“What a twisted hobby. What’s with that look?”
“You recognize me right away?”
The child’s true identity was Causality in human form. Causality had no form of its own and usually appeared in whatever form it was drawn to, and this time it seemed to have chosen a young girl. Sigmund clicked his tongue at the appearance that didn’t match the eerie nature.
“It wouldn’t make sense not to recognize you. So, what’s the matter? Didn’t we settle everything between us?”
“It’s settled, sure. But for me, it’s not over yet.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I got tricked into a fraudulent deal!”
Causality, in the form of a child, shouted in frustration.
“You ripped me off! About the real saint and Genos, remember!”
It was referring to the time long ago when Sigmund had reversed a twisted fate and revived Julios. This wasn’t the first time Causality had shown up to throw a fit, so Sigmund replied calmly.
“That wasn’t a fraudulent deal; it was a fair trade. More precisely, it was a bet. I just won it completely.”
“Hah!”
“And it’s been years already. What do you want now? Are you suggesting we undo the deal?”
“Do you think that’s even possible?”
“Of course not. If you tried something like that, you’d have to pay a massive price.”
“You’re such an irritating old man to the very end…”
Causality furrowed its brows sharply. Sigmund thought it would complain and leave, as usual. But today, with a sudden gleam in its eyes, Causality spoke boldly.
“You can’t undo a deal that was fairly concluded. So, I’m here to propose a new one.”
“A new deal?”
“It’s a deal that’s quite favorable to an old man like you. Just a little bet.”
Sigmund chuckled.
“A bet? You lost everything to me before, and now you want to bet again?”
“Exactly. I can’t stand losing.”
“I refuse.”
“The bet is… what? What did you say? Why are you refusing! Why! You should at least hear me out!”
Sigmund coldly pulled away the tiny hand trying to grab his sleeve and said,
“I’m going to leave this world for good. There’s no reason for me to get involved with Causality that governs the laws of this world.”
“But you should at least listen! What’s with this attitude?”
“No.”
“Why not!”
“Do I need a reason to refuse?”
“Well, Sigmund, sir. I’m curious, maybe you should at least hear the reason…”
“Heinz, hush.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Just hear me out! Just listen!”
“If you offer something in return.”
“…What?”
“If something is given, something must be received. Isn’t that the beginning of any deal? Am I wrong?”
“…”
“For the next thousand years, you will not make any deals with forces that threaten humanity. That’s my only condition. No compromises.”
To Sigmund’s surprise, he succeeded once again in extracting a heavy price from Causality. Even though it was fuming, Causality accepted the terms.
“Fine! Have it your way! You insidious, evil old dragon!”
“Hmph.”
Though he didn’t show it outwardly, Sigmund was actually surprised. All he did was set a condition for the bet, yet Causality agreed to it. He couldn’t help but wonder just how monumental a bet it was preparing to propose.
“Alright, the deal is made. Let’s hear it then, the bet you’re so keen on.”
“You said you’re leaving the world of mortals forever, right? Then you’re not coming back, ever?”
“That’s right.”
“The bet is simple. I’ll wager that you will return to the mortal world. You’ll wager that you won’t. And let’s stake your lifespan on it. I need to collect what I didn’t get before.”
Sigmund’s eyes sharpened.
“Are you planning to threaten humans to drag me back?”
“No! No, of course not. I won’t do anything to the humans. I promise.”
The childlike form quickly added.
“The humans will live as you wished. The ones you love will thrive, just as you desired. But you’ll return. You’ll want to see it for yourself. What do you think?”
The child beamed brightly, as if trying to prove its sincerity, though Sigmund knew it was just a practiced expression.
Sigmund’s gaze narrowed. He couldn’t discern what Causality was truly plotting.
“No changes will happen in the mortal world, but I’ll come back? Is that it?”
“That’s right.”
Sigmund pondered for a moment before crossing his arms.
“If I win the bet, what’s the condition?”
“You’re trying to get more out of this? After all that you’ve already taken from me?”
“That was the result of a fair trade. This time, I’m asking about the conditions of the bet.”
“You’re truly vile, absolutely vile. Why did I ever get involved with such a vicious dragon…?”
Causality shuddered in disgust before pointing at Heinz.
“Wager him. What do you think?”
Heinz, who had been watching the conversation between the two transcendent beings with keen interest, widened his eyes in shock.
“Me? Really?”
“Isn’t he a bit annoying? Always sticking around and getting on your nerves? If you win, I’ll take care of him for you.”
“And by what right would I wager him?”
