Chapter 160

The endless winter slowly melts away.

The giant vanishes, and with it, the cold retreats.

Ice gradually thaws, and warm sunlight envelops the world.

Frozen life begins to melt, taking on human form.

People soaked in moisture, drenched to the bone, collapse unconscious.

I gaze at this sight and ascend to the uppermost floor.

Though I’ve already claimed my reward, there’s no harm in leaving quietly.

Still, I can’t help but wish to meet the king of this country, if only once.

A small desire for conversation guides my steps.

The top floor of the palace.

There lies the minister, collapsed not from ice but exhaustion, sprawled across the throne room floor. The king reclines lazily in his chair.

If we’d anticipated their awakening, then surely the bet on their survival was a victory for the king.

Recalling the distant tale of its final scene, I can’t help but chuckle softly.

Opening the frozen curtains, I step out onto the terrace.

Warmth returns to the world.

The once-frozen greenery bursts into vibrant flowers.

Everywhere, the tenacity of life blooms forth.

Its energy fills the air, carrying a rich fragrance.

It’s a scene perfectly fitting the saying, “After winter comes spring.”

“Ugh…”

The king groans faintly.

And the minister stirs weakly on the floor.

Approaching them slowly, I cast a healing spell.

I weave magic that aids recovery and stabilization, watching as they regain consciousness.

“What is this…?”

“…Finally.”

The bewildered minister and the resolute king lock eyes with me.

Before I can speak, the king staggers toward me, gripping my hand.

With a voice long dormant from deep slumber, he offers heartfelt thanks.

“Thank you. You must be the one who brought us our spring.”

“Yes.”

“That was a long winter. Just seeing this fleeting spring… makes me feel happy.”

He says this, then slowly returns to the throne, collapsing into it.

Leaning awkwardly, he lets out a faint smile before lowering his head.

“Aah…”

“Do you feel it too?”

“My fingertips…”

Confused by these words, I glance at their hands.

They’re disintegrating like dust, fading slowly from their fingertips.

My eyes widen in shock at the sight.

“You’re dying.”

“Can you see it?”

So freezing didn’t truly halt everything after all.

It’s unreasonable to expect someone frozen to emerge unscathed.

Even with some method delaying time, it couldn’t grant eternal life across such vast ages.

“What happened to the giant?”

“It’s dead.”

“You possess great power…”

“It was just luck.”

“Humble too, I see.”

With that, the king limply drops his arm.

The minister tries to straighten up but collapses back against the throne.

“I guess it’s time for me to rest… leaning on this throne again.”

“Man, don’t start lusting for things right when it’s all ending.”

“We old folks are allowed our ugly desires, aren’t we?”

“Heh heh… This heavy seat could always be passed down.”

“If you really do that, I’ll respectfully decline. I have no interest in dying by stoning.”

“At a time like this, does that even matter?”

“How one dies matters. At least I won’t tarnish my honor by betraying my savior and die dishonorably.”

We joke around like this,

like very close friends exchanging idle chatter.

Observing this, I step briefly onto the terrace to look below.

Sure enough, the world is evaporating brightly.

Just as they fade from their fingertips, the world dissolves slowly from the horizon.

Is this the curse left by the giant?

Or simply the inevitable end of this place’s lifespan?

Whatever it is, it’s clear this location has reached its conclusion.

It feels bittersweet.

They seemed like decent people.

I wanted to ask about governance.

How they chose people, how they interacted with them.

There were areas where I’m inexperienced, and I wanted to learn.

Such thoughts arose because of the noble decisions made by this king.

The support from the populace understanding those choices.

All of it led me to believe the people here were good.

“Is the outside world holding up?”

“It’s slowly crumbling.”

“Pity.”

Then suddenly,

an idea strikes me on how to preserve this world.

This new “Mirror Space” skill I’ve acquired.

It’s strangely suited to the current situation.

Precisely speaking, it harmonizes well with my “Moment” insight, creating an effective synergy.

“Are you feeling regretful?”

“Of course. How regretful it is that I cannot return the last joy I received.”

The king seems to reminisce about the past,

lifting his head slightly with a vacant expression.

“There’s a way.”

“A way…?”

“A solution to this predicament.”

“Is that even possible?”

“To be honest, I can’t guarantee anything. But if there’s even a sliver of hope, shouldn’t we consider it?”

“Even if it’s a rope from hell, we should grab it.”

With that, the king straightens up in the throne.

“But…”

Slowly,

with unwavering resolve, the king addresses me.

“All of us—our people included—if this doesn’t save everyone, I’ll gladly abandon it. As the parent of the masses, I cannot survive alone.”

“Don’t worry. Either everyone dies or everyone lives. It’s one of the two.”

“That… is quite an appealing statement. Would you accept responsibility for my life?”

“I’ll do my best.”

“And mine as well.”

