Chapter 90

“By the way, what’s your name? I didn’t even ask.”

Should I say my name is Yoon-Woo?

“Are you asking for my real name or my alias?”

“Both.”

“My real name is Yoon-Woo. My alias is Mother-Body.”

“Mother-Body?”

Vesprede’s expression changed strangely.

But at least it wasn’t a mocking expression.

“No, how can your name be Mother-Body…”

“What? You got a problem with that?”

“No, no. It’s a good name. But you, Mother-Body, are quite unique.”

“What do you mean?”

“You weren’t originally in a woman’s body, were you?”

“How can you tell that?”

That’s a secret only I and Keru know.

A secret only the two of us know.

Keru said he couldn’t come here, and Amanin didn’t know either, so she must have figured it out with some ability I don’t know about.

“Yeah… yeah. I get it. I see why your magic channels are all blocked. Plus, you don’t have any unique magic.”

“You can tell just by looking? Then, do you know how to fix it?”

Vesprede smiled at me.

“You were wearing clothes that didn’t fit, that’s all. You just changed clothes, so you need time to get used to it. Plus… you haven’t fully accepted that those clothes are women’s wear, so it’s bound to be uncomfortable.”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

Just tell me if it can be fixed or not.

Because of Esmushigi, I don’t have a production device now, and this is no ordinary situation.

“Become a mother.”

“What?”

That’s out of nowhere.

So out of nowhere that it’s almost ridiculous.

Become a mother? What are you talking about?

“The source of my power is maternal love. The heart that loves children without hating anyone. That’s the source of my power.”

“But I love Kabe and Bedel so much…!”

“That’s more like familial love. And your love is closer to paternal love than maternal love.”

I was at a loss for words for a moment.

Maternal love, maternal love. Is my love for Kabe maternal love?

“The more you feel maternal love, the stronger your power will become. People with a lot to protect become that much stronger.”

When I first fought Aquamarine, something like an engraving was released.

Thinking back to that time, I remember being genuinely angry when I saw Kabe suffering.

Was that it?

No, but it’s not like I can just decide to feel that way, right?!

It’s not like I can deliberately put Kabe, Bedel, Dusik, or Chilho in danger just to gain power!

Even if I could, I wouldn’t!

“But it’s not like saying this will make it happen suddenly. Alright, then how about this?”

Vesprede slowly approached me.

She came close enough that I could reach her if I stretched out my arm, and then she stretched out her arm towards me.

Her stubborn and determined face disappeared in an instant, replaced by a warm smile.

“Come here. Not to a mother… well, to an older sister.”

“I’m taller than you just by looking.”

And my chest is bigger too.

I have no idea where she gets off calling herself an older sister.

I can’t accept it.

“I’m older than you.”

I admit it.

I quietly approached Vesprede and hugged her tightly.

It’s warm.

Warm and cozy.

Her hand, which was touching my head, seemed to struggle a bit due to the height difference, so it moved down to pat my back.

“You must have missed your mother.”

Those words hit me hard.

“You grew up well on your own.”

Those words moistened my eyes.

“And yet, you grew up well without hating the world.”

Those words comforted me.

“You did well. You grew up well and did great. You’ll continue to do so.”

Those words made me cry.

“It’s okay. Things will get better from now on.”

My eyelids feel heavy.

“I’m prouder of you than anyone else. You’ve done well, so hang in there a little longer.”

*

“I came up myself because you weren’t coming out.”

“…Why are you here?”

“I got a master key from the staff and came in. You weren’t coming out, not answering when called, and no response when I rang the bell.”

The silver-haired young man looked down at me with a displeased expression.

Looking up at Aivis, I quietly, softly, but firmly said,

“Can’t you open your eyes nicely?”

“…Ahem.”

Aivis quietly averted his gaze, but I have no idea when I got back here.

I remember hugging Vesprede and being patted… but after that, I don’t remember how I got back to the hotel… I don’t remember. And I didn’t even drink.

“Anyway, we should hurry. The meeting with the Bureau Chief is coming up soon.”

“Haah…”

After what happened last night, I’m more tired than I thought.

The reflection in the mirror clearly shows someone who just woke up…

“If I go without washing…”

“At least wash your face. You’ve got eye boogers the size of a door.”

