Chapter: 674
Thanks to the grass and trees growing instead of fur on Behemoth, he had completely turned into a mountain.
The kids, with their eyes all agog at this extraordinary playground, were bustling about on Behemoth’s back, playing their hearts out, while Behemoth, despite being a living playground, cared for them with a gentle expression rather than showing any signs of anger.
– Be careful! There’s a slope, so it’s dangerous if you fall.
“Woong! I’ll be careful!”
– Yes, what a good child you are.
As Behemoth said that, he flattened his body as much as possible, adjusting himself so that even if the kids did fall, they wouldn’t hurt themselves too badly.
Seeing him like that, it certainly seems he has no memories of his days as a deity or the memory of being slain by humans. If those memories lingered, there’s no way he could be so gentle and innocent.
Of course, he might have enjoyed playing with the kids even when he was a god. Perhaps that memory still lives on, allowing him to welcome the kids so warmly now. But if he remembers being killed by humans, he wouldn’t act loyal or innocent to Trika.
‘It’s impossible unless you can choose which memories to erase.’
He must either have all memories from his godly days and the ones about being killed, or neither of them. Judging by Behemoth’s demeanor, it is safe to assume the latter.
‘The best option would be to ask directly.’
Indeed, rather than pondering various hypotheses alone, it’s best to just ask the concerned parties. If I asked Behemoth and Ziz, “Do you have memories from before you were born?” I’d get an immediate answer.
But what if that question triggers memories they had forgotten until now? If they had been living without the memory of their deaths, and suddenly anger against humans surged forth because of me?
That would just be troublesome. It’s better to keep my mouth shut.
“It’s so fluffy! Even if I fall, it doesn’t hurt!”
– Hey now, didn’t I tell you to be careful not to fall?
“But it doesn’t hurt!”
At the crown princess’s words, Behemoth could only chuckle, seemingly resigned.
Certainly, with grass and flowers on top, skin below that, and flesh beneath it all, falling over would be much softer and fluffier than hitting normal ground.
“I’m fine! I’m fine!”
Seeing this, Maria also flopped onto Behemoth’s body and began flailing her arms and legs with a giggle.
– Mmmmaauuuu?
“Uuung?”
– Mmmmaaaauuu—
“Uwoo!”
Nearby, Alina, nestled in the arms of a royal knight, was also bonding with a cow perched on Behemoth’s back.
What a heartwarming sight! Thanks to Behemoth’s presence, all seven kids were bursting with laughter.
“The kids have made good friends. Seems like a blessing from Enen.”
Even Trixie, watching Behemoth and the kids with a satisfied expression, made for a truly happy atmosphere.
“Yeah, right.”
Yet amidst all this, I alone couldn’t genuinely smile. The notion that Behemoth was a tragic fragment of a deity rather than a blessing from Enen weighed heavily on my heart.
What a maddening situation. My head knows there’s no point in me mulling over this alone, and that it’s best to act like I’m oblivious—but here’s the tragic representative of the situation frolicking right in front of me, and my heart doesn’t comply with my reasoning.
‘If only this were a work from the time of Apels, I would feel more at ease.’
It’s a crazy thought, yet one I believe to be true. If Apels had killed a being that was once a god and forcibly resurrected it, I wouldn’t feel such a complicated mix of emotions.
Apels was known to be a madman who didn’t discriminate based on race, gender, nationality, or age; it wouldn’t be surprising if he had added three more victims to his roster by now.
But why Trika? After all, Trika was already ruined by Apels, so wouldn’t it be more comfortable to blame it on Apels? That would sure ease my mind.
‘Snap out of it.’
Gripping onto my gradually sinking rationality, I let out a small sigh.
In just a few days, these feelings should dull. Until then, I—
– Why do you look so down? You seem a bit tired?
Ziz, who had been scratching her stomach next to me, peeked her head in.
The impressive gaze of a bird of prey filled my view, and I almost swung my fist instinctively, but realized just before I did that it was Ziz and calmed down.
Seeing her up close is indeed overwhelming. If a creature like this dove down from the sky, it would cause quite a ruckus.
“I’m just happy watching the kids play.”
– That doesn’t look like a happy face. You’re looking pretty down for someone surrounded by family.
At that, I locked eyes with Ziz.
Maybe it was what she said about families that brought forth emotions I couldn’t articulate, rising slowly from within me, especially since she mentioned siblings.
“It’s probably my first time flying. The experience is so flashy it’s making my stomach churn.”
– Eek!
Ziz reacted dramatically to my poorly received joke, which I had tried to spin into a funny excuse.
– I fly so much! Perfectly! Gracefully! And yet, you’ve only called me a fool who can only fly!
