1.
You were the only light in my life, which had never known even a single ray of light.
2.
Mother.
A child born on the streets, raised among criminals.
Even that was only to be sold later, but because of her ash-gray eyes and hair—symbols of a witch—she was deemed ominous and cast away.
The slums under the bridge in the capital.
A place where bloated corpses drifted downstream, she stood there, deep in thought.
If I’m going to live like this forever, wouldn’t it be better to die now?
But even that, she failed.
– A life meant to be discarded… I’ll use it a little longer.
Just before dying, she was kidnapped by an assassin organization and forced to continue her miserable existence.
Abusive training and neglect.
Whether by misfortune or luck, she had a talent for killing people. After years of training, she finally succeeded in annihilating the organization.
– Damn girl… live well. Not that it won’t be tough, like it is for everyone else.
The leader’s words were true.
All she had learned was death, so she became a mercenary. She trusted no one, always worked alone, and thus, often came close to dying.
Then, she met him.
– …What are you looking at?
– That’s my line.
A fellow vagrant like herself, but far weaker than she was.
By a series of coincidences, they took on requests together, and gradually, the two grew closer.
His rank remained E+.
Hers had already reached S-.
Even so, they continued their relationship, and before long, they became lovers.
And around that time…
– I’m pregnant.
– …What?
– I said, I’m pregnant.
A child was on the way.
Having lived such rough lives, the two hesitated for a long time.
– Will we be okay? People like us, as parents?
– …That’s a good question.
But as they say, people are drawn to what they resemble and dream of what they cannot have.
– Now that I think about it… I love you a lot. I’ll take responsibility, so let’s have the baby.
He had a dream.
– …You?
– What? Just because I’m E-rank, you’re looking down on me?
– No, it’s not that, but…
I was drawn to what I resembled.
And so, Selena was born.
– She’s beautiful. So beautiful.
Not cursed with my colors, but instead, soft golden hair—a mix of her father’s and mine.
– Ah…
The moment I held her small, moonlight-pale arm, warmth and a shiver ran through me.
I hadn’t experienced this before, so I didn’t know. But as time passed, I realized—
– Selena!
– Forget your weak father. Come to your strong mother.
– Mom!
It was happiness.
The dream that he had wished for, the dream I was unknowingly led to share—happiness.
– I want to be a mercenary like Mom!!
– Ah, what about Dad…?
– A mercenary like Mom!!
– …Pffft.
It had come to us.
But like all stories, happiness did not last long.
– …A designated request?
– Yeah! The down payment is insane! If we take this, we can finally retire and live comfortably!
– Forget it. I’ll take care of us. Just stay home and look after Selena.
– I appreciate the sentiment, but I already accepted it. It’s a safe job, so don’t worry and wait. I’ll get Selena a great birthday present this time.
He had taken on a designated request from an unknown group.
And he never returned.
A few days later, the news of his death arrived—along with the start of Selena’s illness.
To cover the enormous medical expenses, Mother accepted a suspicious request.
– …Mom. Can you not do it?
Selena, who had just woken up after days of unconsciousness, pleaded with anxious eyes.
But as I said before, people are drawn to what they resemble.
– It’s okay. Just rest.
Like her husband before her, Mother made the same choice and drifted into the Ashen Wasteland.
A child trafficking ring.
Even someone like her—born on the streets, raised in the underworld—found it difficult to stomach.
But—
– I love you a lot.
– I want to be a mercenary like Mom!
The happiness she had once tasted became an addiction she couldn’t give up, tempting her endlessly. And so, she clung to the thought of reclaiming that happiness as she perished in the Ashen Wasteland.
– …Smile. That way, you’ll survive.
As if dreaming, she reminisced about the single strand of light she had once held in her hands—now faded and distant.
And then, she met you.
– …Mom?
A ragged, frail child reaching out with bony fingers, calling her Mom.
Under normal circumstances, she would have taken the child without a word. But this time, she opened her mouth and spoke.
– I am not your parent. But… if you wish, I can be.
Why did she say that?
– Mom!!
– …Luna.
You were not Selena.
– I love you more than anything in the world, Mom!
– …I.
– Ugh, don’t try to say you’re not my mom again! You are! You’re my mom!
She was not your parent.
– Mom, you like moonlight, right? Touch my hair! The color is kinda similar!
– …
– Go on! Here!! Right here!!
…Rustle.
Because of you, foolishly following her around, she once again held light in her hands.
And so, she hesitated.
Selena and Luna.
She had spent so long agonizing over which of the two to choose.
But when the moment came—
– Run, Luna!!!
—She saved the one in immediate danger first.
– Mom!!
– Good girl, my daughter.
She barely managed to convey her feelings before confronting the No. 1 Auctioneer connected to <Eclipse>.
After a battle that lasted for hours, she suffered a devastating defeat.
Her jaw shattered, she forced out a question about Selena’s fate.
– Didn’t I tell you? I enjoy tragic stories. Of course, she’s dead. No, wait—she died. About a year after you came here.
– …!!
– Ah, that look in your eyes. I’m glad I saved this moment for the auction, suppressing it every time until now.
Of course, there was no hope for her.
But that thought lasted only a moment.
