Though I couldn’t properly greet Shahar after meeting him after several days, I felt reassured just knowing he was by my side.

[So you’re not completely useless after all.]

I heard the wolf’s sneer. Despite his light tone, the air was chillingly tense. Even though I couldn’t see anything, I could feel the tension in the air, so sharp it hurt my skin.

There seemed to be no place for someone like me among the transcendent beings born before the world was complete.

Still, it was me who summoned Shahar. Now, all that remained was to complete the contract.

Even though Shahar said he wouldn’t take any compensation, I couldn’t be sure a contract like that would be effective.

I gritted my teeth and tore open another wound. I could feel the blood flowing profusely.

As I groped the ground with my sticky hand, a cold hand roughly grabbed mine.

“What are you doing!”

“I said I’d offer a sacrifice. Even if you don’t like it, you have to accept it.”

I reached out my blood and dust-covered hand to him and clung to him. At that moment, all the strength drained from my body, and a ringing sound echoed in my ears.

I tried to hold on to my fading consciousness, but it was no use. Still, I clung to Shahar’s neck until the end. If I passed out now, everything would be over. I didn’t want all my hard work to go to waste.

Once again, he hesitated to respond.

Unable to bear the frustration, I urged him.

“Hurry….”

“Alright.”

Though he seemed reluctant, I was relieved. Finally, my tenuous grasp on consciousness broke, and I collapsed into his arms.

* * *

Shahar carefully laid the unconscious Lou on the ground. Because she had made contact with him while wounded, her life force had been drained, leaving her face pale. Shahar, looking down at her with a hardened expression, soon turned his head.

“If you had stayed quietly in Tartarus, you could have avoided annihilation.”

[No matter how much you hate me, isn’t this attitude too different?]

Though it didn’t show on the surface, Shahar was on the verge of losing his temper.

Even though he was the King of the Underworld, the lowest part of Tartarus was not his domain. After imprisoning his brother, he had never once visited that place.

Moreover, the wolf had disrupted the path to the surface by destroying the summoning circle, preventing a quick escape.

In the end, Shahar had to break the boundary between the Underworld and the surface to forcibly manifest on the ground.

If he did that, the creatures living near the boundary would inevitably be swept into the Underworld, but none of their lives mattered more than Lou’s.

If Lou hadn’t summoned him in time, that’s what would have happened.

But too much time had passed before he could return to the surface, and she was already gravely injured.

[Well, that girl is quite cute. Look at that. Trying to summon you with such a crude trick. It’s funny that you responded immediately, though. It would have been better for your reputation to appear in a more fearsome manner, befitting your fame.]

“A trick?”

Shahar asked coldly.

His mate, who always put her safety last, was no exception this time.

Her small face, covered in wounds and groaning in pain, was pitiful.

Seeing her tiny, ruined face made his heart feel like it was being slashed by a knife.

“Ah… Shut up. Shahar, kill that bastard….”

Even in her unconscious state, Lou muttered with all her emotions.

[She’s asking to kill someone who’s already dead. I haven’t even committed any great sins yet.]

The wolf, grumbling, looked back at Shahar.

[But can you really perform well with your summoner in that state? If you’re not careful, that girl’s life could be in danger.]

“That’s none of your concern.”

Shahar reached out to his brother.

“Let’s settle this now.”

[Don’t be arrogant. You’re not overconfident in a hastily made contract, are you? Especially one made with a human. How long do you think that girl can hold out?]

Although Lou had made a contract with Shahar, the bond of the contract was weak.

Moreover, she was in a state where it wouldn’t be surprising if she died at any moment, and Shahar was too powerful for a human to handle.

[But I don’t want to drag this out any longer. I’m eager to see your face in despair. At that time, you won’t be able to look at me like I’m filth.]

The wolf’s eyes gleamed, and flames rose in the darkness.

The greedy flames of Tartarus were not easily extinguished. Shahar quickly surrounded Lou with a shield.

