“Ah, I am Maksun. Maksun. You really don't know?”

I was dumbfounded. Maksun? Who was Maksun? “I've never heard of this name...”

“What? You are hearing it for the first time? Oh, my 65 years of life were in vain. They were in vain. We grew up together as children in such a difficult place, but you don't even recognize me. Now. Groan, my life!”

The old grandmother who released the destructive light just now had disappeared. In front of me, Park Maksun sat down on the ground and started crying. Everyone's eyes s.h.i.+fted between me and Park Maksun. I had no choice but to look blank because of the ridiculous situation. My image abruptly became a bad grandfather who made a grandmother cry.

...Wait. Maksun? Just then, something struck me. It was a very distant past. A few months ago, there was a dream that had the terrible smell of blood and muddy water mixed together. The instructor had yelled with wide eyes and wielded the whip. I was dangling from a cliff with a sandbag hanging from me.

Next to me was a younger sister s.h.i.+vering in the cold. She wasn't my actual younger sister, but we lived together and relied on each other in many ways. This little sister's name was probably...

Just then, the face of my younger sister in the dream overlapped with the face of Park Maksun in front of me.

“No way, didn't you fall off the cliff at that time...?”

It was as if nothing had happened. Maksun abruptly stopped crying. She dusted off her hands, stood up and murmured, “Now. You remember it now.” It must've been fake crying before. I was amazed that a person's feelings could be so free. No, was it really Maksun? Back then, she definitely... 

“You aren't dead...”

“I survived! Oh, you don't know after seeing me now?”

“Ah...”

I was once again at a loss for words. What could I say after knowing she had survived? No, I didn't know what was going on. My mind was currently in chaos.

“The humans' struggles are pretty fierce—!”

Then loud laughter was heard from a being who appeared in the distance. A giant cow with jade flames all over his body. The appearance resembled Minotaur, who I killed in the past, but it was a bit different.

“He is Urobork, one of the generals of the demon world.” 

Damian came to my side and smiled like it was interesting. “I remember the time we did the Minotaur raid together.”

“Don't be careless. He seems to be as strong as Minotaur.”

“Yes. I know it very well.”

Damian watched Urobork in the distance with cold eyes. Urobork was so big that it was like looking at a building.

“...He is different from the demons around him. Sigh. We've lost consecutive fights because of this guy. I'm honestly grateful for the reinforcements, but I don't think we can beat Belphegor. That guy is even bigger than this one.”

Damian frowned as he recalled Belphegor, whom he had once seen. If Urobork was a building, then Belphegor was a mountain.

“......”

I looked at Damian's complicated expression and then turned my head to look at Park Maksun's face. The wrinkles were gathered together and Park Maksun looked very irritated. No way, did she think she could easily win with one shot of that ray? It was a big mistake if she thought so.

I had many things to ask her, but I decided to focus on Urobork in front of us. I looked back at Damian. “That is why I brought reinforcements.”

“Huh? There are more reinforcements?”

“Of course.”

I looked up at the sky while raising the power of the black night. The sunset sky quickly turned black and a dark night came. I called out in my mind to someone who had been only waiting for this moment. A white light flashed through the dark clouds. There was a small flash of lightning and then the white light shot across the dark sky. It appeared like a comet and landed gently in front of the subjugation army's camp. Standing on all fours, it was a very n.o.ble and beautiful wolf.

[...I've finally found you.]

The white-maned Romelana opened her eyes. Fenrir stood next to her.

* * *

“Gasp. Gasp...”

“Did we win...?”

“He just retreated.” 

“It is still a good thing. There is no more loss.”

All the members of the Zeus Guild lay down on the ground in an exhausted manner. They managed to drive Ashtar away, but they didn't ask if they killed him. They failed to kill Ashtar. Ashtar left with an 'I'll see you next time' like a villain in a cartoon. It was only thanks to the many constellations who appeared in the middle that they managed to drive Ashtar back. Among them was Raitra, the constellation of Zhen Sulong.

“I didn't expect us to meet like this, Raitra. Thank you for your help.”

[Ukki—! No! I was a little late because I stopped to lead all the clan members from the mountain. I'm truly sorry!]

Raitra scratched his white lightning hair and Zhen Sulong smiled at the sight. Indeed, Raitra was a manly being. It was the first time they actually met in reality, but there was no awkwardness between the two of them.

“Are they the Varana Clan you talked about?”

[Yes! They are all friends!]

Zhen Sulong glanced at the large monkeys standing behind Raitra. According to Brother Chuntaek, the Varana Clan were those who adored fighting. Raitra said he was the head of the Varana Clan.

[Stop chatting and get to the point. Nyang!]

The black cat that stood on both feet complained and Raitra scoffed. For reference, the cat constellation looked like a woman with long hair. Of course, her face was that of a cat.

[Bah. What does a cat playing the flute from behind know?]

[What? Nyang! Are you bragging just because you're a bit stronger? Kiyaaak—! Then show off your strength against the demons!] 

