Chapter 99
The sea slowly disappeared beyond the horizon.
With every passing moment, the ship drifted farther away.
Atop the highest cliff overlooking the ancient ruins—
one figure remained.
The Lord.
His black cloak swayed gently in the cold wind.
Far below, the waves crashed endlessly against the cliffs, repeating the same timeless rhythm.
His gaze never left the distant ship.
---
Silence.
---
"...You really let them go."
A woman's voice echoed from behind him.
Light.
Playful.
Almost amused.
---
The Lord didn't turn.
He already knew who it was.
---
Soft footsteps approached.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
---
She stopped a few steps behind him.
Her long crimson curls danced wildly in the wind.
Unlike the Lord's dark robes, she wore elegant garments embroidered with silver patterns resembling countless clock hands. Around both wrists floated delicate golden rings that revolved slowly on their own, as though obeying a rhythm only time itself could hear.
She smiled.
A smile that never quite reached sanity.
---
Setsu: "Watching them leave?"
---
No answer.
---
Her smile widened.
---
Setsu: "I never imagined I'd witness something this fascinating."
She tilted her head.
Setsu: "The Lord..."
"...hesitating."
---
The Lord remained silent.
---
A quiet laugh escaped her lips.
Setsu: "The God of Time won't be pleased."
She stepped beside him, following his gaze toward the fading ship.
Setsu: "Do you have any idea what you've done?"
---
Still—
no answer.
---
She sighed dramatically.
Setsu: "You had one of the Four Souls right in front of you."
"One strike."
"That's all it would've taken."
"Kill her."
"Seal her soul."
"End the cycle forever."
Her emerald eyes gleamed with excitement.
Setsu: "The God of Justice would never awaken."
The wind swept across the cliff.
Setsu: "And our Gods..."
"...would never face judgment."
A twisted grin spread across her face.
Setsu: "Everything we've worked toward..."
"...would've been secured."
---
At last—
the Lord spoke.
Lord: "You assume too much."
---
Setsu blinked.
Then laughed.
Setsu: "Do I?"
She slowly circled him.
Setsu: "From where I was standing..."
"...it looked rather emotional."
She leaned closer.
Setsu: "You failed because of John."
Silence.
The Lord finally moved.
Not toward her—
but toward the distant horizon.
Lord: "John is the son of the Goddess of Earth."
Setsu raised an eyebrow.
Lord: "I let them leave because he no longer believes in my ideals."
"I have no need for someone whose resolve has weakened."
"I chose to remain true to my own convictions."
The smile slowly faded from Setsu's face.
Setsu: "...Really?"
She stared at him for several long moments.
Setsu: "You're serious."
She let out a small scoff.
Setsu: "You've always acted according to your own will... but letting John walk away?"
"I have a feeling he'll become a problem for us."
"He no longer wants what we want."
She narrowed her eyes.
Setsu: "Or perhaps..."
"...the Princess changed him."
Lord: "Believe whatever you wish."
The wind grew stronger.
Setsu laughed.
Setsu: "How amusing."
Her voice became quieter.
Setsu: "What purpose could possibly outweigh centuries of planning?"
"Doesn't he want to awaken his mother as well?"
"If that's true... then why save the Princess? Why save everyone?"
"Every Guardian Goddess has committed sins."
"If one of the Four Souls isn't killed..."
"...then the God of Justice will inevitably awaken."
She shook her head.
Setsu: "Has he lost his mind?"
She looked directly at him.
Setsu: "And you."
"How could you make such a foolish decision?"
"The Goddess of Time is going to be furious with you."
---
Silence.
---
For the first time—
the Lord turned.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
His cold, unwavering eyes met hers.
There was something within them—
something Setsu hadn't expected.
---
Lord: "Do I care?"
A brief pause.
"...My only purpose is to awaken Monesa."
"I recognize no authority above my own."
---
The air itself seemed to grow heavier.
Even Setsu's playful smile faltered—
if only for a moment.
Then...
she smiled again.
Setsu: "There it is."
"That's the man I know."
A long silence stretched between them.
Finally, she folded her arms.
Setsu: "Still..."
"The God of Time will demand an explanation."
Lord: "Then let her ask me herself."
Setsu chuckled.
Setsu: "How arrogant."
She looked toward the disappearing ship once more.
Setsu: "The Princess lives."
"One of the Four Souls still walks this world."
"You've allowed fate to continue."
The Lord narrowed his eyes slightly.
Lord: "Perhaps."
Setsu: "Perhaps?"
Lord: "Time isn't the only thing that moves forward."
For the first time—
Setsu frowned.
She couldn't read him.
Setsu: "...You've changed."
The Lord remained silent.
After a moment, Setsu spoke again.
Setsu: "I suppose you have another plan."
"Storming the kingdom and killing the Princess is impossible."
"It would expose everything."
"We've spent centuries hiding beneath humanity's notice."
"We can't afford to reveal ourselves now."
The wind howled across the cliff.
After several moments, she sighed.
Setsu: "Very well."
She turned away.
Setsu: "I'll report this to the God of Time."
She paused without looking back.
Setsu: "I only hope..."
"...your confidence isn't what destroys us all."
Her figure slowly disappeared into the mist.
---
Silence returned.
Only the Lord remained.
His eyes rested on the distant horizon one last time.
Then—
slowly—
he reached for his hood.
The fabric slipped back.
For the first time—
his face was revealed.
Not the face of a monster.
Not the face of a tyrant.
But the face of a man the world believed had died.
A man once revered as one of the Creator's Chosen Angels.
The man who had personally guided Princess Flora through the sacred lands of Dumasae.
Tomasi.
His eyes remained fixed upon the endless sea.
Tomasi: "...The time hasn't come yet."
The wind carried away his whisper—
toward the departing ship...
toward the future...
toward the judgment that awaited them all.
...CHAPTER 99 ENDS...