Chapter 619: Ritual of Light Interlude (3)

With the ritual finally complete, Riley felt a quiet sense of reassurance settle over him.

The information he’d gathered, the answers he’d sought — everything was in place.

Now he was certain.

There were no lingering demonic traces on Snow — not even the faintest hint of corruption.

The goddess’s blessing had completely purified her.

With that divine protection wrapped around her soul, there was hardly anyone or anything left in existence capable of laying a curse on her again.

He’d suspected as much before.

Deep down, Riley already knew Asmodeus hadn’t left any hidden curse or trap behind.

But even knowing that, he couldn’t help but worry.

After all, the moment Snow woke up, something about her had felt… subtly different.

Not in a bad way, just enough to make him question it.

Now, though, seeing her smile, seeing her behave like the same bright and loving Snow he remembered — that quiet worry finally faded.

Yeah, he thought to himself, she’s really back to normal.

All in all, the ritual had gone exactly as planned. He got what he needed.

But even as relief washed through him, one lingering thought refused to fade.

The goddess’s final words still echoed in his head:

“You have my utmost blessing, dear.”

It was a simple statement — vague yet absolute.

The kind of divine answer that could mean everything… or nothing at all.

And somehow, that made it all the more unsettling.

He had wanted confirmation — that the future he saw, the ending he was fighting for, was within reach.

And technically… the goddess had confirmed it.

The happy ending he wanted — one where everyone survived, where everything came together — was possible.

But it probably wasn’t going to happen the way he hoped.

Then again, nothing in this world ever did.

Riley’s brows furrowed slightly as he thought of Eris’s expression — that soft smile that never quite revealed what she was really thinking.

There was something she wasn’t telling him. Something she couldn’t tell him.

He didn’t feel betrayed, not exactly. Just… cautious. Curious.

Maybe whatever she was hiding wasn’t dangerous to him.

Maybe it wasn’t even about him. But the feeling that there was still a thread of truth just out of reach — that nagged at him more than he wanted to admit.

And then there was the other thing — that strange, undeniable connection he shared with his other selves across the broken worlds.

It was almost as if their fates were starting to overlap, slowly intertwining toward some unseen conclusion.

Riley exhaled softly, shaking his head as if to push the thought aside.

Well, no matter I’ll get my answers eventually…

Right now, he needed to focus on a few other things.

The goddess’s words still lingered in the back of his mind, but thinking about divine mysteries wouldn’t help him at this point.

What mattered now was the future — and the people who’d shape it.

Lucas.

As expected, the protagonist of this world.

The chosen one.

The one blessed with a destiny that could either save everything or doom it completely.

He was a crucial piece on the board — one Riley couldn’t afford to leave on the sidelines forever.

Thankfully, even without too much interference, Riley had managed to steer things in his favor.

Lucas’s current stats and abilities were already far higher than they ever were in the game’s original timeline.

Two Ultimate Skills of light.

That alone was enough to make him a walking cheat code. With those under his belt, Lucas could take down most high-tier beings if pushed hard enough.

All that was left was refinement — a boost in the quality of his divine power and its overall level.

That part shouldn’t have been too hard, honestly.

’If only Lucas and Emilia had gotten closer like they were supposed to.’

Riley sighed quietly at the thought.

He knew, deep down, that he’d probably been part of the reason their bond hadn’t developed properly.

He hadn’t meant to interfere — it just… happened.

His presence, his choices, the way things kept diverging from the original path.

Every small change stacked up over time until the story was no longer following the script.

He didn’t even realize it, but he’d already taken the spotlight away from Lucas in more ways than one.

Still, Lucas’s divine power wasn’t really a problem.

Even if Emilia — the intended anchor of that power — wasn’t fulfilling her role, something unexpected had taken its place.

Riley himself.

It seemed that Lucas’s divine connection had shifted, using him as the anchor instead.

As long as Lucas’s trust, admiration, and respect for him stayed steady, that divine energy would continue to grow.

Slowly, maybe even unconsciously, Lucas was walking a path tied directly to Riley’s existence now.

