Lilya froze.
Her eyes widened, unblinking, as if the entire world around her had stopped moving. Her lips parted slightly, but no sound came out. Only a held breath—as if the air itself refused to flow.
Before her stood a man.
Not a handsome figure. Not a radiant hero. Just a plump man with greasy hair, an unkempt beard, and a worn-out T-shirt that had long lost its original color. His posture was hunched, his shoulders drooping—like someone who had long lost any reason to stand tall.
But his eyes—
his eyes were different.
There was a light in them. Tired, but alive. Cynical, yet warm.
And his smile—a smile that tried to look casual even though everything felt heavy.
The man raised one hand, giving a small, very informal wave.
"Yo, Lilya."
His voice was hoarse, with a slight cough at the end.
"From your face, it looks like you really can't believe this, huh? Hahaha."
Lilya didn't move.
Didn't answer.
Just kept staring.
Her chest rose and fell faster than before. Her heart—whether it was still beating or not in this place—felt like it was about to explode.
Then—
her eyes began to well up.
"...Hikaru...?"
Her voice was barely audible. Like a whisper afraid that if it were too loud, the figure before her would vanish.
The man—Hikaru—let out a small laugh.
"Yeah, it's me."
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"But why do you look like you've seen a ghost? Oh, wait..."
He paused, then chuckled.
"...I am a ghost, aren't I? Hahaha."
Lilya didn't laugh.
Tears began to stream down her cheeks.
"...you..."
Her voice trembled.
"...you're really here..."
Hikaru smiled faintly.
"Here, yeah. But not in the real world."
He glanced around the endless white space.
"This... is a liminal place. Where my soul resides."
Lilya lowered her head.
Her hands clenched tightly.
"I..."
Her breath caught.
"I've tried my hardest..."
Her chest felt tight.
"But I... couldn't save Cecilia..."
Tears fell harder.
"I don't even know if Cecilia is still alive or not..."
She gritted her teeth.
"...my body is already destroyed..."
Her fists tightened.
"...I don't know what else to do..."
Hikaru didn't answer.
Just stayed silent.
Looking at Lilya with an unreadable expression.
Then—
he sighed.
And walked closer.
His steps weren't hurried. Not rushed. Just the long strides of a man who had never been good at comforting others—but was still willing to try.
He stopped right in front of Lilya.
"Hey."
His voice was soft.
"Listen."
Lilya looked up.
Tears still flowing.
Hikaru smiled.
The same smile as when he had hugged that game box in his cramped apartment.
"You've already made it this far."
He reached out his hand.
"You've fought harder than I ever did in my entire life."
His fingers stopped in the air.
Not touching Lilya.
Just hanging there—like a gesture of respect.
"So don't say you don't know what to do."
His eyes met Lilya's.
"You know."
"You've always known."
"You just need to remember it."
Lilya fell silent.
The air around them felt warmer.
Then—
she let out a small laugh.
A bitter laugh. A tired laugh. A laugh that still held a trace of hope.
"You..."
She wiped her tears.
"...for a NEET who died slipping on the stairs..."
Hikaru's eyes widened.
"HEY!"
"...you talk like a philosopher."
Hikaru paused.
Then—laughed.
Burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha! Damn you..."
He shook his head.
"I died slipping, but that doesn't mean I can't say something wise once in a while!"
Lilya smiled.
A small smile. Thin. Barely visible.
But it was genuine.
The first one tonight.
Hikaru sighed, then his hand moved—stroking his chin with a pretentiously wise look. His eyes sparkled mischievously, like someone who had just remembered the greatest achievement of his life.
"But speaking of which..."
He looked Lilya up and down. Then grinned widely.
"...I'm really proud of my build."
Lilya frowned.
"...huh?"
Hikaru raised one finger, excited.
"Thousands of hours, Lilya. Thousands."
He began counting on his fingers.
"Optimal stat distribution. Skill synergy with almost no gaps. Gear farming that made me cry blood."
He pointed at Lilya.
"And all of that is realized in you."
Lilya just stared at him with a flat expression.
"...so you're proud of spending thousands of hours creating a game character?"
"Of course!"
Hikaru puffed out his chest.
"Do you know how many players tried to copy this build and failed?"
"They didn't have the dedication."
"They didn't have the guts."
He patted his own chest.
"But me? I spent sleepless nights."
"I sacrificed my mental and physical health."
"And the result—"
He spread his arms wide.
"—is you."
Lilya was silent.
Her eyes blinked a few times.
Then—
"...you really are a pervert, huh."
Hikaru smiled smugly.
