“Sinking Spring Fragment.”

A red dot flickered in the black pupil.

“You can designate up to one-quarter of the subject’s memories to erase. You’re thirty… now thirty-one, right? If you go back eight years, there won’t be anything left to hurt you.”

The dungeon appeared, Awakened manifested, and Yuhyun left me. If all memories after that vanished, I could certainly live ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) in peace.

“Only the user themself can set the item.”

“Then I could erase just an hour or two. I’d like to delete the memory of that horror movie I watched alone at night, though.”

I’d turned off Fear Resistance to watch it—it was anything but a memory I wanted to keep. Besides, it was disgusting.

“This item comes in a set of four.”

“…If you use all four, will every memory be erased?”

“That’s right. So I hope you use just one. It’ll be better for you that way.”

He was urging me to wipe eight years of memory. I couldn’t pretend to have erased it and deceive Yuhyun.

“I already said I won’t cooperate.”

I gave Director Song a short shake of the head to tell him not to strain himself as he forced himself upright. Even if he were fully healthy, no one could pull me away from the Yuhyun standing right in front of me. Same went for Liet.

“You know I’ve been through a lot. There are things I’d rather forget.”

I looked at my brother. So much had happened.

“But after all that time, here I am. And you’re standing right in front of me.”

Losing and losing again—but in the end, I reached out and touched him. A smile rose unbidden.

“So I’m not throwing it away. Not even one.”

I held out my palm.

“Give me all your fruits. I would never erase you myself.”

“…Brother.”

I saw Yuhyun’s expression harden. I wasn’t without hesitation either.

‘A mental-type item. Probably ingestible since it’s consumable. Likely offers some resistance against poison and curse effects.’

I didn’t know its grade, but even in five years, a consumable wouldn’t reach L-rank. Four together would definitely spike its rank—at least SSS, maybe L. Holding his gaze, I popped the fruit into my mouth. A light bite released a fresh, sweet tang.

[Select the memories to remove.]

“Memories of the morning of August 30th, when I closed the toothpaste cap and squeezed it until it burst.”

I’d been caught off-guard by that toothpaste bomb. It felt almost wasteful to erase it, but there were few memories with precise dates that I could safely delete. Vague ones I didn’t mind, and vivid ones I refused to lose. Especially those with other people.

To test its power, I’d deliberately shut off Poison and Curse Resistance, accepting it without resistance. I felt its mana spread through me. I closed my eyes briefly, then opened them.

“…It works well.”

I couldn’t recall what I’d erased. I reactivated my Resistances.

“Next is the Summer Fragment?”

I held out my hand. Yuhyun’s gaze fell on my palm.

“…Side effects will appear from the second one onward.”

“Shall we make it a bet?”

I smiled, keeping my tone light.

“I bet ‘I will not forget you.’ If I win, I’ll forgo erasing memories.”

“…Brother.”

“Will you bet ‘I will forget you’? If you win, things go your way.”

I wasn’t certain I could retain all my memories. But all that time made Yujin who he was—Han Yuhyun was the unbreakable core. I couldn’t back down; I had to face him.

Yuhyun hesitated. Yet the bright red fruit appeared on his white palm—the silent Summer Fragment.

“What shall we erase this time? That time I sneaked off to the convenience store? It hasn’t been discovered yet… when was it? I can’t recall the date. Hmm, let’s pick the time I watched the sea from the hotel terrace. It was around lunch on the CSAT day.”

I pulled out my phone to check the date.

“Since Haeyeon covered Busan-Gyeongnam, we all went together. After putting the kids to bed, we sat on the terrace watching the sea. The hotel juice was insanely expensive. It tasted good, though.”

I recalled the sound of waves. Yuhyun’s lips twitched as if he bit back words.

“You said there are many memories you want to forget. So why not this one?”

“Before the regression, I don’t want to touch those. Not at all. Those are the memories with you.”

Reviving the brother before me was impossible. But seeing him and clashing against him made me gradually accept it, even if I hated it. I would hold on to him until the end, bring him back somehow—but the end would still come.

The moment when there’s no more time to build memories with Yuhyun. So even unwanted memories felt precious.

“It wasn’t all good after turning back time. Someone even broke my leg once.”

Yuhyun’s fingertip twitched.

“But you… you cut off that guy’s leg. If I erase the broken-leg memory, its meaning fades too. Bad things aren’t always just bad. And if I forget embarrassing mistakes or injustices, I could repeat them.”

We need memories of mistakes to grow.

“Seeing the sea was a good memory, but I was alone. I can build more—alone, with others, maybe even with you.”

I brought the fruit to my lips.

“Won’t you go see the sea with me?”

Yuhyun didn’t answer. I ate it. This time, I resisted its mana. The sound of waves blurred. The blue water, the sunlit horizon flickered before my eyes. I shut them tightly, then opened them. Yuhyun caught my unsteady form.

‘…It’s not completely erased.’

Like an old film, it stuttered and faded, but it remained. I exhaled deeply. SS-rank was still within my Skill and mana to resist. But all four… might be too much.

“Next is Autumn?”

“…Brother!”

Clear hesitation appeared on my brother’s face. Yuhyun wanted to protect me—he valued my life above all, but he wouldn’t willingly give up the memories that made me. That’s why he kept offering them; they too were me.

“I won’t forget you.”

“All your fruits… if you eat them all—”

“I might forget at that moment. But when I open my eyes, I’ll see you again. Even without memories, I’ll fall for you again.”

“…How if you have no memory?”

“Look at how you’re looking at me now.”

His expression was already betraying him—what face would he wear if I lost all memory?

“I’m weak for those who love me.”

