---

The stars shone brightly.

Countless beams of starlight illuminated the dark universe.

It didn’t matter whether this was the real universe or just another imagined world similar to the last.

The moment I opened my eyes, I realized what I needed to do here.

I moved toward the brightest star among the infinite stars.

That star had books.

Endlessly lined shelves covered with books that blanketed the star.

The contents written within the books were not simple novels.

Each one contained history that occurred in the world, or what would happen in the future.

Or the possibilities of what could have happened.

I understood why I had come to this place.

A library that only a god could read.

In this place called the Akashic Records, all information could be read and omniscience could be attained.

I pulled out one of the books.

There was no title, but the moment I opened and read it, I realized what it was about.

This was the content remembered by me,

the “Yu Hana” whose consciousness had been possessed.

And I pulled out another book.

The cover was similar to the previous book, but the content was blank from the middle onwards.

This unfinished book represented the distorted present world caused by “me.”

A future yet to be concluded, full of possibilities.

“Did you find what you were looking for?”

Sophie, perched on the bookshelf, asked me.

I stared blankly at Sophie for a moment.

So many emotions washed over me after seeing her after such a long time.

Becoming a god didn’t change much after all.

I still existed, holding onto Yu Hana’s memories and will.

“I think so.”

“That’s a relief. It’s really almost time now.”

Sophie smiled a somewhat nostalgic smile.

“Is it tough? I’m sorry. There isn’t much I can do to help.”

“Yeah. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have made it this far.”

Becoming a god and reading the Akashic Records means all plans had been drafted.

But whether this would proceed smoothly was still uncertain.

“Be careful. The information gleaned here can only be handled by a god. If you carelessly disclose it to an ordinary person, the world might collapse.”

“Yeah. I’ll remember that.”

Although it was a brief reunion, I was satisfied with this for now.

“Let’s meet again.”

“…Yeah. Hana. Thank you.”

“For not forgetting me.”

At that moment, Sophie’s figure disintegrated into a cluster of stars and vanished into the void.

Tears flowed down, but I didn’t flounder in sorrow.

Sophie’s words still support me in this moment.

Until the day we meet again.

Now it is time to return.

“Kim Shinwoo. Wait a little longer.”

I’ll be right there.

*

“Are you awake?”

When I opened my eyes, the teacher was watching over me.

I immediately noticed his state and spoke.

“You’ve lost all your power.”

“Rather, it’s a bargain. Offering years of tributes and abilities as the price for summoning a god.”

“I’ve always wondered what a god was, but now I think I understand it vaguely.”

It was only after I became a god that I started to realize it a little.

A god is not the omnipotent deity commonly imagined, nor the absolute being worshiped and praised in religion.

A god is more akin to a programmer who designs and develops a program.

It was closer to a transcendent being controlling this simulation called the world.

“What are you planning to do now?”

“I’ll move according to your plan, teacher.”

Was my answer unexpected? He frowned and murmured.

“Are you serious? Wasn’t becoming a god a last resort?”

“For now, this is the best option. The world needs to be much more stable than it is now.”

“Can you tell me what your plan is?”

I was momentarily taken aback.

His tone was unexpectedly gentle, something I had never seen before.

Yes. It felt like a teacher addressing a student.

How funny.

The man before me was the enemy who had killed my most precious friend.

With my understanding of the world now, did that even hold much meaning?

“I’m sorry. I can’t tell you that.”

“…I see. Is that the god’s plan? Then it can’t be helped.”

The conversation momentarily paused, and he then quietly asked.

“When are you going to do it?”

Though the beginning of his sentence was omitted, I understood what he meant.

“Just wait until tonight.”

“Okay. Then rest.”

With those words, the Black Goat left the room.

“Phew…”

I let out a deep sigh.

After tonight passes by and morning comes,

I will die.

I will take my own life.

Thinking of that reminded me of the time I desperately tried to commit suicide at the academy.

I chuckled bitterly and sank into memories of the past.

Yeah. Back then, I thought death was all that mattered.

I thought happiness awaited me after dying and being reborn.

Now, so much has changed.

Dying tomorrow doesn’t mean I’ll resurrect three days later.

No. I shouldn’t have such pointless thoughts.

For now, I must focus on the task at hand.

I got up from my seat and opened the door.

The hallway of the temple, already cloaked in night, was quiet.

Yet, seeing the presence felt from within the room, everyone seemed to be safe.