"Pervert? No. That's dedication."
"Dedication to creating the most perfect idol character in Eternal Realm Online."
He added proudly,
"My Celestial Veil alone took three months of farming."
Lilya immediately covered her face with both hands.
"DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT ARMOR!"
Hikaru laughed heartily.
"Hahahaha! Still embarrassed, huh? But the design is cool, you know."
"COOL BUT EMBARRASSING!"
Lilya squealed.
"I almost died of shame every time I remembered that armor!"
Hikaru just smiled.
A warm smile. A smile that knew that behind all those complaints, there was gratitude that was never spoken.
"But..."
His voice changed.
Softer.
Gentler.
"...I'm glad you're alive, Lilya."
Lilya stopped.
Her hands slowly lowered from her face.
"...Hikaru..."
The man smiled.
"Even if you don't like the Celestial Veil design."
Lilya laughed softly.
"Geez..."
But this time—her smile wasn't tired.
Not bitter.
Just warm.
Hikaru lowered his hand.
The laughter slowly faded.
A comfortable silence enveloped them both—like two souls who had long been apart and finally met, even if only in this endless white space.
Lilya looked down for a moment, wiping the remaining tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand. Her breathing began to steady. Her chest no longer felt as tight as before.
Then she looked up.
At Hikaru.
With eyes that were still slightly red, but calmer.
"...you said earlier that you were a remnant soul."
Her voice was soft, but clear.
"But why?"
Hikaru paused for a moment.
His outstretched hand slowly lowered. He folded his arms across his chest, his hunched posture shifting slightly—like someone thinking hard for the first time in a long while.
"...I don't really understand either."
He sighed.
"Technically, my existence should have already merged with you."
Lilya frowned.
"...huh?"
Hikaru gazed around the endless white space. His eyes moved slowly, scanning in all directions—as if searching for answers among the light that bounded this world.
"As soon as I opened my eyes, I was already in this white room."
He looked back at Lilya.
"As if this world itself wanted me to do something."
Lilya swallowed.
"...do... something?"
Hikaru smiled.
Not the mischievous smile from before.
But a calmer smile.
More mature.
He raised one hand.
His fingers opened.
And with a clear voice—almost like a habit repeated thousands of times—
"[Status Open]"
The air before them stirred.
A greenish-blue light appeared slowly, forming a transparent panel that floated between them. Numbers, letters, and rows of information appeared neatly—just like what Lilya had seen before.
=============================
STATUS PANEL
=============================
Name: Lilya Asthon
Race: Human
Class: Sword Saint – Partial Awakening
Sub-Class: Sword Dancer – Dormant
Level: 100 (Max)
Title:
HP: 15 / 98,500
MP: 0 / 62,000
Stamina: 0 / 120,000
=============================
MAIN STATS
=============================
STR: 9,850
AGI: 12,400
DEX: 11,900
VIT: 9,200
INT: 7,500
WIS: 8,800
LUK: 6,600
=============================
ADVANCED STATS
=============================
Physical Attack: 18,900
Critical Chance: 48%
Critical Damage: +220%
Attack Speed: +180%
Movement Speed: +250%
Evasion: 62%
Accuracy: 95%
=============================
DEFENSE STATS
=============================
Physical Defense: 14,300
Magic Defense: 12,800
Damage Reduction: 35%
Stun Resistance: 85%
Fear/Panic Resistance: IMMUNE
=============================
ELEMENTAL RESISTANCES
=============================
Fire: 60%
Water: 65%
Wind: 75%
Earth: 70%
Lightning: 80%
Light: 90%
Darkness: 55%
Spatial: 40%
=============================
BASIC SKILLS
=============================
Sword Slash – Lv.100 (Max)
Quick Step – Lv.100 (Max)
Precision Cut – Lv.100 (Max)
Chain Strike – Lv.100 (Max)
Air Cut – Lv.100 (Max)
=============================
UNIQUE SKILLS
=============================
Sword Saint Authority – Lv.100 (Max) - Locked
Heaven Divider – Lv.100 (Max)
Blade Absolute – Lv.100 (Max) - Locked
Soul Blade Manifestation – Lv.100 (Max)
Zero Blade Domain – Lv.100 (Max) - Locked
=============================
PASSIVE SKILLS
=============================
Perfect Blade Control – Lv.100 (Max) - Locked
Battle Instinct – Lv.100 (Max)
Killing Tempo – Lv.100 (Max) - Locked
Sword Mastery (Divine) – Lv.100 (Max) - Locked
Auto Appraisal – Lv.100 (Max)
=============================
DEFENSIVE SKILLS
=============================
Parry Counter – Lv.100 (Max)
Flow Guard – Lv.100 (Max)
Mirror Step – Lv.100 (Max)
Veil Resonance – Lv.100 (Max)
=============================
ELEMENTAL SKILLS
=============================
Flame Edge – Lv.100 (Max) - Locked
Frost Fang – Lv.100 (Max) - Locked
Thunder Break – Lv.100 (Max) - Locked
Wind Sever – Lv.100 (Max) - Locked
Light Blade – Lv.100 (Max) - Locked
Lilya's eyes widened.