“Guess that makes me his emotional crutch now too…” Riley muttered under his breath with a wry smile.

But Lucas wasn’t the only one he had to worry about.

Far from it.

There were still others — all just as important in their own right.

Snow, Alice, Rose, Seo, Kagami, and the rest.

Each one of them carried a role to play in the storm that was coming.

Each one had the potential to either stand strong with him… or fall and tip the balance entirely.

Alice and Rose’s progress wasn’t something he needed to worry about — at least not for now.

Both of them continued to grow at an impressive pace, adapting quickly and pushing their limits further every day. In terms of power, potential, and overall development, those two were right on track.

Snow and Seo, however… were a different story.

Riley exhaled softly, running a hand through his hair.

He’d probably need to get involved more directly with their growth — especially Snow’s.

He didn’t like admitting it, but among the main heroines, Snow was currently the weakest in terms of overall progress.

Her growth had slowed, her presence dimmed just a little compared to before.

Even Janica — who had started out far behind her — was already closing the gap fast.

One or two more significant breakthroughs, and she’d catch up completely.

It wasn’t that Snow was lazy or unmotivated. If anything, she worked harder than most.

The problem was time.

As the student council president, she was constantly wrapped up in academy politics, paperwork, and student affairs — all the things that didn’t directly contribute to her strength but demanded her attention anyway.

It made sense why she lagged behind, but even knowing that, Riley couldn’t completely shake off the guilt.

He knew, deep down, that part of it was his fault too.

Maybe he’d subconsciously wanted her to stay out of harm’s way.

To let her play a safer role, far from the chaos that seemed to follow him everywhere.

It wasn’t something he did intentionally… but the result was the same.

Snow had been sidelined — because he let her be.

“The Frost Queen’s heir…” he muttered under his breath.

A memory flickered in his mind.

The dungeon in the northern plains — the one that held the essence of the Frost Queen’s legacy.

It would appear soon, maybe within the month.

That place was the key to unlocking Snow’s potential, to pushing her to where she needed to be.

He’d take her there eventually.

But not yet.

Right now, she still needed rest — both physically and mentally.

Besides, he wasn’t alone in this.

Beon Gyeoul, his old master; Duke Luther Heavens, his father-in-law; and Lavine — all three of them had already reached ascension.

Having their support meant he wasn’t without options if things ever went wrong.

Everything was moving according to plan.

Slowly, but surely.

Riley clenched his fist lightly, feeling that familiar fire rise in his chest.

This time… I won’t fail.

“Riley…”

“Snow?”

Coming out of Emilia’s room, Snow gently smiled as she approached him.

Her expression was calm, almost too calm — the kind of smile that made Riley instinctively straighten his posture.

“Are you done with your conversation?” he asked cautiously.

“Yes,” she said, her tone soft but unreadable. “The saintess and I had a fairly wonderful and enlightening conversation.”

That line alone was enough to make Riley uneasy.

The way Snow phrased it, so politely, so controlled — yeah, that usually meant someone was emotionally destroyed on the other side of that door.

He glanced toward Emilia’s room, half-tempted to peek in and check if the poor girl was still breathing, but—

Click.

Snow had already closed the door behind her.

That was answer enough.

Riley sighed quietly. “Snow, you didn’t… go too hard on her, did you?”

Snow tilted her head slightly, her smile never fading. “Of course not. We simply had a… heart-to-heart. Isn’t that what girls usually do?”

“…That’s exactly what I’m worried about.”

Ignoring his half-joking tone, she stepped closer until she was standing right in front of him, her presence cool and elegant as always.

“Riley, I understand you can’t help your… charm,” she said, crossing her arms. “But please — inform me first if you ever plan on adding more people into our little family. Now even the saintess is fawning over you… do you realize how much political tension that could cause?”

Yes Riley’s lovers wasn’t exactly normal people as well.

But…

Unlike Snow, Alice, Rose and Seo’s case.

Emilia was a public figure meant for the masses.

She wasn’t someone one person can have, trying to form any direct romantical relationship with her would be the same as saying the Riley was courting the goddess herself.

And that was the highest form of heresy.

