Chapter 409
– Hug me! Hug me…!
– Mom!
– No. How many times have I told you I’m not your mom…?
Sora was dealing with the whining of Michaela and Lukaela.
The moment she took a step towards them, their figures suddenly vanished.
– As for me, I’m the god of paradise! Michaela!
– Ahem! I’m the god of hell! Lukaela!
– Huh?? You’re gods?
– Yes!
– We’re gods!
– Hmm… Weird. I did create gods in the setting, but I never named them…
– Wow. Did you create us, mom?
– Well, I did create you…
– So you were our mom all along?
– I’m not your mom.
At the same time, another scene unfolded a few steps away.
– Why are we here…? I don’t know… I can’t remember…
– I can’t remember mom and dad’s faces… Sob…
– Ah, don’t cry again!
– Sniff…
Every time I tried to approach, they disappeared, and a new scene appeared a few steps away. Repeating this, I naturally realized.
This is Sora’s past.
To be precise, it was Sora right after she became a vegetable due to an accident and her consciousness was trapped in the Milky Way. At that time, Sora probably didn’t know what had happened to her. She must have been scared waking up in an unknown place. She must have been terribly lonely.
It was during that time that Sora met Michaela and Lukaela. They too were trapped in this world by Director Park. Feeling lost, they began to rely on each other.
– Mom! Let’s go together!
– I told you I’m not your mom… Sigh… Never mind…
– Wow! Mom became mom!
Michaela and Lukaela followed Sora like a mother. And Sora embraced them as if they were her real daughters.
– Mom… I’m sleepy…
– Me too… Sniff…
– Oh my… Come here. Let’s sleep together.
I walked slowly along the tree trunk. Then, the moments Sora spent in this world began to replay.
– Mom. What’s that small thing?
– That’s Dahlia Village.
– What about that next to it?
– Hmm. That’s a forest where scary monsters live.
Sora, Michaela, and Lukaela were looking at the world reflected in a snow globe as big as a bowling ball.
– What’s that big castle?
– Hmm… That’s where the emperor lives.
– What about that?
– Let’s see… Those are people praying to the gods. Around this time, they offer tributes like crops harvested during the year.
– Tributes…?
– Well… It’s a gift given because the crops grew well thanks to you.
– Wow. How do you know so much, mom?
– Huh? Well, it’s a place based on the works I wrote…
– So you created this world…?
– Umm… I guess you could say that…?
– Wow! Mom, you’re amazing!
Sora taught the two young gods various things like a parent. Seeing that, I understood why the two praised and followed Sora as their mother.
– Mom, mom. I want to play in paradise!
– You can play.
– There’s no space to play in paradise.
– Make it yourself.
– Mom. I want to build a big palace in hell.
– You guys, as gods, can do that. I gave you that ability…
– But it’s better if mom makes it.
– Oh my… You spoiled brats.
Sora shook her head and placed her hand on the snow globe. A vast meadow spread across paradise, and a large castle was built in hell. This was when Sora hadn’t lost her power yet. At that time, the world was being created one by one as she imagined.
– Hey… I haven’t even gotten married yet, so being called mom is a bit…
– But you are mom…
– No. Isn’t there another word?
– Da…dad?
– ……Absolutely not. There’s also the word ‘sister.’
– I don’t like that.
– Huh?
– It’s confusing. There are two sisters.
– Michaela only has one sister, Lukaela.
– My name is Jeong Sora, so you can call me Sora sister.
– No! One sister is enough!
– Sigh… Fine, fine. You stubborn little kids. What do you want to call me then?
– Mom!
– No!
– Sniff…
– Even if you cry, no!
– But you are mom…
– Why can’t we call you mom?
– Because I’m not your mom…
– Waaah…!
– Waaah!
– Ah! Fine! Call me mom!
– Really???
– But don’t call me mom in front of others! Got it?
– Hehe. Mom, I love you!
I continued walking along the memory trunk. In the memories, Michaela and Lukaela were growing up bit by bit.
– Where did you come from, mom?
– Me? I came from a country called South Korea.
– South Korea…?
– Among the countries you taught us, there’s no such country…?
– Well, it’s a country that doesn’t exist in this world.
– ??
– Hmm… How should I explain this…?
Sora seemed to ponder deeply, then spoke to Michaela and Lukaela.
– To put it simply… It’s a country in another dimension, not this world.
– Wow…
The scene changed.
– Huh? You want me to talk about the world I lived in?
– Yeah!
– Hmm… It’s very different from here. There’s no magic, but there are many things that replace magic…
Sora began to ramble as if lost in thought. Then, the scene changed again.
– Oppa?
– Mom’s oppa?
– Yeah. To you, he’d be like an uncle… Anyway, about my oppa…
From there, it became hard to hear. Like static, clouds obscured Sora’s figure. Only the murmuring lips of the sister were visible, like an echo. However, I could clearly hear her last words.
– …So, to me, he’s the best oppa in the world.
The moment I heard that, something swelled in my chest. Cringe? No…
‘What is this…?’
Normally, hearing something like that should make me cringe… But for some reason, I felt a surge of strength. Like I had become the best oppa in the world, just as my sister said.
That’s when it happened.
– Hmph! That’s not impressive at all!
– Michaela?
– I don’t like mom’s oppa! Mom is more impressive!
Michaela pouted. It was jealousy. The tantrum of a child afraid of losing her mother’s affection.
