"…There is a price to it," the hooded woman said, floating lazily above Ren's unraveling memories, her fingers idly flipping through pieces of his past like faded pages in an ancient book.
She didn't sound cruel. Or even serious.Just calm. Distant.
Like this was all just a fleeting curiosity in her eternity.
"I hope you understand what that means before you agree—"
"I agree," Ren cut in instantly.
He didn't shout.He didn't hesitate.He just said it—firm, clear, and very loud.
"So hurry up and let's move on already."
The woman paused midair.
She didn't speak right away. She didn't need to.She only hovered there, staring down at him with that empty blackness where a face should've been.
"…Mortal," she said at last, "do you truly not care what happens to you?"
Her voice didn't echo. It just settled—like fog sliding under the skin.
"I've seen thousands upon thousands of fears," she said. "But I have never witnessed a fool greater than you."
Then she tilted her head, as if reconsidering her wording.
"No. Calling you a fool would be an insult… to fools."
A quiet moment passed.
"I believe your kind calls it… 'idiot'?"
Ren's brow twitched.
"Hey," he grumbled, folding his arms, "I didn't ask to get roasted by a floating grandma with no face."
"…Grandma?" the hooded woman echoed, her empty face tilting slightly. "Fascinating."
She hovered above Ren's drifting memories, her fingers moving again in lazy, orbiting circles.
"You are one very strange mortal. Even I can't tell if you're brave… or if you have a death wish so strong, you'd plunge the world into chaos just to chase it."
"Yeah, yeah, save the psychoanalysis," Ren waved her off. "If there's a way out of here, let's keep it rolling. Door's open, right? Let's go."
Silence followed.
Then, at last, the woman spoke again.
"So be it, mortal."
She raised her hands.The air twisted. Symbols began to swirl around her fingers—ancient runes pulsing with gold and violet.
"I shall give you what you ask for. I will grant you the chance to escape with your filthy Witch."
Ren flinched. "You've really gotta stop calling her that. Her name's Seri-chan, and she's not filthy, she just has—uh… intense eyeliner and murder energy."
She ignored him.
"But know this," the hooded woman continued. "The moment you step beyond the Library's seal, the entire world will be your enemy. Even the Witch of Greed may not be able to save you from what comes next."
Ren crossed his arms confidently. "Lady, I cleared Danzuki Quest 96 on Hell Regime, three times. I think I can handle a little doomsday."
No response.
The air darkened.
"…It is so very intriguing," she murmured. "To think that the Fool's card in the Great Prophecy would manifest like this. Now I understand."
Ren blinked. "Wait, wait—prophecy? You just said 'prophecy' like that's a normal thing."
"Yes, mortal," she said, casually drifting sideways through the void. "The ancient prophecies of this world speak of a coming darkness… a river of blood… the return of a forgotten evil who will devour the stars."
Ren scratched the back of his head. "That's a little heavy for a Tuesday."
"The Fool's card appeared in every prophetic circle," she continued. "Meaningless. Chaotic. Unexpected. I had not imagined it would be you—a powerless boy so eager to free a Witch… just because she has a pretty face."
Ren grimaced. "…So you did just call me a fool again?"
"Fascinating," she said again, voice as unreadable as ever.
Her spell circle pulsed brighter now—golden light swirling like a spiral sun behind her.
"And yet… you are part of it."
With a sudden motion, she pointed a slender finger directly at Ren's chest.
His body locked in place.
"I could claim your soul now," she said, her voice quiet. "But that would end the game too quickly. And I am curious."
Her hand pierced forward—not physically, but spiritually.Right through his chest.
Ren gasped.He felt it—not pain exactly, but something worse. Like his being was being stirred.
"No... greedy souls are common. Your price will be different."
The light intensified.
"Your price… will be your heart. Your entire existence."
Ren's voice cracked. "S-Say what now?!"
"If you cause the end of this world," she whispered, twisting her hand inside the light, "or if you die… then your soul will belong to me."
"I will take everything you are. Your memories. Your essence. Your name. And I will erase you completely."
The light flared—then vanished.
She withdrew her hand.
"But if you prove the prophecy wrong," she said calmly, "I will allow you to live as you choose."
Her voice began to fade into the dark.
"…Our conversation is over. Go now, mortal."
She floated higher, her body becoming one with the black void above.
"And make sure to entertain me."
Ren's body slumped.
Darkness pulled at him like a rising tide. His thoughts scattered like feathers in wind. The last thing he felt was a sharp, searing heat in his chest.
He looked down.
A glowing symbol had burned itself onto his skin—a dragon biting its own tail, coiled around a star. It pulsed, then dimmed.
"…What the hell…?"
And then everything went black.
Ren's eyes opened to light.
Not harsh, not blinding. Just soft, warm sunlight brushing against his skin. The scent of grass and wind filled his nose. Birds—real birds—cried in the distance.
He blinked slowly, sitting up.
He was lying in the middle of a vast, green field.
No shelves. No stone. No cursed books or prison air. Just wide, open land—surrounded by distant mountains and dense forests that swayed gently in the wind.
"…What the hell…"
He looked up.
Above him, the sky shimmered with an impossible canvas.
Floating islands drifted lazily through the clouds—massive landmasses with waterfalls cascading off their edges. But instead of falling down, the water poured up, defying gravity as it coiled into the air and vanished into the blue.
