Chapter 155 : Chapter 155
Chapter 155
Back home, Lilac greeted me.
“Welcome back, Master!” she said with a bright smile.
I had one request for her.
“Hey, I’m back. Could you prepare a bath?”
“Of course! I’ll get it ready right away!”
As I ate the cheesecake she’d prepared, the bath was quickly ready.
Steam rose from the tub. Green, purple, and colorful petals floated, their beauty dancing in the vapor, captivating my eyes. I stepped in slowly, and a tingling relaxation spread from my toes. The rich floral scent invaded my nose, clinging to my mind.
‘It’s complicated.’
Slowly, I sank into the tub, like slipping into a swamp.
‘This body.’
Martin.
‘This world.’
Not a novel, but reality.
‘I could’ve just treated it like a novel.’
A world that’d mean nothing after the ending. Back on Earth, I might dismiss it as a dream, a midsummer night’s memory to forget. I could’ve kept treating everyone as NPCs or extras without issue…
‘But the reason I don’t…’
“Master, I’ll leave your change of clothes outside,” Lilac called.
“Yeah…”
Lilac. My person, my love. It’s all for her.
“Hey, Lilac.”
“Yes?”
Through the thin wooden door, lying in the tub, caught in strange emotions, I spoke to her.
“…Never mind.”
Why did I call her? I had nothing to say and chuckled.
Lilac was quiet for a moment.
“Master, Lilac’s open 24/7, year-round. Call me anytime something comes to mind.”
God, what a delicate woman. A smile spread across my face.
“…Yeah.”
Hearing my reply, Lilac retreated softly.
‘Proof of Martin’s salvation and redemption.’
My head was a mess. How could I find such a thing? But I couldn’t not find it.
‘The only way to raise Wild Instinct to level 5…’
And at the same time…
‘The minimum responsibility.’
Forced or not, as someone indebted, it was my minimum duty.
‘Speaking of the afterlife, that was unexpected.’
Does this world have a hell after death? Then what are the demons in hell? They descend to the present? Can you return here after dying?
‘Hmm.’
I wasn’t well-versed in this.
Know-It-All (Lv 4) gathers afterlife information.
It varies by religion and church, but generally, there’s heaven and hell.
‘Gods’ heaven, demons’ hell.’
Details differ by church, too complex for Know-It-All to fully grasp.
“Sebastian, here’s a dog chew. But you can’t just love chews. You need tonic too.”
[Woof!]
“It’s bitter, but eat it patiently, and your wounds will heal faster.”
[Whine.]
Outside, Lilac’s voice cared for Sebastian, like a mom scolding a naughty son. It felt warm.
‘Whatever.’
If it’s about religion, I could ask a priest, right? I happened to know the strongest one.
“Alright, sorted.”
I got out of the tub and prepared to head out. My destination: the Elidore Marquisate. On the 10th floor, Marquis Arnold greeted me.
“Martin of Ulvhadin. Been a while. First time since the grand banquet?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Arnold sat at his desk, buried in documents. He looked busy enough for two bodies.
“Sorry, you seem swamped.”
“Hm, thanks to you, no idle days.”
My fault? What did I do to the Elidore Marquisate…?
Then it hit me what Arnold meant.
“About the diplomacy with Fog Island?”
His pen stopped. He looked up at me.
“You’re sharp.”
“You flatter me.”
“There’s a lot to prepare. Fog Island diplomacy is a gold mine, attracting hyenas. Bidders aren’t few…”
Arnold rubbed his eyes, easing fatigue.
“So, what’s the matter?”
“I came to see the Star Child.”
“You’re in luck.”
‘He’s here,’ Arnold implied, but I already felt it. Entering the Elidore Marquisate, an indescribably pure, powerful stellar force hit me.
In the Star Child’s room, I saw him petting a cat’s head.
“Oh, Martin. You, looking for me? Thought young folks hated chatting with old-timers.”
“…It’s not that. I have a question.”
“Question? Great!”
He set the cat down, and it meowed, scampering off.
“Let’s hear it.”
I spilled what happened, slightly tweaked.
“Huh, you went to the Ulvhadin family and saw William?”
The cat returned with popcorn on its head. Star Child munched with one hand.
“So, you declared change and resolve before your father. And he offered the Ulvhadin patriarch’s seat and the secret to awakening Wild Instinct.”
The condition: proof Martin was saved and redeemed.
“Hmm, proof of salvation and redemption. Not sure why you’re asking me.”
He snapped his fingers.
“Martin, how many priests have you met?”
“Priests?”
Why ask that out of nowhere?
“Not many. Just the academy theology teacher, mostly…”
“Right. Divine ability users—priests—are rare.”
True. In this world, becoming a priest is like picking stars.
“Anyone can help temples or do good deeds. But being recognized by a god, granted divinity, and named a formal priest? That’s a tiny few.”
