Ch. 383 - Arctic Iceberg Mountain (11)

After cloaking every city and village in the Arctic Iceberg Mountain with Persona Gates, Maran Kaltz finished his chant and turned to Pale Yellow Autumn Moon.

“How is it, Divine Moon? Are you satisfied?”  

Satisfied?  

What a joke.  

‘You’ve gone and ruined everything because of this!’

She wanted to scream those words but couldn't. Instead, she hid her trembling fists by tucking her arms deep into her robe.  

“Well then, let’s hear it.”  

“Hear what?”  

“…Surely you haven’t lied to me. You promised to share details about the human who nearly became a Divine Moon.”

“Oh, uh, yeah. I did.”  

As much as she despised the audacity of someone who had ruined everything demanding payment, she couldn’t break her promise.  

“That human… His name is Baek Yu-Seol. By your standards, he hasn’t even lived for 20 years.”  

“Oh? Is that so? Twenty years old… At that age, I was just beginning to understand the field of magic. Then…”  

Maran Kaltz asked cautiously.  

“What sets him apart? What allowed him to get closer to the Divine Moon than I ever could?”

A difference?  

She had never even thought about it.  

If she had to point out something, the guy in front of her was ugly as hell, while that boy was actually pretty decent-looking. Other than that, nothing came to mind. She never paid attention to such things anyway.  

Then, a certain trait suddenly came to her.  

“Oh, right. He can’t actually use magic.”

“… What do you mean by that?”  

“Hmm? Exactly what I said. They called it Mana Leakage Disorder or something. It’s a peculiar condition where magical power leaks out of the body. Usually, people with it don’t live long. They die after blending into nature.”  

“Mana… Leakage Disorder?”  

She brought it up as if it were no big deal.  

Mana Leakage Disorder might be an unfamiliar term to ordinary people, but among mages, it was something occasionally discussed.  

‘A life without magic power.’  

In a world where everything was composed of magical energy, those with Mana Leakage Disorder were considered strange anomalies. However, since there was no benefit to studying it, hardly anyone in modern times bothered to dig deeper into the condition.  

Recently, though, Baek Yu-Seol had made such significant waves as someone with Mana Leakage Disorder that a few mages had cautiously started researching it again.  

‘But does it really matter?’

For Pale Yellow Autumn Moon, who could not comprehend the ways of mages, it was impossible to understand why they wasted time on such meaningless pursuits.  

'Ugh, I don’t get it. I need to convince him to take down the Persona Gates.'  

The more she thought about it, the more she felt this was wrong. She had to find a way to persuade him. After all, dismantling such an enormous Persona Gate was beyond her abilities.  

But then—  

Rumble...!!!  

Suddenly, the crimson sky turned dark.  

Crash—!!!  

A bolt of lightning struck.  

“Wha—?!”  

Pale Yellow Autumn Moon stumbled backward, her heart hammering. They were so high above the clouds that lightning should have been impossible. Yet there it was. As she slowly stood, she saw Maran Kaltz kneeling and staring skyward.

“Oh… I see now…”  

“What’s going on? What do you mean?”

“I finally understand why he was able to step closer to the Divine Moon when I could not.”

“What…?”  

A strange shift rippled through his body, and Pale Yellow Autumn Moon felt a chill. Though weaker than her own, there was no mistaking it: he was radiating the very energy of the stars.

And then she noticed something else, something that sent alarm through her.

“Wait… You body—it’s disappearing!”  

Maran Kaltz’s body was disintegrating into dust and scattering into the air. The vast mana that had once filled him like an ocean dispersed, sending gusts of energy that made her hair and robe flutter wildly.  

“Heh… Is that so? My body is fading away…”  

“Hey! Snap out of it! You can’t die here!”  

If he were going to disappear, at least he needed to dismantle the Persona Gates first!  

However, contrary to her desperate plea, Maran Kaltz shook his head.  

“It’s fine. I no longer have any attachment to this body.”  

By now, his entire torso had vanished, leaving only his head. With serene eyes, he gazed at the sky.  

“I see now… As long as I remain bound by the working of this world, I can never become a star…”  

“Ma-Maran Kaltz?!” 

He turned his head to look at Pale Yellow Autumn Moon and said.

“… Thank you.”  

“No, stop! Don’t talk like you’re about to die!”  

As Pale Yellow Autumn Moon practically began to beg him, the old man gave a gentle smile.  

“It warms my heart…to know that at least one person grieves my passing.”

“That’s not it!!”  

She wanted to scream that it wasn’t sorrow but panic. If he disappeared, she’d be in serious trouble! But it was already too late.  

At last, even the old man’s eyes, nose, and lips disintegrated, scattering into the air.  

The final words she heard.

— Though I vanish now without becoming a Divine Moon, this is not death but the start of a new journey. Even as starlight that failed to become a star, I will wander for a long time. Please watch over me…

With those parting words, the old man completely disappeared.  

“Ah……”  

Thud!  

Left all alone, Pale Yellow Autumn Moon collapsed to her knees and fell to the ground.  

“You idiot… Without you, what the hell am I supposed to do about that Persona Gate?!”  

She slammed her forehead into the ground and gripped her head with both hands, groaning for a long time. Then, with tears in her eyes, she finally looked up.  

In her vision stood the massive, glowing purple Persona Gate, dominating the vicinity.  

Even after witnessing the absurd magic that overlapped the real world with a mirrored realm, she felt no awe.  

Because now, she was the one who had to dismantle it.  

“Ugh… Sitting here won’t fix anything…”  

With a shaky breath, she forced herself upright. Then, steeling her resolve, she leapt from the base of the Dark Tower.

