"Suddenly...?"
Her determined gaze left me at a loss for words.
"I told you we were going to the temple of Abne, right? Let me join you."
Her confidence was almost absurd, as if it were her rightful claim.
"Why...? It's none of your business, is it?"
Frankly, her accompanying us seemed like it would only complicate things further. Given her past actions, it was natural to feel uneasy. Mir and Abne had once been in major conflict, and the fact that the temple had nearly collapsed during their last encounter did not bode well for her joining us now. Knowing well that they weren't on good terms, I couldn’t understand why she insisted on coming along.
"It is my business... The mere fact that you're going to that temple is reason enough."
What could be her reason for this insistence? It was incomprehensible.
"Remember last time? We almost got into serious trouble with that goddess. I sense something suspicious again, a kind of greedy desire..."
Yura trembled at these words, not me. Her reactions and demeanor had been off and suspicious from the moment Mir spoke.
"I can tell... It's my specialty, after all. Though not perfect, having seen so much darkness, I can sense even the slightest malintent."
Her eyes then widened, the ruby-red irises deepening, as if she was channeling some inner brilliance, reminiscent of a detective awakening her keen senses. Her gaze, sharp and clear, was directed squarely at my sister.
"You... are you up to something? Are you just tagging along to flirt, trying to take our brother into the temple?"
Her sharp remark left Yura looking utterly confused, her face betraying a sense of panic so intense it almost seemed like she was breaking into a cold sweat.
"Yura...?"
Initially, I had my doubts about Mir, but her plausible explanation now made me view my sister with suspicion. "Yura...?"
Even after calling her, she just maintained her silence, almost as if a culprit refusing to admit guilt, unwilling to even meet my eyes.
"Really, was there some ulterior motive for wanting to go to the temple?"
I had trusted my sister, but her lack of defense and continued silence only fueled my suspicions.
"Haah..."
However, countering my thoughts, Yura's next reaction was a sigh mixed with frustration.
"How could that be? What benefit would I have in handing you over to the goddess Abne? My reason for going there is simple – I just wanted to express my gratitude for the information she provided last time."
Her demeanor was starkly different from before, genuinely aggrieved and incredulous at the suspicion cast upon her.
"The reason I wanted to go with you... I'm still not familiar with the way, and I didn’t want to get lost."
Her explanation didn't seem odd, turning the situation back into a mystery. Another factor in her favor was her confidence.
"If you really want to accompany us, that's fine, but you must take responsibility for any discord that arises, okay?"
As I pondered this, her earlier suspicious behavior became even more baffling and confusing.
Still looking at her suspiciously, Yura's confidence slightly distorted my expression.
"Okay? You said it yourself, so let's not have any more discussions about it."
Seemingly deciding that accepting her proposal wouldn't be harmful, I lightly agreed.
This acceptance, however, started to create an inexplicable tension, as Yura and Mir exchanged fierce glances with dark eyes.
I couldn't predict how things would unfold, but one thing was certain. Thanks to Eleona's involvement earlier, I had a vague feeling, but to put it plainly...
It seemed like it was going to be a very challenging day. "Suddenly...?"
Despite my call, she just kept silent, almost as if a guilty party refusing to confess, unable to even make eye contact with me.
"Really, was your suggestion to go to the temple some sort of scheme?"
I had trusted her as my sister, but her lack of defense and continued silence only increased my suspicions.
"Haah..."
However, countering my thoughts, Yura reacted with a sigh, tinged with exasperation.
"That's ridiculous, isn’t it? What would I gain by handing you over to Goddess Abne? I just wanted to express my gratitude for the information she provided last time."
Her demeanor now was entirely different from before, genuinely aggrieved and incredulous at the suspicion cast upon her.
"I wanted to go with you because... I'm still not familiar with the way, and I didn't want to get lost."
Her explanation wasn't odd, turning the situation back into a mystery. Another factor in her favor was her confidence.
"Fine, accompany us if you wish, but you must take responsibility for any discord that arises, okay?"
As I pondered this, her earlier suspicious behavior became even more baffling and confusing.
Still looking at her suspiciously, Yura's confidence slightly distorted my expression.
"Okay? You said it yourself, so let's not have any more discussions about it."
Seemingly deciding that accepting her proposal wouldn't be harmful, I lightly agreed.
This acceptance, however, started to create an inexplicable tension, as Yura and Mir exchanged fierce glances with dark eyes.
The situation was now beyond my understanding, but one thing was certain.
Thanks to Eleona's involvement earlier in the day, I had a vague feeling, but to put it plainly...
It seemed like it was going to be a very challenging day. "Ah, is that so?"
Instead of hostility, Abne's eyes now held a sense of curiosity as she looked straight at Yura. Strangely, Yura and Abne silently faced each other for a few seconds.
