A voice echoed from the darkness.
[Constellation ‘Love Born with Bubbles’ is intervening in your artifact.]
[Using the ‘Necklace Forged from the Primordial Sea.’]
[Once and only once, you may return across time and space.]
<So I ask you, my beloved child.>
I opened my eyes.
<Where do you wish to go?>
Heat surged in from all directions.
I was surrounded by an air tinged with the scent of metal.
Massive furnaces lined the space. Amidst them, a woman wrapped in bubbles gazed at me.
She was stunning—so beautiful it felt unreal.
She brushed back her hair, dyed in iridescent hues, and her blue eyes sparkled with curiosity.
I felt like I knew who she was.
“You’re…”
**‘Love Born with Bubbles’…?”
<Did we not make a promise?>
The Constellation smiled sweetly.
<You helped my contractor. Because of you, that child was able to wear their beautiful scars proudly before their family. In return, I promised to save your life once.>
I looked down at myself.
Completely intact. Not a single injury—only my clothes were a little rumpled.
My mind was spinning, but I pieced things together.
“What in the world happened?”
After the final stage performance, I’d talked with my mother and then met Madojin.
And then, Madojin…
<Well, this place is far too humble for lengthy explanations. Wouldn’t it be better to chat over a cup of tea?>
‘Love Born with Bubbles’ turned her back and looked toward the blazing furnaces.
<This is my husband’s domain—the god of the forge. I borrowed his authority to activate your artifact, and pulled your body here for a moment. This is a Constellation’s realm. A living soul can’t stay long.>
Then, she asked again:
<You have one chance, beloved child. Where do you want to go?>
I could return through the Necklace Forged from the Primordial Sea.
One single return.
But I had no intention of using it.
Komuli had taken its final form as that necklace—I planned to keep it in memory of him.
Above all, I had no reason to return.
“…I’ve suffered a lot, sure. But in each of those moments, the people I love were there beside me.”
That was something I learned through CYB.
Through meeting Han Iro, Jeong Noeul, and Min Heejae.
Through walking alongside the Star.
“But this isn’t the time to get sentimental, is it?”
I clenched my fist.
“I need to figure out how all of this happened—from beginning to end.”
I recalled the last moment I saw Madojin.
“I wish you had killed me.”
That’s what Madojin had said.
“…And I want to set things right.”
<I thought you might say that. In that case, you’ll be going…>
She nodded softly.
<…to the Abyss.>
“…The Abyss?”
<You’ll return to a moment as cold and lifeless as a dead body, with not a flicker of warmth.>
She chuckled gently.
<But don’t be afraid. Even there… love surely exists.>
‘Love Born with Bubbles’ approached me.
<Beloved child, you are the contractor chosen by the Primordial Sinner.>
The bubbles surrounding her enveloped me.
It was like being cradled in a soft, warm bed.
<Never forget—countless Constellations are watching over you.>
Her voice was like a lullaby.
My eyes began to close.
And then—
[Constellation ‘Love Born with Bubbles’ blesses you.]
[Through the ‘Necklace Forged from the Primordial Sea,’ you now return.]
[Toward the moment where everything must be made right.]
A neutral voice rang out in my mind.
I saw a boy.
He turned away from a cluster of unknown machines.
“Dad,” he said.
“Are you happy?”
For some reason, it felt like I had to answer that question.
“Are you happy just watching days like this from afar?”
What is happiness?
I didn’t know—but I answered anyway.
“…Of course.”
Was that really my answer?
I felt uncertain.
“Just watching you enjoy yourself like this… it makes me very happy.”
Was that truly my declaration?
Even with the doubt lingering in my heart, I opened my eyes.
“Guh!”
Pain exploded in my head the moment I regained consciousness.
“Ugh! Aaargh!!”
An overwhelming flood of information crashed into my brain.
“Haaah… haah…”
They were bits of knowledge for surviving in this world.
Dense, hidden information unknown to most.
And—
“…Ryu Eunyul.”
I ground my teeth and recalled the boy’s name I had just seen in my mind.
Rustle—
I cast off the burial robe covering my body and stood up.
Looking around, I used the knowledge that had been imprinted into my mind to understand—
“This is… the Senatorio Palace… in Rome.”
I simply voiced the name that had surfaced in my mind.
I was in a restricted area of the Senatorio Palace.
Then, a sound rang out.
Ding!
[Tutorial Quest has been updated.]
[Would you like to check it?]
[Yes / Yes]
A translucent message window appeared in front of me.
[Tutorial Quest: Present Your Bodies as Living Sacrifices No. 1]
You have awakened, O living sacrifice.
I am Enoch.
The one who seeks balance in this world.
You are a distant descendant of mine, whose breath ceased long ago.
I revived your soul—once stilled in the womb—into a vessel that bears my likeness.
This is all for the fulfillment of a sacred mission.
I have provided all the knowledge you need in your mind.
So you already know your purpose… and your reward.
