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I returned to the temple.

It felt surprisingly easy, considering what I had prepared myself for.

However, this smooth resolution was ultimately thanks to one sacrifice.

If it hadn’t been for Hana’s miracle, it might have been impossible to defeat the council.

She is trying to rectify the world by sacrificing everything she has.

The fact that I cannot stop her fills Shin Woo with a complicated regret.

What on earth should I do?

What can I do to make Hana happy?

No matter how much I pondered these questions in my mind, no answers came to me.

“Now, all that’s left is the descent ritual.”

The Black Goat stated flatly.

The other apostles, for reasons unknown, had all collapsed and lost consciousness.

“Bring forth the spirit of the deity.”

He extended his hand toward Hana.

The girl answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“No.”

“…Hand it over.”

“No. I can’t give it to you.”

Everyone was taken aback by the sudden standoff and watched the two.

“What are you trying to do right now?”

Despite the Black Goat’s chilling voice, Hana stood her ground without a trace of fear.

“You’re planning to use Sophie’s body for the deity, right?”

“…”

Did she know?

In that case, it was only natural for Hana not to participate in the plan.

To her, Sophie is that important.

However, contrary to Shin Woo’s expectations, Hana didn’t seem angry or hostile toward the Black Goat.

In fact, she seemed overly calm and apathetic.

“Instead, use me.”

“You’re saying you want to become a deity yourself?”

“Yes. There’s no one more suitable to use the deity’s body than a savior, right? Since I already possess the deity’s spirit, the ritual will be much simpler.”

Shin Woo frowned, unable to follow the flow of conversation.

Hana becoming a deity?

Expressed that way, it felt like some kind of cult.

But perhaps that wasn’t entirely bad.

Becoming a deity meant rising to a superior state than now.

Meaning, Hana’s precarious condition could improve due to the side effects of the miracle.

Perhaps Hana aimed for this?

As I envisioned that hopeful future, the boy’s expression gradually brightened.

In stark contrast, the Black Goat asked in a stiff voice.

“…Do you even know what that means?”

“Yes. Teacher.”

“…”

After a brief standoff, he finally nodded and accepted it.

“I understand. I’ll prepare for the ritual, so rest for now.”

With that, the Black Goat left the room, leaving only the A-team gathering and Longinus behind.

Yeon Hwa nervously asked Hana with a worried look.

“Hey. Is it really okay to do this? It’s not weird, is it?”

“It’s fine. So far, it’s going the best it could.”

Hana hesitated for a moment before offering an awkward smile.

“It’s almost over. I promise you, everything will turn out fine.”

*

The ritual began.

Inside the tightly shut door, Hana was becoming a deity.

The girl’s words that everything would turn out fine echoed in my mind.

I prayed for that to be the case, but I didn’t know who the object of my prayer was.

As time passed.

Finally, the closed door opened.

Shin Woo realized that the person who came out was the Black Goat and immediately asked him.

“Hana!?”

“The ritual is complete. It probably succeeded safely.”

“Probably…?”

“Right now, she’s accepting the deity’s soul. We won’t know the result until she opens her eyes.”

Si-hyun gazed into the room beyond the door.

“Can we go in now?”

“Do as you please.”

The three of them immediately entered the room to check on Hana’s condition.

She was peacefully asleep on a place that resembled an altar. Fortunately, at a glance, she didn’t seem to have any major issues.

However, that didn’t mean all worry was alleviated.

Yeon Hwa shouted at the Black Goat with skepticism lacing her voice.

“You didn’t do anything weird to her, right!?”

“I’m sorry, but now I can’t even if I wanted to.”

“What?”

The Black Goat shrugged.

“I used up all my powers to perform that ritual.”

“…What do you mean, all your powers?”

“It means I’ve become a regular person who can’t use any powers at all.”

Upon understanding the meaning of those words, the three of them stared at him in bewilderment.

The leader of the apostles, who had appeared strong and overwhelming.

Now, the invincible Black Goat was just an ordinary person without any powers.

“What’s the point of going so far? Wasn’t your goal to kill all of humanity?”

“If that were my only goal, I wouldn’t have gone through such a troublesome endeavor.”

“Answer directly. What do you intend to do by calling forth a deity?”

