Morning.
At last, it was morning.
Golden sunlight spilled across the horizon, slowly chasing away the darkness that had ruled the kingdom throughout the night. The crimson glow of countless fires had finally faded beneath the warm embrace of dawn. Smoke still rose from ruined buildings, and scars of battle remained carved into the capital, but the nightmare was over.
For Zeo, the sight felt strangely comforting.
As he rested against a grassy hill far from the capital, staring at the rising sun, a sense of relief washed over him unlike anything he had experienced before.
They survived.
The kingdom survived.
And more importantly...
She survived.
Beside him, Razya quietly supported his injured body while healing his wounds. Her delicate hands glowed with soft emerald light as they mended burned flesh and broken muscles.
When she glanced at Zeo's face, she froze.
A smile.
A genuine smile.
Not his usual awkward grin.
Not the forced smile he wore to hide uncertainty.
But a sincere one.
For a moment, Razya simply stared.
Then a faint smile appeared on her own face.
"You did it," she whispered softly.
Her voice carried an emotion she rarely allowed herself to show.
"They survived..."
Her eyes drifted toward the distant capital.
"She survived the night."
Zeo simply continued watching the sunrise.
For the first time since arriving in this world, he felt genuinely happy.
Not because he had grown stronger.
Not because he had won a battle.
But because he had protected someone.
That simple feeling filled his chest with an unfamiliar warmth.
However...
As his gaze shifted toward Razya, he noticed something strange.
There was sadness hidden behind her eyes.
A deep sadness.
One mixed with guilt.
She continued healing him silently without speaking another word.
The silence stretched on.
Until Zeo finally broke it.
"So..."
Razya looked toward him.
"What is your true self?"
She blinked.
"This one?"
Zeo pointed toward her human form.
"Or the tiny fairy?"
For a second, Razya looked genuinely surprised.
Then she looked away.
A complicated expression appeared on her face.
"Both are me."
Her voice became quiet.
"But if you want a deeper answer..."
She lowered her eyes.
"Right now, I'm Razya."
A faint smile appeared.
"A fairy healing someone important to her."
Her voice softened.
"And that tiny fairy..."
Her expression became distant.
"That one is merely a watcher. A guide sent by the Fairy Realm. She isn't supposed to become attached. She's only supposed to observe and assist when necessary."
Silence followed.
Zeo thought about her answer.
Then shrugged.
"I don't really see the difference."
Razya stared at him.
"The tiny fairy helped me."
He smiled.
"You helped me."
His gaze became sincere.
"Maybe both had different responsibilities and different reasons..."
Then he pointed at her.
"But both are still my friends."
His smile widened.
"And I'd do anything for either one."
Razya froze.
Her mouth opened slightly.
"No."
She immediately objected.
"That's not the same."
She crossed her arms.
"The fairy helped you because it was her duty."
Then her voice became quieter.
"I'm healing you right now because I want to."
Zeo blinked.
Then shrugged again.
"Still sounds the same to me."
Razya stared at him.
Then groaned in frustration.
Sometimes she genuinely wondered if Zeo was stupid.
Or simply impossible to argue with.
Eventually, Zeo slowly forced himself onto his feet.
His entire body protested.
Pain still lingered everywhere.
But he ignored it.
From their position atop the hill, the capital could be seen clearly.
Knights moved throughout the streets.
Civilians were being rescued.
The fires had finally been extinguished.
The kingdom was slowly recovering.
And among the countless figures below...
One stood out.
Princess Akidna.
Even injured.
Even pale from blood loss.
She continued giving orders.
Directing knights.
Helping civilians.
Refusing to rest.
Zeo watched her for a while.
Then nodded.
A look of satisfaction appeared on his face.
Meanwhile, Razya approached from behind.
Her expression had become serious again.
Heavy.
Regret lingered within her eyes.
Finally, she stopped beside him.
"I need to tell you something."
Zeo turned toward her.
For once, she couldn't meet his eyes.
"There is something I lied about."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"And I lied because I was selfish."
The morning breeze passed between them.
Then she finally spoke.
"You can return to your world whenever you want."
Zeo remained silent.
Razya lowered her head.
"You never needed to wait until the story ended."
Her hands clenched.
"It never mattered."
The guilt in her voice became obvious.
