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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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The moment he heard the title, Goddess of the Moon, his emotions became incredibly complicated. It sounded as if she was saying that he was the reason the regressions had been repeating.
He could remain calm because she resembled Adriana, and because he already knew the regressions were related to the Four Dragons.
“…I thought you would be angry, but you’re quite calm.”
“Waking up is more important than venting my anger here. As you said, you’re the Goddess of the Moon, but how am I supposed to believe that?”
“I believe knowing about your regressions is reason enough. And if you still can’t believe it, doesn’t my appearance serve as proof?”
He already knew he couldn’t help but believe her. The moment he saw her face, he had made the connection to the Goddess of the Moon.
Doubting her here would only stall the conversation and get him nowhere. He probably had to believe her for the conversation to progress.
He still couldn’t get used to the Goddess’s face after she removed her hood. He instinctively knew she wasn’t Adriana, but they still looked alike.
As if sensing his gaze, the Goddess smiled faintly, just like Adriana would, and spoke quietly.
“I know you have many questions, but I can’t wake you up right away. It would be quite painful if you woke up immediately, and you probably wouldn’t be able to fight properly against Kaitel.”
“You know about Kaitel too.”
“It’s embarrassing, but I’m aware that people worship me. Even though I hid after being defeated by the Four Dragons, I’ve known why the people of the empire seek me.”
But the reason she couldn’t appear… The Goddess brushed her hair aside and quietly gazed into the void.
The mark on her exposed forehead was a black symbol that looked ominous at first glance.
At the same time, the moonstone within his body reacted, and the Goddess, seeming to sense it, looked at him and moved her lips.
“I was defeated by the Four Dragons a thousand years ago, and I was sealed away, stripped of my power, separate from the Four Dragons. I was simply lucky to be able to seal them.”
“You didn’t seal them after defeating them?”
“The wounded Four Dragons escaped to another dimension, and it became known as a sealing because they were unfortunately trapped in that dimension. All I did was take some ‘measures’ in preparation for their return.”
The Goddess pointed at his chest, and he realized that the ‘measures’ she spoke of was the moonstone embedded within his body.
It wasn’t an artifact created by the Four Dragons?
The Goddess immediately began to explain that question as well.
“The moonstone is an artifact of the Four Dragons, but I infused it with my power, anticipating that the Four Dragons would escape to another dimension. So that someone could fight against them, even if they returned through the moonstone.”
“So that someone was me?”
“That’s right. Although the Four Dragons played a significant role in you obtaining the moonstone, it was my power that prevented them from entering your body.”
The more he listened to her explanation, the more he wanted to say something to the Goddess.
It was true that the regressions were caused by the Four Dragons, but the fact that his mind hadn’t broken and that he had felt the pain so vividly… it meant that the Goddess had orchestrated it.
He was about to lash out, Goddess or not, but his anger subsided at the sight of her face, identical to Adriana’s. It felt like a sin to yell at that face.
He had done something quite regrettable. It was highly likely that Adriana would come to the North.
The fact that he wasn’t dead was surely a miracle brought about by Adriana’s divine power.
“I’m not that curious about the regressions.”
Regressions?
Of course, it was the most significant of all the suffering he had endured. But investigating the regressions wouldn’t change anything.
The Four Dragons had possessed Kaitel instead of him, and he already knew that his countless deaths were related to the Four Dragons.
There was no benefit beyond confirming that Arwen’s research was correct.
Then, the most important thing here was why he was still alive, the reason she had summoned him here, and whether this mindscape had been prepared from the beginning.
“What happened to Adele?”
He had asked the same question several times. The Goddess, as if trying to read his mind, pondered for a moment, then shook her head and smiled wryly.
Yes, she probably wasn’t alright.
There was no way she would be fine after seeing him die right in front of her. She would either be blaming herself, be devastated, or… be acting indifferent to hide her pain.
“…Adele Igrit was very emotionally dependent on you. From the moment she regained her memories of the past, you became a very special existence to her. As for the feelings of the women who shared your regressions, you probably know better than I do.”
He scratched his cheek at her intense gaze. It wasn’t like he had done it on purpose, it couldn’t be helped.
