Erginius, whose face was lit by the sunset, and the fairy queen, now a crimson flower, exchanged awkward glances. Lucy, or rather, Ruel, who was borrowing her body, nodded after hearing the explanation of the plan from Erginius.
"Not bad for something that came from a virgin’s head. But hey, are you confident? If you stray even a little, you might end up committing suicide with the world in the sorrow of a rejected love."
"That’s not something you need to worry about. Even if I die, I’ll die alone."
Seeing the resolve etched in his eyes, Ruel kicked Erginius in the knee, forcing him to kneel, then placed a hand on his head.
Since Lucy’s divine power had long since run out, she could no longer offer any special blessings, but she could still pray that fortune would favor the one who chose the path of hardship.
"...Thank you."
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Erginius, expressing his gratitude with a light smile, immediately tried to rise and bow to everyone, but Benedick, who was standing next to Lucy, stopped him.
"You can thank us once everything is over. It’s not like you have no intention of coming back, do you?"
"Ha."
Erginius, his eyes widening at those words, saw the others around him nodding and bit his lip before finally smiling.
"Understood. I’ll be off then."
"You don’t need to come back. The only one who would like a virgin fool like you is a soon-to-be discarded old hag."
"Haha. Still, I must offer my thanks."
After Erginius and the fairy queen, along with the bound god of darkness in their hands, entered the forest’s heart, Ruel exhaled a long breath and stretched.
Perhaps because he was borrowing Lucy’s body, a few blue-colored windows appeared before him, but Ruel didn’t touch them. This was something Lucy had to confirm for herself.
"...Ruel."
"What’s up? Dumb troll? Are you worried that your precious daughter might be in trouble? Pfft. You’re big on the outside, but small on the inside."
He was about to tell her that her daughter was sleeping soundly inside, so she needn’t worry, but somehow, that sentence turned out quite differently.
Even when staying within Lucy’s body, Ruel had felt it—the distortion of this power was impossible to calculate.
"Could it be... that you taught Lucy such a tone?"
"Is that bothering you? I guess you really liked it? Was it so enjoyable being scolded by your daughter?"
Ruel, seeing Benedick narrowing his eyes, bit his lip.
No! I only met Lucy two years ago, how could I have taught her such a strange tone? This is unjust!
"It’s just a joke. You came to Lucy’s side around two years ago, didn’t you?"
"...How do you know that? Creepy. Really."
"From that time, Lucy’s behavior suddenly changed, and the way she behaved was completely different from the Alrn family. We had a vague suspicion that something had influenced her."
Seeing Benedick laugh, realizing that Ruel, the knight, was the one who had affected Lucy, Ruel exhaled again.
If you knew this already, stop showing off! It’s like father and daughter, isn’t it?
"By the way, Lucy’s tone hasn’t changed, even though you, Sir Ruel, have used her body."
"What does it matter? If it were up to the crappy god’s taste, I’d wish they’d hurry up and die."
Ruel, almost forced into speaking impiously, quickly closed his mouth as Benedick chuckled.
"Definitely feels like Ruel now. Lucy, if she were here, would be acting all cocky."
"Hey, troll. Wanna play a secret game with me? I can show you something that an animal like you would probably like."
"Ah. You mean keep it a secret from Lucy? Alright. A master’s dignity must be maintained."
Having spent a long time with Lucy, Ruel’s interpretation was fast.
But how could someone who understood so quickly still show such a pitiful face when Lucy spoke?
He’d probably understand exactly what was being said.
"It depends on who’s speaking," Ruel replied.
Ah, so when it’s his daughter, even if he understands, it hurts. I get the feeling of it now.
"Umm."
"Oh, you really do look like a pitiful saint. Goodbye."
"Pitiful?"
"Paybee! It’s distorted! You know that!"
"Pitiful..."
When the wounded Paybee bit her lip, the surrounding gazes turned to Ruel. It was unjust from Ruel’s perspective.
Why should I be blamed for words I didn’t even say! How did Lucy manage to endure this?
Sigh. To smooth things over, I’ll have to comfort that child.
I can guess what she wanted to ask, so maybe I should answer it.
"Trying to act all self-pitying, worried about what others think of you, raising your self-esteem like a pig."
That child probably wanted confirmation on whether she’s doing well on her own.
Even if she regained her uprightness after spending time with Lucy, that uprightness was only born from depending on her.
Her doubts about herself couldn’t have disappeared completely.
So now, she turned to me, the hero, for answers.
It’s not hard to give the answer she wants, but that will only make her depend on me more.
The final answer must be something she finds herself.
I wonder if that meaning reached her. From the look on her face, it seems she understood to some extent.
Ugh. It’s really strange. Why is the child who already sought her own answer and had it recognized by the god still wandering like this?
Was it the bright light of Lucy that had a negative impact?
If only she knew that she was shining enough on her own.
"Hey. Hey. Ruel."
Just as Ruel breathed a sigh of relief, Frey quietly stood next to him.
"What is it, you beastly brat?"
"Training."
"...Are your eyes just for decoration? Do you think I, weak and fragile, have the energy to play around with a beast like you?"
If it were up to me, I’d like to indulge her a bit, but the body I’m borrowing from Lucy has already reached its limits.
