The type was Conquest. But what were we supposed to conquer or transcend?
Fate, conquest, transcendence.
They were just lofty words thrown around without substance.
At least offer a realistic alternative.
Pria’s lips parted.
A single word escaped.
“Brother...”
But the prince was nowhere to be seen.
“That’s enough.”
I whispered.
Shortly after...
“Is it already over?”
Velkist landed on the ground.
The remnants of countless crystals rained down like shattered glass.
“That thing inside the hole still needs finishing off.”
Velkist pointed downward.
A massive, several-hundred-meter crystal was beginning to emerge.
[Crystal of Despair Lv.315]
“It’s fine. Pria will handle that.”
The moment I finished speaking—
[Charge Rate – 100%]
There was no sound.
A golden beam of light erupted from Pria’s sword and surged into the sky.
The light embraced the entire chasm, gently sealing it shut.
[Stage Clear!]
[No EXP is provided for this mission.]
[Reward – 10,000,000G, Top Grade White Iron (A) X 13, Heart of the Empire, Red Dragon’s... ... .]
[MVP – ‘Velkist (★★★★★★)’]
When I opened my eyes again, everything was over.
As the hole sealed shut, the monsters froze in place and collapsed.
Their corpses turned into a black liquid, spreading across the streets and alleyways.
“Casualties?”
<693.>
Rodrick’s voice returned with the answer.
Around 300 survivors. The result wasn’t bad. I had anticipated total annihilation.
‘And now...’
Nothing remained.
This place could no longer be called a city—it had burned, collapsed, and crumbled beyond recognition.
Thud.
Pria, still holding her sword, collapsed to the ground.
I stood up from my spot and approached her. Placing a hand on her shoulder, I heard her faint voice.
“Is... it over?”
“The hole is closed. It won’t reopen for a while. Make sure you learn to wield that power properly—it’ll be invaluable in the battles to come.”
Pria didn’t respond.
I sighed lightly and asked:
“Do you regret it?”
“...I do not.”
“That doesn’t sound convincing.”
“I’ll be fine once I recover.”
“...”
“Give me time. I want to be alone.”
Pria staggered to her feet.
And then she began to walk away, heading somewhere unknown.
All I could do was watch her leave.
‘It’s time.’
The light of return began to wrap around my body.
Before I could say anything more, I was pulled back to a familiar place.
The waiting room of Townia.
“...”
The surviving members of the mission stared blankly at one another.
When Rodrick finally gave the disband order, they walked off toward their quarters, their steps slow and unsteady, as if their souls had been drained.
[Han Israaaaaat!]
Iselle flapped her wings excitedly and flew towards me.
[Ahem! I knew you would win! Now that you’ve conquered both Niflheimr and Townia’s 80th floors...]
“Let’s talk later.”
[Huh? Wait, what?]
I brushed Iselle aside and stepped into the elevator.
Once inside my quarters, I shut the door tightly behind me.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I muttered quietly.
“We need to talk.”
A faint white mist gathered in front of me.
The mist formed into the shape of a hooded figure.
Yurnet.
‘So, you were watching me all along.’
She kept her head lowered as if she already knew what I had realized during the mission.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
<...I thought you wouldn’t believe me.>
Yurnet spoke after a long hesitation.
“You thought I wouldn’t believe you?”
<It’s too far drawn from common sense.>
“It is hard to believe.”
Honestly, it was still difficult to accept even now.
The truth felt like something from another world, something impossibly distant.
“At the very least, I would have tried to understand.”
<This world is far more dangerous and vile than you realize, Master.>
“And?”
<I thought it would be better to help you let go of your attachment.>
“To let go of my attachment...”
I laughed hollowly.
“So, you deliberately acted that way to make me hate you? So that I wouldn’t grow attached to this world?”
<...>
“That doesn’t make sense. Did you ever think that if I learned the truth, I might ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) just return to Earth? Without any need for all this drama?”
Yurnet lowered her head further.
She offered no excuses.
“What a mess.”
<...I’m sorry.>
“Let me ask you one last time.”
I crossed my arms and spoke.
“What was the purpose of bringing me here from Earth?”
<It was to replace the aging server computer. There were five candidates, and four failed. You are the last one remaining.>
“...”
<By combining you, the Master, with a Hero, they aim to create a Transcendent. This Transcendent would replace the aging main server of Pick Me Up. That is the purpose of the Goddess creating the Seven Stars, and it’s the truth Seris revealed to us.>
Yurnet closed her eyes slowly.
<If you go to Server 1, you will neither live nor die. You’ll burn up all your interference power to prolong the lifespan of the universe.>
“...”
<Wouldn’t it have been better for you to return to Earth without ever realizing this terrible truth?>
“Is there even a way back?”
<Recently, we’ve located the place where your real body resides.>
Yurnet waved her hand.
A transparent hologram appeared in the air.
Inside was an unfamiliar scene.
‘A hospital room...?’
A dimly lit room.
A white bed.
And on that bed lay a man.