Episode 83. The Forbidden Secret
“Cowardly, Bercheria.”
As the clouds cleared, the figure of the Supreme Being appeared within them.
He watched Bercheria with a relaxed expression, as if he had been sitting there observing the world from the beginning.
“Cowardly, Bercheria.”
As the clouds cleared, the figure of the Supreme Being appeared within them.
He watched Bercheria with a relaxed expression, as if he had been sitting there observing the world from the beginning.
“Cowardly is not something you should say to a god you haven’t seen in so long, is it?”
Bercheria held her gaze fixed on the Supreme Being.
The god she remembered was never just or benevolent. He was cowardly and treacherous.
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t find another word to describe it.
“Why did you call me here?”
“It was both my calling and yours. Don’t overthink it. It simply means the time has come.”
People believe that everything in the world happens according to the will of the Supreme Being, but that’s a complete lie.
The Supreme Being simply creates what He desires, and the choices that follow are up to His creation.
Happiness, unhappiness, pain, sorrow, even joy.
Creation lives by its own choices.
"Bercheria. Don't be so harsh. I'm just spending time with you all."
"You've interfered too much in my life for that. Don't you remember?"
Until now, Bercheria had lived following the orders of the Supreme Being, oblivious to what had happened in the past. Even when the burden of being the Goddess of Weather felt heavy, she simply endured it, believing it to be her mission.
"What threat do you wish to make now? Will I become human again? Will I leave Lacrahan? Or will I lose my memories again?"
"I tell you again, it was all your choice. To become a god, to leave Murk, to erase your memories."
"I know. I know perfectly well. You cannot interfere with human will, so you somehow managed to force my response, 'I will do as you wish.'"
Every choice was Bercheria's.
If she didn't become a god, Murk would vanish without a trace. If she didn't leave Murk, it was clear as day that he would destroy himself.
If they hadn't erased their memories, they would have longed for each other and suffered every breath they took.
"You're cruel. Truly."
If there was one thing Bercheria had done wrong, it was loving God.
And being loved by God as a woman.
"My dear Bercheria. It would have been nice if that had settled everything, but nothing has been resolved for us yet."
The Supreme Being had already approached Bercheria.
A table and two chairs with elegant patterns appeared within the dirty tower.
The Supreme Being took out two wine glasses and poured red wine into them.
Bercheria's expression grew strangely sharp as she watched the wine gurgling and leaking out. She remembered seeing the same scene once.
Wildberry.
The wine the Supreme Being was pouring was incredibly rare, produced only once in the most bountiful years of the past several decades.
"Sometimes, looking at you, I wondered. What kind of person were you that Adkins fell for you and betrayed me on the day we spent eons together?"
The Supreme Being pushed a glass brimming with wine in front of Bercheria.
“I’ve been wondering this for a while.”
Although the Supreme Being created humans, he couldn’t interfere with their will.
Human will was something they themselves created, and thus was beyond the reach of the Supreme Being's power.
The same goes for the will of God.
The Supreme Being can only create, not arbitrarily dictate their actions.
“But you know, after watching for hundreds of years, I understand why you shine so brightly among humans.”
“...”
“Human death and birth are quite interesting. There’s a special routine. If this life were hell, heaven awaits the next. From beggar to prince. Humans gather and accumulate their aspirations during their short lives, preparing for their next rebirth.”
This, too, was a product of human will, and even the Supreme Being couldn’t control it.
Perhaps, living such a life, the desire to become a great person would build, and it seemed to build until, at some point, that wish would come true.
“But you were different.”
The wine flowed gently between the lips of the Supreme Being.
"Every life you have sparkled. It's truly remarkable. Every life sparkles just like a god who lives eternally as a human."
Adkins had recognized this specialness from the beginning.
She was a woman he couldn't help but love.
But paying the price was another story.
“You understand, now that you’ve become a god. What will happen when humans learn of the weaknesses of the gods? All the gods will be persecuted like you, powerless, and exploited by humans.”
“...”
“Humans are a cruel and vicious race, beyond your imagination.”
Bercheria’s two hands, which were lying next to the dress, dug painfully into her skin to stop her.
“Now, the time has come.”
The Supreme Being rose from his seat and faced Bercheria.
His body, two heads taller than hers, cast a shadow, obscuring Bercheria’s vision.
“I promise you this.”