Hearing Ziz boast without any intention to brag made me chuckle. It’s not such a flattering title to call someone a fool who knows nothing but flying…
…?
“Wait, sister?”
– Oh, speaking of which, I haven’t mentioned it, right? I also had a close sister before I was born into this body!
My head went blank with the sudden influx of information.
Sister, before I was born into this body, sister, before I was born into this body.
“Do you have memories from before you were born?”
– Yes! I just changed my body; I still have all the memories from before the Royal Family of Loigas created us!
Her bright answer made my mind go even more blank.
No, um, if you have those memories, that means you also likely have the memories of dying at the hands of humans. How could Behemoth and Leviathan display such loyalty?
‘Is it accurate to say you died at the hands of humans?’
Finally, I found myself at a fundamental question. The Eternal Blue Sky said they “died at the hands of humans,” but I thought it was a straightforward assumption. Did Trika not kill them herself but rather another faction?
What a perplexing dilemma. I clearly unraveled one question only for a tide of more questions to rush in.
I wanted nothing more than to get to the Elf Residential Area where the Eternal Blue Sky was, but the crown princess and the kids hadn’t seen the whale yet. If I bring Ziz back here now, the kids will certainly resent me with tears in their eyes.
That’s why, for the time being, we headed to the sea in front of Boyar where Leviathan was supposed to be.
‘Are you there?’
After all, communication between me and the Eternal Blue Sky is possible even if we’re far apart.
It wouldn’t matter if Ziz moved to the sea in front of Boyar. While the kids played with Leviathan, I could tell the Eternal Blue Sky that Ziz’s memories were intact. Her energies would surely recover, and afterward, I could fly to the Elf Residential Area after completing my errand.
– There! I too have something to ask!
But the moment I tried to speak, the Eternal Blue Sky responded with more intensity than usual.
– Ziz, how is Ziz!?
It felt as though she noticed Ziz had memories.
Caught off guard by the unexpected inquiry, my mind raced. I had just learned this information, so how did the deity, stuck in a World Tree, know?
‘She has all her memories intact. She remembers you, sister.’
– It’s true…!
But soothing the Eternal Blue Sky came first before satisfying my curiosity. Once I confirmed that Ziz’s memories were intact, her voice became thick with tears.
‘But how would you know? I just found out myself.’
– Constantina told me. Just a few days ago, they conversed with Behemoth…
That made sense. The information was conveyed because of her being lodged in the World Tree.
Indeed, as a goddess of flora, Constantina was somewhat overlapping with Behemoth, the deity of livestock. So it wouldn’t be surprising if they became acquainted back in their god days, making it likely that Behemoth welcomed his resurrection.
It’s a pity that despite being sisters, Ziz and the Eternal Blue Sky had kept their distance. So much so that even when they attempted to connect, they’d bolt, fearing their memory-lost sibling might welcome them back with open arms.
– Thank goodness, Ziz remembers me…
But thankfully, Ziz’s memory seems intact. Although the past years are bygone, they can share time together moving forward.
‘We’re almost at Leviathan’s location. We can teleport back home later, so it won’t matter if Ziz is absent.’
– In that case…
‘I’ll send Ziz over there. I’ll inform Grandma beforehand, so the elves won’t be surprised.’
– Thank you…
I could faintly hear a sniffle, but I pretended not to notice.
Reuniting with family, whom I thought I would never see again, would bring a joy I couldn’t even imagine.
*
My heart raced. This was the first time my heart had fluttered since my apostles, priests, sacred relics, and temples were all shattered.
Just a bit more, just a bit more, and Ziz will arrive. I saw the elves nearby emptying out, which suggested the honorary priest had relayed the news to the elder elves.
– I never thought you and Ziz had been complete strangers until now. Had I known it would turn out like this, I should have brought it up first.
I shook my head at Constantina’s words.
This wasn’t anyone’s fault. The blame lay with me for cowardly hiding without mustering the courage.
– No, it’s thanks to you I found out Ziz is okay. I owe you one.
– I’m sure someone else would’ve informed you too, but if that’s how you feel, I’m glad.
As the conversation wrapped up, a silence enveloped us. I certainly wasn’t in the right mental space to chat now.
– …Ah.
– It’s coming.
Soon, I could feel a once-foreign yet now extremely familiar presence approaching rapidly from the southeast.
– Ooooor— Niiiiiieee!
It was Ziz.
– Sister! What are you doing here? I’ve been searching everywhere for you!
That voice—I’m sure it’s Ziz.
– When did you go from being a sky goddess to a tree goddess!
That’s definitely my sister, Ziz!
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