After climbing who knows how many steps, Bell finally reached the end of the celestial staircase.
At the very top, he saw the scene awaiting him.
It was an aerial platform paved with pure white marble. The moment he looked up, he spotted a massive stone throne carved from a single slab of rock.
The lighting was dim, but he could still make out a dark figure seated upon the throne.
"Who are you?"
Bell took a deep breath and broke the awkward silence first.
"I thought that since you came looking for me on your own, you'd already guessed who I am."
There was a hint of surprise in the shadow's voice. It seemed he really believed Bell had guessed his identity and then boldly plunged his consciousness into the depths of his own soul.
A faintly oppressive aura accompanied his words, making his voice sound even heavier.
"Then tell me this: once you make such a choice, if I were able to leave this inner soul realm, your consciousness would be sealed in this darkness forever."
"I know that. But what I'm more curious about is—why haven't you done it?"
The shadow froze for a moment at the counterquestion, then let out a soft chuckle.
"Heh~ So you didn't walk in here unprepared. You're not stupid, but you really are a simple one."
"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
Bell couldn't help asking.
"More or less. People like you are extremely rare. Though I prefer the word 'foolish' for someone like you."
Even though the words were disparaging, Bell felt no insult—just that the tone was a bit sharp.
"I've never been a clever person."
Bell knew better than anyone how much—or how little—was in his own head.
Because he understood he wasn't smart, the things that intelligent people understood in an instant were often things he couldn't grasp at all. So he'd stopped trying to compare himself to the quick-witted long ago. Doing so only made his own stupidity more obvious.
"That's why I sometimes like to solve problems the direct way~."
The shadow glanced at Bell, then shook his head helplessly, letting out a sighing laugh.
"Yes, your 'direct way' nearly brought me back to life from sheer frustration."
The shadow genuinely felt exasperated by Bell's actions.
If he had ever wanted Bell's body, he could have taken it right now.
But he understood that even if he did replace Bell, it would be meaningless. The only one who could hold hope in his hands was this not-so-bright boy standing before him.
He no longer had the heart to lecture him. For the first time, he wondered if his senses had failed him—how could he have detected 'hope' from someone who barged in like this?
He even wanted to grab 'Hope' by the throat and demand, 'How did you see hope in this insane brat?'
If anything, what he saw from this mad boy was more 'despair' than 'hope.'
Upon further thought, he realized this kid was surprisingly fitting for 'despair.'
"Despair and hope, fused within one person..."
"That truly matches the doctrine I created—to bear all the world's evil, and carry all the world's good."
The shadow shook his head slightly and didn't continue.
He had complicated feelings toward this successor. He knew that the moment he left, this reckless boy would likely walk straight toward self-destruction.
Watching such a child head toward ruin would pain him as well.
But the outcome had long been decided.
"Well then—you… I honestly don't know whether to call you clever or foolish."
"You vaguely sensed I wouldn't harm you, so you chose to enter your soul's depths seeking answers."
"When all you had to do was pretend not to know."
Bell didn't mind at all. He knew his actions were somewhat foolish, even recklessly putting himself in danger, but that was just who he was.
"This is how I do things."
"I can only use power when I understand exactly what it is. If it isn't mine, my first reaction isn't to use it—it's to doubt it. Even if you placed the power directly in my hands, I wouldn't use it unless I knew what it was."
"Because I don't know what price such power demands."
The shadow was speechless before Bell's insistence.
"Sigh… I'd like to scold you for being reckless, but considering you stepped into the trap after making sure it wouldn't kill you, I suppose I can call you bold instead."
Still, the way Bell gambled with his life—he had pushed his disregard for mortality to the extreme.
"But I think you might have made a mistake. The power you currently have wasn't granted by me. As I said, I killed myself a very, very long time ago."
"Suicide?"
Bell's brows knitted tightly.
"Then why are you in my soul?"
Fate brought us together. Though the hope they'd been searching for elsewhere had always been outside.
The ones endlessly searching probably never imagined such a thing.
The shadow paused, then gestured for Bell to forget that part.
"Forget what I just said. Just live your life. Knowing too much won't do you any good."
"And before you truly rise, no one will target you."
"So, you can afford to be a bit more reckless in the future."
But then the shadow paused again. Thinking of Bell's personality, he let out a dry, bitter laugh.
"Forget it. Treat what I said as nonsense."
This kid's entire way of life was centered around 'survival.' Even without anyone guiding him, the moment he sensed danger he instinctively hid himself, making it unlikely anyone could capture him easily.
Maybe that was why Hope chose him? the shadow wondered with an odd expression.
"Ah, let's return to our earlier topic."
The shadow did not pursue the previous train of thought and returned fully to the beginning.
"In truth, I possess no power. As I said, I've been dead for a very long time. Even what remains here is merely a fragment of a soul."
"I don't have the right or the ability to grant you power. Everything you have now
comes solely from your own foundation."
Yet when he said this, a trace of fear slipped into his voice.
"But that little girl was lucky. From the very beginning, she nurtured a special human vessel for you. If you'd been tainted by another spiritual essence, you wouldn't have what you have today."
"And as for the power of desire—that little girl likely misunderstood it. Your true foundation lies in 'Hope,' but she mistook it for 'Virtue.'"
"Still, for you, I suppose it was dumb luck—you stumbled into it by accident."