“Mr. Elias? Miss Ki-Yeon—”

“I think we’ll have to keep an eye on her,” Elias interrupted her.

“What?” Jo Hye-Jin asked.

“That’s… the path she has chosen. I’m sure… she’ll overcome it in her current state…” Elias told her.

“I don’t… understand what you’re saying, but…” Jo Hye-Jin paused.

“...”

“If you say so, Mr. Elias…” Jo Hye-Jin continued, “We’ll just have to watch over her, then.”

“...”

“...”

“Yes. I think the least we can do right now is… watch her fight,” Elias said.

Of course, the sight of Elias looking at me with the emotions of a pathetic ex-boyfriend was impressive. Obviously, he couldn’t hide his tears and how upset he looked. He could no longer be with Lee Ki-Yeon, and there wasn't any reason he could use to force it.

I also got the feeling that he was willing to support my decision. No matter how pathetic Elias was, he wasn’t a psychopath who would get angry just because I had untied the red thread tying us together.

At a glance, it seemed like he wasn’t affected, but I knew he was affected. The path was so clearly set that he no longer had a reason to go back to the last girl he dated, but the long-awaited Red Thread Coin ended up going to the ground instead of to the moon.

Since he was in the middle of an incident that could potentially destroy the continent, he didn't have the luxury to think about this at the moment. An honorable man like him would only feel regret and upset once he was on his bed at night.

‘I hope he doesn’t think I’ll go back to him.’

He wasn't imagining that I'd go back to him with a bright smile after this was over, right?

He was slow-witted, so I thought it could happen.

‘It’s over between us, okay? You get that, right? It’s over. The red thread has been cut.’

'But why does he look sad? Was he that worried about Lee Ki-Yeon, who was fighting a bloody battle with Gela inside her?'

Had she suddenly become his type, as she had decided to lead an independent life on the harsh continent?

‘Come to think of it, I think that’s his type.’

Someone unwavering, upright, and brave.

The only thing Lee Ki-Yeon and Jo Hye-Jin had in common was that they liked the color blue, especially whenever they went out with Elias.

However, the awakening earlier made me think that I had just become his type. I felt dizzy at the thought of landing in the dark hands of a man capable of making consecutive confessions without giving up.

‘This is ridiculous.’

I felt like it would never happen.

‘It’s really over between us.’

However, this play needed an actor to play the role of someone who had faith in Lee Ki-Yeon and would support her until the end.

“I…

heuk…

won’t lose. Gela,” I mumbled.

“...”

“Struggle all you want, child,” Gela said.

“I… won’t lose,” I said.

‘I like the cliche lines.’

I was reaching my limits while fighting Gela within me.

Just then, I noticed the desert being pelted by black rain. Of course, Lee Ki-Yeon couldn’t actually see it because, lore-wise, she didn't have anything like the Telescope.

She just… had a feeling.

— Let’s take a break.

— I’ll go alone.

— Why are you so stubborn? If we keep going, we're all going to die!

— Then just die there. I’m going to keep going.

— I don’t know. I don’t know either, damn it.

— He’s not wrong, Kennen. If we stop, we’ll all die. It’s better to clear a path…

— You think I don’t know that? Damn it…

‘Ji-Hoo…’

He was covered in wounds. The Guides of the Desert and Lee Ji-Hoo had already reached their physical limits. Each battle was so fierce that they were dancing on the line between life and death in the middle of it. They were battles that forced them past their limits.

They were in such a mess that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that only their willpower was holding them up. Despite that, Lee Ji-Hoo continued walking. If he were the old Lee Ji-Hoo, the Lee Ji-Hoo prior to meeting Lee Ki-Yeon, he'd give up here.

‘Mr. Lee Ji-Hoo.’

If he were the young and naive Lee Ji-Hoo, he'd stop long ago. He could only take steady steps toward the trial of the black rain because he had matured after going through many things and realizing exactly what was important to him.

That was why Lee Ki-Yeon could feel Lee Ji-Hoo.

She couldn’t see him, but she could feel his feelings as well as why he was headed this way. At the same time, she understood him. She knew how much he loved her and why he had abandoned her. She knew everything was for her sake.

The hardships that he had experienced so far were for her sake.

He was running toward her while throwing all caution to the wind.

"I have to go."

"I’m not telling you not to go, man. We actually received a divine message to take you all the way over there. The problem is… we have to get there safely. If we die, it’ll be over."

"Even if I get torn to pieces, it doesn't matter. I-I can already feel her."

‘Noona, what’s with that line? It’s… kind of bad.’

Lee Ji-Hoo was also aware that Lee Ki-Yeon was watching him.

‘I’ll… hang in there as well, Mr. Lee Ji-Hoo. No… I’ll endure it, Ji-Hoo.’