High above, dragons soared through the open sky—wings wide, shining like metal under the sun.
Ren's mouth fell open. "Okay… this is definitely not Japan."
But it wasn't the sky that stopped his breath.
It was her.
Just a few steps ahead, Seris Vel'Zereth stood motionless.
Her back to him. Her long white hair gently moved with the breeze, shining like silver threads. She wasn't hovering. She wasn't casting anything.
She was just standing there.Still.
Ren sat up fully, confused—then concerned.
"Seri-chan…?"
She didn't turn around.
He slowly stood, brushing dust from his hoodie, and walked closer.
That's when he noticed.
Her shoulders were trembling.
Tiny movements—barely visible. And even from behind, he saw it.
Tears.
Not loud. Not dramatic.Just silent streaks running down her cheeks.
Frozen in place, staring at something far away in the distance.
A goddess of wrath, war, and eternity… crying.
Ren stood there, speechless.
For the first time since he arrived in this world, he didn't know what to say.
Ren took a step closer.
The sound of his foot pressing into the soft grass made Seris flinch.
Just slightly.
"…You're awake," she said, her voice quiet. Steady. But not cold.
He nodded, stopping a few paces behind her. "I think so. Unless this is another vision. Or I'm dead. Again."
She didn't laugh. Didn't move.
The breeze rolled through the field between them, carrying the distant roar of a dragon overhead and the sound of leaves whispering in the wind.
Ren scratched the back of his head.
"So, uh… did I miss anything? Floating islands, reverse waterfalls, some kind of giant tree over there that might be alive… and you, standing dramatically while crying. Just another Tuesday in Isekai land."
Still nothing.
He sighed.
"Look, I'm not trying to ruin the moment or whatever this is, but seriously—what's going on?"
Finally, Seris turned to face him.
Her crimson eyes were wet, but not broken. Her expression was unreadable—something between awe, disbelief, and a deep, haunting concern.
"…You," she said slowly, "spoke to *her*."
Ren blinked. "Her who?"
"The hooded one," she said. "The Observer. The Eternal Watcher. *The Goddess without a Name.* She who lives outside all laws."
"Oh." He blinked again. "Yeah. Her."
"You survived," she said, her tone no longer steady—more like she was trying to convince *herself* of the words.
"You *spoke* with her. You made a **deal** with her."
Ren shrugged. "I mean, 'deal' is generous. It was more like 'get insulted, soul stabbed, and emotionally violated.' But yeah, I guess so."
Seris stared at him. Her eyes narrowed—not with anger, but disbelief.
"No one survives meeting her, Ren," she said, her voice a whisper. "No one."
Ren's smile faltered.
"…Cool. Awesome. Love that for me."
"And you *bargained*? For me?"
"Well, yeah," he muttered, suddenly finding his shoes very interesting. "It seemed like the right thing to do at the time."
"Why?" she asked sharply. "Why would you risk everything? She could've erased your soul."
He looked up at her, serious now.
"Because you were crying," he said simply. "And because I said I'd get us out of there. One way or another."
Seris opened her mouth—then closed it again. She looked away, biting her lip, arms folding across her chest like she needed something to hold onto.
"You idiot," she muttered.
Ren shrugged. "I've been called worse. Actually, she called me worse. Like… a lot."
He paused.
"…Also, did you know she thinks I'm part of some world-ending prophecy? She called me the 'Fool's card.' I guess that makes me the isekai version of a jester-slash-apocalypse button."
That got Seris's attention.
Her head snapped toward him. "She *called you that*? The Fool's card?"
"Yeah," he said casually. "Said I was gonna plunge the world into rivers of blood or something. Real flattering stuff."
Seris just stared.
Then, to his surprise, she started laughing.
Not mockingly. Not cruelly.
Just… soft, low, incredulous laughter.
"You really are cursed," she said, wiping her eye. "Even the gods can't predict what you'll do next."
"I'm honored," Ren said, placing a hand over his heart. "Truly. Being cosmically unpredictable is all I've ever dreamed of."
She chuckled again—quieter this time—and turned back toward the field, her gaze drifting toward the horizon.
"…You know," she said, "I spent over a thousand years locked in that place. Hoping. Hating. Forgetting what sunlight even looked like."
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
"And somehow, the one who breaks the seal is a magic-less, loud, idiotic mortal who calls me Seri-chan."
Ren smirked. "Destiny's weird like that."
A pause.
Then Seris sighed, her voice gentler than before.
"Thank you… Ren."
He blinked.
That might've been the first time she'd said his name without an insult attached.
Ren scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Y-yeah, well… don't mention it."
She raised a brow. "I just did."
"…Shut up."
The wind picked up again, rustling the grass around them.
Somewhere high above, a dragon roared.
Ren looked up at the impossible sky, the floating islands, the streaks of light dancing across the horizon.
"…So," he said. "Now what?"
Seris crossed her arms.
"Now," she said, "we run."
"From what?"
"From everyone."
Ren paled. "Oh, great."
"Let's go, Fool," she said, turning with a faint smirk.
And without another word, **Seris Vel'Zereth** walked forward—into the unknown.
Ren sighed, dragging his feet to catch up.
"Yup. Definitely cursed."