"My name is Elina."She finally revealed her name."I'm the one who created you and granted you the power called Divine Sense."
The one who created me… and gave me divine power?Then… she must be the Absolute One.My mind spun in confusion, but I couldn't leave the thought unspoken.
"Are you… the Absolute One?"
She raised an eyebrow slightly.
"...What?"
I asked again, "Because only an Absolute being could create me and grant a power like Divine Sense, right?"
Her expression froze. She looked straight into my eyes.
"Are you serious?"
Her gaze made me uneasy. It felt like she was looking at a lunatic. My face burned with embarrassment.
"Uh… yes?"
Then—
"Pfft."The corner of her lips curled upward, and soon, laughter burst out of her.
"Puhahahahaha!!"
In the middle of the boundless void, with no ground to stand on, she clutched her stomach and laughed.The sight was so absurd that I almost wanted to disappear.
What the hell… is this really that funny?
Her laughter didn't stop. "Hahaha! Humans really are… Hahahaha!!"
I finally exploded. "Hey, I only asked because I didn't know!!"
Wiping the tears from her eyes, she caught her breath. "Ha… I didn't think you'd be that naïve."
Elina looked at me for a long moment before raising her head again."No matter how ignorant my creations may be… truly, you know nothing."
Her eyes grew calm. "Listen carefully. This is all… just work."
She waved a hand lightly through the air as she continued."My job is to create beings like Sinbearers and grant them powers such as Divine Sense. That's my role."
Her tone was casual, almost like she was giving a company report."And in return, I receive compensation from my world. That's how I make my living."
My breath caught. "Compensation…?"
Elina gave a small, knowing smile. "That's right. This is just a job, Kaelian."
She lifted her hand again. "You saw it earlier — all those countless worlds. How do you think they're managed?"
Her eyes grew colder. "Even in our realm, it's still a job. Someone creates, and someone must end it."
She went on."There's a saying: 'He who does not work, neither shall he eat.' It means that when you work, you get rewarded."
Looking at me, she smiled faintly. "Creating Sinbearers like you and granting abilities such as Divine Sense pays rather well."
She shrugged. "Just from that, I can afford a grand estate with vast gardens.And for the record — that mansion is far better than the palaces you humans call 'kingdoms.' That much is certain."
Her smile deepened, carrying a strange significance."Listen closely, Kaelian. However you think of us, remember this — we are not so different from you."
I bit my lip. "Then… what about Saint Leana? Did you create her too?"
Elina snorted. "That girl? Probably just born because she wanted to be. Not my concern."
Her dismissive tone made my anger rise."But Saint Leana possesses Celestial Awareness! She's revered not only in our kingdom but across the entire continent of Karvanis!"
Elina smirked coldly. "Don't be ridiculous, Kaelian. She just happened to be born that way. Nothing more."
She stared at my face for a moment, then continued, almost conversationally."I wake up early, wash up, go to the office, and stand before a desk piled high with reports. Then I sigh and think, 'Another day begins.'"
"Because when I see those mountains of paperwork, I just want to throw it all away and quit."She laughed bitterly. "But if I did, I wouldn't be able to enjoy the benefits I've earned. And that would be… inconvenient."
I couldn't understand it.These beings we worshipped, the ones we called gods — why had they created us at all?This wasn't the truth we were taught.
I was angry.Ashamed.And utterly broken.
But I couldn't deny it. It was undeniable truth — the reality now laid bare before me.
"Then… why?"Rage, hatred, and betrayal surged within me all at once.I glared at her.
"Why did you create us? Just to treat us like garbage?!"
Elina tilted her head slightly. "Curious, are you?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry," she sighed softly, "but I have neither the duty nor the right to tell you that."
Her tone was calm, but there was a trace of fatigue in it.
"But…"Her gaze slowly shifted to the side.Of the three visions she had conjured earlier, she had only shown me two.Now, she turned toward the last one.
"This one… might be a bit too much for you."She whispered the words quietly.For a brief moment, a faint, mocking smile flickered across her face — then faded, replaced by sorrow.
Elina looked toward the third vision. A veil of melancholy shadowed her expression.
"Normally, only one Sinbearer is assigned to a planet," she said, her eyes fixed on a blue world within the image."This one's called 'Earth.' Beautiful, isn't it?"
