P.M.U Chapter 312: Embers (2) (Part 2)

“Ridigion, I…!”

“I’m not done talking. Listen to the end.”

Clack.

Ridigion slid the blade back in.

“I used to think about you a lot.”

Ridgion changed his posture, arms crossed, and a faint smile formed on his face.

“Why did the Master entrust leadership to you? There were others more suitable. In terms of analysis, Yurnet is unmatched. Without her, we wouldn’t have managed a single mission. It’s not like your command skills are particularly outstanding. You’re not overwhelmingly powerful either. Yet the Master chose you. Without hesitation. Do you know why?”

Again, Seris didn’t answer.

She simply hung her head in silence.

“This wasn’t your first failure.”

“…”

“You’re not perfect. Neither am I. Nor Yurnet. Nor any of us, not even the Master. We all make mistakes. But what matters isn’t the mistake—it’s what you learn from it.”

He continued.

“Just because you failed once, just because things turned out like this—are you going to give up here, Seris?”

“But…”

“No excuses. You’re the representative of Niflheimr, where 20,000 heroes reside. Be aware of your responsibility. Your position isn’t something to hand over lightly.”

Ridigion pulled something from his coat and tossed it.

She caught it instinctively, feeling its weight.

A sheath embossed with a blazing flame.

The U-grade weapon Laevateinn—the gift her Master had poured his heart and soul into creating.

“It was just lying around. Don’t neglect the weapon the Master gave you.”

“…”

“Don’t say ‘I can’t.’ If you feel responsible, come up with a solution that satisfies all of us. We don’t need a temporary fix. Think of a way to save the Master completely. That’s the duty you carry.”

Seris stepped back.

A way to save the Master completely?

Ridigion spoke in a low voice.

“If you, as Niflheimr’s Sub-Master and leader of the 13th Floor, give the command—we’ll be ready to dive into fire or hell itself. Don’t let that resolve go to waste.”

“…”

“I’m counting on you.”

Ridigion pushed off the wall.

He glanced back at Seris, then exited the room.

‘A way to… save the Master.’

Seris stood still, thinking.

Her Master, Loki, who had gained nearly infinite power, was now fighting a lonely battle in the Boundary.

In exchange for that power, the Master had lost nearly all of his humanity, including his memories. Even if she stood right in front of him, he likely wouldn’t recognize her.

That was what she feared most.

If he had lost all memories, what good would it do to chase after him?

Would her voice even reach him?

Could they even talk?

No, before that…

Could she even reach the place where Loki was?

‘If I could atone for my mistake…’

If she, who had already failed, was given one more chance—

“Master.”

Seris murmured.

The heavy gloom that had enveloped her just moments ago had vanished without a trace.

‘Finding a way is my duty.’

If it doesn’t exist, she’ll create one.

Seris clenched her teeth.

Her gums bled, but she didn’t care.

‘Ridigion is right.’

Just waiting doesn’t suit her nature.

If something is needed—she’ll seize it.

That was the way Seris had always lived—as one of Loki’s heroes.

‘If anyone knows a way to save the Master…’

Suddenly, one person came to mind.

“Niselle!”

[Right here, Sergeant Seris!]

Fwoosh!

The fairy appeared in a puff of flame.

Seeing Seris’s face, Niselle thumped her flat chest confidently.

[Alright, lay it on me! Whatever it is!]

“You have Alpha Zero’s contact, right?”

[Alpha Zero… Oh! You mean that pervy old geezer? He wanted Seris’s panties as payment for intel, didn’t he? So what happened to those panties—?]

Sching.

Laevatein’s blade came out with a hiss.

[N-no! Just a joke! I swear, just a joke!]

Niselle flailed her hands in panic.

Then she changed her expression and spun both arms like a windmill.

[Activating remote communication—go!]

Beep-beep-beep. Click.

In under 10 seconds, the recipient accepted the call.

A voice echoed in her mind.

<So, it’s you.>

But it was a completely different voice than the one she knew.

Seris frowned.

“Where’s that senile old man?”

<The Sage… has passed into eternal rest.>

“Eternal rest?”

The Sage God.

‘Seris-chan… panties… slurp…’

That creep was a “sage”?

Seris clenched her right hand.

“You… the aide who was always with him?”

<Yes. As I said during our first meeting, my name is Cizel. I’m currently acting on behalf of the Mobius chairman, overseeing the return project for heroes. Some of our staff are already stationed in Niflheimr.>

“No need to say it—I saw the memo.”

<Still… for Niflheimr’s prestigious Sub-Master to contact me directly…>

Cizel paused for a moment, then continued.

<It must be about Master Loki.>

“…”

<I figured you’d reach out someday. I owe him my life. That man is the benefactor who fulfilled my greatest wish.>

“Then I’ll be direct. I need a way to save the Master. Even a small clue is fine. Tell me everything you know.”

<As you know, Master Loki has crossed the critical threshold. He is likely already a Wraith. Restoring his ego… is virtually impossible.>

“Virtually? So you’re not ruling it out completely—you do know a way?”

Cizel didn’t deny it.

“Spill it. Now.”

<Alone, I’m not enough. I’ve lost the qualifications of a deity.>

“And?”

<We need a helper. Someone close to Master Loki, who also possesses significant authority. Luckily, I’ve already identified one such person…>

“Who is it?”

<You may already know him.>

Cizel said—

<It’s ‘Anytng,’ the former Master of Townia.>