The Black Goat sat down heavily in a chair nearby after a moment of silence.

He began to explain while rhythmically tapping his fingers on the desk.

“Ending the realm of the deity.”

“Ending the realm of the deity.”

“Everything that constitutes the current world: abilities, awakenings, monsters, gates, demons, prophecies, and the apocalypse. All of these are designs conceived by the deity.”

“…You mean to dismantle all of that? Isn’t that the same as the council?”

In response to Shin Woo’s point, the Black Goat openly displayed his irritation.

“Don’t compare me to those fools. They tried to tread into the deity’s domain. They were only trying to maximize God’s blessing; their abilities.”

“So, does that mean you, on the contrary… intend to erase abilities from humans?”

“Not just abilities. My ultimate goal is to erase everything that the deity created and become independent from the realm of mythology.”

This felt equally unrealistic.

Moreover, the most important point is that ultimately, the Black Goat could falter into the same contradiction as the council.

Si-hyun pointed that out precisely.

“Is your purpose really for humanity’s sake? You, one of the biggest culprits responsible for the current state of the world?”

“…Yeah. It’s not strange to think so. But there’s a way to reverse it.”

Shin Woo was taken aback and shouted.

“There’s a way!?”

“Yeah. Using the crown of thorns.”

“The crown…? What?”

Yeon Hwa asked again, having never heard that name before.

“There are three holy relics in this world. One that ends everything. One that reverses everything. And one that beats everything.”

It was a convoluted explanation, but some of it felt familiar.

“The one that ends everything… is Longinus, right?”

Instantly, all eyes turned toward the lilac girl behind.

“And the one that reverses everything must be the Holy Grail.”

Shin Woo recalled the Holy Grail, which was still tucked within his possession.

“Then, the crown of thorns is the one that beats everything…?”

“Correct. Whoever wears that crown can temporarily use the authority of the king of the Jews, the Messiah.”

“Are you saying you can use miracles?”

“It’s not perfect. Nevertheless, it can twist and manipulate reality. By wearing the crown, you can defy the constraints of time and space just once.”

To manipulate and transcend time and space.

Isn’t that overwhelmingly superior compared to the other holy relics like Longinus or the Holy Grail?

“How can we trust that? Just one time means you can’t freely use the relic, yet how do you know so perfectly about the relic’s abilities?”

The Black Goat opened his mouth after a brief silence.

“I’ve worn the crown before.”

“…”

“The crown disappears immediately after use. It vanishes to some unknown part of the world. Finding it again is nearly impossible. Even after several decades, I’ve yet to find a trace.”

“It might have just disappeared entirely.”

To Shin Woo’s suspicion, Longinus replied.

“Holy relics do not vanish. Not as long as Christ does not die.”

“But you said you couldn’t find it for decades?”

“Right. So there’s no choice but to summon the deity.”

Then Yeon Hwa tilted her head and reached out.

“Wait a minute. You said your goal is to end the realm of the deity. So what do you plan to do by summoning the deity…”

“I will kill the deity. Thus, everything will be set right.”

*

How am I supposed to accept this?

I thought we had finally arrived at the end.

Even with all the hardships, I believed it would somehow wrap up well.

But to have such an ending at the last moment.

In the end, isn’t it back to square one?

To save the world, Hana must be sacrificed.

No matter how hard we try, we can’t escape this fate’s noose.

As if it were preordained by the deity.

As if it’s a destiny that cannot be changed.

At that moment, Si-hyun approached Shin Woo.

“Why did Hana… decide to become a deity?”

That thought idly scrambled around in my mind.

Did she really need to do that? If she had followed the Black Goat’s original plan and let the deity descend into Sophie’s body…

“Longinus told me that if she didn’t do it, it would ultimately mean nothing.”

“Why?”

“That’s the fate of the Messiah.”

To sacrifice her life to save humanity.

It’s a concept I’ve become sickeningly familiar with.

Who determined such a fate?

I could not accept it. Hana is not a being destined to die.

Si-hyun looked at the boy for a moment before speaking.

“That person mentioned three holy relics earlier, remember?”

“…Yes.”

“And actually, Longinus told me earlier. There’s a way to save Hana.”

“What is it?”

Anything is fine.

Any method will do.

At that moment.

The girl who had been asleep opened her eyes.