Chapter 68

“Mother.”

“What is it?”

“Open your eyes, Mother.”

“Who is it?”

Someone is calling me.

With that desperate voice, I rubbed my eyes and barely managed to open them.

Other than when Kabe occasionally wakes me up saying she’s thirsty, I usually sleep without waking up. But whoever is calling me so desperately made me open my eyes without realizing it.

“Who…? Kabe?”

“Mother.”

“You’ve opened your eyes.”

“You’ve returned, our Mother.”

I don’t know who it is, but the voice resonates in my chest.

As I sat up from the bed and my feet touched the floor, I instinctively looked around.

A landscape shrouded in thick fog.

“What is this…? This isn’t the officetel.”

But the scenery was too peaceful.

I don’t know where my hometown is, but surely, if I were to return, it would feel this comforting, right? This sense of peace enveloped me.

Where… is this?

This place filled with fog.

This unknown, mysterious place.

Somehow, it feels overwhelmingly peaceful.

“Mother.”

“This is your land.”

“To those around you, this place is called the Dark Realm.”

This is the Dark Realm?

“Who are you?”

“I am your most noble creation.”

“Creation…?”

“Vesprede Amori.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Huh…?”

I should say no, but…

“My most noble creation is Kabe.”

The voice fell silent for a while.

“Then I shall be your second most noble creation. I can’t surpass Kabe, after all.”

Well, it’s not exactly what I meant, but since they acknowledged it, I’ll let it slide.

—

The fog seemed to have a will of its own, parting left and right with each step I took, creating a path.

The voice that introduced itself as Vesprede Amori would speak to me every time I paused.

“I’ve waited for you for over a thousand years.”

“Is that so?”

What’s strange is that I didn’t feel much discomfort when Vesprede Amori called me Mother.

If anything, I should feel more resistant to being called Mother, but maybe I’ve gotten used to it because the kids call me that so often.

“Before you fell due to the cruel gods, you created me with the last of your power.”

I see.

But I’m sorry.

I don’t remember any of it.

“And as you caressed my cheek, you said, ‘One day, when I return, you will answer my call.'”

Me?

“And I have answered your call, returning to your side.”

“I don’t recall calling you.”

“No, you did. You said, ‘Now that the master of the Dark Realm has returned, my son Vesprede, come back to your mother’s side.'”

I really don’t remember calling.

I never said anything like that.

“Hmm… Maybe you’ve mistaken me for someone else?”

“From the moment you entered Mitran’s Garden, there’s no doubt you are Mother.”

“No one else can set foot in Mitran’s Garden except for you.”

If it’s Mitran’s Garden, then you’re talking about this place I’m walking through.

“The master of the Dark Realm, the agent of rebirth, the benevolent mother who embraces all mortals, the great adversary of the Divine Realm—”

The voice was drowned out by a sudden bird’s cry.

“—only you can enter this garden.”

“Uh, yeah.”

This is awkward.

After walking for a while, I came across a rather antique… or perhaps Baroque-style table and chairs, giving off a medieval vibe.

Surrounding them were rose-covered vines, making it feel like a flower garden.

“Shall I sit for a while?”

If Vesprede Amori is to be believed, this garden is mine, so who would object if I sat down?

As soon as I leaned back in the chair, a tea set appeared on the table.

As if prepared in advance, the teapot floated in mid-air and poured water into the teacup.

Taking a sip of the steaming tea, I felt a warm sensation in my chest.

“It’s the mint tea you loved most, Mother.”

“Good thing it’s not chocolate.”

“Huh?”

“Never mind. So, there must be a reason you called me here suddenly?”

“I just wanted to see you.”

I placed the teacup back on the table.

Ah, I can’t handle this. I’m too weak for these kinds of words. It makes my heart ache too much.

After pausing to calm my heart, I continued.

“You did well. It’s okay to want to see your mom.”

“All the children of the Dark Realm miss you, Mother.”

“It’s been a thousand years since you left, and countless children have died under the guise of the gods’ games.”

“Amori.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“There’s a lot I want to ask.”

“I thought you might.”

“First, if I’m the goddess of the Dark Realm…”

No, this won’t do.

They probably don’t know I was a man.

If I ask about that, it might get weird, so let’s skip it for now.

“Why don’t I remember anything?”

“A thousand years have passed. You fell to the human realm. In that time, you must have reincarnated hundreds of times as a human. It’s more than enough time for memories to erode and disappear.”

