I Became a Childhood Friend With the Villainous Saintess - Chapter 181



181 – Barbatos (4)

[Became childhood friends with the evil spirit’s saint – EP.15■ Excerpt from Mixed Wishes (■)]

[Sirien Illencia]

I will let you meet the Saint of Time.

As soon as Hebras finished speaking, the sacred texts scattered like sand.

What appeared after the sand had cleared away was a pure white space with nothing there.

A place with no floor or ceiling, only white. I couldn’t tell how wide it was, and I couldn’t tell how far it continued.

In the infinite whiteness, a woman was waiting for me.

The woman looked at me through a very old cloak she had turned over.

At first glance, it looked like it was sickly. It looked like it was barely holding on to life as if it was on the verge of bursting.

The closer I got to her, the more a strange resonance arose somewhere in my chest.

Perhaps it is a fragment of Sonarq that was given to Hybras.

Then there was no need to ask who that woman was.

A voice that seemed like it would break rang in my ears.

“Nice to meet you. This is my first time seeing you in person. Kolok… … . My name is Aisa. I am a prisoner who was imprisoned in time a long time ago.”

Aisa’s voice seemed to drip with regret.

A regret that could last for a thousand years.

I don’t think there is one emotion that can endure for so long.

Love. The magical feeling that turns a saint into a witch, and a witch into a saint.

It seemed like Aisa still couldn’t let go of her love.

I had so many questions to ask, but no voice came out of my mouth.

Aisa smiled faintly, perhaps noticing my condition.

A cold hand stroked the hem of his cloak.

“You won’t be able to say anything here. In fact, it’s better not to say anything even if you can. In this ‘gap in time,’ you can avoid the eyes of causality, but it doesn’t come without a price. So please bear with it even if it’s a little frustrating.”

Every time Aisa spoke, the end of her cloak slowly disappeared.

Little by little, like something too old crumbles, the cloak, broken like dust, never returned.

“Hibras likened fate to a loose thread. It is a very apt metaphor.”

Aisa began a long story.

A fate that has already been decided can never be changed.

But not all futures are immutable fates.

If fate were expressed in material terms, it would resemble a very long thread tied here and there with nails.

The unfixed thread is free. Since it is loosely connected, it can turn around for a moment, or it can be pulled tight.

But no matter how much you hold onto and shake the extra thread, in the end you will face a fixed fate.

“That is why I returned your memories to the Guardian of Hybras so late. Unfortunately, the misfortune of the two of you was an unchangeable fate, so I should have saved my power to interfere with cause and effect.”

It was the same even then.

Clearly, the changes brought about by Rajen would have been positive for us.

I still don’t know what the future looks like as far as Razen knows, but Hybrass definitely said ‘it’s faster than the original’.

This must be the result of Rajen’s efforts without me knowing.

It was definitely not a wasted effort. Rajen’s efforts will bear fruit in one way or another.

But the immutable fate does not change.

Cause and effect will go around and around and we will reach our predetermined fate no matter what force is used.

“This may be considered good news, but the immutable destiny does not last forever. There is not much time left. In the near future, time will pass the final destiny.”

Final fate?

There was no need to ask.

Because Aisa answered as if she knew I would ask.

The more this happened, the faster Aisa’s cloak disappeared.

“A new saint will descend upon this land. The gods call her the false saint, and you call her the saint of Asirel. I… … I will call her the saint of darkness.”

It was a moment when a long-standing question in the theological world was answered.

Why doesn’t the God of Light, Asherel, have a second side?

That’s because the god we know as Asherel is the other side of the god of darkness.

When the divinity of rest is changed into the divinity of death.

And when doing the opposite, the required techniques are completely different.

Since we have been dealing with the divinity of the other side from the beginning, we have not been able to find another side.

“All the saints of Asherel who have existed until now were artificially created false saints. It would be a collaboration between Baal and the dead gods.”

Power stolen from Sonarq. Materialized power of Temes, the god of order.

And the power of the dark god obtained through rebellion.

Baal has been hiding behind the fate of the world for a very long time.

While speaking of Baal, the cloak has shrunk to the point where it can hardly be called clothing.

