After turning into the right alleyway, go left at the next three alleyways. We’re almost there, so just a little more effort…
“Shut up. If it weren’t for you, none of this would have happened in the first place.”
“Why is it my fault, child? I never called for you. If anything, it was you who sought me out. Moreover, I didn’t force my power on you; it was what you desired. How could this be my mistake? I’m truly curious.”
It’s my fault. I know that. But I didn’t want to be pointed out by that thing. If Alterra were the one criticizing me, it might be different. But I don’t want to be lectured by someone who only meddles.
“Rather, I’m the curious one. Which god kills all their own believers and still acts like a deity afterward?”
“You’re a disagreeable child. I somewhat expected this from the moment I first met you, but this exceeds even my expectations. It seems I underestimated you, child. As for the reason for existence… it’s hard to explain. Even if you lack such a concept, we are created with purpose. My believers wished for destruction through love. Can you understand that?”
“Just stop it already. You did it because you wanted to. Don’t try to deceive anyone.”
“Tsk. You really dislike me now, don’t you? While it’s true that I find pleasure in such conflicts, telling you that I was made to act this way seems to fall on deaf ears. Think what you will. This is your karma for being too harsh on the few believers I had left…”
The demon seemed to think further talk would be meaningless and fell completely silent. It feels like they’re sulking. Normally, I’d care if there were any good feelings involved.
“…Excuse me, may I ask? I’m looking for someone. Have you seen a woman with curled horns like a ram and a tail resembling a battle axe? Her skin is brown, and she has long white hair…”
“Oh, the one who was crying so pitifully… She went toward the residential area over there. After that, I don’t really…”
I thanked the person briefly for their cooperation and hurried in the direction the man indicated. Without the demon’s guidance, I felt slightly lost, but paradoxically, a sense of calm washed over me.
That nagging voice inside my head, the presence that kept showing me things I didn’t want to see, was gone. Wouldn’t anyone feel at peace without something like that?
Someone on the brink of loneliness might mourn the absence of the demon inside their head, but I wasn’t that far gone yet. So, I busily looked around for Alterra—someone cloaked, someone with brown skin, someone with horns or a tail, someone with white hair.
But no one combined all those traits. Should I have grabbed her when I had the chance? Should I have bowed my head and apologized, saying sorry for deceiving her, for hiding things from her, promising not to do it again? The regret was overwhelming, but there was still too much to do. There was no time to collapse in despair.
Should I shout her name? But I told her not to talk to me first. I didn’t expect an answer anyway. So, I continued scanning my surroundings, half-running. Inside shops, rooftops, alleys…
Everywhere I could see, I checked. Finally, I found where she was.
She was at Soleo’s forge. Through the open door, I could see her bowing respectfully to his wife and him.
For a moment, I wondered if the demon was playing tricks. Even though she was once a goddess, she’s now called a demon. Maybe she’s acting spiteful because she feels insulted. That’s how unbelievable the scene before me felt.
The laughter of those women seemed like a welcoming gesture for a new bride-to-be. Soleo’s solemn expression seemed to welcome her as part of the family.
I couldn’t tell if Alterra’s face was smiling or crying under the shadow. However, Soleo was watching her kindly as she spoke gently.
“…Please, don’t trouble yourselves further. We are already satisfied to have been of help. It’s best if you leave now. It’s getting late… Ah, if you plan to stay and rest, please let us know. We have plenty of rooms prepared…”
“You. What do you mean by that? Are you planning to break our agreement?”
“Ma’am, it’s not that… Hmm? Myungho. What brings you here? Are you looking for Miss Alterra? If so, it’s convenient. She just happened to come here as well.”
I formed a hand seal and enclosed the women in the imaginary window with my fingers. I couldn’t hear what he was saying anymore. Still, he didn’t seem like someone who would threaten his own wife.
With his strength, he could easily shake me off, but he wouldn’t. He’s always gentle with his people. Just before I started chanting the spell, something grabbed my neck.
“Eck… Keh… A, Alterra.”
“…Thank you all for your advice. I won’t forget your kindness, but right now… I need to have a private conversation with Myungho. I’ll repay you later.”
Just moments ago, I had harbored murderous intent, which now seemed ridiculous as I was embarrassingly held in Alterra’s grip and dragged into a back alley. She was glaring at me fiercely, perhaps even more intensely than when I saw her in the restroom.
“…It’s not what you think. I… wandered aimlessly and ended up here by accident. Nothing strange happened. They only helped me. So don’t even think about causing trouble. Got it?”
Her words snapped me back to reality. I had almost done something reckless in a fit of emotion and nearly hurt Alterra again.
I tried to blame it on the demon showing me strange things, but then I realized that adding excuses wouldn’t change anything.
Still, everything felt like an excuse to me, so all I could do was lower my head deeply and say one word.
“…Sorry.”
The ferocious glare from moments ago seemed unreal as Alterra’s expression softened, only to quickly turn harsh again as she added another comment.
“Of course you should be sorry, stupid. And there are several other things you need to apologize for.”
As her tail tapped the ground like a club, cold sweat trickled down my back. I had done too many wrongs to count, and I had no idea where to start apologizing.
Deceiving her? Hurting her body and making her worry? Dabbling in forbidden powers?
“…Don’t you know? Hmph. This is frustrating. You left marks on someone else’s body and now you’re pretending you don’t know what I’m talking about?”
My body? What does she mean? I hadn’t experienced this kind of pressure before and had no time to think. I tried to say something but nothing came to mind.
“…I’m sorry.”
So, I knelt down. Reflecting on it, I had deceived Alterra, worried her, and even tried to harm my benefactors. Even with a hundred mouths, I had no excuse.
“You… Huh. You really don’t know. Get up… Damn it. Stay kneeling then.”
She seemed like she was going to tell me to stand up, but I couldn’t bring myself to meet her eyes. Like a child caught doing something wrong by their mother, I kept my head bowed, waiting for judgment.
“This, this mark—it’s because of you. What are you going to do about it? On a woman…on someone else’s body, leaving marks like this… Even if it’s usually hidden, what are you going to do about it?”
I braced myself for a punch to the back of my head or maybe a hit from her tail, but instead, something unexpected touched my head.
Something soft yet firm pressed against my head.
What is this? Confused, I slowly raised my head, only to find her stomach right in front of my face. Through her transparent leotard, I could see a golden heart-shaped tattoo glowing on her abdomen.
“…A tattoo. You said it’s because of you. The strange things I’ve been seeing, the random voices in my head… They can’t be erased. What are you going to do about it?”
When I looked again, it was definitely a tattoo caused by me. It must have appeared when I traded my eyes.
“Mi, sorry! Um, erasing it…”
Can it be erased? At least it looks like something a brush could handle, but would my magic hold up? Many thoughts raced through my mind, but none were immediately helpful.
“I think it can be erased somehow, but my power isn’t strong enough yet—”
“I forgive you. Everything you’ve done so far. But there’s one condition.”
Suddenly, she relaxed her expression and said she forgave everything. But I couldn’t guess what condition she would propose after offering such forgiveness. Why would she forgive everything so easily?
“…Give up standing by my side. I’m not asking you to give up your power. It’s good for allies to grow stronger. But… I don’t want you to push yourself to the point of damaging your own body just because you’re precious to me. You’re important to me. So, I want you to value yourself as much as I value you. I don’t want you to take unnecessary risks helping others just because you think it’s helpful. If you insist on continuing, I’ll give up my journey for revenge. I hate seeing you strain yourself that much.”
I…