“He’s your underling, isn’t he?”
“He’s merely a temporary contractor.”
“Temporary? No! I am Sig’s eternal parasite!”
Heinz hastily interrupted.
“When Lord Sigmund sleeps, I was planning to build my home on his body!”
“See? He’s telling you himself that he’s going to parasitize on you.”
“Sigh…”
Sigmund looked at Heinz in annoyance.
“That human is just obsessed with power.”
“Lord Sigmund, how could you say such hurtful things…!”
“He’s a mess now, but as soon as he meets someone stronger than me, he’ll immediately follow them. Am I wrong?”
“Uh… well, that’s true.”
Sigmund gave a nod, as if to say, “See?” Causality, shocked for a moment by Heinz’s lack of loyalty, soon regained composure and spoke up.
“Then let’s do it this way. If you win, I’ll take in this spineless human. Isn’t that better for him too?”
“……”
“Once the contract ends, he’ll just be like a kite without a string anyway. It’d be better for him to contract with me than struggle to find someone else to cling to.”
“Me? Really?”
Heinz spoke in a trembling voice.
“You’re allowing me to parasitize? You’re going to show the laws of the world to a mere human like me?”
The child nodded reluctantly.
“Yeah. Well, let’s call it a contract rather than parasitism.”
“This can’t be!”
Heinz covered his mouth and gazed desperately at Sigmund.
He was practically begging him to accept the bet.
Sigmund, watching the scene in disbelief, fell into thought. He’d already been concerned about where Heinz would end up.
“Fine. Let’s do that.”
“Oh! Really?”
“Before that, let’s get things straight. I’ll bet that I won’t set foot in the human world. If I win, you’re taking full responsibility for that guy until the end.”
“Of course.”
“On the other hand, you’re betting that I’ll return to the human world on my own. And you’re putting my lifespan as a transcendent on the scales. How much time would I have left?”
“It should be slightly longer than a regular human’s.”
“Understood.”
It wasn’t going to happen anyway, so what did it matter if he lived longer or shorter than a human?
“Let the bet begin.”
“Great. The deal is sealed.”
Causality’s eyes filled with excitement.
In an instant, the whole surroundings turned white, and black lines quickly began drawing symbols across the space. Heinz, mesmerized, watched the scene unfold.
A moment later, the letters that had densely filled the space quickly seeped into Causality’s hand with a soft sound. The white light also disappeared entirely. Causality looked at their hand, where traces of the contract remained, and smiled contentedly.
“It’s been a while since I’ve had such a satisfying deal.”
“I feel the same.”
Sigmund chuckled. This bet had guaranteed a thousand years of safety for humans. No matter how he looked at it, it was a deal where only Causality stood to lose, yet they seemed genuinely pleased. Causality was a strange being indeed.
‘A mortal, huh…’
Even though he knew it would never happen, once upon a time, Sigmund had longed desperately to become mortal. His painfully long life had felt unbearably wretched.
In truth, it was still burdensome. So much so that he was preparing for a long sleep, simply because he had no way to deal with the remaining span of his life.
Becoming mortal wouldn’t have bothered him. He simply wasn’t willing to waste his lifespan on something as trivial as a bet.
“Sigmund, you know, just recently I searched the entire world of the dead and found a soul that had been asleep for a long time.”
At that moment, Causality grinned mischievously.
“I woke that soul up and showed it something. Then, guess what? It offered me a deal. So I accepted. Want to guess what that soul offered in return?”
“Another bet?”
“No, not that. Just think about it. Ah, I’ll give you a hint. The price was the most precious thing to that soul.”
Sigmund was in a good mood.
The easy resolution of both the safety of the humans and Heinz’s fate had lightened his heart.
The safety of the humans in particular had been a huge weight off his shoulders. Even though he had resolved to leave the human world, he couldn’t help but worry about them. But now, the matter he had worried about most was perfectly resolved.
Normally, he would’ve ignored Causality’s nonsense, but he felt he could humor them this time.
“I have no idea.”
“Come on, think about it.”
Sigmund thought seriously for a moment, then shook his head.
“What could a soul offer? It’s already lost everything. It wouldn’t have a body to offer as a price. And if it’s a soul that’s been asleep for a long time, it wouldn’t have family left either.”
Sigmund shrugged.
“If it’s not the soul itself, I don’t think there’s much it could offer.”
“That’s what I thought too, but it turns out there was something. Right here.”
Causality smiled and tapped their temple.
“Memories.”
* * *
At last, Sigmund had returned to the world of the transcendent.
