To my surprise, the bright yellow chick had transformed into a phoenix.

At first, I looked at it with suspicion, but eventually, it became a certainty.

It’s hard to believe, but I could still see the chick’s form.

“Have you been well all this time?”
“Piyak!”
“Piyak! Piyak!”

Hearing the chick’s sounds coming from a phoenix was still hard to accept.

“But why are you here?”
“Piyak!”

It said it had been waiting all this time to repay me.

That sentiment was so endearing that I couldn’t help but give it a mana stone.

“Here, eat this!”

It gobbled the mana stone in one bite and flew off into the sky, saying to call on it whenever it needed help.

Wow, what a world this is.

“Indeed, no one knows what the future holds. Who would have thought a chick would turn into a phoenix?”
“Kyuwung.”

Well, who would have thought Yong-yong would become a dragon?

Goodness. Now that I think about it, maybe I really do have the Midas touch?

Everything I raise seems to thrive.

“From now on, can you call me the Midas touch?”
“Kyuwung.”

Yong-yong coldly told me not to joke around and to hurry to meet the World Tree.

How cruel! This is the time for some encouragement!

When I looked at him with sorrowful eyes, he finally checked my expression and snuggled into my embrace.

No matter what anyone says, Yong-yong is on my side.

“Kyuwung.”
“It’s dinner time!? But you just ate!”

He looked at me with those sorrowful eyes, as if saying that even with overtime, there’s no late-night snack.

“Even if you look at me like that, it’s useless!”
“Kyuwung.”

He said in a sad tone, “What’s the point of living longer?” and I couldn’t resist.

As I pulled out a mana stone from my pocket dimension, he swallowed it in one bite and remarked,

“Kyuwung.”
“Is it a bit salty today...?”
“Kyuwung.”

He laughed as if it was a joke.

Could it be wrong to find this adorable?

As we chatted and arrived in front of the World Tree, a voice rang out.

[Traveler, it’s been a while.]

“It’s been a long time! Have you been well?”

[I’ve been well. How is the other me?]

“Of course! I moved recently, and she’s been really happy about it!”

After exchanging pleasantries and talking about various things, I asked an important question.

About the Beginning.

[The Beginning is called the start and end of the stars.]

And it said that the end was approaching.

“Wait a minute. Does that mean...?”
[The end is coming. The Beginning hopes for that. It is weary.]

The Beginning, who has lived for too long, wishes for a conclusion.

Then why create Arcana Online?

[The Beginning planned the end of the world through travelers. However, it deviated beautifully due to the existence that unified the Celestial and Demon realms, along with the monsters.]

The Beginning had planned for the end of the world under the guise of quests for the travelers, but it all went wrong.

But isn’t that my story...?

Am I considered good for preventing destruction?

[That’s why the Beginning thought of another way. If the two worlds merged into one, it was expected to lead to destruction. Humans fight for their own interests, and if other races joined, the destruction would come even faster, but that too deviated beautifully.]

Was that also because of me?

[Thus, the Beginning planned a different method.]

That involved using Ernia, the Dragon King.

Few beings have the power to hunt their entire kin alone.

What if I could use such a being to bring about the world’s destruction?

In other words, they intended to use it as a pawn.

“That can’t happen. My friend would be sad.”

More than anything, there are still so many things I want to do.

I want to go on drives with Yong-yong, eat delicious food, and go traveling together.

To do that, I have to stop this.

So what should I do next?

The scenario quest was quiet, and there were no signs of anything happening.

Then a thought flashed through my mind.

What if I meet the Beginning and persuade them?

“Where do I go to meet them?”
[That’s not a being you can meet just because you want to. When the time comes, the Beginning will call for you.]

There’s no way to meet them until I get called.

Then I need to prepare in the meantime.

“Is there a place where I can meet the Night Tribe?”
[If it’s that, I know. Go to the northern end of the Arcana Continent.]

What was at the northern end again?

I thought back and remembered it was just a desolate hill.