What I’m doing now is more of an effort to drag up the remaining strength.
If I keep pushing my body like this, I’ll have no words to say when Lucy complains later.
"Yeah, I’ll do it."
"Troll. I—"
"If you don’t, I’ll tell Lucy everything. How you were a cocky brat like her."
...That’s troublesome.
Perhaps because we’ve grown closer, lately, Lucy has been looking for every opportunity to tease me.
But if the things I’ve said while borrowing her body are exposed in this situation...
Just imagining it is horrifying. How many days and nights will I be teased for this?
"Got something to say?"
"Sigh. The barking dog is so noisy it’s annoying, but not now. Wait, mutt."
"King?"
Ruel, who turned his gaze away from Frey, looked up at the sky.
Night was approaching.
Thanks to that, I was able to record an incredibly entertaining story.
While grinning and watching the scenery of the world below, he frowned when an unwelcome guest arrived with a loud crash.
"This place is always so musty. It’s making me feel contaminated, I want to vomit."
"This is the optimal structure for storing books."
"Hah. What a funny excuse. You just like this trash heap. It’s moldy."
"If you don’t like it, get out, raven."
"That nickname was allowed by only one person."
The goddess of beauty and art, Lapetos, met Ganshu’s gaze with a piercing look sharper than a needle.
"Hah. What brings you here, Lapetos?"
"I’m here to stop those two. Cooperate. Their beautiful story hasn’t yet disappeared from this world."
"Your involvement might dirty that story."
At Ganshu’s remark, Lapetos closed her mouth.
She, too, knew that the story those two chose was the most beautiful scenery.
However, the fact that she came here was proof that she cared for them and those who stayed on the earth.
"Just trust and watch, you foolish raven."
"Hey, you. What did I just—"
"I’m not saying trust them. I’m not saying trust me. I’m saying trust the great god. This is the landscape he chose through his apostles."
Just as Lapetos was about to explode in anger, she pressed her lips together, closed her eyes, then combed her hair up and sat across from Ganshu.
"Try to mess this up."
"Haha. Are you going to hit me?"
"I’m going to dress you in the special clothes I prepared. My child recently drew some interesting clothes."
"...Interesting clothes?"
With a bad premonition, Ganshu asked again, but there was no answer. The goddess of beauty and art was already too absorbed in watching the night approaching the earth.
The goddess’s apostle spoke of how the darkness would affect the one who would receive its power.
If that’s the case, could the opposite not be possible?
After all, when you affect something, you must be prepared to be affected by it as well.
Even darkness can’t escape this rule.
Having come to this conclusion, Erginius asked the fairy queen to dream of him.
"In the realm of dreams, please keep thinking of me."
Even though it wasn’t by her will, the fairy queen had been dealing with darkness for hundreds of years. Her will must have already seeped deeply into the darkness.
On top of that, the fact that the fairy queen was a concept so close to divinity was splendid.
Her will would exert a far greater influence than any other living being.
"If you think of me, I will surely be able to be that."
Erginius spoke with academic intent, but from the fairy queen’s perspective, the story was entirely different.
To always ask her to think of him in dreams?
So that she could always be herself?
The queen knew that he didn’t mean it that way, but still, her face flushed.
"Whoah. Are you going to face me with the power of love? Very impressive."
The mocking voice of the evil god, watching from the side, made both of them stiffen, but soon, they both smiled at each other.
To think of facing the power of love—how poetic!
"Erginius, are you prepared?"
"Since the moment I spoke, I’ve been ready. How about you?"
"No need to ask. I’ve only thought of you for hundreds of years."
"This is quite a wonderful coincidence. So have I."
They smiled at each other, then simultaneously turned their gaze to the evil god.
"Enjoy your time. I hope that ending suits the darkness."
The moment the evil god finished speaking, his head collapsed, and darkness poured out around him.
The darkness, having lost its master, searched for a new one. In the middle of the undulating waves of darkness, the two of them faced each other.
"Your Majesty, would you lend me your hand for a moment?"
Erginius grasped the hand the fairy queen extended. His magic surged toward her body.
The fairy queen didn’t refuse his magic but welcomed it, even though she knew it was the very magic that had caused her hundreds of years of nightmares.
"How long should I dream this time?"
"You must be prepared."
"...I see."
It’s fine. There’s no problem. This dream is not only hers. If I’m with her, hundreds of years will pass with ease.
"When you open your eyes again, you will wander through an eternal dream."
"Oh? Is that a metaphor?"
"Don’t point it out! Do you know how much I’ve struggled to suppress my embarrassment?!"
"Hehe. But, you know, the Erginius I know is infinitely far from that kind of metaphor."
The surrounding darkness thickens. The sunset fades, and the approaching night becomes ever clearer.
"Is there nothing you want to say before you leave?"
"I have plenty to say to you."
"Is that so? Well, then, I’ll take the first move. I love you, Erginius. Even after all these years."
Before Erginius could say anything, the fairy queen’s lips silenced his breath.
"...Your Majesty."
"I told you, I’m no longer pure."
In the veil of darkness, with a sweet smile that could enchant even the moon, she embraced Erginius’s shoulder and closed her eyes.
The fairy queen dreams.
A woman in love dreams.
A dream of love that never grows tired, even after hundreds of years.