Calix secretly summoned the Tower Master to the Crown Prince’s palace, saying he had something to discuss with him alone.

Of course, much preparation was needed for this.

Arcadion’s magicians, disguised as servants, entered Calix’s room and installed something while tinkering around.

Since magic use above a certain level was prohibited in the imperial palace, they seemed to have gone through all that trouble to avoid detection.

But what if the Tower Master had ill intentions and attacked the palace through the warp passage they created? Was talking with the Tower Master worth taking such a risk?

Anyway, Calix arranged for me and Ms. Hyesung to speak privately.

“It’s been a while.”

“Yes…”

I bit my lip. I had been contemplating this matter for some time.

Whether I should reveal the existence of my diary to Ms. Hyesung.

“May I ask what happened with the temple?”

Ms. Hyesung sighed deeply and answered willingly.

“As soon as the Pope realized I was betraying them and trying to completely destroy them, he fled from my sight. So he’s probably looking for you now. Because just as I betrayed Kamesis, you could betray Morisias. To confront someone who can change fate, they need another otherworlder like you.”

I glanced at the bag placed beside me and said.

“Does the Pope know that I’m the being summoned by Morisias?”

“No, he doesn’t. He only knows that Morisias summoned anotherworlder. Besides, wouldn’t it be stranger if he did know? You’re openly supporting the Crown Prince who follows Kamesis. Moreover, the Crown Prince is currently being praised as Morisias’s adversary.”

I let out a deep sigh. Ms. Hyesung’s goal must be to return home, right?

In truth, my excuse for not showing the diary to Ms. Hyesung because I couldn’t fully trust her was just that—an excuse.

The real reason was jealousy, which I know is wrong.

I can’t return to my world because my body is already dead, but Ms. Hyesung still has at least a sliver of possibility.

But someone who can return should return.

I bit my lip hard. Then I asked Ms. Hyesung.

“Did you happen to find any book or something similar when you arrived here?”

“No, I didn’t.”

I sighed. My diary was a sacred artifact that Morisias had prepared over 400 years.

Did Kamesis not prepare anything special for Ms. Hyesung since he brought her here just to counter Morisias?

“Your goal is to return to your original body, right?”

“Yes.”

“I might be able to help you.”

I took the diary out of my bag and placed it on the table.

“What is this?”

“It’s Morisias’s sacred artifact.”

Ms. Hyesung looked at me with suspicious eyes, then placed her hand near the diary.

That’s when it happened. The book began to glow golden and its pages started turning by themselves.

“What is this…”

Then it stopped at a specific page and began writing sentences in Korean.

[Illegal soul transfer detected.

-System analyzing the situation.-

It was as I expected.

Warning!

User: Kim Hyesung has illegally departed from her physical body.

TRAPPIST-Id, Morisias (god) and Kamesis (god) of Posnia will be terminated.

For termination, please follow the system’s action guidelines.

And wait for the guide to arrive.]

The pages began turning again.

Ms. Hyesung stared at the diary with a dazed expression, and I felt the same way.

The diary, which had rarely answered my questions except when hunting monsters recently, was suddenly saying so much?

And what’s more, termination?

Despite both of them being bastards, termination was problematic.

What would happen to the country Calix would rule if there were no gods?

Wouldn’t that be a disaster?

[Tracking the criminal’s location.]

Regardless, the diary’s system was working diligently.

[Kamesis: Whereabouts unknown (tracking)]

Ms. Hyesung frowned at the message that appeared next.

Then it was my turn.

[Morisias:

Current location – Sys Posman (inaccessible)

Kill Sys Posman and terminate the first-class criminal Morisias.]

‘Sys Posman… that’s the current Emperor!’

My mind went blank.

“What’s wrong?”

“…Ah.”

I felt my vision darken and held my forehead. Why is Morisias inside the Emperor’s body?

Why the Emperor of all people? And to kill the Emperor?

Why?

The Emperor is Calix’s father.

“Miss Chaerin…?”

“It’s nothing.”

I forced a smile and said to Ms Hyesung.

“Fortunately, the book is working. You’ll be able to return soon. Since you’re not dead yet.”

“What do you mean? What is this book?”

Ms. Hyesung asked, seemingly confused.

“I don’t know for sure either, but this will help you return. Probably…”

I continued with mixed feelings.

“I understand how you feel, but Kamesis is essential for Calix to become Emperor. So, could you help until this matter is resolved?”

“….”

“Once Calix becomes Emperor and safely escapes the threat of the Absolute Ones, I’ll give you this book. Please.”

