Chapter 78

Chapter 78

Andra placed the scroll and the documented interpretation on the back desk. It was now possible to understand roughly how Hezel, the magic kingdom, went down the path of downfall.

Dean provoked the primordial god, and as a result the primordial god’s wrath was directed to Hezel. The splendid civilization created by magic, which was God’s power in the first place, came to an end just like that.

‘But why?’

Andra searched through dozens of papers and books, but could not figure out why Dean provoked the primordial god. Didn’t he already get everything he could get from the primordial god? First fire, then magic. Was there still more to be gained?

Andra rubbed her temple, trying to recall the Dean she had seen in Anat’s memory.

‘I don’t think he was the kind of man who’s blinded by greed.’

Andra saw how Dean wanted only Anat. He even begged for Anat’s love and said that he wouldn’t rather not keep the fire he so desperately coveted before. The memory of the man with tears in his eyes while asking Anat to love him… It was still vivid in her mind. Because of this, Andra felt her chest throb.

‘Maybe it has something to do with Anat.’

It’s unknown what happened to Dean and Anat at the end of the myth. Usually, the ending was succinctly narrated as ‘The gods still live among us’ or ‘Humans continue to develop civilization after that’, but there was nothing exact about what kind of life they led after.

‘Is it because Hazel suddenly fell?’

If so, what happened after Anat and Dean elicited the primordial god to speak? Had it been the foreshadowing of Hezel’s destruction? In other words, everything was connected.

Therefore, what Andra and Dustin had to find out next might be what happened between Dean and Anat. That’s why Andra was able to peek into Anat’s memories.

‘The important thing is not to take the Morgennis area lightly.’

It was a place that was said to be where a god is sleeping. There must have been something there. Just as Nera’s temple was found in the dungeon of the Aslan Ruins, Anat’s temple, even after she had been disqualified as a god, may be there.

Anyway, for now, the Morgennis area was the only clue she had to move on.

‘The question is, how do I get to Morgennis…’

It’s already complicated enough just thinking about it without breaking her head. There was still conflict between the two counts at the border, so how can she get there? Besides, she needed to go there with Dustin. She has to calculate that part and make a plan.

In the end, when she had crossed one mountain with difficulty, another mountain appeared as a hurdle.

“Ha.”

Andra turned off the light that was illuminating her desk and headed for the bedroom, trying to ignore the reality that was waiting for her.

‘Let’s call it a day today.’

Looking out the window, it had been dark for a long time. Andra pulled the curtains to hide the moonlight that invaded the bed when she suddenly saw the window latch.

She’s never latched the window because of Dustin, who’s been in and out of her room lately. Come to think of it, he was nowhere to be seen today. Andra was a little puzzled because he was the one who collected a perfect attendance streak to this place every day.

‘Is it because of what I said yesterday?’

Andra shook her head as she tried to chew on her words to Dustin last night.

‘…Whatever. If he doesn’t come, it’s better for me.’

She should not think about it too deeply. Thinking about it only made her head more complicated than it is now. Andra closed the curtains roughly to completely cover the window.

Soon, darkness without a single light descended upon her room. Her hand fumbled and she went to her bed and dug into her duvet. A pleasant, fragrant smell emanated from the warm fabric.

Andra hugged the quilt as she slept with her eyes closed, leaving her troubled head about the day.

Soon, she fell into a deep slumber.

“Ah…”

At one point, when she saw a familiar place in sight, it was not difficult for her to notice that she was in Anat’s memories again. What was this memory about this time?

Andra moved her steps little by little and moved forward. But from the beginning, the atmosphere inside the castle was strange. A suffocating air surrounded her.

“Lady Anat!”

At that moment, one of the servants hurriedly ran in front of her. He looked terrified. Cold sweat was dripping from his forehead, and his whole body was trembling. At first glance, it didn’t look very good. Andra gently embraced the servant, who was naturally frightened.

“What’s the matter? Why are you shaking so much? And the atmosphere in the castle…”

“L-Lord Dean… He is… Oh, there’s no time left. Please stop Lord Dean, Lady Anat! Please!”

The servant hurriedly took Andra and headed somewhere. As she approaches her destination, the suffocating air squeezing her neck weighs heavily on her chest. In addition, the smell of blood was getting stronger.

Soon after, Andra found people panicking in front of the largest door. They turned their heads, as if they could not see what was happening inside the door, and their feet were scampering around in frustration.

