795

 [Chapter 201]

[Great Escape(6)]

It's that person.

Dark King Clan Lord Do Wan-jun.

Oppa, oppa....

Florist.

No, Bang Yeon-ji stretched out her hand towards Do Wan-jun.

Tears flowed uncontrollably.

What's even sadder is that she can't move, caught in the gravity.

She wanted to run and hug him right away.

But she could only hold out her arms until he came and hugged her first.

"Yeon-ji."

As if understanding everything.

He hugged her tightly.

Only then did Bang Yeon-ji hug Do Wan-jun and cry loudly.

As if she would never let go again.

She put strength into her arms hugging him.

Where have you been?

He wipes her tears.

He tidies her disheveled hair.

She accepts his touch and sniffles like a child.

Then he smiled.

"I'm sorry. I'm late, aren't I?"

No, no.

You came well. I missed you.

Shake shake.

She shook her head again nestled in his arms.

It was okay even seeing him now.

She didn't know how much she had missed him.

Ah....

Then she realized.

Only then did she remember everything.

She killed her lover.

Another tear fell.

"What's wrong?"

Did she just kill her lover?

She hurt many people.

And killed them too.

She belatedly accepted what she didn't want to acknowledge.

"Yeon-ji? Are you okay?"

She faced "reality".

The person before her eyes wasn't the person she desperately longed for.

Nevertheless─.

─It's nothing, oppa.

It's nothing at all.

She decided to fall into the illusion.

Clinging to someone she didn't even know, she thought of the lover she missed.

And asked for forgiveness.

Begging, and begging, and begging.

She apologized to countless people.

☆

It was during the battle.

At that time, Jo A-ra received telepathy.

[This is Ara-ara's message. "I don't want to kill that person like this. So I hope you'll help." This was Ariel the telepathist.]

Whether she felt sympathy for Florist.

She persuaded not only Eun-ha and clan members, but also Dark King Clan members.

And her emotional appeal was accepted by Dark King Clan members.

Thus, the current situation unfolded.

Jo A-ra used illusion magic to make Florist see her as Do Wan-jun.

Olfactory Disturbance

Smell is one of the memory devices.

We associate and remember through smell.

Jo A-ra disturbed Florist's sense of smell so she could recall Do Wan-jun.

There were people among Dark King Clan members who had his belongings.

She used his belongings as a medium.

Visual Disturbance

Then she blurred Florist's eyes.

She who had shown regeneration several times was in a collapsing state.

With her mana resistance lowered, she couldn't resist Jo A-ra's magic.

Cognitive Disturbance

Furthermore, Jo A-ra twisted her cognitive abilities once more.

At the same time, her magic made people present extract memories of Do Wan-jun from their minds.

Thus, the foundation for the illusion was prepared.

Dream Disturbance

Finally, Jo A-ra used Freak Sphinx's providence.

She amplified and appropriately tuned the senses she had disturbed so far.

And so─.

─Fantasy Tuning Song

By tuning four disturbances.

A lifelike illusion is implemented.

The sight of four musical scores floating around creating a dreamlike world made people feel like they were watching an orchestra performance.

Requiem.

A memorial song for Bang Yeon-ji.

Ah....

<Requiem > Jo A-ra.

Florist completely mistook Jo A-ra for Do Wan-jun and lost her will to fight just like that.

She hugged Jo A-ra tightly.

Her story is pitiful, but a monster is still a monster after all.

What if something goes wrong like that.

Watching Florist crying loudly.

People's gazes softened.

On the other hand, Eun-ha looked at the two with wary eyes.

If all of that is deception.

If Florist tries to move to kill Jo A-ra─.

─Try any tricks on my clan member. I won't let it slide then.

Eun-ha was thinking of immediately killing and eliminating Florist.

But there was no need for concern.

Florist just said things she couldn't say to Do Wan-jun while nestled in Jo A-ra's arms.

Above all, she was dying caught by the gate of the netherworld.

At first, her feet turned to ash with a hiss and disappeared into the gate.

Soon starting from her feet, her body was turning to ash and disappearing.

""""...."""

Everyone watched.

But Florist didn't care that her body was disappearing.

Rather, she just conversed with Jo A-ra smiling with a bright face.

In the midst of that─.

─I'm really happy to be able to see you again.

Her appearance changed.

The plant-type monster appearance disappeared, and a human appearance was emerging in its place.

...She's becoming a ma.

