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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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Chapter 191
A way to overcome this dire situation?
Even Kaylen is only human—could there really be a way to face two gods?
Theresia looked at Kaylen.
His serious expression didn’t seem like he was speaking empty words.
“...Alright. I’ll believe you.”
Seeing the firmness of his will, Theresia sighed and nodded.
“Thank you for trusting me.”
“Once you draw the sword, the Sanctuary will fall.”
“Yes.”
If the replica of Astella was drawn, the already unstable Sanctuary would completely collapse.
Standing at the edge of Astella’s platform, Kaylen turned to gaze back at the Sanctuary.
The Sanctuary—a refuge, the best place for humanity to seek shelter.
Perhaps it could have been humanity’s final hope.
Without hesitation, Kaylen let it fall.
“Astella. Absorb it again.”
—Yes, Master.
Shhhh—
As the replica of the holy sword was reabsorbed into the original sword—
Rumble—
Starting from the platform where Astella had been embedded, the entire Sanctuary began to tremble.
“It has begun.”
Theresia stood on the shaking platform, watching as the sky castle she had served for a thousand years began to fall.
Her eyes were void of life—only emptiness remained.
“Hero, it’s time to say goodbye.”
“Goodbye? What are you talking about?”
“The Holy See I served my whole life was destroyed in a single day. The Holy Emperor, whom I served for a thousand years, was revealed to have had ulterior motives... And even the Celestial God I trusted and relied on turned out to be the one who made the Middle Realm a colony of the Demon Realm...”
Theresia’s driving force over the past thousand years had been her pride in believing that the Holy See and the Sanctuary were humanity’s final bastions.
But today, the hidden truth had been exposed.
Her fellow paladins and priests—her comrades—had all died. She no longer had the will to continue living.
“I will end my life with the Sanctuary. Hero, it was truly a pleasure to meet you again, even like this.”
Deciding to end her life along with the falling Sanctuary, the saintess looked at Kaylen one last time.
The hero she had yearned for, dreamed of for a thousand years.
Until now, she had restrained herself, only daring to admire him within the limits of her role as a saintess.
‘But now, it’s the end.’
Standing on the trembling platform, Theresia embraced Kaylen.
“Theresia...”
Feeling the fabric of his chest dampen, Kaylen lowered his head briefly.
In that moment, Theresia swiftly wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his—suddenly, impulsively.
.......
Kaylen’s eyes widened in surprise, but sensing Theresia’s strong resolve, he let out a bitter smile inwardly.
‘Come to think of it, this is the first time in this life.’
In his previous life, he had taken many concubines and had numerous children, believing that this led to the empire’s downfall…
‘In this life, I’ve lived with strict abstinence.’
So, what had been nothing during his time as emperor was, in fact, a first for him in this life.
‘She’s full of eagerness, but still clumsy.’
Seeing Theresia recklessly seeking affection, Kaylen felt a twinge of sympathy and began to take the lead.
Even if it was the first time for this body, the experience of a former emperor didn’t simply vanish.
“Ah…”
Kaylen gently embraced Theresia.
* * *
Theresia loosened her arms from around Kaylen’s neck and quickly stepped back.
“Haa... haa... as expected... you’re skilled.”
Her face was flushed red like an apple, and she gasped for breath.
“Is it over, Theresia?”
“Yes. Now that I’ve fulfilled even my final desire… I can face the end with the Sanctuary without regrets.”
“About that Sanctuary…”
Kaylen gave a bitter smile and pointed downward.
“It’s already fallen.”
“Eh...?”
That couldn’t be.
How much time had passed since their kiss? Had the Sanctuary really fallen already?
If it had, there was no way they’d still be standing here...
“Look.”
Kaylen’s finger pointed to the ground.
Theresia, with trembling eyes, looked down.
The Astella bridge she had been standing on had completely disappeared.
The massive sky fortress had shrunk into the distance, slowly falling away.
“This... this can’t be…”
Kaylen’s wind sword stirred the air, supporting them.
That was why she hadn’t realized it—but the Sanctuary had already fallen far below.
Theresia stared blankly at the sight.
No, she had only intended to share a parting kiss and fall alongside the Sanctuary...
“Time flies during a first kiss.”
“This… this isn’t how it was supposed to be...”
“Theresia.”
Kaylen pulled the retreating Theresia into his arms and spoke.
“The Sanctuary has already fallen. Let’s return to the capital.”
“N-no... I can’t... I don’t have the strength to keep living anymore... I can’t bear the truth that the Celestial God is actually the Heavenly Demon. I don’t want to accept it.”
“So, you’re thinking of ending your life here?”