Are the Night Tribe living there? Then maybe Nia would be there too?

I need the help of Nia, the former Judge.

I thanked the World Tree and, along with a mana stone, a miraculous event occurred.

Light burst forth, and the already massive World Tree grew even larger.

Both Melin and I were astonished at the sight.

After a while, the light that had been shining dimmed after the World Tree grew to a size similar to that in China.

[Thank you. I will repay this favor later.]

“Don’t mention it. I’ll take my leave now!”

After bidding farewell to the World Tree and Melin, I opened a gate and headed north.

To where my friend, Nia, is.

***

A deathly land where not even a blade of grass could grow.

In a place where only the ruins of civilization remained, the flame of life was flickering.

The beings known as the Night Tribe, who once terrified travelers, had vanished except for one.

They swung a massive scythe, but it was useless.

With a single blow, the scythe was shattered, and in an instant, their throat was seized.

“Gah!”
“I’ll give you one last chance. Return.”

As their slender neck tightened, they began to suffocate.

Soon, I would return to the tribe.

But I couldn’t betray my friend.

“Just kill me.”
“If that’s your wish.”

With those words, they vanished into dust.

At the moment of resting after an eternity spent, it felt like being sucked into a black abyss.

An empty space where nothing existed.

Is it really all over?

Just as I was about to close my eyes, I heard a voice.

A voice calling me.

My friend, Yuna.

***

“Is this how it was originally?”
“Kyuwung.”

In the northern land, only the aura of death could be felt.

It was my first time visiting, but as I wondered if it had always been this way, I sensed a massive energy.

Something was colliding.

“Let’s hurry and check it out!”
“Kyuwung!”

As I headed toward the source of the energy with Yong-yong, a shocking scene unfolded.

The Dragon King, Ernia, had a grip on my friend Nia’s throat.

Along with that, she turned to dust.

In shock, I froze as Ernia turned to look at me.

“It’s been a while, little one.”
“Why...!? No, why are you here!? Arnia is worried about you!”

“I’m fine. After all, I’m going to return to nothingness.”

Though spoken nonchalantly, her eyes were filled with sorrow.

Was this something she was doing of her own accord?

I couldn’t tell.

But more importantly, I needed to act quickly.

“Revival of the Divine Dragon!”

[Revival of the Divine Dragon: Revives the life of a summoned creature.]

With my words, a massive light spread, and one by one, figures began to emerge.

I was glad I had gifted mana stones to all the Night Tribe, and everyone looked around with bewildered expressions as if they didn’t know what was happening when their eyes met mine.

Among them, Nia, standing at the front with a massive scythe, stood protectively in front of me.

“Are you okay!? Is there anything uncomfortable!?”
“Let’s save the greetings for later.”

All the Night Tribe positioned themselves in front of me, guarding against the Dragon King, Ernia.

“Hmph, after all, if I kill her first, she will be born again.”

Chills ran down my spine.

It wasn’t Ernia that terrified me; it was Yong-yong, who was nestled in my arms.

[How dare you speak carelessly with a tongue that has been cut off.]

With those words, a massive lightning bolt struck down.

Dozens, hundreds, thousands of bolts struck precisely where the Dragon King stood, leaving not even a shape behind.

At that moment, a voice rang out from somewhere.

“You won’t have trouble for now, as the dragon is protecting you. I’ll see you again, my dear.”

The presence completely vanished.

From start to finish, I was overwhelmed with confusion about what had happened.

It was definitely the Dragon King, Ernia.

But something was different. There was something I couldn’t explain, and while I was feeling that confusion, a gentle touch enveloped me.

“You won’t understand for now. Don’t worry. It’s because of the Beginning that things turned out this way.”

Looking at Nia, I asked her to explain in detail, and she nodded.

With a bitter expression.

 

 

TL NOTE: Please don't skimp on the stars for the translation - I'd really like to see how far Leon goes and how far we can increase the number of chapters. Thanks~!

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