"Goddess, I've just returned." As I enter the small, hastily-prepared temple, my goddess, whom I serve, greets me warmly. "Harold! I've heard about your ordeal already. You've done really well!" She welcomes me with a bright smile, her demeanor more radiant than ever. It seemed the word of my recent endeavors had already spread, perhaps due to the rapid information network among the gods.
"Move quickly, the next secret facility is here." "Hurry up, heretics, your end is near." Outside, amidst the bustling chaos, the guards were swiftly carrying out their duties in the aftermath of the incident involving the ancient god Luceria.
We had made a crucial agreement following the resolution of Luceria's case. "Finally, with the ancient god put back into eternal slumber and a large number of cult members apprehended, it feels like the greatest sun is shining under the heavens where gods reside!" We fabricated a lie that Luceria met her death or a similar fate, a secret that we agreed not to disclose to anyone else. To the guards, we reported that the ancient god was resealed. Based on information from Arisia, who had operated internally, we identified and arrested cult members hiding in the academy, swiftly dismantling their secret facilities that dreamed of reviving the ancient god.
"Yes, it was incredibly challenging, but since she had just been resurrected and wasn't in her actual flesh, we managed to resolve it somehow." Of course, revealing the secret we hid would mean that she was still very much alive.
And not just alive, but right within my embrace...
'Quite the talkative goddess...' The tedious voice echoes in my mind. 'The goddess of fate, the goddess my husband serves...' Hidden beneath my clothing but still present on the pendant I wear, the ancient god Luceria exists, transmitting her thoughts not as whispers in my ear, but directly resonating in my mind. In reality, her true form was the pendant, making her an unsurpassed master of disguise and deception. She could also manifest a form using a small part of my magical energy, and even utilize a fraction of her power.
"I'm relieved to hear that. The fact that Marika became a sacrifice and still managed to survive is fortunate, but I heard she needs to rest for a while." It seemed she was already aware of the whole incident, including the close call Marika had with the possible obliteration of her soul.
"And to think the mastermind behind this was a candidate to rule the nation, a cult member's pawn... Even the other gods did not see that coming." The revelation that Prince Abram, her own brother, was a heretic was shocking enough to make the entire populace's eyes widen. The charismatic prince, trusted by the people for his abilities and public sentiment, was actually a cult member, leading the organization and even plotting to sacrifice his own sister. Such an act was unfathomable in terms of human morality. Although he met a terrible end and received his judgment, it was hard to say it was deserved.
This incident would surely stir public opinion, creating unrest in the streets and confusion in the royal court, especially since the royal family lost their most promising heir.
"It seems all gods will now have to manage their followers more diligently for a while. Things are going to be busy." However, the elimination of a source of great evil was also a positive outcome, and the goddess didn't seem too disheartened.
"You did exceptionally well, Harold. Taking you in was the luckiest moment of my life." The goddess was clearly happy with our connection, smiling happily.
"Just a moment... Could you come over here?" She beckoned me with a gentle smile. Seeing no reason to refuse, I approached Goddess Morione slowly. "Goddess?" I approached her, and she suddenly pulled me into a deep embrace, savoring the moment.
"Just stay like this, as my Harold..." Her tone was filled with longing and a hint of sadness.
"Wait a moment, Goddess..." Normally, I would have accepted this personal moment, but this time was different.
'Hold on, husband?' The pendant on my chest began to emit a sinister energy. The situation was far from private; it wasn't just Morione and me there.
'Oh? Is my companion perhaps an octopus in disguise? Why does it feel like there are so many tentacles?' The pressure was mounting, signaling a bad situation.
"Hmm? Why?" The Goddess, unaware of my discomfort, held me even tighter, completely engulfing me in her embrace.
Woom... Woom... The pendant began to vibrate unstably, almost like a warning signal.
This could turn into a disaster. If the situation continued and Luceria lost her temper, it could lead to an embarrassing scene, which I needed to end quickly.
"I'm sorry!" I used a bit of strength to break free.
"Eh?" The Goddess looked at me with a mix of sorrow and confusion, but I had no choice.
"I'm sorry, Goddess... I'm just a bit tired and sensitive right now..." I quickly came up with an excuse to justify my abrupt behavior.
"Hmm... Is that so? Well, I can't help it then. You've overcome such an ordeal... You've worked hard today, so go ahead and rest." Her voice was tinged with disappointment, but she ended our meeting considerately.
