Pick Me Up!

Chapter 324: King of the Boundary (1)

I opened my eyes.

‘.......’

For a very long time, I had been dreaming.

In that dream, I fought against endless enemies. Again and again, I fought.

No matter how many I killed, no matter how many tens or hundreds of times I collapsed in exhaustion, the dream never ended. A dream that seemed like it would go on forever. And just when even the scenery of that dream had begun to fade from memory, I saw a flame in the distance.

A sharp pain.

Clang.

I threw away the dagger that had been lodged in my chest.

The hole from which black blood had been flowing sealed up in an instant.

“......I am.”

Shattered memories began to fill in.

“Han Seojin.”

My name from Earth.

In this place, I was Han Israt, the prince of Townia...

‘Loki.’

I lifted my head.

Someone was lying collapsed and dying.

Tangled golden hair. A once-neat uniform soaked in blood.

Siris.

The fragmented memories began to reassemble.

That woman was Siris Argentheim. The one I trusted most in Niflheim. The leader of Server 1, my sub-master. According to my memory... I had left her behind in the waiting room.

The gap in memory was severe.

A lot must have happened while I had lost myself.

I decided to assess the situation. Where was I? Why had I awakened here? What had I been doing just before this? Why was this woman dying here?

One.

Two.

Three.

‘I see.’

I narrowed my eyes.

‘So she followed me after all.’

No matter how many times I tried to drive her away, she came anyway.

Given the existence of the barrier, there was no way Siris could have made it here alone. There was a high chance that other Niflheim heroes—or even the ones from Townia—were involved.

Fwoosh.

I whipped my cloak.

The magic drifting through the Boundary showed me a vision of the past. What had happened in this place played out vividly before my eyes. Like watching a panorama. It fit my expectations perfectly. They’d forced their way in.

“What the hell are you doing?”

I looked down at Siris.

She didn’t seem capable of responding. I let out a hollow laugh.

It was this woman’s doing that had temporarily restored my sanity.

[Loki.]

“A fairy?”

[Yeah, we’re meeting for the first time. I’m Nicelle.]

Above Siris, a red-haired fairy fluttered her wings.

Must be Niflheim’s designated fairy.

[The reason we came here is......]

“You want to fight alongside me, is that it.”

No need for lengthy explanation.

Outside, the other members of Floor 13 were probably waiting.

Siris, being able to resist the corruption of the Boundary, must’ve infiltrated alone.

To persuade me.

Vmmm.

I waved my hand, and Bifröst—dangling from Siris’s waist—rose into the air.

I grabbed its sheath and read the data stored within. Only then did I understand the full picture. Why they had come here. What they wanted from me.

“Idiots.”

I tried to give them a peaceful life, and this is what they do?

[Loki.]

“......”

[If this continues, you’ll lose your sanity again.]

“I’m not particularly concerned.”

It was my decision.

A responsibility I had to bear myself.

‘I tried to drive them away, but......’

If they had tried to persuade me with words, I would have rejected them outright.

But to resort to this kind of forced coercion.

‘This woman is going to die soon.’

Her heart had been pierced by the Dragonbone Blade.

The flame of life was fading rapidly. Even if I closed the hole in her heart, she had overused her interference power. To the point where her very existence was on the verge of collapse.

Of course, I knew how to save her.

By connecting her to the Chalice of Infinity that I possessed. Siris would permanently lose her fire affinity, but at least her life would be spared.

‘So this is your persuasion.’

If I didn’t accept, Siris would die.

This wasn’t persuasion. It was veiled coercion.

If you don’t want her to die, make the contract.

‘Haah.’

I clutched my forehead.

I thought she was cold and calculating, but she turned out to be a fool.

I should never have made her sub-master.

[Loki, this isn’t coercion. Even if Siris dies, even if everyone outside is abandoned, we’ll still gladly accept whatever decision you make.]

Nicelle looked at me.

[But I want you to understand one thing. You might think you left them behind out of consideration. But the truth is very different.]

Stardust sparkled from Nicelle’s wings.

Then—thump—a small fairy dropped to the ground like she was collapsing.

