Chapter 610: Ritual of Light 2

With Asmodeus out of the picture, the entire flow of Act 4 had been completely derailed.

Chapter 3 through Chapter 5—gone, just like that.

All the buildup, the tension, the foreshadowing—it vanished into thin air.

Now, complications were bound to arise sooner or later.

After all, Act 4 wasn’t just any section of the story.

It was supposed to serve as the foundation—the arc that solidified Lucas’s growth, his recognition as a hero, and his destiny as the so-called Demon King’s Slayer.

It was the moment that defined his role to the world, the event that validated his title and status both narratively and thematically.

But now? That title couldn’t be rightfully his anymore.

And while the loss of the title or fame itself wasn’t exactly detrimental—since those didn’t directly influence his combat ability—the real issue lay deeper.

It was about his development.

This arc was meant to be the catalyst for Lucas’s emotional evolution—his realization of why he fought, the moment he understood the burden of being blessed by divine power, and the inner conflict that shaped his ideals.

It was here he was supposed to discover purpose, to confront his insecurities, and to rise beyond the naïve righteousness that had defined him until now.

Without that confrontation—without that defining trauma—his trajectory would inevitably change.

Though, to be fair, the current Lucas wasn’t entirely off-course.

Emotionally stunted, yes, but still progressing in his own way.

His mentality might not have caught up yet, but potential-wise, he was exactly where he needed to be.

If anything, his current stats and capabilities were even beyond what the original game version had at this stage.

The slight deviation I introduced during the dungeon hunt last month had resulted in greater benefits for him—both in power and experience.

So technically speaking, he was still fulfilling his “main protagonist” role quite well.

Still, it would’ve been nice to let things unfold the proper way—to sit back, observe his struggles, and watch him grow naturally, the way it had been scripted to happen in the original flow.

Still, as much as the whole situation had gone off-script, I couldn’t really say I was disappointed.

Unexpected events like this were inevitable—and honestly, within my expectations.

Things rarely went according to plan when gods were involved.

At least there were some good takeaways from all of it.

For one, Erebil—the so-called evil goddess—wouldn’t be making any direct moves against me anytime soon. That alone was a relief big enough to call a win.

Despite her twisted personality, she wasn’t one to break promises. Cruel? Yes. Unpredictable? Absolutely. But unreliable? Never.

Having someone like her—an endgame-level entity—off my shoulders for a while meant I could actually breathe again.

“Riley…”

Her soft voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

“Yes?” I turned toward her.

“…I want some apples.”

I blinked before letting out a short laugh. “Haha… alright.”

Reaching over to the side table of the infirmary bed, I picked up a small plate of freshly sliced apples.

The moment I brought one to her lips with the fork, she leaned forward with an eager look that made me chuckle even more.

“Here,” I said, feeding her a piece.

A few of the students who’d already woken up after the whole ordeal were watching us from nearby beds, their stares sharp enough to cut through steel.

I ignored them.

“Riley…”

“Yes?”

“Pat me.”

I sighed, but smiled nonetheless. “Sure.”

Gently, I reached out and placed my hand on her head, softly brushing through her silky white hair.

She closed her eyes and smiled, her expression melting into something peaceful—almost childlike.

She was too cute for her own good.

Ever since waking up, Snow had been acting… different.

Clingier. Needy, even.

The usually composed and proper princess of the Germonia Empire now looked like a spoiled kitten refusing to let go of its owner.

It wasn’t hard to figure out why.

Whatever she’d personally experienced on her own in that illusionary world Erebil cast must’ve shaken her—maybe even scarred her in ways I couldn’t see.

And now, she was instinctively reaching out for someone—for me—the real to hold onto.

So, even if her behavior was… un-princess-like, especially in a public infirmary full of curious eyes—

I wasn’t going to complain.

If anything, seeing her smile like that again was enough of a reward for me.

It hadn’t been long since the competition ended, and based on the announcement earlier, it seemed like Flamme’s team had taken first place.

Honestly, that was… surprising.

Not because they weren’t strong—they were—but more because of how chaotic the team lineups were this year.

With most of the real powerhouses in the academy either disinterested or too busy with their own research and training, the competition had turned into more of a formality than anything else.

