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Chapter 175: The Path Forward
An extradinsional space shrouded in black mist.
– Clack clack
Amidst the sacred aura perating the space, the unfamiliar sound of a woman’s footsteps echoed.
Seated at the altar, Aeru smiled as he spotted the approaching woman from across the aisle.
(We have a guest from the divine realm after a long ti.)
A dignified woman with flowing hair, walking confidently, approached, her gaze fixed upon the owner of the space, and she too smiled subtly.
(It seems there’s sothing off about your visit, isn’t it, Aquanis?)
“Did I co here because I wanted to? Still, it must an that man sent as a sign of so caution towards you, right?”
The woman approached Aeru with a relaxed smile.
“Despite being an exile, you look quite pleasant, don’t you? Are you getting used to being in charge?”
(It’s not like you ca to inquire about my well-being, did you?)
“Well, when you put it like that, it seems rather formal, doesn’t it? Then, let get straight to the point.”
The woman handed Aeru a white envelope.
(Are they still using such crude thods in the divine realm?)
“He’s a man who dislikes change, but what can I do?”
Aeru tore open the envelope and read its contents slowly, his expression initially neutral, but soon a strange smile ford on his lips.
(Are you planning to assert your dominance in the divine realm?)
“In other words, it ans that we will more boldly erase your traces.”
(As an exile, it’s not my place to say, but other gods may not take kindly to it, do they?)
“They might find it more annoying than pleasing. After all, we don’t have as much interest in creatures like you or Lundel.”
The woman, casually sitting on the altar, crossed her legs naturally.
Then, leaning forward, she looked at Aeru with a secretive glance.
“Although I said that, the trends among the gods are changing these days. Even Lord Sabulom, who usually remains aloof, has possessed a young creature several tis. That says it all, doesn’t it?”
(You seem to have quite an interest despite claiming otherwise.)
The woman said, covering her mouth with her hand.
“It seems I can’t keep up with your understanding of won’s hearts, can I? Actually, I’m thinking of having so fun myself now. I’ve taken an interest in a certain child lately.”
(For soone who always seed to observe from afar, you seem surprisingly interested.)
“I can’t just watch others play forever. It’s more fun to participate, isn’t it?”
Like a child with newfound curiosity, the woman’s eyes sparkled.
(Let give you one piece of advice.)
Aeru spoke with a heavy tone, causing the atmosphere to solemnize.
The corners of her mouth drooped slightly at his unusually serious deanor.
(Don’t assu that just because you’ve chosen a creature, they’ll obey your every word.)
The woman’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
(These creatures, created in our image, might act unexpectedly. You never know when or where they might act out. So, always be cautious and watch over them.)
“…”
(Keep my words in mind, O Goddess of the Azure Waters…)
– Thud thud
While the unusual conversation between the two continued, another set of footsteps could be heard at the end of the corridor.
“There’s an unsettling vibe from those footsteps. Since there’s no need for to reveal my face, I’ll just step aside.”
She rose from the altar and turned around.
“Please don’t disappear, and live on for a long, long ti so we can et again. Aeru~!”
With a wink of ambiguous aning, she vanished from the space without a trace.
Watching her disappear, Aeru shook his head as if weary.
* * *
As I walked absentmindedly, I felt a strange energy coming from the direction of the altar.
“No guests were supposed to co to this cursed shrine, right?”
Feeling sowhat puzzled, I approached the altar, but the only one there was Aeru, standing alone as if waiting for with those eyes.
(Why are you looking at like that? Soone might think you were with a woman, huh?)
[You’re just hanging out…]
Kaeram muttered under her breath, unable to even joke about it.
(You seed so confident that you would end it coolly, but your face doesn’t seem so cheerful now. Did you not like the outco?)
“The outco itself was more than satisfactory.”
It was just that the process was a bit unsatisfactory.
(Didn’t I tell you? Through your touch, countless others may return and reach out to you again. Whether you wanted it or not, you have received their kindness.)
“It sounds like you intended it sohow.”
(I rely spoke based on my experience.)
Aeru responded calmly, raising an eyebrow.
(So, what now? Having stepped out of the fence that protected you and into the uncertain flas, there will be no land for you to stand on this earth where you can feel comfortable.)
“Isn’t that the sa for you?”
(You, too, plan to hide and live in the extradinsional space like , don’t you?)
Well, that’s right.
He responded with a shrug.
(I don’t know if I felt this way in my previous life when you were there, but I probably said the sa thing.)
Inappropriately, he spoke with a serious look.
(I don’t want to strongly advise you on the path you’re taking. It’s because of that path that I am who I am now. But I have no regrets. Even if I were to go back to that ti, I believe I would make the sa choice without a doubt.)
I understand.
You would make the sa choice even if you had to regress a hundred tis.
