Chapter 287

Chapter 287

The Game Difficulty Is Insane

Silence filled the area.

The deafening roars and explosions that had been pounding against their eardrums without pause had disappeared.

Everything around them had been dyed pure white.

“……”

Even so, there was no fear.

As if he had come here thousands of times before, Yuellos calmly stared straight at Glenn.

“Ghk… haaah… cough!”

Yuellos was there.

His upper body had been split diagonally, and blue particles of light were leaking out instead of blood.

“Ghk!

Hoooo……

In the end… it came to this.”

Their eyes met.

The brown eyes that had been exploding with hatred and cold-blue light had calmed down.

The man who had been shouting at Glenn until just moments ago was now surprisingly composed.

**“Unknown being.

At the final moment, your power reached the center of causality and cut it in two.

Remarkable, indeed.”**

Yuellos spoke as emotionlessly as he usually did.

“I was not wrong.

If the distortion of fate continues, someday a disaster beyond your imagination will cover this world.”

“It will be something far more terrible than the end and destruction of the world.

It will be something you will find difficult to endure.”

“But… the unknown power created by you and Silpherinne reached causality and twisted even the predetermined fate.”

Yuellos approached Glenn.

Everything below his split body had already disappeared without leaving a trace.

**“You won, unknown being.

The fate of destruction and annihilation has been changed into the fate of reincarnation.

Because of this, the distortion of fate that I feared has disappeared as well.”**

A strange light appeared in Glenn's eyes.

He could tell that Yuellos had been thinking only about the distortion of fate.

Of course, Glenn could never agree that destroying the current world was the only way to prevent it.

Still, he was curious why Yuellos was so obsessed with this distortion of fate, so he asked.

“What lies beyond the distortion of fate?”

What could possibly happen that made him fear it so much that he dismissed the end and destruction of the world as insignificant?

“It is a future that has now been avoided because you twisted causality.

There is no need to discuss something that… has no possibility of happening……”

But the answer Glenn received was still emotionless and calm.

Perhaps if Yuellos explained what he had been trying to prevent all this time, it might justify his actions.

But he did not seem interested in doing so.

“Then why didn't you change it?”

Even after using the Laws of Heaven to become an existence close to causality, why had he not twisted the causality of destruction?

“Cough, cough!

Haa……

Why didn't I do it, you say?

That is an interesting question.”

After seeming to think for a moment, Yuellos answered in his usual plain tone.

**“Because I could not do it with my own power.

And I never felt the need to do so.”**

Only Glenn had been capable of doing it.

But from that answer, Glenn understood what kind of existence Yuellos truly was.

Until now, Yuellos had acted without either goodwill or malice.

He had no sympathy for the world.

He had no attachment to himself.

He had no lingering attachment to existence.

He was simply an existence that tried to follow the predetermined flow.

That was why he could commit such acts without harboring even the slightest malice.

**That was Yuellos.

A pure enemy without any evil intentions.**

“You're a really terrible bastard.”

“From your perspective, I suppose I am.”

**“Just go.

I don't want to see you anymore.”**

Glenn smiled bitterly.

Soon, Yuellos's body turned into blue particles of light and scattered into the air before disappearing.

“You have to be alive to do anything.”

There was no answer.

“He's gone.”

After Yuellos disappeared, Silpherinne quietly spoke from behind Glenn.

“Is it over now?”

“Yes.

The moment he disappeared, the threat to the world disappeared as well.”

Glenn had been waiting for those words for so long.

Only then did he release a deep sigh and drop Einheria to the ground.

“Um…… I'm sorry.”

“For what?”

“For acting on my own……”

“What did I tell you back then?”

“You said you wouldn't let it go if I did anything strange……”

Footsteps.

As Glenn approached, Silpherinne could not look him directly in the eyes.

Like a guilty child, she lowered her head and looked down.

“Why did you do it?”

“At that time, I thought there was no other way……”

“You weren't wrong.”

After all, thanks to her completing and delivering the unknown artifact, Glenn had gained the power needed to defeat Yuellos.

“Still, you need to be punished for lying.”

“……What are you going to do—eek?!”

Before Silpherinne could finish speaking, Glenn grabbed both of her cheeks and pulled them.

“Wh-why are you doing th-this……?”

“Did you do something wrong or not?”

“I d-did w-wrong……”

“Good.

As long as you know.”

“Ahhh… it hurts……”

Silpherinne rubbed both of her cheeks.

Glenn placed his hand on her head and slowly stroked her hair.

**“Still, there is something I have to say.

Thank you.”**

“……”

“Either way, you're the one who saved my life and the lives of those guys.”

“……”

Silpherinne's eyes became red.

“No.”

Silpherinne took another step toward him.

Then she carefully wrapped both arms around Glenn's waist.

**“I'm even more grateful.

And… I'm truly, truly sorry for making you carry such a heavy burden that was almost impossible to endure.”**

“It's fine.

It's all in the past now.

And you're talking as if this is goodbye, but I have no intention of letting you go yet.”

Silpherinne raised her head.

Questions filled her silver-gray eyes.

“What do you mean……”

“You didn't disappear.

It looks like you were sealed inside the jewel instead.”

“What?

That can't be…….

Morse clearly said it would be difficult for me to remain safe……

Ah……”

“Looks like he did something.”

Silpherinne placed a hand against her forehead.

“Morse.

Seriously……”

“He's different from the guy I knew.

Maybe he really did turn over a new leaf.