Eun-ha noticed her state.

She who regained her reason came to control the mana overload.

So her ears became round and her skin color returned to normal.

Only the red eyes, a symbol of experiencing mana overload, couldn't be helped.

Nevertheless, Florist's disappearance couldn't be stopped.

The mana that maintained her existence was largely lost due to the intense battle.

Also, most of the remaining mana was sucked beyond the gate.

In the end, it's just that difference.

Whether to die as a monster.

Or die as a ma, a human.

That person chose to die as a human in her last moment.

Probably her last wish strongly manifested.

In a way, it's a miracle.

Not a miracle borrowed from someone's power, but a miracle created by herself.

People wiped their reddened eyes watching her disappear.

At that moment, her gaze turned to the people.

─I'm sorry.

I showed an unsightly appearance.

I'm really sorry.

She moved her mouth.

But her voice wasn't transmitted.

Because more than half of her body had already vanished.

Instead, she transmitted her thoughts.

And thank you so much.

Florist.

No, Bang Yeon-ji smiled.

Her disappearance wasn't far off.

─I sincerely hope happy days unfold for all of you.

I'll pray sincerely.

Finishing those words.

Bang Yeon-ji spoke to Do Wan-jun, no, Jo A-ra for the last time.

Thank you so much too.

"Ah...."

By then, Jo A-ra seemed to have noticed too.

Eun-ha could understand the situation too.

Bang Yeon-ji wasn't completely captivated by Jo A-ra's illusion.

Nevertheless, she chose to accept her illusion and compose herself.

─I wish you good fortune.

Eventually Bang Yeon-ji disappeared.

The gate of the netherworld closed.

<Gatekeeper > Ko Eun-sil, who was guarding the gate in front, shed tears.

But she didn't make a sound.

She, acting as Clan Lord, swallowed her sorrow with effort.

Meanwhile─.

─Clink

In the place where Bang Yeon-ji disappeared.

Something fell in front of Jo A-ra.

Like a mana stone but.

A jewel that seems different from mana stones.

The jewel shining in a greenish blue color looked like a seed in a way.

Right at that moment, the jewel emitted light.

───!!!

Ripples spread centered on the jewel.

People were flustered by the greenish blue waves instantly covering the area.

They hurriedly prepared for battle to prepare for what would happen next.

But contrary to their worries, something else happened.

"...Huh?"

"W-What? Is this possible?"

The bodies of people touched by the greenish blue waves began to recover rapidly.

Even people with severed bodies.

Even people with pierced organs.

They were recovering from injuries and regaining strength as if by magic.

Though it couldn't revive the dead, living people were receiving healing close to complete recovery.

People couldn't believe what they experienced even seeing it with their own eyes.

To activate an effect like elixir over a wide range....

Even Eun-ha was shocked.

Even injuries from backlash suffered while fighting Maegu were recovering.

Internal mana was also filling up.

He blinked at something he had never experienced before.

But what happened after the greenish blue waves passed didn't stop there.

The area was enveloped in greenish blue light.

─Whoosh!!

Sprouts bloomed one by one in any part where even a little soil was exposed.

Sprouts that bloomed in the collapsed city burst forth green leaves full of vitality.

Sprouts growing on the ground increased.

Those sprouts all grew at once, dyeing the desolate world green.

""""...."""

Ivy vines growing on building exteriors.

Plane trees springing up in the middle of the main road.

Colorful flowers blooming in sunny spots.

The city that had been occupied by monsters was covered in lush greenery of vibrant colors.

It was truly nature's wonder.

People were at a loss for words seeing that sight with their own eyes.

What on earth is this....

Is this Florist's power too?

This is no joke.

Eun-ha knelt down.

He put his hand on the ground where the asphalt road had cracked.

Then he grabbed a handful of soil and examined the soil quality.

The soil that had been bone dry was now full of moisture.

The dead city was coming back to life.

Eun-ha couldn't believe that fact.

For one person to revive a dead city and use magic to heal all injured people....

Is that really possible?

Even though he saw it with his own eyes.

He was still dazed.

Soon Eun-ha shook his head.

Then he turned his gaze to Jo A-ra kneeling on the ground.

"Maybe if Ara hadn't done that, this wouldn't have happened."

Eun-ha suddenly had such a thought.

If Jo A-ra hadn't resolved Florist's grudge.

Would she have shown such a miracle?

Probably not.

