Chapter 413: The Black Sun

"On that road, you will not find the happiness you seek."

The ethereal shadow spoke softly.

"The happiness I seek?"

Muen blinked, murmuring to himself,

"What is the happiness I want?"

"Isn’t it right there?"

The shadow lifted a hand and pointed.

The sunlit path ahead looked even more enchanting. Flowers swayed gently in the breeze, grapevines spread thick over the trellises, and the peaceful courtyard beyond glowed with serene beauty.

Muen finally understood—it was the very image he had long dreamed of.

No danger.

No suffering.

No death.

None of the terrifying, chaotic things of the world.

A fragrant courtyard, the squeak of a rocking chair beneath the gentle wind, the calm scenery—an idle, pleasant life to be lived in peace.

To live.

And to be happy.

"Right... that’s what I’ve been chasing all along."

Muen sank into the warmth of that sunlight, that serenity.

Without hesitation, he turned and began walking toward the bright path.

"Muen..."

The sunlight reached the tips of his shoes—yet his steps halted again.

Because another voice called out to him.

A familiar voice, this time from deep within the darkness.

"You have to come back."

Within the quiet plea, a faint light flickered in the depths of the dark—small, trembling, like a single candle flame.

Muen looked toward that fragile glow in the distance, then turned back to the near-perfect light before him.

For a moment, confusion filled his eyes.

Then, understanding dawned.

As if countless memories long sealed within ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) him suddenly awoke at that call, surging through his mind all at once.

"This place really is beautiful," he said.

"Yes, it is," the shadow replied. "This is the image you have imagined countless times in your mind. Naturally, it is the most beautiful to you."

"But... it’s too quiet, isn’t it?"

In Muen’s blue eyes, the reflection of the empty courtyard shimmered as he spoke softly,

"Lonely... and silent, as if I’m the only one here."

"If you wish, you could add whatever you want. You are the Duke’s son, after all. In this world, there is little beyond your reach."

"But..."

Muen turned again, gazing into the faraway darkness. His voice grew firm.

"The people who matter to me—they’re all over there, aren’t they?"

"...Yes," the shadow murmured, trembling slightly as if in lament.

"They are all there."

"If I choose this road, can I ever reach them again?"

"No. Those in darkness may return to light, but those who have returned to light—if they fall again into darkness—will only meet an inescapable death born of despair."

"That’s terrifying."

Muen sighed. "Then what about from the other side? Can they come here, into the light?"

"They cannot," said the shadow. "They are bound by the net of fate, caught in its current and unable to break free. Thus, this road is barred to them forever. These two paths are destined to run parallel, never meeting. Once you walk one, you must wave farewell to the other."

"Not even a duke’s son?"

"No. Even the Duke’s son is insignificant before fate."

"Then why am I able to escape? Why am I given the right to choose?"

"Because..."

The shadow lifted its head.

"At this moment, the two strongest beings among humankind are both watching you. Together, they are powerful enough to cut through fate itself—enough to let you become once more the carefree Duke’s son. You would never again touch an Evil God. Decades later, you would die peacefully, surrounded by family and flowers."

"I see."

Muen blinked, realization dawning.

Thinking back to that sudden too-good-to-be-true setup, he finally understood the reason this miracle had fallen from the sky.

It had to be that scheming old loli again—setting him up for something.

No wonder she’d smiled so brightly when they’d parted in the sea of flowers. Damn it, she’d been digging this pit from the start.

And that Pope... after all the mess he’d cleaned up for the Church, they at least owed him one huge favor.

Though, considering he’d “stolen” Liya, he wasn’t sure whether that favor still counted.

"Heh, a few months ago, I’d have jumped for joy at this offer."

Muen sighed, smiling bitterly at himself.

"But now... looking back, I’m no longer alone. The people who matter to me are all over there. No matter how bright the flowers or warm the sunlight here—how could that possibly be happiness?"

The dark path remained as eerie and rugged as ever, full of danger and unknowns.

That road would not be easy. But Muen knew—someone was waiting for him there.

"Besides," he muttered, "not long ago, I swore I’d kill that damn Love God. If I just slink away now, I’ll be too pissed to sleep for the rest of my life."

"Is that so?"

The shadow wavered again, almost as if smiling.

"Then go where your heart leads you, Muen Campbell."

"Yeah. I will."

Then Muen suddenly turned back, staring at the shadow.

"By the way, I never asked—why bother with this whole setup? You’ve been watching me long enough to know exactly what I’d choose... haven’t you, Black Book?"

The name came out of his mouth suddenly, deliberately.

"...Yes."

But the shadow showed no reaction to being called by that name—only answered quietly,

"I knew you would choose this way. Still, I needed to ask aloud. Because... this is your last, and only, chance to choose. Once you step onto that path, there will be no turning back."

"I see... you’re gentler than I thought. It’s just a pity I can’t see what you really look like."

Muen glanced at the indistinct, genderless shadow with mild regret, waved casually, and strode lightheartedly into the darkness.

"See you soon."

"Mm... see you soon."

...

As Muen stepped onto the dark road, the entire abyss began to tremble.

Then he realized—the darkness around him wasn’t mere shadow. It was fire.

Black fire.

Unfamiliar, yet somehow familiar.

The flames suddenly tightened inward, gathering power as though to destroy the world itself.

But in that instant, from the center of the fire burst forth a bright, milky-white light—so clear, so pure, so sacred.

...

"Eh?"

Liya lifted her head in confusion, staring at the crystal floating before her.

The crystal that had been corrupted by countless resentful spirits suddenly radiated a brilliant glow.

That intense, familiar light made her delicate body tremble.

Feeling that vast, holy power pour from the crystal into her own body—and then, through the place where she and Muen were joined, into his—Liya whispered in shock,

"This is... Holy Light Baptism!"

...

The milky-white Holy Light, as a sixth force, struck boldly into the black fire.

The flames roared again, strange hues twisting and fusing violently together.

As time passed, everything seemed to balance—gradually stabilizing.

Yet Muen felt an inexplicable sense... that something was still missing.

...

Rrrip.

Deep within Muen’s consciousness, the ancient black book flipped open.

A single page loosened itself and drifted free.

The sheet was covered densely in unknown symbols and sigils, glowing as it turned into a streak of light that shot straight into the flames.

This was—the seventh power.

Something even Meladomir had never foreseen.

...

The book continued to turn rapidly, pages flipping too fast for the eye to follow. And between those blurred motions, ancient letters surfaced faintly upon the parchment:

【Only a Rule can move a Rule.】

【Only an Evil God... can kill an Evil God.】

Amid the brewing of seven powers, something truly unknown began to take shape.

...

Boom.

A thunderous explosion nearly tore consciousness itself apart.

Muen’s vision sank once more into utter darkness. Around him, the violent tremors felt like the destruction and rebirth of a world.

Then, suddenly, he sensed a strange connection—something had linked with him. And in that same instant, he felt... something watching him.

So he opened his eyes.

All the violent intertwining had ceased. Only a calm sky remained.

As Muen raised his head, he saw it—rising in that sky, a newborn sun.

A black sun.

Its dark disk devoured all light like a perfect void.

A pale corona surrounded it like a divine crown, stretching and pulsing gently.

Majesty and eeriness coexisted—beyond the reach of words.

It was...

the Pale-Crowned Black Sun.