Chapter 33: Courage

A few moments after Shina was done collecting herself, she and Dhein had a serious conversation.

Fiorelle’s guess back in the capital ended up being correct. Demons were actually behind this! That meant the traitors and terrorists in the empire and within the Divinity Clan itself were connected to demons.

He couldn’t help but worry for his sister back home.

’I need to wrap this up as soon as possible.’

With the realization that she was in immense danger, Shina accepted that this wasn’t the time to be seeking freedom. Dhein didn’t have to convince her in that aspect. Moreover, it wasn’t only herself that she needed to keep safe, her people also needed her as the princess in these perilous times.

She agreed to go back to the palace.

Under the darkening sky painted in the orange rays of the setting sun, the three of them, including Remi, began walking through the forest towards the city of Selense.

They also decided to introduce the baby dragon to the world in hopes that they would accept him. Shina had pleaded with Dhein to help her in that regard.

Seeing how much the girl loved her new friend, Dhein couldn’t say no.

While walking in silence, Dhein couldn’t lift his mind off what just had happened. A literal god had possessed his body.

In normal cases, if a fallen god possessed your body, your consciousness will be banished to oblivion and the god will fully take over. But Dhein was still here.

And so was the fallen god.

He could feel him hiding somewhere in his subconscious, whispering to him words that he couldn’t understand. Waiting for the moment that he may take over once again.

Strangely though, Dhein easily took his body back when he wanted. When the god took over, Dhein was fully aware and could watch everything that was happening through his eyes. He only let the god defeat the demons first before deciding to regain the control over his body.

And right now, he also felt like he could unleash the god whenever he wanted. What that could mean was something he still didn’t know.

Could he use this god somehow for his lies? Even Shina was thinking that the power of the god who defeated the demons was his.

Well, that was the entire point of the Divinity Clan, anyway. Without the power of gods, they were just normal humans. Although Dhein’s case was a little different. He wasn’t borrowing the power of a god. A god was borrowing his body.

In a way, this was akin to gaining a new power also. Dhein couldn’t help but become excited at this thought.

Breaking the silence of their stroll, Shina suddenly spoke.

“By the way, thanks for saving me.”

Dhein glanced at her.

’Why do I feel like I deserve no gratitude from you…’ he thought to himself.

Nonetheless, he replied.

“Don’t mention it.”

He heard her sigh.

“I thought I could protect myself,” she said with a gloomy tone.

“In the end, I still need saving like your typical princess. How demoralizing.”

She almost stumbled when something bumped into her from behind. Remi ran past her and began rubbing his head on Shina’s leg, trying to cheer his master up.

’Did it sense that Shina was in low spirits and wanted to comfort her?’ Dhein asked in his mind.

Shina bent down to pet her little dragon.

As someone without powers and who was always relying on other people for safety, Dhein couldn’t even hope to have a fraction of Shina’s courage. Being determined to fight creatures far more powerful than her just to prove she was worthy of freedom… That alone showed that she was no weakling like him.

Dhein chuckled.

“You are the bravest person I’ve ever met,” he blurted out, his eyes stayed on their darkening path.

With a surprised expression, Shina turned to him.

“W—What?”

A smile tugged at his lips.

“I admire your courage,” he replied.

“Most would stay in their comfort zone, fearing that chasing their goals would only bring them humiliating failures or harm. They don’t even try to improve or strive for the things they want.”

“You were willing to bleed for your freedom. You were willing to abandon your lavish life as a princess, work hard and thrive as a normal girl despite all the challenges and dangers. All to live a life of your choice.”

He looked at her with a smile.

“Be proud of yourself, Shina. You’ve done well. I’m sure that one day, you will get the freedom that you deserve.”

They locked eyes, the golden ones full of admiration and the sapphire ones glistening with emotions.

Then suddenly, Shina whipped her gaze away.

“Yeah… T—Thanks,” she uttered with a forced laugh.

She then cleared her throat and followed up her words.

“Anyway, you sure did take your time watching me get my ass handed to me back there.”

A bit surprised with her choice of words, Dhein looked at her.

She continued.

“You really waited until I was completely beaten and afraid, huh? Are you a sadist?”

Dhein’s eyebrows furrowed.

“What?”

Shina crossed her arms and looked at him accusingly.

“Was it enjoyable watching me suffer that you didn’t do anything until the last second? You’re a sadist, aren’t you?” she asked with a teasing grin.

Dhein had never thought about things like that before. He also never expected to be subjected to such a topic.

Although he had never been interested in such activities, Dhein was well aware of what Shina was talking about. For research purposes, he’d read about them in books and he remembered how obscene he found them to be. He knew what sadism, and all the others in that category, were all about.

Memories of detailed descriptions of sadism came rushing in his head. And to think that Shina used the two of them as an example of the act of sadism…

It was too obscene!

“O—Of course not!” he exclaimed.

“How could you say that? Why would I enjoy seeing you suffer?”

Dhein searched himself for a second. He was telling the truth… right?

“Okay, okay! Geez, I was just joking,” Shina mumbled with suppressed laughter.

“You’re always so serious…” she muttered under her breath.

Soon, the towering buildings of the city was in sight. They exited the forest. Little spots of lights illuminated the city amidst the darkness of nature. Shina took a deep breath, preparing herself for the next step. The real challenge was only about to begin.

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