Chapter 377. Epilogue (2), Their Story (Part 1) (1/2)

“Huu….”

Kim Suho stood in front of the gateway of a temple and took a deep breath. That was how imposing the scene spread out before him was. A surrounding wall prevented outsiders from entering, and the columns of marble visible beyond the gateway seemed to stretch endlessly.

But what made Kim Suho the most nervous was a temple standing tall at the end of the stone road.

Even though it resembled a temple from ancient mythology, it didn’t lack in any way when it came to functionality. This oval structure, which was built with ice glass and shining with a splendid blue light, was known as the ‘Temple of the Nine Heroes.’

It was a structure built by the Hero Association for the nine Heroes - the Nine Stars - who made great contributions during the Great Change and the Devil War.

Today, Kim Suho had been invited to this incredible place. As there was a rule that ‘only members of the Nine Stars and their successors may enter the temple’, it was clear what this invitation signified.

“How does it feel to be a successor?”

At that moment, the person accompanying Kim Suho asked. With a slightly nervous expression, Kim Suho turned to the side. There, Yun Seung-Ah was smiling with her arms crossed.

“Well…”

Her smile made him relax. Kim Suho smiled softly and shook his head.

“I’m not sure. I feel like there are a lot of things left to do.”

Looking at the Temple of the Nine Heroe, Kim Suho thought about Jin Sahyuk, who returned to Akatrina without a word.

The ill-fated relationship that extended to his previous world had disappeared along with her.

However, that didn’t mean Kim Suho could just forget about her and pretend he didn’t remember her. He couldn’t pretend he forgot about Akatrina either.

As such, his task had yet to disappear.

The path of ‘guardianship’ laid out by his name ‘Suho’ was still awaiting him.

“…I see.”

Not knowing this, Yun Seung-Ah nodded her head with bitterness.

Becoming a member of the Nine Stars meant that he could no longer be a member of any guild. However, she decided to accept this. It seemed it would take Kim Suho at least 10 years until his ascension was finalized, and she also knew that Kim Suho wasn’t a Hero that could be fenced off inside a guild.

“Mm? Suho, over there. There are three more people coming here.”

Yun Seung-Ah pointed at the path they just walked through and laughed. Kim Suho turned back and faced the road.

There were three people walking towards them. They all had less-than-average frames.

One was a magician equipped with a cape engraved with nine stars, the other was the Association Chairman who was dressed nicely in a black suit, and the last one was Evandel with her magician’s wand and hat. In any case, all three of them were shorties.

“Yeah, I see them.”

Kim Suho smiled.

At the moment, only Heynckes and Oh Jaejin were confirmed members of the Nine Stars. Four members, including Shin Myungchul, were confirmed dead. However, the three remaining members of the Nine Stars were confirmed to be alive, living in hiding after having lost their powers completely. Once the treatment for the side-effects of Gifts was fully developed, they would be reinstated as members of the Nine Stars.

As such, there were four empty seats for the Nine Stars. And the current Nine Stars had the duty to fill up these seats.

As the Nine Stars were ‘honorary positions with authority’, they would disappear as a legend if all nine Heroes died. But because the Hero Association changed the Nine Stars to an official institution, its empty seats had to be filled.

[The Nine Stars checks the Association, the Association remains conscious of the Nine Stars, and the Temple of Justice supervises the Association.]

The Temple of Justice and Aileen had decentralized the Association’s power to prevent corruption from happening ever again.

“You’re already here.”

The nine-star magician, Ah Hae-In, approached Kim Suho and spoke.

“Hello. I hope you’ve been well.”

“We heard the news. Congratulations.”

Kim Suho and Yun Seung-Ah greeted Ah Hae-In courteously.

Ah Hae-In had already been nominated as a member of the Nine Stars, not as a simple successor. This was due to Oh Jaejin’s recommendation and the fact that she recaptured all of Europe.

The official announcement should be made next week.

“Yes. I’m sure you two know Aileen. This here is Evandel.”

Ah Hae-In glanced at Evandel and introduced her. Kim Suho got on his knees and saw eye-to-eye with Evandel who was tightly grabbing Ah Hae-In’s hand.

“Hey, Evandel. We’ve seen each other before. Do you remember me?”

Kim Suho greeted her first. However, Evandel was half-hidden behind Ah Hae-In and remained wary.

In truth, Evandel slightly hated Kim Suho for forgetting Kim Hajin. (Ah Hae-In avoided being hated by Evandel by pretending to remember Kim Hajin.)

Kim Suho asked confusedly, “…Evandel?”

“Who are you?”

“It’s me, Kim Suho.”

“…I don’t remember you.”

“Hm? We met before, remember?”

“I don’t know. Hmph.”

Evandel snorted and turned away, but Kim Suho found this to be adorable as well.

This time, Yun Seung-Ah spoke up.

“Haha. Welcome, Evandel.”

“…Who, who are you?”

“…Hm?”

But Yun Seung-Ah was in the same position.

“You, you don’t know me? Aren’t you still friends with Haeyeon? You don’t remember Haeyeon either?”

“I, I know Haeyeon… we’re really close….”

Remaining loyal to Kim Hajin or thinking about sisterly love with Haeyeon. Just as Evandel was hesitating between the two options….

