Two days after leaving the intensive care unit, Sakaki clicked his tongue as he saw Kwon Oh-Jin’s group off at the airport.

“Well then, we’ll be heading back now.”

“Hmm. What a shame. I was hoping to have a drink with you, Oh-Jin,” Sakaki said.

Kwon Oh-Jin faintly smiled as he clasped Sakaki’s hand. “I’m sure we’ll have another chance to meet.”

With his trademark hearty laughter, Sakaki nodded. “Haha! In that case, I’ll make some time to visit Korea soon!”

After saying his farewells to Kwon Oh-Jin, he turned to Lee Woo-Hyuk, who Kim Seon-Young was supporting to the Valhalla Guild’s private jet.

“Thank you for your hard work as well, Mr. Woo-Hyuk. The Kuroushi will never forget the debt we owe the Valhalla Guild.”

“Hard work... I wouldn’t call it that, considering I couldn’t even land a proper wound on him.” Lee Woo-Hyuk’s expression drooped in self-deprecation.

Perhaps the battle against Enceladus had left a deeper scar on him than expected. His once razor-sharp aura, like a predator’s claws, now seemed dulled.

Sakaki slapped his back and burst into booming laughter. “Haha! If that’s the case, what about me? I did nothing but get my ass kicked!”

“That’s...”

“What matters is that you drew your sword for the sake of the powerless. That too for people of a different country.”

Kwon Oh-Jin already had a personal connection with Sakaki, but Lee Woo-Hyuk hadn't needed to come at all. Still, he stepped onto Japanese soil alone without dragging his guild members into danger.

“As the leader of an organization myself, I know very well how difficult that decision must have been.”

Protecting the powerless was easy enough to say, but how many could truly live by it?

Humans, by nature, acted when their interests and gains aligned. People praised others who flew overseas to basically volunteer their lives away. In reality, few people would even willingly donate a single bill. Most people instinctively avoided tasks that promised no reward and only demanded sacrifices.

“But you did it anyway.”

Whether or not Lee Woo-Hyuk had made a visible difference, his actions alone demanded respect.

Lee Woo-Hyuk’s eyes wavered, and he raised his head briefly toward the sky. “I had an older brother...”

“An older brother?” Sakaki blinked in surprise at the sudden change in subject.

“When my brother had just awakened, I neglected him because I was too focused on growing the guild.” His tone turned bitter. “Then, my brother died. Kidnapped and killed by the Black Star Society.”

Kwon Oh-Jin flinched as he quietly listened.

“After he died, I thought about it a lot. If I had just looked around me more... If I had cared for others a little more, my brother wouldn’t have died.”

In front of Lee Shin-Hyuk’s grave, he had sworn that he would never again live like he used to. He would become someone who would raise his sword for others.

“Hm. Is that why you came to Japan alone?” Sakaki asked.

“Partly because I wanted to return the favor to Oh-Jin, but... Yes, that was the biggest reason.” Lee Woo-Hyuk faintly smiled as he slowly released his clenched fist. Straightening his back, he stood tall. “Thank you, Mr. Sakaki. You’ve helped me remember what I had almost forgotten.”

The predator’s claws, once broken, began to grow again.

Sakaki roared with laughter and patted Lee Woo-Hyuk’s back. “Haha! So, you’re not only handsome, but have a strong mindset too!”

Lee Shin-Hyuk’s death had not only changed Kwon Oh-Jin’s future, but others' as well.

Kwon Oh-Jin bitterly smiled and shook his head. “Well then, we’ll be on our way.”

“Haha! Travel safe!”

After bowing to Sakaki, Kwon Oh-Jin turned around. Done with their farewells, Kwon Oh-Jin’s group boarded the Valhalla Guild’s private jet and returned to Korea.

As they exited Incheon International Airport, Lee Woo-Hyuk asked, “Where are you headed, Oh-Jin?”

“I’m planning on going home for now.”

“Shall I have my guild’s car drop you off?”

“No, that won’t be necessary.”

The Association had already arranged a vehicle.

Lee Woo-Hyuk nodded and extended his hand. “Next time, I’ll be strong enough to truly help.”

“Next time...?”

“Enceladus can’t be the only Black Star Celestial, right?”

Lee Woo-Hyuk was right. A total of seven Black Star Celestials existed.

This was just one of them...

Kwon Oh-Jin sighed at the fact that he had tried so hard to forget.

No one could say how many more Celestials would descend on Earth. With the Heavenly Demon’s direct involvement, Kwon Oh-Jin felt certain that this ordeal wouldn’t end so easily.

No... maybe...

Not just Enceladus, but the other Celestials could have already crossed over to Earth as well. They had only known about Enceladus because the Kuroushi just happened to detect an abnormal mana fluctuation.

