It was a sudden ending.
In Paradise, everyone saw the flash of white light from the Imperial Palace. And when they did, they assumed the worst: that the Parasite Queen had decided to descend and finish them off once and for all.
But then came the color. Azure petals drifting through the wind, along with a vast expanse filled with blue flowers that had never been seen before.
And that was how they knew.
Lost Paradise was no longer lost.
It had been found, once again.
===
"You crazy bastard!"
I let out an awkward laugh as Hannah shook me by the collar of my dress shirt. "Sorry, Wife?"
"Sorry? SORRY?! I thought we agreed you'd stop doing these ridiculous things by yourself! What's the point of being married if you do something like this?!"
"Well, I figured resolving the problem permanently so you wouldn't be stressed since you're pregnant was smarter than the anxiety that we'd have one big battle left?"
Hannah froze. Then her face turned red and she groaned, burying her face against my chest. "Dammit...! Why do you always know what to say, you unfair bastard?"
I laughed and kissed her forehead. "Well, we ARE partners..."
It was the Neutral Zone once more. After wrapping things up with Sung Shihyun and cleaning up, I'd dropped Patty off at Eva to help sort out her Banshee Army and returned to the Neutral Zone to check on how things were going.
Which led to me being in my office again, Hannah showing up sensing something was off, and now this whole situation after learning what I'd popped off to do.
Hannah groaned and then said, "The Neutral Zone isn't even halfway over yet! What are we going to tell all these guys after they get enough points? What are we going to do when we end the Neutral Zone, huh, bub?!"
I scooped Hannah up to sit on my lap. Then I said, "WE don't have to do anything. It's the gods' turn. That, and the turns of Charlotte, Resa- Well, actually her dad, and Roe Scheherazade."
Hannah paused. Then her eyes widened in understanding as a sly smile crossed her face. "You despicable bastard... you're absolutely going to just run away back to Earth and let them deal with the fallout, aren't you? Just like after you killed the Army Commanders?"
"Guilty as charged~" I laughed. "I think we've earned that much, right? And besides... this isn't OUR world. Not completely. It's better for Paradise to sort out its affairs on its own without having a blade like us over its head, right?"
I could tell, after all. Since I'd gone in and cleaned up everything in an instant, people would be worried that some other ridiculous force had shown up to make the situation worse.
But if the gods stepped in now... since they could, then everything would be resolved without issue.
Especially since the Earthlings were using the gods' authority for their blessings anyway.
Hannah huffed and crossed her arms, leaning against me. "You're a terrible person. What was the whole point of us being here then if you were just going to head out and murder the Parasite Queen and Sung Shihyun like this?"
"To have a sense of normalcy?"
Hannah rolled her eyes. "Normalcy, this bastard says." She swatted my shoulder and said, "Since when have you EVER been normal?"
"Once upon a time, in another life, maybe?"
Hannah laughed. "Sure... But fine." She hopped off and then reflexively rubbed her belly. But when she noticed me staring, she stopped and blushed. "Wh-What?"
"Nothing~ But anyway..." I hummed and stared at the Neutral Zone.
Sensing my will, my office restructured a bit to show all the people who'd cleared the Tutorial running around and having fun like this was all just one big game.
"...Yeah. I think that's how this world should be, right?"
Hannah followed my gaze and stared at Jinhee leading what looked to be a raid party to grab a Very Hard mission. Then she snorted and said, "These kids don't realize how deadly Paradise used to be..."
"And that's the whole reason we did this."
"...Tch. I hate that you're right about this."
I chuckled. "But anyway..." I saluted Hannah and said, "Take it easy, Wife. Maldong's better suited for diplomacy around these sorts of times, so delegate to him. Coach needs to PROPERLY retire anyway. Plus, he's been waiting for spring to come in Paradise for decades now."
"Yeah, yeah. I'll- Wait." Hannah paused and spun to look at me. "You bastard of a husband. Are you telling me that you haven't told anyone else yet that you've-"
"Off to chat with Roe to make sure Scheherazade has the infrastructure to deal with the Earthlings~ Talk to you later, Wife. Love you!"
