<Episode 161>
The protection of the Calepas.
Although it was bloody sudden, it gave the impression of a very reliable backing. If this was a favor of Rue’s, I would be pleased.
But if only Bernard had chosen a more appropriate expression.
“What do you mean by his will? He’s not dead. How can it be a will if he’s alive? Why are you turning a perfectly fine person into a dead one? He’s just sleeping, isn’t he?”
As I pointed to Rue in retort, Skuld responded calmly.
“What Miss Daisy says is correct. Lord Calepa chose to sleep voluntarily. It was a choice to suppress the power of the divine.”
The power of the divine.
Ah! It was only then that I realized why Rue was lying here in Calepa as if he were dead. It was because the power he used for me was powerful enough to break the balance.
“Magic that manipulates time is the realm of the gods. So, the moment you touch it, you inevitably surpass the final wall between becoming a God. You can no longer return.”
The expression “you can no longer return” greatly irritated my ears.
“But Rue turned back the time of the sky and showed me a meteor shower that had fallen in the past.”
“That wasn’t turning back time; it was more like an exhibition of memories. It was overlaying Lord Calepa’s memories on the sky. Of course, even that is an impossible level of grandeur, if the person isn’t the Lord Calepa.”
“…Then does that mean Rue will eventually become a god?”
“Yes, slowly.”
I stared blankly down at Rue.
His closed eyes looked strange. He had always been the one to watch over me when I slept, and I’d never seen his sleeping appearance like this.
Rue will become a God and leave me?
‘Forever?’
What was that?
This was a ridiculously empty and unsatisfying ending, worse than a novel.
“Are you sad?”
Urd brushed his long silver hair back and asked.
“It is considered a state of enlightenment beyond the mortal realm. Only when the body and soul, power, and self achieve perfect balance can one become a god and ascend to the universe. It may not be sad if you look at it from that perspective. In fact, Lord Calepa had already reached that state, but stayed in the mortal realm for a long time even after. Because of you.”
It felt like he was trying to comfort me, but I only felt even more intense guilt. Bernard slowly added his thoughts.
“That’s right. Moreover, it seems that Lord Calepa saw potential in Miss Daisy. He is not someone who would entrust others to us just because of affection. He is a very ruthless person. Since it turned out this way, try your best from now, until death. You never know, maybe if you become a God, you might meet above the skies…”
It was a cheerful consolation, but Bernard’s voice didn’t quite register in my mind.
The surroundings became increasingly suffocating, as if submerged in water, and in the darkened world, only me and Rue, with his eyes closed, remained.
Rue was becoming a God and leaving.
What should I do now, then?
‘…What should I do? I should confirm Natasha’s life or death and find a way to destroy the heart of Mephisto that she swallowed.’
But amidst Rue’s absence, I wondered if it all even mattered…
When I’d recognized that the devil inside the mental magic trap was an illusion, I’d completely accepted Natasha’s presence to be one as well.
This meant that Natasha hadn’t completely assimilated with Mephisto’s heart. If she had, the trap would have been stable, and I would have believed that the devil was real.
‘If I hadn’t fallen into the mental trap…’
No, even if I’d fallen into it, if I’d just realized Natasha was real… Rue wouldn’t have had to use the power of a God.
Why was I so pathetic?
Would I have been pushed into this pathetic situation even four years ago? Back then, I knew that I couldn’t let my guard down anytime, anywhere, so mistakes and failures were rare.
I don’t know how I got so weak. Was it because I was enjoying my time in peace? Did I become a fool, relying on Rue, and lost myself in the process?
‘…No, no. Let’s stop. This self-blaming is just a meaningless waste of time.’
I have experienced my own weakness countless times until now. If I’ve had this much experience, it’s time to stop digging myself into a hole and take action.
Rue would also want me to destroy Mephisto’s heart.
“Skuld, how long can I maintain this appearance?”
“Probably as long as Lord Calepa stays in the mortal realm. It’s uncertain whether that will be a month or half a year.”
This was a ticking time bomb that could go off at any moment. It was the healthy and powerful body that Rue gifted me by becoming a god, but even this couldn’t last long.
‘I can’t let this time go to waste.’
Whether it was for Rue or for myself.
As expected, the best option that came to mind was to gather all of Dian Cecht’s relics.
Fortunately, my current appearance was that of Andert Fager. This would make it a little easier to approach not only Natasha but also the swordmaster.
