Kang Woo placed his hand gently on her shoulder—a silent signal that he was all right now. Then, with a thought, he summoned Ivaldi's Gungnir. From his left hand, the spear materialized, its shaft thrumming with power, every ounce of Bifröst energy imbued within it.
The weapon gleamed as if it carried the rainbow itself. With steady precision, he leveled its tip toward the sky, toward the gaping rift that still lingered from their battle with the Crimson King. His voice resonated, sharp and absolute.
"Authority of Gateway."
The rift shuddered. Reality folded. Its destination shifted—no longer the Dark Tower, but the Moon itself. From the tip of Gungnir, the Bifröst exploded outward, a radiant bridge of prismatic light carving across the void, anchoring Earth to its silent satellite.
Makima stepped closer, her coat brushing against his. "Kang Woo," she said lightly, her tone almost casual, "how about you make yourself at home at my apartment again?"
Kang Woo froze for half a second, then smirked—half ridiculous, half amused. The thought crossed his mind before he could stop it. This girl… is she seriously offering me a home? Even though she probably knows I literally own an entire realm as a residence?
Kang Woo exhaled, smirking faintly.
"I already created a Bifröst bridge. It's not something you just flick on and off like a switch. And one more thing—you're aware of what I am, and what I have. Yet you still insist on dragging me back to your normal apartment. Which, by the way, isn't bad for this world's standards. Second and third floor—pretty nice."
He stepped closer, his presence sharp, sovereign, overwhelming. His voice dipped, calm but absolute.
"Makima… how about I give you a portion of my Demon King's authority? And this country. Japan—yours to rule forever. No one would be able to touch you. If that's not enough…" His smirk widened. "…I'll give you this entire planet , Right now "
Her breath hitched, but he didn't pause.
"In exchange… just be a good housewife. Stay out of my business."
Makima froze. Shock jolted through her veins.
Kang Woo had just placed before her what she had always wanted—dominion, control, absolute power over everything. A silver platter of sovereignty.
Yet his condition cut deep. Be a good wife. Stay out of my business.
Her lips trembled, then firmed. She straightened, her eyes locking onto his with fire that refused to die.
"I refuse, Kang Woo," she said, her voice low but unwavering. "I want to know more about you. Your business is my business. Did you forget how many times I've told you? I'm your wife—your first wife. And you accepted it officially."
Her tone sharpened, every syllable carrying weight. "Even if you gave me three, even four planets, it still wouldn't fill the hole that comes from not having intimacy, and family. You are my utopia—the one thing I've always wanted."
Her voice cracked, but her eyes never faltered. "So please, Kang Woo. Don't abandon me. That's my only request. Allow me to stay at your side. My bargain is simple—I offer you my body, my heart, everything I am."
The air held its breath.
Then Kang Woo laughed. Loud, ridiculous, almost hysterical. "AHAHAHAHA! what fierce determination!. "But for some reason… you at my side, I just know I'll have more setbacks!"
Kang woo laughter rang out again, echoing over the still air. Then he tilted his head at her, smirking crookedly. "Fine then, Makima. Have it your way."
He turned, gaze shifting to the shining arc of his Bifröst bridge. With a sharp motion, he drove Ivaldi's Gungnir into its glowing spine. His voice carried, low and commanding.
"Bjorta."
The bridge trembled. Light cracked like glass. In an instant, the portal leading to the moon shattered—collapsing into nothingness.
Makima tilted her head, her tone deceptively casual. "It was a nice bridge. Did you really need to destroy it?"
Kang Woo didn't look back. "What's mine is mine. I don't like people stupidly claiming it."
He turned then, smirking faintly. "Shouldn't you drag me like you always do? Pull my—"
Before he could finish, Makima's hand clasped his. Firm. Unyielding. She tugged him forward.
"Thanks for reminding me,". Don't regret it, Kang Woo."
And so He walked—being pulled along—through the silent wreckage of Tokyo. The streets were empty, the city a hollow echo of what had just unfolded.
Then, the static flicker of a public broadcast hummed from one of the surviving TV screens perched above a convenience store. The reporter's face appeared—pale, tired, but still working.
"This is a special report. The tsunami-level calamity has passed. However, there are widespread reports that most citizens of Tokyo—and possibly around the world—suffered a temporary bout of mass insanity lasting approximately twenty minutes. While conditions have stabilized, mental asylums are already reporting critical overflows, and staffing demands are expected to rise sharply.