"JIHU YOU BA-"
===
The royal palace in Scheherazade. Specifically, Roe's bedchambers, and the balcony overlooking her kingdom as well as the distant lands.
She had been enjoying her usual tea and scones, served to her by one of the numerous Royal Escorts on their break from 'Mister Squiggles.'
And then she saw it.
The flash of white light, followed by scattering blue petals and the field of blue flowers that stretched across the entire territory that the Empire used to govern.
"...My." Roe set her tea cup down and rested her head on her hand. "Little Teresa's hero turned out to be the one Paradise needed after all."
It was ridiculous, to say the least.
Well, if Roe was being honest, the entire turn of events from the time the Triad leader showed up to offer genuine aid, as well as her being able to exact complete and personal revenge on every man who had ever wronged her... that had been ridiculous enough.
Ridiculous to the extent that she wondered if this wasn't all just some delusion her broken and shattered mind had conjured up to avoid the harsh reality of her situation.
But she was sure now.
The warm spring breeze flowing through the air despite the fact that it was autumn. The blue flowers that were reminiscent of the 'Flone' that Little Teresa was so fond of. And the fact that the air itself had shifted.
Since the Parasite Queen's arrival, the world had always carried a sense of uneasiness. Not quite grim, but a certainty that 'peace' would no longer be possible. That everything was always one step away from ruin.
That was why the kingdoms had compromised. That was how her husband had died. That was how she had been turned into the worst harlot in all of Paradise's history.
'But that is in the past.'
Whether intentional or not, right now, nobody knew of Roe's history or what she had to endure.
The Earthlings that were still around had the vague impression that she was 'wronged' due to the Triads skillfully controlling public opinion and manipulating records. And her citizens had always been kept in the dark about the exact nature of her suffering.
So right now, Roe simply had the reputation of 'The Widow Queen who endured countless hardships' and 'The Sly Queen who provides rewards to those who work.'
...The latter was mostly because she now had a stockpile of peerless beauties who were absolutely helpless and bound to her will, but that was neither here nor there.
Roe let out a soft chuckle and said, "Husband... It seems that I may have to stay a little longer."
Watching her citizens rush out along with the Earthlings and slowly realizing that it was over... Seeing the priests rush out from the temples to spread the word...
Roe smiled and took another sip from her tea. "...After all. I do believe for all the wrongs I've endured, I'm owed at least a thousand of bliss, no?"
At that time, there was a knock on her door. Following that, an unfamiliar male voice echoed.
"Queen Roe? Sorry for the intrusion, but since you're the most influential between Resa and Cherry- I mean, Charlotte, I figured I'd talk with you first."
Roe paused, tilting her head to figure out who it could be. But then she smiled when she realized who it was. "You must be Little Teresa's hero. Jihu, was it? Come in."
The door opened and then a young man approached.
He was handsome, and looked no more than his mid-twenties. Wearing a black suit from Earth, as well as carrying a sheathed white sword that Roe recognized as Sung Shihyun's... as well as a matching one on the other side?
'Hm? Two?'
While it was a bit odd how Jihu appeared to have two of the exact same blade, Roe shifted her gaze away and focused on Jihu himself. Raising the teapot she had, she said, "Would you like some tea? It seems that this may be a long conversation."
"Tea would be good. Ah, and for the record, I'm not interested in you, so I would appreciate if you don't make any advances..."
Roe burst out laughing and said, "My. A hero who saves the world actively declining a beauty like myself? How rare~"
Jihu sat down across from Roe and said, "I'm at capacity. Eleven is already pushing the limit on the number of women I can make feel loved, and twelve is the absolute limit. But number twelve is already reserved, so..."
Roe smiled and poured Jihu a cup of tea. "I jest, Jihu." She slid it over and said, "Despite everything... I do still love my husband. Being with another man... Mm, perhaps I would have considered someone like you at some point. But right now..." She chuckled and gestured to her surroundings. "Living as a cherished Queen, indulging in pleasure, enjoying the schadenfreude of making those who used me suffer the same fate... it's quite enough."
