Our footsteps echoed closer to the throne.
Silence. Only the sound of our steps resounded across the cosmic floor.
Then—
It came.
A voice.
No… not a human voice.
It was more like a thousand orchestras resonating at once.
Abstract, yet beautiful.
So powerful I could see the air itself trembling.
I turned my head.
And froze.
…What… is that?
Someone—or something—stood at the entrance of the throne room.
A woman in a black gown that shimmered like obsidian.
But her body… was covered with mouths. Dozens. Hundreds.
All of them singing at once, forming a harmony that shook the air.
I couldn't move.
I could only stare.
But Kurumi… she smiled.
"...Calyssa."
I blinked, stunned.
"K-Kurumi...? You know her…?"
Kurumi glanced at me, her eyes gleaming.
"She is Calyssa N'arlothet Vyrie… the Ultivate of Resonance."
The woman—Calyssa—stepped forward slowly.
Her gown swayed like liquid shadow.
Then she lowered her head.
"...Sovereigns of Ourolith…"
Her voice echoed, as if countless mouths repeated her words in unison.
Kurumi chuckled softly.
"Calyssa… change your appearance. To something more… fitting for my brother's eyes."
I snapped my gaze at her, shocked.
Is she serious…? She's not afraid at all? That thing just now—covered in mouths—and she can still smile…?
Calyssa straightened.
The mouths across her body gradually vanished.
Her gown smoothed, refined.
And before me stood a tall, elegant woman, with only a single mouth upon her face.
She bowed again.
"Forgive me… that form was unworthy to present before the Sovereigns of Ourolith…"
Her voice still carried the weight of a colossal choir.
Kurumi stepped closer, shaking her head gently.
"There is nothing unworthy about you, Calyssa. You were created by my will. You are beautiful. But… my brother might feel uncomfortable. That's why I gave you another form."
I stared at Kurumi.
She was completely sincere.
Her tastes… I'll never understand them. But… these guardians… they remain loyal to her. There's no sign of rebellion at all…
Calyssa bowed deeper.
"I am grateful… for the mercy of the DollMaker…"
Then, she turned her gaze toward me.
"And welcome back… Sovereign Kaliburz."
My brow furrowed.
"Back...? What do you mean?"
Still bowing, Calyssa replied:
"There is no hidden meaning. Simply… welcome back, to Ourolith."
Her words lingered.
Welcome back?
Had I ever truly left?
Kurumi stepped closer, her tone soft.
"Calyssa… where are the others?"
Without raising her head, Calyssa answered.
"They will come soon. As always. The Sovereigns of Ourolith… usually arrive around four hours from now."
I froze.
Four hours… it's five in the evening now. That means… around nine o'clock tonight…
That was our routine login time to Dungeon Forge.
Always nine at night.
Almost never changed.
Then… what Calyssa meant all this time… When we logged out, Kaliburz and DollMaker truly vanished from Ourolith. And when we logged in, we returned. That's why she said 'welcome back'…
I looked at Kurumi.
"Kurumi… if that's true… then every time we left… this world kept going."
Kurumi's eyes widened.
"...Which means all the guardians… continued to exist… continued waiting for us… even when we weren't here…"
I took a deep breath.
If that's true… then this isn't just a game. This world is real. And the guardians… they've been waiting for us. All these years.
Kurumi looked at Calyssa, tears welling in her eyes.
"...You… you waited for us… all this time?"
Calyssa's voice softened, echoing like a gentle chorus.
"Yes. We waited. We always waited. Because Ourolith does not deserve to stand… without its Sovereigns."
Kurumi covered her mouth, tears falling.
"I… I never imagined… all of this was real…"
I held her hand.
"Kurumi… from now on, we have to treat this seriously. Ourolith… is no longer a game."
She nodded quietly.
"Yes, Nii-san…"
For the first time, Calyssa lifted her face.
Her eyes were like endless wells of shadow—yet there was sincerity in them.
"Welcome back… Sovereign Kaliburz. Welcome back… Sovereign DollMaker. Ourolith… is whole once more."
I turned my gaze to the throne.
Empty. Waiting.
I could still feel my heartbeat pounding restlessly in my chest.
All of this… was real.
The castle of Ourolith—once nothing more than blocks of data and polygons—now towered around me in majestic reality.
My would-be nightmare just moments ago—Calyssa—had bowed her head, as if Kurumi and I truly were her masters.
"...Sovereign. There is a strange resonance surrounding the Tower, stretching even to planetary orbit and the flow of the stars. But before I deliver the full report… do you wish me to summon all the Guardians into this chamber?"
Her voice reverberated deeply, layered, as though countless mouths were speaking at once. A shiver ran down my spine.
Kurumi, on the other hand, only smiled brightly.
"Yes. Call them first. Nothing is more important than making sure all of my children are gathered."
Children, she called them.
"As you command, Sovereign. Not a single Guardian would dare refuse your call."
