Some time later, the child came to see him again with the Crown Prince.
They revealed that they had had the same dream at the same time on the same day and asked that the remaining relics be handed over to them.
It became clear that the child was a Saintess who had inherited his mother's will.
Did the mother really foresee everything and arrange this child for him?
He closed his eyes for a moment, lost in thought, and then soon accepted the child's request.
He wondered how far his mother's will extended, and he thought that if he could help the child who inherited her will, he might be able to atone for his sins, even if only a little.
In some ways, it was a journey that started with utmost selfishness.
But as the journey progressed, he began to feel something strange.
Shayne Veloce.
The child who inherited his mother's will was abandoned by his own family and country and became a sacrificial lamb for an absurd human sacrifice.
In some ways, it is a child with wounds similar to those of Ibis.
But the child did not show any darkness like Ibis.
Rather, it seemed like she had a genuine desire to save the country.
Bayen asked because it was so strange.
Why do you want to save this country and its people who abandoned you?
To that, the child replied as if it were obvious.
“Because I love it.”
"...love?"
“Yes. I love this empire where I was born and raised, and the people of this empire who share the same roots as I do. More than anything.”
That bright smile shocked him as if he had been hit in the back of the head with something huge.
And then he realized.
Just because we grow up in the same environment doesn't mean we all make the same choices.
Ah, it was truly all his own fault.
It was his own sin to take the future too lightly, a fate that even a goddess could not touch.
From that day on, Bayen made up his mind.
He will resurrect his mother, whom he had harmed with his own hands, and turn everything back.
No matter what the cost.
“What the heck is that...”
After listening to Bayen's long confession, we couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
I couldn't believe that the one who took the life of the goddess was the goddess's favorite.
Even he was our companion who continued to accompany us on our journey to save the goddess.
'What is this? It really hits the back of the head.'
I felt like I was completely in his hands.
But before I could vent my feelings of betrayal, there was something I had to ask first.
“Resurrection? Didn’t the goddess clearly say that she was destroyed?”
How can you revive a god who is already dead?
Bayen, who had been silent for a moment as I looked at him with a puzzled look, shook his head.
“No, Mother has not disappeared. She still exists. Inside me.”
“What is that...”
When I made a face that said I still couldn't understand, Bayen began to reveal a secret he had been keeping to himself.
The fact that he rebelled against his mother to free Elysia, but he could not bring himself to destroy her, so he absorbed her into his body.
So that he can resurrect her whenever he wants.
It was indeed a blessing, but questions still remained.
“Then why didn’t you resurrect the goddess until now? When you realized all your sins and wanted to turn back the tables, why didn’t you just do it? Then everything would have been back to normal much faster. Why...”
“...Because I couldn’t let go of Ibis and Elysia.”
“...”
“I am a traitor who has turned my back on my mother, my brothers, and everything in this world. All I have left is Elysia. I did not want to betray her either. Even if that were an extension of my sin.”
“Ha, what is that...”
I'm angry.
His story of betraying his mother to free his beloved lover was completely understandable.
That choice caused a lot of damage to the inheritance, but it was understandable up to that point.
He also probably didn't know what consequences his choice would have.
But for his choice to be dismissed as a mere mistake, he should have resurrected the goddess at the very moment he realized something was wrong.
If that had been the case, the deaths of Saintess Margaret and my mother might not have been prevented, but the people of the empire would not have suffered from the disaster for so many years.
'How many lives have been lost in vain over the past 13 years of disaster?'
The only reason he didn't stop it was because he didn't want to betray his lover.
I clenched my fists, my hands shaking with anger.
I wish I could just punch Bayen in the face.
But I needed his help to resurrect the goddess anyway, so I suppressed my pounding heart and asked in a cold voice.
“Then what about now? Are you ready to betray your lover now?”
Bayen was silent for a moment at my question.
Then, after a long time, he slowly nodded.
“I have already committed enough sins. I do not wish to increase my sins any further. It is late, but I will turn back everything now.”
As he spoke, looking straight into my eyes, there was not a single trace of falsehood in his eyes.
Just as I was about to demand that the goddess be resurrected, Bayen spoke in a low voice.
“But not now. I cannot commit the unfilial act of killing her daughter with my mother’s own hands.”
Then he looked into the eyes of me, the Crown Prince, and the others one by one, and bowed.
“So, would you mind helping me out? I know it’s shameless, but I’m asking you this.”
At that heartfelt plea, we exchanged glances without saying a word.
After some discussion, we finally decided to deal with Ibis before resurrecting the goddess.
As Bayen said, it was too horrible to have a child killed by his own mother.
So we headed towards where Ibis was.
Despite chasing Ibis for quite some time, I was unable to find her hiding place, but fortunately, Bayen was able to track her location.
I followed Bayen, my hands clenched and unclenched in anxiety.
“I’ve collected all four of the holy relics, but I’m not sure if I can win. After all, I have the power of the goddess, as well as the power of darkness inherited from my father.”
Bayen glanced back at me and reassured me.