Now Aisa and the cloak had switched roles. As she embraced the cloak, the withered woman’s body began to slowly disappear.

Aisa continued speaking calmly as if nothing had happened.

“The Dark Saint is the final destiny decided upon for this land. After the Saint’s arrival, nothing is set in stone, so the law of causality will no longer oppress you. Of course, it will not protect you from Baal either.”

The reason Baal has not personally gone on an expedition until now is because he is waiting for his fate.

Aisa added.

I slowly expanded my thoughts.

I know what she’s saying.

I also realized that there were many secrets in this world that I didn’t know about.

But that’s not what I’m curious about.

Why was it Rajen? Why was it me and not Rajen who had to hear this story?

You, who loved Baal so much, why are you helping us instead of Baal?

“That’s because I still love Baal. I… … ”

Aisa squeezed her voice.

A story I really don’t want to tell.

At least, words came out that he never wanted to say with his own mouth.

“I want to punish Baal. His suffering can only end with death, so I want to give him peace. That is the only reason I am pouring all my energy into it.”

From the perspective of life, death is an unchangeable fate.

Also, the cradle of Hybras is made of darkness, for life is born in darkness and falls asleep in darkness.

The only being completely free from Baal’s power was Hybras.

Now there was little left of Aisha’s body.

“Just as the Guardian of Hybras stood in my way long ago, it is now your turn to stand in the way of Baal. I… … ”

* * *

When I opened my eyes again, I was in the prayer room inside the sanctuary.

Lazen was unable to wake up for several days due to the aftereffects of meeting Hybras, and Hybras’ divinity filled the prayer room for several days as if protecting Lazen.

Edwin brought Rajen into the room as soon as the divinity disappeared.

Now I was guarding Rajen’s side while he was sleeping.

New liquid, new liquid. The sound of Rajen’s breathing while he was sleeping soundly rang right in my ear.

I gently stroked Rajen’s bangs.

Your hair has grown a lot. I must tell the maids when I return to the Grand Duke.

“When will I wake up?”

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Rajen this defenseless.

My mind was in such a mess, and yet you were sleeping like this.

Although Rajen seemed annoying, I didn’t have the courage to wake him up.

Now that you’re asleep, you should let yourself rest comfortably.

Instead, I decided to create my own secret by kissing Rajen on the cheek once.

“… … I would like to wait a long time. Until you feel like talking.”

I also leaned forward as if I was lying face down on the bed where Rajen was sleeping.

Is it because you are by my side? My body quickly became relaxed.

It usually takes me a long time to fall asleep, but when Rajen is next to me, I fall asleep in an instant.

I’m sure you can feel reassured.

Because no matter when, the safest place for me will always be next to you.

While I was falling asleep, I had an idea in my head.

After a long time, when you have prepared your mind, you will knock on my door first.

You clenched your fists nervously, then unclenched them.

I’ll hesitate for a moment, but then come at you directly.

I have something to tell you. Something I’ve wanted to say for a very long time.

Then I will wait slowly so that you can put down the burden in your heart.

I’ll listen to what you have to say and think about what you’ve done together, and we’ll help you unload your burden.

When the story is over, I will answer like this.

‘You knew everything? You did it all for me.’

Then… …what kind of expression will you make?

Should I feel relieved and say that I suffered for nothing? Or should I laugh and say that I knew it would happen?

I don’t know. I don’t know how you feel about carrying these heavy burdens.

But one thing is certain, I will love you more.

I’ve already poured out all the love I have onto you, and when I come to my senses, I realize that I love you more today than I did yesterday.

So, if I could do as I please, I would wait for you forever.

But, Rajen.

I don’t think there’s much time left.

I guess I’ll just have to wait and ask first.

I hope you don’t get hurt then. I hope you don’t feel guilty about keeping secrets from me.

I felt Rajen tossing and turning in my sleep.

My vision was blurry because I had been sleeping for quite some time, but when I rubbed my eyes, I saw Rajen waking up.

When I looked at his face, the corners of my mouth went up involuntarily.

“Are you awake? How are you feeling?”