Kicked out of the room by Song Ha-Eun, the two sisters glared at one another.

“This is all your fault, Cassia.”

“That’s why you shouldn’t be so greedy.”

It didn’t last long. Once the heat of the argument faded, a deep sense of shame crashed down on them.

“Haaa... What on earth are we doing?”

“For once, I’m thinking the same thing.”

They were grown women, yet had acted like six-year-olds fighting over cake. No wonder the shame was sinking in.

Isabella bit her lip and shot Cassia a look.

I’m always like this whenever I’m around Cassia.

For some reason, things she would normally brush off boiled her blood when it involved Cassia. It felt like being dragged back to their childhood days, running recklessly through the garden. The thought of making such a disgraceful scene in front of Kwon Oh-Jin made her burn with humiliation.

I’d do anything to rewind time.

She didn’t need years or even decades. If she could just turn the clock back two or three hours, how perfect would that be?

Her shoulders slumped as she deeply sighed. “Haaa.”

The regret came too late. She had already shown Kwon Oh-Jin an embarrassing side of herself.

Cassia softly chuckled and stepped closer. “While Lord Oh-Jin is home, how about we call a truce?”

“A truce?”

Isabella slightly raised her drooping shoulders, and she eyed Cassia with clear disapproval. “You’re the one who started the fight. Now, you’re saying we shouldn’t?”

“When did I ever pick a fight?”

“Just earlier—!”

“All I wanted was time with Lord Oh-Jin the same way you did.”

Isabella narrowed her eyes. “Didn’t you once say that you had no intention of becoming his partner?”

“Hmm. I did say that.” With a faint smile, Cassia brushed her hair back. “But unlike you, I haven’t seen him once in the past three months, have I?”

She wasn’t wrong.

Isabella, Song Ha-Eun, and Vega often visited the training facility where he practiced. However, Cassia had been off chasing the Black Star Celestials across the world. Her efforts hadn’t borne much fruit, but they couldn’t be dismissed either.

“Haaa. Fine. As long as he’s here at home, let’s stay out of each other’s way.” Isabella nodded.

Cassia claimed that she had no intentions of becoming his lover, but Isabella wasn’t so clueless about Cassia’s feelings toward Kwon Oh-Jin. Cassia cared for Kwon Oh-Jin just as much as she did.

That’s why Ha-Eun unnie forgave her too.

Isabella recalled being accepted by Song Ha-Eun as Kwon Oh-Jin’s partner. The more people truly cherished him, the safer he would be. That was reason enough. Right now, no one on Earth was as devoted or capable as Cassia.

I’ll endure it for Mr. Oh-Jin’s sake.

Her blood still boiled whenever she saw Cassia stick close to him, but she had to keep her emotions in check like Song Ha-Eun.

“Hehe, see? Our Bella is so easy to reason with.”

“Weren’t you just calling me greedy not too long ago?”

“Being greedy and being easy to talk to aren’t the same thing, are they?”

“Well, that’s true, but...”

“And besides...” Cassia warmly smiled and gently stroked Isabella’s head. Their height difference made it look a little awkward. “Even if you are greedy, I don’t dislike you for it.”

Her touch carried a gentle warmth.

“Hmph.” Isabella lightly snorted, but tilted her head just slightly to make it easier for Cassia to pat her.

Cassia laughed at the cute gesture.

Despite their constant bickering, they treasured one another. The bond between them, hidden behind the Colgrande name, was no different from other sisters.

“Do you know how to cook, Cassia?”

“Why the sudden question?”

“I was thinking we could go grocery shopping together for lunch.”

“But didn’t he just eat breakfast?”

“I want to make him something good for recovery.”

Isabella wanted to make samgyetang[1].

“Samgyetang takes a while to prepare. We’d better get started early,” Isabella continued.

“You’ve really turned into a proper housewife, haven’t you?”

“So? Are you coming or not?”

“The thought of going out with you after so long is already making me excited!” Humming a cheerful tune, Cassia followed Isabella outside.

The front door closing echoed out.

Click.

The bedroom door cracked open, and Song Ha-Eun peeked out.

“Are they gone?”

Kwon Oh-Jin, standing beside her, nodded. “Looks like it.”

“See? Told you. They fight like cats and dogs, but they always get along in the end.”

“Are all sisters like that?”

Just thirty minutes ago, they had been clawing at each other’s hair. Then, they headed out like a perfect picture of harmony.

“How would I know?”

“Whatever. At least I can breathe again.” Kwon Oh-Jin stretched and flopped onto the living room couch.

He flicked on the TV and checked a news channel. Just as Cassia had said, the broadcast reported that monster appearances had sharply declined recently.

“Hey, why are you watching the news first thing in the morning? Turn that off already,” Song Ha-Eun said.

She plopped down beside him and switched it off.

“Come on, I was just trying to see what’s going on in the world.”

“What are you, some middle-aged guy stuck in his stocks? Nothing happened while you were gone, idiot.” She smirked and ruffled his hair. “How are you feeling?”

“Still a little fuzzy in the head.”

“No one ordered you to train yourself half to death.”

“Well... yeah.”

Kwon Oh-Jin had no rebuttal. No matter how fast he had been improving, pushing himself to the point of collapse had been a reckless mistake.

“Vega and Riarc said they’ll be dropping by soon.”

“Guess I should tell Bella to buy extra groceries.”

Vega was manageable, but Riarc ate a lot as his massive frame demanded it.

“Still, seeing your face again after so long makes me happy.” Song Ha-Eun stretched out along the couch and casually lay her long legs across his lap.

She often did this before Isabella moved in with them.

“Ahh, perfect! Warm and firm, the best leg rest ever.”

“I’m still technically the patient here, you know.”