Good. At the very end, she hadn’t made a foolish choice.
Mother smiled.
She had somewhat expected this outcome.
The hands of <Eclipse> had always been a rotting lifeline she had no choice but to grasp.
Even so, she had clung to it.
But in the end, she was truly glad.
– D-Deputy!! It’s that guy again!!
– Hah… Let’s go back.
She had chosen her dead daughter, but she hadn’t chosen to kill the one still alive.
– M-Mom!!!
– …Let go, Lactea.
Mother gazed at Luna, who had returned with N <Black Wolf>, and smiled faintly.
3.
That was how her life was supposed to end.
“…Why are you trying to leave me behind again?”
Mother couldn’t comprehend the second chance she had been given.
‘…This isn’t my power.’
Then… was it Luna’s power?
– Crushing Charge.
– Masquerade.
Regardless, when she came to her senses, Luna was in danger. And as she had done in life, she simply pulled forth a little of her strength.
【O you who were never saved.】
【What did you hope for, and what did you dream of?】
Her consciousness blurred as though something was consuming her.
And when she came to again, she was being tossed around in the chaos, leading to the present situation.
One thing was certain—
【Time, as always. Will soon run out.】
Knowing this, Mother adjusted her mask and tried to distance herself from Luna.
‘Truthfully, I don’t want to do this either.’
In her heart, she wanted nothing more than to embrace Luna, to whisper her love in the time she had left.
She wanted to feel warmth, to stroke her moonlight-colored hair.
And most of all—
– I love you, Mom.
—She wanted to say the words she hadn’t been able to on the day she died.
‘But I am already dead.’
She didn’t want to make that beloved child suffer a second farewell.
“I’ll say it again—I am not your mother. I am merely a recreated memory.”
It would be better to simply fade away like this, not as Mother, but as a twisted remnant of thought.
“I am merely the lingering thoughts of someone named Mother, who never once loved you.”
That would be best—for you and for me, who still thinks of you.
“I…”
But why…
“You’re really bad at acting like you’re not my mom.”
“What…?”
Even though meeting me would only bring fleeting happiness followed by sorrow, you didn’t hesitate.
“I missed you. So much.”
You embraced me.
“…I.”
A lump caught in Mother’s throat.
She tried to say something, but before she could form the words, her mouth closed again.
Cling.
From the small hands burrowing into her robe, a faint warmth was transmitted.
“It’s okay. It’s okay, Mom.”
A shaky, awkward smile—one that struggled to hold back tears.
“It’s really okay… So please, don’t push me away. Okay?”
Your lips trembled, afraid that I might reject you again.
【O you who were never saved.】
【What did you hope for, and what did you dream of?】
At last, Mother realized.
In this hellish world, after being discarded and forced to survive, the one thing she had longed for—
Even after losing the happiness she had briefly held and giving up on everything, the one thing she had still dreamed of—
“…Luna.”
It was for you, whom I love, not to cry.
Embrace!
Just before Luna could shed tears, Mother pulled her into her arms.
She had deceived herself with the excuse that she was afraid of you getting hurt.
But in truth, she was the one afraid of being hurt.
She feared that if she faced you, she would lose the happiness she had finally regained.
That if she lingered too long, only regret would remain in the face of her imminent death.
She couldn’t even comfort you—instead, she was the one being comforted.
Finally regaining clarity, Mother stroked Luna’s back and whispered.
“I’m sorry for being such a foolish mother.”
“…Mom.”
Luna’s shoulders started to shake.
“It’s okay. It’s okay, Luna.”
For the first time in so long, the forced smile disappeared, leaving only a face messy with tears.
“I’m sorry, Mom. Because of me… I’m sorry. For making you suffer while protecting me, for letting you go alone… I’m so sorry.”
Guilt.
The memory of dying a terrible death to protect her, hidden beneath a robe and mask so Luna wouldn’t have to see it.
But Luna—
“That day, I wasn’t in pain at all. I wasn’t lonely at all.”
On the contrary, I was happy.
“With this insignificant life of mine, I was able to save the most precious thing in the world—you.”
Taking off her gloves, Mother wiped away Luna’s tears with her rough fingers.
“Luna, you were the only light in my life, which had never known even a single ray of light.”
Just as he and Selena had saved me, you—who came to me like moonlight—
“You are my most treasured treasure.”
So, Luna—
“Don’t be sad because of me anymore.”
Words she had kept locked away for so long spilled out without order.
She had said them to stop Luna’s crying, but instead, Luna sobbed even harder.
“Mom, Mom…!”
The mature facade she had forced herself to wear for so long crumbled away.
“Live with me again. Okay? I’ll find a way, no matter what. So please, just wait a little longer. Okay?”
Like any ordinary child clinging to their parent, Luna held on tightly, crying sorrowfully.
Of course, Mother wanted that too.
But—
【Time, as always. Will soon run out.】
Miracles, when they happened, were usually just a single fleeting moment in life.
“…Luna.”
Instead of answering, Mother hugged her tightly.
At that moment, she met Nahan’s gaze.
His eyes were not like those she had seen on the day she died.
This time, there was light in them.
“Please take care of my daughter.”
“…You have my word.”
With that final reply, Mother’s manifested body began to dissolve.