That makes sense.

“Second, why can’t I use magic?”

“That… I don’t know either. You are the master of the Dark Realm and the master of dark magic… I don’t know the reason.”

I see.

I was a bit hopeful, but disappointment is inevitable.

“Third…”

I hesitated after starting the question.

Is it right to ask this now? Am I just saying something unnecessary?

When in doubt, it’s better not to say anything.

“…Never mind, it’s nothing.”

“Mother.”

“Yes.”

“I missed you so much. I wanted to see you so badly.”

“Is that so?”

I can’t say I felt the same.

I can’t say that when I don’t remember.

That would just be a lie.

If Vesprede Amori had appeared before me, I might have hugged and comforted them.

“Thank you for coming back, even now.”

“Yeah. I wish I could remember faster.”

This Mitran’s Garden is a place only the master of the Dark Realm can enter, and I’m here.

The fog surrounding me parts left and right as if it shouldn’t hinder my movement.

Above all, the peace and tranquility I feel here is something I’ve never experienced before.

Considering all this, Vesprede Amori’s claim that I’m the master of the Dark Realm doesn’t seem wrong.

But knowing that doesn’t change anything dramatically.

My current mood is the same.

So, I was a goddess? It’s not some birth secret or anything, just… oh, okay. That’s how it is.

Even I find it strange how calm I am, but what can I do? It’s the reality.

“It’s almost dawn.”

“Already?”

“I’ll investigate why your magic is sealed.”

They say they’ll investigate, but I don’t expect much.

—

And then I opened my eyes, and I was back in the officetel.

I don’t remember how I got there or how I returned, but I vividly remember being there.

So, I’m the goddess of the Dark Realm, huh.

But knowing that doesn’t really change anything.

“Big sis, are you awake?”

“Did Dusik sleep well?”

I don’t even know if this is Dusik’s house or mine.

Ever since Eve left, Dusik has been coming over all the time.

To the point where, except when sleeping, they’re pretty much always at my place.

Even Kabe asked if Dusik was living here now.

“I’d like to, but Mom doesn’t seem to like it.”

“Of course not.”

If Dusik lived here too, I’d lose my personal space. That’s a problem.

No matter how much I like Kabe, I can’t easily give up the joy of drinking a can of beer and watching TV or browsing the internet alone.

If Dusik lived here, I’d have to give up that free time.

That’s not acceptable.

“Here. Coffee.”

Just sitting up in bed, and coffee appears before me.

This is nice.

Coffee mixed just the way I like it, with the right balance of sweetness and coffee flavor.

Dusik is holding out the coffee cup, grinning.

“Ah… yawn.”

I don’t feel like I slept at all.

Maybe it’s because I went to that strange place.

“Thanks, Dusik. Oh, Dusik.”

“Yes?”

“I’ll be in the basement today, so call me if anything comes up.”

“With Karin?”

“Yeah.”

After Eve left, I started calling Karin over to learn various skills.

The only weapons I have are Vesprede and Rocket Punch, so rather than learning something new, I thought it’d be better to learn how to use what I already have more effectively.

When Eve recommended Karin, saying she’s good at shooting, I thought she’d gone crazy. If a unicorn is skilled in marksmanship, anyone would think the same.

It’s weird for a unicorn to shoot, right?

But when Karin quietly aimed her horn at the target, and a beam shot out, piercing the bullseye, I just shut my mouth.

I guess that’s how it is.

Karin isn’t due to arrive for a while yet. Oh, right.

“Dusik, call Keru.”

“I’m here.”

“Say something when you’re here!”

I vented all my frustration at Keru, who crawled out from under the bed.

You scared me.

“Keru, do you know about Mitran’s Garden?”

“How do you know about that?”

A look of surprise briefly crossed Keru’s face.

“I saw it while looking through some documents. The name was pretty.”

“Ah, you saw Cyclone’s diary. Mitran’s Garden…”

“Do you know or not? Stop being dramatic.”

“I know. Of course I know. No resident of the Dark Realm wouldn’t know.”

“Why?”

“It’s the garden of the goddess, the master of the Dark Realm, the agent of rebirth, the benevolent mother who embraces all mortals.”

“Huh?”

“It’s the goddess’s garden. Only she can enter. When she was here, it was always open for the residents of the Dark Realm… but it’s been a thousand years since she disappeared, and no one has entered since.”

Well, it seems Vesprede Amori wasn’t lying.

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