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At my unexpected words, Xenia looked up at me with a surprised expression.

I had always treated Xenia with deep kindness.

The reason was simple — I was the one responsible for Vikamon's disappearance.

Xenia was like a wounded finger to me — delicate and painful.

I always felt that most of her suffering was my fault.

So I could never be harsh with her.

Of course, it was also because there was no reason to be harsh — she was a kind, strong, and responsible girl.

But today, seeing her crushed by that very sense of responsibility, I couldn't leave her alone.

“Xenia, let me say this again.”

In the past, I had helped someone who was about to collapse, using a similar method.

I didn’t know if it would work this time.

But if it was a choice between doing nothing or watching Xenia be disintegrated by Celestial Magic, I had to try anything.

“Vikamon’s death in the Demon Dungeon was fake — fabricated.”

Xenia flinched and turned to look at me.

“Vikamon is me. More accurately, I’m someone who took over your brother’s body.”

“…What?”

Half-transparent now, Xenia blinked in confusion, clearly not understanding.

Once, I had told her I was Vikamon.

But Xenia had seen through magical flames before, and she had concluded I was someone entirely different from him.

“I don’t actually know how I came to possess this body. But if Vikamon truly died, then it was because of me.”

I could feel Sharin’s gaze on my back.

I had no idea how she’d take this revelation.

But I had to say what needed to be said.

“Vikamon didn’t disappear because of you — he disappeared because of me.”

Xenia had always believed Vikamon's death was her fault.

I forcefully took away the burden of guilt she had been carrying.

And maybe because of this, I would become her enemy.

Xenia had a complicated relationship with her brother — filled with both affection and resentment.

And now I was the one who erased him from this world. She had every right to hate me.

“What do you mean…”

Xenia still didn’t fully grasp what I was saying, her face dazed and confused.

But even in that state, her body continued to disintegrate from the effects of Celestial Magic.

“Xenia, you should be able to see it now.”

Her physical body was already half-converted into Celestial Magic.

At this stage, she should be able to perceive that my soul and body were not the same.

“I am Vikamon… but I’m not Vikamon.”

The body is Vikamon’s.

The mind is mine.

The moment I revealed this truth, Xenia’s eyes slowly widened.

She finally understood that I was telling the truth.

“Then…”

Her trembling hand slowly reached out toward me.

Her translucent fingers clutched the edge of my clothing with quiet desperation.

“Who… are you really?”

Who am I?

Hearing that question, my lips trembled.

Who… am I?

“…Ryu.”

I froze as I uttered the name.

My name.

What was my real name again?

As I stood there trying to persuade Xenia, I was the one thrown into confusion.

The name that had always surfaced in my mind was gone.

I stood there blankly, when suddenly Sharin embraced me from behind.

“I don’t care who my husband is. Whoever you are, you’re my husband.”

Perhaps it was the wrong thing to say in front of Xenia, who had just lost her brother.

But her warmth brought me back to my senses.

It didn’t matter what my name was anymore.

Right now, the only thing that mattered was convincing Xenia.

“Xenia, if you need to hate someone — don’t hate yourself.”

I smiled bitterly, having just stolen away the guilt she carried.

I didn’t enjoy being hated either.

“But if you must resent someone, then resent me.”

Even so, I invited that hatred as a form of atonement and judgment for what I had done to Vikamon.

I had taken his place — I couldn’t allow his sister to fall apart too.

“……”

Xenia remained silent.

Her face showed deep inner conflict.

It wasn’t something that could be understood in a single moment.

She would need time to sort through her thoughts.

But right now, there wasn’t time.

Xenia understood that too.

So her decision came quickly.

“I still don’t know what’s true and what’s not.”

Truth matters.

“But I know this — my brother went through hell just to find me.”

Using True Dragon Ascension took a heavy toll on me as well.

Breaking through the wall of Celestial Magic came at great cost — all for the sole purpose of saving Xenia.

As I said before, truth is important.

I couldn’t even be sure how much of what I said was true or not.

But one thing — just one thing — was real.

My desire to save her.

The stardust that had scattered from Xenia’s body began to pull itself back together.

The Celestial Magic surged wildly.

And with it, Xenia’s body gradually began to re-form.

As her emotional turmoil settled, she naturally began to master the use of Celestial Magic.

Xenia was the reincarnation of Zerion.

As long as her will was whole, the grimoire of Zerion would not activate its prohibition.

And before long, Zerion’s grimoire floated before her, shining with radiant light as its pages fluttered open.

Golden letters spilled from the grimoire and flowed into Xenia.

Sharin gasped at the sight.

I, too, held my breath.

It was a breathtaking scene, like something out of a fairy tale.

And the immense power flowing into Xenia was impossible to ignore.

All of Zerion’s knowledge had passed to her.

‘Could it be…’

Perhaps the prohibition had been Zerion’s final test all along.

A test to determine whether the successor to her grimoire had the right heart.

To ensure Celestial Magic would never be abused again.

A trial to find someone worthy.

