Chapter 224

“I want you to be the one to adorn my final moments.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“The other versions of me existing in different labyrinths are merely lingering thoughts meant to convey knowledge, but I am a little different.”

Even if she lacked a physical body, most of her will and memories remained—essentially a Spirit Entity.

That was how Verdi defined her current self.

“Then, when you say you want me to adorn your final moments…”

“Yes. I am an existence that must disappear someday anyway. After fulfilling my purpose, it would be desirable for everything to return to the earth.”

Soon after, Verdi revealed to me her pure heart, untainted by a single falsehood.

“Originally, I intended to entrust this task to my successor after they had received all the knowledge… but my thoughts have changed now.”

The eyes of Verdi, who I faced once more, had already returned to that moment when she first spoke to me.

“I wish for you to give me my end and bless that end. If that happens, I am certain I will attain the utmost satisfaction.”

It was pure instinct, untainted by logic or theory.

Even though she had not the slightest inkling of the truth about my identity, she, having reached a certain realm, was instinctively drawn to such a choice.

Thinking all of this, I hardened my expression, my heart in turmoil.

‘……’

Even to my present self, Verdi is quite special.

In a way, unlike others in this world, her existence could truly be considered a trace I left behind.

Thus, I wanted to accept her request, but on the other hand, I felt hesitation.

Feeling confused by such hesitation within myself, I soon recognized its true nature.

‘…I’m feeling reluctant.’

Such cases exist.

In games scheduled for service termination, there are those who personally delete the characters they have nurtured with all their heart and soul.

If it must disappear anyway, they consider it a kind of duty to be the one to do it.

However, surprisingly, most of those people experience a severe moment of hesitation at that final step.

Even though it’s merely a piece of data, the time and affection they poured into it undoubtedly reside within it.

The emotion I am feeling now could perhaps be seen as similar.

Only, since it was unfolding in reality, the intensity was even greater.

After continuing to ponder seriously, I soon looked at such Verdi and softly expressed my refusal.

“I cannot do that.”

“…Why not?”

“Because that is my true heart.”

At that, a question arose on Verdi’s expression.

But I ignored it and continued speaking.

“Is there a need to deliberately disappear?”

“What comes from the earth should return to the earth—that is the natural order. Moreover, I no longer have a place to stay.”

Having lost her physical body, even her soul was gradually wearing away. Also, outside this world, nothing related to her existed anymore.

I could understand her feelings to some extent.

“There is a way.”

Before such a her, I took out the Sun Stone and Moon Stone I had obtained as clear rewards from Blind Mountain.

Perhaps guessing my intention, Verdi opened her mouth, slightly flustered.

“You don’t mean…”

“Yes. We can create an object where a soul can reside using these. Since they contain the energies of the sun and moon, there’s no reason they wouldn’t harmonize with you.”

It was certainly a reasonable statement, but Verdi soon shook her head.

“That object was made entirely for my successor. And for me to step outside the world again goes against reason. I will gratefully accept only the sentiment.”

However, in response to Verdi’s reaction, I chuckled softly and continued speaking.

“Weren’t you originally not such a sincere personality?”

“……”

At that, Verdi looked at me with a slightly surprised expression.

The appearance she had shown me until now was precisely that of a benevolent and kind inheritor of the witch clan.

But as I said before, Verdi’s temperament, who created such an eccentric labyrinth in this way, is not much different from that.

“This is the last remaining task of my clan. As such, approaching it with a serious and sincere attitude is my…”

“You can just act as you always have.”

“…For someone so young, why must you meddle in everything? Do you know me that well?”

Looking at her true nature, partially revealed at last, I softly changed my attitude and spoke.

“I do know. Probably better than you think.”

“……”

Verdi, unable to hide her momentarily shaken expression for a while, soon somehow steadied her heart and made her final declaration.

“That is not right. I am an existence that should have perished long, long ago with everyone else. Returning to nothingness upon completing the task is the proper course.”

To that, I too, this time with all sincerity, answered her.

“Come to think of it, such things aren’t really that important in this world.”

There is the devil of the Kruger family, who has been living for hundreds of years by continuously switching bodies, and there exists the leader of an organization moving to turn the world into chaos.

Moreover, I too, aware of this world’s future, am intervening in the present to change it to my liking.

Compared to such lawless acts, the customs and reason Verdi wishes to uphold are truly insignificant.

“You can just do as your heart desires. If any problems arise from it, I will take responsibility myself.”

“…Is there really a reason for me to remain in this world to that extent?”

Come to think of it, as a prodigy of a promising witch clan who lived through such enormous waves, such thoughts might be natural for her.

But to me, who was an ordinary office worker, the opposite was far too natural.