Ms. Hyesung frowned deeply at my words. She even crossed her arms, showing her displeasure.

“Then what about you? Don’t you plan to return to your original body? Please don’t tell me you’ve fallen in love with the Crown Prince and won’t go back—that kind of ridiculous cliché development?”

“No? I’m already dead? I can’t go back.”

My words instantly made the atmosphere solemn.

“I was already hit by a car and died, and it’s been quite some time since I arrived here. If I went back, I’d either be treated like the resurrected Jesus at a funeral home, or if I’m lucky and return in this body, I’d probably be taken by NASA or the National Intelligence Service as an alien and be lucky not to get dissected.”

“Still… don’t you want to go back?”

Ms. Hyesung carefully asked with a sympathetic expression, and I smiled bitterly.

“Of course I want to go back. But I know better than anyone that it’s impossible. Since I’m already dead, I decided it’s better to focus on the life I have now rather than clinging to something futile.”

“….”

“That’s why I thought this book would be more necessary for you than for me.”

I sighed briefly and took both of Ms. Hyesung’s hands.

“So please help just until then. I need to help Calix. He’s not as bad a person as you might think.”

Ms. Hyesung bit her lip at my words. Soon, with a pitying face, she held my hands back and said.

“…How should I help?”

“Please keep Kamesis in check. After dealing with Morisias, we need to make sure Kamesis’s forces don’t run wild.”

I bit my lip hard. I had no idea how to deal with Morisias.

According to the diary, Morisias was now inside the Emperor…

My head felt like it was going to explode.

“How are you going to deal with Morisias? According to this book, Morisias is inside the Emperor right now.”

Ms. Hyesung narrowed her eyes and said.

“Will that be okay…?”

“…I’m not sure.”

I buried my face in my hands. Even though the Emperor seemed to neglect Calix and show no affection, he was still Calix’s father.

And now Morisias is inside the Emperor?

It was obvious.

The Emperor was someone Calix couldn’t easily confront, and he had good access.

Surely he planned to lure Calix and take over his body in an instant.

“I’ll look into it too. So don’t worry alone.”

I looked up at Ms. Hyesung. She looked as troubled as I was.

“We should help each other, the only Koreans in this world. And I need your diary.”

I clenched my fist. My heart was beating strangely.

“I’ll help you. So don’t make that expression.”

“…What?”

Ms. Hyesung, with Serena’s face, smiled bitterly at me.

“It’s been obvious throughout our conversation. No matter how much you’ve given up, you still want to go back.”

I was dumbfounded. Why did those words make my nose sting?

“…I’m sorry for thoughtlessly talking about wanting to go back. I was insensitive.”

I quickly wiped my eyes with the back of my hand.

“Ah.”

This isn’t the time for this. There are more important issues at hand, why am I suddenly getting emotional?

“I’m fine. Really fine. I gave up long ago…”

I miss Mom and Dad. It feels like it’s been almost a year since I last saw them.

How foolish. If I had known, I would have been better to them.

I never thought I’d never see them again.

“Ah, why am I like this?”

It felt like a volcano that I had been suppressing just erupted.

“It’s okay. I understand…”

“Ah, I don’t want to cry, really, I’ve given up…”

In the end, I couldn’t help but sob. I wanted to cry.

I’m a person with many dreams, many things to do, and many precious things.

But I lost everything in an instant.

My future, my happiness, all my memories.

Would it have been better if I had just died when I was hit by that car? If I had never woken up in Rose’s body.

Then I wouldn’t have missed my family, friends, and my life, would I?

“So I tried to forget everything, no, I had forgotten everything. Ah, really. Really…”

I wiped away the flowing tears with my sleeve.

I had promised myself to stay positive in any situation.

I couldn’t fall back into depression.

That’s what I was taught.

It was entirely my fault for getting hit by a car while reading this cursed novel at a crosswalk.

So I had to accept it.

And if I break down here, who will protect Calix?

He really has no one to take care of him and is forever alone without me.

“…I’ve been holding up well until now. Thank you for thinking of me. But really, I’ve given up. I’m already dead in that world. So you don’t have to comfort me.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Why are you sorry, Ms. Hyesung? Those who can return should return.”

I tried to smile. Still, I don’t regret my choice.

The dead are dead, and the living should find their own lives.

Just as Lee Chaerin from Earth is dead, but Rose Estanya is alive.

“Actually, I don’t like this situation, but anyway, I’ve been given a second life. They say even a life in a dunghill is better than death. I’m still alive, so I’m satisfied with that.”

I took a deep, shaky breath.

“So you don’t need to worry about me. I’m really fine.”