergy.
"What do you think?"
Tears welled.
"How can I leave you with this...?"
"That's why I gave it."
"So we won't part?"
He shook his head.
"No. So you remember me even apart."
Sonia burst into sobs, burying into his chest.
"I won't forget! Video calls every night!"
"Yeah."
"No jobs on breaks!"
"Got it."
"Visit school sometimes."
"Sure."
"And... and..."
Promises poured. Amon held back tears, soothing her.
In the sealed barrier, the couple made countless vows.
The next day.
"Are you two idiots?"
Despite the rude jab, they couldn't look up. They'd come to thank the Squinty Priest for the rec. Amon's eyes glistened entrusting Sonia. She kept blinking back tears, unaccepted to the parting.
Heard out, the priest quipped thus.
Simple reason.
"Just have Amon move in. Room together."
"..."
"Sonia. Seminary a dorm?"
"...No."
Regular university. Dorm or off-campus—school didn't care post-class.
"Any reason Amon can't go to California?"
"...No."
Mercs were free. That's the job.
"So why assume apart?"
They hung heads. Yeah, why?
Gazing at the doofus duo, the priest sighed.
"Love blinds more than booze... How does it drop IQ like this?"
No swears, but gut-punch effective. That night, thuds from their room. Next day, sheets in tatters—a secret to Director and priest alone.