「Law Creation: Souls that once belonged to life and death, past and future, shall forget all battles and wars and live within happy memories.」
My head hurts. I remember being sucked into the pit beneath the World Tree. That chilling black energy had wrapped around my body.
I felt so tired that it seemed like my body was floating.
‘Where… am I…?’
The black waves engulfed me like a rising tide. It felt as though I was sinking into dark waters.
Then, I felt something hard under my seat. It was as hard as stone, yet smooth to the touch.
‘A chair…?’
The hard chair was swaying rhythmically. It felt like the mechanical rhythm of a heavy vehicle in motion.
I must be inside a large vehicle or machine.
Clatter— Clatter—
I heard the sound of a train passing by. If I listened carefully, I could hear people coughing or pacing around, holding something.
‘An Ether Train?’
My body was stiffened by the black waves, and I couldn’t open my eyes. So, I focused on listening to the people talking.
‘It sounds like everyone is holding something and talking…’
Two adult men were chatting quietly. Both of their voices were rough with exhaustion.
“Did you try the new game that just came out?” “Ah, these days, foreign games are on a whole other level. The story and quality are insane. Now that I’ve gotten used to that, I can’t even look at domestic games.” “That’s awesome. You actually have the energy to play games after work? I still have stuff sitting in my library that I haven’t touched yet.” “You probably spend that time scrolling through video sites. You dopamine addict.” “Ha… Honestly, the last time I actually watched or played something I bought was last year. There are so many summary videos now… Once I watch those, I lose the motivation.” “Self-spoiling, huh? Why even buy it if you’re not going to use it? Anyway, give it a try. It’s so good that domestic games won’t even register anymore.”
The man who was browsing video sites refuted the gamer’s words.
“Well, among domestic games, <Yggdrasil Gate> isn’t bad. They just wrapped up the main story Chapter 1, and it’s getting great reviews in the community.” “That’s just a mobile game selling characters. Only people who don’t care about gameplay and spend money on data fragments play that.” “You mean like the 1.5 million won you spent on a soccer player deck?” “The game I’m playing is a masterpiece, so it’s fine.”
Somehow. I couldn’t fully understand what they were saying, but it was irritating.
So, I tried to clench my fist and stand up.
At that moment. A clear female voice came from a speaker far away.
-Next station, Hapjeong, Hapjeong Station. -The doors will open on the right.
As the announcement ended, someone lightly tapped my elbow.
“Clara.”
Poke poke.
It was a disinterested-sounding female student.
“Wake up.”
Poke poke.
She then whispered quietly into my ear.
“If you keep sleeping like that, do you want to be reincarnated into another world?”
“…?!”
Memories suddenly flashed before my eyes.
A rainy street. A gate closing in my face. A hand extended to me.
-I'm so glad I met you!
A shiver ran down my spine, and I snapped my eyes open.
I stood up, shouting loudly.
“…Not again—☆” “That’s intense. What do you mean ‘again’? Is this a regression story?” “…Huh?”
A female student with black hair tied back, holding a smartphone in one hand, looked at me with an expression of awe.
“Wow, did you just say ‘Huh?’ out loud? And you even tilted your head while saying it. That’s intense. You’re like a manga protagonist.” “…Selma, senpai.”
Hearing my words, Selma senpai grimaced.
“Have you lost it? Have you been reading too many webtoons? It’s cringey, so just call me what you usually do.” “…Selma, onee-chan.”
Selma senpai giggled and tugged at my arm. Her palm was warm, probably from gripping her phone tightly.
“Let’s go home.” “…Home?” “Yeah. The place where we say Tadaima and Okaeri.” “…” Her metaphors were all strange.
We got off the subway and walked through the station. There were crowds of office workers and people bustling about.
‘So many people.’
As we swiped our cards and headed towards the street, the smell of freshly baked bread from a bakery and the scent of junk food tickled my nose.
Numerous vehicles honked angrily as they passed by. Under the evening sunset, brake lights illuminated the streets like a red galaxy.
Crossing the street lit by the red starlight, we entered a narrow alley and climbed a steep hill. At the top was a set of stairs leading even higher.
