Idria asked in a voice filled with disbelief.

“Are you really allowed to tell me that?”

“It will work even if I say it outright.”

Now, I admit it.

Idria truly cares for the Fingers of Lies.

Like her own children.

Would someone like that keep siding with Velosian, knowing he tried to harm her daughter?

“…You’re right. Thank you, Mide Mohan.”

“There’s no need to thank me. Like I said, I told you only to sow discord.”

“No. That’s not it.”

“Hm?”

“Thank you for acknowledging that I love my children.”

“……”

“I will let Kaeld rest for a while. I also need time to think about how to handle the matter with Velosian.”

Was this her way of proposing a temporary truce?

That was unexpected.

Even if she really intended to let Kaeld rest, there was no need to tell me that directly.

Sensing my thoughts, Idria continued,

“Think of it as a small token of thanks.”

“I will take it. How long?”

“Two months, perhaps?”

“Fine. Let’s truce for two months.”

“Agreed.”

She looked ready to vanish.

That’s when Trail spoke.

[Idria.]

Twitch.

Her arm froze.

Wait, can they communicate directly through their souls? Even without Adwin?

[Yes. Back in Hasphil, when you fainted, I told you I spoke with her. How do you think that was possible?]

‘I thought you were using my mouth to talk.’

[I’m not shameless enough to hijack the mouth of someone who’s unconscious.]

Anyway, Trail went on.

[Don’t even think of fighting Velosian head-on, Idria.]

“Why?”

[You should know already. He is terrifyingly strong. You will be erased before you could even react.]

“Why would you tell me that?”

[Hmm… how should I put this.]

Trail hesitated, then continued.

[You must suspect it too, that our endless battle will end in this era.]

“……”

[When the end comes, I don’t want you falling at anyone else’s hands but mine.]

“Heh. And now you say that? Last time, you even let Mide destroy my core.”

I remembered the incident in Gabriel territory.

Ah, now that I thought about it… yeah, that made sense.

I cut in.

“So that’s why you looked so sour back then.”

[Don’t say it.]

“I thought it was because you would die if Idria died… but really, it was because you wanted to finish her yourself.”

[I said don’t say it.]

Then it happened.

“Pfft. Ahaha!”

Idria burst into clear, bright laughter.

It was almost a roar of laughter.

As if she felt both amusement, absurdity, and a strange happiness.

“Yes. Fine. I will be careful, Bion.”

[Now get lost.]

“Thanks to you, I feel a little better. I was in the worst mood just moments ago.”

[I said get lost.]

“Farewell. And… thank you.”

Crackle.

The space closed completely.

Trail sighed and muttered,

[I shouldn’t have said anything. Damn it.]

We hurried into the carriage.

Serein was still asleep.

Adwin said,

“She is fine. Her soul is fresh.”

“There’s such a way to put it?”

“It’s different from before, when half of it was erased. I’m sure now the world will recognize her soul as fully independent.”

Strange, that half of a soul ‘unrelated’ to Pirensha had been erased.

Maybe the world itself restored her soul.

Offense folded his arms and murmured,

“What even is the ‘world,’ really?”

“Getting philosophical now?”

“No, I mean practically. The laws of the world turned even the Celestial God into a mere human, just for breaking passive cooperation.”

“……”

“You said it was Impelium that locked Velosian into confinement, right? But that was just literal imprisonment… I think the real reason he couldn’t exert full power outside is the world’s laws.”

He had a point.

I wanted to discuss it further, but the timing slipped away.

“Mmm… mmm… huh?”

Serein opened her eyes.

Six pairs of eyes were staring at her.

She expressed her feelings simply:

“Uh… good morning…”

“Serein!”

Lisel lunged and hugged her tight.

So tight Serein coughed, almost suffocating.

“P-please let go for now. Everyone is watching.”

“So what? They will all hug you anyway. I just claimed first place.”

“Huh?”

“Right? Everyone?”

The others replied kindly.

“No.”

“Not happening.”

“The mood is already ruined.”

“My mom said men and women shouldn’t just hug randomly.”

Lisel’s face turned red.

Serein chuckled.

“See? I told you, you’re the odd one here, Lisel.”

“Ugh…”

“But still.”

Serein patted her back.

“Thank you. For worrying about me like this.”

“Serein…”

“I feel like I just had the best sleep. Completely refreshed. What did you all do to me?”

Her eyes looked straight at me.

Tap.

I sat opposite her and said,

“A lot happened. I think it’s time I explain it properly to the party. Let’s all listen together.”

“Okay.”

“But before that.”

I looked her straight in the eyes and said gently,

“Welcome back.”

Her eyes welled up.

Drip.

In the end, with clear tear stains still on her cheeks, Serein beamed like a sunflower.

“Yes! I will be in your care from now on!”

Idria sternly rebuked Pirensha.

“Pirensha. Did you really betray me and join hands with Velosian?”

Already half-dazed from the aftereffects of her soul being erased, Pirensha felt like she would faint under Idria’s scolding.

“M-Mother, I… that’s…”

“Answer me.”

“Please listen. I did it for you, Mother.”

“No.”

Idria cut her off coldly.

Pirensha thought her mother was directing that anger at her, and squeezed her eyes shut.

Yes, Idria was angry.

But not at Pirensha. At herself.

Suddenly.

