I WAS The Rank–1 Hero Chapter 81: Preparation [2]

How much had she lost?

I wanted to stop.

I really did.

But I couldn’t.

Because at the end of the day, I had a family too.

A family that once lost .

I didn’t want them to lose again.

I didn’t want to see my mother cry again.

I didn’t want to see Elise lonely again.

I was scared.

Scared of everything.

I didn’t even know if my immortality truly worked, if I die again.

So…

I pressed on.

I asked her once more.

I forced the words out of my mouth.

"What about Rex?" My voice was quieter this ti. "What was he to Olympus?"

The tension in the room shifted.

Lilith sighed deeply.

Then, for the first ti since this conversation started between us—she smiled.

Not her usual smile.

But a bitter smile.

"You’re persistent," she said. "You know that?"

I smirked.

"I’ve been told."

There was a reason so god was involved in Lucy’s kidnapping—

Lilith didn’t tell everything.

She finally answered , and she left with only one sentence.

"Just know that all of this is connected to the Child of Prophecy... to you."

That was it.

And yet, those words alone gave enough to think further.

I could draw so many possible conclusions just by that one sentence. So many paths of reasoning.

Lilith didn’t want to tell more.

That much was clear.

But why? I wonder.

She had already shown signs. The flickers of emotion that she wasn’t supposed to have. Those little hints of sothing buried deep inside her.

It’s as if—

’She was bound by sothing.’

Or… was she simply afraid?

She felt fear.

Fear was an amusing thing. A force that dictated the actions of all living beings in the universe, from the weakest creature to the strongest deity. It was fear that made them hesitate before their death.

Fear that made rulers betray their allies. Fear that made even gods falter. It stripped away logic, forcing the minds of others to seek survival above all else. It twisted the hearts of the righteous and crushed the will of the proud.

And now…

It left even a divine being like Lilith standing before , hesitant, avoiding my gaze.

"..."

"..."

The bedchamber fell silent.

Neither of us spoke.

Lilith was gripping her wrist tightly, her back resting against the wall. Her head was tilted down, her long silver-white hair let loose casting a shadow over her expression— it was an expression I couldn’t really see.

Why did she suddenly go quiet?

’Did I make her angry?’

I shouldn’t have pushed her so hard.

Maybe she had a past connection with those two nas, a wound that was deep buried in her, and I scratched to the surface.

And yet…

There was still one last question I wanted to ask.

I was being shaless. I knew that.

But I had to know.

"Tell this—"

"Now, now, don’t bully my maid."

A familiar voice interrupted just as I was about to speak.

It was Nathalia.

She stepped through the doorway, her blindfolded eyes first landing on Lilith before shifting toward .

"She has her reasons not to share it with others," she said calmly.

I clenched my jaw.

I knew that.

But—

"If you truly want to know more…" Nathalia’s lips curled into an amused smile. "Perhaps try being a little more polite and nice to her?"

"..."

I felt pathetic.

Being lectured by her, of all people.

But she wasn’t wrong.

I had pushed hertoo far.

I needed to approach this differently.

Nathalia chuckled as she stepped closer, resting a hand atop Lilith’s head and ruffling her hair gently.

"Treat her to her favorite food," she suggested. Placing her index finger on her lips. "She’ll eventually open up to you."

"Food?"

I raised an eyebrow.

"Hehe~" Nathalia chuckled lightly. "She really likes apples."

"..."

Really?

I turned my gaze toward Lilith.

She was now hiding her face even more, but I caught the faintest glimpse of redness on her cheeks.

Did she adore her master?

The relationship between these two… I still didn’t understand it.

Nathalia turned back to .

"The teleportation artifact is ready," she announced. "In one hour, I will teleport you and all your companions."

I exhaled a quiet breath of relief.

"Alright."

This phase was complete.

Now, it was all up to Ruby.

She had to gather all the students in one place.

I had to move now.

I turned to Nathalia.

"How will I contact you?"

It was necessary to do so.

If she truly planned to teach about demons, gods, and authority, I needed a way to reach her.

I can’t just co to the demon continent, every ti I need to learn sothing.

Nathalia lifted her hand—the sa one that had the strange tattoo.

"Our souls are connected," she said. "You can reach whenever you need to be. Just concentrate your Elental Essence on this region."

I looked down at my own wrist.

The tattoo with its strange patterns…

I followed her instructions, focusing my Essence on that spot.

The mont I did that, the tatoo glowed—a soft golden light pulsing beneath my skin.

At the sa ti, Nathalia’s tattoo responded, emitting the sa glow.

Interesting.

So they resonated with each other.

"I got it."

Now that everything was set, it was my ti to leave.

I turned to both Nathalia and Lilith.

"It’s ti for to go now."

But just as I took a step forward, Nathalia stopped —

"Lilith will guide you."

"!?"

"What?"

"This continent is crawling with demons," Nathalia continued. "Many of them might be aware of you by now. You did run around mindlessly, after all."

I froze.

Was she serious?

I didn’t mind Lilith tagging along.

But… wouldn’t it be weird if she followed behind with both of her wings flapping?

It would attract too much attention.

’You are such an idiot.’

Sera’s voice echoed in my head.

’What?’ I asked.

’She’s not following you all the way to the human continent, idiot,’ she scoffed. ’She’s only guiding you until all of you are safely teleported.’

Yeah, I knew that!

’No, you didn’t!’ she snapped.

"Alright, I don’t mind." I said, finally agreeing.

Lilith would be guiding , huh?

This would be… interesting.

To be Continued….