Still, it ended smoothly.

No major injuries, no fatal accidents—at least not on the surface.

The only real disruption came afterward, when the principal suddenly announced that the next phase of the Grand Continental Festival—the one-on-one tournament duels between academies—would be postponed for two days.

The official reason? “Unexpected magical interference.”

The real reason? Snow.

And her team.

The whole incident that happened.

No one outside the higher-ups knew the full story or at least what they believed to be the story, and honestly, that was for the best.

The principal had only contacted me once since everything happened, but I could tell from her tone that she wanted me to explain it all once things settled down.

So, I figured the two-day delay was less about “recovery time” and more about giving me time.

News related to demons would’ve made headlines to the news worldwide but as the whole event was disrupted by me, now that was hardly the case.

For reference it seems my ability brought everyone that died back…. Or at least their bodies at least.

Looking at some of those saved by my authority’s denial over reality, some of them haven’t woken up yet, specially all the elves.

“Riley…”

I turned. Snow was sitting up on the infirmary bed beside me, her hair slightly messy, a few bandages still wrapped around her arm. Her usual grace was dimmed, but she was smiling softly.

“Do the others already know?” she asked.

“Well, pretty much,” I said. “Word spreads fast, even when it’s not supposed to.”

“I see…”

Her voice trailed off as her expression sank a little.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

She blinked, startled by my question, then quickly shook her head.

“I-It’s nothing…” she said, forcing a small smile.

That smile—

It wasn’t convincing. Not even close.

There was something heavy behind it, something she was trying hard to bury.

Maybe guilt. Maybe fear. Maybe both.

I wanted to press, but… I didn’t.

If she wasn’t ready to talk, I wouldn’t force her.

She’d tell me when she wanted to.

“If you’re wondering where the other girls are,” I said, leaning back slightly in my chair, “they actually came by a while ago. But they left almost immediately—said you’d appreciate it more if I was the first person you saw when you woke up.”

Snow blinked at me for a moment before letting out a small laugh, her voice soft and light like a breeze.

“Fufu~ I see. Then their theory was right after all. Their concerns are greatly appreciated.”

I couldn’t help but smile at that.

Honestly, I was grateful too.

Because truth be told, I was hoping to have this moment alone with her.

After everything that happened inside that illusionary realm… being here, in reality, with her by my side again—it almost didn’t feel real.

It was too peaceful, too calm.

I watched her as she slowly picked at the apple slices I’d given her earlier, her fingers trembling slightly.

She still looked fragile, and yet her presence alone felt grounding—like the chaos of the last few days was finally fading away.

But my heart still ached whenever I remembered what she went through.

All those years—no, all those illusions of years—she had to endure watching me go on with her sister.

Even if it was just Erebil’s twisted illusion, it must have felt all too real to her.

It wasn’t just pain—it was torment.

And the worst part was that she knew.

She wasn’t sure it wasn’t me, but she still had to watch.

I clenched my hand lightly at the memory, forcing a breath out through my nose.

I was proud of her—proud that she’d managed to break through Erebil’s deception, to endure until the very end—but that didn’t mean I didn’t feel guilty.

Because I did.

Even if everything that happened inside that world was fabricated, every expression, every word, every moment of sorrow she’d shown was real.

And the look she gave me—those moments when her eyes filled with quiet hurt, when her voice trembled as if she wanted to scream but couldn’t…

That image burned itself into me.

Just seeing that face once was enough to make me want to tear down the entire illusion, consequences be damned.

I reached out without really thinking, brushing a few strands of hair away from her cheek.

She looked up at me, eyes wide, a soft pink rising to her face.

“Riley… you saved us all in the end, right?”

Her voice was quiet—almost hesitant.

“Yes,” I said softly.

Silence lingered between us for a moment. The kind that wasn’t heavy, just… uncertain. Like she was trying to find the right words but couldn’t.

Seeing her uneasy expression, I stood up and moved closer.

“I know you have a lot of questions,” I said, placing a hand gently on her shoulder. “And I’ll answer every single one of them—honestly, and when the time’s right. But for now… none of that matters, Snow.”