As we passed partway up the stairs, Selma senpai grumbled.
“Ugh, climbing these stairs every day is going to give me calves of steel. They say you need stamina and to watch out for hemorrhoids if you want to be a writer. Well, at least I won’t have to worry about that.” “Is becoming a writer still your dream?” “Of course! I even entered a contest recently.” “How did it go?”
Selma senpai proudly held up three fingers.
“Third place?” “Out of 72 chapters, it has 333 views and 33 favorites.”
Somehow, I immediately knew those numbers weren’t high enough to justify her confident expression.
“…” “But it’s still a big improvement this time. If I just prepare properly and write, I might even make it into the rankings.” “…I see.” “My masterpiece… The Regressed Princess Becomes the Crown Prince’s Beloved Doll —if I can finish that, I’ll become a star writer! I’ll rake in millions like it’s nothing!” “…I see☆”
We climbed the stairs and stopped in front of a shabby villa. Selma senpai entered the code and opened the door.
“I’m home.” “I’m home.”
A tiny, one-room apartment that could barely fit four people lay before us.
Nina senpai, who had been engrossed in something, greeted us with a bright smile. She was holding a stiff piece of paper.
“Welcome back~ Hehe… Clara! Selma! Look at this~ Tada!” “Huh? What is it? Did you pass the baking certification exam? That’s awesome.” “Congratulations.” “Right~ Now I’m a certified woman~ Hehe.”
Frida senpai, who had been drawing in the living room, gave a wry smile.
“Welcome back… She’s told me that story a hundred times now…” “Hehe…”
Selma senpai threw her bag aside and spoke.
“Oh, Frida. I heard you took a practice exam at the art academy?” “…Yeah.” “How did it go?” “…Haha.”
Frida senpai pretended to clean her glasses.
“Hing…” “…Don’t start saying you’ll grow a mustache and join the army later.” “Boo…” “Ugh, stop whining. Clara’s watching and might imitate you.” “Hehe… Clara’s always been stuck to Frida like glue~”
The senpais chattered away. Eventually, they all looked over at me.
“Clara, why are you just standing there?” “Come sit and talk with us!”
The one-room apartment felt oddly familiar. But within it were the people I loved.
The scene was so warm… that I felt like I might cry.
-Lara!!
So I smiled brightly, trying to hold back the tears, and answered.
“Yes!”
-Lara, wake up—!! -Clara!! -[Spiral]—!! -Senpai!!
“Wake up!! Why are you just standing there?!” “…Mom… Grandma… Everyone’s alive…”
The black swamp was slowly rising. Anyone who even touched it had already lost their sanity.
They were all sinking.
The translucent barrier blocked any escape routes.
A female student who had been fleeing to the hill where <Central Prism Academy> was located finally collapsed.
“Ah…”
The academy city was crumbling and sinking. It was disappearing into the black surf.
-This world is actually made up of nine dimensions… -We are trapped in an endless battle… -The Empire, the Republic, and the Commonwealth’s wars… -We are actually nothing more than sacrificial offerings…
Whispers of forbidden knowledge echoed in the air, and the students, entranced by it, repeatedly walked into the black swamp.
‘If this life is really a lie… If I have to suffer forever…’
Is there a reason to live…? If it’s a painless end… If it’s a sleep where we all rest together.
That wouldn’t be so… bad, right?
“…” The student who had collapsed slowly walked towards the black swamp.
“…” And just as she was about to reach out, Someone spoke.
“Stop.” “Huh?”
She turned around to see a figure in a black helmet approaching ominously.
The girl screamed and backed away.
“Eek?!” “You’ve been bewitched. Sleep.”
“What?!”
A gauntleted fist descended on the girl’s head. The clear sound of a bell rang out.
Clang—!
“Gahk…?!”
The girl fainted. Helena silently slung her over her shoulder and looked at the black swamp.
“…” The swamp was filled with students floating, entranced by dreams. But she couldn’t rescue them herself. The living lost their sanity just by touching that black abyss.
So Helena decisively turned away, but she was met by Clara’s loud voice as she approached with a group of Dwarves.