"You were free to leave at any time."
She expected anger.
Disappointment.
Maybe even hatred.
After all, she had kept such an important secret from him.
Yet when she finally looked up...
Zeo was smiling.
A small smile.
A calm smile.
Then he slowly walked toward her.
"I know."
Razya froze.
"...What?"
"I already knew."
Silence.
The world itself seemed to stop.
"You..."
Her eyes widened.
"You knew?"
"When?"
"Did Captain Shin tell you?"
Zeo shook his head.
"No."
Then he scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"It just kind of... hit me one day."
Razya narrowed her eyes.
"What?"
"You know."
He coughed.
"Instinct."
The look she gave him was absolutely merciless.
"Instinct?"
Her voice dripped with sarcasm.
"The same instinct that awakened your powers?"
Zeo nodded proudly.
"Exactly."
Razya covered her face.
How had she forgotten?
Creators often gained strange instincts regarding their powers.
And unfortunately...
Zeo seemed absurdly talented in that area.
After calming herself, she glared at him.
"If you knew..."
Her voice softened.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
A pause.
"Why didn't you go home?"
Zeo became quiet.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then he sighed.
A complicated smile appeared on his face.
"Let's keep that a secret for now."
Razya's eye twitched.
"Seriously?"
He nodded.
"Seriously."
She stared.
Then sighed.
There was no winning against him.
Finally, Zeo extended his hand.
"First."
He smiled.
"Let's fix the world."
Razya looked at his hand.
Then at his face.
Then sighed again.
"You really are easygoing."
Despite her words, a faint smile appeared.
Eventually, she grabbed his hand.
Tightly.
"Thank you."
Moments later, Zeo entered Creator State once more.
Inside his subconscious, the world transformed into endless white space.
Razya stood nearby.
"So?"
Zeo asked.
"How exactly do I fix this?"
Razya thought for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Simple explanation."
She raised one finger.
"When you weakened your world before, you tightened reality itself."
She made a squeezing motion.
"You pulled the chains of reality closer together to strengthen your control."
Then she smiled.
"Now we're doing the opposite."
Zeo blinked.
"...How?"
Razya stared.
"You really only listened to the first half, didn't you?"
A vein appeared on her forehead.
"Let me do it."
"No."
Zeo immediately shook his head.
"This is my mistake."
His expression became firm.
"So I'll fix it."
For a moment, Razya simply stared.
Then nodded.
"...Alright."
Under her guidance, Zeo slowly gained control over the world's structure.
Soon, layers appeared before him.
Countless colorful layers.
Reality itself.
And around those layers...
Chains.
Chains he himself had tightened.
Understanding dawned.
Slowly, Zeo reached forward.
Then pulled.
CRACK.
The chains loosened.
A brilliant wave exploded outward.
Like ripples spreading across an endless ocean.
The wave traveled across the entire kingdom.
Repairing reality.
Restoring balance.
Returning everything to its proper place.
Far away, Akidna suddenly looked toward the sky.
A strange wave passed overhead.
Invisible.
Yet undeniable.
She couldn't explain it.
Couldn't understand it.
Yet somehow...
She knew.
A smile appeared on her lips.
Then she remembered his words.
"If you can overcome your destiny."
She held onto those words.
As if they were a promise.
Elsewhere, Cilard noticed it too.
His sharp eyes narrowed.
"What exactly are you?"
His voice carried genuine confusion.
"Playing with reality itself..."
Before he could think further—
"Wait mister!"
A voice called from behind.
Cilard slowly turned.
Back on the hill, Zeo finally exited Creator State.
Everything was fixed.
The world felt stable once more.
Beside him, Razya had returned to her tiny fairy form.
Zeo blinked.
"...Why?"
She crossed her tiny arms.
"It's easier this way."
Zeo shook his head.
"You really enjoy being called a tiny insect, don't you?"
Razya immediately flew forward and punched his forehead.
"No, I don't!"
Zeo laughed.
The sound felt surprisingly natural.
Eventually his gaze drifted toward the horizon.
"Looks like Captain Shin already left."
Razya nodded.
Then her expression became serious.
"I already reported everything about Death."
She paused.
"But what about you?"
Zeo's smile disappeared.
His eyes became determined.
There was no hesitation left.