On a more positive note, the medical sector is reporting growth. Stocks in hospital supplies and equipment are surging green across the board, as demand has skyrocketed in the aftermath.
Finally, a strange phenomenon—several areas in Tokyo have been found scattered with red silk fragments and pieces of what appear to be ceremonial robes. Authorities have yet to identify the source."
The feed crackled, looping again across nearby screens.
Kang Woo's lips curled faintly as he watched. Oh, I know exactly where that came from. Crimson King.. I fought him head-on and killed him outright.
His thoughts sharpened, tinged with dark amusement. But the real surprise? None of you died from his descent . Twenty minutes of hell, and no mortality spike. I expected a massacre. Guess I got lucky this time.
Then—string. A guitar note. Low, trembling, somewhere in the ruins. The sound slid across the silence like a knife across glass.
Makima's head turned. She heard it too. Her eyes narrowed, voice calm, edged with knowing.
"There's someone who didn't make it to the safe zone, probably went mad instead."
Kang Woo snorted, a crooked smile cutting his face. "Ooh, so you didn't send your little rats to spy this time? You're actually using your own ears and eyes? Careful, Makima. I must've really screwed up the day I appeared in your life.."
Makima's lips curved, not denying it. She tilted her chin up, her answer firm.
"Nah. It's not a mistake, Kang Woo. It's a blessing."
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
On the far side of Tokyo, through cracked streets and broken neon signs, another sound joined the silence. A guitar. Strings being tuned, chords being tested—raw notes drifting across the night.
Reze sat on a half-collapsed curb, her bomb-marked body relaxed in appearance, but her mind far from calm. Her fingers plucked the strings, tightening and loosening, adjusting until the notes rang clear, she has learn music train by USSR before when she was a little girl .
Her thoughts churned. This is the worst position I've ever landed in. My mission was simple: capture Kang Woo, the alien who suddenly appeared in Japan, and deliver him to the Motherland. USSR orders, backed by their deal with the Gun Devil. But the intel said he looked like a normal human. Did they go completely lunatic, sending me after this?
She strummed once, hard, then exhaled. The sound vibrated into the ruins.
"…At least that insane headache is gone. That twenty minutes of madness… like tearing yourself apart, begging to self-destruct… it's over. But that red-robed hooded thing… that was . Terrifying."
Her hand lingered on the neck of the guitar. Her face softened—not relief, but grim resolve. The bomb hybrid adjusted her seat, cracked her knuckles, and leaned into the strings.
Reze finished tuning. Her eyes narrowed with quiet determination. She muttered under her breath, voice tinged with longing.
"…I miss home. But I can't go back… not until I finish this mission."
Her fingers pressed the strings, and she began to sing, her voice carrying softly through the ruined streets: ( jane in the church )
"День моего свидания с Джейн
Всё готово, утром мы пойдём вместе в церковь
Мы будем пить кофе и есть омлеты в кафе
После того как мы прогуляемся в парке, э-э
Мы пойдём в аквариум
И увидим любимых Джейн
Дельфинов и пингвинов
После обеда мы отдохнём, и так —"
CLINK. The sharp sound of metal cut through the melody. A gold coin rolled to a stop at her feet.
Reze blinked, lowering her guitar as she picked it up. Her eyes widened slightly. She looked around quickly, scanning the empty street for whoever had tossed it. Then she saw them—two figures walking ahead, side by side. She only caught their backs as they moved steadily down the road, as if heading home together. Kang Woo and Makima.
Reze lips parted. She cupped her hands to her mouth and called out, her voice carrying through the still air.
"Thank you! for cheering me up!"
Kang Woo didn't turn. But without breaking stride, he lifted one hand and gave The most casual wave.
Reze stared for a moment, then smiled faintly. That pair of lovers sure do know how to cheer up a lonely lady, she thought
.She turned her gaze back down to the coin in her hand, inspecting it carefully. Her breath caught. ". It's… an Athenian Gold Stater."
Reze gulped, her grip tightening around the coin. Uh oh. that's closer to a million dollars.
Her mind raced. I've heard about this from my superiors back in the motherland. Even some of my comrades bragged, blabbering like children about the legend of such coins. But the funny thing is… I'm the one holding it first.
A bead of sweat slid down her neck. Did that man really just toss something like this to a street performer? Is he out of his mind? Or… is it the woman with him who did this?