“An idiot who collapsed from overworking himself isn’t a patient.”

“You’re cruel.”

I only did that because I wanted to improve...

“So, did nearly killing yourself pay off?”

“Yeah.”

His Sacred Ground range had grown to dozens of meters. He had become far more adept at wielding the Black Heaven’s powers and the Stigma of Lyra.

“That’s good.” Song Ha-Eun smiled faintly, sat up, and gently patted his head. “Our Oh-Jin is so capable.”

“People will think I’m your kid.”

“Well, I did practically raise you, so you could say that.”

Wait, we were family all along?

Just then, Kwon Oh-Jin’s pendant flared brightly. A palm-sized goddess appeared in midair.

“Do not call yourself his mother in front of me!” Vega smacked Song Ha-Eun’s hand aside and landed squarely on Kwon Oh-Jin’s head. “Hmph!” With a lofty expression, Vega crossed her arms. “My child does not have any other mother besides me!”

“I don’t have a mom, though.”

The words sounded harsher out loud, almost like a bad joke, but it was true. Kwon Oh-Jin had grown up never knowing his mother’s face. He never longed for such a figure either. If anything, it had led him to meet people far more precious than parents.

“There’s an old saying that a child who grows up without parental love is easily led astray,” Vega said.

“You’re saying you’ll take on that role instead?”

“Haha. Of course!”

For someone playing my mother, you don’t act so... Never mind.

Kwon Oh-Jin stopped himself and shook his head. He didn’t need to nitpick Vega’s kind intentions.

Following close behind Vega, Riarc clicked his tongue in disapproval. “You just woke up, and you’re already spouting nonsense.”

“It’s been a while. Have you been doing well?” Kwon Oh-Jin asked.

“Hmph. It’s hard to do well when that lizard woman shows up every single day.” Riarc glared at Song Ha-Eun beside Kwon Oh-Jin. “Anyway, a so-called warrior collapsing from not properly taking care of himself? That’s truly pathetic, kid.”

“What, were you worried?”

“W-Who said anything about being worried?!” Riarc growled fiercely and furrowed his brow.

Song Ha-Eun’s lips curled into a grin. “He says he wasn’t, but he was worried sick over you.”

“W-What nonsense are you spewing?!”

“You insisted on dragging him to the Sanctum in case his Stigma was damaged, didn’t you?”

“T-That’s because!” Flustered, Riarc stumbled back.

Of course, Vega had already confirmed that Kwon Oh-Jin’s Stigma was fine while he was unconscious.

“You could’ve just admitted you were worried,” Kwon Oh-Jin said.

“S-Shut up! This only happened because you’re too weak to even manage your own body, kid!”

Kwon Oh-Jin couldn’t help but laugh at Riarc’s blustering.

While they chatted, Isabella and Cassia returned carrying large shopping bags.

“Oh, Mr. Oh-Jin, you’re already up?”

“Bella and I just got back from grocery shopping.”

“Just give us a moment. We’ll have it ready soon.”

“I already had porridge earlier, so I’m okay,” Kwon Oh-Jin said.

“Porridge doesn’t last. You need something hearty at times like this.” With determined eyes, Isabella headed for the kitchen.

“Need a hand?” Cassia shrugged helplessly and followed after her.

Soon, the clattering utensils filled the air, and the rich aroma of simmering chicken broth drifted out.

This is nice.

How long had it been since he’d felt this kind of peace?

With a faint smile, Kwon Oh-Jin leaned back into the couch. The soft leather cushions warmly wrapped around him, filling him with a quiet happiness.

I made this possible.

Isabella and Cassia could now chatter side by side like sisters. Riarc had overcome his trauma and broken through his wall. Vega had stepped beyond her temple walls and come to know love. Song Ha-Eun could laugh again with her sight and leg restored.

All because he had overturned fate.

I wasn’t able to do this alone, but...

Without him, these changes would have never happened.

Which is why...

He could change fate and the story’s ending itself. With his own hands, he would shape a future where everyone here could keep smiling like this.

Because I am the Heaven-Defying Star.

He wasn’t strong enough yet to face the Heavenly Demon, but even now, he was growing stronger with each passing day. If he kept on this path, surely he could change the future.

Just then, Isabella approached from the kitchen in horror, clutching her phone in one hand. “Um... M-Mr. Oh-Jin.”

“What’s wrong?”

“T-The TV. Quick, turn it on now!”

Her urgent tone made him frown as he grabbed the remote.

—We’re back with breaking news.

Behind the stiff-faced anchor, a city burned in flames.

—Rome is currently under attack by an unidentified horde of monsters.

Kwon Oh-Jin stared at the blazing city on the screen. Something about it felt familiar.

—Appearing without any warning, hundreds of thousands of monsters have left Rome, and much of Italy, on the brink of annihilation...

Where had he seen this before?

Ah. Right.

He had seen it in Lee Shin-Hyuk’s memories, the image of Rome swallowed by fire. Now, that sight unfolded on the TV exactly like those memories.

—Experts estimate that civilian casualties will exceed one million from this disaster.

Unlike Lee Shin-Hyuk’s memory, the Blood Witch had never appeared. Still, Italy had fallen. Millions burned in flames, and monsters tore them apart. They met their end just as fate had decreed and destiny dictated.

Suddenly, Polaris’s questions resurfaced in his head.

“What do you think of fate?”

“A torrent.”

Back then, he hadn’t understood. Now, he did.

Fate was like a raging torrent. No matter how one tried to block it, it surged forward on its predetermined course.

Even now, he hadn’t yet changed the flow of that mighty torrent called fate.

1. A traditional Korean chicken soup made by boiling a whole chicken with herbs in a rich broth. ☜