In Zeo's world, a portal silently opened inside a luxurious hotel room.
Zeo stepped out first, followed by Razya who floated behind him.
The moment his feet touched the floor, he let out a small sigh.
"We're back."
The familiar room greeted him, but his mind was already elsewhere.
"Let's deal with the remaining matters before leaving."
Without wasting time, he left the hotel and began observing the world he had helped change.
As he walked through the city, countless scenes passed before his eyes.
Merchants filled the streets.
Children laughed without fear.
Knights patrolled the roads.
The kingdom was alive.
Different.
After spending several hours gathering information, Zeo finally sat atop a rooftop overlooking the city.
Razya landed beside him.
"The story has completely changed now."
Her voice carried both surprise and admiration.
"Akidna survived."
"Ash chose a different path."
"Even the major events have begun shifting."
Zeo remained silent for a moment.
The cold wind brushed through his hair.
Then he nodded.
"True."
His gaze moved toward the distant royal palace.
"But Akidna is still alive."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"And unlike me, she can predict the future."
"If anyone can keep things stable while I'm gone..."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"It's her."
Razya slowly nodded.
For once, she completely agreed.
Suddenly, bells echoed throughout the city.
The streets instantly became crowded.
People moved to the sides of the road.
Heads lowered.
Voices quieted.
Royalty was passing through the city.
Standing atop the building, Zeo watched the procession below.
At the center was a familiar figure.
Princess Akidna.
The citizens cheered as her carriage moved through the streets.
For a brief moment, Zeo simply observed her.
Then he quietly disappeared.
Night eventually arrived.
The palace became peaceful.
Most lights had already gone out.
Only a handful remained lit among the countless windows.
Inside her chamber, Akidna slowly poured herself a glass of water.
The room was silent.
Too silent.
After another exhausting day, she finally prepared to sit down and rest.
Then—
Knock.
A sound came from the window.
Akidna froze.
Her hand stopped halfway toward the chair.
For several seconds, she simply stared at the source of the sound.
Then she sighed.
A strangely familiar sigh.
Quickly fixing her hair and posture, she sat down gracefully.
"Come in."
The window opened.
A figure climbed inside.
Well...
Partially.
Zeo remained sitting on the edge of the window rather than entering completely.
"Sorry for disturbing your beauty sleep."
Akidna's eyebrow twitched.
"Yes."
Her voice immediately became sharp.
"It is considered extremely disrespectful for a man to enter a young lady's room at night."
Zeo smirked.
"Then I sincerely apologize."
The apology sounded anything but sincere.
"But nighttime is the only opportunity I can speak with you privately."
"No guards."
"No advisors."
"No one listening."
Akidna stared at him for several seconds before raising her glass.
"Would you like something to drink?"
"No thanks."
Zeo remained beside the window.
His expression gradually became serious.
"Let's get straight to the point."
He looked directly into her eyes.
"You know about my identity, right?"
Before he could continue, Akidna interrupted him immediately.
"What exactly do I know about you?"
The irritation in her voice became obvious.
"Because from my perspective, I know absolutely nothing."
She stood up.
"You suddenly appear."
"You interfere with fate."
"You know things nobody should know."
"You're powerful."
"Mysterious."
"And every time someone asks for an explanation, you disappear."
Her blue eyes narrowed.
"So tell me."
"What exactly are you referring to?"
"My investigation?"
"Or your own secrets?"
Zeo looked slightly awkward.
"...Fair point."
Akidna crossed her arms.
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"I can't explain everything."
That answer only annoyed her further.
"But..."
His gaze softened.
"We're similar."
Akidna froze.
A dangerous thought crossed her mind.
After several moments, she finally spoke.
"You mean..."
Her voice became quieter.
"The reincarnation?"
Even saying those words felt dangerous.
Yet she still asked.
Because she wanted answers.
Zeo closed his eyes.
Then nodded.
"Yes."
The room instantly became silent.
"I know you're a reincarnator."
His next words struck her like lightning.
"And I know about Ash."
"I know the original story."
"And I know why you made your choices."