She stared at the panel, then looked at Hikaru.
"...you can chant that spell too?"
Hikaru shrugged.
"Of course."
He smiled faintly.
"I am you, you are me. Technically we are the same person."
He emphasized his words slowly.
"But our history and life experiences are vastly different."
He pointed at the status panel.
"Besides, this is a skill from ERO."
His eyes sparkled slightly.
"All the skills in your world are very similar to ERO."
Lilya fell silent.
She stared at the panel longer.
"..."
She couldn't speak.
Just stared.
Staring at her HP, MP, and Stamina, which were almost completely depleted.
Hikaru sighed beside her.
His hand moved, sliding the panel slightly—revealing another side that had been hidden all along.
There—
on the right side of the panel—
a small window appeared.
An image.
Herself.
Her broken body.
Wounds all over.
Right arm gone from the elbow down.
Left leg gone from the knee down.
Her chest rising and falling—too slowly.
Too weakly.
But—
still rising and falling.
Her breath was still there.
Still fighting.
Hikaru pointed at the image.
"It's only natural that you're on the brink of death, Lilya."
His voice was soft, not judgmental.
"Your HP is only 15."
"Your MP and Stamina are zero."
"Your body is destroyed."
He paused for a moment.
"But..."
His finger tapped the screen over her still-moving chest.
"...your body is still fighting."
"A little longer."
"A little more."
Lilya swallowed.
"...I..."
"Still alive?"
Hikaru smiled faintly.
"Yes."
"You're still alive."
He pulled the panel back to its original position.
His eyes moved quickly, scanning the rows of skills displayed on the screen.
"But..."
His brow furrowed.
"...we have another problem."
Lilya turned.
"Problem?"
Hikaru sighed.
"Look."
He pointed to the Unique Skills section.
Then to the Elemental Skills section.
Lilya frowned.
"...a lot of skills are still locked?"
Hikaru nodded.
"Yeah."
He rubbed his chin.
"All elemental skills are locked because in this world, elemental power cannot be accessed carelessly. You need permission from the elemental spirits."
He pointed to other skills.
"Unique skills like Sword Saint Authority, Blade Absolute, and Zero Blade Domain are also locked."
He paused.
Then his eyes narrowed.
Suddenly—
Hikaru laughed.
Not a small laugh.
But a loud enough laugh to echo through the endless white space.
"Hahaha! That's right! This makes sense!"
Lilya's eyes widened.
"Ma-makes sense? What do you mean?"
Hikaru turned to her.
His eyes sparkled.
Then—without warning—
both his hands grabbed Lilya's shoulders.
Gripping.
Firmly.
Lilya flinched in surprise.
"Eh—?!"
Hikaru leaned his face close.
His grin widened.
"We can activate Sword Saint and your sub-class, Sword Dancer!"
"—?!"
Lilya was silent.
Her eyes blinked a few times.
"...what?"
Hikaru released his grip.
He stepped back, then raised one finger enthusiastically.
"Listen."
"The main stats in this world are different from in ERO."
"In ERO, main stats determine your power."
"But in this world—"
He pointed at Lilya's body.
"—soul and body are one."
"As long as you're still alive, as long as your soul is intact—"
He pointed at the status panel.
"—I can help unlock what's locked."
Lilya still stared at him with a half-believing expression.
"...you mean... I can use all those skills?"
Hikaru shook his head.
"Not all."
"Just Sword Saint and Sword Dancer."
He smiled.
"That's enough."
Lilya swallowed.
"...how?"
Hikaru smiled.
Not the mischievous smile from before. Not the wise-guy smile that made Lilya want to hit him. But a calm smile. A smile that had known all along—that this moment would come.
"You don't need much effort."
Lilya frowned.
"...what do you mean?"
But before Hikaru could answer—
the voice appeared.
Cold.
Mechanical.
Without emotion.
But this time—it felt different.
Deeper.
More... final.
[Attention]
[Remnant soul of Hikaru Onodera will be sacrificed]
"—eh?!"