"We'll probably stay at the Academy for now, but we'll have to remain here until things settle down. The Academy will likely be closed for a while." She briefly discussed future plans and then gave me a look, signaling that I could leave. "Understood, Harold the Seed. I will retreat for today." I bid a formal farewell and head towards the tent, feeling the strange vibration of the pendant, which had been unsettled since Luceria's actions earlier.
'Husband, don't you have something to say to me?' Luceria speaks up as soon as I leave Morione's tent, and simultaneously, the vibration stops. It seemed she was preparing something significant inside the pendant just moments ago.
"My Goddess was a bit excessive in her affection..." I mutter.
'You think I'm speaking up just to hear that?' she retorts, not easily letting go of her grudge.
'Really... Ugh... Fine, I'll let it pass this time.' She seems to be on the verge of saying something more, then sighs in frustration, apparently deep in her own thoughts.
'Anyway, what's next? Since we need to work together to recover your true memories, and it seems like we'll have some spare time.'
In fact, Luceria, along with Erina, Aris, and the others who were at the scene, had a meeting without me. It was about my memories. Due to a curse in my mind, hearing about my real past triggers intense headaches, making it impossible for me to participate in discussions about my own history.
It's an ironic situation. The magic inscribed within me prevents me from hearing about my actual past. So the others, who are not affected, have to hear and discuss the situation on my behalf.
I suspect that Erina might have had a close relationship with me in the past...
'Ugh..' The moment I try to delve deeper into that thought, a sparking pain surges in my head, reminding me of the limits imposed by the magic.
Anyway, returning to the main topic and responding to Luceria's question... "I need to visit Marika first, she must be going through a lot both physically and mentally." According to the information I received, Marika has awakened, but her mood is reportedly much more somber than usual.
'Are you more concerned about that princess than me? Does it make your wife feel neglected?' Luceria comments, a bit sulkily. Honestly, I keep wanting to deny that she and I are a couple, but technically, that was the contract.
'I help you uncover the truth, and in return, you love me... wasn’t that the agreement?' I had a vague anticipation that if it were a deal, even just verbally, it would carry a tremendous responsibility.
Initially, despite being adversaries, she easily agreed to follow along with just my words. But as we returned to the real world, another magic was inscribed within me - a Soul Contract. It's exactly what it sounds like - a contract that involves the soul. Breaking it would mean losing my life and becoming the property of the other party. It was a disaster for liars.
So, while it might be extreme, Luceria and I are technically a bound couple. I had no excuse for her complaint.
'There's no need for such a look, I’m generous with my love. Didn’t I say earlier? Regardless of this and that, eventually, everything will flow according to my husband’s wishes.'
With those words from Luceria, the pendant hidden inside my clothes suddenly emits a strong purple light and tears through the fabric.
"This form is most comfortable for me." Luceria materializes in front of me.
"Wait...! There are people watching...!!" Worried about being discovered by others, I protest, but she just shrugs nonchalantly.
"It's okay, I’ve cast a convenient spell, making me imperceptible. Even the strongest won’t recognize me."
With that, she casually walks away.
"Where are you going?" I ask.
"With a faint smile full of implications, she responds, "To meet Aris. We didn’t finish our discussion about retrieving your memories. Since you’re going to see that princess, wouldn’t you prefer to be alone?"
Marika confessed her love to me, and Luceria too considers me as her husband. Despite allowing me to meet her alone, she seemed surprisingly generous, leaving me quite bewildered.
"Are you sure it's okay?" I asked, wondering if she knew what I was thinking.
"No, to be honest, I don't like it... How can I know what might happen?" She squints her eyes in displeasure, seeming to harbor jealousy not towards Marika but towards me.
"But seeing your expression, you seem very eager to go alone... I can't ignore the feelings that are so blatantly obvious, even if you try to hide them." It wasn't that I wanted to spend time alone with Marika, but perhaps she sensed my discomfort in always being accompanied.
"Just hand over the pendant to me. The energy forming my figure is yours, so I can't be too far from it. However, compared to my main body, the pendant, this is quite a generous arrangement." She extends her hand, asking for the pendant. I take it off and place it in her hand.
"Okay... thank you." I thank her with mixed feelings. While I want to deny our relationship, receiving such treatment makes me feel a bit guilty. Sometimes, I find my own attitudes frustratingly indecisive.
"But be careful with your actions, okay? I've granted you freedom, but I won’t forgive everything. If you cross the line... I won't know what to do then." She warns me and then heads off.
I watch her lonely figure for a moment, lost in thought, then hasten to my destination. The hospital near the academy, frequented by high-ranking individuals, resembled a luxurious hotel with its dazzling interior.
