1.
Mental World.
A domain that only those who have reached the pinnacle, such as a Sword Master or a Great Sage, can manifest.
Most shaped their domain based on the happiest moment of their lives. However, there were some who failed to do so.
Because they had never been happy.
Because there existed emotions greater than happiness.
Because their memories of happiness had worn away and disappeared.
There were countless reasons beyond these, but in Mother’s case, it was the third.
—Mom, I…
Her memories of happiness had eroded away.
—I…
Selena’s gentle voice, her soft gestures, and the smile that once resembled moonlight.
Each time she failed to be the proud mother she wished to be, those memories chipped away—just like stones worn down by the wind.
She had reached toward the moonlight, but had she realized sooner that the ground beneath her feet was an inescapable swamp, perhaps things would have been different.
…No.
Even if she were to return to the past, she would make the same choice to save her.
Yes.
That’s just the kind of person she was.
The kind of person who, for the sake of those she loved, could sacrifice however many innocent people—
a monstrous hypocrite.
And so, Luna—
“You…”
You, who shine as the brightest moonlight in this world—
“Please… don’t… live… like… me…”
Muttering those words, Mother’s outstretched hand melted away just before it could touch Luna’s cheek.
It was inevitable.
In reality, Mother had been nothing more than a lingering thought parasitizing Luna’s body. With the collapse of the mental world, her form naturally faded away.
Of course, as mere residual consciousness, she could have tried to return and possess Luna again—
but only if she still had the strength to do so.
Vulcan.
Black Wolf.
The Black Wolf—
She had protected Luna from all manner of threats, and now, Mother’s consciousness was on the verge of vanishing completely. She knew this well.
To be honest, she regretted it.
She had finally been honest with herself, but before she could have a proper conversation, she was already fading away.
If nothing else, she wanted to wipe away those tears with her own hands—
… Plop.
But in the end, all that remained was the black sludge of her regrets, unable to hold even a human shape.
Yet, it was fine.
Because Luna, the last and only light who had loved even someone like her—
– Please take care of my daughter.
– …You have my word.
She would surely find happiness.
So, without regret, she closed her eyes.
【Time, as always,】
Time would continue to flow, just as it always had.
And with its passing, sorrow and regret would eventually fade.
“Luna.”
So, please—
Be happy.
Be happy, always.
Just as Mother was about to shut her eyes—
“…No.”
Luna, who had been holding her, wiped away her tears and met her gaze.
Her reddened eyes.
Her disheveled hair.
Her lips trembling as if barely holding back her emotions.
Despite the tears and snot making a mess of her face, Luna smiled as she spoke.
“My dream is still you, Mom.”
“…?”
“I… I’m going to become strong like you—so I can protect the ones I love.”
A smile that looked like it might collapse at any moment, barely holding back the sobs.
And yet—
“Thank you, Mom. I love you. So, so much.”
Because that smile never once crumbled, even as she struggled to stay strong—
Mother, in the hazy depths of her fading consciousness, was able to grasp onto a single ray of light.
—I’m going to be a strong mercenary, just like Mom!
Memories and recollections vividly resurfaced, and at their end, she saw Luna smiling.
“…Ah.”
Mental World.
A domain that only those who have reached the pinnacle, such as a Sword Master or a Great Sage, can manifest.
Most shaped their domain based on the happiest moment of their lives. However, there were some who failed to do so.
Because they had never been happy.
Because there existed emotions greater than happiness.
Her memories of happiness had worn away and disappeared.
Among the countless reasons that existed, for Mother, it was the third.
—Mom, I…
Her memories of happiness had faded away.
“I will… I will definitely become someone like you.”
—I’m going to be a strong mercenary, just like Mom!
And now, as all those memories resurfaced—
【<Mother (S-)>’s Mental World – <Wandering Troupe – Loss> is changing.】
【Mental World – <Moonlit Veil> has manifested.】
In her final moments, a clear and brilliant moonlight shone into the vision of Mother, who had lived her entire life beneath the darkness.
And in that light, she gained—
【Under <Moonlit Veil>, the caster’s rank surpasses its limit.】
【The body is temporarily reconstructed.】
Just a few seconds.
For the first time, Mother was finally able to grasp the moonlight, and she reached for it.
“I love you, Luna.”
She wiped away the stained tears and whispered softly.
Click.
She removed her mask and placed it over Luna’s face, using her final moments to embrace her once more as she whispered again—
“I love you, my daughter.”
You—
“You were the only light in my life, which had never known a single ray of light.”
A sincere, pure white smile.
And that was the end.
【A portion of <Mother (S-)>’s power is transferred to No. 4 – <Luna (S)>.】
【<Moonlit Veil> has ended.】
【The Unredeemed – <Mother (S-)> falls into a deep slumber.】
The mental world vanished in an instant.
Mother scattered like mist.
And Luna was left alone beneath it all.
A complete farewell.
“Aah…!!”
The sobs she had barely held back burst forth again as Luna trembled for a long time.
—Smile brightly, that way you’ll survive.
—That’s right, smile a little more.