"That's good. Now, as much as I'd like to sit and chat, we have plenty of time for that in the future. Right now, I wanted to talk about how to go forward with Paradise since I'm probably going to head back to Earth soon mostly for good..."
"Ah." Roe nodded. "Yes. If that is the case, we should thoroughly discuss the situation..."
===
In Eva, at private garden that Charlotte Aria visited when she needed time to relax.
There, she sat alone at the table reading reports given to her by her advisor, Sorg Kuhne.
And what she read...
"Paradise is free? The gods personally descended in their temples to inform the priests to spread the word? And the one who solved it... is Mister Jihu?"
A ridiculous state of affairs.
Just a few days ago, she had repelled an attack by Sung Shihyun and his army of enthralled women.
Just earlier, she had received said enthralled women who were now decisively NOT enthralled, along with noblewomen who were definitely once dead and now decisively NOT dead.
And then now she was hearing that everything was over? Before she even had a chance to properly prepare herself for battle and attack the Parasites?!
"Gr...!" Charlotte pouted and said, "I prepared myself, trained, and studied all the military tactics that my older brothers left behind just to be prepared and Mister Jihu goes and solves it all already?!"
Was this karma? Was this the price she paid for being too naive and trusting things to happen for her?
Because just as she was in the middle of reclaiming her power and then living up to the legacy her father and brothers left behind, IT WAS DECIDED FOR HER!
"Argh!" Charlotte jumped out of her chair and stomped the ground. "Mister Jihu, you hypocrite! What was the point of coming to Eva if you were going to do this!?"
After throwing a tantrum for a bit, Charlotte sat back down and took a deep breath, relaxing. "No. It's not meaningless..."
Right.
Even though it wasn't used now, better informed and prepared than uninformed and incapable.
Charlotte had seen that for herself personally.
How many times had her people been abused? How much darkness had she allowed to creep into her domain?
Now, that would never happen again.
Moreover...
Charlotte shifted her gaze in the distance to the Federation. "This isn't quite over yet either."
Although the Parasites were dealt with... they were not the only foreigners to Paradise.
There was still the Federation to handle. Those winged beings, demihumans, and other mystical creatures.
Since Eva was the closest to them, Charlotte would still need to hold the line.
Peace would be preferable.
But if it came down to it...
Golden lightning crackled around her and she murmured, "Yes. This wasn't worthless."
What was the saying...?
Better a warrior with a blade rusted by peace than a gardener with bloodied shears from war.
So-
"Hey, Cherry, sorry for the-"
*BOOM*
"WHOA!"
Jihu deflected the sudden blast of golden lightning into the sky. "...Well, guess I don't have to worry about your safety?"
Charlotte scoffed, although her ears were red from the mishap. "You should know better than to surprise a queen like that, Mister Jihu! Even if we're friends!" She paused. "...And technically related if you're marrying Teresa Unni."
"Right. Sorry about that- Wait." Jihu tilted his head. "You know, I never questioned it... but why do you call Resa 'Teresa Unni' instead of Big Sis Teresa or something like that? Like, are you actually using Korean or is the translation being funky?"
Charlotte blinked. Then she blushed and said, "Th-That is...! W-W-Well...!" She paused. Then she lowered her gaze and murmured, "...I think it sounds cute. Unni is a fun word."
"...Ah. Fair." Jihu paused and side-eyed Charlotte. "...You aren't going to call me Oppa because that word is cute, are you?"
"Huh?" Charlotte tilted her head. "Why would I call you Oppa? Isn't that what your wives call you? U-U-Unless you intend for me-"
"NOPE!" Jihu crossed his arms. "Stopping you RIGHT there. Ahjussi is fine, Mister is fine, but Oppa OFFLIMITS. The gods KNOW that if that title's pushed too hard Jinhee might do something..."
"...Pardon?"
"Nothing... But, huh." Jihu looked amused. "'Oppa is something my wives call me'... I hate how it's true, but it definitely IS true..."
