[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 427

"You all should go back now, too, right?"

Jeong-hoon said to Janus and Tenebris.

Since the beings of the Demon Realm had been eliminated, there was no longer any reason to be together.

'Before that, let me ask one thing. What are you going to do with the Virtues?'

Janus did not trust the Divine Realm. If Jeong-hoon were to hand over the Virtues to the angels, and they were to attack the Demon Realm, there would be no way to stand against them. The power of the Virtues was that overwhelming.

"I'm going to seal the Virtues again."

'Seal?'

"Yes. I'll seal them in the form of boxes, and I'll give one to each of the Archangels to keep."

He would also seal the boxes so tightly that they couldn't be opened with their power.

'Hmm, that's not a bad idea.'

"However, if you ever show any intention of attacking the Divine Realm, the Virtues will be opened again at any time."

'Tsk, that won't happen, so don't worry.'

"Good."

'Then I'll trust you and go back.'

'W-Wait! I have something to say too!'

Tenebris hastily cut in.

He felt that if he just watched quietly, he would miss the timing to say goodbye.

"Tenebris, thank you for your sacrifice. If you hadn't stepped up, I wouldn't have been able to use the Virtues."

'…Well, thank you for acknowledging it.'

"It's a shame you have to live in the Demon Realm… but in any case, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to come this far."

If it weren't for Tenebris, he wouldn't have even been able to regress. Many things had happened, but it was a fact that he felt grateful to him.

'…Those are the words I wanted to say. If it weren't for you, they would still be running rampant.'

"Right. Then, stay healthy."

'Tsk, just become the High God and enjoy an immortal life. Do you really have to choose mortality?'

"I'm just following the natural order of things."

'I can't understand… Everyone fears death.'

"…I'm sure a day will come when I regret it too."

'Then isn't it right to choose immortality?'

"I'm human, though."

Living to the fullest without regret and then returning to nature.

That is what it means to be human.

'Right. I'll respect your choice.'

"Go safely."

Jeong-hoon severed his connection with them.

Then, the darkness in his body boiled and evaporated. This was because Janus had set it up so that their powers would naturally dissipate when they separated.

'Master…'

'…'

"Master…"

"What should we do?"

On the other hand, Mukho, Anima, Fenrir, and Michael.

The four had nowhere to return to. Their hometowns had been destroyed and disappeared long ago.

"I'll give you a choice. The first is annihilation. After that, you'll be able to be reborn in another dimension and live a new life."

'…'

The four were silent.

Jeong-hoon looked at the four and added.

"The second is to live with me on Earth. With the power of the Virtues, I can make it so you can live with human bodies."

'Is that possible?!'

'That's great! It means we can be with the Master for even a little longer!'

"Can I live as a human too? That sounds good!"

"Hmm, then can you make my body exceptionally handsome? Handsome enough to make a living off my face!"

They didn't want to part with Jeong-hoon like this.

Therefore, the four did not hesitate for a moment and chose the latter.

***

Finally, Jeong-hoon summoned his mother, as well as Hajin, Bong-gu, Yeo Sun-woo, and Yeo Min-ji.

When they were all gathered in one place, Jeong-hoon told them an unbelievable story.

From the story before his regression to the all-out war with the Demon Realm after his regression.

His mother was silent, and the others showed confused expressions.

However, as New World became reality, they had directly faced the attack of the Gods.

"You'll still have the power from your New World days."

Jeong-hoon said, looking at Yeo Sun-woo.

Yeo Sun-woo nodded his head.

"...Yes."

"The same goes for me."

Magic flickered in Jeong-hoon's right hand.

At the immense amount of magic, everyone's eyes, including Yeo Sun-woo's, widened.

"Hoon-ah, if everything you said is true… you've been through a lot."

His mother, with tears in her eyes, hugged Jeong-hoon. She was heartbroken that her son had suffered alone all this time, and as a mother, she felt nothing but sorry for not being able to help him.

"Yes…"

Was it because of the relief that everything was over?

At his mother's words, "you've been through a lot," a surge of emotion welled up, and tears fell.

"Hoon-ah, I'll believe you too."

"No wonder… I always thought it was strange that there was nothing you didn't know, hyung-nim."

Hajin and Bong-gu also believed Jeong-hoon's story.

"Thank you so much."

Yeo Min-ji also smiled brightly and expressed her gratitude to Jeong-hoon.

"Ahem, this has become an atmosphere where I can't help but believe it."

Yeo Sun-woo cleared his throat and tried to lighten the mood.

After a short time, Jeong-hoon wiped his tears and got to the main point.

"I'm thinking of turning back time once more."

"Time?"

"Yes. To before New World was released. I'm thinking of resetting everything."

Reset.

"Is, is that possible?"

Yeo Min-ji's eyes trembled.

If they went back from here, the relationships they had now would disappear.

"It's possible. And don't worry. The bond between us will not be broken."

"It won't be broken?"

"Yes. We will meet again. I will make it so."

They were incredibly precious connections to Jeong-hoon. So even if they went back, he would connect the threads and face them again.

***

Epilogue

***

Two months had passed since the Earth was reset.

Lee Na-yeon was, as usual, busy preparing breakfast in the kitchen.

"Oh my, look at the time. Hoon-ah!"

After checking the clock, she closed the lid of the stew and hurriedly knocked on Jeong-hoon's door.

Knock. Knock.

Then, the door opened, and Jeong-hoon came out.

"Mother, did you sleep well?"

"Yes. Hurry up. You have to go to school soon, right?"

"Yes."

Jeong-hoon smiled brightly and went into the bathroom.

"My goodness, since he came back with his memories, I wish he'd be a little more diligent."

They had returned to before New World was released, but Lee Na-yeon's mind still retained memories of the future.