“How dare you so carelessly entrust your child’s life!”

The minister chuckles teasingly.

The king merely smiles in response.

“Follow the wise decision of your father.”

“Yes sir.”

“Though it’s shameless, I humbly ask for your help.”

Moved by this earnest plea, I bow my head silently.

Skill activated.

I summon the Mirror Space over the world.

More precisely, I engulf the entire world within the Mirror Space.

From that moment, it began.

What I aimed to do was slow down the flow of time in the Mirror Space,

almost bringing it to a complete halt.

Since ice represents the cessation of time,

if their time had been paused to delay their demise, wouldn’t constructing a similar environment suffice?

The key question: Is the size of the Mirror Space large enough to encompass this entire world?

And can my “Moment” insight stretch far enough to overturn this reality?

Everything remains uncertain.

Yet I proceed anyway.

Facing potential regrets later is preferable to never trying at all.

“Krr…”

My brow naturally furrows.

The limits of the Mirror Space manifest as pain.

By the time I’ve covered half the world,

that’s when I first encounter its boundary.

I ease the pain with magic.

Methods to expand the space.

Time is short, so I urgently brainstorm solutions.

My mind races, regressing to primitive, brute-force methods.

Forcing the space to tear and expand.

Stability is secondary.

If I can just cover everything, something might work.

With this determination, the process moves forward forcefully.

The Mirror Space, initially covering the palace like a cage, gradually expands under my will.

When progress stalls, I unsheathe my sword and rip through the barriers.

The space fractures and shatters, scattering fragments, but I slow its effects using magic to almost pause time.

It’s a temporary fix, but given the urgency, there’s no time for refinement.

My head throbs painfully.

I yawn deeply, stretching my mouth wide.

Perhaps it’s a sign of oxygen deprivation.

“Haa…”

As their clothes and fingertips begin to disappear,

my space engulfs the entire area.

My reach extends infinitely.

One condition for imposing my will upon the world is now satisfied.

It’s time to unleash my insight.

“You seem troubled….”

“Eh….”

Did they sense something strange?

The phenomenon spreading outward from me forms a circle, eventually covering the entire space.

This method proved easier than forcibly tearing the space apart.

Relieved by the smoother-than-expected landing, my expression softens.

“It stopped.”

“Yes.”

“The tingling sensation in my fingertips is gone. It feels like returning to my pre-frozen body.”

The king rises from his seat and walks slowly.

He takes a few steps, jumps lightly, pinches his own cheek, then bursts into laughter.

Soon, commotion echoes from outside.

“Your Majesty!”

“Are you unharmed?”

Knights and mages appear, their faces lighting up upon seeing the king.

“All is well.”

“The giant is dead!”

“Yes. I am aware. The person responsible stands before you.”

“Oh…!”

It’s a familiar scene.

The same determined gathering from before reappears before me, transcending time.

The unexpected joy of encountering what felt like fiction in reality.

“This is the benefactor who saved us all.”

“Thank you!”

“No need for formalities.”

Receiving sincere gratitude warms my heart.

It never gets old, does it?

Though excessive gratitude might become burdensome,

this restrained beauty brings immense satisfaction.

“I have one request.”

“Please speak freely.”

“There was an unavoidable measure taken to save everyone.”

“Gladly. We’re prepared to bear whatever it may be.”

“This space is isolated. Until the end of our days, we cannot cross the radiant white barrier surrounding us. Should anyone attempt to break through it, they’ll dissolve into dust as before.”

“That’s not difficult. Convincing the people will be my task.”

The king’s expression radiates nothing but brightness.

His lack of concern about being confined shows remarkable acceptance.

“Won’t it feel confining?”

“To live means to be endlessly free. How could a space constrain us? It stems from the heart. Don’t worry. I’ll make the rest of my life so splendid you’ll envy me.”

“Magnificent.”

“In the same vein, there’s something we must say to you.”

Exhaustion from the effort catches up to me.

My body sways slightly.

It’s time for rest.

“I’ll visit occasionally.”

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you. Truly…”

The king hesitates mid-sentence, struggling to articulate more, but closes his lips tightly, swallowing the words.

“No need for formalities. I merely did what I could.”

“Yes… we must also do our part.”

With that, the king finishes speaking, and I activate the warp device in my hand.

From the place where the lingering chill of winter remains, beneath the darkening night sky, I teleport to the bright haven of home.

My weary body and mind cry out for intense rest.

Upon opening the door, beloved family greets me.

Their gazes immediately turn toward me.

“You’re home?”

“Daddy!”

“Welcome back.”

“Ugh…”

“Piiii?”

Evangelin.

Yul. Anne.

Jack and Suri too.

Seeing the reunited family after so long brings an involuntary smile to my face.

Smiling, I close the entrance door behind me and step inside.

“I’m back.”

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