?Shin looked at Zaraf.

  ?“So… what do you want? Why did you interfere?”

  ?Zaraf didn’t hesitate.

  ?“I think it’s wrong to send them back to the real world and let them die again. They already faced death once. How can you send them back knowing they will die?”

  ?Silence.

  ?Abeth lowered her gaze.

  ?Shin studied him carefully.

  ?“…This is a serious matter,” he said at last. “And you look serious about it.”

  ?A pause.

  ?“So let’s summon all the Creators. We’ll decide together.”

  ?Zaraf’s jaw tightened.

  ?“Until then?”

  ?“She will stay here. In the HQ. They’ll arrive tomorrow. Wait until then… and propose your suggestion. If you want them to agree.”

  ?“…I will.”

  ?Later That Night

  ?The corridors were quiet.

  ?Zaraf walked beside Abeth.

  ?“Are you alright?”

  ?She forced a small smile — it didn’t last.

  ?“Knowing what’s going to happen… I don’t think so. Thinking about the other Creators feels… weird.”

  ?A breath.

  ?“Or scary.”

  ?Zaraf stopped walking.

  ?“Don’t worry. I’m here with you. We’ll tell them what’s right.”

  ?His eyes were steady.

  ?“I’ll open their eyes.”

  ?Abeth looked at him — really looked at him.

  ?“…Thanks. For always being with me. Even after I hid my identity.”

  ?Zaraf gave a faint smile.

  ?“Then we did the same, didn’t we?”

  ?She blinked.

  ?“…Can we go back to our journey after this is over?”

  ?A small pause.

  ?“…We will.”

  ?He gently nudged her shoulder.

  ?“Now sleep. You’ve been worrying all day.”

  ?Her eyes narrowed slightly.

  ?“Are you making fun of me?”

  ?“No. Not at all.”

  ?A softer tone.

  ?“I’ll come meet you before the meeting. Okay?”

  ?“…Okay.”

  ?A quiet whisper.

  ?“Thank you.”

  ?After She Left

  ?Zaraf found Shin alone.

  ?Shin didn’t turn around.

  ?“Why do you care about her?”

  ?Zaraf’s answer came without delay.

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  ?“She’s like my sister.”

  ?Silence.

  ?“I don’t want her to die. And she doesn’t want to either.”

  ?His voice lowered.

  ?“She lived her life in a cold place. Without seeing the world… or its beautiful places .”

  ?Shin’s eyes flickered.

  ?“You are like him.”

  ?Zaraf stiffened.

  ?“Like who?”

  ?“You’ll meet him tomorrow.”

  ?A faint smile.

  ?“Wait a little.”

  ?Zaraf frowned.

  ?“What do you think about them? About reincarnations?”

  ?Shin looked out the window.

  ?“…They are here because of us.”

  ?A long pause.

  ?“And we must take responsibility. However we can.”

  ?“Responsibility for reincarnations… huh.”

  ?“Rest,” Shin said calmly. “You’re injured. And tired.”

  ?“…Right.”

  ?The Next Day

  ?Zaraf arrived early to meet Abeth.

  ?He stopped.

  ?She wasn’t alone.

  ?A boy stood too close.

  ?Abeth stepped back slightly.

  ?“W-What do you want?”

  ?“I just want to know you,” the boy said casually. “Can you tell me your name, pretty one?”

  ?Zaraf stepped forward.

  ?“Who are you?”

  ?The boy blinked.

  ?“And who might you be?”

  ?He tilted his head.

  ?“Wait… has she already been taken?”

  ?A small fairy burst out from a rift and smacked him on the head.

  ?“Idiot!”

  ?He groaned.

  ?“When will you act normal?!”

  ?The fairy turned to Zaraf.

  ?“I’m Tale. Contracted to this disaster.”

  ?The boy straightened proudly.

  ?“I am Gray. Fifth Creator of—”

  ?“Say it properly!” Tale snapped.

  ?Gray cleared his throat.

  ?“…Creator of Harem.”

  ?Zaraf stared.

  ?“…What does that mean?”

  ?Tale blinked.

  ?“Your fairy didn’t tell you? When a Creator forms a contract, they choose a title. Yours is Protection. That reflects your wish.”

  ?Zaraf went quiet.

  ?Gray coughed.

  ?“That was the past. I’ve changed.”

  ?“Really?” Tale muttered. “You chase every girl you see.”

  ?Gray smirked.

  ?“Now I only want one.”

  ?He pointed behind Zaraf.

  ?“The girl standing behind the Seventh Creator.”

  ?Abeth froze.

  ?“?!!”

  ?Zaraf narrowed his eyes.

  ?“You know she’s a reincarnation.”

  ?Gray shrugged.

  ?“So?”

  ?He smiled easily.

  ?“She’s alive. She breathes. She’s beautiful. What does her past matter?”

  ?Abeth looked stunned.

  ?Zaraf finally spoke.

  ?“My name is Zaraf. Don’t call me Seventh Creator.”