Anyway, you still have a chance.”

Glenn raised the corners of his mouth.

**“After doing that to me, you think you can just run away?

I'm annoyed enough that I'll bring you back to life and make you repay everything.”**

“No.

There's no need for that.

You have to return now.”

Silpherinne seemed to swallow the words she wanted to say after a brief hesitation and changed the subject.

“Hm?”

“This world was born with the fate of destruction.

Now, through your hands, it has been saved.

So you've finally reached the true ending today.”

Silpherinne took a step back.

Then, after taking a deep breath, she gave him a faint smile.

**“Congratulations, Seong Yohan.

You have cleared this game.

Just as we promised at the beginning, I'll grant you whatever wish you desire.”**

“Hmm?

Your eyes look strange.

Surely you don't doubt me, do you?

With this level of unknown power, I can grant almost anything you want.”

“Hehe……

I'm curious too.

You will definitely return to your original world.

Do you want to become the richest person in the world?

Or perhaps……”

“Hey.”

Silpherinne bit her lip.

“Did I ever say I was going back?”

“……What are you talking about?

You lived in a peaceful world without wars or battles.

Why would you leave such a prosperous place……”

“Peace, my ass.

The place I lived in didn't shed blood, but every single day was a war and a struggle.”

“So then… you can use your clear reward to make your environment better than before.

Why would you reject such an opportunity……”

She wasn't wrong.

Of course, Glenn could use his clear reward to live a better life than before.

“I like this life too.”

In only half a year, Seong Yohan had gained so much as Glenn.

“But……”

“Yeah.

It was damn hard.

But……”

A world filled with swords and magic, things he had never experienced since birth.

The second life he experienced in that world had been exhausting, but it had been incredibly valuable.

His own efforts to survive every day.

And all the people who supported him while watching him struggle.

All of those connections were precious to him.

“How could I just throw all of that away?”

“You have connections in your original world too.”

“I do.

It's not like I've spent my entire life shutting myself away from people.”

Glenn let out a small laugh.

“So it'd be hard to give those up too.”

“What?

What do you mean……”

But Glenn had always tried to do the best he could in whatever situation he was given.

Because of that, he always looked for ways to make the best possible use of what he had gained.

“So I want both.”

To return to his original world as Seong Yohan and live a happier life than before.

And to remain in this world as Glenn Wordsworth and continue the relationships he had formed.

Honestly, he did not know exactly how far the unknown power capable of granting wishes could fulfill his desires.

But at this moment, the man wanted to obtain both.

“……Glenn!”

His consciousness slowly returned.

The sounds around him were muffled.

And then—

“Glenn!”

“Gasp!”

Glenn opened his eyes with a gasp.

Romina was the first thing he saw.

“Ah…!

Are you okay?

Can you see me?”

Her eyes were trembling.

Perhaps she had been worried that he might die.

Glenn almost laughed.

“What is it…?

Are you laughing right now?”

“Brother!”

“Have you awakened?!”

The other party members also appeared to be safe.

“……”

“Say something!

You're making me nervous.”

“Y-You aren't injured, are you?”

“First, let me use a healing miracle……”

Watching the party members bustle around him, Glenn slowly raised his hand.

Smack!

He flicked Romina on the forehead.

“?!”

Romina seemed completely bewildered.

She touched her forehead with confused eyes.

“What……”

“Nothing happened, so stop making such a fuss.”

“Y-You're really okay, right?”

“Yes.

I'm fine.

So……”

“Ugh!”

Romina bit her lip.

Then she suddenly threw herself into Glenn's arms.

“Thank goodness… really……”

“W-What?!

Why are you overreacting?!”

Glenn looked around at the party members with bewildered eyes.

But they only wiped the corners of their eyes in relief and emotion, or quietly exhaled.

“What is this supposed to be……”

Knox had sacrificed himself and annihilated himself together with the final power Yuellos had released.

The moment Glenn brought his sword down toward Yuellos, a massive shockwave had erupted.

When the party, which had been blown away by the blast, returned, Yuellos was gone and only Glenn was lying unconscious.

Since they thought it would be impossible for him to survive at the center of such an enormous explosion, they had caused such a commotion.

It was difficult for Glenn to move.

But he wasn't dead.

So, in the end, perhaps things had worked out well.

‘Except for Knox disappearing…….’

Thanks to Knox sacrificing himself at the final moment and opening the way, Glenn had been able to land a decisive strike against Yuellos.

Thinking about it now, it seemed Knox had been prepared to disappear from the moment Glenn pulled him out of the Laws of Heaven.

The Knox Glenn had seen in the game Gray Eden had carried himself with a more solemn atmosphere.

-Wait until you stop Yuellos and save the world…

-What are you planning to do afterward?

-I see.

Then that's enough.

The same was true of the question he had asked Glenn at the top of the Wordsworth estate the day before.

Although they had spent only a short time together, there had been a detached calmness in Knox, as if he had been firmly preparing himself for something.

It left a bitter feeling.

Minis as well.

Knox as well.

Their endings had been different from Gray Eden's.

It made Glenn wonder if things might have been different if he had spent more time with them and built deeper relationships.

‘What can I do?

Those who are alive have to keep living.’

Since his life had been saved through their sacrifices, the only thing he could do was live every moment to the fullest and repay those sacrifices.

“Let's go.”

Glenn turned away after looking at the shattered Laws of Heaven and the collapsing cavern.

“There are so many things I want to do.”