Under a dazzlingly blue sky, the green grass swayed in waves like the ocean.
Majestic mountain ranges stretched across the land, and colorful flowers bloomed in abundance.
Somewhere in the distance, laughter rang out. It was the laughter of fairies who served the transcendent beings.
A faint sense of melancholy settled in.
So much time had passed, and so much had happened, yet everyone here remained the same.
As if Sigmund alone had changed.
Feeling as if centuries of time were crashing down on him all at once, Sigmund let out a quiet, wistful laugh.
Having returned to the world of the transcendents, it was laughable how sentimental he still was.
Sigmund walked slowly.
Though he could have reached his lair in the blink of an eye using magic, this time he wanted to walk. He wanted to feel the return with his own eyes and feet.
Behind Sigmund, Heinz staggered like a drunk dog as he followed.
“Ah, this must be paradise.”
Heinz had been acting like that ever since they stepped into this place. He was completely intoxicated by the dense aura of the transcendent.
Heinz, who had been grinning and staggering, suddenly widened his eyes.
“Sigmund! Look over there! A dragon is flying! A red dragon! A dragon flying in the sky! How can this be!“
Sigmund glanced up at the sky and spoke nonchalantly.
“Dragons can fly. That should be basic knowledge.“
“Wait! Isn’t that a fairy? Ah. To think I’d live to see fairies with my own eyes. I’m so happy I could go mad! I want to capture a few and experiment on them!“
“Most fairies here are servants of transcendents. If you mess with them, you’ll disappear without a trace.“
“Sigmund, look at this grass! Why does it emit magic? Ah, it’s so enchanting. So beautiful!“
“In the world of the transcendent, it’s natural that… Are you even listening to me?“
“Who would have thought magic could have so many colors! The lunatics at the tower would sell their souls to come here if they knew about this!“
For a moment, Sigmund considered sending Heinz away but ended up chuckling.
‘I’ll let him be. This madness won’t last much longer anyway.’
As soon as he confirmed that Sigmund has entered his long sleep, Heinz will move on to a new contractor.
“Is this your lair, Sigmund? Unbelievable…“
Heinz’s excessive excitement finally ended as they arrived at the lair. Despite seeing all sorts of wonders on the way, he was utterly stunned now.
“Dragons are truly incredible beings.“
It was just a lair, but the aura it exuded was overwhelming. The exterior was also imposing. Beneath a sheer cliff, there was a massive entrance through which a dragon’s true form could pass. Sigmund’s barrier sigils shimmered faintly across various parts of the cliff.
While Heinz marveled at the barrier, Sigmund stared intently at the dark entrance, narrowing his eyes.
‘…What is this?’
For some reason, the presence of Kaiten could be felt inside the lair, which should have been empty.
For Kaiten to barge into an empty lair without its owner’s permission, no matter how ancient a being he was, was crossing a line. Sigmund’s golden eyes shone coldly. At the same time, a golden circle expanded from beneath his feet, surging outward and enveloping the surroundings. Sigmund took a firm step forward.
And finally, when he entered the lair.
Sigmund came to a sudden halt.
He widened his eyes in shock.
Inside the lair, someone was curled up on the floor, asleep.
Stiff with shock, Sigmund barely managed to speak.
“Romi…ya?”
Unbelievable as it was, the person sleeping in his lair was none other than Romiya.
Of all things, she looked exactly the same as when she had first become his guide.
A round and lovely face, short hair, a slender figure, and a curled-up posture. It was exactly the same as in his memory.
‘That can’t be right. Romiya is dead.’
Sigmund barely regained his senses and rushed toward her.
He knew in his head.
That this was all an illusion. That Kaiten must have known of his return and was playing a cruel trick on him.
He knew everything, yet…
Why?
Why is it warm?
Sigmund’s face contorted as he stood frozen, gripping her wrist. He couldn’t understand anything about what was happening.
“Sir Sigmund, why did you suddenly set up a defensive barrier… Huh? Who is that?”
“Heinz, go immediately… and bring Kaiten.”
“Kaiten? Who is that?”
“The Elder of the Black Dragons.”
“How am I supposed to bring the Elder of the Black Dragons…?”
A bright light flashed, and Heinz disappeared. Sigmund, who had flung Heinz toward Kaiten’s lair, gritted his teeth.
‘Kaiten, how dare you…’
Sigmund was certain the being before him was something Kaiten had created. He could feel Kaiten’s energy everywhere, so it was the only logical conclusion.