She paused before continuing in a lower voice."But once, five Sinbearers were deployed there. Among them was a being of our own ranks — someone of the Ninth Order."
"The Ninth… Order?" I asked.
"Don't misunderstand," she said. "That ranking isn't about combat ability. It's about political and spiritual authority —and the one who held it was the Celestial Karess, a figure both revered and envied among us."
Elina exhaled softly. "And alongside him was his friend — the demon lord Kadis Wazel. Together, they descended.A great war broke out then. Countless lives were lost.To stop the carnage, the five Sinbearers — and those two — intervened."
Her voice dropped even lower."Among them, there was one truly exceptional Sinbearer.Most lose their minds when they learn the truth of the world's order.But not him. From beginning to end, he remained true to his purpose — and met a perfect death."
Elina's eyes trembled faintly."We called him Deathbearers — the one who transcended death itself."
Then she looked back at me."No matter how curious you are, I cannot tell you why we create and manage worlds.You wouldn't be able to endure that truth."
"Kaelian."When she spoke my name, I instinctively held my breath.
"Y… yes?"
"Let's wrap this up."
Elina raised her hand one final time, and the three glowing visions faded into nothingness.
"You won't be coming to the world of Dreamleaf anymore. That much, I can promise you."
"And someday… you will meet Saint Leana again.Right now, she's suffering — believing that it's her fault she couldn't persuade you.When you meet her again… hold her warmly."
"I'll… meet her again?"
"Yes. And when that happens, she'll offer you another proposal.It won't be the same as before.But whatever it is — don't refuse it."
"...I understand."
"And lastly, about the Seed of Origin."
"The what…?"
"You remember the bright blue seed my niece placed in your mouth through Dreamleaf, don't you?"
"Yes."
"That's the Seed of Origin. It will become your greatest strength.That seed will feed on your will, growing day by day.And when it fully matures, it will take root within you —becoming a vast tree that, like one that gives endlessly, will support you with infinite power."
She paused for a moment, then smiled gently."Now, go back. To where you belong."
"Elina…?"
She chuckled softly."Oh, I almost forgot. One of our goddesses has descended to your world — for your sake.Take care of her."
"I don't even know who she is."
"Your Divine Sense will tell you.When you first meet her, she'll have no power.She descended too quickly — all her abilities were sealed.Until that seal breaks and she awakens… protect her.When she does, she'll become another source of strength for you."
"Elina…!"
"Goodbye."Her voice grew fainter and fainter.
"Don't forget, Kaelian. When you meet Saint Leana again… don't refuse her offer."
Light burst forth.Everything scattered and dissolved —and until the very end, her voice lingered in my ears.
"We'll meet again, Kaelian. Someday."
The moment the light swallowed me whole,all traces of Dreamleaf vanished.The divine air faded away,replaced by something painfully familiar —the scent of burning wood, the sting of smoke,and the breath of the living world.
Then I heard it — crackle… crackle — the sound of fire.Slowly, I opened my eyes.
A deep night sky came into view.No clouds. No haze.Stars gleamed sharply against the darkness,and the moon hung silent, bathing the world in pale light.
"Awake already?"
As I stared up at the stars, thinking of Elina, a familiar voice reached me — Balthys, my old friend.
I turned to face him."It was… incredible," he said, his eyes wide with awe."While you were under the sedative, fast asleep,your leg started healing on its own. Completely.I've never seen anything like it. Honestly, it scared me a little."
I lowered my gaze to my leg.Just as he said — it was whole again.No pain, no scars.
Maybe it was the power of the Seed of Origin.I couldn't be sure.But one thing was certain — it was a relief.At least now, I wouldn't be a burden to Balthys anymore.
The moment I realized my leg was fully healed,I rose to my feet instinctively.
— They're coming.
My Divine Sense whispered the warning.The enemy was approaching again.
I turned toward Balthys and smiled."Looks like it's my turn now. Wait here."
He blinked once, then smiled back, nodding firmly —the kind of nod that said he trusted me completely.
I tightened my grip around my blade —my one and only, my Guidance Sword.
Its azure light shimmered to life, cutting through the darkness around us.And with that light guiding my path,I stepped forward — without hesitation —toward the oncoming shadow.