“You don’t have to worry. Mother copied her power and divided it into the holy relics, and the fact that all four holy relics have been gathered means that you can use Mother’s power in its entirety. No matter how strong Ibis is, he can’t overcome the power of the goddess. Darkness can’t overcome light.”
“If that’s the case, then that’s fortunate...”
Still unable to completely shake off my anxiety, I let out a deep sigh, and someone carefully grabbed my hand.
He was the Crown Prince.
“Don’t worry, Shayne. You will never be in danger. I will never let you be.”
"Your Highness."
When I averted my eyes, feeling a little heated at those words that felt like they contained a firm determination, the Crown Prince smiled cheerfully and caressed my cheek with the back of his hand.
As we were doing this, it felt like we were really a couple, and I couldn't help but laugh.
At that moment, a bolt of lightning struck from the side.
“Hey, you cheeky things! What are you doing in a place with so many eyes watching you? Don’t be so noisy!”
“I can’t look at you because your eyes are so ugly.”
Could it be because of the Crown Prince's hand that held mine tightly?
Delton's growls and Danos's loud voices also felt as beautiful as the singing of a famous opera singer.
'Love is a good thing.'
That was when I was laughing heartily.
Bayen, who had been leading us from the front, suddenly stopped walking.
As I turned my gaze from the Crown Prince straight ahead, a large mansion with a black roof came into view.
“Is this the place?”
“Yes, this is Elysia’s hideout.”
“Even though it’s on the outskirts, there’s such a large mansion in the forest of the capital city... It’s strange. I’m sure there would have been rumors about this...”
“Because it’s surrounded by Ibis's barrier. Ordinary humans can’t see it, so there’s no way rumors would spread. You can see it because you’re a Saintess.”
"...Yes."
I understand, but on the other hand, I feel a bit disappointed.
It's dark under the lamp, I didn't know it was so close.
As I was looking around the mansion with discontented eyes, Bayen waved his hand in the air.
Then, an ear-piercing roar rang out, and something shattered and fell from the empty air.
Ibis' barrier has been broken.
“Go in.”
We followed Bayen, who was walking back with a dark expression, into the mansion.
Just like the exterior, the interior of the mansion was extremely dark.
The only light in the hallway, where not a single ray of sunlight entered through the blocked windows, was the occasional candle hanging on the wall.
As we were walking down that gloomy hallway, Bayen stopped in front of a door and looked back at us.
“Can I ask you one favor?”
“Please, what is this...?”
“Before I wrap everything up, I want to meet Elysia and have one last talk.
They revealed that they had had the same dream at the same time on the same day and asked that the remaining relics be handed over to them.
It became clear that the child was a Saintess who had inherited his mother's will.
Did the mother really foresee everything and arrange this child for him?
He closed his eyes for a moment, lost in thought, and then soon accepted the child's request.
He wondered how far his mother's will extended, and he thought that if he could help the child who inherited her will, he might be able to atone for his sins, even if only a little.
In some ways, it was a journey that started with utmost selfishness.
But as the journey progressed, he began to feel something strange.
Shayne Veloce.
The child who inherited his mother's will was abandoned by his own family and country and became a sacrificial lamb for an absurd human sacrifice.
In some ways, it is a child with wounds similar to those of Ibis.
But the child did not show any darkness like Ibis.
Rather, it seemed like she had a genuine desire to save the country.
Bayen asked because it was so strange.
Why do you want to save this country and its people who abandoned you?
To that, the child replied as if it were obvious.
“Because I love it.”
"...love?"
“Yes. I love this empire where I was born and raised, and the people of this empire who share the same roots as I do. More than anything.”
That bright smile shocked him as if he had been hit in the back of the head with something huge.
And then he realized.
Just because we grow up in the same environment doesn't mean we all make the same choices.
Ah, it was truly all his own fault.
It was his own sin to take the future too lightly, a fate that even a goddess could not touch.
From that day on, Bayen made up his mind.
He will resurrect his mother, whom he had harmed with his own hands, and turn everything back.
No matter what the cost.
***
“What the heck is that...”
After listening to Bayen's long confession, we couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
I couldn't believe that the one who took the life of the goddess was the goddess's favorite.
Even he was our companion who continued to accompany us on our journey to save the goddess.
'What is this? It really hits the back of the head.'
I felt like I was completely in his hands.
But before I could vent my feelings of betrayal, there was something I had to ask first.
“Resurrection? Didn’t the goddess clearly say that she was destroyed?”
How can you revive a god who is already dead?
Bayen, who had been silent for a moment as I looked at him with a puzzled look, shook his head.
“No, Mother has not disappeared. She still exists. Inside me.”
“What is that...”
When I made a face that said I still couldn't understand, Bayen began to reveal a secret he had been keeping to himself.
The fact that he rebelled against his mother to free Elysia, but he could not bring himself to destroy her, so he absorbed her into his body.
So that he can resurrect her whenever he wants.
It was indeed a blessing, but questions still remained.
