1.
Peter suddenly realized one day.
【Warning.】
【The seal on Peter is being lifted.】
【Essence – <Evil> awakens.】
Ah… I’m different.
As with most awakenings, Peter couldn’t escape the shock for some time.
And rightly so.
– Oh my, his hair is black?
– Maybe a child from the East?
– I’m not sure? His face looks completely Imperial though?
– Let’s just take him in from the back alley.
Until he had that realization, Peter had been just like everyone else.
To put it another way, the moment he realized it—he became someone different.
– You crazy bastard!
– Blasphemous scum!
– Call the Inquisitor!
Peter was cast out like that.
And so, while Peter, who had drifted into the orphanage, was pondering his essence…
– Ahem, ahem! Everyone, pay attention!
A friend in the orphanage who always acted smart posed the following question.
– What if a creature that grew up among humans, just like a human, were told one day, ‘You’re not human, you’re an animal’? What would happen?
Out of many answers, there was no correct one.
– They’d fight back! Like an animal!
– They’d claim they’re human!
– If it were me, I’d be so sad…
Everyone only tried to empathize by imagining themselves in that position—none tried to understand from the animal’s perspective.
– Obviously…
Just as a frustrated Peter was about to speak up to give his answer, the nun who had brought him in, Ria, responded with a faint smile.
– Don’t you think that friend already knew? Ah, I’m different…
That day, Peter thought—for the first time in his life—that someone understood him.
Which made it all the more strange.
You, who were always so smart, who understood us so well… Why did you say that to me when you brought me in?
Because clearly, I…
【It’s okay. You’re not strange at all.】
…Am a strange being.
.
.
.
“So that must be why, O God.”
“What is?”
“That I even turned my back on you, who had saved me.”
【Due to the skill – <Faith Harvest (SSS+)> the rank has temporarily increased.】
【<Peter (SSS+)> → <Peter (EX-)>】
“Because from the start… I was born to be this way.”
As Peter spoke those words,
He was clearly crying.
2.
The place where Peter and Nahan met.
It was the church situated between the back alleys—where Peter had remained as the “Saint of the Back Alley”—and the Imperial Capital’s most dazzling place, the Imperial Castle.
“So that must be why, O God.”
“What is?”
“That I even turned my back on you, who had saved me.”
【Due to the skill – <Faith Harvest (SSS+)> the rank has temporarily increased.】
【<Peter (SSS+)> → <Peter (EX-)>】
“Because from the start… I was born to be this way.”
With Peter’s confession as the trigger, Nahan activated the mental world of the <Black Wolf>.
【<Veil of Shadows (EX)> – 50% activation.】
Though called a mental world, it was in truth a manifestation of overwhelming power.
Crackkkk!
To survive that overwhelming force, the world split reality and mental space apart.
【Mental World – <Black Wolf> activates.】
Inside the pitch-black mental world—
Only Nahan and Peter remained clearly visible in that space, and Nahan calmly opened his mouth.
“It’s not too late.”
“…Not too late?”
“If you stop now and listen to what I have to say, I’ll treat it as if none of this ever happened. No— even if, after listening, you still choose revenge, I won’t stop you.”
Peter realized immediately.
‘…He’s sincere.’
Even after I turned my back on Him in the madness of revenge, my God still hasn’t abandoned me.
But…
‘…It’s already too late to go back.’
The essence of <Evil> that he had awakened once more was an unforgivable sin. Even if he continued to live on, he would only commit more sins as he had before.
“I’m sorry.”
Offering his utmost respect, Peter disappeared into the darkness created by the <Black Wolf>.
【Chapter 1 – <Peter (EX-)> activates Ultimate – <Dirge (EX)>】
【<Final Song> begins.】
【All targets will die once the song ends.】
A solemn organ began to play instantly.
From the darkness came the unclean melody, seeping in without pause or barrier.
Peter was certain.
‘The opponent is God. It won’t work anyway.’
But if he could draw out his full power, perhaps he could at least make Him slumber for a moment.
‘When the god’s focus wavers and the mental world collapses, I’ll dash out and assassinate the Empress.’
And then—
‘I’ll end this wretched life with my own hands.’
Thus, Peter poured more than 90% of his strength into this attack.
The remaining 10%.
That was the bare minimum needed for a mutual kill with the Empress. No matter what, he had to conserve it.
