Chapter 32
“No!”
Grio’s sudden scream drew curious stares from everyone around.
He quickly stopped the healing magic.
His divine power was being stolen!
Grio gasped for air.
But even after stopping the spell, streams of divine energy continued to leak from his body, flowing into the woman before him.
“Wh… what…?”
There was no way to stop it.
“No, no…!”
Grio shouted and tried desperately to hold the divine power in his hands.
But the bright light slipping away scattered like smoke, impossible to grasp.
The flow of divine energy finally ended, leaving not a single drop inside Grio.
“…!”
Shocked, he hurried to the woman.
But no divine energy remained anywhere in her body.
The only change was a flush of color returning to her once-dying face.
The woman, who should have been dead, now opened her eyes and sat up.
“Ka…e!”
“She’s alive, Ka’e!”
The people of House Helderioz shoved Grio aside and rushed toward her.
But the one who should have rushed forward first was Grio himself.
Divine power! My divine power!
The powerful divine energy that had allowed him to sit as High Priest seemed to have never truly belonged to him.
It was completely gone from his body.
“Give me back my divine power! My divine power!”
The loud commotion cleared my mind.
The excruciating muscle pain from before vanished as if washed away.
I slowly got up and saw a grandfather I had never met before, charging toward me with a furious yell.
“Hey! What are you doing?!”
Startled, Davien grabbed the old man’s wrist and yanked him roughly away.
The old man, wearing a robe meant only for high-ranking priests, trembled in pain and knelt on the floor.
His wrist was twisted badly, and he groaned as he shook.
“My… my divine power… it’s gone! My divine power… it’s gone!”
Could divine power really disappear?
I tilted my head at his cries, puzzled.
Divine power was usually innate, born from God’s blessing.
Only a child blessed by God could possess it.
The higher one’s divine power, the higher their potential rank in the temple.
Unlike mana, which depletes when used, divine power did not vanish from use.
It was simply a power one possessed.
Using it could reduce stamina, energy, or focus, but if those were unlimited, the divine power could be used endlessly.
Yet now… his divine power had suddenly disappeared.
Had God turned against him? What was going on?
Shaking like a leaf and muttering as he looked around, it was clear this old man had lost his mind.
Even Davien and Lloyd frowned, likely thinking the same as me.
When Davien let go of the man’s wrist, he sank to the ground, stunned.
Watching this, Davien clicked his tongue and ordered Alfred.
“Alfred, take him to the sitting room and give him some warm tea. He looks mentally unwell.”
“My… divine power… my divine power…”
The old man muttered on, clearly in distress.
Cheer up, old man.
As Alfred led him away, the duchess suddenly approached me, holding my hand.
Her eyes were glistening with tears. She spoke, trembling:
“I… I’m so sorry this happened… we raised our children poorly…”
Seeing the tears fall from the duchess and the twins’ faces drooping like tired dogs softened my heart.
Judging by their red, bloodshot eyes, it seemed they hadn’t tried to poison me with the dragon soup.
“It’s fine. I’m completely fine….”
Of course, seeing angels in my dream made it feel like I had briefly gone to heaven and returned.
The duke, who had been quietly standing beside her, spoke next:
“I will grant whatever you wish. So please forgive Lloyd and Davien.”
“All of what I want…?” I asked.
“Yes.”
Right now, what I wanted most was to return home.
“Then please let me go back to Zeronia. I want to go home.”
“I understand… very well, Ka’e.”
At the duke’s answer, Lloyd and Davien jumped up, shouting:
“No! Ka’e!”
“It’s dangerous!”
Dangerous? What are you talking about? You’re the dangerous ones to me.
“Father, reconsider. Zeronia is dangerous.”
“Didn’t she say she wants to go back to Zeronia? Leave it be.”
“But… she’s wearing the Ring of Luriangel!”
Ah, right. The Luriangel Ring. The main reason I couldn’t leave this mansion before.
But the duke waved it off as if it were nothing, saying firmly:
“Seal it. If your power isn’t enough, Davien can do it.”
Wha… what? Seal it? That simple?
When I glared at Davien and Lloyd, they avoided my eyes and coughed nervously.
They… lied to me!
Seeing my furious face, Davien quickly spoke up:
“Father! Then please let Lloyd and me guard her until she reaches Zeronia. She just woke up. How exhausting it must be. Please, let her go!”
When Davien looked at the duke with her bright, earnest eyes, he sighed.
“Ka’e, may Lloyd and Davien escort you to Zeronia?”
It wasn’t necessary to have guards to go home.
But seeing the twins looking at me so pitifully, my heart softened.
Alright. No more errands. Let’s just consider this a final farewell.
“Yes, thank you, Duke.”
A month after being kidnapped, I was finally going back home.
Finally, Zeronia. My dear home, my friends!
My roommate, Bree! How long has she been waiting for me in Helderioz?
I also remembered the apostle’s warm words: always take care of yourself.
Thinking of my cozy room and the crispy roasted chicken at the nearby restaurant made my heart warm.
I even missed the bald, overworking head healer and the troublesome patients.
From the day of the duke’s order, I happily packed my things.
Hearing I was really leaving for Zeronia, Lloyd looked shocked.
I think he had really wanted to marry me and had brought me here.
He now only glanced at me sadly whenever he saw me, like a lost, big dog.
A huge man looking so pitifully was somewhat cute…
but I couldn’t help it. I was going back to Zeronia.
His and the twins’ actions were far too much for an ordinary person like me.
I wasn’t just visited by Lloyd.
The duchess also told me I could return anytime if I changed my mind.
She had given me many gifts, but one in particular I couldn’t accept: dozens of extravagant, over-the-top dresses and jewelry I could never normally wear.
They were too bulky, so I only accepted the thought behind them.
Even 10,000 gold from Helderioz would allow me to live comfortably for the rest of my life.
In the end, the duchess had to leave, looking defeated.
And Davien…?
“Should I live in Zeronia? There’s nothing to do here anyway…”
I stayed silent, answering with my expression:
No.
Finally, the day came to return to Zeronia.
Dressed in a healer’s robe, I took only a simple bag and stepped outside.
At the mansion’s entrance were the butler, a few maids who had taken care of me, the duke and duchess, and Davien in uniform.
Davien’s hair, dressed in a knight’s uniform with a luxurious black robe, fluttered softly in the breeze.
It looked like a painting, and I thought to myself:
Yep… she’s my favorite.
“Davien, you really are beautiful.”
“Hmph… well, I am.”
Perhaps startled by the compliment, Davien blushed and cleared her throat.
Seeing this, the duchess spoke to me kindly:
“It’s a pity. I wish you could have stayed longer at Helderioz.”
“If you ever come to the capital, make sure to visit Helderioz. You’ll always be welcome.”
I bowed to the generous words of the duke and duchess.
“Yes. Thank you for taking care of me. May the Empire always prosper.”
I greeted them in the manner Davien had taught me.
Their smiles widened.
The duke looked at Davien and me, frowning slightly.
“But… where’s Lloyd? He wouldn’t just stay behind, would he?”
I looked at Davien, and her eyes narrowed slightly.
“Ah… he’ll be here soon.”
Then the door opened, and he appeared.
Seeing Lloyd, the butler gasped in shock.
“Good heavens, Lord Lloyd! What’s going on here?!”