Bercheria looked up at the god, who was dotted with white.
Gray eyes gazed down at her kindly.
“I will never leave you alone.”
“...?”
“No matter what happens, I will separate you from Adkins, and I will never tolerate your existence. I will never allow the two of you.”
Bercheria gritted her teeth as she watched the Supreme Being laughing and threatening her.
“I’m not going to let this happen to me anymore.”
“How ridiculous.”
“I feel even more sorry for you, who don’t know what love is.”
“You’re so arrogant, yet sometimes I feel it’s a shame to abandon you. Isn’t it really funny?”
The Supreme Being laughed and lifted Bercheria’s small chin with his fingertips.
“Now, go. My beloved daughter, Bercheria.”
“...”
“It’s war now.”
“Gasp!”
Bercheria’s eyes widened.
“Gasp, gasp.”
The air seemed to be suffocating her, making her breath catch in her throat.
“Are you okay?”
She raised her head and saw Lacrahan with a worried expression.
“Haa. Lacrahan.”
Bercheria stretched out her arms and hugged Lacrahan.
At that gesture, Lacrahan tightened his grip on Bercheria's arm.
Their hearts pounded, their hearts touching.
"Do you remember everything?"
Bercheria's head slowly moved at Lacrahan's voice.
"Yes."
"Yes. Yes."
He slowly stroked Bercheria's dry back.
"That's enough."
After a long time, the two finally recognized each other.
Black smoke escaped from Lacrahan's hand and permeated Bercheria's body.
They both felt the movement.
The moment when all the divine power that had been lingering within him was directed towards Bercheria.
"Lacrahan."
Bercheria's brilliant golden eyes, pulling away from him, slowly scanned his face.
"Murk."
Bercheria already knew how the absolute god, who cannot directly intervene in humans, would separate them.
The red wine he had poured for her.
She remembered the person who had tried to make Bercheria drink that wine in her past life.
The one who had used Princess Lilian to destroy Bercheria and greedily seize Murk.
“Adkins.”
Another human who loved him.
“Yes.”
Lacrahan cupped Bercheria’s face and kissed her deeply. He penetrated her warm flesh, her hot body heat enveloping him, and savored the intimate sensation to his heart’s content.
“Yes, Bercheria.”
In front of her, he was all those names, and he was also the complete Lacrahan.
When the Supreme Being asked him to give up his divine power and become human in exchange for Bercheria’s life, Lacrahan hadn’t hesitated for a moment. He was willing to pay any price to save this woman. As long as it wasn’t his own life.
His life existed solely for Bercheria.
To hold her, to press their lips together like this, to whisper “I love you,” was enough.
He needed nothing else.
“My Berche.”
The deeper their kisses, the more real the events they had experienced became.
From the moment they discovered each other and fell in love at first sight, to their first night together.
Only after their first night together did the two understand the meaning of the Supreme Being's prohibition against falling in love with a mortal.
Why had he been so afraid of a connection between a human and a god?
"Lacrahan."
When they parted their lips, light reflected off Bercheri's wet skin.
“I have become a god, but as a human, I already knew the secret of the Supreme Being, and that fact remains unchanged.”
She placed her hand on Lacrahan’s firm, well-toned chest.
“When a human spends a night with a god, they gain special powers, enabling them to kill the god.”
“It’s the only way to kill the god who lives forever.”
Bercheria held her gaze fixed on the Supreme Being.
The god she remembered was never just or benevolent. He was cowardly and treacherous.
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t find another word to describe it.
“Why did you call me here?”
“It was both my calling and yours. Don’t overthink it. It simply means the time has come.”
People believe that everything in the world happens according to the will of the Supreme Being, but that’s a complete lie.
The Supreme Being simply creates what He desires, and the choices that follow are up to His creation.
Happiness, unhappiness, pain, sorrow, even joy.
Creation lives by its own choices.
"Bercheria. Don't be so harsh. I'm just spending time with you all."
"You've interfered too much in my life for that. Don't you remember?"
Until now, Bercheria had lived following the orders of the Supreme Being, oblivious to what had happened in the past. Even when the burden of being the Goddess of Weather felt heavy, she simply endured it, believing it to be her mission.
"What threat do you wish to make now? Will I become human again? Will I leave Lacrahan? Or will I lose my memories again?"
"I tell you again, it was all your choice. To become a god, to leave Murk, to erase your memories."
