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The Spirit King Wail’s body erupted in a spray of water.

“I’ve played the role of an adopted daughter a bit too well.” Chapter 164

Steam rose throughout the Water Spirit Realm.

“Do not forget. You are my child.”

Spirits, unlike humans, had no concept of mother or father. But Wail loved every spirit born. The same went for Kel-Beron, born with an ominous name.

“I saw you from the moment you were born.”

“Right from the start?”

“Yes, from the very beginning. You were adorable then.”

Pongpong, who was born with the name Kel-Beron, shouted out at that moment.

“I will become a truly great, powerful, and incredibly awesome Spirit King!”

Wail chuckled lightly as he recalled that moment. “What are you doing right now? The Spirit King’s energy fills the world.”

“Kel-Beron, you will learn many things today.”

To gain something, one must be willing to sacrifice something. Just as Pongpong chose Viola over himself.

Spirits would either choose their own annihilation or never die as long as they did not violate the laws of the Spirit Realm.

Wail used the power of the Spirit King to send a voice only to Pongpong.

– There are many ‘Kel’ in the Spirit Realm. Kel is also referred to as the Spirit Candidate.

– However, only a spirit capable of enduring their own annihilation for something precious has the qualifications to become a true king. Surely, you can become a great Spirit King.

Steam began to rise from Wail’s body.

The entire Spirit Realm responded by warming up.

“Why is Wail’s energy weakening?”

The steam rising from Wail’s body enveloped Pongpong. Pongpong felt that the energy was warm and cozy, but part of his heart felt ominous.

“What are you doing?”

– I also became a king in the same way. That was 300 years ago in the time of the Spirit Realm.

The previous Spirit King, Rune, had passed on the throne to Wail in the same manner.

– Please do not forget that warm heart. Pongpong instinctively began to realize the powers of the Spirit King.

Pongpong urgently sent a voice.

– Is Wail going to die? – I lost the qualifications of a king long ago. I have been waiting for a ‘Kel’ with great qualifications to be born, and today I finally met that great ‘Kel’. – Wail, you are a good spirit. – I was not so for someone. I am the Spirit King who betrayed my contractor.

A multitude of information was conveyed to Pongpong.

Hallucinations and illusions appeared, and they became Pongpong’s experiences and knowledge.

– Who is the ‘Water Magician’? In the illusion, Wail was crying. Because he did not fulfill his contractor’s wish.

The contractor’s face was only a blur.

Whether it was a painful memory for Wail to recall, he could not identify the face or name.

He only knew she was called the ‘Water Magician.’

Viola had seemed to mention the Water Magician before, but he couldn’t remember clearly.

– She was my contractor and friend whom I loved. She used my power to…

Words faded beyond that point.

Wail’s existence completely vanished from the Spirit Realm.

‘Wail.’

Pongpong no longer cried. He had matured greatly after receiving the spirit power Wail had passed on.

‘Goodbye.’

Wail broke the laws, making his disappearance a condition and chose Pongpong to be the next Spirit King. The Spirit Door swung wide open.

‘I will strive so that you do not regret the path you chose, Wail.’

Pongpong thought he had become an adult.

He resolved to accept situations like an adult and chose to act maturely.

“I am an adult now.”

He moved toward the Spirit Door.

Light brightened.

“Spirit King, the great Pong! Ha! donned, … d-durrrring!”

Seeing Viola, tears gushed out. Pongpong, not yet having become an adult, broke into tears, and within those cries was the miraculous lifeblood of Arena.

Rain began to fall in the Elf Forest ‘Kareena.’

*

Elves living in the Elf Forest rushed out of the trees.

“What sweet rain.”

“What is this rain?”

In some places, puddles formed. A few children leaped into the puddles.

“Look at that!”

“The Central Tree is coming back to life!”

The Central Tree, which had given birth to Harmona 700 years ago, began to sprout green leaves once more.

A miracle occurred in the Elf Forest ‘Kareena.’

Water began to flow where the valleys had dried up, and fish gathered.

Birds, four-legged beasts.

And even insects emerged, all intoxicated by Arena’s energy.

Harmona looked up at the sky.

A voice echoed in her ears. “One day, spring shall come and new flowers shall bloom.”

Harmona startled, looked around. It was neither Viola’s voice nor Gaia’s voice.

‘Who said that?’

But then, Viola unknowingly closed her eyes and spoke.

“There was a child who sang of miracles while weeping sorrowfully at that time.”