"...Is it not true?" Charlotte fidgeted. "I thought it was similar to Dear or Darling...?"
"I mean. In some contexts... Anyway, forget about that." Jihu waved his hand and sat down next to Charlotte. "Cherry- I mean, Queen Charlotte. I wanted to talk with you about the next steps for Paradise now that the Parasite Queen is defeated."
Charlotte focused at hearing the formal address and tone. Straightening her back, she pulled out a small leatherbound journal and a pen. "I- We are listening, Sir Jihu."
"Right. Now, Elysium is still going to stay and aid Eva in its efforts, but in the future..."
===
A war council room at Tigol Fortress.
There, Archangel Mikael anxiously paced back and forth around the table after receiving word that they would have an emissary soon to discuss the state of Paradise now that the Parasite Queen was defeated AND the malevolent entity lurking in Paradise's depths was destroyed.
'Unbelievable. Unfathomable...'
Mikael was receiving mixed reports from various sources.
Some said that a great hero had gone ahead to defeat the Parasite Queen.
Others said that a pair of brave warriors had flown a steel bird to crash into the Parasite Queen's throne, defeating her.
Others still said that they saw a single man cross the wastelands, slay all the Parasites that emerged, and then defeat the last remnants in a single spell.
And others still, mostly the angels, said that the Martial God had come to Paradise to finish the job after being the reason the Parasite Queen arrived in the first place.
But Mikael didn't believe any of those. Because...
Mikael stared at the piece of paper on the table. The one that she had suddenly found in her pocket that morning. The one that HAD NOT BEEN THERE the night before.
===
Hey, Mikael. This is Jihu. Or I guess 'Seol Jihu' since that's what I called myself when we met.
You know, the magician who helped warp you guys to safety after meeting you in the Forest of Denial?
Anyway, things are wrapping up here. Just wanted to chat with you guys about your future plans.
Be there soon. Don't jump if I suddenly show up.
===
Mikael laughed and ran a hand through her black hair, the golden streaks within it shimmering with the sunlight filtering through the window. "Seol Jihu... No, Jihu, is it?"
A ridiculous feat. To the extent that Mikael was wondering if this wasn't just the Martial God toying with them once more after expelling them from Heaven.
But it couldn't be it. Because...
"That man's wives would never allow him to fool around like this."
Mikael had heard the reports about Jihu's women. Moreover, she had heard how he acted.
Kindness with kindness, malice with malice...
That was NOT something that the Martial God did.
For one wrong, he swung his blade indiscriminately.
But Jihu knew where to draw the line.
Even though there were people of the Federation who had definitely harmed people from Eva, where he and his now resided, he never cut back against the Federation.
Moreover, even though he sided with the Paradisians, he did not hold them so blindly precious that he refused to eliminate the scum within his domain, like how he purged Eva.
No.
This was a man who operated by balancing the good and the bad. Who dealt karma out DISCRIMINATELY instead INDISCRIMINATELY.
In other words...
"A proper 'hero.'" Mikael murmured. "And one different from that vicious Martial God..."
Mikael was no fool. She was aware of how much the angels had wronged the Martial God.
For obtaining the Zero Code that could affect the flow of history itself, as well as for defeating the demonic forces, they resorted to any means.
And even in Paradise, to gather the strength to return to Heaven and restore order, there was much that they did which could be stated as 'evil.'
Yet.
"...A man who sees intentions clearly, decides based on actions taken not thought, and even so dares to have the trust betrayed." Mikael stopped pacing and then stared at the paper once again.
A lighthearted message. One that treated Mikael as a friend and ally even though a single instance was all he had to go by.
...Granted, they had talked a bit before after Jihu had gone and freed some of the enslaved Federation citizens in Eva as well.
But overall, Jihu had no proper basis to trust Mikael. Not only that, but he had never even met Gabriel, their leader.
Still...
"You seem like you're under a lot of heavy thoughts, Mikael."
A lighthearted male voice echoed from nearby, appearing out of the blue.