No confusion.
No uncertainty.
He finally knew what he wanted.
His fists slowly tightened.
"I'm going to meet him."
Razya tilted her head.
"Captain Shin?"
Zeo nodded.
"At HQ."
His gaze drifted toward the distant horizon.
"Tomorrow."
Before leaving, his eyes casually shifted toward a nearby rooftop.
Someone was hiding there.
Watching everything.
The female lead of his story.
The future heroine.
He noticed her almost immediately.
But chose not to expose her.
After all...
He had plans.
Plans involving Akidna.
And perhaps the future itself.
Soon, Zeo entered the capital.
The streets were filled with destruction.
Burned buildings.
Collapsed homes.
Broken roads.
Exhausted civilians.
Knights continued arresting surviving prisoners.
Workers cleared rubble.
The city breathed once more.
Throughout the day, Zeo quietly helped wherever he could.
He guided civilians to safe locations.
Shared his remaining money.
Helped carry supplies.
Nothing grand.
Nothing heroic.
Just small acts.
Yet somehow...
Those felt more meaningful than defeating monsters.
Meanwhile, inside the royal palace...
Princess Akidna stood before the King's chamber.
A detailed report rested within her hands.
The King remained hidden behind a massive curtain.
As always.
Invisible.
Distant.
Untouchable.
"I have brought the report regarding the prison incident, Your Majesty."
The King's calm voice echoed.
"You performed admirably."
A pause followed.
"Your leadership was impressive."
Akidna bowed.
Then suddenly—
The chamber doors opened.
The prince entered.
His trusted right-hand man followed behind.
The moment his eyes landed on Akidna, murderous thoughts surged through his mind.
How?
How was she still alive?
After everything.
After all his preparations.
Yet outwardly, he smiled.
A perfect smile.
"I read the report as well."
His tone sounded friendly.
"I was genuinely impressed."
Then his eyes sharpened.
"However..."
The room became quieter.
"How exactly did the prisoners escape?"
Akidna's expression remained calm.
"And wasn't it strange?"
The prince smiled.
"You requested reinforcements before everything happened."
His gaze narrowed.
"Almost as if you expected it."
Silence.
Then Akidna looked directly into his eyes.
"Are you accusing me?"
Her voice was cold.
"Of orchestrating the prison break to gain glory?"
The prince immediately laughed.
"Oh no."
He raised both hands.
"I would never."
His smile remained.
"You're the kingdom's beloved princess."
A pause.
"And future crown princess."
The words felt poisonous.
"But..."
He tilted his head.
"It does seem suspicious."
Akidna's eyes became colder.
Then she answered calmly.
"I requested reinforcements."
A pause.
"Where were yours?"
The prince froze.
Her voice sharpened.
"I didn't ask you personally to come."
She took a step forward.
"Only to send soldiers."
Another step.
"But according to reports..."
Her eyes narrowed.
"You ignored the request."
The prince's expression darkened.
He was seconds away from losing control.
Then—
"Enough."
The King's voice interrupted.
The entire room became silent.
"Do not argue within my chamber."
The King sighed.
"I am tired."
His voice echoed through the room.
"Leave."
Then he added.
"Princess Akidna."
A pause.
"We will speak later."
Both immediately bowed.
"As you command, Your Majesty."
Outside the chamber, the prince walked ahead.
His expression twisted with irritation.
Akidna followed behind.
Then smiled slightly.
A smile that irritated him even more.
"It feels nice to breathe palace air."
The prince stopped.
Then looked back.
His eyes cold.
"Enjoy it while it lasts."
After another moment of silence, he spoke again.
"I heard someone assisted you during the operation."
Akidna's heart skipped a beat.
Yet her face remained calm.
"General Kadrick led the second knight force."
The prince stared.
Searching.
Waiting.
Yet finding nothing.
Eventually he turned and left.
Akidna watched him disappear.
Then sighed.
According to Wasahi's report, Zeo had no desire for recognition.
He wanted to remain hidden.
And honestly...
That was probably for the best.
Some heroes were safer in the shadows.
The following morning, as the kingdom slowly recovered from the scars of war, Zeo prepared for his journey.
His destination was clear.
The headquarters.
And the man waiting there.
Captain Shin.
The next chapter of his story was about to begin.