“Originally, people don’t really need a reason to live.”

At my words, Verdi tilted her head blankly.

But somehow, she seemed to understand the meaning of the words.

“…I don’t really know anymore. Do as you please.”

With permission granted, now only action remained.

Holding the Sun Stone and Moon Stone in my hand, I sank into deep contemplation about how to use them.

‘Since they’re Special-Rank materials, it should be possible…’

What I want to create now is, in a way, similar to one of the Cheong Family’s three great Cursed Tools, the Cheongsimok.

Like the Cheongsimok where Azure Dragon currently resides, I needed to complete a vessel capable of fully containing Verdi’s existence.

However, the problem was that these two materials were new materials not even revealed in the original work.

‘There is no known combination method, and will the production knowledge I possess even be effective…’

If materials requiring a completely different Art Formula from before are needed, it would literally be throwing the opportunity into thin air.

Recalling such a worst-case possibility, even I couldn’t help but hesitate somewhat this time.

Seeing my appearance, Verdi evoked an unknowable smile and slowly began to approach.

“You spoke so confidently, but it seems you’re facing quite a difficulty?”

“…I just need to think a little.”

“It seems I can help to some extent.”

Fortunately, it seemed the materials weren’t that unfamiliar to Verdi, and by listening to her explanation, I could barely grasp a clue.

‘Since I lack production-related Traits, the efficiency will be a bit lower…’

But in a case like this, there’s no choice.

Through my Intracranial Spell Repository, I recalled the Art Formulas stored in my mind one by one and began processing the materials into a Cursed Tool.

When a considerable amount of time had passed like that, on my hand, a bracelet of suitable size was already displaying its brilliant appearance.

“…Your skill is better than I thought. Craftsmen of this level were rare even in the village.”

To the extent that Verdi, who must have seen countless masterpieces, left such an impression, a more satisfactory result than expected was completed.

The process is still vividly remembered, but honestly, it’s hard to believe I made it.

【Sun-Moon Stone】

▶A bracelet created by gathering the essences of the sun and moon. It contains the power of harmony and embrace, protecting the owner from all malice.

Even checking with the Appraisal function, its perfection was flawless.

It feels awkward to say it myself, but at this level, it’s a perfect Special-Rank Cursed Tool.

‘…I thought it would be forever impossible with my power alone without the game system’s assistance.’

Of course, Verdi helped a lot, but even so, this was a result beyond expectations.

“…Then now, only the task of transferring my soul remains.”

Soon, Verdi, after a few seconds of silence, stepped towards the bracelet.

“Please begin.”

Even if not in her original form, Verdi’s soul possesses a correspondingly immense power.

As such, the task of transferring her soul carries high risk.

‘If I fail, I could get hurt too, and Verdi’s soul would be completely annihilated.’

Strictly speaking, it’s not something an Exorcist of my level should handle.

However, my limit’s Forbidden Technique Value will prove its worth in such aspects.

‘It’s sufficiently possible.’

I am the one who split Gangcheol’s soul and separated it into the Cheongsimok at a much lower level.

At my current realm, even if it’s the soul of the Ancient Witch Verdi, there’s no reason I couldn’t handle it.

Thus, I immediately began the ritual without hesitation, and accordingly, Verdi’s soul began to gradually make contact with the Sun-Moon Stone.

But at that moment, I faced a major problem.

Namely, Verdi’s soul began to refuse entering the Sun-Moon Stone.

‘You don’t mean…’

Only then could I realize Verdi’s true intention.

Even though she said those things, it was clear that after countless agonies in the meantime, she ultimately chose the path of disappearing like this.

She only used this method because I didn’t accept it.

‘Do you really prefer that side?’

However, the words from earlier were certainly far from false.

In other words, within her heart, conflicting feelings were likely still occupying their respective corners even now.

‘Making things really complicated.’

To save her now, I literally have no choice but to forcefully press her soul into the Sun-Moon Stone.

And I, after a brief moment of contemplation, made a decision once more.

“……”

After all, letting her disappear like this doesn’t sit right with me.

Regardless of her opinion, that was purely my own thought.

But it didn’t matter.

That alone was reason enough to be the basis for my action.

Whoosh!

Crackle, crackle!

Soon, an intense struggle of power began, and it was truly an unpredictable deadlock.

However, unlike my firmly settled heart, Verdi still harbored a faint hesitation within.

What decided the victory was merely that slight difference.

Fwoosh.

Sluuurp.

Soon, the waves of Spiritual Power that had been swirling around subsided, and finally, the bracelet remaining intact on my hand revealed itself.

Its color, unlike before, held a black hue as if being sucked in.