Not just hard to become, but easy to lose.
“Even priests get stripped of divinity for defying gods’ wishes.”
“True.”
“Martin, you’re a stellar force user. Recognized by the great order Cosmos' Holy Relic of Cosmos, the Rosary of Grace. If your past wasn’t forgiven or saved, what are you?”
“Oh…”
Right. I could buy stellar force with the system, but not wield it.
I gained this power… when fighting to protect someone. It was slowly granted when I truly cared for others.
“So don’t worry. I guarantee you won’t fall to hell.”
“Is there really hell?”
“Of course. Where demon lords live.”
“No, I mean…”
I meant the afterlife hell.
“The pain and screams of souls fallen to hell are the demon lords’ favorite delicacy.”
“….”
So the demon lords’ hell was the afterlife hell.
“Is there a heaven?”
“Heaven? You mean the celestial realm?”
“Yeah, well…”
I slipped up with an Earth term. Gotta be careful.
“The celestial realm is literal. Those who did much good in life go there for eternal bliss. Well, I’ve never died, so I don’t know the details.”
Knock. The door opened with a knock. Marquis Arnold appeared.
“Star Child, the red swordsman is here.”
“Got it.”
Star Child stood, stretching. Probably off to meet the red swordsman. He’s elusive, meeting many, nothing odd.
“I’ll head out. Guest’s here.”
“Yeah, come back if you’ve got more questions.”
He followed Arnold somewhere.
‘Intense.’
From that room… an uncontained, powerful presence. Hot, like surging red flames. Unrefined, it made Arnold flinch, but Star Child entered unfazed. What a guy.
‘Familiar.’
That presence… likely Teacher Hectia. So different from before, I almost didn’t recognize it. Once a destructive, angry flame, now it felt… like it was dancing.
‘Whoops.’
I shook off the thoughts.
‘There’s a reason they didn’t include me.’
If it’s important, Star Child will tell me later. Proof comes first.
‘Everyone’s growing; I can’t stay stagnant.’
The talent young Martin discarded, blocking Know-It-All and Wild Instinct’s potential.
‘I need to find it.’
With renewed resolve, I headed home. The answer was in my hands. Martin’s salvation. The token of redemption was stellar force itself—holy power granted by gods.
‘But is this enough?’
Would William accept it?
Wild Instinct (Lv 4) disagrees. Stellar force is a fine token, but for the Ulvhadin patriarch’s seat and its generational secret, something more certain is needed.
This wasn’t a fight with swords or guns, but a task to stake my life on.
‘Some… physical proof would be good.’
Stellar force is great, but an item with deep meaning…
“You’re back, Master.”
Unless you understand stellar force, it’s hard to accept.
“…Master?”
Something William would instantly acknowledge…
“Master!”
“Oh.”
Lilac looked up at me, her face full of worry.
“You okay? You didn’t answer…”
“Oh, uh.”
I looked around, realizing I was home. I’d been too lost in thought.
“Sorry, I was deep in thought. I’m back.”
“….”
Lilac gazed up at me quietly.
“Master, if I may be so bold… can I ask something?”
“Anything’s fine.”
“Is it about what you tried to say in the bath?”
“….”
Right. My head was tangled with doubts about William’s task. I almost asked Lilac something without thinking.
‘I don’t want to worry Lilac.’
The heart of love. The selfish wish for my beloved to be at ease.
‘But… is that right?’
Lilac looked at me with the most worried expression, as if my troubles were hers. No, they truly were. That’s the kind of girl Lilac is.
“I know I was presumptuous, interrupting your duel during the cadet duel assessment…”
Shocked, I cut her off.
“Lilac! Don’t ever say that again!”
I couldn’t believe she still held that incident in her heart. It gave me chills.
“Sorry. But even if I’m no help… I want to help you, Master. Even in the smallest way…”
Seeing Lilac’s earnest, tender expression, my reason melted, and words slipped out.
“Well… uh…”
“Yes, Master! I’m listening!”
Caught again by Lilac’s adorable magic.
“I went to the Ulvhadin family…”
“Yes, I’m listening.”
Come to think of it, this was the first time. Opening up my worries to Lilac.
“My father gave me a task…”
“I see. That’s what happened.”
Shouldn’t I have done this from the start? If I truly love Lilac, I shouldn’t keep my mouth shut.
“So, I’ve been worrying all day.”
Otherwise, it’s like keeping a bird in a cage.
“That’s the story.”
“I understand.”
Lilac closed her eyes gently, deep in thought. Even that was so cute I wanted to hug her.
‘Hold back, idiot!’
Her purple eyes snapped open.
“Then let’s do this!”
My body was pulled along. Lilac grabbed my hand, smiling, and ran off like an innocent girl. I followed her to her room…