Chapter 34

Midday. The sunlight reflected beautifully through the stained glass.

Beneath that radiant halo of light stood the sacred temple. Under the solemn statue of the Goddess of Justice, holding the scales of righteousness, a Saintess, veiled in white, was offering her prayers.

The scene was serene and beautiful, like a painting. The Saintess faintly lifted the corners of her lips in a smile.

“Have you come again today?”

There was no response. Moreover, there was no one around her. Yet, the Saintess was certain that someone was nearby.

“If you keep staring at me like this every day… my face might wear out.”

[……I wasn’t staring like that.]

A sigh-laden voice quietly denied her statement.

“Is that so?”

The Saintess smiled, and the formless wind let out a silent sigh.

A gentle breeze ruffled the Saintess’s pink hair. A ticklish touch brushed against her cheek.

Though unseen, the sensation was undeniable, making it impossible to reject the presence.

It had been two years since the Saintess had discovered the abandoned temple deep within the northern Solun Mountains in the Duke of Astrea’s territory in the east.

From the moment she first found the temple, the Saintess had not forgotten to visit once every fortnight to offer her prayers.

“Today, I came to inform you that I won’t be able to visit for a while.”

[…….]

The pleasant caress of the wind on her hair came to a sudden halt.

“I plan to visit the northern slums, so it will take at least two months.”

[……Why do you go out of your way to suffer? Even coming to this place so often. You could simply sit in your sanctum and pray.]

The tone was disapproving. The “sanctum” referred to was the shrine dedicated to the Goddess of Compassion, where the Saintess resided.

Prayers from followers were meant to empower the gods. The Saintess found it amusing that a “god” would discourage her from visiting their temple.

She playfully assured him not to feel lonely, promising to return later, but the wind remained silent once again.

After finishing her final prayer, the Saintess picked up the staff she had placed beside her and stood up.

“Well, I’ll see you later.”

[…….]

Leaning on her staff, the Saintess slowly exited the temple. Despite being blind, she always made her way to this secluded temple to offer her greetings—a peculiar Saintess indeed.

The wind swirled gently, lingering as though reluctant to see her go, watching her retreating figure for a while.

Longing for the next encounter with the Saintess, the wind eventually faded into the ether.

***

A single ray of light disappeared. When consciousness returned, the surroundings were dim with evening.

Moonlight seeped through a small window in one of the walls.

Had she passed out? The pain from earlier was gone. The excruciating agony of her joints snapping and every pore expanding… it was all gone.

The lack of pain felt almost miraculous. It seemed her earlier wish to simply die had been a lie.

“Sigh.”

She slowly rose and surveyed the unfamiliar surroundings.

The room was small and modest. Though slightly worn, it was evident that the host had put care into accommodating guests.

‘This doesn’t seem like the Duke of Astrea’s residence.’

She left the room and walked down the corridor. Passing through a hallway with an open view of the outside, she arrived at a garden.

The moonlight glimmered on a pond surrounded by cherry trees with long, drooping branches. Standing as if guarding the area was a statue of the praying Goddess of Compassion, exuding holiness.

Eched stood gazing up at the statue, seemingly lost in thought.

Suddenly, memories from before she had lost consciousness surfaced—the temple, the Saintess, and the wind. It must have been a scene from Eched’s past.

As she stepped forward, the rustling of grass caught his attention. Eched turned, and their eyes met.

“What are you doing out here at this hour?”

“Is your body alright?”

His voice was particularly low, perhaps because it was evening.

She shrugged her shoulders.

“Did I wake up later than usual this time?”

“No. It’s still the same day as the incident.”

“Well, that’s a relief. What about the auction house?”

“Everything’s been taken care of, including Gusto Avidita.”

“‘Taken care of,’ you say. That’s quite a harsh term to use for a person.”

She frowned at the unpleasant phrasing, prompting Eched to add an explanation.

“Don’t worry. It didn’t end badly.”

“…Thanks for being considerate.”

She glanced sideways at Eched with a reluctant expression.

It felt… like watching a child who had suddenly grown up. In the blink of an eye, the child had matured enough to comfort their parent.

‘When did he start paying attention to such details?’

Should I nag him not to lose his identity…?

‘Maybe it’s me who needs to step out of my books.’

Unintentionally, she faced an issue she had been avoiding.

She had to admit it now. The flow of this world had already veered far off its normal course, heading toward an unknown destination.

Life never goes as planned. Thinking too deeply about it would only harm her mental health.

‘Since everything’s already a mess, I’d better focus on taking care of myself.’

With that small resolution, she nodded to herself.

To do so, she needed to become stronger. After all, there was no guarantee that such incidents wouldn’t happen again.