I had no intention to forget, but if I did, one glance would make me cling to my brother. I held out my hand. His pupils trembled. Director Song was barely visible, treating injuries. Liet stood ready with her sword.

“…Still, I—”

After a long pause, Yuhyun spoke. From the third one onward, it’d get dangerous. He drew in a short breath. If I preserved as much memory as possible, at least I’d remember this situation. Then I could find a way to restore memories.

As Yuhyun hesitated to reach for the third fruit—

“Oh?”

My phone rang. Who could it be?

“Wait a moment, Yuhyun. Let me take this.”

Any delay was good. Seong Hyunjae might wake up. I answered quickly.

“Yes, this is Director Han Yujin of Dodam Breeding Facility.”

[Brother! Are you okay?]

It was Mun Hyuna. A number I didn’t recognize—had she gotten a new phone?

“Hyuna! Are you okay? Sigma’s missing, and you were with him!”

[Yes, I’m still with him.]

A faint C-rank voice came through. Seong Hyunjae was unconscious because Sigma stayed awake.

“Then… the kidnapper?”

[Right. It’s me.]

I’d guessed it, and it was true. Hyuna wouldn’t be easily kidnapped with Sigma. I continued the call, watching Yuhyun.

“What happened? You’re trying to wake Sigma?”

[You know there’s a sibling by your side, right? The Gardener’s subordinate.]

“Yes. He’s right here.”

[I plan to hand Sigma over to the Gardener.]

My words caught in my throat. Yuhyun’s expression flickered.

“Wait, Hyuna.”

[Sigma agreed too.]

“What? No…!”

My heart pounded and my head spun. I knew Hyuna saw things differently. I clung to everyone, but she could make hard decisions. I’d thought she might sacrifice Hyunjae and Sigma to save the world.

Yet it was so sudden. I trusted she wouldn’t turn on us like this.

“I’m totally against it! I don’t know why Sigma agreed, but Hyunjae refused from the start! I absolutely—”

[Yes. Don’t give up, Brother.]

“…What?”

[Han Yujin, push forward as you wish.]

“But—”

[The same for Hyunjae. Don’t give up; go where you want. You have my blessing.]

Hyuna laughed.

[I’ll do the same. When it’s the very end and there’s no other path, I’ll go to the Gardener with Sigma.]

“…The very end.”

[I, unlike you, will protect our world even if I lose part of it.]

Her voice was gentle.

[So even if it feels hopeless, just push back. It’ll be okay.]

“It’ll be okay.” Her words knotted in my throat.

I wasn’t free from fear. I knew my vow to never give up was selfish, and if my stubbornness doomed many, it would be irresponsible. Yet her voice reached me.

If someone walks the same path, it’s more than mere comfort. But Mun Hyuna turned away from me—her words weren’t comfort, they were reality.

Only by facing opposite ways can we lean back-to-back.

“Hyuna, I might try to stop you until the very end. I definitely will.”

[Of course you will. And I’ll treat you like the villain trying to stop our world’s savior.]

“…Yes.”

A tide of emotions surged. Mun Hyuna had turned away toward another path. Perhaps we’d collide. The moment I still clung to hope, she would decide the end.

Yet that’s why we supported and complemented each other.

Neither of us was perfect. We had ordinary flaws. We mustn’t endanger the many for the few, nor sacrifice the few for the many. But alone, you can choose only one.

“I won’t give up on anyone.”

[I’ll protect our world.]

“You know I’m persistent.”

[You won’t have any options left—you have Yun-yun on your side.]

…Wait. He’d vanished so completely I half-forgot.

“Yun-yun?”

[Because he’s the King. You’ll help too, of course. But in the end, he’ll back me.]

“I… guess so, then.”

[So stay strong. Do whatever it takes.]

If he could teleport across vast distances—even in dreams—he’d whisk off to the Gardener with no warning. My dry throat clicked.

[Yun-yun can’t be reasoned with—he owes no loyalty to Hyunjae or Sigma; the dokkaebi are far more important.]

Yuhyun didn’t answer, but I sensed his confusion.

“See, Hyuna disagrees with me. She’s closer to your side.”

I hung up and tucked away my phone. I could’ve used messages, but I spoke aloud so Yuhyun could hear.

“So, Yuhyun—”

“…If not right now, it’s meaningless. I know you’ll push yourself.”

Even as he spoke, I saw his hesitation. Mun Hyuna was a new variable, and eating all the fruits was too much even for me. I stepped close and opened my arms.

“Liet!”

Clinging to Yuhyun, I called out. Liet swung her sword. Yuhyun couldn’t push me away. The rushing blade, the brother to protect, my already fragile state—all reflexively made me hold him tighter. Just as I expected.

Molten swords sprang up, shielding Yuhyun’s back. A force that cleaves all things drove toward him through the middle.

Kagagaga-kak-!

A thunderous crack echoed as a power-charged severance sliced the blade. Yuhyun’s weapon wasn’t defensive; being only semi-solid made it even weaker. The strike reached the shield—crunch—the shield shattered, and even diminished, the blow slammed into Yuhyun’s back.

Thunk!

It all happened in an instant too fast to dodge. The reduced force was something his body could bear, so he took the impact while holding me. Butterflies fluttered around us as we flew upward. He righted himself mid-air, about to counterattack on the butterfly pads, when—

“Arrived!”

Yun-yun appeared. A round portal opened exactly in the direction Yuhyun and I had been thrown.

[Sent him!]

Hyuna’s message flashed. She and I continued messaging. In a blink, Yuhyun and I passed through the portal. Beyond it was—

“Um, hello?”

Yerim said awkwardly. A spread of blue water lay before us. And then—

Kwah-ahh!

A geyser of water shot upward.

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