Chapter 507: The Statue
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 507: The Statue
“Huuuuuk… hic… hic…”
“Come here, come here… There will be good news soon.”
Watching the endlessly weeping Baek Ahyeon, Choi Seulgi opened her arms slightly. As if she had been waiting, Ahyeon fell into her embrace, and Seulgi gently patted her back, feeling the occasional tremor that ran through her body.
“Hic! Hic!”
Of course, she had been happy about her pregnancy. Normally, she would have been enjoying a pleasant rest, spending joyful time with Kim Taesung. The problem was that after seeing her one and only friend so heartbroken, she couldn't bring herself to be purely happy. If only they had both succeeded in getting pregnant, she would have been overjoyed.
Still, what had happened to her was a miracle in itself. It was no exaggeration to say that pregnancy between a demon and a human, with their vast biological differences, was nearly impossible. Even Kim Taesung had been incredibly surprised, so in hindsight, thinking that they could both succeed might have been greedy.
“Th-thank you. Hic. Lady Seulgi… Hic! Y-you didn’t have to come with me, Lady Seulgi…”
“No, it’s fine. With you being so sad, Ahyeon… how could I just smile and be happy by myself?”
“B-but still…”
“I’m okay.”
“Hic. Hic.”
Perhaps the disappointment would have been less severe if there hadn’t been any preceding signs.
‘A phantom pregnancy.’
Although Ahyeon had desperately wanted to get pregnant after seeing the way Kim Taesung looked at Laveua, Lapura, and Ratga, her friend had wanted a child long before that. While Eunju-unni seemed to have half given up, Baek Ahyeon was one of the women who had consistently wished for a child for a long time.
If one were to count the time spent waiting, the duration of Ahyeon’s wait was incomparable to her own.
In fact, even before their shared mealtime, Ahyeon had subtly mentioned her condition. Thinking back, it had started around the time the strange phenomena began to spread across the continent. Seulgi remembered that time as well. She had always dreamed of Kim Taesung, but the dream she’d had that night felt special.
‘I think a miracle is about to happen, Lady Seulgi. In my body…’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I haven’t told anyone yet. You must be the only one who knows, Lady Seulgi.’
‘Okay…’
‘Actually, it’s been a while since I’ve had my period.’
‘What?’
‘I’ve also been feeling nauseous often. I haven’t confirmed it yet, but… I feel like something big is about to happen.’
Seulgi herself had believed it wholeheartedly. That was how unwavering the look in Baek Ahyeon’s eyes had been. To think that it was all caused by her imagination… Seulgi didn’t even need to ask to know how utterly devastated she must feel.
If Seulgi had been in the same boat, Ahyeon would have felt less alone. But in a situation where one of them succeeded and the other failed, it must have pushed the already struggling Baek Ahyeon further into a corner.
Perhaps the deciding factor was reading the emotion that had briefly flickered in Kim Taesung’s eyes. Unlike in the past when he’d said he didn’t want children, he had looked quite pleased at the news of her pregnancy. And Seulgi was certain that Kim Taesung had also cast an expectant gaze toward Baek Ahyeon, who was waiting for her turn.
“Sob… hic… I am not worthy to be a disciple of the Savior. I have betrayed the Savior’s expectations. Hic.”
“No, that’s not true. That’s why I told you to stay in the Brother’s Land a little longer.”
“Hic. It’s all my fault. I am the sinner who could not accept the Savior’s seed. Hic.”
“I told you, it’s not like that.”
“That’s not all. The truth is, I’m still jealous of you, Lady Seulgi. Hic.”
“It’s okay. That’s a natural feeling. If it were me, I probably would have been jealous of you too, Ahyeon. It can’t be helped.”
“Hic… But still! Still!”
“I was just a little faster, that’s all. Think about it.”
“Th-think about what…”
“It was common knowledge that it’s nearly impossible for a human and a demon, right? Isn’t it? In fact, Eunju-unni has half given up, and Ye Ri is a different race altogether…”
“Th-that’s right.”
