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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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As time passed, he felt his body recovering. Adriana and Adele must have been working hard.
Miracles weren’t something a god created. They could lend their power, but the act itself depended on willpower.
“About a week has passed in the outside world. I have much to tell you, but time is short, so I’ll only tell you the important things.”
The Goddess told him about Kaitel’s current state. She said that the assimilation that had begun in the first regression was now on the verge of completely consuming his mind.
The assimilation accelerated with each regression, meaning that it was probably almost complete by the time this regression began.
“Then, the reason the starting point of my regressions was always the same…”
“That was the point when the Four Dragons’ assimilation began. Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do besides preventing your assimilation.”
So, it meant there hadn’t been any divine intervention in what he had built up so far.
It was a bit disappointing, he could have changed more if it had been earlier. But he couldn’t blame the Goddess.
It was thanks to her that he hadn’t been assimilated by the Four Dragons.
“The Four Dragons are not gods. It’s impossible for humans to defeat a deity, but the Four Dragons were born as magical beasts.”
“Magical beasts… like demons?”
“Magical beasts are originally weaker than demons. It’s just that the Four Dragons are a bit special.”
The Four Dragons were born as predators.
They devoured their own kind, then demons, growing in power, and they even controlled space and time.
How could they be treated as mere magical beasts? He couldn’t defeat a god.
It was a restriction placed upon humans, but the Goddess said that the Four Dragons weren’t gods.
“And this time, they’re manifesting in a human body. The Four Dragons’ goal is to deny my existence. They’re using Kaitel to seize control of the imperial family, and the Emperor is also… practically Kaitel’s puppet. His soul was taken long ago.”
“The Emperor too.”
He hadn’t realized that something was wrong with the Emperor.
It was because he hadn’t been wary of the Four Dragons when he met the Emperor. If even the Emperor was in that state, it wouldn’t be strange if Miragen was in danger.
His eyes sharpened, and the Goddess, as if trying to reassure him, spoke quietly.
“If you’re thinking about the Princess, she’ll probably be fine. She possesses a mind that the Four Dragons can’t easily assimilate, naturally because she inherited my bloodline strongly.”
“Bloodline?”
“Not just anyone can be involved in the regressions. Even if you have a deep connection, you have to inherit the power of the Four Dragons or myself, who are connected to the regressions.”
He understood Adriana becoming a Saint after receiving the Goddess’s power.
Miragen had inherited the Goddess’s bloodline and received the memories, as she had just said… then what about Adele?
The Goddess, hearing his question, looked at him as if she was surprised he didn’t know. Adele hadn’t inherited the Goddess’s bloodline.
According to the Goddess, there had to be some kind of connection to inherit the memories.
Just where… had she inherited them from?
“Lunatic. One of the divine weapons I created.”
He tilted his head at the name Lunatic, then realized it was the sword Adele always carried and chuckled hollowly. It had seemed unusual, so it was a divine weapon created by a god?
It made sense that it was more powerful than most weapons. It wasn’t just some nameless sword, but a divine weapon.
Then, it made sense that she retained her memories even within the regressions.
She had wielded the Goddess’s power countless times, so it must have seeped into her unknowingly.
The reason she couldn’t recall all the memories? It was because she wasn’t a direct descendant.
On the other hand, the reason Adriana could see all the memories was because she had received power directly from the Goddess, in addition to the Casket of Memories.
“Kaitel received power from the Four Dragons, so he must know about your regressions. It was the same in your previous lives, he was trying to kill you.”
“No matter what I did, I always died-”
“That’s because he anticipated what you would do. He’s not foolish enough to be unable to prevent what he already knows.”
Then, he could understand these countless regressions. It wasn’t simply fate twisting things, but Kaitel personally ending his life.
He felt a little empty, but he thought it was better this way. It meant that everything would end if he just defeated Kaitel.
Of course, since so much time had passed… he would probably have to fight the Four Dragons directly.
“There’s not enough time to fight the Four Dragons.”
“I know. But it’s also true that we can’t delay any longer. I know you’re not ready, but this is your last chance. There will be no more resurrections. Remember that you have to end everything in this one life.”