Akidna's body stiffened.
Her grip on the glass tightened.
Slowly, she lowered her head.
Silence filled the room.
The tension grew heavier with every passing second.
Eventually, she spoke.
"So what do you want from me?"
Her voice was much quieter now.
Zeo looked out the window toward the moonlit sky.
"I'm leaving for a while."
Akidna looked up.
"And while I'm gone..."
His gaze returned to her.
"I want you to continue looking after Ash."
She remained silent.
"I know you've already been helping him."
"But things have changed."
"Cilard has become his mentor."
"So don't make things difficult for him."
Akidna listened without speaking.
Zeo continued.
"The story is changing faster than expected."
"Stay alert."
"Because nobody knows what might happen next."
Suddenly, Akidna stood.
Step.
Step.
Step.
She walked toward him until only a small distance separated them.
"Anything else?"
Her voice became cold.
"And tell me something."
She looked directly into his eyes.
"Why exactly should I listen to your orders?"
The princess's aura became visible.
"I am the Princess of this kingdom."
A sword slowly appeared in her hand.
"And what are you?"
The blade stopped against his neck.
"An E-Rank adventurer?"
Zeo blinked.
Then answered honestly.
"Technically."
"I was an adventurer for about a week."
The response nearly broke her composure.
Yet she maintained the sword.
"Answer the question."
This time she was serious.
Zeo calmly looked at the blade touching his neck.
Then spoke.
"If you want the practical answer..."
His voice remained completely calm.
"It's because I saved your life."
Akidna froze.
The sword trembled slightly.
She couldn't deny it.
Everything she had now existed because of him.
Several moments later, she lowered her weapon.
"...I'm only helping because I owe you a debt."
A smile appeared on Zeo's face.
"Good enough for me."
He turned toward the window.
"Thank you, Princess Akidna."
"And sorry again for visiting at night."
Just as he was about to leave—
A hand grabbed his clothes.
Zeo froze.
Slowly turning around, he found Akidna looking away.
"W-What is it?"
For once, the usually composed princess seemed nervous.
Her cheeks carried a faint blush.
"Tell me something."
She tightened her grip.
"Why did you save me?"
Her voice became softer.
"Why did you insist that I live?"
Her eyes lowered.
"Was it because you needed me?"
"Because I was useful?"
"Because I was a pawn?"
The room became silent.
For the first time, Zeo truly understood how everything must have looked from her perspective.
Then he gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
Akidna immediately froze.
"It's not like that."
His voice was calm.
Sincere.
"I asked you to live because if you survived..."
A small smile appeared.
"...then I could save myself too."
Akidna blinked.
Confusion filled her eyes.
"What are you talking about?"
Her face grew even redder.
Zeo laughed softly.
"You saved me."
The princess stood completely stunned.
"When you changed your fate..."
His smile widened.
"...you changed mine too."
For several moments neither spoke.
Then suddenly Zeo seemed to remember something.
His eyes widened.
He immediately stepped back.
"Anyway."
"If that's everything, I'll be leaving."
Before he could escape again—
Akidna stopped him.
"Wait."
Zeo immediately sensed danger.
"You said I saved your life."
She smiled slightly.
"Which means you owe me something, right?"
The moment those words left her mouth, Zeo realized he had made a terrible mistake.
"...Maybe."
Akidna's smile grew.
"What do you want?"
Zeo asked cautiously.
She thought for a long time.
Far longer than expected.
Then finally—
"I don't want your secrets."
Her face turned red.
"I don't want explanations."
She looked away.
"I just..."
Her voice nearly disappeared.
"...want to know your real name."
Zeo blinked.
"My name?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
"I don't believe Zeo is your real name."
For several seconds, silence filled the room.
Then—
Zeo burst into laughter.
A loud laugh.
A genuine laugh.
Akidna immediately became embarrassed.
"W-What?!"
"Was it a weird request?"
Tears nearly appeared from laughing too hard.
Then Zeo jumped onto the window ledge.
"No."
He grinned.
"The weird part is thinking it isn't my real name."
Akidna froze.
"What?"
