The Number of Transmutation

Aleister did not hesitate for long.

Because to her, there was only one answer.

In this Timeline, the Ouroboros Ring incident had never occurred. The Material Realm and the Dream Realm were completely separate, so the various apocalyptic disasters had lost their foundation. Iver had not become a savior, but had instead lived peacefully into his later years as a Prince alongside Isabel... Under such circumstances, the Ring Angel and Iver would no longer be enemies.

As a newly born Path that had existed for less than a century, Transmutation was hardly likely to produce a Sixth Level. Iver could very well have become the "Ring Angel's closest person," the strongest Transmuter, and thus the Element Emperor. Not to mention, the angel before her was clearly using Elemental Power.

And someone who knew nothing about Iver might also mistake the angel before them for the worldly apostle of the "Endless Knot." After all, he had explicitly said that he had come at the Endless Knot's command.

...But to Aleister, both answers were unquestionably wrong.

Because to her, Iver could have only one identity, and she would accept only one answer.

Without the slightest hesitation, Aleister pushed open the door marked "Eternal Pope."

—Only Eternal Pope Iver was the Iver Aleister had once known.

Aleister pressed forward resolutely through that fantastical corridor, countless thoughts surfacing in her mind.

The Shepherding Method...

Why had the Shepherding Method activated through Shepherd's Blood been effective against Iver? Wasn't the Shepherd the Ring Angel's apostle?

Unless the Shepherd himself was part of the Ring Angel, just like...

"Am I the same as Iver...?"

Aleister murmured softly.

The mysterious technique the Ring Angel had previously used to cut Iver out was not the Hourglass's Gap of Dualities... but his unique Tail Severing Method. As its name