He knew.
That’s why he was saying this. He wasn’t hoping for a victory achieved through someone else’s help, he was simply anxious.
Would it be alright to march on the capital like this? Even if he recovered from his injuries and woke up, he might return to square one and break down.
Such thoughts sometimes crossed his mind.
The Goddess looked at him and smiled faintly, but that didn’t alleviate his anxiety.
Yes, it was his duty. He had started this, so he had to see it through to the end. Being anxious wouldn’t change anything.
Time continued to flow even now, and Adele, Adriana, and Miragen—
…were waiting for him.
He took a deep breath, and his mood improved slightly. He felt his completely healed chest and quietly raised his head.
The space began to collapse. The sky, which had been filled with white starlight, was once again covered in shadows, and the ruined temple began to crumble.
The space shattered like scattering dust in the blowing wind.
Little by little.
He frowned at the fading presence of the Goddess, and the Goddess, still with Adriana’s face, smiled faintly and spoke.
Even her voice, similar to Adriana’s, bothered him. It was a little gentler than the Adriana he knew, but its essence remained the same.
Perhaps Adriana’s voice originated from here.
“Adriana is happy to have met you. In the countless repeating cycles, the chance for her and you to connect was only possible once.”
“…Is that so?”
“It’s a blessing. I assure you, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime connection for both of you. Unlike the other women…”
Her eyes turned cold when she mentioned the other two, suggesting that even she couldn’t help but feel affection for her child. But he couldn’t differentiate between them now.
They were all precious to him, and that was why he could throw himself away for them.
The Goddess’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if she understood his feelings, but it was only for a moment.
Her fading form signified the disappearance of her power, and the Goddess sighed softly and moved her lips.
“This is as far as I can help you. I’ve told you everything I needed to tell you, and the solution to defeating the Four Dragons… is already within you.”
“The solution.”
“You can do it. I wouldn’t bet everything on something impossible, so the proof…”
Tap.
The Goddess’s finger touched the area where his heart was. He flinched at the cool, refreshing shock, and stared blankly at the Goddess, feeling the power flowing through his heart. It felt like something that had been empty was being filled.
This… must be his heart regenerating.
“The child I entrusted everything to will succeed. I have no more regrets.”
“Are you disappearing completely?”
“I’m not disappearing. As long as there are those who believe in and remember me, this name will remain in the heavens. A time may come when I’m forgotten, but I will at least be able to witness the end of everything.”
Then, there was no need to mourn her disappearance. It would be troubling if the Goddess, who looked exactly like Adriana, disappeared.
He met the eyes of the Goddess, who was fading faster after giving him her power, but he didn’t add anything.
What she had said was enough, and he had a feeling that words wouldn’t change anything now.
The world crumbled. The mindscape shattered, the Goddess completely disappeared, and silence returned.
He carefully took a step forward onto the winding white path that stretched out before him.
He would probably wake up when he reached the end.
It was… time to wake up.
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“…A ring?”
Adriana, noticing the ring on her finger after a week had passed, looked at Adele.
Although her eyes reflected nothing, Adele coughed slightly, thinking that those clear eyes looked particularly cold.
“I put it on. There were… some things that happened.”
“I’m not saying this to blame you. It’s just… it seems like you’ve finally become a little honest.”
The fact that Adele, who had been hiding her feelings the most, had done this meant that things would change considerably once Robert woke up.
The strange tension between them would probably disappear. Instead, it was highly likely that a more blatant situation would unfold.
Well, that wasn’t what Adriana was worried about. After all, she was the one who had taken Robert’s first time in this life.
It was a thought that would horrify Adele, but Adriana sighed calmly and gently stroked Robert’s forehead.
“When will he wake up? His wounds are healed, but he hasn’t regained consciousness.”
“…He’ll wake up soon. I believe that.”
How wonderful would that be?
She chuckled, but she couldn’t bring herself to smile genuinely, so Adele forced a smile and slowly touched her forehead.
In that silence, she heard a very faint sound. A sound no one else noticed, the sound of life returning.
Thump.
In the darkness, Robert’s life force began to return.
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