Chapter 270 – Memory – 3
After Delta hurried out of the audience room with the God of the Holy Kingdom, only silence lingered in the room.
Thud thud thud
It was only natural, given that not only had the Sun and Moon appeared directly, but they also warned that it was approaching rapidly. Everyone in this place felt there was no longer time for hesitation.
“I will take over from here. The Goddess has arranged it this way,” Nix spoke up amidst the tumultuous atmosphere.
Minerva felt a question arise within her at Nix’s words. She had experienced both the polite and casual personas, but had never encountered a tone like that before.
The polite side was timid, while the casual side was gloomy.
“I am currently in a state where the two divided personas have merged back into one. This should be closer to my true nature,” Nix explained.
“You’re incredibly perceptive now,” Minerva noted.
Snicker
“To survive in a world on the brink of collapse, all you need is perception,” Nix snorted, a smile forming on her face—one that contained a very complex mix of emotions, unlike her usual gloomy and timid expressions.
“So, what will you do? You all likely gathered as much just by entering the room, but Delta is inclined to hope you don’t go through with it,” she continued.
“We’re already aware of that. There’s no need to emphasize it,” someone replied.
“Of course, if you want it, it’s entirely possible. The choice is yours, and neither I nor Delta plan to stop you from that. Just know that the odds of failure are exceedingly high. Even the Goddess wouldn’t recommend it,” Nix cautioned, bringing up the Goddess as a deterrent, leaving everyone momentarily speechless.
Those black eyes turned toward Aurora. “Especially you. Since it’s a matter of life and death, I won’t sugarcoat it. You, you can’t fight at all, right?”
Silence
Aurora clenched her fists tightly, barely managing to nod. She understood very well that she was practically treated as irrelevant here.
It was uncertain whether she could awaken True Death, but even if she did, it was clear she wouldn’t be able to wield a sword properly after spending her whole life holding a pen instead.
What good would it do to teach her how to use a sword at a time when the fate of the world was at stake?
What if something went wrong, and she ended up dying? The grief would fall squarely on those who remained.
“I don’t know about others, but don’t even think about mentioning participating in memory sharing. It wouldn’t help at all,” Nix deliberately chose harsh words to completely crush Aurora’s pride. It was far better to be the bad guy herself than give a glimmer of false hope through misplaced compassion.
“I know that…”
Snap
Though her tone was cold enough to be perceived as abusive, Aurora remained silent, knowing well the reason behind Nix’s words.
Still, it was true that she was angry about her own situation. She bit her lips until they bled, her front teeth sinking into her delicate pink skin.
Given the already heavy atmosphere, Aurora’s words only served to chill it further.
Lize, Erica, and Iris felt as if they were choking on their breath, as if they had heard those words themselves. Just witnessing it was suffocating enough; they couldn’t even imagine how it felt to hear it directly.
“I’ll ask one thing, short woman.”
“Nix, please call me that, Your Highness. You can also call me by my former name, Flor, or whichever you prefer. It doesn’t matter to me.”
“If you, against Delta’s will, choose to forgo the acquisition of True Death, Delta will have to face that alone. When that time comes, will he have a chance of victory?”
“I… I’m not sure. That doesn’t seem like a question I can answer. But still, you all have some idea, don’t you?”
Thud
They have some idea.
Kaiquilia wasn’t foolish enough not to understand the hidden meaning behind that. Her golden pupils sharpened, and an intense murderous intent surged for a moment.
Nearby, the Knight Commanders and Stella, Selene flinched instinctively, but Nix calmly took the killing intent in stride.
“Then the answer is already determined,” Kaiquilia said as she turned to face Aurora, staring down at the girl who bore her blood, just like her.
“Aurora.”
“…Yes, Aunt.”
“Lift your head.”
Aurora slowly raised her head. Tiny tears welled in her eyes, and her lips were bruised and bleeding.
She was desperately maintaining an expression that seemed poised to crumble at any moment, trying to downplay her emotional state.
Both women were remarkably similar, having inherited the bloodline of Libanus. The only difference was that one was slightly younger, while the other appeared more mature.
“Nix, or was it Flor? That’s perfectly fine. Listen, short woman.”
“…Yes. Please go ahead.”
“You will accept Delta’s memories. No matter how many hundreds or thousands of deaths you must endure, you will see it through,” Kaiquilia declared.
“Understood. If Your Highness says so.”
“Then, Aurora,” she continued.
A round light mass appeared in Kaiquilia’s right hand. Minerva gasped as she realized what it was.
The others were confused, not knowing what it was, but witnessing Minerva’s reaction hinted it was something significant.
But when the light mass fully took shape, even the rest of them gasped in shock.
Held in Kaiquilia’s hand was a crown, symbolizing the Empress of the Aiternum Empire.
“From now on, you are Libanus.”
The emblem of the Aiternum Empire was centered on the crown, crafted from pure gold and diamonds. It was gently placed on top of Aurora’s black hair.
Aurora leapt to her feet in shock, realizing the significance of the Empress’s crown resting on her head.
“Aunt! What is this—”
Shush
“Look at it. From this moment, you are no longer Kaiquilia Libanus. The use of the Libanus name is a privilege only permitted for the current Empress.”
Hearing that, Aurora’s legs began to tremble. The Empress’s crown? At a moment like this?
For a moment, she thought her aunt was joking inappropriately, but those incredibly similar golden pupils were dead serious. It was undoubtedly a sincere gaze.