Mikael flinched and reached for her blade. But then she remembered the message. And when she did, she recognized the voice that was speaking. "Hah..." Mikael sighed and lowered her hand. "...You have a habit of appearing like a bolt from the heavens, Jihu."
Jihu chuckled and gave a small salute. "Divine intervention, at its finest."
Mikael chuckled as well. Then she nodded towards the piece of paper on the table and said, "I take it this is your doing then?"
"Hm?" Jihu looked confused. But then he looked at the paper and said, "Ah. One second." He pulled out a blank piece of paper, a pen, and then wrote the exact words on the paper on the table. Then he folded it just like the paper before holding it up. "This, right?"
Mikael's eyes widened. "Temporal- No, causal manipulation...?!"
"Not really. It's more like- Well, explaining it would take a while. Let's just say it's taking advantage of the desynchronized time inherent due to spacetime being a woven fabric. But for now." Jihu sat down at the table and said, "Let's talk a bit. I take it you're the delegate for the Federation?"
"A-Ah, yes." Mikael sat across from Jihu and said, "Gabriel intended to be here to speak with you as well, but she is busy sorting out internal affairs with the other heads of the Federation."
"Hm? 'She?'"
Mikael blinked. Then she let out a laugh. "Yes... After we were expelled, all of us angels were forced to adopt a female form. I believe the Martial God said something about it being a fitting punishment? Though, he was a man who appreciated the female form a bit much as well and despised angels, so..."
"I see..." Jihu nodded. "Yeah, no. It's a good thing that he left Earth then. We DEFINITELY wouldn't have gotten along. He seems like a guy who holds grudges and lets them blind him."
Mikael let out a bitter laugh. "You have it right, Jihu-" She paused, suddenly catching onto what he said. "...Hold. You said that the Martial God left Earth?"
"Hm? Yeah. Well, technically he didn't leave Earth so much as moved temporal dimensions to not interact with me, but it seems like he did. I'm the one calling the shots on Earth right now, basically."
"...I beg your pardon?"
Jihu blinked. "What?" He let out a smug grin and said, "Is that so surprising? With all that I can do now, it wouldn't be a stretch to call me Him, you know~?"
"...Putting aside the absolute blasphemy you are performing by declaring yourself as the Creator in front of an angel..."
Though, Mikael had to admit that Jihu wasn't quite wrong either just from the familiar nature of divine energy emanating from Jihu...
"...Are you saying that your mere presence was enough to not only deter the Martial God and his wives, but to make them retreat completely? Simply to not risk coming into contact with you or yours?"
"That's right. Apparently. I don't know the details, but Gula said there was an agreement."
"An agreement...?"
Mikael paused, remembering another 'agreement' that had been forced upon herself and the other angels by the Martial God.
And then she burst out laughing.
Jihu blinked, looking confused. "Uh... are you alright? Wait, are angels supposed to laugh? No, CAN they laugh? Oh crap, did I break you?"
Mikael wiped a glittering tear from her eyes and smiled. "It's fine. Everything is fine- No, more than fine."
Karma.
It had to be karma.
The exorbitant and overbearing punishment that the Martial God unilaterally declared against the angels.
All the innocents caught up in his selfish actions.
The way he and his wives ran ramshod across the upper realms without caring who they harmed...
It had finally caught up to him. The wishes of all the angels, demons, and beings he wronged had been granted.
And all by this ridiculous man who had somehow elevated himself to a realm that Mikael couldn't even conceive, but deliberately maintained the veneer of humanity.
Mikael stared at Jihu and then let out a warm smile. "If not for the fact that I am aware I would start a war to end all wars for doing it... I could kiss you right now."
"Yeah, no. Please don't."
Mikael laughed again. "Of course. I am a sensible person... Though, if you are ever open to-"
"Hard pass. But if you're looking for love, I could probably match you with someone. I DO have a single older brother who needs to settle down..."
Mikael paused. Then she said, "...I am listening."
"Wait, seriously?"
Mikael shrugged. "If I cannot be yours, I would not mind becoming related through marriage. Moreover... would a political marriage not be ideal to resolve the conflict between the Federation and the Paradisians?"