He had said he would make it so their bonds wouldn't be broken, and this was the method.

Memory.

Connecting the powerful thread of memory so that they would be connected again.

Ding-dong—

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Lee Na-yeon went to the front door and opened it, and there stood Hajin.

"Eomeonim! Hello!"

"Yes. Hajin-ah, Hoon-ie is washing up right now, so could you wait a little?"

"It's alright! I came early."

"Thank you. Have you had breakfast?"

"No? I don't really eat breakfast…"

"Don't say that, come inside and eat with us. We have enough time, right?"

"Ah, then may I impose?"

Hajin politely came inside and had breakfast with Jeong-hoon.

Jeong-hoon, who finished his meal in 10 minutes, went into his room and came out with his bag.

"Mother, I'm leaving."

"Alright, take care."

"Right."

Jeong-hoon left for school with Hajin.

When they got outside, Hajin took out his phone and showed him an app.

[+25,323.02%]

"Hehe, Hoon-ah. Look at this."

"Crypto?"

"Yeah! I started with crypto right after we came back. I started with 100,000 won and now I have 25 million won!"

"...This isn't why I left you with your memories, though."

"Ha, it's such a waste I could die… If I knew this would happen, I should have memorized the lottery numbers!"

"Let's not even talk about it."

Hajin, with his memories of the future, was completely obsessed with crypto.

Well, he had been through a lot, so this much should be fine.

"Hyung-nim!"

As they were walking to school, Bong-goo ran towards them from afar.

He too had returned with his memories, so he had transferred to the school Jeong-hoon and Hajin attended and was diligently following Jeong-hoon.

"Bong-gu-ya! Ta-da."

Hajin boasted about his profit margin to Bong-goo.

"Heok! Hyung-nim, you already made 25,000%? Wow, I've only made 7,000%."

"Huhu, want me to recommend a stock?"

"No. The one I'm holding is also about to pop. Hehe."

These guys are crazy about money.

Jeong-hoon shook his head and checked his phone.

Bzzzz—

[Yeo Min-ji: Hoon-ah, what are you doing after school today?]

After the reset, his relationship with her had changed slightly.

They no longer used formal language and had developed a close friendship.

[Jeong-hoon: I don't have any plans]

[Yeo Min-ji: Great! Then do you want to have dinner with me?]

[Yeo Min-ji: (Beaming smile emoji)]

However, the frequency of their contact had increased, and the number of times they met had also grown.

[Jeong-hoon: Okay, I'll contact you after school.]

Of course, he didn't dislike meeting her.

But there was also an annoying aspect.

'Oh High God, are you really not coming back?'

'Please. Come to the Divine Realm quickly and lead us.'

After he had sealed and entrusted each of the Virtues to them, the Archangels would contact him at all hours of the day and beg him.

Through the reset, he had poured out all the power he had, and had even sealed the Virtues. Why were they so obsessed with someone who now had no power?

Jeong-hoon ignored their messages again today and continued walking.

"Uh, Hoon-ah…"

"Hyung-nim, they're here again."

Just then, Hajin and Bong-goo, who had been engrossed in their crypto talk, hastily grabbed Jeong-hoon.

Jeong-hoon, holding his throbbing head, glanced at the main gate.

"Don't tell me, again?"

They say 'don't tell me' jinxes it.

In front of the main gate, a red carpet was laid out, and next to it, four familiar humans were lined up.

They were making sure the students on their way to school didn't step on the carpet, while restlessly looking around.

Then, one of them looked towards Jeong-hoon and shouted loudly.

"It's the Master!"

At that thunderous voice, the eyes of the other three turned to Jeong-hoon.

"Master! We've been waiting!"

"This is a carpet we had cleanly laundered yesterday! Please, dirty it up!"

"Hurry and come in! I have to go to an audition soon!"

That's right.

They were Mukho, Anima, Fenrir, and Michael.

He had let them live on Earth, and it wasn't just once or twice that they had hovered around like this and embarrassed him.

"That's enough… let's just go."

Not long after the reset, he had gone through the back gate because he was embarrassed. Then, they had plotted even more elaborate things, saying his sincerity was lacking. In the end, Jeong-hoon had compromised by accepting it to some extent.

"Master! What are your plans for after school?"

As he stepped on the red carpet, Mukho asked in a vigorous voice.

"I have plans."

"A date. It's a date."

Anima grinned and nodded.

"If you're thinking of interfering, I won't let you off easy."

At Jeong-hoon's warning, Michael gave a thumbs-up.

"Master, don't worry. I will not show my face to that person."

"What?"

"She shouldn't be mesmerized by this handsome face!"

"Ah, right."

Jeong-hoon, as if there was no solution, shook his head and passed them.

"Ah, Master. Please take this."

Fenrir, the only one in the form of a woman, held out a paper bag.

"You made it again…?"

"Yes! It's chocolate financier!"

Fenrir, who had come to live on Earth, was learning to bake under the name Yoo Ha-young. The reason was that the macarons she had eaten as soon as she arrived were too delicious.

"…I'll eat it well."

Only then did they remove the carpet and leave the school's main gate with hurried steps.

"Wow… those guys are really something else."

"I know, right."

Hajin and Bong-goo admired their dedication, preparing without fail every school day.

"Still, it's not all bad."

Jeong-hoon looked at their retreating backs and smirked.

"Not bad? You know you're amazing too, right?"

"It's peaceful and nice."

Right.

This was the peaceful life he had wanted.

Reset and memory preservation.

This might seem selfish to some, but he wanted to say that it was the best choice for him.

He had worked so hard, so it was okay to be a little greedy, right?

Still, if he were to be a little more greedy.

'Let's be happy.'

No more, no less, let's just be as happy as we are now.

[The End]

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]