The moment I saw her, I knew.

‘Frey.’

I bent one knee.

A girl small enough to fit in my hands.

Fast asleep, completely unaware of the world.

[This is the companion you left behind in Eden. Maybe you thought you were sparing her by keeping her out of the battlefield, but look at the state she’s in.]

It was obvious at a glance.

The contamination had progressed severely.

‘She never left.’

I bit my lip.

Suddenly, Frey’s eyelids trembled.

Those large eyes focused on me.

[Lo...ki...?]

She blinked in disbelief.

Then she shot up and clung to my arm.

[Loki! Loki! You were here!]

“......”

[Don’t go! I’m sorry, I’ll do better! So please, don’t abandon me! I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Loki... It was my fault. So please......]

She murmured it over and over, until finally, Frey fell asleep again.

A single tear rolled down her plump cheek as she slept. Nicelle, glancing between us, finally spoke.

[You may have thought this place was hell and left Frey behind...]

She pressed a hand to her chest.

[But to this child, a world without you was the true hell. I know this. Because I was born and raised in the same place. I was a fairy who was always with you. Siris, me, and the other heroes feel the same. That’s why... we risked everything to come find you.]

I gently laid Frey down on the ground.

“So what, you’re saying you want to rot away here with me?”

[Yeah.]

“You do realize who I’m fighting, don’t you?”

[The chaos of the universe itself. We’re ready.]

“How long do you think that resolve will last? Ten years? A hundred? A thousand? Do you think you’ll even be useful in this war?”

[I’m sure we will be. If you share your power. You always told us: more than individuals, we need comrades. More than comrades, we need sworn allies. That a unified strength is what really matters.]

Nicelle continued.

[You know better than anyone how much potential Niflheim holds. If they’re given the opportunity, they’ll each carry their own weight. In this endless battle, they’ll be your shield, your sword, and your spear.]

“......”

[Stop bearing it all alone. You don’t have to push yourself anymore. When you're tired, it's okay to lean on us.]

Nicelle winked at me.

I let out a hollow laugh. All these polished, beautiful words.

‘And yet they were the ones who forced me back to Earth.’

Now they want to fight alongside me?

Could they be more two-faced?

[Mmh... Loki...]

I looked down at Frey.

I admit it. This was my mistake.

If I’d really meant to leave her behind, I should have been more thorough.

I never imagined she would destroy herself like this.

‘Unified strength.’

I clutched my chest.

Inside was an endless power. An immense, pure interference force gathered over an eternity. If I released that power all at once, even my body would be destroyed. Even as a being who had surpassed the limits of the divine, I could not withstand such output.

‘You’re saying I should share this power.’

Could they handle it?

This was power beyond 7 stars. Just like me, they might lose themselves.

[You’re worrying over nothing.]

As if reading my mind, Nicelle smiled faintly.

‘If I accept Niflheim...’

I might become weaker than before.

I’d be shouldering a burden I didn’t need.

Because I’d have something to protect.

I looked up.

The endless darkness stretched overhead.

Beyond that lay an infinite host of enemies.

“What do you think?”

I felt a dull weight in my left hand.

A half-crushed statue of a warhorse, worn to dust.

‘I’ve been watched.’

I knew it from the beginning.

That familiar gaze, always watching me from above.

Bzzt. Bzzzzzt.

Amkena’s interface was full of static.

Awful resolution. Buffering every few seconds, cutting off the screen.

Even so, Amkena didn’t disconnect.

‘Does she know?’

The truth behind this so-called game world.

She probably doesn’t know.

Where this place is, why I fought—she can only guess. And she’ll never know for sure.

We live in worlds that are far too different.

Maybe to her, this feels like watching a movie without knowing the plot.

“You’re not going to answer, huh.”

I let out a small laugh.

Of course not.

[Opening the Battle Shop.]

[You have selected: Glowstick of Encouragement (Single-use, 50 Gems). Would you like to purchase?]

[Yes (Select) / No]

...Huh?

I blinked.

A flickering light was shining.

‘Glowstick?’

Out of nowhere?

[Purchase complete!]