—Brighter, as if your mouth might tear apart.
—That way, you’ll survive.
One day, time would pass, her sorrow would dull, and great happiness would find her.
—Don’t tremble, that way you’ll survive.
—When it gets too hard, cry behind a mask.
—Keep trying, and trying again.
—Someday, you’ll be able to smile even with the mask on.
For now.
Just for this moment.
“Mom… Don’t go…”
“…Endure, Luna.”
It was okay to grieve.
.
.
.
【Main Scenario – <The Unredeemed – Luna & Mother> has been completed.】
【The Fourth Member – <Luna (S)> has ranked up to <Luna (SS-)>.】
【Rewards are being distributed.】
【Warning.】
【Clearing and accepting the <Main Scenario> may cause deviations from the original development of <Babylonia>.】
*
【“Nahan. Walk a different path from mine.”】
【By the contract between <Black Wolf (EX)> and <Aria (???)>, the world shall assist you.】
【The previously failed Subquest – <The Face Behind the Mask> has been successfully cleared.】
【All past memories of the members of <Black Wolf> are now accessible.】
*
【Bad Ending 7 – <The Fanatics’ Revolt> has been set upon the world’s fate.】
*
【Main Scenario – <The Unredeemed – Han-Ryang & Celosia> has begun.】
【“You, forever captivating, are my love eternal and unchanging.”】
2.
The very day after <Black Wolf> raided the Gardner Count’s territory once again—
Rumors spread throughout the capital.
“I heard <Black Wolf> was utterly crushed by the Hero Party and barely escaped with their lives?”
Some laughed in relief, as if justice had finally been served.
“This person…!! Are you out of your damn mind!? Do you have a death wish…!? You dare to speak that name aloud…!! I heard both the private troops and mercenaries were annihilated…!!”
Some grew even more fearful than before.
“How was it, Vulcan!? That <Black Wolf> bunch, were they as strong as Asha!?”
“I’m hungry, Marin. Give me food first.”
“…Cook it yourself, you idiot.”
“Oh…!! So that’s an option…!!”
Others, upon hearing the unexpected news, had their murky eyes sparkle with intrigue.
“…Ugh. Maybe I was too tense. Why do I feel so sleepy no matter how much I rest?”
But none of it was Nahan’s concern.
“Nggh…!!”
It was past noon, with the sun beginning to tilt westward when Nahan woke up in the private hideout of ‘Ian Red’—which was just barely cleaned up enough to be livable.
“…How did I even get back here yesterday?”
Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he recalled his memories.
Calming down Luna, who was bawling her eyes out. Calming down Lactea, who was about to kill everyone. Calming down Ruby, who begged to sleep next to him just for tonight…
“…Let’s not think about it.”
Anyway, he cleaned up the mess properly, and his head was still attached, so it should be fine.
Pressing his throbbing temples, he took out a piece of dried jerky and chewed on it.
With something finally entering his hungry stomach, his frozen brain started to function again.
“First, I need to set up ‘Ian Red’s’ fire… Ah. I should check on them, too.”
Only then did Nahan turn his attention to the system windows he had pushed to the corner of his vision.
He had been too occupied with calming down Ruby, who was wailing, Lactea, who was seething with rage, and Ruby, who was whining, to check his status window.
“‘The Unredeemed,’ ‘Bad Ending,’ ‘Main Scenario’… Why are there so many?”
He was too exhausted to even open his eyes properly, yet there was a mountain of text to read.
But what choice did he have? If he wanted to survive, he had to read it.
Resigning himself, he took out another piece of jerky and bit into it while organizing the cluttered system windows one by one.
“Alright, then…”
Starting with the rewards.
Apparently, he had accomplished more than he expected, as a golden status window—far from ordinary—appeared before him. Just as he was about to reach out into the air, hoping for a little dopamine rush—
“Oh my, were you in the middle of prayer?”
A familiar voice rang out from behind him.
Startled, he quickly turned his head, and what entered his vision was an expressionless woman with sky-blue hair.
“…When did you come in?”
“Right when you said, ‘Alright, then.’”
“…I see.”
Thankfully, he had used an artifact to disguise himself as Ian Red before she arrived.
“Still, a knock would have been appreciated.”
“I did. The door opened, so I assumed you heard.”
Following Asha’s gaze, he turned his head and saw the half-destroyed, battered door.
“In civilized society, we call that ‘broken’, not ‘opened’.”
“…Are you perhaps displeased that I came to visit?”
Her clenched fist showed she was serious, so Nahan hesitated before reaching out, gently grasping Asha’s hand, and bowing his head as he whispered,
“Let us pray.”
“…!!”
May I survive another day unscathed.
A short while later.
After finishing her prayer, Asha extended her right hand toward Nahan, who was now serving tea.
“Join our party.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Join our party.”
…The Hero Party?
‘I’m already Black Wolf, Yellow Dragon, and Ian Red… and now the Hero Party too?’
Momentarily stunned, Nahan forced a faint smile and nodded as he answered.
“I refuse.”
“May I ask why?”
“Ah, well…”
…I already have three active accounts.