Knock, knock, knock. I softly knock three times on the door of a hospital room, taking care not to startle the princess inside. "Come in," she permitted, and I gently opened the door to her room. Her state wasn't great; bandages wrapped her head, and she sat on the bed, staring blankly out the window. Her expression was empty, like a shell without its soul, until she noticed my presence.
"Harold? Oh, you’re here!" Her face brightened up at the sight of me, a stark contrast to her earlier lifeless demeanor.
"Marika, it's me, Harold. How are you feeling?" I asked, concerned.
"I'm okay, aside from a lack of motivation... Physically, there's no issue," she replied, her voice laced with unspoken sorrow. She seemed aware of her mental strain.
"Thank goodness... And about your brother... Did you hear about him?" I cautiously broached the sensitive topic.
"Ah..." She winced, as if the question struck a painful chord.
"Sorry...! Was it wrong to ask?" I immediately apologized, but she responded with a small smile and whispered her reply.
"No, it's okay! And yes, I heard about my brother... It's more confusing because I vividly remember everything before being offered as a sacrifice," she said, her voice tinged with pain.
I moved closer and took her hand, trying to offer some comfort amidst her turmoil.
"What should I say? I didn't want to worsen the mood by asking something like 'How do you feel?'"
"I can't even describe how I feel. My brother was always cold to me... but I never hated him. I admired his talent, which makes it hard to express my feelings," she confided, clutching the blanket tightly.
Her mixed emotions were clear: even though he tried to kill her and was cold during his life, he was still family, and she had admired him. I began to understand the complexity of her feelings. "Okay," I replied, offering her comfort without further words, simply staying by her side.
"Harold..." Marika looked up at me, her eyes brimming with various emotions.
"Would it be too much to ask for you to stay until evening?" she asked, clearly in need of emotional support.
"If you wish..." I agreed, as time passed and night fell, blanketing the world outside the window in darkness.
"Having you here is so comforting. I feel somewhat reassured," she said, now looking more lively and spirited.
"That's good to hear."
Knock, knock, knock.
As I responded, a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," Marika responded quickly, her voice tinged with emotion.
The door opened, and a staff member entered with a bottle of wine and a tray of sumptuous food.
"Princess, it's dinner time. We've brought the meal you requested. We hope for your swift recovery," the staff member said, serving the food on the table before promptly exiting.
The setup looked almost like a luxurious hotel, with generous portions and tableware set for two.
"I've prepared something for you as well, Harold, as a token of gratitude. Please don't refuse," Marika said, revealing she had ordered for both of us.
"Alright, but are you sure you should be eating all this?" I asked, concerned.
"As I said before, my body is fine; it's the emotional pain that's overwhelming. Eating something good might help uplift my mood," she explained.
Convinced by her reasoning, I got up from the bed and joined her at the table.
"I've also prepared wine, hoping to share a glass with you," she said while pouring the expensive-looking wine into our glasses. "Marika, if that's what you want," I acquiesced. Honestly, I'm quite weak with alcohol, preferring to avoid drinking when possible, but for Marika's sake, I decided to join her in a drink.
"Wait, there's something I want to ask," Marika suddenly became serious and posed a question that caught me off guard.
"I have clear memories of encountering an ancient deity in a mysterious place. I remember the deity stealing a kiss and calling you her husband..."
The topic was sensitive, visibly upsetting her. She looked at me, seeking the truth. However, considering her current state, I decided to fabricate a response.
"No, it was just a delusion on her part, based on something she thought she saw in a prophecy. Don't worry about it," I reassured her as naturally as possible, and she seemed to relax, smiling again.
"Is that so? That's a relief..."
Her smile was there, but I sensed a turmoil of emotions within her.
"Let's toast," I suggested, lightly clinking my glass against hers.
"Enjoy, it's good wine," she encouraged.
I hesitantly sipped the wine, embracing the rich grape flavor and the wine's sweetness. I drank it all in one go, without hesitation.
Suddenly, I was hit with an unpleasant dizziness. What had happened? My memory was fragmented.
"W-what...?"
Responding to my confusion, a gentle voice next to me whispered, "Just a moment...?"
I glanced down and was shocked to see bare skin. I was completely naked.
Slowly, very slowly, I turned to the side. Though I was afraid to face the reality, I knew avoiding it wouldn't change anything.
"Harold..." Marika murmured my name, sleeping peacefully, naked, revealing herself entirely to me.
In that moment, I realized a shocking truth. "I want you..." I realized that something had gone terribly wrong.