‘If this attack fails, that’s the end.’
But even that wasn’t the worst outcome.
“…From birth until return—if all I ever did was sin, I hope you will forgive me.”
Gazing at Nahan from within the darkness, Peter unknowingly let a faint smile form on his lips.
And so Nahan thought—
‘…I’m screwed.’
Dirge.
A skill that, in the original <Babylonia>, wiped out one of the four legions Asha had gathered at great cost.
Once the song begins, anyone who hears even a single note will die exactly 4 minutes and 44 seconds later.
And that included—
【Time Remaining: 00:04:32】
—Nahan himself.
‘…I was hoping it wasn’t this.’
Of all the fanatical members, wasn’t Peter the most extreme?
Still, seeing him charge in willing to die… It spoke volumes about how deep his regret must be.
‘But wrong is still wrong.’
At this moment, Peter’s fury shouldn’t be directed at Reina, but at <Eclipse>.
From this incident with Peter, Nahan realized just how necessary it was to correct misunderstandings.
‘In this bad ending route, I have to either get Flora to confess or capture a member of <Eclipse> to reveal the truth to the others.’
With that new goal, Nahan refocused on the current situation.
‘Peter’s Dirge.’
A one-hit-kill skill that causes instant cardiac arrest once the time expires.
‘But in other words… no one dies until the time runs out.’
Meaning—
‘For the remaining four minutes or so, I might be able to talk to him calmly.’
Having finished his thoughts, Nahan started walking toward where Peter was hiding.
He seemed to be trying quite hard to stay hidden, but this was Nahan’s mental world.
“You’re going to die in a few minutes anyway. Thought we might have a chat before then.”
“…!?”
As soon as Nahan pinpointed his exact location, Peter stirred in the darkness, clearly flustered.
“Ah, just in case—”
【<Veil of Shadows (EX)> – 65% activation.】
Thump!
The mental world solidified further.
Peter, who had merged into the wall, froze—unable to move forward or retreat.
“You weren’t using your full power…?”
“Still not.”
“…As expected of the Omnipotent One.”
Peter, as if resigned, loosened the tension in his body.
“Speak, then.”
“You’re taking this more calmly than I expected.”
“If you meant to kill me, you would’ve done so already. I know that the reason I’m still alive is because of Your mercy. However…”
Peter revealed the appearance he had been hiding and added.
“The words You spoke—about letting me go even if I still choose revenge after hearing You out—please keep that promise.”
“I promise.”
Nahan replied without hesitation.
“…I’ll listen.”
Finally nodding, Peter faced Nahan, who began to speak, having collected his thoughts.
“The one who killed Sister Ria was not the Empress.”
The core truth of the entire matter.
‘Coming from someone he worships as God, Peter would have no choice but to believe me.’
Or so Nahan thought—until their eyes met and Peter calmly nodded in return.
“I already know.”
“…What?”
“It’s only natural. The one who killed Ria… was no one else but me.”
As Peter said this.
“I’ll tell you everything.”
He still wore a completely emotionless face.
3.
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Castle—now without the Yellow Dragon.
“She clearly moved like this from over here…”
The Minister of Defense muttered, watching Reina as she reviewed her sparring session with the Yellow Dragon.
“Are you certain?”
The question was directed at the servant standing nearby.
She belonged to <Nameless>, the direct unit under Duke Halorand, and responded using ventriloquism, wearing a soft smile.
“Yes. Absolutely. The Duke has ordered the Empress to be abducted tonight at 23:00.”
“Hah…”
Even if it was Duke Halorand’s command, the Minister of Defense remained skeptical.
“…To push forward an operation that has been postponed for so long—just because the Yellow Dragon happened to leave for a while? That’s the only reason?”
No sooner had he voiced his frustration than all the servants turned their gazes toward him in unison.
A subtle yet suffocating killing intent.
“…!!”
Panicked, the Minister fumbled to offer an excuse, but the servant calmly raised her right hand and placed a finger to her lips.
“Shh. Even your reaction was within the Duke’s expectations. So I’ll give you one last chance. Please, don’t let careless words hasten your own end.”
“…Understood.”
The Minister of Defense nodded and cautiously stepped back, thinking.
‘If tonight’s operation succeeds, I won’t have to keep tiptoeing around these bastards anymore…’
May—
The Duke’s premonition come true to the very end.