[Slide the screen left and right!]

[Show your hero the Master’s encouragement!]

Flash!

A violet flare lit up the air.

What the hell is this?

Amkena waved the glowstick up and down.

Its faint light danced through the air, tracing slow arcs.

One by one, carefully.

As if writing letters into the void.

[H A N.]

In the darkness...

The purple light etched glowing letters.

[B E H A P P Y.]

Then the letters blurred into a haze of illusion and vanished.

[F I G H T I N G !]

After the glowstick disappeared,

I stood there in silence.

Behind me, Nicelle was watching.

“‘Be happy’?”

I laughed in disbelief.

‘Be happy?’

I’m not even sure what that means anymore.

Ever since I fell into this place, it’s been nothing but battle and struggle.

Fighting to survive, not knowing whether I’d live or die—and now you’re telling me to be happy?

“You’re one to talk.”

Tch.

I clicked my tongue.

If you’d just played the game better, things might’ve gone more smoothly.

“Happy.” That word sounded foreign to me.

Even if I accepted Nicelle’s proposal—or didn’t—would happiness really exist either way?

‘Still...’

Maybe having someone beside me

Would be more fun than fighting alone.

Clink.

Bifröst’s sheath dropped to the floor.

The spell engraved on the dark blade shimmered golden.

My white fur cloak whipped violently in the wind.

“How many did they say were coming?”

I asked, sword in hand.

[About fifteen thousand?]

“So many damn suicidal bastards.”

[It’s fine. Once we get your power, even death won’t be death anymore!]

“If you're useless, I’ll kick you out.”

[Okay!]

Nicelle wiped her eyes.

I chuckled, then let Bifröst hang in my hand.

Whirl.

I spun the greatsword once and stabbed it into the ground.

The obsidian blade plunged deep into the grim floor of the Boundary.

‘Open.’

I murmured.

Fwoooosh—! At that moment, radiant golden magic burst from the embedded sword.

The flare lit the dark Boundary in an instant and burned away the Contamination Cloud.

A blinding light spread endlessly outward. And within it, I spoke the next command.

‘Dimensional Rift.’

Kiiiiiiing!

Golden lines laced together, drawing a portal in the air.

And then—familiar silhouettes emerged from beyond the gate.

“Ridigion. Over here.”

The cold-eyed man dropped to one knee before me.

Ridigion. His body was drenched in blood, but as always, it was the enemy’s.

“Master! We found you!”

Crack!

With a flash of lightning, Nihaku leapt ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ into view.

Landing gracefully, she grinned as she looked at me.

“......Master.”

A white-haired woman stepped out from the mist.

Yurnet Seed. Her eyes met mine, and she bowed her head.

And last of all—

“Aaron?”

“Yes.”

The man holding a spear scratched his head.

“You didn’t go home?”

“Until my brother’s battle ends, I’ll stay.”

“Stupid bastard.”

“That’s my strong suit, isn’t it.”

Aaron smiled sheepishly.

The spear he held was Ruin—one of the Five Divine Artifacts.

I could sense Müden had retired.

“Master... I’m so glad you’re safe...”

Yurnet’s stoic expression finally broke.

She stepped toward me, tears welling in her eyes.

“I... I came to ask your forgiveness—”

“You don’t need to. You helped me plenty.”

Clink.

I kicked away the dagger at my feet.

This must’ve been Yurnet’s doing, too.

“Siri-ni!”

Nihaku sprinted over in a panic.

Siris was still lying collapsed, dying.

This had to be handled first.

“Master, Sirini—!”

“Stop crying. Just watch.”

I knelt beside Siris, brushing past Nihaku.

Blood still flowed from the gaping hole in her chest. I clenched my right hand.

Dense interference power gathered in my palm.

‘Contract.’

I would link her heart to mine.

You could call it a blessing—though it was more like a curse.

‘Still, even so...’

I couldn’t just abandon a hero I had raised.

I placed my hand on Siris’s chest.

She was barely hanging on. Without her fire affinity, she would’ve died already.

There.

I grasped tightly.

Thump.

Her torn heart was reconnected by light.