Jihu paused. Then his iridescent eyes glittered with mischief. "...Well. I suppose Wooseok HAS been a bit too high strung. And he DOES deserve someone who cares for him... How do you feel about a guy who spends most of his time diligently working at his job, Mikael?"
Mikael considered it and then said, "I respect it. And I would not mind being a homemaker." She idly waved at the surroundings and said, "After a lifetime of war and conflict, as well as all of... well, this. I believe a peaceful and mundane routine of staying at home would be quite pleasant."
And Mikael wasn't exaggerating.
The conflicts born from the Martial God's rage and vengeance against the heavens. The turmoil from the long centuries on Paradise and losing battle after battle...
The thought of living as a simple housewife. Of spending time diligently performing chores, waiting at home while enjoying what entertainment humans had to offer, as well as just idly spending time instead of wondering how much left she had or how much further she had to go to save her people...
Did Jihu realize her thoughts? His eyes softened and he said, "Alright. Then I can't guarantee that it'll work out with Wooseok... Though if it doesn't he's honestly stupid as all hell. But I'll find someone for you to settle down with."
Mikael smiled. "Thank you, Jihu. But let us return to the matter at hand."
"Right." Jihu nodded. "So, I've talked with the Queen of Scheherazade and the Queen of Eva, and I've also talked with Father-in-law, the King of Haramark, and they've agreed to recognize the Federation as its own territory and power so long as you allow open borders to interact with the others, as well as help build roads between them all."
Mikael blinked. "That... maybe difficult."
There was too much history there. Bloodshed as well...
"Difficult, yes. But necessary. After all." Jihu smiled. "This is your world now, right?"
Mikael's breath hitched.
Because it was true.
They were barred from Heaven since they had fallen. The worlds that the Martial God ran ramshod through with his wives could not be returned.
But they had this.
Paradise.
A place that had its slate cleaned due to Jihu.
One where battles were now unnecessary because resources were abundant. Especially since the seven gods had descended and were actively aiding in its rebuilding.
Jihu stared into Mikael's eyes and held out his hand. "So how about it? I'm not going to be here, so you guys don't need to worry about me. This isn't 'my world' after all. But I'll be here to help mediate. And in the long run... Well." He chuckled. "Wouldn't it be nice to one day make contact with Earth as well? Physically, I mean. And not through this magical dimension nonsense. But paving the way across the stars until we reach each other as neighbors."
Mikael trembled and shook Jihu's offered hand. "...You speak of traversing the heavens themselves. Not through magic, not through divinity, but..."
"Through mortal hands, mortal ingenuity, and mortal persistence, yes." Jihu smiled. "I think that's more impressive than relying on gods, miracles, and magic. Don't you?"
Mikael laughed and brought her other hand up to cover Jihu's hand. "...You ridiculous man. I can see how you captured the hearts of so many beauties- No. How you made them devote their lives to yours."
It was different from the Martial God.
That man... Kim Soohyun. The Martial God had 'collected' beauties. When they admired him and gave their hearts, he simply acknowledged and took them, binding them to his side as 'his wives' and no more. They folded into his life.
But Jihu, this outrageous man who looked at the stars in the sky as humanity's belongings instead of his own. Who could claim Paradise as his own as well as Earth, and yet simply took the throne so that no one else could sit within it...
"...You weave your life into others' instead of weaving theirs into yours." Mikael murmured.
Jihu blinked. "What was that? Sorry, I was calculating the feasibility of an interstellar gateway and mapping out the physical distance between Paradise and the Milky Way."
Mikael laughed, a brilliant smile on her face. "Nothing. Now... Tell me more about this agreement between the kingdoms and Federation you devised. And then..." She blushed and said, "...About this older brother of yours. ...Does he look even a bit like you?"
"Oho? You're actually interested, huh?" Jihu placed his hand on his chin. "Obviously, no one is as handsome as me, but Wooseok doesn't lose out too much. He IS my older brother. Although a bit weary from corporate life, he's not bad..."