The desert guides, who would surely receive a participation award, sensed something unusual. The black beasts were losing power, and they could no longer grow in size.

They were scattering as well.

Unless these guides were stupid, they would definitely realize what was happening right now. Of course, it didn't really matter, as the lead actor would explain the situation to the audience members to help them understand it.

"She’s… fighting back."

"…"

"I don’t know what’s inside her… but the Ki-Yeon noona I know… isn’t someone who gives up easily."

‘Ji-Hoo… what’s with your lines?’

"D-does that mean she’s fighting with the evil god who took over her body? Is that why… these black beasts… are losing their powers?"

"I think it’s safe to assume that, Alex."

"Do you feel the same way, George?

"Yeah, that has to be the case. Otherwise, this won't make sense. She was the one who gave us our roles, after all."

"Is that even possible? An ordinary human… fighting an evil god? You think she can go against… a transcendent being who caused this black rain to fall across the desert?"

"Whether it’s possible or not is up to her."

"I have no choice but to agree with him. We already know the power of a human being's will, and we are also aware of just how kind-hearted, inspired, and powerful humans truly are. We witnessed it ourselves. Father Lee Ki-Young was also once human, Alex.

"We witnessed the miracles he performed as a human being, and we’re witnessing a miracle right now."

Why was he acting like a sage? Why was he praising humans so much?

The most pathetic one of the desert guides took a sip of the alcohol he had in his pocket before dropping a wise line.

"Gods aren't the only ones capable of performing miracles. Sometimes, mortals like us can perform miracles as well."

He was acting too much like a sage. To make things worse, even Ji-Hye noona seemed kind of surprised by that line. It felt like she was contemplating whether to cut them out or not, as they were saying memorable lines and taking up a lot of screen time when they were supposed to be just supporting characters.

She hesitated for a moment, but it seemed like she had ultimately decided to keep them. She probably thought that this could put some life into the play.

"You said…"

"Yes?"

"You guys said that she sent you here, right?"

"Why do you keep talking rudely to us?"

"Shut up, Kennen. That’s not important right now."

"What else did she tell you? What… exactly is the reason she sent you guys here?"

"I don’t really remember… but it was to protect you."

"Didn’t it happen just now? How can you not remember…"

"Everything happened so fast—wait!

Ah!

She said to help you and to take you to a safe place. That’s all we heard from her."

"So why… I…"

"I’m not sure either. It’s just… we got that feeling… and we all thought of taking you to her. I don’t know the reason either, but…"

"S-She didn’t tell you anything else?"

"…"

𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"…"

'You forgot one thing, guys. You guys forgot a very important piece of information.'

And that was when the man named Kennen chimed in...

"Sahaga’s gift…"

"What?"

"I think she said something about finding Sahaga’s gift…"

"Is that… what she said? What’s that?"

"Gela’s lover is a god named Sahaga. It’ll take too long to explain every detail of the legend… but it was probably Gela who possessed that woman’s body, so we probably need Sahaga’s gift to calm her down. She knows what can weaken Gela."

"Where is it?"

"W-We don’t know either."

"What?"

"We don’t know."

"Y-You don’t know either?"

"How should I know where the forgotten god’s gift is located?"

"Why… why did she mention Sahaga’s gift?"

"Maybe we’re supposed to let the gift find us, not the other way around?"

"That’s just ridiculous…"

Roaaar!

The giant black beast before them suddenly stood up.

"Prepare for battle, Alex!"

Before the desert guides and Lee Ji-Hoo could react, the giant black beast lunged at them, trying to crush them with its massive frame as its last stand.

Boom!

A giant claw suddenly crushed the black beast.

"Are you guys the Desert Guides?"

"

Uh…

"

"I’ll ask again, you lowly humans. Are you guys the Desert Guides?"

"Th-That’s…"

"O-Our noona is asking you a question! You insolent fools! Hurry up and answer."

"Sera, Unni, I’ll…"

"

Ahem

. Okay. It’s ridiculous for me to handle everything. I’ll leave this place up to you, Domi."

"Okay. Hello again. I’m sure you’re surprised by the sudden situation, but…"

"A-A baby angel…"

"Please calm down and listen to me. We’re currently carrying out a quest to deliver Sahaga’s gift to the person traveling with the Desert Guides."

"Wh-Where…"

"We can’t tell you that."

Dominions looked at Lee Ji-Hoo. The two exchanged glances and smiled. Dominions seemed to have an idea about what was going on as she continued the conversation, leaving behind Dialuria, who was trying hard to show off her dignified dragon form.

"I’ll ask again. Are you… the human… who needs Sahaga’s gift?

"That’s right," Lee Ji-Hoo answered. He pushed back his messy hair and stood at an angle that made him look the most handsome. Then, he turned toward the camera and nodded. "I’ll take it."

Dominions even spread her wings.

‘What are you two doing?’