Episode 128
Seeing his face turning red, I chuckled and said to Heron,
“Heron, could you knock that idiot out? He’s noisy.”
A water spirit materialized and choked the High Priest, who sputtered and then collapsed.
I stepped on the High Priest’s back and looked at Heron. He smiled and asked,
“What are you going to do now?”
I tilted my head and thought for a moment.
“I was going to completely ruin the ceremony… but I wanted to get revenge on these people who exploited a power meant to protect and help others for their own selfish gain. I think I’ve done enough.”
I lightly stepped off the High Priest and looked out the window.
“But I should make it more… official. Take me to where the people are gathered.”
“Where, exactly?”
“To the high place where the High Priest addresses everyone.”
The spirits, which had been excitedly circling me, began to glow faintly and led the way.
I followed them down a long corridor and saw people waiting at the end. It seemed the commotion here hadn’t reached them.
“Is there anything wrong with my appearance?”
“There’s nothing wrong, just something missing.”
“Ah, thank you.”
I had been too preoccupied to think about it, but he handed me a robe to cover my face.
I put it on and walked forward. A cool breeze ruffled my hair, and all eyes turned towards me.
“Where’s His Holiness, and who is this woman…?”
“The ceremony is starting too late.”
I heard murmurs and complaints. I checked the robe covering my face and shouted,
“There will be no more divine power flowing through this land. There are no miracles!”
The murmurs grew louder, questioning my words.
I heard people demanding the High Priest’s presence, and I saw the priests, finally realizing something was wrong, panicking.
Ignoring them, I continued,
“I am the gods’ representative. The gods are angered by the Holy Kingdom’s corruption and abuse of divine power. The High Priest and his priests have persecuted the being bestowed upon them by the gods and made deals with those seeking miracles for their own personal gain. This is an unforgivable sin in a land blessed by the gods.”
They knew best what those sins were. So I wouldn’t protect this wretched place any longer—
“Therefore, the gods have decided to abandon this land.”
I won’t protect it anymore.
I reclaimed the divine power I had bestowed upon this land. White light rose from the ground and gathered towards me.
The people, who had been looking at me with disbelief, stared at the spectacle with their mouths agape.
As the surrounding light flowed into me, my heart ached, and my body screamed in pain. I barely suppressed a groan and tried not to stumble.
‘This hurts even more than transforming into a human.’
I clenched my fists and took deep breaths, trying to control my ragged breathing. I couldn’t collapse now, with all eyes on me.
I finally regained my composure and realized that it was over. The divine power that had permeated this land, the divine power stored in the jewel, it had all returned to me.
All that was left was to return to where I belonged.
I heard the approaching footsteps of the enraged priests. I was about to hurry and leave with Heron’s help when I heard a voice from below,
“Lily!”
It was a faint voice, barely audible amidst the crowd, but it reached my ears clearly.
Cesar. He had come to meet me, to guide me back after everything was over.
I hurriedly looked down, searching for him. Why did he shine so brightly among the chaotic crowd?
I couldn’t miss him. That bright mana was unique to him.
Our eyes met, and Cesar, as if waiting, opened his arms.
“Huh?”
‘Why is he opening his arms? Is he telling me to jump from this height?’
Even as I looked at him questioningly, Cesar just waited, his arms still open.
‘He’s unbelievable.’
I was reckless, but Cesar was even more so. But I didn’t dislike it. I couldn’t help but be drawn to him, waiting to catch me.
A smile spread across my face, and I briefly turned to Heron.
“Sorry, someone is waiting for me, so I’ll be going first. I’ll leave the rest to you.”
He nodded silently.
I turned my back on Heron and jumped without hesitation. The wind enveloped me, a feeling of freedom like a bird taking flight.
The shackles and chains were broken, and the closed cage opened.
The bird soared, returning to its nest, to his warm embrace.
“Ha. That was quite a spectacle.”
The Crown Prince, now Emperor, chuckled as he received the report.
A woman had interrupted the Divine Ceremony, declared that the gods had abandoned the Holy Kingdom, jumped from a high place, and disappeared in a flash of light.
He knew who that reckless woman was and why she jumped.
“I was wondering why he came to me so urgently after the hunting competition.”
The Emperor recalled Duke Clovis’s visit.
He had talked about the Holy Kingdom and made him an offer.
‘The Holy Kingdom is called the land blessed by the gods, but it’s actually sustained by Lily’s divine power. But she no longer intends to protect it.’
‘That’s interesting. So the Holy Kingdom will soon lose its power and crumble.’
‘Yes. But if that happens, they’ll try to take Lily back. And other countries, trying to uncover the reason behind the Holy Kingdom’s sudden downfall, might also learn about Lily’s existence. I don’t want that.’
‘So what do you want me to do?’
‘Officially acknowledge Lily’s existence within the Empire, punish those who exploited her power, and bring the Holy Kingdom’s territory under the Empire’s control, Your Highness.’
‘And what do I gain from this?’
‘If Lily chooses to protect the Empire, it will be safe from foreign invasions and monster attacks. And the Empire can acquire the Holy Kingdom’s territory without any effort before other countries realize they’ve lost their power.’
It was a beneficial offer, so the Emperor readily accepted it.
“He asked me to take care of it at the right time, so it’s time to begin the cleanup.”
He had already deployed Imperial Knights near the Holy Kingdom, so everything would proceed as the Duke wished.
And he had evidence of their corruption.
“It’s a good thing Duke Clovis isn’t my enemy.”
He handed him a stack of documents detailing the dark side of the Holy Kingdom, the so-called land blessed by the gods. His smile at that time had been chilling.
He did have one question, though.
‘I thought he would just burn the entire place to the ground, considering his personality.’
He didn’t know if the Duke’s personality had softened after becoming close to that bird…
But he didn’t have the time to worry about them.
“What did you talk about that makes you so happy?”
His wedding to the woman who smiled as brightly as spring was fast approaching.
“Sylvia, how can I not be happy, knowing the day I’ll be with you is drawing near?”
Sylvia blushed and kissed him.
“I feel the same way, Aaron.”
The two of them, smiling at each other, looked as beautiful as a painting.
“Ugh.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Ever since I absorbed all that divine power, I’ve been feeling listless.”
“That’s not something I can help you with. I wish you hadn’t pushed yourself so hard.”
Cesar stroked my head as he spoke, and I grumbled,
“But I knew you were waiting for me, even coming to meet me personally, so how could I not push myself? You even opened your arms, as if telling me to jump into them.”
“That’s true, but you jumped into my arms, so it seemed like you were also eager to see me… Was I wrong?”
I couldn’t help but laugh at his words, my previous sulkiness forgotten.
That day, after declaring that I would no longer protect this place, I had jumped from the highest platform, and a bright light, as if waiting, had enveloped me.
I closed my eyes against the bright light, and when I opened them, I saw his gentle, smiling face. I felt his strong arms holding me securely.
A smile unconsciously crept onto my face.
“You came to meet me.”
“Yes. The days after you left were agonizing, remembering your tears, even though it was an act.”
“You missed me that much?”
I teased him, seeing his unusually handsome face, perhaps because it had been a while. He replied seriously,
“Yes. I missed you, Lily.”