He didn’t know what Kaiten intended with this despicable act, but one thing was clear.
Kaiten had crossed a line.
Since Romiya’s death, Sigmund had never once seen her face again.
In truth, if he wanted, he could have easily created an illusion of her or crafted a doll with her face.
He didn’t, because he didn’t want a fake to taint his memories of her.
Thus, he had swallowed his aching longing only within his memories.
And now, this?
Part of him wanted to send the fake in front of him to Kaiten’s lair as well, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. The fake was already shaking his heart. Just seeing it curled up on the cold floor was painful.
He had known this would happen. This was why he had never created a fake.
“Damn it.”
Sigmund cursed as he lifted the fake into his arms. As it rested its head against him, his heart sank. Even the feeling of holding her was exactly the same as he remembered.
“Kaiten…!”
He would make Kaiten pay for this. Sigmund clenched his teeth and stood up.
* * *
Deep inside the lair was a space reminiscent of a grand human mansion. It was where Sigmund lived in his current form, and, fitting of a dragon’s lair, it was filled with rare treasures. All of them were priceless, things that even a small nation couldn’t afford to buy.
Sigmund didn’t spare a glance at the treasures. He laid her on the bed. After sitting across from her sleeping form, he waited for Kaiten to return.
But no matter how long he waited, Kaiten didn’t come. Heinz, whom he had sent to Kaiten’s lair, was also nowhere to be found.
In the end, Sigmund stood up abruptly. He would confront Kaiten himself.
It was at that moment.
“Ugh…”
At the familiar groan, Sigmund’s movements froze for a moment. A chill ran down his spine. The fake’s long eyelashes trembled slightly as her eyelids lifted.
Soon, blue eyes reminiscent of the sea came into view.
Sigmund, momentarily stiff, lowered his gaze. His heart pounded painfully in his chest. The only reason he could maintain a semblance of calm was the passage of time.
“Is it… really you, Sir Sigmund?”
Things kept happening that went beyond what he had prepared himself for. Sigmund covered his face with his hand to calm himself. He didn’t know what Kaiten intended, but he desperately hoped this awful prank would end soon.
“Yes.”
Sigmund barely managed to suppress his emotions and looked directly at the fake.
“I am the master of this lair. What exactly were you doing here? For an uninvited one to trespass in a dragon’s domain… You have no excuse if I decide to kill you right now.”
“Ah…”
The fake, who had been smiling warmly, shrank her shoulders in apparent confusion. Sigmund clenched his teeth. Even the way the fake looked scared was maddeningly identical to the real one. His heart kept breaking.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Sir Sigmund.”
“And why?”
“Lord Kaiten said that if I stayed here, I would be able to meet you…”
Sigmund’s voice grew sharp.
“Are you trying to play riddles with me? Why did you want to meet me?”
Fear surged in the fake’s blue eyes. Sigmund gritted his teeth and glared at her. He didn’t want to be swayed by this illusion any longer.
“Speak clearly. Unless you wish to die right now.”
The fake, now pale and trembling, barely managed to speak.
“I’m truly sorry. Honestly, I don’t really… know.”
“What?”
“I… I can’t remember.”
“What kind of nonsense…”
Sigmund halted. A voice he had long forgotten echoed in his head. He looked at her more softly.
“I’ve lost all my memories…”
* * *
“Do you know what that soul gave up as the price?”
“Her memories, her memories.”
He hadn’t cared about some soul’s deal with the transcendents. It didn’t matter to him, so he had ignored it.
“When I woke up, I was in the realm of the transcendents. Lord Kaiten helped me. He said no human could withstand the energy here, so he cast a protection spell on me.”
But now he couldn’t ignore it anymore. To dismiss all this as mere coincidence was too much. Everything was too clear.
The person in front of him was Romiya.
But how?
‘Could Kaiten have resurrected Romiya? Even at the cost of giving up his transcendent status?’
It couldn’t be. Kaiten might have felt some responsibility for Sigmund, but giving up everything to bring her back? That didn’t make sense.
“That’s why I waited for you here, Sir Sigmund. Lord Kaiten said I was searching for you. He also said that you knew me very well.”
He needed to think, but he couldn’t string his thoughts together. From the moment he realized that the person before him was Romiya, it felt like he was going to lose his mind.
In the end, Sigmund gave up on thinking. Whatever happened, he needed to calm down first. With trembling hands, he pressed his palm against his forehead.
“I don’t know why it had to be you, Sir Sigmund. I have one remaining memory, but… it’s so absurdly short.”