I reached out, brushing my thumb along her cheek. Her skin felt warm beneath my fingers, and after a moment of hesitation, she leaned into my hand.

“Riley,” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly, “at the end… was that really you?”

I froze. For a brief second, I didn’t know how to respond. The weight behind her words—it wasn’t just curiosity. It was fear. Hope. Doubt.

After a pause, I nodded.

“Yes. It was me.”

Her eyes softened, that familiar blue reflecting the light in a way that made it hard to look away.

She held my gaze for a while—long enough that it felt like she was trying to read me, searching for something beneath the surface.

Then, all at once, her lips curved into a small, knowing smile.

“I see… now I understand a little more about you,” she said softly. “This feeling… yes, I quite like it. Fufu~”

Her quiet laugh filled the room, gentle and bright in a way that only she could make it.

I couldn’t help but smile too. That was just like her—to find warmth even in confusion.

I guess she really was my Snow for a reason.

She didn’t remember everything—just fragments. I had made sure of that.

Out of everyone, she was the only one I’d allowed to keep pieces of what happened back then.

It wasn’t much, but I knew she’d eventually piece things together, slowly and carefully.

I could’ve erased it all, left her in peace.

But hiding everything forever would’ve only hurt her more in the long run.

A slow step toward the truth… that’s all I could offer for now.

At least this way, when the time comes, she won’t look at me with fear or doubt—only understanding.

Satisfied, I leaned in and pressed my lips against Snow’s.

For a moment, her eyes widened in surprise—but then, just as softly, she returned the kiss.

Her lips were warm and gentle, trembling slightly at first before relaxing into mine.

The world around us seemed to fade; the distant murmurs of the infirmary, the faint ticking of the clock—everything vanished until it was just her and me.

Ten seconds passed. Then thirty.

By the time we finally parted, a full minute had slipped away without us realizing it.

Snow blinked up at me, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

“Hmm… what was that for?” she asked quietly, her voice still slightly dazed.

I smiled, brushing a strand of her silvery-white hair behind her ear.

“I just wanted to kiss you. You like it the most, right?”

Her lips curled into that familiar mischievous smile.

“Fufu~ I guess you really do understand me the best.”

I chuckled softly at her playful tone, then stood up and turned toward the door.

“Continue your rest for now,” I said, adjusting the blanket over her. “I’ll come back the moment you wake up again.”

Her hand reached out, catching my sleeve before I could take another step.

“Y-You’re going now?”

“Yes,” I said, meeting her gaze. “Don’t feel too sad. I’ll be back the moment you wake up, I promise. I want to spend more time with you too… but you need proper rest right now.”

Her expression turned stubborn, almost childishly so.

“Then stay and sleep with me,” she murmured, her grip tightening.

I couldn’t help but laugh softly.

“As much as I want to, I can’t.”

“Why?”

“I just need to purify a few things first,” I replied, my tone calm but firm. “Maybe even… have a word.”

She tilted her head, confusion flickering in her eyes. “What do you—”

Before she could finish, I pressed my finger gently to her lips.

“Don’t worry,” I said softly. “It’s for your sake. Just bear with me for now, alright? It won’t take long. And since the principal gave us a two-day break… how about a two-day date starting tomorrow?”

Her eyes softened at that.

“…Alright,” she said after a pause, her voice small but sincere.

Even so, the look on her face was a mix of satisfaction and reluctance—like she wanted to argue but couldn’t bring herself to.

Chuckling under my breath, I reached out and patted her head gently. “Good girl.”

Her eyes fluttered closed, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she sank back into the bed.

As I turned to leave, the faint sound of her steady breathing followed me out of the room.

…

Though Asmodeus was gone, I couldn’t let myself relax yet. Not entirely.

There was still a lingering trace of something dark—an unseen thread that might still bind Snow’s soul to the remnants of his power.

And worse… Erebil’s influence.

If there was even the slightest chance that their corruption remained, I had to be certain it was erased completely.

And for that, there was only one being capable of guaranteeing it.

Only one person who could grant me direct contact with Her.

The Saintess of light—Emilia.

She was the only key I had to commune with the Goddess of Light herself.

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