Idria pulled Pirensha into a tight embrace.

“This isn’t what it means to do something for me. Why don’t you understand?”

“Mother…”

“I am your mother. I will go with you all into the fake world. And there, we will live together in a life where we ‘never die again.’”

“……”

“Don’t you get it? If you sacrifice yourself for me, that in itself destroys my wish.”

Pirensha could no longer hold back and wept into Idria’s arms.

“Sob… I’m so sorry. I was wrong.”

“It hurts a lot right now, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. It hurts. It hurts so much I feel like I’m dying. Huaaah…”

“Wait a little. I will find a way.”

Idria gently laid the sobbing Pirensha down, holding her hand firmly.

At that moment, Sobius spoke from behind.

“Mother. Isn’t there something we can do to help?”

“Stay back.”

“No, I can’t. Pirensha is your daughter, but she is also our little sister.”

“……!”

“Please, tell us what we can do. We will do anything.”

At those words, Idria almost burst into tears, but she held them back.

The tears she could not shed as a mother were shed in Pirensha’s place.

“I’m the older sister here… well, except for you, Sobius.”

“Now’s not the time for that.”

“You don’t need to do this, not because of my stupid mistake.”

“It was stupid, yes. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t help you.”

“Sniff…”

“Just rest. After some sleep, things will feel better.”

Behind Sobius, Sabach and Batore silently nodded in agreement.

But one among them looked on with disgust.

Kaeld Wake.

He was barely holding back from vomiting.

‘Disgusting. What is this nonsense?’

Wasn’t Pirensha’s choice the “right” one, no matter who looked at it?

She only had support abilities anyway.

If she wasn’t going to fight directly, wasn’t it admirable for her to sacrifice herself to help her mother?

They should have turned a blind eye, but instead they were trying to correct her?

‘Damn it. I can’t hold it in anymore.’

Tap.

He stepped forward and spoke.

“Stop this at once!”

“Kaeld? What’s the meaning of this?”

“Have you all lost your minds? Why throw away such an efficient plan?”

“…You heard the explanation. Mide somehow severed the bond between Pirensha and Serein’s souls. No matter how much Pirensha suffers, it won’t bind Mide’s feet anymore.”

“Then do it again.”

The air grew cold.

Kaeld didn’t notice and kept shouting.

“Do it again! Use Pirensha’s soul as reference and create another fake soul.”

“……”

“Then shove it into Serein or anyone in Mide’s party. You’re a Demon King, aren’t you? Surely you can manage that.”

“That’s enough.”

“And then ask Velosian for help. This time, erase more than nine-tenths of the soul. Make it so broken that not even Mide’s tricks could fix it. Push them right to the brink of death…. Guaaagh!”

Kaeld collapsed, writhing.

Idria had torn his nerves using the insects hidden in his body.

“Did I hear you correctly?”

“Ghhk… st-stop…”

“You’re saying you want to use my child as bait to satisfy your own greed. Isn’t that what I just heard?”

“Ghh… yes! That’s right!”

All the disgust and jealousy he had bottled up while watching the Demon King and her fingers finally burst out under the insects’ pain.

He screamed like a madman.

“What’s wrong with that?! Who do the Demon King and her Fingers think they are, flaunting themselves before me?”

“……”

“Why are monsters like you so damn close? Just do what you always do! Hate each other, scheme against each other, curse each other!”

“Silence.”

“S-Stop showing me that sickening affection! I can’t stand it! None of you love me… yet the enemies of mankind dare to show love? I won’t stomach it!”

With that final scream, he coughed up blood.

Seeing him, Idria made up her mind.

She patted Pirensha’s hand a few times, then stood.

Walking toward Kaeld, she said:

“Your words just now made me decide, Kaeld.”

“W-what?”

“I’m discarding you. I will throw you away and start over from the beginning.” Content originally comes from novel⟡fire.net

“Khaha! Are you insane? You would throw away all the fame I have built up until now?”

“I know. It’s a foolish choice. It may truly be madness.”

Shff.

Idria extended her hand.

“But if it means I will never have to see your filthy face again, it’s worth it.”

“S-Stop.”

“Yes. Stop.”

Thud.

Idria froze in place.

A shadow had appeared: Velosian.

In his leisurely voice, he spoke.

“I understand your anger, but discarding Kaeld now would be suicide. Finding another vessel with comparable fame would be nearly impossible.”

“……”

“Mide grows stronger by the day. It seems he has even learned how to convert fame into raw power.”

“Convert fame into power? No, before that, I have a question.”

She growled, her voice dripping with killing intent.

“Why did you do this?”

“It was Pirensha’s wish. I merely granted it.”

“You knew how much I cherished my children. In that case, shouldn’t you have stopped her or at least warned me? Aren’t you supposed to be a father?”

“A father sometimes must discipline their children harshly.”

Idria nearly unleashed her strength.

But fortunately, Bion’s warning restrained her.

Do not confront Velosian with force.

Velosian nodded calmly.

“Well done. You restrained yourself.”

“……”

“Do you truly intend to discard Kaeld?”

“Yes.”

At that, Velosian’s lips curled, as if he had been waiting for those words.

“In that case… allow me to take him off your hands.”

TL: Lowkey getting tired of Kaeld, he was supposed to die in chapter 70, but is still here. Truly like a cockroach.

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