"I know. I know perfectly well. You cannot interfere with human will, so you somehow managed to force my response, 'I will do as you wish.'"
Every choice was Bercheria's.
If she didn't become a god, Murk would vanish without a trace. If she didn't leave Murk, it was clear as day that he would destroy himself.
If they hadn't erased their memories, they would have longed for each other and suffered every breath they took.
"You're cruel. Truly."
If there was one thing Bercheria had done wrong, it was loving God.
And being loved by God as a woman.
"My dear Bercheria. It would have been nice if that had settled everything, but nothing has been resolved for us yet."
The Supreme Being had already approached Bercheria.
A table and two chairs with elegant patterns appeared within the dirty tower.
The Supreme Being took out two wine glasses and poured red wine into them.
Bercheria's expression grew strangely sharp as she watched the wine gurgling and leaking out. She remembered seeing the same scene once.
Wildberry.
The wine the Supreme Being was pouring was incredibly rare, produced only once in the most bountiful years of the past several decades.
"Sometimes, looking at you, I wondered. What kind of person were you that Adkins fell for you and betrayed me on the day we spent eons together?"
The Supreme Being pushed a glass brimming with wine in front of Bercheria.
“I’ve been wondering this for a while.”
Although the Supreme Being created humans, he couldn’t interfere with their will.
Human will was something they themselves created, and thus was beyond the reach of the Supreme Being's power.
The same goes for the will of God.
The Supreme Being can only create, not arbitrarily dictate their actions.
“But you know, after watching for hundreds of years, I understand why you shine so brightly among humans.”
“...”
“Human death and birth are quite interesting. There’s a special routine. If this life were hell, heaven awaits the next. From beggar to prince. Humans gather and accumulate their aspirations during their short lives, preparing for their next rebirth.”
This, too, was a product of human will, and even the Supreme Being couldn’t control it.
Perhaps, living such a life, the desire to become a great person would build, and it seemed to build until, at some point, that wish would come true.
“But you were different.”
The wine flowed gently between the lips of the Supreme Being.
"Every life you have sparkled. It's truly remarkable. Every life sparkles just like a god who lives eternally as a human."
Adkins had recognized this specialness from the beginning.
She was a woman he couldn't help but love.
But paying the price was another story.
“You understand, now that you’ve become a god. What will happen when humans learn of the weaknesses of the gods? All the gods will be persecuted like you, powerless, and exploited by humans.”
“...”
“Humans are a cruel and vicious race, beyond your imagination.”
Bercheria’s two hands, which were lying next to the dress, dug painfully into her skin to stop her.
“Now, the time has come.”
The Supreme Being rose from his seat and faced Bercheria.
His body, two heads taller than hers, cast a shadow, obscuring Bercheria’s vision.
“I promise you this.”
Bercheria looked up at the god, who was dotted with white.
Gray eyes gazed down at her kindly.
“I will never leave you alone.”
“...?”
“No matter what happens, I will separate you from Adkins, and I will never tolerate your existence. I will never allow the two of you.”
Bercheria gritted her teeth as she watched the Supreme Being laughing and threatening her.
“I’m not going to let this happen to me anymore.”
“How ridiculous.”
“I feel even more sorry for you, who don’t know what love is.”
“You’re so arrogant, yet sometimes I feel it’s a shame to abandon you. Isn’t it really funny?”
The Supreme Being laughed and lifted Bercheria’s small chin with his fingertips.
“Now, go. My beloved daughter, Bercheria.”
“...”
“It’s war now.”
***
“Gasp!”
Bercheria’s eyes widened.
“Gasp, gasp.”
The air seemed to be suffocating her, making her breath catch in her throat.
“Are you okay?”
She raised her head and saw Lacrahan with a worried expression.
“Haa. Lacrahan.”
Bercheria stretched out her arms and hugged Lacrahan.
At that gesture, Lacrahan tightened his grip on Bercheria's arm.
Their hearts pounded, their hearts touching.
"Do you remember everything?"
Bercheria's head slowly moved at Lacrahan's voice.
"Yes."
"Yes. Yes."
He slowly stroked Bercheria's dry back.
"That's enough."
After a long time, the two finally recognized each other.
Black smoke escaped from Lacrahan's hand and permeated Bercheria's body.
They both felt the movement.