Andra, realizing the seriousness of the situation, hurriedly entered the door. The servants who recognized Andra opened the large door, and she herself couldn’t keep her mouth shut at the stinging smell of blood and the situation unfolding before her eyes.

The whole floor was covered in blood. The soldiers were lying wounded and bleeding, in the middle of it was Dean, a soldier kneeling at his feet and the tip of her sword was pointed at the soldier’s neck.

The man looked down at the soldier with more emotionless eyes than ever. From the sword he held in his hand, dark red blood of an unknown owner was dripping down the blade of the sword.

“Dean!”

The man’s head turned at the sound of the call. He saw the woman stepping inside towards him and he threw the sword casually away. Clatter! The well-forged sword rolled over the marble floor.

Dean rushed to Andra and hugged her tightly without giving her a chance to speak. His heavy weight falls on her shoulders. There was also a foul smell of blood.

“Ah, my God…”

The man holding the woman was trembling pitifully. It was the complete opposite of how he had just swung his sword towards others without hesitation. He acted like a man who couldn’t kill a single bug. Because of this, Andra was confused about which of the two of them was the man’s true face.

For now, Andra hugged and patted Dean on the back, who was still trembling.

“Anat…”

“Yes, Dean. It’s me.”

“Where… Where have you been?”

Dean raised his head and asked with wet eyes. It was then that Andra knew that the man in front of her was the man she knew, and without realizing it, she relaxed her tension and answered kindly.

“I went out for a while. Sorry for leaving without telling you.”

“…You couldn’t tell me about it before you went?”

“It was urgent, so I couldn’t help it.”

“Do you know how…!”

In an instant, Dean’s voice grew louder. Because of this, when he saw Andra startled, the man quickly lowered his voice. Then he buried his face in her shoulder with a look full of anxiety. He also gripped her waist tighter, but his fingertips were trembling slightly.

“…I was anxious, Lady Anat.”

“What…”

“I couldn’t see Lady Anat, so I…”

Even though Dean was a man twice Andra’s size, he felt infinitely small for that moment. Andra felt sympathy for him. Yes, he’s a guy who only cares for Anat like this, so there’s no way there’s a problem…

Andra stopped her hand from stroking his back for a moment. Her head turned white in an instant, and her spine cooled.

When the woman stopped her hand, the man raised his head to meet her gaze. Then she saw the blood splattered on the man’s face. Andra then turned her head to look at the people still on the floor.

Some were motionless like corpses, others writhing faintly in deep wounds. In the meantime, the blood flowing from them was steadily staining the floor.

“Don’t look. Those people have committed blasphemy.”

Dean said, turning Andra’s head back.

“What blasphemy?”

“They didn’t protect you properly, Lady Anat.”

Andra’s breath choked. No, no way…

“My God, do you know how surprised I was when you disappeared?”

“Dean, I just went out…”

“No. no. They neglected their duty. This is the part where they have to take responsibility for. How could Lady Anat save these blasphemous things that didn’t even know you had disappeared?”

Dean’s amber eyes shone sharply. Something she had never seen before flashed in his eyes. Andra looked at him with an astonished gaze and shouted with a low voice.

“Dean, they are innocent! I just snuck out on them! Why did you blame them! How could you!”

Andra shook the man off her. She didn’t expect him to be holding people accountable for this. Andra covered her mouth with her palm. It was terrifying to hear him casually talk about murder with his mouth.

“Blasphemy! Do not say the word blasphemy to me! Dean, do you have any idea what you are doing now!”

Anat tried to approach those who were lying on the floor. Some were already too late, but those who were still alive could survive with treatment now. The time might not be enough. They were bleeding so much…

But there was one person who stood in her way. It was Dean.

“You dare to stand in my way now?”

“My God, didn’t I tell you? They should be held responsible. If anything had happened to you today, I would have gone crazy in this castle doing nothing. I was saddened by the loss of you.”

“Don’t say nonsense, Dean! Out of the way! I have to save them! You are taking away innocent lives right now!”

Andra, who managed to get Dean off, reached out to the soldier who was still holding his breath, though weakly. She used her magic to stop the blood and heal the wounds. And she repeated it several more times.

However, as she had expected, she could not save some other soldiers who had suffered for a long time. Andra’s tears streamed down their pale faces with their eyes closed.

Aahh, the innocent life closed their eyes early.

And she couldn’t stop it. Andra got up from her seat, wiping the tears from her cheeks. Dean was standing behind her, and he tried to reach out to her, but Andra coldly shook off his hand.

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