“Wait, Seung-Ah, why are you here?”

Aileen hopped to them and asked. She looked back and forth between Yun Seung-Ah and Kim Suho and moved her eyebrows teasingly.

“What do you mean ‘why’. I’m here to accompany him.”

“Oh~? Just that~? I don’t think so~”

“Well, you’re wrong.”

Yun Seung-Ah spat back.

“…Well, you can go back now. Only the chosen can enter from here.”

Aileen placed her hand on the temple’s wall. She then said, “It’s me, Aileen. I brought the kids, so let me in.”

Beeeep—

An out-of-place sound rang out, and the gateway opened. Underneath the marble roof and marble pillars, a blue road leading to the temple appeared.

“You two can follow me. The rest can wait outside or go back.”

Ah Hae-In led the Nine Stars candidates in, and Kim Suho and Evandel said goodbye to the other two.

“We’ll be back soon.”

“…We’ll be back soon~”

Yun Seung-Ah and Aileen waved their hands and sent them off.

“Mn, see you later.”

“Good luck on your evaluation~”

Tap, tap…. Less than a few steps in, the gateway closed. Yun Seung-Ah stared at the closed gateway with a tinge of regret, then suddenly asked Aileen.

“Oh right, wasn’t there another candidate?”

“Yep, but she’s out on a campaign.”

“Ah, right, Nayun said she’s going on the Tower of Miracle campaign.”

“Mhm. While a certain someone was too busy chasing after a younger guy, she was putting in a loooot of effort. Thanks to that, she’s doing fantastic.”

Unsurprisingly, the third candidate was Chae Nayun.

Yun Seung-Ah recalled Chae Nayun who should be fighting within the Tower of Miracle and felt a mixture of bitterness, jealousy, and proudness. After all, it was Creator’s Sacred Grace who initially obtained the right to conquer the Tower of Miracle.

“…Anyways, Unni, I’m surprised you’re still working as the chairman. I thought you’d quit after a few days.”

Yun Seung-Ah changed the subject to something else.

Aileen furrowed her brows.

“What? I knew I would do a good job from the beginning.”

“Eii, come on. I thought you’d complain about it nonstop…. Well, I guess it’s good that you’re doing a good job. Good luck at it~”

Eudeuk— Aileen grit her teeth.

But it was clear that the loser would be the first person to get angry.

“…Yeah~ Good luck to you too, Seung-Ah~ Though you’ll be 2nd place for the next 1000 years. Ah, maybe that won’t last long either. I heard the English Royal Court Guild is popping up.”

Aileen sniggered.

Yun Seung-Ah smiled on the outside and smacked Aileen’s shoulder.

“Ow. What’d you do that for?”

“Hahaha, because it’s funny. That was a good joke. Two thumbs up for you.”

“….”

Aileen stood silently for a moment before also laughing and strongly pushing Yun Seung-Ah with a Pang—!

“Hehehehe.”

“Hahahaha, hahahaha. How funny.”

Yun Seung-Ah didn’t lose her laughter and pressed down on Aileen’s head. In that instant, Aileen’s smile disappeared.

“Hey, you’re going too far. I’m you’re Unni—”

“Hahaha, what do you mean~? It’s funny, isn’t it~?”

Aileen turned serious and tried to push Yun Seung-Ah’s hand off, but Yun Seung-Ah didn’t let her.

“Hey, you! Let go!”

“Hahahahaha.”

“Arggggh! Y-You…!”

After struggling in vain, Aileen finally roused her magic power, and Yun Seung-Ah combatted Aileen with qi reinforcement.

“Unni, why are you suddenly using magic power!?”

“You asked for it!”

“What? You’re the one who provoked me first!”

Childish bickering broke out in front of a solemn temple.

**

On the other hand, Yoo Yeonha was engrossed in research. Of course, it was related to Kim Hajin. This “research” took place in her brain only and was really a daydream.

After thinking for a long time, she finally opened her eyes and muttered quietly.

“Baal’s last resort… was the elimination of existence.”

She had repeated these thoughts for several months and arrived at the same conclusion each time.

In the moment of annihilation, Baal had erased Kim Hajin’s existence from this world.

Since Chae Nayun reported that Kim Hajin’s final attack dealt irrecoverable damage to Baal, it made sense that Baal would set Kim Hajin as his target.

“…Haa.”

Yoo Yeonha let out a sigh.

Was it because Kim Hajin was close to her? Or was there another reason that she herself didn’t know?

For some reason, Yoo Yeonha couldn’t get Kim Hajin off her mind.

A foolish man who always sacrificed himself until finally losing everything. That was who Kim Hajin was in her eyes. Seeing him laugh even after all this, her heart ached.

“….”

Feeling frustrated, Yoo Yeonha stood up and walked out to the balcony. She enjoyed standing there as it showed a full view of Seoul. Looking down at Seoul from this place, she felt a sense of admiration and awe.

Not at the landscape, but at herself for all her accomplishments.

Some people said that obtaining everything left one with a sense of emptiness, but Yoo Yeonha didn't agree. In fact, she treated this as a made-up saying by those who could not accomplish everything they wanted.

Yoo Yeonha had walked a straight road of ambition and arrived at what many would call ‘the summit’. However, she was still full of spirits.