The moment when all the divine power that had been lingering within him was directed towards Bercheria.
"Lacrahan."
Bercheria's brilliant golden eyes, pulling away from him, slowly scanned his face.
"Murk."
Bercheria already knew how the absolute god, who cannot directly intervene in humans, would separate them.
The red wine he had poured for her.
She remembered the person who had tried to make Bercheria drink that wine in her past life.
The one who had used Princess Lilian to destroy Bercheria and greedily seize Murk.
“Adkins.”
Another human who loved him.
“Yes.”
Lacrahan cupped Bercheria’s face and kissed her deeply. He penetrated her warm flesh, her hot body heat enveloping him, and savored the intimate sensation to his heart’s content.
“Yes, Bercheria.”
In front of her, he was all those names, and he was also the complete Lacrahan.
When the Supreme Being asked him to give up his divine power and become human in exchange for Bercheria’s life, Lacrahan hadn’t hesitated for a moment. He was willing to pay any price to save this woman. As long as it wasn’t his own life.
His life existed solely for Bercheria.
To hold her, to press their lips together like this, to whisper “I love you,” was enough.
He needed nothing else.
“My Berche.”
The deeper their kisses, the more real the events they had experienced became.
From the moment they discovered each other and fell in love at first sight, to their first night together.
Only after their first night together did the two understand the meaning of the Supreme Being's prohibition against falling in love with a mortal.
Why had he been so afraid of a connection between a human and a god?
"Lacrahan."
When they parted their lips, light reflected off Bercheri's wet skin.
“I have become a god, but as a human, I already knew the secret of the Supreme Being, and that fact remains unchanged.”
She placed her hand on Lacrahan’s firm, well-toned chest.
“When a human spends a night with a god, they gain special powers, enabling them to kill the god.”
“It’s the only way to kill the god who lives forever.”
This was a truth known only to those who had spent a night with a god.
A heart that hardened and spurted blood like a human’s when stabbed with a sword.
The Supreme Being, in front of Bercheria, who was a god and a body, became as finite as a mere human.
“The Supreme Being will not give up.”
So he made Bercheria a god, but he could not erase the secret.
Just as their love had returned to its original point.
Bercheria gently stroked Lacrahan’s black hair.
“I know who the Supreme Being will use this time.”
Lacrahan’s eyebrows twitched.
“The woman who followed Wildberry to me.”
“...The woman?”
“The woman who loved you in her past life, and who never gave up her longing for you through countless deaths and rebirths, is here.”
“...”
“Empress, Lawrence.”
“...!”
His furrowed brow hardened.
At the same time, a memory Lacrahan had long since forgotten surfaced.
The face that had vaguely wandered through his mind, tormenting him, became clearer.
The woman holding a fan he had seen in the tower of Bercheria in his childhood.
The woman who had been with Dipper in the northern forest.
And the obsessive face that had longed for him throughout his entire past life.
“...Lawrence.”
The woman who had been hiding behind the government, named Lyone, pretending to be innocent and weak, pretending to know nothing, deceiving everyone.
“So it was Empress Lawrence.”
All those faces were becoming clearer, forming a single image.
A heart that hardened and spurted blood like a human’s when stabbed with a sword.
The Supreme Being, in front of Bercheria, who was a god and a body, became as finite as a mere human.
“The Supreme Being will not give up.”
So he made Bercheria a god, but he could not erase the secret.
Just as their love had returned to its original point.
Bercheria gently stroked Lacrahan’s black hair.
“I know who the Supreme Being will use this time.”
Lacrahan’s eyebrows twitched.
“The woman who followed Wildberry to me.”
“...The woman?”
“The woman who loved you in her past life, and who never gave up her longing for you through countless deaths and rebirths, is here.”
“...”
“Empress, Lawrence.”
“...!”
His furrowed brow hardened.
At the same time, a memory Lacrahan had long since forgotten surfaced.
The face that had vaguely wandered through his mind, tormenting him, became clearer.
The woman holding a fan he had seen in the tower of Bercheria in his childhood.
The woman who had been with Dipper in the northern forest.
And the obsessive face that had longed for him throughout his entire past life.
“...Lawrence.”
The woman who had been hiding behind the government, named Lyone, pretending to be innocent and weak, pretending to know nothing, deceiving everyone.
“So it was Empress Lawrence.”
All those faces were becoming clearer, forming a single image.
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