“I didn’t exactly do anything—”

“Exactly,” she cut in sharply. “You didn’t.”

“…What?”

“That’s the problem. You just exist, and somehow that’s enough.” She sighed, rubbing her temple before continuing more softly. “Well, I’m not blaming you entirely. You really can’t help it, I suppose. But still, we need to be careful. Public perception is a fragile thing. Rumors spread easily, and with someone like the saintess involved…”

“Yeah, I get it,” Riley said with a wry smile.

“Good.” She adjusted her hair, regaining her usual composure. “I’ll handle any rumors that might come up. Just… for now, try to avoid any direct contact with the saintess until I say so, alright?”

Riley nodded.

He couldn’t help but notice that despite her words, Snow didn’t seem angry. If anything, her tone had been… mild. Almost teasing.

He had a feeling she wasn’t entirely opposed to the idea of Emilia developing feelings for him — not that she’d ever admit it outright.

Still, curiosity tugged at him.

He wondered what exactly had been said between the two women inside that room.

Judging by Snow’s expression and Emilia’s earlier reaction, it was probably something that would give him a headache if he ever found out.

So, for his own sanity, he decided not to ask.

’I should make sure to do my best of whatever request Emilia asks of me’

Saying a few more things toward him, Snow continued her little lecture while Riley stood there listening quietly, trying his best not to sigh or laugh.

She wasn’t angry anymore — more like… in her “responsible wife” mode.

With her arms crossed, she warned him about nearly everything that could possibly happen in the future — from dealing with public rumors, managing relationships, and “proper family planning,” of all things.

Honestly, the sudden shift in topic caught Riley completely off guard.

There he was, standing in the middle of the hallway, right outside Emilia’s room, being lectured about family planning by his fiancée as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

If anyone walked by right now, the misunderstandings would multiply instantly.

Still, he didn’t stop her.

Snow’s tone, calm and steady, carried a maturity he hadn’t quite noticed before.

There was a certain grace to the way she spoke — firm yet gentle, strict but caring.

He found himself smiling faintly as she went on.

Maybe it was because of everything they’d gone through recently, but Snow seemed… different now.

More composed.

More confident.

More like the woman who’ll one day become a queen.

He didn’t interrupt, not even once.

He just listened — genuinely listened — letting her talk until she finally exhaled and nodded to herself, satisfied that he’d at least heard her warnings.

And then, as if nothing had happened, she turned on her heel.

“Now then,” she said, her lips curling into a small smile, “shall we continue our promised date?”

Riley chuckled softly. “Yes,”

The two of them walked off together down the corridor, Snow’s calm aura mixing with Riley’s quiet amusement, leaving behind the faint echo of their steps and the lingering warmth of their conversation.

…

Meanwhile, back inside Riley’s room—

Three girls sat around the dining table, staring at something that had just been delivered by Riley’s personal maid, Yui.

Seo, Rose, and Alice exchanged puzzled glances before their eyes settled again on the object before them — a crimson-hued crystal orb, glowing faintly with a deep, stable light.

The mana radiating from it was unmistakably dense, pure — the kind of energy only top-tier artifacts held.

Just one look and even someone untrained could tell it was no ordinary object.

A high-grade mana communication crystal.

The kind that only royalty, world leaders, or archmages could afford to use.

And now it sat right in front of them.

Within the orb’s glow, a shimmering screen of light flickered — and soon, the image of a familiar woman came into view.

“Hello, sisters~”

The voice was soft yet confident, almost playful.

“Oh? Hmm… I see a new face this time,” the woman continued, her crimson eyes narrowing with amusement. “Did darling charm another one again? I did hear rumors, but honestly… I suppose it’s just natural for him to make women’s hearts flutter~”

Her teasing tone filled the room like silk.

“By the way where’s darling and sister Snow?”

With long silvery-white hair cascading over her shoulders, eyes that gleamed like blood under moonlight, and a black dress with intricate lace designs framing her figure — she was every bit as mesmerizing as the rumors claimed.

Liyana Heavens.

Riley’s officially recognized first fiancée.

And after a long silence, she had finally decided to make contact again.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep