The dimension suddenly collapsed.
Before Zaraf could understand what was happening, the space around him shattered, and he began falling.
Wind roared past his ears.
Below him was a world he knew.
His world.
But something was wrong.
Smoke rose into the sky. Flames spread across the kingdom. The sounds of battle echoed everywhere.
A war had begun.
Zaraf's eyes widened.
This… wasn't supposed to happen yet.
This was an event meant for the future of the story he had created.
Bell's voice echoed faintly inside his mind.
"Let's see… after witnessing this, what will you choose to do?"
While falling from the sky, Zaraf quickly activated his Copy Authority and teleported.
In the next moment, he appeared in front of a tall tower.
Instead of rushing blindly, he took a breath and observed his surroundings.
"...So it really is the same story," he muttered.
"That means the future event has already begun. But I don't even know the full plot… I never finished watching it."
Suddenly—
A scream came from a nearby alley.
Zaraf turned and rushed toward the sound.
Mountain monsters had entered the city and were attacking civilians.
"I knew it," he said quietly. "This is the mid-battle invasion."
He paused for a moment, realization hitting him.
"So when I returned to the real world… this world didn't stop."
"It kept moving… like a movie that never pauses."
He raised his hand.
With a burst of force, he blasted a monster away and pulled a young child to safety.
After confirming she was safe, Zaraf turned toward the mountains and headed straight for the battlefield.
The situation there was chaotic.
Knights and adventurers fought desperately against waves of monsters.
But something was missing.
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The main character.
And the female main character.
Zaraf's expression tightened.
He used his power to halt multiple monsters at once, creating space, then began searching.
A strange anxiety began to grow inside him.
Then he found them.
A massive boss monster towered over the two of them.
Zaraf rushed forward.
But the female lead noticed his sudden appearance and froze for a split second.
The monster's attack came down.
Without thinking—
Zaraf stepped in front of her.
The blow struck him directly.
"Ugh—!"
The monster prepared to attack again, but this time the girl reacted.
She raised her shield and blocked the strike.
The main character shouted,
"I'll distract it! Heal him!"
"Y-Yes!"
The girl quickly turned to Zaraf.
"Are you hurt? I'm sorry… because of me…"
Zaraf forced himself up.
"It's fine. I can manage. After all… this happened because of me."
She froze.
"...Are you the one who has been helping us during our expeditions… and disappearing afterward?"
Zaraf looked away.
"…I don't know what you're talking about."
She stared at him for a moment.
"…I see."
(So you won't admit it.)
Zaraf stood fully.
"I'm just a traveler… passing by."
He raised his hand and froze the monster's movement, creating an opening.
The main character didn't hesitate.
With a final strike—
The monster fell.
From the battlefield, voices rose.
"We won!"
Far away, Bell watched.
"So… he doesn't see them as toys."
"He sees them as people."
A small smile appeared on her face.
But the moment of peace didn't last.
Behind Zaraf, space distorted.
A man in a red-and-black robe appeared silently.
Bell sensed him immediately.
But the contract hadn't been formed yet.
She couldn't reach Zaraf.
The man spoke calmly.
"So… you are the new creator."
Zaraf turned sharply and instinctively stepped in front of the female lead.
The man laughed softly.
"Hah… protective, aren't you?"
He floated into the air and raised his hand.
A crystal appeared.
Bell's eyes widened.
"That crystal… it only exists in the Fairy Realm! Who are you?!"
The man smiled.
"You may call me… Death."
The crystal shattered.
A massive spell formed.
"Zaraf!" Bell tried to warn him.
Zaraf raised his power to block it—
But the explosion was enormous.
At that moment, Bell forcefully manifested a shield and protected him.
When the light faded, Bell looked exhausted.
But the attack wasn't over.
The man appeared behind them.
Zaraf didn't react in time.
The blade pierced—
The female lead's heart.
Her eyes went still.
Bell tried to activate her rule power, but the man opened a portal.
He stepped inside, laughing.
"Ah… my attack failed. What a shame."
The portal closed.
Silence remained.
"Zaraf… are you alright?" Bell asked weakly.
Zaraf stared ahead.
"…She's dead."
The main character fell to his knees.
"No… this can't be…"
Afterward, they buried the fallen.
Zaraf stood in front of the grave, silent.
Bell looked at him.
"Why are you sad? She was only your creation."
Zaraf spoke quietly.
"…You think I'm a child playing with toys."
"But I'm not."
"To me… they're people. Equal to me."
Bell froze.
Then she spoke seriously.
"If that's true… then you must complete this story again."
"Complete?" Zaraf asked.
"A world is like a story," Bell explained. "It needs three pillars."
"The hero."
"The heroine."
"And the villain."
"Right now, one pillar is gone. If nothing changes, your world will collapse."
Zaraf's eyes widened.
"Then what should I do?"
"You have two options."
"Choose a new heroine."
"Or… bring her back."
"…Is that possible?"
"Yes. But you need her soul fragment."
Zaraf clenched his fist.
"Where is it?"
Bell hesitated.
"When that man escaped… her soul fragment was pulled into his portal."
"…That guy again."
"Who was he?"
"I don't know," Bell said. "But her soul fragments are now scattered across other creator worlds."
Zaraf looked at her.
"How do I get them?"
"You need the Creator State."
"…But I failed your test."
Bell shook her head.
"You passed."
"When you took that hit for her."
Zaraf was silent.
Bell raised her hand.
"Shall we form the contract?"
A magic circle appeared.
Their hands touched.
Light spread.
A voice echoed across the Imagery Network.
The Seventh Creator has appeared.
Creator of Protection.
Far away—
Several unknown figures turned their attention toward him.