(Soti, you’ll reach the final monts of your life again. When that mont cos, I hope you won’t regret your current decisions, regardless of the outco.)
Whether it’s a happy ending or a bad one, don’t regret the path you’ve chosen.
It’s a very obvious thing to say, but it’s not easy to keep.
But,
“Even if the path I’m taking goes against the flow of this world, it doesn’t matter.”
Because I’m not the type to care about that in the first place.
“I believe the path I’m taking is the truth.”
* * *
“What on earth are you doing, Violet!!”
Louisnel was furious, like an erupting volcano.
In front of him sat Violet, stroking her lips with her fingers and smiling.
“Don’t be so angry, dear brother. Didn’t I tell you before? I’ll help you let go of everything and rest comfortably…”
Behind her stood several senior knights clad in pristine armor.
Louisnel couldn’t understand the current situation.
While still not returning to the palace to intercept the compensation he was supposed to receive from the Garam Magic Society, his younger sister suddenly appeared with senior knights surrounding him.
“You were planning to receive quite a sum of compensation from the Garam Magic Society this ti, weren’t you? You’re really capable, dear brother. How much were you planning to receive to even think of intercepting it?”
“W-What are you talking about?”
“Embezzling the royal property is a serious cri that cannot be tolerated, even if that person is a mber of the royal family. Although you’ve done quite similar things before. This ti, even His Majesty won’t let it slide, right?”
With both hands on her hips, Violet stretched her neck forward.
Louisnel trembled all over as if he had seen a grotesque monster.
“W-What do you intend to do to ?”
“I don’t intend to harm you. Don’t worry. You can just go sowhere other than the palace. To a very quiet place where no one’s hand will reach you…”
As if telling her not to say absurd things, Louisnel jumped up and shouted.
“You, you’ve finally crossed the line! Do you really think you’ll get away with this? Even if I can’t do anything to you right now, my followers won’t let you off! I guarantee they won’t let you go for even three days!”
Even in the midst of such a situation, Violet sighed as if in distress at the confident assertion.
“As Aschel said. I never thought you couldn’t see the situation to this extent as my brother. As a sibling, it’s sothing I can’t even laugh at.”
“W-Whose words? Why Aschel to you?”
Amidst the not-so-peaceful conversation between siblings, a man entered with a creaking sound.
“Aschel!”
Louisnel’s face brightened suddenly upon spotting him.
“You ca just in ti! These insignificant people here are trying to harm ! Let’s go back to our true form…!”
His face turned stiff like a rock as soon as he saw Aschel standing next to Violet, who brought knights to harm him.
Confident as always, Aschel smiled warmly at him, and the knights showed no sign of enmity.
“Aschel? What’s the aning of this?”
Louisnel knew exactly what this ant.
“There’s no need for you to look at with such shocked eyes, Your Highness.”
“Just explain! Why are you with Violet instead of !”
Seeing Louisnel already losing his senses, Aschel spoke calmly.
“Do you know when people truly experience significant growth?”
“What?”
“It’s when they reach the bottom of despair called rock bottom. If Your Highness truly desires to reign as the center of light, you must experience the darkness of the abyss firsthand.”
“W-What are you saying? Why should I fall into the abyss! I am Prince Louisnel! Always reigning at the top, commanding you all…!”
“Exactly.”
Aschel nodded satisfactorily.
“Reveling in the past glory to deny the given reality… It’s exactly the image of Your Highness that I wanted.”
Louisnel’s face began to contort like crumpled paper.
“Fear and despair. Then overco them. If you are a prince, surely you can do it.”
-Thump
No words ca out.
The bottom of despair, which he thought he would never touch in his life.
Reaching such a terrible place was beyond words, so dreadful it couldn’t be described.
With a drooping face, Louisnel left the room under the escort of the knights.
“To experience growth, one must experience the darkness of the abyss… What a nice saying. Have you experienced that darkness through this incident, Sir Aschel?”
Even with a sowhat malicious question, Aschel maintained his unwavering smile.
“Do you know what you must do first to escape the abyss?”
Violet tilted her head.
“It’s acknowledging and recognizing the situation you’re in. Only then can you see what you need to do.”
Approaching the window, Aschel looked up at the night sky with a determined heart.
Stars always shining brightly in the sa spot and an indifferent black fog hanging between them.
If you didn’t clear away the fog, the brilliantly shining star would end up being nothing more than an invisible illusion.
“If Cyan says so. Do everything you can. So, that’s what I plan to do.”
“What do you an?”
“I an doing sothing that no one has ever done or even thought of. Cyan said he knows my true nature, but I wonder how much he really knows about . I’m filled with curiosity and anticipation.”
Aschel smiled excitedly like a child looking forward to the future.
People later called the incident in Brenu “the day the mist unveiled the light.”
The worst day that no one wished for and not even expected.
From that worst day, seven years have passed.
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