After my mind went adrift in a hazy manner, my consciousness eventually resurfaced. I found myself in a place where I definitely shouldn't be. The blackness of the night enveloped me, drifting somewhere unknown. Suddenly, a voice broke the silence.
"So you've come."
A figure emerged from a distance, and I couldn't move or speak. As the figure approached, I finally realized "who" they are.
It was Josephine von Konrow.
"I know you're here without any notice..."
Although I couldn't talk or move, I sensed everything about her- aura, appearance, and bearing. They all aligned with the "Josephine" I knew from the novel. She was as mysterious and arrogant as I had always imagined, but now there was a vulnerability in her eyes that didn't make her look so.
"I know too," she said, smiling bitterly at me. "That I am chasing a love that will never be reciprocated."
She walked closer and gently held my cheek. "But thank you. Because of you, I understood the futility of my efforts."
"It was the same for both of us, and before I realized it, we became the 'Josephine' we know now."
Her bitter smile slowly faded into a melancholic expression. "Just as you realized that you were from another world, I also realized that I am Park Kim Yoora. Your memories intertwined with mine, and mine with yours."
"We are essentially 'Josephine' and 'Park Kim Yoora' at the same time."
"So, that's why, thank you. Because now, I know that I will never be loved by anyone."
Is she talking about the novel?
"I have also seen your life, and you persevered, right? That's why I think you'll be fine."
How could such a villainous lady make such a sorrowful face? The pain in her eyes was almost too much to bear.
"This is where my journey ends." She turned her back and walked forward into the emptiness. "...from now on, it is your path to take."
No!
I tried my best to move from my spot, but no matter how I struggled, I couldn't do anything. I felt a sense of desperation, a yearning to reach her, to stop her from disappearing into the abyss.
She was undoubtedly going to cast herself away!
'If the gods are listening, please let me reach her!'
Suddenly, a pillar of light appeared and engulfed me. I could now see my body, which was reminiscent of Park Kim Yoora. I immediately ran at her like crazy and, once I reached her,
I tackled her with all my might.
"What?!?"
She was now under me while I restrained her. She was now under me while I restrained her, she looked at me with shock and confusion.
"Don't you want to take revenge?"
"What?" Josephine looked bewildered.
"After knowing your fate, you'll just accept it like someone who gave up on everything!? Who the hell do you think you are?"
"What are you-"
"Be selfish, dammit! Does your life have to revolve around your family?"
"What would you know?!" she retorted angrily.
"Everything! You're failing to see what's in front of you because you always look elsewhere!"
She sobbed uncontrollably. "Then what do I have to do...?"
"I know." I hugged her tightly. "We'll show those bastards who they failed to recognize!"
I declared resolutely to her.
"Pfff…Hahahaha!" For some reason, she started laughing.
She wiped her tears and made a pinky promise gesture. "Show me what I failed to do."
I also held out my pinky finger in response and made a promise.
"Now." We both said in unison.
The pinky promise gesture we made started shining brightly.
"I will be you, and you will be me."
[Impossible feat! Two souls are now being fused into one!]
After the bright light faded, Josephine was gone, but I knew she was still with me. When I looked at the mirror-like surface below, I saw that both of our appearances had fused.
[Due to the fusion of the soul, the weak link of the gods strengthens!]
What does that even mean?
[You can now access the Faith Shop!]
Faith, what?
[The gods want an audience with you!]
This time, a golden window appeared. The background of the pitch-black void now turned into starry skies as figures towering over the heavens showed up. It seems that "they" had arrived.
"Uh...."
[Xipe: So this is what our avatar looks like?]
[Hecatia: What a poor soul, if only I could have helped them earlier.]
[God's Meeting Room 2/2]
[The other gods scream in frustration]
"I'm sorry, what's happening again?"
[Xipe: Were you not familiar with this? You read a lot of stories with this kind of thing, right?]
I do, but...
[Hecatia: I think they're just confused, Xipe-sama, besides they only recently awakened after all.]
[Xipe: Is that so?]
[Hecatia: Yes so.]
[Xipe: ...Alright.]
Are they a couple or something?
[Hecatia: Listen, our child, this may overwhelm you, but you should pay no heed to our ramblings.]
[Xipe: Truthfully, there is no need for such an oracle, but this time, a child of the stars was born.]
[Hecatia: He simply means that you came from another world.]
[Xipe: …This world has no such thing as "fate," and only one's actions determine the outcome.]
[Hecatia: But you are an anomaly that we must closely monitor.]
[Xipe: Initially, we were only watching, but since you have established a connection with us, you're free to interact with us.]
[Xipe: In that way, we can observe your actions in accordance with our will.]
[Hecatia: Don't listen to him, we all just want to pamper you.]
[Xipe: You...!]
"Pfff…!" I thought gods were omniscient but aren't they quite lax?
[Hecatia: It seems that our child is happy with our ramblings.]
[Xipe: It seems that our time is nearing the end...]
The light in the surroundings got progressively brighter.
[Hecatia: We just hope that you become "happy," our child.]
As the ray of light radiated, I found myself back in the waking world.