Right. Thinking about it, Michaela had always been wary of me. Did it start from this time…?
– No, Michaela. Compared to our oppa, I…
– Michaela doesn’t know! I don’t know! Mom is stupid!
– Hey, hey! What kind of language is that to your mom! Come here!
Lukaela chased after Michaela, who had stormed off in a huff. Sora watched them with a bitter expression and shook her head. Then, she placed her hand on the snow globe in front of her and muttered softly.
– ……Oppa.
At that moment, I met Sora’s eyes. Of course, it was impossible, but… I definitely felt it. She was staring straight at me.
– We… Will we be able to meet again someday?
A voice mixed with hope and anxiety.
– We… Can we go back to how we were before?
I answered with certainty.
“……Yes.”
Even if it doesn’t reach my sister.
“We can meet.”
I felt like I had to say that.
“We can go back.”
I took a step forward. Then, Sora’s face disappeared in a flash.
Not just that. In the blink of an eye, the clouds disappeared. The surroundings, which had been completely cloudy, became clear. Thanks to that, I could face the enormous thing that appeared before me.
“…The World Tree?”
I had no choice but to call it the World Tree. What lay before me was a tree so massive it was hard to take in at a glance. There probably isn’t a tree on Earth larger than this.
The massive tree’s roots stretched out long, and its branches were so dense they blocked the sky. However, the surroundings were not dark but bright. Instead of fruit, the branches bore bright, sun-like orbs.
I stopped in my tracks as I tried to get closer to a lower branch to get a better look.
“You finally made it here.”
I turned around at the voice behind me.
“I never thought I’d be the one to say this line…”
“You…”
“Welcome. Tristan… No, should I call you Jeong Ji-hwan?”
A man with a beaming smile… Director Park Joon-hyuk was there.
*
“Urgent news! The group of heroes has begun to invade the border!”
“Finally!”
The nobles gathered in the imperial palace were all outraged upon hearing the urgent news from the border.
The Meikhael Empire, which had stationed soldiers at the border, had not allowed a single self-proclaimed hero to pass. Amid the standoff, the heroes suddenly began attacking the castle.
“What kind of heroes are they! Attacking us instead of the Demon Lord!”
“The Demon Lord isn’t in this country but in the north! They were just looking for an excuse to invade us!”
What they didn’t know was that the invasion by players who had received quests from the system had officially begun. Their target was the Demon Lord Tristan. But since they didn’t even know Tristan was the Demon Lord, it was no different from an unprovoked invasion.
“Didn’t I tell you? They’re fake heroes.”
In contrast to the agitated ministers, Emperor Luna remained calm. As soon as the fake heroes attacked, the empire immediately declared war.
Whether she had foreseen this situation or not, thanks to Tristan, the empire was well-prepared. The imperial army had been deployed to the border shortly after the declaration of war and was engaging the heroes.
So far, things were going smoothly, but it was still too early to relax. The enemy’s numbers were overwhelming.
With the war situation in full swing, the nobles couldn’t sit still either. They were all gathered in the palace in armor. Some had already left to defend their territories or the border.
That’s when it happened.
“Chancellor! Where have you been, arriving only now!”
The nobles’ attention turned to the door. Chancellor Odell, who had briefly left, reappeared in armor. His expression was grave.
“Your Majesty. I have urgent news to report.”
“What is it?”
“Well…”
Uncharacteristically hesitant for the usually composed Odell, Luna quickly realized what he wanted.
“Everyone except Chancellor Odell, leave.”
“Your Majesty. But we’re at war…”
“Didn’t I tell you to leave!”
At Luna’s roar, the nobles reluctantly left. Only Odell and Luna remained in the audience chamber.
“So… What’s the urgent news?”
“…Just now, Sir Mondri urgently contacted me.”
“Mondri?”
“Yes.”
Mondri, who had once served as the royal court magician, had retired from the front lines in his old age and became the university chancellor. He had always been fiercely loyal to the emperor since his days as the royal court magician.
“Sir Mondri said he would personally respond to the heroes’ invasion this time.”
“Hmm? Already? He’s surprisingly quick.”
Mondri, who was praised as the closest to a sage among magicians. It wasn’t surprising that he, sensing the nation’s crisis early, was taking action.
But Odell’s next words were enough to shock Luna.
“However, it seems not only Sir Mondri but also the legendary sage himself has stepped forward…”
“What…? The legendary sage… Myohail?”
“Yes. It seems he’s with Sir Mondri now.”
“Wow…”
The legendary sage, Myohail. The fact that he was alive and well, and that he was disguised as a librarian in the university library, was a top-secret fact known only to a few in the empire, including Emperor Luna.
But what surprised Luna was that Myohail was personally involving himself in the war. Mondri was one thing, but Myohail was not the type to act on his own. Having lived for so long and witnessed the empire’s history, he had remained in the library even during past crises.
Myohail was a legendary sage even Luna couldn’t move. Just having someone of his caliber remain in the country was something to be grateful for. But for such a sage to personally participate in the war… It would be like gaining an army of a million.
Luna muttered with an uncharacteristically dumbfounded expression.
“What could be the reason…? Does the sage want something from us?”
“No. According to Sir Mondri, the reason the sage is participating is…”
Odell spoke as if he couldn’t believe it himself.
“It seems Count Ruelberta… Sir Tristan requested it.”
“……Huh?”