‘Swordsmanship, self-defense, divine power training…’

She was pondering where to start when—

“Shaterian, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“What’s with the serious tone?”

“For the time being, I’d like you to move your residence to the Duke of Astrea’s estate.”

“Is this about my safety again?”

“No. This time, it’s about my survival. I think… I’ve become someone who can’t live without you.”

“….”

She was about to dismiss his words as sudden nonsense when her gaze fell on Eched’s tunic. He lifted it to reveal a bandaged side.

“I was struck by a cursed blade. The wound isn’t deep, so it’s expected to heal quickly, but the problem is my divine power.”

“…”

“My divine power is no longer easily sustained. And it feels… emptier than before.”

“So, in other words, you’ve become a body that’s inefficient and lacks durability?”

He nodded. It wasn’t something to brush off lightly. He had ended up like this while saving her, so she couldn’t just ignore it.

“Do you know how to break the curse?”

“We need to capture the one who cast it.”

“Wasn’t it Gusto? But Gusto is dead.”

“It wasn’t Gusto. We need to capture the dark sorcerer who was controlling him.”

“So, until we catch that dark sorcerer, I’ll stay at the Astrea Ducal Residence?”

“Exactly.”

Since it had come to this, she figured it was for the best.

“Well, if I’m giving something, I should get something in return. Teach me swordsmanship.”

Eched stared at her intently at the sudden request. 

Was swordsmanship too much…?

Feeling awkward, she rolled her eyes and added, 

“Or maybe self-defense…?”

‘Damn it.’

“Don’t look at me like that. I know it’s not a strange request.”

When she grumbled about him staring holes into her, a faint chuckle escaped him.

“Did you just laugh? Is this funny to you?”

When she teased him for finding her request amusing, he shook his head.

“Learning both wouldn’t be a bad idea. But I won’t teach you half-heartedly or go easy on you.”

“Ha. I don’t need that either, alright? As you know, I’m naturally talented. I’ll improve quickly, so don’t be surprised.”

I’ll probably beat you soon enough. Not that I ever have before.

She puffed out some empty bravado.

Eched sincerely encouraged her to do her best, which only annoyed her more.

She glared at his smiling face before extending her palm.

“First, replenish today’s divine power.”

“I can do that after your body has fully recovered.”

“Oh, really? Then…”

“Still, I’d like to hold your hand.”

“…What?”

Before she could lower her hand, he had already taken it. His ungloved hand softly interlaced with her fingers.

‘Why is he smiling like that?’

She didn’t like it. The satisfied look on Eched’s face as he stared at their entwined hands. The closeness of their faces.

“I didn’t give you permission.”

“Just for today. My side… hurts quite a bit.”

“….”

Using his injury as an excuse to leave me speechless… how unfair.

Muttering complaints about his underhanded tactics, she didn’t let go of his hand.

The touch of his fingers brushing against hers was oddly ticklish. The tickle was so persistent that it seemed to reach her heart.

“It’s late; you should sleep.”

Hand in hand, they walked side by side.

When they arrived at her room and Eched let go of her hand, her palm felt unusually cold.

“Goodnight.”

There wasn’t a hint of hesitation in his retreating back.

The faint crescent moonlight barely illuminated the dark surroundings, reminiscent of a confined prison.

She wiggled her cold fingertips before instinctively grabbing his back.

“…Stay with me until I fall asleep.”

“Shaterian, this is when you’re supposed to ask nicely.”

His tone was mockingly instructive, with a hint of laughter.

“…”

Her face immediately scrunched up in annoyance. Her flattened pride quickly puffed up in defiance.

“You said you wanted to make me want to marry you. This is when you show your gentle side to win me over.”

Isn’t that right, you clueless Divine Beast?

When she stomped her feet, Eched nodded as if conceding her point.

“Fine. Then reassure me already.”

“I’ll try my best.”

Feeling like a merchant who had just been swindled, he followed her into the room.

She took the bed while Eched settled into the chair beside her.

Silence filled the room. Whether it was because she had woken up once or because of Eched’s presence, sleep didn’t come easily.

Peeking out from under the blanket, she blinked at him until Eched sighed.

“Go to sleep.”

“I want to, alright…”

Mumbling, she closed her eyes tightly.

“Eched, don’t you have some divine power to help me fall asleep?”

“Hmm…”

He furrowed his brow as if troubled. When he finally spoke again, a low lullaby emerged.

“What is that…”

Despite her incredulous laughter, he continued singing the lullaby without faltering.

‘Well… it does sound nice.’

That night, she fell into a deep sleep, so deep that she wouldn’t have noticed if someone had carried her away.