It was because it was a time bomb that could explode at any time. It’s a healthy and powerful body that Lou gave me until I became a god, but even this body doesn’t last long.
After roughly sketching a picture in my mind, I stood up, leaning against the coffin.
“Skuld, is there a magic that can delve into specific part of someone’s past…?”
However,
My new guardian was completely blocked from my view by the distant silhouette of a tall man who suddenly burst in.
Under the hood that covered his forehead, his annoying light-green eyes flickered. As far as I knew, there was only one person who could make such an insolent expression.
Andert.
I mean, not the fake Andert, but the real Andert standing in front of me.
“…Who are you?”
“Andert Fager.”
Taking a step closer naturally, he answered as if it was obvious and spoke.
“Looking at it like this, we don’t look the same at all.. Are your eyes on your butt or something?”
“Look at this idiot talking big. I thought I told you to call me sister?”
“How can I call you sister when you look like that?”
Looking back, was Andert’s face the last thing I saw in that basement?
The thought of this immature brat hiding in the underground where Mephisto’s heart was being kept made me furious.
“You little punk.”
I grabbed the fearless Andert by the collar and shook him vigorously.
“You regained your memories, but you didn’t bother to come and report! What made you crawl into the palace alone? You don’t value your life?”
Andert, who pushed my hand away, looked at me with a sly expression.
“Oh, who was it that almost threw away their precious life and had to receive help?”
“Don’t talk back.”
“I don’t want to.”
“I told you not to.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Hey, hey, calm down. Relax.”
Bernard patted my shoulder and separated me from Andert.
“Hmm. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a blood-tied family in Calepa. But were siblings originally always unable to communicate with each other? I’m suddenly confused.”
Muttering to himself absentmindedly, Bernard whispered to me as we walked shoulder to shoulder.
“Anyway, don’t be too hard on him, Miss Daisy. Hmm. It feels strange to call you Miss Daisy when looking at your handsome face. Your brother didn’t explore the palace out of mere curiosity. He was deeply concerned about you. That’s why he returned to Calepa to learn the sword from Urd. He was receiving proper guidance from Rogue, so don’t worry.”
Andert glared at Bernard and clenched his fist.
“Shut up.”
“…The sword?”
There was a time when the two of them had clashed swords. It was when we first infiltrated Calepa.
“Although you lack manners, your talent is quite remarkable. That’s why Urd seems to like you.”
“Stop babbling and shut your mouth, Bernard.”
“Or is it because your personalities are similar, and you have a lot in common?”
Surprisingly, after regaining his memories, Andert was said to have been receiving teachings from all three rulers of Calepa, including Urd.
He had gathered some information closely linked between the Berkeley-Gratten family and the palace, and by apparently using his own intellect, he discovered the location of the underground biological experiment lab within the palace.
No way. This idiot couldn’t be that smart.
“…All three of you, you said you would help me, right?”
Three pairs of eyes turned towards me.
“I have a request. I need one particular artifact to gather the final relic of Dian Cecht.”
Bernard, who had been staring into my eyes, suddenly burst into a cheerful laughter.
“Haha! You’re thorough and quick to take action. I like you, Miss Daisy. When it comes to artifacts, our church is the best. Let’s go somewhere warm and talk over a cup of tea.”
The five-member meeting, including Andert, finally came to an end after three hours.
Skuld asked if I would return to Weatherwoods, but instead of going back to the mansion, I headed towards the altar where Rue was sleeping.
For a while, I stared at Rue’s face, touched his cheek, and played with his fingers. Then, I curled up in the old wooden chair placed nearby and fell asleep.
Becoming a god and ascending to the sky.
Wasn’t it called ascension in other words?
‘If only your physical body is asleep, and your consciousness remains… I’d like to talk more to you.’
There were so many unfinished stories and things I wanted to talk about. I hope we can meet, even in a dream.
I don’t know if it was because my desperate wish was heard.
That early morning, I met Rue in my dream.
Daisy and Andert being average loathing siblings still makes me laugh, despite wanting to cry like 4 different times during this chapter. Andert is so real for practically saying ‘you’re uglier’ to the same face as him just because his sister is the one wearing it
Thank you for the chapter!
Following the thread, that everything what can complicate – will complicate, rumor about relics healing everything probably won’t be true. Since Rue proved that time manipulation is possible, I say, former god’s legacy can do it too.