“In a situation like this, I’ve appeared as a case study.”
“Ah…”
“It means you can have hope.”
“La… Lady Seulgi… hic. Waaaaaaah…”
Though the words were different, Seulgi had lost count of how many times she had offered this kind of comfort. The problem was that the sadness didn’t easily fade. At least the situation had improved slightly. Just a few days ago, Ahyeon would scream and throw things whenever Seulgi stepped out of the carriage, so for her to be this calm could be considered a great achievement.
“Hoo…”
“Lady Seulgiiii… hic. hic.”
“If… if you still don’t get pregnant later on, then… let’s raise the baby together.”
“What? Wh-what do you mean?”
“The baby in my belly. It can have two mothers.”
“I-I couldn’t possibly…”
“Why not? Eunju-unni is raising all the children as if they were her own. And what’s the big deal? Unlike Green Skins, humans grow up slowly… and honestly, I have no idea how to handle a child…”
“Huuu… uuuuk… hic, hic, Lady Seulgi! Hic!”
“There, there.”
Her expression seemed quite moved; it probably wasn’t a bad proposal for Baek Ahyeon. Nevertheless, the sadness in her eyes did not easily disappear. Seulgi thought it was a problem that only time could solve, but Ahyeon’s current state was still worrying.
It was then.
“Lady Baek Ahyeon. A message has arrived from the Grand Temple.”
Baek Ahyeon was still hiccuping. Choi Seulgi glanced at her before slowly opening her mouth.
“I’ll hear it. What is it?”
“The Savior’s apostles have descended upon the Eastern Grand Temple.”
“What?”
It was Baek Ahyeon who shot up and responded.
“What is that supposed to…”
“Individuals with angels’ wings, calling themselves the Savior’s apostles, have descended from the sky.”
“I’d like to hear more details. Please, come inside.”
As soon as Baek Ahyeon finished speaking, the carriage door opened and a red-haired woman began to climb in. It was a face Seulgi had seen before. A powerhouse from the West who used firearms, a rifleman with the unique ability ‘Magic Marksman.’
“Ann?”
“Please explain exactly what happened.”
“Yes. Judging by the situation, I don’t think any major problems have occurred, but…”
The idea of people with large angel wings calling themselves the Savior’s apostles was utterly baffling. While Kim Taesung was being deified, he had no acquaintances or subordinates with angel wings. As someone who had watched him from the closest proximity, Seulgi knew this better than anyone.
‘Every last bitch with angel wings has something rotten about them…’
Based on the circumstances, she could only assume something had gone wrong. Baek Ahyeon’s expression was a little complicated. Since she truly believed Kim Taesung was the Savior, she was likely entertaining a sliver of possibility, but Seulgi was sure that once she saw them with her own eyes, she would feel that something was off.
“I’ll go get Eunju-unni. Let’s go, quickly.”
“Y-yes. Lady Seulgi.”
Her unique ability to move behind a target she had saved in her vision was for personal use. After moving behind Eunju-unni, they returned to the carriage they had just been in, and then everyone headed for the Grand Temple together. Kim Taesung didn’t come along. Seulgi figured that if something had happened at the temple, Baek Ahyeon wouldn’t be able to face him.
“You know, I didn’t expect you to drop by so suddenly.”
“I’m sorry, Unni. But the situation is a bit urgent.”
“My apologies, Lady Choi Eunju. It seems something has happened at the Grand Temple…”
In an instant, space warped and their vision shifted. As soon as they arrived at the dedicated teleportation point inside the Grand Temple, Baek Ahyeon strode forward without a hint of hesitation. The only flaw was her puffy, swollen eyes, but at her sudden appearance, all the disciples bowed their heads.
“Lady Baek Ahyeon. The Savior’s apostles…”
“I know. Where are they?”
“They are currently spending time with the other disciples throughout the temple.”
“I must see them with my own eyes.”
“Yes.”
Seulgi was gently pulling Eunju-unni along, following Baek Ahyeon.