“Right. Then, I’ll see you next time.”

After parting ways with Lee Woo-Hyuk, Kwon Oh-Jin returned home with Song Ha-Eun.

When they arrived, an elderly man in a spotless butler uniform stood at the front door.

“Hm?”

It was Roberto, Isabella’s closest aide and effectively the Colgrande Family’s second-in-command.

“Huh? Gramps, what are you doing here?”

“I heard you had arrived back in Korea, so I came to wait for both of you.”

“For us?”

“Yes.”

With a perfect textbook bow, Roberto pulled out a tablet from his bag and handed it to Kwon Oh-Jin. As the screen lit up, Isabella’s angry face appeared.

—I heard the news, Mr. Oh-Jin. You fought a Black Star Celestial?

She had probably heard through the Association.

Isabella’s eyes flashed sharply as she glared at him.

—Why didn’t you contact me?

“You were busy, weren’t you? And Italy to Japan is far away.”

No Sanctum gates existed in Japan, so they had to travel by plane. Even if there had been a gate, Isabella couldn’t freely move between nations like that because of the Stigma of Leech.

—Even so! We’re talking about a Black Star Celestial! At the very least, you should’ve called me!

Her voice cracked as tears welled up. Her trembling lips and pale face showed just how much she had worried about him.

“Sorry...” Kwon Oh-Jin lowered his head.

He had no excuses. Even if the situation’s urgency had forced him to rush to Japan, he should have given her a heads-up at least.

—Haaa... Do you know how worried I was when I heard the news?

“I have no excuses.”

—Seriously.

She shot him a sharp look and continued.

—I’ll be returning to Korea tomorrow. Just so you know.

“You’ve finished everything you had to do?”

—That’s not something you need to concern yourself with.

“...”

So, you’re not finished.

Kwon Oh-Jin shook his head and sighed. “Haa. I’m fine, so if you still have things to take care of—”

—To. Mor. Row. I’ll be there. Understood?

Isabella stressed each syllable with a radiant smile.

She was beautiful enough to take his breath away, yet a terrifying chill beneath it all caused Kwon Oh-Jin to instinctively straighten his back.

“I’ll meet you at the airport tomorrow,” Kwon Oh-Jin said.

—Haaa... You only just returned, so please get plenty of rest.

Perhaps her anger had cooled a little. She softened up, and her lips curved into a calm smile.

—Because tomorrow, you won’t have time to rest at all.

Of course, it’ll take more time for her anger to settle down.

—Oh, and you’ll be coming alone, of course?

“Alone?”

He thought of going with Song Ha-Eun, but why did Isabella insist that he come by himself?

As he looked at her in puzzlement, Isabella smiled sweetly.

—Yes, I’ve booked a hotel near the airport.

“A hotel? Why—”

—See you tomorrow, Mr. Oh-Jin.

Beep.

The call ended.

“I’ll inform you of Lady Isabella’s arrival time tomorrow.” Roberto bowed as he slipped the tablet back into his bag. Just before leaving, he turned and looked at Kwon Oh-Jin with pity. “Please... stay safe.”

“Wait, what?!”

What’s with that look? It looks like you're looking at a man walking to a guillotine.

“P-Please rest well!”

“Hold on—!”

Before Kwon Oh-Jin could stop him, Roberto hurried away.

Feeling abandoned, he turned to Song Ha-Eun as if grasping for a lifeline.

“Ha-Eun, come with me to the airport tomorrow.”

“Aww, what will I do? I won’t be able to see your handsome face for a few days.”

“What?” Kwon Oh-Jin glared at her with betrayal written all over his face.

Song Ha-Eun avoided his eyes and forced a sheepish smile. “Well... the truth is, I don’t have the guts to deal with an angry Bella either.”

It was hopeless. He couldn’t count on Song Ha-Eun for backup.

With a sigh, he turned away from the front door. “Haaa.”

“W-Wait, you’re not seriously planning to run, are you?” Song Ha-Eun asked.

“Are you insane? How would I deal with the consequences if I ran away?”

“Then, where are you going now?”

“The Sanctum.”

He had planned to rest today and head there tomorrow, but that plan was ruined now.

“You’re going to see Vega?”

“Yeah. I want to check if she’s alright, and I need to ask her some things too.”

The three Celestials who had used their blessings, including Vega, had all returned to the Sanctum, unable to manifest again due to the Law’s restrictions.

Song Ha-Eun cocked her head. “Things to ask?”

Kwon Oh-Jin pulled out a sheet of paper with the sketch of a man with snow-white hair, the same one he had given to Sakaki.

“Vega might know something about this guy.”

For some reason, Lee Woo-Hyuk’s words resurfaced in his mind that more than one Black Star Celestial existed.