Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

Tears streamed down her face, soaking her blood-stained clothes. As she looked at me, who had responded loudly, and just before she closed her eyes… I felt she seemed to let out a faint smile.

Like a child who had cried herself to sleep, she eventually fell into a deep slumber.

"...! How did the wound...?"

The wound on Miss Herren's chest suddenly disappeared as she closed her eyes and fell asleep—no, it was the wound on her chest that had disappeared.

Is it a side effect of "magic"?

Was it thanks to this that the wound was healed?

Or was it because her physical body was once replaced by the "daughter of the god"?

Although the underlying principle is unclear, Miss Herren has managed to save her life.

That being said, her situation is still far from optimistic.

When the [Unique Secret Technique (Magic)] expires, Miss Herren's wounds will likely reappear, and she will soon lose her life.

"I won't let that happen...!"

I picked her up and stood up.

I never want to lose anyone again, nor will I let anyone lose their life.

No matter how much people despise me for being arrogant, talking nonsense, or spouting lies, or call me pathetic, shameless, or ignorant—I will continue to speak out!

I will definitely save everyone!!

"I will definitely save you!"

I carried Miss Herren and ran forward.

They rushed out of the meditation room and headed deeper into the mansion.

They headed straight for the rooftop where the goddess was.

*

he came.

The boy walked over here.

After the Goddess (Helen) activated her "magic," Freya saw the scene through her shared five senses—and couldn't help but furrow her brows.

"Oh it."

"exist."

"Go quickly and save Herren! I will not allow her to go to the Heavenly Realm like this!"

She sat in a chair and gave orders to her waiting attendants.

"That's right, I won't let her get away with this. How dare she act on her own... I'll punish her myself, so you absolutely must save her."

"However, your guards..."

"It's alright. The other children don't need to stay here either. Tell them all to leave. Go now."

“…As you command.”

Faced with the God's insistence, Ota quickly left the room.

Then you can feel the guards and followers gradually moving away.

The goddess was left alone in the silent shrine.

And soon, he will arrive at this room where only the goddess awaits.

"Bell..."

*

I ran forward with all my might.

I carried Miss Herren, who was limp and collapsed in my arms, and ran away as fast as I could.

Behind me, the sounds of swords clashing and roars from the ongoing battle to the east continued. The meditation room was located on the west side of the mansion. I ran towards the connecting corridor leading to the upper floors, bypassed the courtyard, and headed towards the north wing.

I didn't encounter anyone along the way. I knew this situation was very unnatural.

I don't know who deliberately sent everyone away. Sure enough, my whereabouts had already been completely exposed, and I was being led by the nose by the other party.

Even so, I did not stop.

At this moment, however, I put my fear and anxiety aside and only wanted to move forward.

"!"

We are only a short distance from our destination.

The stairs led all the way to the top floor, and I ran up the familiar route. Just then, a figure suddenly appeared in front of me, as if trying to block my way.

The newcomer was a boar-man with short, reddish-brown hair and a tall, muscular build.

"Give the girl to me."

"...!"

Mr. Otto, the strongest adventurer in the city who once defeated me with a single blow, looked down at me and made this request.

I was overwhelmed by his overwhelming aura, but I still wanted to protect Miss Herren, so I hugged her tightly again.

"I will not kill her. It is the goddess's command."

“Eh…?”

"We will save this girl."

The explanation given by the martial artist was very brief.

But because he is more like a martial artist than anyone else, his words should be believable.

Meeting those sincere, earth-red eyes, after a moment of silence, I finally made up my mind. After all, I didn't understand the nature of this "magic," and I didn't know any healing magic either, so I was powerless to help Miss Helen's injuries. Therefore, I chose to trust Mr. Otto and went forward to entrust the person to him.

Mr. Otto, whose arms were as strong as tree trunks, easily picked up the girl.

"Go, the goddess is waiting for you ahead."

After saying that, Mr. Otto left.

After watching the figure brush past me as it descended the steps, I looked ahead again.

I climbed the remaining steps. But this time, instead of running, I moved forward slowly, step by step, as if I had made up my mind.

Suddenly—

I am reminded of that heroic tale—"Flanders of Water and Light".

The fairy never revealed her true name until her death.

The saint ultimately lived in sorrow and regret.

The knight, on the other hand, was tormented by his own guilt.

what about now?

Who is the knight? Who is the fairy? Who is the saint?

Who was the one who didn't get what they wanted?

Who receives "love"?

Who failed to achieve " "?

Who is truly the saddest person?

I am not a knight (Flanders).

But he was preparing to confront the "Saintess"—the "Witch."

To convey my thoughts at this moment.

"—You've come, Belle."

Top floor

I pushed open the double doors and entered the shrine, where she was waiting alone.

The recliner that used to be in the center of the room, where we sat and talked countless times, and the round table with one leg next to it, have all been put away. She just stood there, waiting for my arrival.

"Asking about your purpose now seems a bit redundant."

Both her tone of voice and the aura she exudes are completely different from her past self.

She was no longer the benevolent goddess who brought me warmth, but instead glared at me like an ice queen.

"If you had just kept me in the dark and accepted me honestly... I could have held you in my arms and satisfied you with 'love'... but Herren is just meddling in other people's business."

Those silver eyes gave off a calm feeling, yet also appeared cold and ruthless.

She now resembles a child whose precious toy has been broken, and also a tyrant high above, yet she still exudes an aura of etherealness and charisma.

Positive and negative are two sides of the same coin.

A cruel yet unrestrained "Goddess of Beauty" whom no one can defy.

Faced with a woman who was completely different from the "she" I remembered working in the tavern, a woman of extraordinary dignity—I still fearlessly asked her questions.

"You must be Miss Seele."

The goddess calmly gave her answer.

"That's right, the person who was hanging out with you guys in the tavern was indeed me."

His tone even sounded like he wasn't interested.

"But you've misunderstood one thing: the girl named Seele never existed in the first place."

"..."

"Although there was once a girl with that name... I've already taken the real name 'Seele.' What you've seen is just my acting, an illusion."

After hearing this powerful confession, I was surprisingly calm.

"What does it mean?"

"Just as it sounds. I'm playing a role-playing game... It's just a game. I'm hiding my divine power and using the appearance of a 'girl' to pass the time by pretending to be a child."

"role play……?"

"That's right, my acquaintance with Ryu and the others, as well as you, is all an extension of the game."

With an indifferent expression, she narrowed her eyes as if she were talking about something insignificant.

"Seele never existed in the world from the beginning. She was a character I created on a whim, a 'pawn' that I used."

Therefore, your determination to save the girl (Seele) is entirely wishful thinking.

Even with the underlying meaning in her words, I still called out that name.

"Miss Seele."

"...You are not allowed to call me that name anymore."

"I do not want."

"...!"

"Miss Seele."

Whenever I call her name, the goddess seems to frown as if she is quite reluctant to do so.

I gazed into those silver-tinted eyes and asked a question.

"If that's the case, why did you cry then?"

On the day of the bountiful feast.

I hurt her under a gloomy sky where tears could fall at any moment, causing her to shed tears.

At this moment, she couldn't help but widen her eyes.

"Why do you still help me even now?"

For example, when I was ridiculed and ran out of the tavern, when I felt frustrated because of my unattainable aspirations, when I met a heretic and suffered from cold words, she would always appear in front of me, sometimes making me happy, sometimes finding a way out for me, and sometimes bringing me warmth.

And he always prepared lunch for me and personally handed it to me.