Lilya's eyes widened.
Her body tensed.
She quickly turned to Hikaru—and found the man wasn't surprised. Not panicked. Not trying to run away.
Just standing.
With the same smile.
Calm.
"...Hikaru...?"
Lilya's voice trembled.
"You... you knew...?"
Hikaru sighed softly.
"I knew."
He raised his hand, pointing at the status panel still floating between them.
"The soul that remains inside you... is only one."
Lilya froze.
"The other..."
Hikaru smiled.
"...has to go."
"So you can become whole."
Lilya bit her lip.
Her hands clenched.
"But—"
"I'm just an anomaly, Lilya."
Hikaru's voice was soft. Gentle.
"An anomaly left inside you."
He stepped forward.
"I'm not part of this world."
"I'm not part of your world."
"But you—you are part of everything."
Lilya shook her head.
Tears began to well in her eyes.
"But... even though you..."
Her breath caught.
"...just had a physical form, right?"
Hikaru paused.
He looked at Lilya—and for the first time, his expression changed.
Not to sadness.
Not to anger.
But to warmth.
Gently—so gently—he raised his hand.
And placed it on Lilya's head.
His fingers touched her blonde hair carefully, like touching something precious.
"Hey..."
His voice was soft.
"Don't be like that."
Lilya looked at him with teary eyes.
"You've already decided to be yourself, right?"
Hikaru smiled.
"I'm still with you at the core."
"Remember—I am you."
Lilya bit her lip.
Tears fell from her eyes.
"...you are me..."
She repeated those words.
Like a mantra.
Like a promise.
Hikaru nodded.
Lilya lowered her head for a moment.
Then—slowly—she clasped both hands over her chest.
She closed her eyes.
Took a long, deep breath.
Hikaru stepped back.
Giving space.
Giving time.
He smiled.
Because he knew—Lilya already had her resolve.
Lilya opened her eyes.
"...YES!"
Her voice was clear.
Firm.
[Request confirmed]
In an instant, her entire body was wrapped in a blinding golden light.
[Activating Skills from Sword Saint Class]
[Unique Skill: Sword Saint Authority – Lv.100 - Activated]
[Unique Skill: Blade Absolute – Lv.100 - Activated]
[Unique Skill: Zero Blade Domain – Lv.100 - Activated]
[Re-analyzing possibilities for other skills]
[Special Skill: Doll Master Lv.100 - Activated]
"EH?!! A Special Skill?! How?!!" Hikaru shouted in surprise.
Throughout his life playing Eternal Realm Online, there was no such special skill like the one Lilya had just obtained.
"Wait... is this a special skill from this world?" Hikaru muttered, observing Lilya's awakening process until it ended.
[All skills from Sword Saint Class have been activated]
[Sub-Class - Sword Dancer - Activated]
[Activating all skills from Sub-Class Sword Dancer]
[Passive Skill: Perfect Blade Control – Lv.100 - Activated]
[Passive Skill: Killing Tempo – Lv.100 - Activated]
[Full awakening process for individual Lilya Asthon complete]
The blinding light slowly faded.
Lilya's body was once again wrapped in a soft golden aura.
[Veil Resonance] returned.
Lilya was no longer wearing her simple dress—it had transformed into armor.
Celestial Veil.
Layers of gleaming white armor wrapped around her body, adorned with delicate golden engravings that shimmered softly at every angle. On her chest, a softly glowing crystal core pulsed gently—as if breathing along with her heartbeat. A transparent blue-gold mantle hung from her shoulders, moving like a curtain of light that followed every breath.
Her short armored skirt moved lightly, revealing part of her thighs now covered in thin, gleaming protective plating. And at her stomach—slightly exposed, showing her clean skin between the elegant white armor's frame.
Hikaru glanced at the monitor beside Lilya's status panel.
There—in the real world—Lilya's body was changing.
Slowly.
Her wounds began to close.
Lost flesh began to regenerate.
Her right arm healed.
Her left leg restored.
Her wounded and burnt skin—cleaned.
Like she was newly born.
Lilya looked down.
At herself.
Then—
her face flushed bright red.
Not a normal red.
Not an embarrassed red.
But a blazing red—like a tomato freshly thrown into a boiling pot.
From the tips of her ears to her neck, from her cheeks to the bridge of her nose—everything flushed in an instant. Lilya was no longer wearing her simple off-shoulder dress; it had changed into the Celestial Veil armor.
But the problem was, Lilya hated the design of this armor because it was too revealing.
"I knew this would be so embarrassing!!!!" Lilya's scream shattered the silence of the white space.