Now, having overcome that trial, Xenia had truly mastered Zerion’s Celestial Magic.

“Oppa…”

Fully returned to her original form, Xenia looked up at me with soft eyes.

“Even if you’re not Vikamon… you’re still my brother, aren’t you?”

Can I still be called her brother after stealing Vikamon’s place?

The guilt I bear for Xenia will leave countless questions in my heart for a long time.

But even so, it was something I had to endure.

"Yeah."

I had possessed Vikamon.

And as the one possessed, I would protect the world and fulfill the duties he was meant to carry out.

"Xenia is my sister."

Xenia managed a faint smile.

With that, the surrounding space instantly changed.

The universe, once filled with darkness, had returned to Xenia’s original room.

Though the furniture was broken here and there, it seemed unlikely that the room would turn into the cosmos again.

"You said you didn’t know what happened to Brother Vikamon."

"From the moment I opened my eyes, I was already Vikamon."

I don’t remember my original name, but I am sure that I wasn’t Vikamon before.

"Then maybe Brother Vikamon is still out there somewhere."

Xenia looked up at me.

"You told me he disappeared, but I don’t believe that. If it were me, I’m sure I could find him."

I gave her a bitter smile as I looked at her.

In the end, Xenia didn't force all the burdens onto me.

Instead, she seemed to have found a new goal for herself.

With her divine-tier magic, she might really be able to find Vikamon.

"If that happens, I’ll have a lot to tell Vikamon."

If I told him everything I accomplished with his body, he might actually enjoy it.

"Xenia, aside from that, there's something I’d like to ask you."

I turned to Sharin, and she quietly revealed someone she had hidden with magic.

Eurozen, completely crystallized in a mysterious glass crystal.

Unless he was awakened, the mystery of the vampire god couldn’t be stopped either.

"Can you get him out?"

When I asked, Xenia quickly examined Eurozen.

"A week."

And she casually gave her answer.

"A week will be enough."

Her eyes gleamed brightly.

Having mastered celestial magic, she had now risen to the ranks of the most powerful mages, like Sharin.

"I’m counting on you."

Upon hearing my request, Xenia smiled brightly.

"Okay."

With that, my matter with Xenia came to an end for the time being.

If it’s her, she’ll surely be able to deal with Eurozen in time.

The destroyed girls’ dormitory was quickly being rebuilt under the command of the head dormitory supervisor, Mari.

Incidents and accidents are frequent at Zerion Academy.

The maids were equipped with exceptional magic for rebuilding structures.

But even so, it's not like it could be rebuilt in a day.

Since at least two days were needed, the girls had no choice but to stay in the boys’ dormitory for a while.

After all, it’s not like they could sleep outside.

And it was then that an unexpected issue arose.

Although there were some vacant rooms in the boys' dorm, most were already occupied.

So the male students were asked for their understanding, and some agreed to give up their rooms and bunk with others.

Somehow, my room and Card’s were among those vacated.

"I—I! I wanna sleep in Prince Sweet Potato’s room!"

Seron, seemingly obsessed with my room for some reason, shouted with excitement.

What on earth does she want to do in my room?

As I looked at her suspiciously, she met my gaze and snorted.

"What, I was just gonna clean it or something. Not happy?"

"Well, that’s actually nice."

Card had been trying to keep it clean, but I had vacated the room for a while because of everything going on.

If someone cleaned it, I’d only be grateful.

"Wouldn’t I do a better job cleaning?"

At that moment, Isabel interjected.

She gave me a meaningful smile as she looked at me.

"I’m already cleaning the room Sharin is in."

That was quite a tempting statement.

Sharin wasn’t exactly messy, but she wasn’t tidy either.

Isabel, who always took care of such things, was a reliable housekeeper.

"I think I have a knack for organizing too."

Then Nikita joined in.

She smiled beneath her black veil.

"I think senior knows that best."

Indeed, Nikita had always demonstrated excellent organization skills as vice president.

The student council room she managed was always spotless.

"I’m just gonna sleep in my husband’s room~"

Sharin didn’t even pretend to want to clean.

Watching them quietly, I soon came to a simple conclusion.

"Do as you like."

Someone would use it anyway.

If I tried to take control and assign people, complaints would arise no matter what.

So, I left it to fate.

I gathered my things and immediately left the room.

Leaving behind the girls still bickering over who would get to sleep in my room, I headed to my assigned room.

"Forced relocation, huh."

Card followed behind me, humming a tune.

Strangely, he seemed in a really good mood.

"Why are you so happy about moving rooms?"

"Listen up, King Non. Living in the same building as the girls is a huge perk!"

Having stayed in the girls' dorm every night before, I wasn’t particularly interested.

So I ignored Card’s words and knocked on the door of the room I had been assigned.

"Coming!"

Soon, a familiar voice responded from inside.

As I looked up to double-check the room number, the door opened, revealing a familiar face.

"Oh, long time no see, senior."

A smiling face and a casual demeanor.

The most suspicious person I know.

Midra Fenin.