"Yes, as my brother said... We've come to express our gratitude for your help last time..."
Yura formally bowed her head slowly, her movements conveying thanks.
"You've come at a good time, hmm... yes... Sit and have a leisurely cup of tea with us."
Snap!
With a flick of Abne's fingers, a table and seats appeared amidst a dreamlike mist, along with teacups filled with red tea.
"Although I'm not thrilled... I've prepared some for you too."
There were four cups, exactly matching the number of people present.
Mir stared silently at the teacup, her face darkening for some inexplicable reason.
"Please, take a seat. I've prepared something good; savor it slowly."
Abne was the first to sit, choosing a spot on our side and spreading her arms invitingly.
This unexpected turn of events seemed a bit out of place – suddenly having tea together?
"Why are you just standing there? Won't you all sit down?"
Like the others, I was stiff with surprise, trying to understand this unforeseen situation, while Abne seemed frustrated by our hesitation and urged us to sit.
"Well... I won't refuse..."
The first to accept Abne's invitation and sit was Mir, despite the recent hostility between them. She appeared quite receptive to the hospitality.
"Well then, I suppose... I will too..."
Yura sat down with an ambiguous expression, and I, somewhat reluctantly, joined them.
As everyone took their seats, Abne was the first to sip her tea, and following her lead, I too began to drink the steaming tea.
The aroma of the tea leaves filled my mouth... While I'm no connoisseur of taste, it was clear that the tea prepared by the goddess was indeed exceptional. "Thank you, I will."
Following my lead, Mir and Yura also began to drink their tea...
Thud!
A loud noise shattered the peaceful atmosphere.
"O2...?!"
As Mir took a sip of the tea, she suddenly collapsed onto the table, motionless.
What on earth was happening?
Thud!
Another dull thud sounded.
"Yuriel?! "
This time, it was Yura who fell.
Why were they all collapsing? Something was terribly wrong...
"Qot....?"
Before I could even finish my thoughts, a strong dizziness overwhelmed me. My consciousness quickly faded, pulling me into a deep abyss.
"What's... happening...."
My vision blurred, and the last thing I saw was a woman's sinister smile, full of calculated glee.
"Goddess...?"
Thud!
As my consciousness rapidly slipped away, I couldn't even begin to react to the situation before losing awareness completely.
"You've done well, Yuriel, such an honest child unlike me."
The only one awake amidst the sleeping group was the goddess, her eyes clear and alert.
"How brave of you to share the man you love, even if it's a promised arrangement... You must have shed many tears and made difficult decisions in your heart..."
She looked at the defenseless, sleeping girl with a mix of respect and admiration.
"I'm grateful to you. Even though an unexpected intruder came, you still led him here, and that's all that matters."
She got up from the unplanned table, pulling the still unconscious man into her embrace.
"Well... maybe it's for the best. I planned to put you to sleep one way or another, anyway."
In a world where love's complexities are well understood, witnessing a loved one in the arms of another is an agonizing sight.
"Harold, shall we continue what we couldn't finish last time?"
Expressing deep gratitude to the man's sister, she lifted him and moved him to a bed... "Ah, yes...? Well then, I can't miss this opportunity, even if I'm the only one enjoying it."
Abne proceeded with her original plan, her desires slowly revealing themselves in the absence of prying eyes. Just as she reached out to grab his clothes in her intended action,
"Stop."
The voice of the woman who had seemingly collapsed lifelessly now echoed coldly through the hall.
"Hmm...?"
Surprised by the voice, Abne turned around to find the eyes of the darkness-consuming dragon reflecting back at her.
"As I thought... I knew you wouldn't do anything favorable for me."
Realizing that Abne had seen through her, Mir revealed a hint of triumph mixed with her rising hatred.
"Sharp, aren't you? And I saw you drinking the tea... Yet you're awake..."
Abne gracefully rose from the bed, gathering magical energy at her fingertips, her demeanor both relaxed and beautiful.
"An acquired talent, I suppose... Learning to filter out the bad came from the hardships I faced in my youth."
Mir's expression and voice were calm, a stark contrast to the tension of their previous confrontation.
"Abne... we never really settled our relationship back then..."
Slowly stepping towards the bed, her voice was oddly tranquil, her smile laden with multiple meanings as she readied herself for a divine hunt.
"Well... the fact that I couldn't put you to sleep might actually be a good thing. It seems we both have some unresolved emotions to address."
The stars on the ceiling flared up again, shining even brighter than before, targeting the black dragon.
"It seems so."
With a light voice similar to Abne's, yet intimidating and laden with the history of slaying gods, Mir raised her claws that had split the bellies of numerous deities.
Both were eerily calm in the situation.
In an ironic turn of events, the room, lit up like the night sky with angry stars, mirrored the goddess's rage.
"There's a lot that's been building up... How about we settle the hierarchy this time?"