[If you use your power recklessly, that girl won’t be able to withstand it.]

The wolf glanced at the unconscious Lou.

But her state hadn’t changed from a moment ago.

Realizing that Shahar had decided to bear the cost himself instead of using Lou’s life force, the wolf sneered.

[What a tearful sacrifice. But you won’t hold out for long.]

“…….”

[Yes. Worry is your burden. The little girl you love is going to be dragged to the bottom of Tartarus with me.]

Shahar suddenly felt puzzled.

Why had his brother chosen Lou as a means of revenge?

He knew his brother could peek at the surface through the eyes in the sky.

But his brother could only see during the night when the stars were out. That alone wouldn’t have been enough to find evidence that Shahar’s feelings were genuine.

“How did you know?”

[What?]

“Why her, of all people?”

[Are you mocking me for being one-eyed? How could I not know when you’re always with her? Even if I were completely blind, I’d know. Rumors about your disgusting behavior spread throughout the entire Underworld.]

His answer did nothing to satisfy Shahar’s curiosity.

The wolf scanned Shahar’s face with a doubtful look.

[Did you transfer your memories to that dragon?]

Shahar hesitated.

“Transfer my memories?”

Now the wolf looked even more incredulous.

[Are you saying you didn’t come to the surface following that girl?]

“…….”

[How pitiful. You cherished her so much, yet you completely forgot. That girl has already died once. And she met you in the Underworld.]

Shahar didn’t fully trust his brother’s words. But something definitely clicked.

Shahar recalled how he had been just before coming to the surface.

* * *

One day, Shahar suddenly lost all motivation overnight.

He had long since become numb to the task of judging the sins of souls, so it wasn’t as if he was newly feeling jaded.

For the first time, he let go of all his duties, struck by a sudden and inexplicable emptiness that he hadn’t felt in millennia.

The cries of souls who hadn’t received judgment echoing outside the castle didn’t revive his will.

Seeing no signs of the virtuous souls who should have long since reached paradise, the Sun God came all the way to the Underworld.

[Why aren’t you working?]

“I don’t want to.”

[If you leave the souls like this, even the virtuous ones will turn into wraiths.]

He knew that. But he found himself not caring at all.

[What’s the reason for this behavior?]

“I don’t know.”

Only after responding did Shahar realize the cause of his emptiness. Not knowing the reason was the reason itself.

The Sun God, who Shahar thought would be enraged by his insolent attitude, merely sighed instead of blaming him.

[I’m just as tired of the daily rising and setting, so I understand your feelings. It doesn’t seem like scolding you will solve the problem, so why not leave this place to someone else and go up to the surface for a change of pace? I have already chosen a mate for you who can fill your emptiness.]

Shahar, being a civilized being with manners, politely declined his offer instead of questioning his sanity.

“I don’t need it.”

[You might change your mind once you see her.]

“That won’t happen. Instead, scold me for my negligence and punish me.”

[How could I punish someone who has worked hard for so long? Don’t feel burdened. She already has many other potential mates. Just go up to the surface and see how things have changed. I’m not asking you to stay long. Just try it for a year.]

Shahar was starting to get tired of this absurd conversation.

“If she had many other potential mates, there’s no need for me to go.”

But the Sun God was much more persistent than Shahar had anticipated.

Every day, after the sun set, he would come to the Underworld and try to persuade Shahar.

Finally, Shahar succumbed to his persistence.

“I will… go.”

[You’ve made a wise decision.]

Having made up his mind, he silently accepted the absurd demand to turn into a stone for the safety of the living world. Since he didn’t want to do anything anyway, his appearance didn’t matter.

The Sun God lightly rebuked him as he was about to leave the Underworld without any preparation.

[Oh, at least find out her name.]

“…What is her name?”

Reluctantly, he asked, and the Sun God smiled gently.

[Lou Dronay. A very cute and lovely human girl.]