Calyssa bowed low. Her half-human body, still faintly marred with eerie mouths, slowly faded beyond the throne room doors.
I exhaled heavily. This was insane. Overwhelming. They were truly treating me—treating us—as absolute rulers.
Kurumi turned toward me, her eyes gleaming with joy.
"See, Nii-san? They still remember us. Even after we logged out all those times, they've kept living."
I pressed my fingers against my temple.
"Kurumi… you don't feel the slightest bit disturbed seeing their real forms? That thing just now… Calyssa… she's not even human anymore."
Kurumi giggled softly.
"Why should I be afraid? Aren't they our creations? Or rather… my creations."
I groaned.
"That's exactly the problem. I only built walls, blocks, corridors. All the NPCs—you designed them. And me? I only ever saw their human versions on the screen. Not… monsters like that."
Kurumi puffed out her chest proudly.
"Because you have no artistic taste, I had to take over. Hehe. And now, they're perfect."
I lowered my head. Perfect? More like nightmares given flesh.
Kurumi suddenly pointed toward the end of the hall. Two vast black thrones glittered with star-engraved chains and cosmic carvings. The twin thrones that had once been nothing but digital assets… now stood tangible before my eyes.
"Sit, Nii-san. That's our place."
I swallowed hard.
"Seriously?"
"Of course. You are Sovereign together with me. If you stand below, what would our children think?"
Children. She was really calling those monsters her beloved children.
I hesitated to step forward. But Kurumi's gaze was sharp—if I refused, she'd laugh at me endlessly. In the real world, she was always the one who relied on me. If I looked pathetic now… I couldn't bear the thought.
At last, I sat upon the throne beside her. The seat was cold, heavy… yet strangely fitting. As if my body had always been meant for it.
Kurumi's smile widened.
"Now this looks right. Nii-san, you look so much more dignified."
I turned my face away.
"Shut it, Kurumi."
"Hehehe~"
For a moment, silence reigned. Then… I heard it. Heavy footsteps, echoing from beyond the chamber doors. Dozens. Hundreds. A march like an army stamping upon stone.
I clenched my fists.
The other Guardians…? If Calyssa alone was that terrifying… what about the rest?
Cold sweat dampened my palms.
"Kurumi…"
"Hm?"
"What if… they attack us?"
Kurumi glanced at me, still smiling like my question was ridiculous.
"They will never turn against us. They were created to kneel only before us. That law is carved into the very blueprint of their souls."
I shut my eyes. She spoke as if it were normal. But wasn't that the same as a god forcing its angels to worship?
Suddenly, the massive throne doors swung wide. Towering shadows poured in.
I froze.
The first step shook the hall. A voice thundered like resonant metal:
"Answering the call of the Sovereigns…"
I looked—and nearly choked on my breath.
A colossal body, half man, half star, with a face fractured by cracks of light.
Kurumi beamed.
"Ah… Lysaris. You arrived right on time."
Lysaris. Guardian of Space. If I remembered right, she was the one who controlled the spatial structure of the Tower…
My throat tightened.
Behind him, another form appeared—an ethereal body with an hourglass hanging from its chest. Fragile frame, but silver light poured from its eyes.
Seraphelum. The Guardian of Time…
One after another, they entered.
A songstress whose voice split into countless tones.
A void-shrouded figure with a porcelain mask.
A gaunt form trailing rot and ash in every step.
My heartbeat faltered.
Kurumi only smiled wider. She leaned toward me, whispering,
"Nii-san, this is the first time we've seen their true forms. Beautiful, isn't it?"
I nearly coughed. Beautiful? That?
Kurumi, you're insane.
The Guardians knelt, one after another, until the vast hall was filled with cosmic beings bowing in silence.
"I… I don't deserve this," I muttered under my breath.
Kurumi's head snapped toward me.
"What was that?"
I shook my head quickly.
"Nothing. Just… continue."
Inside, I screamed. Why me? I never wanted to be a leader, let alone worshipped like a god. But… if I looked weak now… Kurumi would never let me live it down.
Kurumi rose from her throne, arms stretched wide.
"My Guardians! You have all gathered as called. From this day forward, we shall unveil this new world—together."
A voiceless roar swept through the chamber. Resonance, whispers, and strange vibrations filled my head, ringing in my ears.
I shut my eyes, fighting to endure.
Fine. If this really is a new world… if these monsters are truly real… then I'll have to adapt. For my sake… and for hers.
I opened my eyes, staring at the kneeling Guardians.
"…From this moment on, I—Kaliburz—will stand upon this throne with DollMaker. And you… all of you… will follow us."
The words left my mouth heavy and reluctant.
Yet, instantly, every Guardian bowed deeper.
Kurumi's satisfied smile widened.
"Good, Nii-san. That's exactly how you should speak."
I drew a long breath.
God help me… I was trapped in Kurumi's nightmare—
A nightmare she insisted on calling beautiful.