"My name is Zeo."
Her expression instantly cracked.
"That's it?"
"That's it."
She stared at him.
Speechless.
Meanwhile, Zeo simply waved goodbye and jumped out of the window.
"Wait—!"
A moment later, Razya suddenly appeared outside the window and landed on Zeo's shoulder.
"I'll be observing everything."
The fairy pointed at Akidna.
"So don't slack off, Princess."
Then both of them vanished.
Akidna remained standing by the window.
Frozen.
Several seconds passed.
Then—
"Did they just bully me?!"
Her angry scream echoed throughout the chamber.
Eventually, she calmed down.
Taking a deep breath, she leaned against the window.
The moonlight illuminated her face.
A small smile slowly appeared.
"I never managed to thank him."
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"For saving me."
"For giving me the strength to protect everyone."
Her cheeks turned red again.
"Still..."
She looked toward the endless night sky.
"Zeo really is his name."
A warm feeling filled her chest.
"At least now..."
Her smile widened.
"...I know one thing about him that's real."
The wind brushed past her.
"I'll be waiting."
Her eyes carried determination.
"Until you come back."
Then she straightened her posture.
After all—
She was still alive.
And because she was alive—
She still had work to do.
Far away from the kingdom, on the edge of a lonely cliff, they landed.
The night was quiet.
Only the sound of the wind accompanied them.
Zeo looked toward Razya.
"So."
"What are your plans while I'm gone?"
He smiled.
"You could always come with me."
Sadness appeared on Razya's face.
"We can't."
Her voice became soft.
"Fairies can't enter your world."
"When a Creator leaves, their fairy returns to the Fairy Realm."
She looked toward the stars.
"We observe from afar."
"Like a vacation."
Zeo rubbed his chin.
"Hmm."
"So I'm giving you paid leave?"
Razya immediately glared at him.
"That's not what I meant."
He laughed.
"Then enjoy your vacation."
This time she couldn't argue.
Instead, she simply looked at him.
"You have to take care of yourself."
The playful atmosphere disappeared.
Her concern was genuine.
Zeo smiled.
"I will."
Then he raised his hand.
A portal appeared.
The gateway back home.
He slowly walked toward it.
One step.
Two steps.
Three.
Then he stopped.
A voice called out behind him.
"I'm waiting for my vacation to end."
Zeo turned around.
And froze.
Because this time...
Razya stood before him in her normal size.
Not a tiny fairy.
But a young woman standing beneath the moonlight.
A gentle smile rested on her face.
"Good luck, Zeo."
The sight left him speechless for a moment.
Then he smiled.
A genuine smile.
"I'll come back."
His voice carried certainty.
"I want to come back."
"And I will return as soon as I can."
With those final words, Zeo stepped through the portal.
The gateway closed.
And everything behind him disappeared.
Far away.
Beyond countless realities.
Beyond worlds.
A lone figure sat upon a floating piece of shattered land.
Shadow.
One hand rested beneath his chin.
His crimson eyes gazed into endless darkness.
"Hmm."
A cold smile appeared.
"Shin's successor..."
His eyes narrowed.
"Not worthy enough."
Behind him, an entire world was dying.
Cities burned beneath black flames.
Mountains crumbled into dust.
Countless people screamed as massive black holes devoured reality itself.
Heroes.
Villains.
Kings.
All were swallowed equally.
Erased.
Forgotten.
Destroyed.
Shadow slowly stood.
His black cloak fluttered amidst the apocalypse.
The collapsing world reflected within his eyes.
"Everything is beginning to move."
His smile widened.
Darkness twisted around him like living creatures.
"The threads of fate are finally starting to twist."
Another world vanished behind him.
Consumed by the void.
Shadow stretched his hand toward the dying horizon.
"And when the time comes..."
His voice echoed through countless collapsing realities.
A voice filled with certainty.
A voice filled with madness.
A voice that carried the promise of catastrophe.
"I will make my move."
The final piece of the world disappeared into darkness.
Then silence remained.
Only Shadow stood within the void.
Watching.
Waiting.
Smiling.