Pick Me Up!

I opened my eyes.

A heavy, pounding pain pressed against my temples.

“Haa…”

I let out a deep breath.

Only then did my blurred vision return to clarity.

The familiar patterned wallpaper. The ceiling of the waiting room—my room.

‘A dream?’

No. I wouldn’t rationalize it so clumsily.

Once I pulled myself together, the sequence of events became clear.

The 90th floor—our final mission. Every single one of the Townia NPCs, including Pria, had met their deaths there. I had mustered my remaining strength to take down the one responsible for killing Pria. And then, at that moment, Aaron and Yurnet had intervened.

‘So…’

Did they bring me here?

I let out a hollow laugh, brushing myself off as I stood.

“Ha, hahaha. Did I actually wake up? I never imagined that.”

The voice of a young girl, laced with laughter, reached my ears.

Srrng.

I pulled Bifrost from the wall where it had been hanging.

When I turned, I saw a black-haired girl in a white dress sitting in a chair.

“This is the first time we’ve met in person since your 2-star promotion, right? It’s been a while, Loki. I missed you.”

“I didn’t miss you at all.”

“That’s a shame. I came all the way here just to congratulate you. I even went to great lengths to avoid being caught by your subordinates.”

Tel smiled broadly.

On the surface, she looked like a beautiful young girl, but I knew all too well how utterly insane she was.

“Anyway, Loki, congratulations on clearing the mission. You’re now the only clearer of Pick Me Up.”

“What about El Cid?”

“He used a workaround. If he weren’t a 7-star, it would’ve been quite the struggle for him. But you… you conquered the tower purely through your own strength. Truly, a feat worthy of the Master of Masters.” ⱤÀƝǒβĘⱾ

“Get lost while I’m still being nice.”

“I came to propose a deal that you’ll love.”

Tel rose from her chair and stepped toward me.

Dark energy writhed beneath her shadow.

“If you desire it…”

Tel placed her delicate fingers on my shoulder and whispered in my ear.

“I can bring Townia back to life.”

“……”

“Priasis, Phryos, and all the others. Even the nobodies. The ones here in the waiting room, too. If you wish it, I’ll free them all from the cycle of sacrifice.”

Her fingers lightly brushed my neck as she continued.

“Any missing interference can be borrowed from other dimensions. Townia could be sustained for at least several centuries—at best, a millennium. Isn’t that a fair condition?”

Tel exhaled a warm breath against my ear.

“If you fulfill my wish… I’ll give you everything… Hm?”

Tel looked down.

The hem of her white dress was dyed red.

A single spear had pierced through her abdomen.

“Haha, well, this is…”

“Step away from my brother.”

Crack!

Aaron swiftly retrieved the spear and, with blinding speed, plunged it into Tel’s heart.

Black blood gushed from the hole in her chest.

「Ahaha!」

Tel’s form, which had been that of a young girl, dissipated into mist.

Within the mist, crimson eyes glowed ominously.

「What an irritating little bug.」

“No one believes a word you say. If you don’t want to die, vanish.”

「Believe me or not, it doesn’t matter. Loki, no matter what, you’ll be mine. I’ve never seen such a ripe fruit before. Ahaha! To think… such coincidences could exist! Kill me! This is incredible! It’s destiny! Loki! I’ll make you the seed of the new world! Replace those pathetic rejects and become the root of rebirth that brings light to all of Möbius! Hahaha! Ahahahaha! Just wait a little longer, Loki. I’ll come for you soon. Don’t move…」

Crunch!

A spear pierced through the crimson eye.

The mist dissolved, leaving only a faint residue behind.

“What an incredibly talkative being, just as I’d heard,” Aaron said as he twirled his spear and slid it back onto his back.

I observed him. Draped in a black coat over his leather armor, he stood before me. The man who once blamed himself for his lack of talent was gone. Now, he faced me with confident eyes. It was hard to believe this was the same Aaron as before.

“It’s been a while, Hyung-nim. The last time was back during that tournament, wasn’t it?”

“Your demeanor has changed.”

“We’ve both been through a lot.”

Aaron gave an awkward smile, then cleared his throat.

“Oh, and… I’m truly sorry for that time. I laid my hands on you without permission. But given the circumstances, I had no choice.”

“What circumstances?”

“If I had left you as you were, Hyung-nim, you would’ve surely died.”

“Is that so.”

I gave a short reply.

Aaron lowered his gaze, avoiding my eyes.

“Hyung-nim.”

“……”

“I don’t want to see you like this. The brother I knew was always brimming with confidence, solving every problem with ease. No matter how difficult the mission or hopeless the dilemma, you always found a way.”

“…you know?”

“Yes. Master told me everything.”

Aaron nodded firmly.

Of course. There was no need for further explanation.

“Your sister is dead. She can’t be brought back.”

“I know that too.”

“And you’re fine with it?”

“How could I be fine? When I first heard the explanation, I was bedridden for days. I even lashed out at Master, screaming for him to stop lying. But… you have to accept reality to move forward… don’t you?”

Aaron lowered his gaze again.

“I could only take a step forward after acknowledging my lack of talent. And that, too, was something you awakened in me, Hyung-nim.”

“……”

“What I tried to protect… my family… may no longer exist in this world.”

Aaron clenched his fist tightly, a fleeting look of anguish crossing his face.

“But still…”

“But still?”

“I believe in you, Hyung-nim.”

Aaron’s clear, unwavering eyes met mine.

I let out a hollow laugh.

This fool must’ve lost his mind. Being stuck in the same place for so long had apparently dulled his sense of reality.

“You believe in me? Based on what? No matter how strong I am, I’m just a hero. Do you really think I can change anything?”

“Master said it was a one-in-ten-million chance. The odds of surpassing our limits.”

Aaron closed his eyes.

“If I’d been scared off by those odds, nothing would’ve changed. I’d still be curled up in a corner somewhere. For what feels like countless lifetimes, I’ve swung my spear. My memories of my living days are all but gone, but…”

Aaron’s eyelids trembled faintly, as though rewinding through all the time he’d endured.

“There’s one thing I’ve never forgotten.”

「Didn’t I tell you to stop wasting time on nonsense?」

Aaron opened his eyes.

The door swung open, and a woman cloaked in robes stepped into the room.

Yurnet Seed.

This wasn’t an illusion—it was her unmistakable, tangible presence.

She brushed back her silver-white hair, her sharp gaze locking onto Aaron.

“I told you to bring the Master, but here you are wasting time on pointless chatter.”

“……”

“If you continue trying to tempt the Master with such drivel, even as Myuden’s disciple, I won’t let it slide. Stand down. Until this ceremony concludes, do not stand before the Master again.”

“…Understood.”

Aaron shot me a brief glance before leaving the room.

Yurnet deeply bowed before me.

“My apologies. He’s still lacking in discipline.”

“Discipline? And are we in Townia?”

“Allow me to explain.”

I nodded.

Yurnet opened the door with a respectful gesture and led me outside.

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