Krrrrrrrrrumble…
Kwajijijijijijik.
A tremendous surge of divine power was felt from somewhere, and at the same time, the ground shook once. It was as if it had been struck by a magic spell. Naturally, their gazes turned toward the source of the massive roar.
‘Ah…’
It was the largest statue in this Grand Temple.
A beautiful bronze statue, magnificent enough to be compared to the wooden statue carved from the World Tree.
It was also the piece of merchandise that Baek Ahyeon cherished the most, and Seulgi herself remembered visiting this temple once again just to see that statue.
It was that impressive. The statue of Kim Taesung, standing majestically with the sword known as the Blade of Sadness, Gram, in one hand, made her heart pound every time she saw it. However, this time, her heart was pounding for an entirely different reason.
The solid statue, which seemed like it would never break or fall, began to crumble from the face down.
Cracks started to form on the massive horns stretching toward the sky, and the hand gripping Gram was also slowly disintegrating.
“Uh…”
Eunju-unni, who was watching the scene from a window, let out a gasp. The Magic Marksman, Ann, standing next to her, had a face drained of all color. She probably hadn’t anticipated a situation like this.
“Th-that’s…”
It was a statue that had taken an immense amount of time to create. The manpower involved went without saying; to enhance its quality, an artisan capable of wielding divine power had carved it using that very power. It was a symbol that had become something of a cultural heritage for this Eastern Grand Temple.
Ruuuuuumble…
Krrrrack…
KRAAAAAAAAASH!!
In the end, the statue crumbled away to nothing, from head to toe.
Of course, her hands began to tremble. But before expressing her anger, Choi Seulgi quickly checked on Baek Ahyeon’s condition. The journey here had been anything but smooth. She had been so mentally fragile that Seulgi was afraid of how she might react. Her condition was not good. As the older sister figure she could rely on, it was only natural to be worried.
Baek Ahyeon’s hands and lips were trembling violently. Knowing how much she cherished that statue, Seulgi could understand that tremor.
She wore a look of utter devastation, as if she had lost her country. But that lasted only for a moment. Soon, an incredible fury began to suffuse her face. Her eyes grew chillingly calm, and her lips, which always curled into a smirk whenever something like this happened, were perfectly still.
Seulgi had thought she had seen Baek Ahyeon angry many times before.
But upon seeing her current expression, she was forced to realize that everything she had seen until now didn't even qualify as being angry.
“Ugh…”
She wasn’t emitting bloodlust, nor was she projecting an intimidating aura with divine power. Nevertheless, Choi Seulgi shivered slightly. It was because she could feel an unknowable madness.
“R…right… n… ugh… guts… pull… out…”
“…”
“Kill… kill… k-kill… intestines… ugh… ah…”
“…”
“Ahyeon, are you okay?”
Choi Eunju asked worriedly, but there was no reaction.
“Br…ains… ugh… I’ll kill you… ugh…”
When Seulgi gently pulled on Choi Eunju’s arm, she nodded as if she understood. She had judged that it wasn’t a good idea to provoke her in this state.
“All… of it… pull… out… kill… them…”
“…”
“Get… them… I’ll… kill… them… hoo… ah…”
“…”
“Haa… haa… I’ll kill them…”
“…”
“I’ll kill them!! I’ll rip off their wings and leave them in a state where they can neither live nor die. I’ll pull out their intestines and strangle them, then throw them into an eternal pit of fire with a bull, and then toss them where all the beasts are so they can feel the pain of their flesh being torn apart. I’ll rip out their brains and shove them down their own throats… so they can never have those stupid thoughts again… Hehehe… hehehet! Judgment upon those vile heretics who dare impersonate the Savior’s apostles! Now! Now! NOW!!!”
A voice filled with madness.
It was only natural for Seulgi to think that this moment was, for some reason, probably not going to be good for her baby’s development. It was a moment where she couldn’t help but wonder whether she should stay by her side or put some distance between them.