He had needed someone to lean on, and they had become connected because their feelings were mutual.
It was the same with Adele and Miragen, just like it had been with Adriana in this life.
“If Adriana hadn’t arrived in the North a little sooner, we wouldn’t be able to see each other. If Adele Igrit hadn’t poured all her mana into you, if Adriana, upon hearing about you, hadn’t immediately headed to the Northern fortress, if you hadn’t finished off all the demons… many things would have crumbled.”
A miracle.
That was how the Goddess explained why he was still alive, and he couldn’t refute it. A miracle that could only occur when all the gears meshed perfectly.
He couldn’t deny it. He understood his situation. He was still alive thanks to Adriana, who happened to be in the North, but he wasn’t in any condition to wake up.
In this situation, there was probably only one thing the Goddess wanted from him. To listen to her story and end this situation. In other words, to kill the Four Dragons.
“Then, what am I supposed to do now?”
He asked, sitting down, and the Goddess smiled quietly and spoke, wearing a seductive expression that Adriana could never make.
“I’ll tell you now.”
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The Northern wind was colder than ever.
The biting wind, like a winter gale despite it being autumn, cut at their cheeks, and the soldiers shivered. It wasn’t just the cold weather that made them feel this way.
The news of Robert Taylor’s death alone was enough to bring another wave of cold to the entire region.
“So, what happened?”
When the adjutants, all wearing somber expressions, gathered, Lothos, his eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep, spoke.
He had heard that the Saint had arrived, but he didn’t know what had happened after that.
He was already uneasy about having formed a rebel army to march on the capital, and now they had to stay in the North for a week in this state.
He felt like his blood was running cold. If this much time had passed, there should have been some reaction from the capital, but nothing had happened so far, which was also unsettling.
He didn’t deny that things could only start moving once Robert Taylor woke up. The expression he had seen on the Grand Duchess’s face last time was one he had never seen before, even after spending so much time with her.
…Anyone who would suggest marching on the capital after seeing that must have something wrong with them.
The only consolation was that nothing had happened yet, and that Robert was still alive thanks to the Saint’s help.
Even though he hadn’t woken up yet, everyone thought he would recover soon if the Saint was with him.
“There’s still no sign of him waking up.”
“…Is that so? What about the Grand Duchess?”
“She’s a mess. She’s been by his side every day, refusing to eat, so she’ll probably collapse soon. Anyone would think they’re married.”
Married.
They needed to put aside such hopeful fantasies for now. After all, the Grand Duchess wasn’t in a good state either.
The Saint was also holed up in Robert’s room, refusing to come out, and if they left things like this, both of them would surely break down.
He wanted to come up with a solution, but he felt helpless, trying to revive the two of them while Robert lay unconscious.
What should they do?
The adjutants who spoke all wore dark expressions, and the fact that he was the only one who could make a decision made him feel even more gloomy.
The Adele he had seen last time had looked like she was on the verge of death. She would collapse like a puppet with its strings cut if he touched her, or burst into tears while looking at Robert’s face.
It wasn’t the first time she had collapsed from exhaustion after crying for a long time.
The Saint had also collapsed on the spot after seeing Robert Taylor’s condition.
Having so many women around wasn’t always an advantage. It had become a headache in many ways.
If Robert didn’t wake up, two people would break down… or three, judging by the rumors.
He wasn’t sure, but if the rumors were true, and he was also involved with the Princess in the capital…
“There will be a series of funerals.”
“Huh?”
“No, it’s just… if Robert Taylor dies like this, the capital might explode.”
The Saint, the Princess, and the Grand Duchezs of the North. He wasn’t sure how many people could withstand it if those three joined forces to kill someone.
Of course, that would only happen if they regained their spirits.
Lothos sighed, rubbed his forehead, and then had to look up again at the presence he felt from afar.
There was no reason for anyone to be running around in the hallway right now, so what gave them the nerve?
The door burst open, revealing a soldier panting. It was the same soldier who had reported the Saint’s arrival, so he recognized him immediately.
Lothos, who had asked casually what was going on, froze.
“Duke Robert… he just woke up!”
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