In the end, Gi-Gyu left only Go Hyung-Chul behind in Italy and returned to Eden. He had left a gate in Rome so that he could return anytime.

Many of Gi-Gyu’s creatures wanted to greet him, but Gi-Gyu chose to see only Old Man Hwang.

“Good job,” Old Man Hwang whispered.

Gi-Gyu seemed to be missing something now. He replied, “I’m going to rest now.”

Gi-Gyu, looking as tired as ever, entered the Sephiroth Tree.

“...” Old Man Hwang watched him without a word.

“He is…” When Gi-Gyu was out of sight, Old Man Hwang whispered, “Carrying so much on his shoulders. He is just a young man…”

Old Man Hwang was worried about Gi-Gyu. His strength let him take on a lot, but that didn’t mean Gi-Gyu didn’t feel the burden of it all. Old Man Hwang stood there for a long time before leaving.

He muttered, “I better go prepare a funeral.”

An extravagant funeral would be necessary.

***

“I could’ve saved them,” Gi-Gyu whispered. He could have saved the two angels if he hadn’t acted arrogant and arrived just a little sooner.

“I could’ve saved them.” All he had to do was prioritize Hamiel and the other angels’...