“Then…?”
"We must take revenge."
When Kaylen mentioned revenge, Theresia was struck with shock.
Revenge?
No matter what, it was still the god she had served until now…
"I may no longer be a saintess… but revenge against a god? That’s impossible."
"For someone who's 'no longer a saintess,' you still possess a significant amount of divine power."
"That's true, but…"
"Actually, it feels even stronger than before."
At Kaylen's words, Theresia took a moment to examine herself deeply.
After learning the truth—that the Celestial God she had worshipped was, in fact, the Heavenly Demon—she had thought her faith would shatter completely, and her divine power would fade with it…
'Is it true…?'
But her divine power had actually grown stronger, by about one and a half times from what she could sense.
"Isn’t it strange? Your faith in the Celestial God should have disappeared by now."
"...You're right."
"Theresia, it’s not unreasonable that today’s events left you in despair. The world you shared with the heavens for a thousand years has completely crumbled… I understand why you’d want to end it all here."
"...But?"
"Even so, I want you to live."
"...Why?"
"Because the Theresia I know would surely regret the decision she made today."
With that, Kaylen embraced Theresia and flew towards the Sanctuary.
The Sanctuary was slowly falling, collapsing bit by bit.
As they watched, Kaylen spoke in a firm voice.
"If it's you, you wouldn't choose to helplessly perish within that place. You’d find a way to survive—no matter what."
"You're overestimating me."
"No, it's not an overestimation. That’s the Theresia I know."
Hearing his words, Theresia felt an odd warmth stir within her heart.
She had thought she’d completely given up on life.
But with just his words, a small but growing will to live began to rise within her.
"Even if I asked you to throw me into that place, you wouldn’t, would you?"
"Of course not. That would haunt my dreams."
"...Heh. Then I guess it can’t be helped. For now, let’s head to the capital."
"Good. That’s a wise decision."
Still holding Theresia, Kaylen reached into the relics of the demon race and pulled out an item.
At first glance, it looked like an advanced mana stone, but it was densely engraved with magic circles.
"What’s that…?"
"It’s something Johannes created. He called it a 'Return Stone.'"
With the Sanctuary destroyed, the 'Path of Light' that allowed spatial travel could no longer be used.
Johannes had anticipated such a situation and crafted this Return Stone for Kaylen in advance.
"We’ll return to the capital, Alzass."
As Kaylen spoke, holding the Return Stone, a blue light burst from it, opening a warp gate.
"Then let's go."
With that, Kaylen carried Theresia and stepped into the gate.
[Warp gate? It finally opened?]
From within the gate, Johannes's voice echoed.
[Emperor, hurry! It's urgent!]
"Why? What's going on?"
[Your ex-wife is attacking!]
On the other side of the warp gate—at the royal castle of Alzass.
Hovering above it was Kaina, her fur ominously spread out in all directions.
The black fur stretched so far that it covered more than half the sky, resembling the return of a demon.
'W-What is that?!'
'It's horrifying...'
The people of the capital trembled in fear at the sight.
'Hmph. I didn't expect Kaina to come first.'
Through the remnants of Dragonflame, she had promised to forge a divine sword, but Kaylen hadn’t anticipated her arrival to be this swift.
"Why did you take so long?!"
"Long?"
"It’s already been six days!"
"Six days...?"
Kaylen exchanged glances with Theresia in his arms.
Six days?
There was no way that much time had passed.
'Many things happened in the Sanctuary, but in terms of time, it wasn’t even a full day...
Could time have flowed differently between the Sanctuary and the mortal realm?'
Holding that doubt, Kaylen turned his gaze towards Kaina.
"When did Kaina arrive?"
"She came yesterday. She said she was here to fulfill her deal with you. She kept rambling nonsense."
"But she hasn’t attacked yet?"
"Not yet. But if you were even a little later, the royal castle would’ve been destroyed. She said she'd start by crushing it."
"Hmm. I should go check it out."
Kaylen set Theresia down and ascended into the sky.
As he approached, the fur extending in all directions bristled sharply in response to his presence.
[You're late, impostor. You even brought along the saintess abandoned by the god. Were you delayed by… indulging yourself with her?]
"That's not it."
[As expected of a fake. Unlike the true Ernshtine, it seems you even stoop to laying hands on children…]
At Kaina's mocking words, Kaylen furrowed his brow.
"Enough. Just get to the point."
[Fine. Let’s end this quickly. What kind of sword do you want me to forge first?]
As if she could forge any type of sword, Kaina spoke with confidence.
Kaylen looked at her and responded.
"For now… start with a sword of light."
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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