‘…Yes.’
My life was never meant to exist. It was revived only to complete a noble mission.
And I knew that mission.
I touched my forehead and conjured the image of Ryu Eunyul.
Every moment of his life had been engraved into my brain.
And my mission—
“To kill Ryu Eunyul.”
And the reward I would receive—
“…his life itself.”
Claiming Ryu Eunyul’s life—that was my heaven.
I would kill Ryu Eunyul.
I would make his life my own.
While waiting to meet him, I passed time in boredom.
I secretly watched tourists come and go from the Senatorio Palace.
‘What beauty do they see in this building?’
I looked up at birds gliding through clear skies.
‘What are they chasing with such desperate wings?’
Sometimes, I let rain soak my hands.
‘…Why does it feel so cold?’
As I rubbed my wet hands together, I thought—
[Tutorial Quest has been updated.]
[Would you like to check it?]
[Yes / Yes]
Enoch’s missions were updated from time to time.
[Tutorial Quest: Present Your Bodies as Living Sacrifices No. 13]
The time has come, O living sacrifice.
The adversary has decided to compete in a festival to honor peace.
You will meet them there.
Now you must move.
Go to the nation of Ryu Eunyul.
As I mulled over Enoch’s instructions, I pictured Ryu Eunyul.
‘Back then, I didn’t know.’
I recalled the moment Ryu Eunyul’s father died.
Why did Eunyul mourn, when his mother still lived?
His grieving face annoyed me.
According to Enoch’s knowledge, this was pure hatred.
‘No. I simply didn’t want to see you cry.’
[Tutorial Quest: Present Your Bodies as Living Sacrifices No. 27]
You have arrived, O living sacrifice.
From now on, you will be known as Madojin.
He is a creation that already died.
His mother, forgetting the loss, will accept and love you as her true son.
Please, enjoy your brief rest.
“My son, what are you thinking about so seriously?”
The woman who firmly believed I was her son asked while holding a teacup.
“…Nothing, really.”
I replied. She smiled gently and said—
“That can’t be.”
As if she knew me better than I knew myself.
“You looked so very sad.”
That can’t be.
I was thinking of Ryu Eunyul writing his will.
I resented him for wanting to throw his life away.
According to Enoch, that was intense jealousy.
‘No. I was simply heartbroken that you wanted to die.’
[Tutorial Quest: Present Your Bodies as Living Sacrifices No. 32]
The time has come, O living sacrifice.
Today, you will meet the adversary.
I regret I cannot offer more help.
I send you boundless blessings.
May you end his breath.
I thought of Ryu Eunyul as I boarded the bus.
I was headed to the CYB audition venue where he would appear.
Leaning my head on the window, I thought of his life—again and again.
I wanted Ryu Eunyul’s life to be mine.
‘No.’
I wanted to have parents who loved me like his.
‘No, that was wrong.’
If that were true, I wouldn’t have grieved my father’s death.
‘I wanted to comfort you when your father died.’
If that were true, I wouldn’t have wished to die.
‘I wanted to stop you—more than anyone—when you tried to end your life.’
I opened my mouth and softly sang a song Ryu Eunyul often hummed.
—Our fall today
Is only a failed flight
If we can just reach that radiant sky
We can shatter over and over again—
Then I smiled.
Taking his life to claim his world—there was nothing difficult about that.
This wasn’t sin. It wasn’t a fall.
It was a flight toward the heaven meant for me.
And so—
Objective: Kill Ryu Eunyul
Reward: Paradise for you
Through the translucent quest screen, I saw you.
You, standing amid the crowd in the labyrinth that once held the Minotaur.
“Ah…”
And I realized—
As I looked at your nervous face, I realized everything I had thought… was wrong.
The knowledge Enoch gave me was useless.
No amount of dictionary definitions, codebreaking, or ancient history could explain this.
Drawn as if by a spell, I walked toward you.
What should I say?
My mind was a blur.
But I pushed through the turmoil and asked—
“…Are you nervous?”
“Ah…”
You turned to me.
“Yeah… I guess I am.”
You answered with a shy smile.
“No need to be nervous.”
I replied with strange relief.
“You’ll definitely pass.”
“Huh?”
For a moment, you looked confused. Then you asked—
“Have we… met before?”
This was our first meeting.
I knew everything about your life, but this was, undeniably, our first encounter.
So I should’ve said:
“This is our first time meeting.”
But just this once—let me surprise you.
I smiled playfully.
“We’ve met before.”
“…We have?”
You asked, puzzled, as I gently grabbed your wrist.
“Of course.”
I said firmly.
Because in that moment, seeing you—I realized everything.
“I came to get you.”
I had to meet you here.
“Let’s go back together.”
To save you.
“Please remember me.”
I stood before you for that one goal.
“Dojin-ssi. It’s me.”
For that one goal—
“I’m Ryu Eunyul.”
I chased you all the way to paradise.
Little Pink Starfish 
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