I had read numerous pieces of information through the Akashic Records.

Among them were the lives of the apostles, including the Black Goat.

It would be nice if I could eventually unravel their stories,

but that too would be meaningless if my current plan did not succeed.

I passed through the hallway and sat down on the outdoor terrace where the scenery was clearly visible.

Perhaps because winter had suddenly approached, the sea breeze at night felt quite chilly.

As I awaited the soon-to-arrive guest, I prepared in advance.

I reflected on the past.

The memories that ‘I’ held initially. The situation at that time. The flow of events.

Recalling the days gone by, I summon a natural flow in my mind.

The preparation became more concrete in my head.

I called forth to the real world using powers beyond miracles.

When I opened my eyes, a syringe was in my hand.

Could this be the best option?

Anything beyond this would disturb the cause and effect.

Soon, the awaited guest arrived.

“Hana…”

“You’re here quickly. Want to sit next to me?”

Shinwoo’s expression was a complex mix of emotions.

It was only natural. I felt a similar way.

“What happened? Is everything alright…?”

Shinwoo, sitting next to me, cautiously asked.

“For now, yes. But the future is what matters.”

“Let me know if there’s anything I can help with.”

That was an incredibly reassuring offer.

Which made me feel even more guilty.

I took a deep breath and opened my mouth.

“Shinwoo. You have something to say to me, right?”

“…Huh?”

“It’s okay. You can say it.”

Shinwoo, who had been hesitating, carefully began to speak.

“Si-hyun, or rather, Longinus told me there’s a way for you not to die.”

Before I knew it, Shinwoo’s expression had turned earnest, pleading as he spoke.

“You just need to gather three sacred relics and use them. It’s much simpler than you think! We already have the Holy Grail and Longinus, so all we need is the Crown of Thorns…!”

“Shinwoo. Listen carefully.”

It was something I didn’t want to talk about.

But it was something I had to.

It was a story so cruel and selfish that

he might end up resenting me for it.

“Tomorrow, I will die.”

“…No. Not that! You can’t!”

“I’m sorry. But it can’t be helped. I won’t be able to find the Crown of Thorns in time.”

Of course, I knew where the Crown of Thorns was located.

But the information obtained through the Akashic Records couldn’t be shared with others.

That was a domain permitted only to the gods.

And I had to die here.

Only then would the world be saved and I could move on to the next step.

“Take this.”

I handed the syringe to Shinwoo.

“What’s this…?”

“There will come a time when it will be needed. Just return it to me when that time comes.”

“…I see.”

He seemed not to understand for the moment, but Shinwoo accepted the syringe without hesitation.

Does that mean he trusts me that much? I felt even guiltier.

“Just a little bit. Give me a little more time. I’ll look for it as quickly as I can!”

“If it delays further, it will become dangerous.”

“…Why?”

“Actually, I’ve already reached my limit.”

“Such… such things…”

I clenched and unclenched my hand.

Now, as the god had descended, I was invisible, but eventually, I was destined to die soon.

Miracles were not something an ordinary human could handle.

No matter how much of a savior one might be, they would have to pay the price for abusing miracles.

“If I die, Longinus will also disappear. So before I die, I need to find the Crown so that we can gather the three sacred relics.”

“But… you said you’re dying tomorrow… What am I supposed to do?”

“Twist everything. Even this world.”

Would this plan actually succeed? No one could know.

I could only trust.

I desperately believed that Shinwoo would pull it off.

I explained the plan to him.

Listening quietly, Shinwoo wore a look of skepticism.

“Is that really possible?”

“I don’t know. But there is hope.”

“…In the end, the problem is where the Crown of Thorns is.”

“Truth is… you could find it anytime now.”

Whether my words sounded simply encouraging or not, Shinwoo frowned.

“If you’re going to say that, just tell me already.”

“I told you. If I let you know directly, it might disrupt the world’s cause and effect.”

“Then at least give me a hint.”

“Remember what I told you well. As long as you don’t forget me, you’ll surely be able to find it.”

The conversation that was flowing abruptly halted.

Shinwoo looked at me and asked.

“Aren’t you scared?”

I gazed at the sparkling night sky and responded.

“I am scared. But it’s okay.”

“Why?”

“Because I believe.”

Yes. I was certainly believing.

“No matter how far apart we are, as long as our hearts are connected, we will always be together.”