“Then why didn’t you resurrect the goddess until now? When you realized all your sins and wanted to turn back the tables, why didn’t you just do it? Then everything would have been back to normal much faster. Why...”
“...Because I couldn’t let go of Ibis and Elysia.”
“...”
“I am a traitor who has turned my back on my mother, my brothers, and everything in this world. All I have left is Elysia. I did not want to betray her either. Even if that were an extension of my sin.”
“Ha, what is that...”
I'm angry.
His story of betraying his mother to free his beloved lover was completely understandable.
That choice caused a lot of damage to the inheritance, but it was understandable up to that point.
He also probably didn't know what consequences his choice would have.
But for his choice to be dismissed as a mere mistake, he should have resurrected the goddess at the very moment he realized something was wrong.
If that had been the case, the deaths of Saintess Margaret and my mother might not have been prevented, but the people of the empire would not have suffered from the disaster for so many years.
'How many lives have been lost in vain over the past 13 years of disaster?'
The only reason he didn't stop it was because he didn't want to betray his lover.
I clenched my fists, my hands shaking with anger.
I wish I could just punch Bayen in the face.
But I needed his help to resurrect the goddess anyway, so I suppressed my pounding heart and asked in a cold voice.
“Then what about now? Are you ready to betray your lover now?”
Bayen was silent for a moment at my question.
Then, after a long time, he slowly nodded.
“I have already committed enough sins. I do not wish to increase my sins any further. It is late, but I will turn back everything now.”
As he spoke, looking straight into my eyes, there was not a single trace of falsehood in his eyes.
Just as I was about to demand that the goddess be resurrected, Bayen spoke in a low voice.
“But not now. I cannot commit the unfilial act of killing her daughter with my mother’s own hands.”
Then he looked into the eyes of me, the Crown Prince, and the others one by one, and bowed.
“So, would you mind helping me out? I know it’s shameless, but I’m asking you this.”
At that heartfelt plea, we exchanged glances without saying a word.
***
After some discussion, we finally decided to deal with Ibis before resurrecting the goddess.
As Bayen said, it was too horrible to have a child killed by his own mother.
So we headed towards where Ibis was.
Despite chasing Ibis for quite some time, I was unable to find her hiding place, but fortunately, Bayen was able to track her location.
I followed Bayen, my hands clenched and unclenched in anxiety.
“I’ve collected all four of the holy relics, but I’m not sure if I can win. After all, I have the power of the goddess, as well as the power of darkness inherited from my father.”
Bayen glanced back at me and reassured me.
“You don’t have to worry. Mother copied her power and divided it into the holy relics, and the fact that all four holy relics have been gathered means that you can use Mother’s power in its entirety. No matter how strong Ibis is, he can’t overcome the power of the goddess. Darkness can’t overcome light.”
“If that’s the case, then that’s fortunate...”
Still unable to completely shake off my anxiety, I let out a deep sigh, and someone carefully grabbed my hand.
He was the Crown Prince.
“Don’t worry, Shayne. You will never be in danger. I will never let you be.”
"Your Highness."
When I averted my eyes, feeling a little heated at those words that felt like they contained a firm determination, the Crown Prince smiled cheerfully and caressed my cheek with the back of his hand.
As we were doing this, it felt like we were really a couple, and I couldn't help but laugh.
At that moment, a bolt of lightning struck from the side.
“Hey, you cheeky things! What are you doing in a place with so many eyes watching you? Don’t be so noisy!”
“I can’t look at you because your eyes are so ugly.”
Could it be because of the Crown Prince's hand that held mine tightly?
Delton's growls and Danos's loud voices also felt as beautiful as the singing of a famous opera singer.
'Love is a good thing.'
That was when I was laughing heartily.
Bayen, who had been leading us from the front, suddenly stopped walking.
As I turned my gaze from the Crown Prince straight ahead, a large mansion with a black roof came into view.
“Is this the place?”
“Yes, this is Elysia’s hideout.”
“Even though it’s on the outskirts, there’s such a large mansion in the forest of the capital city... It’s strange. I’m sure there would have been rumors about this...”
“Because it’s surrounded by Ibis's barrier. Ordinary humans can’t see it, so there’s no way rumors would spread. You can see it because you’re a Saintess.”
"...Yes."
I understand, but on the other hand, I feel a bit disappointed.
It's dark under the lamp, I didn't know it was so close.
As I was looking around the mansion with discontented eyes, Bayen waved his hand in the air.
Then, an ear-piercing roar rang out, and something shattered and fell from the empty air.
Ibis' barrier has been broken.
“Go in.”
We followed Bayen, who was walking back with a dark expression, into the mansion.
Just like the exterior, the interior of the mansion was extremely dark.
The only light in the hallway, where not a single ray of sunlight entered through the blocked windows, was the occasional candle hanging on the wall.
As we were walking down that gloomy hallway, Bayen stopped in front of a door and looked back at us.
“Can I ask you one favor?”
“Please, what is this...?”
“Before I wrap everything up, I want to meet Elysia and have one last talk.
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