I am always here

Just as I wiped the last of my tears, he suddenly stepped forward.

Before I could react, he pulled me into a tight hug.

I froze.

For the first time, there was no smirk, no cocky remarks, no teasing. Just warmth.

"Take care," he whispered. His voice was steady, but I could feel the emotions beneath it.

I clenched my fists. "What are you talking about?" My voice wavered. "Why are you saying this like you're leaving?"

He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I'm not really leaving, idiot."

I pulled back slightly, only to see his body slowly starting to dissolve into shimmering light.

"No…" My breath hitched. "No, no, no, don't do this." I reached out, trying to hold onto him, but my hands passed through as if he were nothing but air.

He just smiled.

"I'll still be here," he reassured me. "We just won't be in conflict anymore."

My heart pounded in my chest. I tried to protest, but he kept going.

"I guess that system of yours really cares about you," he said, amused. "It's been screaming at you this whole time, trying to pull you back."

The system? I had completely forgotten about it.

I opened my mouth to say something, to stop this, but he only gave me that familiar knowing look.

"Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere." His voice was softer now, not taunting or sarcastic like when we first met.

He placed a hand on my shoulder—one last touch.

"I'll be here when you need me," he promised.

Then his expression turned serious, his crimson eyes locking onto mine.

"But most important of all…" He smiled gently.

"Take care of Mom, okay?"

My breath caught in my throat. My vision blurred. I could barely nod before—

He vanished.

Dissipating into a radiant energy, glowing like stardust, swirling around me before merging into my body.

And suddenly—

I felt whole again.

The missing piece, the weight I had carried for so long… it wasn't gone. It was finally back where it belonged.

I could still feel him. His warmth, his presence—it was all there, inside me.

A single tear escaped my eye.

But this time, it wasn't a tear of sorrow.

It was a tear of acceptance.

And for the first time in a long time—

I smiled , this was a real smile a bruden free one .

Soon, my eyes fluttered open. The ceiling of my room came into focus, but my mind was still lingering in that dark place, by that campfire, with him.

I felt… lighter. Like a weight I had carried for years had finally been lifted.

Before I could process it fully, a familiar voice rang in my head.

[System Notification: Host has regained consciousness.]

The system's voice, usually neutral and robotic, sounded worried.

[What happened? You suddenly stopped responding, and your vitals fluctuated like crazy.]

I blinked, then chuckled softly. "Don't worry," I reassured it, stretching slightly. "I just had a long-overdue conversation."

[…Conversation?]

I didn't elaborate, just smiled. Because that time I spent with him… it was mine and mine alone.

The system seemed to hesitate before asking, [Did you find your purpose?]

I exhaled, my mind drifting back to that conversation, the laughter, the memories, and—most of all—the promise.

"Yeah," I nodded, my smile growing.

Living my life happily.

Fulfilling Mom's dream by becoming one of the world's best singers.

And having a family.

…And making a harem.

The system paused before its tone turned smug.

[Oh? Who was the one who said before that 'rizzing up girls and making a harem' wasn't their purpose?]

I froze. "Shut up."

[Hypocrisy at its finest, host.] The system burst out laughing.

I groaned, rubbing my temples. "You're really enjoying this, aren't you?"

[Immensely.]

I was about to retort when the door creaked open.

"Sweetie, it's time to eat—"

I turned my head, and the moment my eyes landed on her—on her—

The emotions hit me like a tsunami.

I barely had time to process it before the tears started falling.

Unstoppable. Uncontrollable.

"Baby?!" Seraphina—Mom—rushed toward me, pure panic flashing in her golden eyes. She knelt beside me, cupping my face. "What happened? Did you have a nightmare? Did something scare you?"

Her voice trembled, her own eyes beginning to water.

I wanted to say something, anything—but I couldn't. The words wouldn't come out.

So I did the only thing I could.

I hugged her.

Tightly. As if she'd disappear if I let go.

She gasped softly but immediately wrapped her arms around me, rubbing my back in soothing circles. "Shh… it's okay, my baby. Mama's here."

Hearing her call me that—hearing her voice again—I choked on another sob.

I was such an idiot.

It was so obvious. The way she looked at me. The way she felt so familiar.

How did I not see it earlier?

Slowly, my crying subsided, and as if on instinct, Mom began humming a lullaby.

A song I knew all too well.

My breath hitched.

It was the same lullaby she used to sing to me in my past life.

The exact same melody.

The exact same voice.

A warmth I had lost once before enveloped me again, and in that moment, I made a silent vow.

I will not let you die again.

My fingers clenched into her clothes as my mind raced to the events of this world—to the novel's plot.

In the original story, Seraphina had died…

Because she opposed the protagonist.

My eyes flashed with a dangerous glint as I buried my face in her shoulder.

Sorry, protagonist.

But this shit just got personal.