Sigmund quickly raised his head. In a suppressed voice, he asked, “You have a memory?”
“Yes. It’s so short that I’m not sure it’ll be of any use…”
“Explain.”
“Someone showed me something, but I don’t know what it was. All I know is that it made me cry because it was so sad.”
As if recalling the emotions from that moment, Romiya slightly furrowed her brow.
“My chest hurt so much that I cried, asking why the promise wasn’t kept. I regretted it, saying that if I had known, I wouldn’t have left you alone. So, I begged. I begged for just one more chance to see you. I said I would give anything, even the most precious thing, if only I could meet you again.”
She gave Sigmund an awkward smile.
“That’s all.”
“……”
“Sir Sigmund…”
Romiya’s smile faded from her face. Her eyes softened with pity.
“You are the one I’ve been searching for, aren’t you?”
Sigmund barely managed to nod. Romiya reached out, gently cupping his tear-streaked cheek, and whispered softly.
“Sir Sigmund.”
“……”
“Please, don’t cry.”
With his eyes closed, Sigmund leaned into her hand. More hot tears streamed silently down his face. As she wiped away his tears, she asked.
“Sir Sigmund, you know me, don’t you?”
“…Yes.”
“What was I to you?”
Sigmund’s lips parted slightly. A sense of hopelessness washed over him. How could he possibly summarize their life together in just a few words? He finally spoke, though his voice was faint.
“You were my…”
My lover, my longing, my everything in this world, my life. But what he ultimately chose to say was:
“My guide.”
You were the one who led my life. I lived my entire life protecting what you left behind.
“Guide?”
Romiya looked at him in confusion, as if she couldn’t understand why he was shaken by someone who was just a guide. It was then that Sigmund truly realized the extent of her lost memories. The brilliant past they shared now existed only within him.
“Yes. You were my guide… Ugh.”
He couldn’t endure it any longer. Sigmund curled into himself, sobbing aloud. It was a sound more akin to a groan than crying.
“S-Sir Sigmund…”
Romiya, bewildered, hugged him tightly. His shoulders trembled like waves. She whimpered, pleading with him, “Sir Sigmund, please don’t cry.”
Sigmund could only hold her hand, unable to say a word. The warmth of her hand, after so long, made his heart ache.
Could I ever let go of this hand again?
Could I bear to send you away once more?
The answer was all too clear.
Of course not.
Now, he understood.
The reason Romiya had been brought back to life.
Causality had resurrected her by taking her memories as the price, as if to exact revenge on him. It was probably the same way Julios had been revived.
Since Causality had directly intervened, any distortions in the world had likely been minimized.
Judging by Kaiten’s involvement, many dragons must have shared in the cost to make this happen.
Of course, that alone wouldn’t have been enough.
It was likely that she had only been brought back temporarily. To fully revive her, Sigmund’s own lifespan would have to be placed on the other side of the scale.
This was what Causality had intended.
After Romiya’s death, Sigmund had thought about it countless times. What if he had stayed with her until the end? What if he had somehow convinced her to live with him? Those thoughts had always remained as mere fantasies.
But now, a second chance had come to live and die together.
There wouldn’t be a third chance.
Sigmund rose to his feet. Just then, the protective magic that Kaiten had cast over Romiya began to fade quickly.
“Romiya.”
Tears welled up in her eyes, and a faint smile appeared on Sigmund’s lips. Even without her memories, she was crying for him, and he found her heartbreakingly lovable. As he wiped away her tears, he whispered gently.
“We have to return to the mortal world. Your human body won’t be able to survive here.”
“The mortal world? But I don’t know anything about it. I’ve lost all my memories…”
“There’s a place called Genos. It’s a country with a beautiful sea. There are many good people there. I’m sure you’ll be welcomed.”
“But…”
“Let’s go together. I’ve lived in the mortal world for a long time. I know it well.”
Sigmund smiled softly.
“This time, I’ll be your guide. Let’s live together, and make new memories.”
“Alright.”
Romiya smiled brightly, as if reassured. Sigmund clasped her hands with both of his, unable to hold back his overwhelming emotions. He pressed his lips gently to the back of her hand.
At that moment, the lifespan of the transcendent began to diminish rapidly.
The long life that had once felt like a burden was finally slipping away.
Somewhere, he thought he could hear the laughter of Causality.
As if it were saying, Finally, I’ve won. I’ve dragged a transcendent down to mortality.
Sigmund burst into laughter.
“Yes, I’ve lost this bet.”
It was the most radiant and sweetest defeat.
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