Chapter 63
“So… what happened? Did you escape from the God of Darkness?”
I asked Welphion, keeping my head slightly turned to avoid his gaze. I didn’t want him to notice these subtle feelings I had.
“Of course. After a long struggle, Habika-sama discovered a way to lift the Black Veil,” he replied.
“The Black Veil?”
“Yes. That’s right. And in the process, there was the help of a certain mortal.”
At Estelle’s question, Welphion, who had been walking along the path, suddenly stopped. He looked first at the daffodil painted on the wall, then at me, before continuing forward.
‘Huh?’
Why was he looking at me when Estelle was the one who asked the question? And with that knowing look…
‘He hasn’t noticed my irreverent thought that the Habika myth resembles the Persephone myth, has he?’
If that were the case, he wouldn’t be looking at me like that. He would have glared at me instead!
Feeling confused, I blinked repeatedly as I hurried after him.
“So? Did the young god reunite with his mother?”
“He did not meet her immediately. The interference of the sky, always obscuring the eyes of the earth, caused many difficulties. But the young god managed to overcome them all, with the help of a mortal.”
Welphion smiled slightly at me again.
“However, defeating the sky did not immediately mean meeting the goddess of the earth. There was still one problem remaining.”
“A mortal… do you mean a human?”
Estelle asked as she looked at the mural in the direction Welphion pointed.
“Yes, Estelle. In truth, the young god was confused when thinking about mortals. The mortals he knew were beings who, even when given his heart, could turn away or lie depending on circumstances. But one mortal always believed in him and helped him, no matter the persecution by the God of Darkness or threats from the sky.”
“They believed and helped him…”
“Yet, a heart betrayed even once does not easily recover. That is why adversity with the mortal was both simple and difficult.”
“But even so, he overcame it with the mortal’s help, didn’t he? I can tell from the bright faces depicted in the mural.”
“That is correct. You have a keen eye,” Welphion said with a slight smile.
“The young god, having resolved all the problems, regained his former self. And, as shown in this final mural, he took his seat at the highest point of the sky… And that is where the story ends.”
Welphion stopped walking. At the end of the passage we had traversed, there was a wall—a dead-end adorned with a daffodil motif.
“You may be curious why I shared this story with you, and what lies beyond this corridor.”
Without hesitation, Welphion approached the blocked wall and gently placed his hand on a daffodil carved in relief.
“Ugh!”
At that moment, the part where Welphion had placed his hand began to sparkle with a brilliant light, radiating intensely in an instant.
‘My eyes… it hurts!’
Even with my arms raised to shield my face and my eyes closed, light still shone through my eyelids. It was so bright that had I not closed my eyes, I might have gone blind. I stayed still, shielding my face, until the light faded and its afterimage disappeared.
“You may open your eyes now.”
When the afterimage of the light disappeared, Welphion spoke. I slowly and cautiously opened my eyes.
“Estelle, are you alright?”
He immediately sat in front of her, examining her eyes.
“I’m a little startled, but I’m fine,” Estelle said, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand. Her lower eyelids were slightly red, evidence that she had tears from surprise and was wiping them away.
“Can you see well?”
“Yes. I’m just a little shocked, that’s all. I’m fine.”
Estelle lowered her hand and nodded.
“And Reina? Are you okay?”
“Yes. Of course.”
I patted Estelle’s head a few times and then stood to face Welphion. I still hadn’t finished hearing his story. I needed to know why he had told us about the God Habika and what this light really was.
“Uh…”
But when I faced him, no words came out.
“Happy birthday, Estelle. May the blessing of Habika-sama always be with you,” Welphion said, handing her a bracelet.
[Bracelet of a Loved One]
Morality +45
Demon Resistance +30
Divine Power +79
Faith +43
It was a bracelet with incredible stats.
A few days passed after the festival. Speaking of the festival’s outcome…
‘Goal achieved. Perfect success.’
The most important objective had been Estelle winning the beautiful crops contest.
Fame: 60
And with it, a rise in her fame stats. Perfect mission complete.
‘Ah.’
I felt a sense of intoxication, pleased with the plan I had made and perfectly executed, and grateful to Estelle for carrying it out—even though she had no idea.
As I sipped coffee at the table, I glanced at Estelle sitting on the sofa reading a book. Then—
Sparkle—
Just as Estelle turned the page, something on her arm caught the light. The gleam entered my eyes before I could shield them, and seeing it made my mood suddenly drop.
‘A bracelet…’
It was the bracelet Welphion had given her, adorned with a daffodil-shaped topaz.
[Bracelet of a Loved One]
Morality +45
Demon Resistance +30
Divine Power +79
Faith +43
After receiving the bracelet from Welphion, I was certain my prediction had been correct. To boost stats through items, the gift must come from the character being targeted, not me—though Claude’s gift was slightly different. Welphion’s bracelet had actual stat-boosting abilities.
‘And in truth, the gift’s effect was amplified because Estelle wore it.’
It made her an adorable little farmer! While it didn’t raise her stats in every way, it had successfully captured my heart.
‘I’m already satisfied with that.’
Enough said. But that wasn’t the main point.
[Estelle]
Age: 14
Birthday: September 15
Health: 117
Intelligence: 151
Grace: 60
Morality: 87 (+45)
Fame: 60
Demon Resistance: 36 (+30)
Divine Power: 87 (+79)
Faith: 51 (+43)
Farming Skill: 35
Stress: 12 (+4)
Sensitivity: 47 (+2)
Wearing Welphion’s bracelet caused significant stat increases. Although Estelle had been steadily improving her non-essential stats like Demon Resistance and Divine Power through the academy, the bracelet produced noticeable boosts.
‘Of course, I don’t mind that.’
Why would I? Morality, Demon Resistance, Divine Power, Faith—all beneficial stats for Estelle, nothing harmful. But after seeing Welphion’s words and the stats enhanced by the bracelet, I felt a little uneasy.
“As you may have guessed, that young god is Habika-sama.”
“I thought so.”
“Then the one who helped Habika-sama was…”
“His one and only beloved, the one he cherished most. Though that beloved lived a mortal life, unlike Habika-sama.”
Welphion looked at the daffodil illustration with a look of sorrow.