☆

People gradually regained their composure.

They moved busily to check on their comrades' survival.

"Are you okay?"

"Ah, Eun-ha."

Leaving other matters to clan members.

Eun-ha approached Jo A-ra.

She seemed to be in a daze.

She showed an expression as if coming to her senses only when he spoke to her.

"How long are you going to sit there? Can you stand up?"

"Oh, wait a moment.... Ugh.... It seems like strength won't enter my legs. I guess it's because my internal mana is depleted."

"Everyone else recovered, why only you?"

"I know right. Hmm.... Maybe my mana was used as payment for the magic too?"

"How would I know that. Here."

"Huh?"

"Get on my back."

"..."

Jo A-ra sitting on the ground.

She didn't seem able to stand up.

At this, Eun-ha crouched down with his back facing her.

"You don't have to...."

"Do you think it's possible to support you and run in this situation? Hurry and get on."

"...Okay. Then I'll get on your back without hesitation. Thanks."

Jo A-ra's hesitation was brief.

She got on Eun-ha's back.

Eun-ha stood up just like that.

"Ugh, where are you touching now?"

"Can't you see? I'm holding your legs."

"What about the hand that just went to my butt?"

"It's a mistake, a mistake. I didn't even know it was your butt."

"What did you say? Are you making fun of my butt for being flat now, or what?"

"That's why stop liking freebies so much. No wonder nothing was caught...."

"Hey! Do you really want to do this? Just let me ride on Gang's back instead!"

"Do you have the strength to hold onto Gang's back tightly?"

"Ugh...."

"If you understand, stay still."

Eun-ha replied indifferently.

Soon Jo A-ra shut her mouth.

She also stopped tapping Eun-ha's back with her powerless fists.

She buried her body in Eun-ha's back just like that.

Then she said quietly.

"<Florist >. It seemed she noticed that I used illusion magic."

"Yeah."

What does she want to say?

Eun-ha nodded calmly.

As his posture carrying her became unbalanced, he briefly lifted her in the air with both arms to adjust his posture.

"I think I'm still far off. There's something the Dark King Clan Lord told me before."

"What is it?"

"He said a lifelike illusion must disturb not only the five senses of humans, but even the sixth sense. But I only disturbed sight, smell, and hearing to use illusion magic."

"Still, I thought it was sufficiently real. Even <Florist > was fooled for a moment."

"But I was found out."

"Maybe it was bound to be found out."

"Huh?"

"You didn't perfectly act as <Phantasm Poem>. Even if you looked like <Phantasm Poem> on the outside, you couldn't act out the details."

"..."

"That might have caused cognitive dissonance and created a sense of discomfort in the illusion. Don't you think so?"

"Yeah.... Maybe you're right."

"And."

"And?"

"<Florist > who had to remain here alone for 14 years, waiting for <Phantasm Poem> in loneliness. I don't think she wouldn't have recognized <Phantasm Poem>."

"Ah...."

<Florist > Bang Yeon-ji disappeared.

There was no way to know her heart.

So interpreting her heart was the role of those alive.

Eun-ha told Jo A-ra who was depressed about her skills.

She seemed to agree too.

"Abstract things are easy to handle. But concrete things are difficult to handle. Especially using illusion magic on someone who knows concrete things well is even more so."

"Yeah..., I see. So I need to work harder. I still have a long way to go."

"That's right, you still have a long way to go."

"What? You pretend to comfort me and suddenly come out like this?"

"I guess I still have a long way to go too."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"I thought <Florist > would die becoming a monster like this in the end. But that person was much stronger than I thought."

To be honest.

Eun-ha wanted to pay respects to <Florist > Bang Yeon-ji.

She was a person with amazing mental strength.

A person who overcame the monster's instinct and chose to be human to the end.

Isn't it a victory for humanity?

Could he have done the same?

Eun-ha didn't know.

Right at that moment─.

"─It's okay. You're incredibly strong too."

"..."

"I've never seen anyone as strong as you, Eun-ha, in my life so far. So don't feel intimidated for nothing."

"I'm not intimidated. But thanks."

Jo A-ra hugged his neck.

Still, no strength was felt.

Eun-ha smiled slightly while adjusting his posture carrying her.

"Ah, come to think of it, what should we do with this?"

"With what?"

"What <Florist > left behind."

Then she showed Eun-ha the jewel in her hand.

Even after using that much power.

The jewel still contained a brilliant light.