“Helena senpai! Why do you keep knocking people out and abandoning them?! We have to save everyone!!” “Shhh— Only those who aren’t bewitched can be saved.” “Ugh, why is your thinking so extreme! Move aside!” “Shhh…”
Clara shoved Helena aside and approached the swamp with an elderly tailor Dwarf. She swung her flag and shouted.
“[Comrades of the Revolution]—! [Flag of the Revolution]—!”
Numerous Dwarven dolls appeared around her and began pulling the students out of the swamp. The waves of energy, flowing like a deep blue tide, revitalized the shopkeeper Dwarves.
“Ooooh!! So this is the skill of Clara! The one we’ve heard so much about!!”
The old tailor Dwarf raised both arms and boldly waded into the black swamp to begin the rescue. A kindly Dwarf baker followed him.
“Haha… I never thought I’d be doing rescue work after a lifetime of baking.”
With bodies made of steel, they were unaffected by the black swamp. Thus, the shopkeeper Dwarves were rescuing the students.
In the sky, [Unnamed Hawk] flew around, assisting in the rescue.
“Tweet—! A little more to the right!” “Where? Here?”
Helena quietly muttered as she watched the scene unfold.
“At this rate, it will be too late.” “…I can’t argue with that.”
Clara couldn’t refute her words.
“…” No matter how many Dwarves she led in the rescue, the only place where they could carry out such activities was near <Central Prism Academy>.
Helena looked out toward the horizon and said,
“If we could borrow the power of <Mimir Industrial High School>, the task would be easier.” “But that’s easier said than done.”
The horizon, filled with the black swamp, was teeming with Chaos Bugs and Dragonkin.
Shaaaaah—!! Gwoooaar—!!
Even with the small and weak Dwarves by her side, there was little they could do. Even Helena, with her Unique Ether abilities, couldn’t face them without a foothold.
“…” There was… no way. In the face of this overwhelming disaster, they were so small.
“…” Small?
Then… They just need to grow.
“…” -In ancient times, when Dwarves and Giants were one…
‘The Giants of the Mountains were so large they could block out the sky. But the Giants of later times were only the size of trees. They could no longer block out the sky.’
Clara gripped the flag tightly. A soft energy began to emanate from it.
‘The reason they could defeat the Emperor of the Great Empire and the Beast Gods.’
Grit—
‘The steel giants commanded by [The Rebel Rider] suddenly vanished one day.’
A single thought passed through Clara’s mind, A piece of forbidden knowledge.
“…!”
-In ancient times, when Dwarves and Giants were one…
The steel giants commanded by [The Rebel Rider]… did not disappear. Her foster father had always taught her the answer every night.
Clara suddenly burst out laughing.
“Pffft… Hahaha… So there is a way.” “…” Clara looked at Helena.
“Haha… Did you know? Long ago… Dwarves and Giants were one.” “…” Helena stared at Clara, who was laughing incredulously. In her eyes, she saw deep blue waves beginning to stir.
Then Clara raised her flag.
Boom— Boom— Boom—
The deep blue waves surged. The Dwarves began to raise their heads from within the black swamp. They looked at the one who had always been kind to them.
“Clara?” “Clara?” “Clara?”
Clara looked at the Dwarves engaged in the rescue and spoke.
“I’ll show you. How small and humble Dwarves… will save the academy city—!”
The deep blue waves spread, surging through the swamp.
At the highest point of <Mimir Industrial High School>, in the student council room, Maya was looking outside through a telescope.
“…Skadi.” “I’m busy right now.” “…You’ll regret not listening.” “What on earth are you talking…?”
Maya forcibly shoved the telescope into Skadi’s view as she frantically worked with the phone.
“Wait! What are you… doing…”
Skadi’s mouth fell open as she looked out the student council room window. She dropped the phone she was holding.
Beyond the horizon, a giant wall was approaching.
Boom—! Boom—! Boom—!
It was crushing countless Chaos Bugs and Dragonkin as it advanced.
“What is that…?”
And what Skadi saw in her eyes…
Boom—!
…were hundreds of steel giants, at least 20 meters tall, approaching. Glimmering deep blue, they surged forward like a wave.