  ?Gray grinned.

  ?“Nice name. Most people use fake ones here. They don’t want to remember their human lives.”

  ?Zaraf went still.

  ?“…I didn’t know that.”

  ?Before he could think further, another presence approached.

  ?A calm woman.

  ?“Hello, dear Gray.”

  ?Gray turned brightly.

  ?“You’re early.”

  ?She looked at Zaraf.

  ?“You must be the Seventh Creator.”

  ?“…Yes. And you are?”

  ?“My name is Lusy. Fourth Creator of Love.”

  ?Zaraf paused.

  ?(Love…?)

  ?Gray clapped his hands.

  ?“Is everyone here?”

  ?“Yes,” Lusy said softly. “Let’s begin.”

  ?The Meeting Room

  ?The room was heavy with presence.

  ?Beside Shin stood a large, muscular man. Fierce eyes. Unmoving.

  ?Zaraf felt the pressure immediately.

  ?“So these are the Creators…”

  ?The meeting began.

  ?Shin looked around the table.

  ?“So. Is everyone here?”

  ?Gray frowned.

  ?“Huh? Not everyone. She’s not here?”

  ?A small shift in the room.

  ?Shin nodded once.

  ?“You mean her. No. She is in the human world right now. We cannot contact her.”

  ?Zaraf leaned slightly toward Lusy.

  ?“Who are they talking about?”

  ?Lusy answered quietly.

  ?“The Sixth Creator of Reality… cyris.”

  ?Zaraf’s eyes narrowed.

  ?“Reality…?”

  ?Lusy continued.

  ?“She rarely attends meetings unless something truly disturbs the structure.”

  ?A pause.

  ?“And this… might have.”

  ?The weight of absence lingered.

  ?Shin spoke again.

  ?“We begin without her.”

  ?Shin’s voice echoed.

  ?“Our first matter. A reincarnation who can copy abilities.”

  ?The room shifted.

  ?Shock.

  ?Ben spoke first.

  ?“How? They only gain influence by staying near a Creator.”

  ?Shin’s gaze moved.

  ?“She did. Through newcomer Zaraf.”

  ?Eyes turned toward him.

  ?Gray whistled quietly.

  ?“I knew you were interesting.”

  ?Abeth’s fingers tightened.

  ?Ben crossed his arms.

  ?“So she gained something impossible.”

  ?Lusy’s voice was calm.

  ?“And what will you do?”

  ?Shin leaned back.

  ?“It’s not my proposal.”

  ?He looked at Zaraf.

  ?“Speak.”

  ?All eyes locked on him.

  ?Zaraf looked at Abeth.

  ?She looked scared.

  ?He inhaled slowly.

  ?Smiled at her.

  ?Then faced them.

  ?“I may be new.”

  ?A beat.

  ?“But you all look like amateurs.”

  ?Silence.

  ?Then—

  ?Shin laughed.

  ?Ben’s eyes sharpened.

  ?Rough’s voice rumbled.

  ?“Amateurs? You don’t know our history.”

  ?“So what?” Zaraf replied evenly. “What you’re doing isn’t right either.”

  ?His voice hardened.

  ?“Killing someone who got a second chance and calling it balance.”

  ?Ben stepped forward.

  ?“Balance is necessary. We maintain it.”

  ?Zaraf didn’t move.

  ?“If you care about balance so much…”

  ?A pause.

  ?“Then destroy the Imagery World.”

  ?The room froze.

  ?“Because it is the source of imbalance. Not them.”

  ?Even Shin’s expression shifted.

  ?Lusy spoke carefully.

  ?“So what do you suggest?”

  ?“We take responsibility.”

  ?His voice steadied.

  ?“We protect them. Guide them.”

  ?A final breath.

  ?“Not send them back to death.”

  ?Silence filled the room.

  ?Gray raised a hand lazily.

  ?“I’m with Zaraf.”

  ?Lusy nodded.

  ?“I was already uncertain. I’ll stand with him.”

  ?Rough scoffed.

  ?“There is no point giving them chances.”

  ?His eyes locked on Shin.

  ?“You know what happened before.”

  ?Shin closed his eyes briefly.

  ?“…I’ve made my decision.”

  ?Everyone waited.

  ?“We will observe her.”

  ?He looked at Abeth.

  ?“If she can use her ability in other worlds… if she proves worthy…”

  ?A pause.

  ?“Then she may live.”

  ?The weight of it settled.

  ?Shin turned to her.

  ?“What do you say, Abeth?”

  ?Zaraf’s heart tightened.

  ?Abeth lifted her head.

  ?“So… I must prove my right to live?”

  ?“Something like that.”

  ?“Are you disappointed?”

  ?She shook her head slowly.

  ?“…No.”

  ?Her voice grew firmer.

  ?“It’s something I wanted. Before I take my life back into my own hands.”

  ?Zaraf smiled gently.

  ?The meeting ended.

  ?But the war of ideals had just begun.