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    Chapter 175: The Path Forward


    An extradimensional space shrouded in ck mist.


    – ck ck


    Amidst the sacred aura permeating 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 time.)


    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 something off about your visit, isn’t it, Aquanis?)


    “Did Ie here because I wanted to? Still, it must mean that man sent me as a sign of some caution towards you, right?”


    The woman approached Aeru with a rxed 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 came to inquire about my well-being, did you?)


    “Well, when you put it like that, it seems rather formal, doesn’t it? Then, let me get straight to the point.”


    The woman handed Aeru a white envelope.


    (Are they still using such crude methods 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 formed on his lips.


    (Are you nning to assert your dominance in the divine realm?)


    “In other words, it means that we will more boldly erase your traces.”


    (As an exile, it’s not my ce 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 Lumendel.”


    The woman, casually sitting on the altar, crossed her legs naturally.


    Then, leaning forward, she looked at Aeru with a secretive nce.


    “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 times. That says it all, doesn’t it?”


    (You seem to have quite an interest despite iming otherwise.)


    The woman said, covering her mouth with her hand.


    “It seems I can’t keep up with your understanding of women’s hearts, can I? Actually, I’m thinking of having some fun myself now. I’ve taken an interest in a certain childtely.”


    (For someone who always seemed to observe from afar, you seem surprisingly interested.)


    “I can’t just watch others y forever. It’s more fun to participate, isn’t it?”


    Like a child with newfound curiosity, the woman’s eyes sparkled.


    (Let me 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 demeanor.


    (Don’t assume 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 me 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 time so we can meet again. Aeru~!”


    With a wink of ambiguous meaning, 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 energying from the direction of the altar.


    “No guests were supposed toe to this cursed shrine, right?”


    Feeling somewhat puzzled, I approached the altar, but the only one there was Aeru, standing alone as if waiting for me with those eyes.


    (Why are you looking at me like that? Someone 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 seemed so confident that you would end it coolly, but your face doesn’t seem so cheerful now. Did you not like the oue?)


    “The oue 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 somehow.”


    (I merely 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 mes, there will be nond for you to stand on this earth where you can feelfortable.)


    “Isn’t that the same for you?”


    (You, too, n to hide and live in the extradimensional space like me, 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 same 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 time, I believe I would make the same choice without a doubt.)


    I understand.


    You would make the same choice even if you had to regress a hundred times.


    (Sometime, you’ll reach the final moments of your life again. When that momentes, I hope you won’t regret your current decisions, regardless of the oue.)


    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 ce.


    “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 restfortably…”


    Behind her stood several senior knights d in pristine armor.


    Louisnel couldn’t understand the current situation.


    While still not returning to the pce to intercept thepensation he was supposed to receive from the Garam Magic Society, his younger sister suddenly appeared with senior knights surrounding him.


    “You were nning to receive quite a sum ofpensation from the Garam Magic Society this time, weren’t you? You’re really capable, dear brother. How much were you nning to receive to even think of intercepting it?”


    “W-What are you talking about?”


    “Embezzling the royal property is a serious crime that cannot be tolerated, even if that person is a member of the royal family. Although you’ve done quite simr things before. This time, 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 me?”


    “I don’t intend to harm you. Don’t worry. You can just go somewhere other than the pce. To a very quiet ce 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 something I can’t evenugh 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 came just in time! These insignificant people here are trying to harm me! 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 meaning of this?”


    Louisnel knew exactly what this meant.


    “There’s no need for you to look at me with such shocked eyes, Your Highness.”


    “Just exin! Why are you with Violet instead of me!”


    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,manding 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 ovee them. If you are a prince, surely you can do it.”


    -Thump


    No words came out.


    The bottom of despair, which he thought he would never touch in his life.


    Reaching such a terrible ce 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 somewhat 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 same spot and an indifferent ck 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 n to do.”


    “What do you mean?”


    “I mean doing something 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 me. I’m filled with curiosity and anticipation.”


    Aschel smiled excitedly like a child looking forward to the future.


    Peopleter 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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