In the original novel, it was written this way. “At that time, there was a child who sang of miracles while weeping sorrowfully.”

It was only a small difference from ‘hanee’ and ‘hanna’, yet their meanings were distinctly different.

Harmona opened her eyes wide and concentrated on Viola’s words.

‘What comes next…’

“When winter comes, deep darkness shall fall.”

“The dark authority that brings winter will flee out of extreme fear.”

Harmona’s pointed ears perked up even more.

The prophecy she had held since birth changed.

She had never thought of such a thing in the past 700 years.

“All leaves of Kareena shall fall to the ground and rot.”

“The queen’s mother shall once more revive the flowers.”

At the same moment, the Central Tree of Kareena began to bloom beautifully in a variety of colors.

“The laurel crown shall also decay and disappear.”

“The miracle’s power rests upon the queen’s crown.”

Viola’s words were like a divine message.

Golden radiance began to emanate from Harmona’s laurel crown.

Elves who spotted the light from a distance hurriedly knelt and closed their eyes.

Moved by the abundant life force radiating from the crown, Harmona shed tears unknowingly.

She too opened her mouth.

“One day, spring shall come and new flowers shall bloom.”

“One day, spring shall come and new flowers shall bloom.”

Harmona and Viola spoke in unison.

The unknown voice that had only been heard by Harmona was once again replicated through the mouths of Viola and Harmona.

Viola opened her eyes.

“Hmm?”

Viola could not recall what she had just done.

Her throat felt scratchy, and she remembered saying something, but couldn’t remember exactly.

However, the situation felt incredibly strange.

Everyone was…

The elves were kneeling.

Harmona was the same.

‘What did I just do?’

Harmona knelt on one knee and offered the crown to Viola. Her attitude was so polite that it was overwhelming. Yet those kneeling were not only the elves.

‘No, why are you all kneeling again?’

Zeno, Gaia, and Sheilan also knelt. They didn’t feel the same wonder as the elves but somehow felt they should act that way.

‘The princess shines even today.’

Zeno felt joy,

‘The elves must have sensed something extraordinary. For now, let’s follow their lead and gather information. What in the world just happened?’

Gaia was too busy sneaking glances at Viola, musing, ‘She is indeed my disciple.’

Sheilan was simply kneeling without much thought.

The only person not kneeling was Tundra.

Only Tundra recognized Viola’s heart.

‘But you’re standing out since no one else is kneeling…’

It was a rather strange sight. Yet Viola had already been reincarnated for six years, and she wouldn’t lose her poker face over this adversity.

Viola approached Harmona.

“I’ll take the crown as promised.”

“Are you perhaps a deity?”

Viola almost lost her poker face.

‘A deity?’

In Bellatu’s world, gods do not appear.

There are clerics and divine powers, so there might be a being considered a god, but it was never described in the narrative.

“I was born with destiny 700 years ago. I believed it was a fate bestowed upon me by the gods. But today, with your proclamation, my destiny and that of Kareena have changed.”

Your proclamation?

Did I make a proclamation?

‘Ah, I see I made one.’

Indeed.

‘Something has changed.’

The forest felt vibrant and full of life.

It seemed that the answer was already determined for Harmona.

Talking to herself, she came to realize.

“If there is someone capable of changing the fate bestowed by the gods, then you must be a deity.”

“I am not a deity. I just really liked reading books.”

Then, she ended up in a book.

‘In a way, the author must be the real god.’

The author establishes the characters and decides the conclusion according to the synopsis.

Having become a character, Viola resolved to change the conclusion, and,

“And I decided I liked writing too.”

Soon, Elder Elbato appeared, slowly stepping out of the doorway of the enormous mushroom house.

Elbato leaned on a palm staff as he walked.

“Have you overcome your destiny?”

In Viola’s hand was the laurel crown.

Could this alone be considered overcoming destiny?

Viola herself did not know the answer.

“I’m not sure.”

“But I have worked hard, and I will continue to do so.”

One thing was certain.

There was no right answer.

“In the conclusion of the book I write, the death of my people will not exist.”

Tundra muttered softly. “Viola has her own way.”

And he vowed to accompany that life. Thus, in Viola’s conclusion, there would be no death of her people.

‘I will make it so.’

His eyes briefly tinted golden before returning to normal, unseen by anyone. Meanwhile, Elbato frowned slightly and spun around.

Beginning to head back to the mushroom house.

“Follow me. There’s something important to discuss.

Viola, it’s better if only you come in.”