The male monkey and female cat looked at each other and growled. The one who intervened between the two of them was a white-faced man with a giant ice s.h.i.+eld on his arm. He was also a tough man.

[Stop it. Why is this ugliness between the Seven Chivalrous Stars?]

Following the words of the white-faced man, a woman in a white robe approached from behind. Fireflies flew all around the woman. Zhen Sulong's eyes trembled slightly. 'Camille.'

He had once accompanied Kim Sujeong in the North Pole. He had often seen Kim Sujeong's fireflies ability, so Zhen Sulong knew that this woman was Camille. Therefore, he felt it was strangely nice.

[Hmm. The puppy is still. I don't know why the cat is acting like this.]

[...Desperado, it is a dog.] 

[Shut up! This skeleton! Additionally, why is this puppy staying still!]

[Dogs aren't always sharp like cats.]

[Ah, you shouldn't talk!]

Zhen Sulong felt that the constellations in front of him were different from what he expected. They seemed so infinitely high that they looked different. However, they acted no different from humans. Zhen Sulong thought that maybe he was the one with preconceived notions.

At this moment, Michael approached from behind. “Thank you for your help.”

[Oh, you are the Scorpion Star's Beloved? Well, if you are grateful then give me some fish. Do you perhaps have any fish?]

“Nope. I don't have it.”

[Humans... There are no preparations. No preparations.]

[Get out of the way.]

[Ack. This skeleton—!]

The unnamed cat continued to grumble as she was pushed back by the skeleton who appeared behind her. He was also a constellation. He looked like a cowboy whose flesh had been eaten by eagles in the desert.

[You are Michael. James talked about you a lot.]

“You...” Michael's eyes widened as he guessed the ident.i.ty of the constellation in front of him.

[My name is Desperado. You can call me Traveler of the Wilderness. Well, that isn't important. Something has happened.]

“What...?”

Desperado raised his index finger and scratched his fleshless chin.

[James had a little accident.]

* * *

At Hesperides Gardens, somewhere outside the Temple of Clouds...

Park Muyeol spent quite a long time here. He didn't just come here to waste his time. He wanted to be stronger. At first, it was difficult to deal with Arethusa, but now Park Muyeol was able to perform very sharp swordsmans.h.i.+p like he did in his prime.

However, it was only for a while. Park Muyeol's wooden sword was broken during a fight with Arethusa. Arethusa felt responsible for it and declared she would give him a new wooden sword. Surprisingly, Park Muyeol already had the material for the wooden sword.

It was a branch from the golden apple tree. However, the branches of the golden apple tree couldn't be cut by humans. It was the branch of the golden apple tree that Aegle and Erytheia cut with the cloud scissors made by Arethusa. The branch of the golden apple tree boasted a solid hardness.

Arethusa entered the cloud workshop and stayed up late cutting down the branch of the golden apple tree to make a wooden sword. Then four days pa.s.sed.

'How long does it take to carve a sword?'

Park Muyeol stood with his arms crossed and one leg shaking like a man who was impatient. It was such a disrespectful att.i.tude that anyone would call him arrogant.

'd.a.m.n. Did she notice?'

In fact, Park Muyeol deliberately caused Arethusa to break his sword. In any case, it was a wooden sword that almost lost its durability, so it was natural for it to be broken. Still, Park Muyeol deliberately had Arethusa break it and made her feel guilty.

The moment the sword was broken, he mourned with a sad expression. Fortunately, Arethusa felt sorry and offered to make him a new wooden sword. Park Muyeol was unable to cut down the branch of the golden apple tree, so he was filled with joy.

'I succeeded in cheating her, but it will be difficult if she finds out my intentions later...'

Park Muyeol was waiting for Arethusa anxiously.

“......!”

Step, step.

Then there was the long-awaited footsteps and Arethusa's large body appeared, covered in sweat. In one hand was a cloud dagger, while the other hand held the wooden sword made of the golden apple branch that Park Muyeol had been waiting so long for. The moment Arethusa approached, she sat down on the ground and spoke, “Pant. It was very difficult to make it human-sized. I don't know how many branches I broke.”

He seemed to know why Arethusa was late—she was five times larger than him and from Arethusa's point of view, it was very hard to make a sword for Park Muyeol to use.

'Cough, I'm sorry.'

Even so, Park Muyeol didn't show it.

“Take this. I made it with great care.”

“Thank you.”

Park Muyeol cautiously received the wooden sword that Arethusa handed him. Indeed, the wooden sword was wonderful. It felt very good in his hand and the weight was excellent.

Arethusa raised her index finger, closed her eyes, and started to brag about the wooden sword like she was showing off, “First of all, I have something to say before you examine the performance of this branch. It is...”

Just then—

“......!”

Park Muyeol started to fade away. Without knowing it, Arethusa was talking alone about the wooden sword she made. 

“If you use Magic Power Germination on this sword... Huh? What? Where did he go? Wait, this guy! He ran away? Escaping after getting my wooden sword—! This stupid idiot thief, Hercules' successor—!” Arethusa screamed at the sky.