“B-but… I can’t handle this…”
“You can bear the weight of that crown. I, who was once an Empress, guarantee that. Your father, that disgraceful piece of human trash, was far from human, but you have inherited the blood of Libanus exceptionally well. You can undoubtedly support the Empire.”
“Still…”
Kaiquilia placed her left hand on Aurora’s right shoulder. Aurora instinctively fell silent.
“You will… no, I will. From now on, I will walk a path from which I may never return.”
Tap tap
A delicate palm softly patted her shoulder.
A tremendous amount of encouragement was contained within that simple gesture.
“That man does not want to see me broken. He worries for my downfall. But isn’t it quite laughable? That is not merely an emotion belonging to him alone.”
Aurora had no words. No, she couldn’t find any to say.
“As much as Delta worries about me, I worry about Delta just as much. I cannot permit my man to fight alone in solitude. I will not allow it.”
Having grasped the sincerity behind her words.
“That’s why I cannot remain as an Empress any longer. I want to help that man as Kaiquilia, the woman in love, not as the Empress of the Aiternum Empire.”
Could she have ever said such words before? Kaiquilia pondered that internally for a moment.
The answer came swiftly. It would have been impossible, even if she died and came back to life. She knew very well how arbitrary and reckless she once was.
But it wasn’t the case now. Just as that man was achieving seemingly impossible feats effortlessly, Kaiquilia would do the same.
They say lovers tend to resemble each other. This was merely a continuation of that sentiment.
“Aunt…”
“You, of all people, will understand the weight of my words. Now the fate of the Empire rests in your hands. Go, Aurora Libanus. Go and prepare a place for us to return when everything is over.”
Aurora gritted her teeth. The taste of blood filled her mouth due to her burst lip.
Though the sudden transfer of power was shocking, none of the officials would dare oppose it. This was the path walked by Kaiquilia Libanus.
And perhaps, the path walked by Aurora Libanus would be similarly laid out.
If she found herself with no one to stand by her side, the two individuals who looked so alike would end up mirroring each other’s actions as well.
Aurora turned her body and began to walk slowly toward the audience room’s door. Although her footsteps should have been muffled by the luxurious carpet, the heavy responsibility she bore made each step echo clearly.
As the door swung open, just before a silhouette dressed in a black dress disappeared beyond it, a calm voice broke the silence.
“Please, be sure to return alive. This is the first command I give as the Empress of the Aiternum Empire.”
With those words, the door closed.
Before their eyes, the power of the Empire shifted, leaving even Minerva speechless. The presence of the Pope and Nix, everyone present, was stunned in disbelief.
“So, how does the memory sharing work?”
Only Kaiquilia remained unshaken.
“…You’re serious, Kaiquilia,” Nix acknowledged.
“I am offering help to the man who made me who I am. I wouldn’t do so half-heartedly.”
The look in Kaiquilia’s eyes was unwaveringly confident.
“We feel the same way.”
“So, could you please tell us how?” One among the stunned quickly regained composure and stood beside Nix, next to Kaiquilia.
Dressed all in robes resembling thick black layers, they were the Popes. Their bodies were wrapped so tightly that not a single bare skin showed beneath their necklines.
“We have become Delta’s women. Even if it means facing treachery, it is only fitting to support him by his side.”
Swish
“As he saved us, now it’s our turn to step forth for him. Even if it means risking our lives.”
“You aren’t planning on giving up your positions as Pope, are you?”
At that, Floretta and Luna exchanged sly smiles.
“Being Pope isn’t something you can simply give up by human will. As the Sun and Moon have decreed, wouldn’t it be best to leave what is taken to the Sun and Moon as well?”
“When the former Pope ends her earthly life and finds rest in the embrace of the Sun and Moon… they will shine their light upon the new Pope.”
Seizing the opportunity as the three discussed, Stella and Selene joined the Popes. For these two, life was equivalent to faith, and naturally, they only thought it right to support the Holy One.
They hadn’t yet repaid the debt of gratitude for rescuing the Popes from the monsters in the Underworld of the Holy Kingdom. In this situation, they would rather die than pull back.
Particularly for Stella, who held personal debt regarding Lucia.
“Have you also made up your minds?”
Four Knights of the Silver Dawn Commanders quietly took their places behind Kaiquilia. Sensing their presence, Kaiquilia spoke without glancing back.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I’m no longer your Empress. So call me Kaiquilia. What is your reason for wanting to participate?”
“We… we want to do it for the same reason as you,” they responded almost in unison. Lize, whose usual cheerful smile had vanished, replied bluntly. With her already sharp look, her seriousness added an intimidating aura.
“Ah, the same reason. That man really has no redemption, eh? Should something go wrong, how many women would cry over him? Yet he intends to shoulder all the burdens himself,” she said, mockingly.
In truth, among the three others apart from Lize, only Iris could honestly say they felt the ‘same reason.’
Erica was still grappling with the guilt of harboring feelings for her sister’s man, and Claudia was caught in uncertainty about whether her feelings for Delta were friendship or love.
But they all shared one thing in common; none wanted to think about what would happen if Delta were to die.
“Child, what should we do now?” Minerva was unexpectedly standing silently beside Kaiquilia, seemingly having accepted the decision.
“Since we can’t just go ahead and die thousands of times right off the bat, let’s just taste it a little first.”
Of course, Nix wasn’t particularly surprised, as she had already anticipated things would unfold like this.
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