Reze glanced around, paranoia sharpening her senses. She leaned closer to her guitar, whispering under her breath.
"…Do I need to return this? If I keep it, it's like walking around with enough money to buy a building. Carrying it will only put heat on my cover."
Her fingers clenched tighter around the coin. Then another thought surfaced—dangerous, tempting.
Or… I could use this. Use it to escape. Cut ties with the motherland. Break free from the Gun Devil's leash. Start a new life. Something like : School… friends .
She groaned softly, dragging her palm down her face.
"Urrrgh. Those two… that man and woman… they make my head spin."
Reze sat back down, pulling the guitar over her lap, settling once more into the posture of her undercover role. A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
The funny thing was . She had no idea that the one who tossed that gold coin was Kang Woo himself, her main target. All she knew from her orders was that he was an alien in human form,. Just a name tied to a mission.
The weight of it hit her as she muttered under her breath, voice tinged with self-mockery.
"Brufff… I've got chills. I might miss my target today . Maybe I'm getting dumber the more I stay here ."
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Kang Woo kept walking down the empty street, his expression flat but his voice edged with boredom.
"Makima… how many kilometers do we still need to walk before we get to your apartment?"
Makima tilted her head, her lips curving into a sarcastic smile.
"Maybe we should just take the shinkansen. like normal people, from the train station."
Kang Woo glanced at her, smirking dryly.
"And who's going to operate the train? You? Or your rats? Every resident of Tokyo's locked up in the safe zones right now.."
Makima smirked "Haha. So you don't like your own personality when it boomerangs back at you?"
Kang Woo's only reply was a low hum. "Hmm. Mmm."
Makima's smile lingered. Then her eyes flickered with sly curiosity.
"Do I get a gold coin too? Like that guitar girl? We don't even know her name, but you seemed pretty generous. Or are you going poor on your own wife?"
That one jab landed. Kang Woo's smirk cracked into a mix of annoyance and amusement—his composure breaking in just the way Makima wanted. He started listing, sharp but smiling through it.
"Oh, let me see… a terrible husband I am. I only gave you the Ring of Narya, a Quincy Bracelet, the Commandment of Piety, a red leash that doubles as a gunblade sword, and the ability to manipulate reishi itself. Truly awful of me, Giving you the best things I have."
Makima's eyes softened into a satisfied grin. She had him.
"I knew it, I finally figured out how to really provoke you. And now that I have…" , "I think I'm starting to enjoy it."
Kang Woo's gaze sharpened. His aura shifted slightly, just enough for her to sense it. The air around him bent, the faint ripple of space-time flexing—a he was about to open a portal straight to her apartment.
Makima's smirk deepened, her voice rising in mock challenge.
"If you open that gateway, I'll have no surprise for you, oh mighty Anos."
Kang Woo's expression twitched. His voice came low, edged. "Stop calling me Anos. One of these days—"
Makima cut in,. "From tomorrow, I'll call you Anos every time you teleport us. let's walk like normal people. No shortcuts."
Kang Woo forced a smile. One of his eyes darkened—sclera turning black, betraying just how much her teasing irked him. But behind that sharpness, a thought flickered.
…Yeah. It's pretty fun when someone's confident enough to talk back. Servants who only bow and flatter are boring. She already knows how powerful I am, she still likes to take command. Let's see where this goes.
"Makima, by that tone, you're saying I'm not needed. That I could just travel to another galaxy. Is that what you're telling me?"
Makima stiffened. A small crack ran through her composure.
Oh no… I didn't mean that. I don't want him to leave me. Did I just push his button too far?
But before the panic could deepen, Kang Woo's hand landed on her head, patting her with a crooked grin.
"Hahaha. I really love it when you break your own composure."
Makima's eyes narrowed, her voice quiet but trembling with honesty.
"Don't say that. To be truthful… I'm not ready if you leave me. If you go on a journey or a quest and left me behind … I can't handle that."
Kang Woo exhaled through his nose, still smirking.
"Fine. Let's go to your apartment. By walking. But only this time."
Makima smiled faintly, bowing her head just enough to tease him.
"Of course, my lord… Anos Voldigoad."
Both of Kang Woo's eyes turned black, sclera fully dark.
Makima's shoulders shook with a laugh. "Kukukuku."
Kang Woo threw his head back, laughter rolling with hers. "Hahahahaha."