Whether it ended in disaster or success, she had no choice but to head for the Persona Gate and try something.  

Whoosh…!!!  

The moment she passed through its glimmering barrier, the icy wind vanished. In its place, a balmy spring breeze caressed her cheeks.

‘Ugh… What a cruel joke.’  

Turning a frozen wasteland into a place bursting with life… it was impossible to understand Maran Kaltz’s intentions.  

Soaring lightly through the air, she reached the Ice Spirit Plateau Fortress and landed on its tallest spire.  

“Hah… Seriously.” 

Where had the once-fortified military base gone? It had become a vibrant city, alive with people’s laughter. They bustled about joyously, refusing to waste even a single moment of their newfound happiness.

However, amid that lively crowd, she spotted some disturbing figures.

“Hehehehe.”  

“Ha-ha! Haha!”  

“Ahaha! Ahaha!”  

Figures stood still and laughed like crazy.  

‘Those disgusting creatures…’  

They were monstrous beings, created and corrupted by Fawn Prevernal Moon.  

“Ugh…”  

She glanced at her waist, then down at her skin. It remained a dull gray, showing no signs of reverting to normal. Soon, she feared, her entire body would be swallowed up by that color.

‘… This is the end.’  

Sighing, she slumped against one of the spire’s pillars.  

“Why did the Progenitor Mage create someone as foolish as me to be a Divine Moon…”  

It had been the same for the past thousand years.  

Unlike her, the other Twelve Divine Moons possessed extraordinary powers and wielded them with unmatched skill. Each had a different personality, but all were wise and decisive.  

Pale Yellow Autumn Moon, however, was different. She was the dimmest among them, prone to constant mistakes, and her abilities were the most unimpressive.  

Even her closest counterpart, Pink Spring Moon, had the power to enthrall every sentient being on the planet in an instant. Meanwhile, Pale Yellow Autumn Moon had barely been able to control a single human.  

‘Everything about me has been a mess—from the moment I was born until now.’

She had longed to be like them.  

To be worthy of the title of one of the Twelve Divine Moons. To be a great and respected figure.  

She had dreamed big.  

By accomplishing what the other Divine Moons could not, she wanted to earn their admiration and respect.  

World domination?  

The New Moons were forbidden from interfering with mortal affairs—only Pale Yellow Autumn Moon had been free to attempt it.  

And after a thousand years, what had she achieved?  

Even now, just look at this…

The Ice Spirit Plateau Fortress before her had been rendered completely powerless—nothing more than a plaything in the hands of a single human (albeit a class 9 mage). And she, Pale Yellow Autumn Moon, had become a helpless fool who could do nothing to stop it.  

Crackle—!  

The more she wallowed in despair, the more fiercely the gray aura crept over her. As a being who survived on self-awareness and confidence, losing that sense of self meant her doom.

But what could she do? Life felt devoid of meaning. There was no stopping the pessimism that welled within her.

“I’m an idiot.”  

She wrapped her arms around her knees, pressing her forehead against them. Tapping her brow, she repeated those words in a dull, repetitive beat.

“I’m an idiot.”  

Tap!  

“A jellyfish.”  

Tap!  

“A sea cucumber.”  

Tap!  

“A sea squirt.”  

Tap!  

“A… grilled cheese pork cutlet.”  

“... Huh?”  

Startled by the unexpected voice, Pale Yellow Autumn Moon shot to her feet, her entire body covered in goosebumps.  

“W-W-Who’s there?!”  

Standing there was a boy with a familiar face. Black hair, black eyes, and dressed in a Stella Academy uniform.  

It was Baek Yu-Seol.  

“What do you mean? Aren’t we just talking about food? I’d personally like a grilled cheese pork cutlet right now.”  

“N-No, that’s not it… What are you doing here?!”  

“Huh? Aren’t you supposed to do something flashy, like say, ‘So, you’ve come to face me at last!’ being all high and mighty? You are one of the Twelve Divine Moons, after all.”

But his words only made Pale Yellow Autumn Moon hunch her shoulders in defeat.

“That’s right… I’m nothing but a fool who isn’t even worthy of being one of the Twelve Divine Moons…”  

“... Wait. That’s not what I meant.”  

Baek Yu-Seol twitched his eyebrows and quietly tucked away the Teripon he had been holding in his right hand.  

‘What’s wrong with this woman?’  

He didn’t hold a favorable opinion of Pale Yellow Autumn Moon. He believed she’d been responsible for controlling those trolls that nearly killed Hong Bi-Yeon. The moment he sensed her within the Persona Gate, he geared up for a fight.

However, thanks to Florin calming him down, he managed to keep his composure.  

‘Yu-Seol. If we can use her power, we might be able to turn this situation around for the better.’

Florin's words were absolutely right.  

Given their current strength, the options available to them were extremely limited.  

That was why Baek Yu-Seol suppressed his anger, attempted to communicate with Pale Yellow Autumn Moon, and - surprisingly - the results seemed quite promising.  

‘I can’t believe Fawn Prevernal Moon betrayed her.’  

Even without his Sentient Spec, Baek Yu-Seol could clearly see the state Pale Yellow Autumn Moon was in.  

He adjusted his specs, crouched down, and met her eyes.  

“Well, now that we’re done listing off foods we want to eat… Shall we have a proper conversation? Pale Yellow Autumn Moon.”  

Her despair-ridden face brightened a little, and she nodded with desperate eagerness.

At this moment, the person who needed help the most wasn’t Baek Yu-Seol—it was Pale Yellow Autumn Moon. 

———

TN:- Enjoying this story?

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