“Take them off for me.”

“Don’t you have any shame!”

“Nope, none.”

Even though I say that, I should still wash up. I’m too busy to wash my hair in the morning, so I just brushed my teeth and washed my face.

With hands that have become familiar, I quickly tied up my hair neatly and put on my earrings.

“Mother-Body.”

“Yeah?”

“Your energy seems different somehow…”

“I don’t know.”

I really don’t know.

The design of the uniform hasn’t changed, and I feel the same as usual.

I wonder what this different energy is.

“We’re running out of time, right? Let’s go.”

“Maybe it’s just my mood… Alright, let’s go.”

*

The road to the Bureau of Administration in the carriage waiting in front of the hotel was longer than I thought.

The scenery outside the window was more like temples than buildings, and the people passing by had no expression on their faces.

“The Dark Realm.”

“Yeah?”

At Aivis’s sudden words, I turned to look at him. He was looking out the window like me.

“After the God disappeared, it began to decline rapidly.”

“Yeah.”

“Comparing it to the human world, you know, there’s a king and local lords.”

“Right. Like those corrupt mascots in novels.”

“Yeah. They govern their territories, right?”

“Yeah.”

“There’s the king at the head of the country, the central government below, and then the local lords in the regions.”

“Something like that, I guess.”

I don’t really know.

“The Divine Realm is like the central government. And below it are the lower realms. The Hell Realm, Dark Realm, Light Realm, Celestial Realm, Purgatory Realm, Mara Realm… There are a vast number of realms, and each has its own God. Like the local lords I mentioned earlier.”

“But now the Dark Realm has no lord?”

“Basically, yes. Among them, the Dark Realm has been without a God for too long… The period without a God to take care of the Dark Realm has been too long, so its influence in the Divine Realm has always been at the bottom.”

So that’s why it’s slow to develop.

“Now I get it. But it’s strange to leave it in such a vacuum.”

“We can’t understand it either. Why only the Dark Realm is left without a God. I don’t know why it’s been left without a God for so long that even the God’s name has been forgotten.”

Aivis muttered to himself, his gaze not leaving the window.

The soulless expressions of the people wandering outside.

The roughly built temples of gray stone.

The unpaved, bumpy roads that made my butt hurt every time the carriage jolted.

“We’re here. The Bureau of Administration of the Dark Realm. Like a city hall or provincial office.”

“Did you suddenly get smarter?”

“I was always smart!”

Funny.

Your family has always been dumb.

I heard it all from Vesprede.

But I can’t say that, so I just snorted and got out of the carriage.

*

“Hello, Secretary.”

“Is the Bureau Chief in?”

“Yes, we were told a guest was coming. Ah. Is the lady behind you the guest?”

A female employee, about Dusik’s age, smiled warmly and slightly bowed her head at me.

I nodded back and looked at Aivis, who gestured for me to follow.

A chin gesture.

This cheeky guy.

I’ll need to educate him when we get back.

“It’s Aivis.”

-Come in.

A sharp voice came from inside the door.

Sharp or stubborn, it was a very irritable voice.

“Excuse us.”

Following Aivis, who opened the door and entered, I stepped into the room and for a moment thought it had turned night.

The only light was from the door we just opened and a desk lamp on the opposite side.

“This is the boss of the Mogmog Group, the Evil Magical Girl, Mother-Body.”

“Ah, welcome. Oh, it must be too dark. Secretary, turn on the lights.”

“Yes.”

Aivis snapped his fingers, and the room lit up brightly.

Only then did the room come into view. The first thing I saw was a huge desk. And the enormous pile of documents on it.

Even without the desk, the tall stacks of documents on the floor showed what it meant to be buried in paperwork.

And among those stacks of documents, an elderly man as tall as Dusik in his transformed state but so thin he looked like just bones appeared.

His gaunt face, thick horn-rimmed glasses, and dark circles under his eyes showed how overworked he was.

Despite his thin, irritable appearance, he smiled brightly at me.

“Thank you for coming. I heard about the Mogmog Group’s first victory, but I’m sorry for the late greeting. Please, have a seat.”

No, you don’t have to say that.

I can guess why the greeting was late.

As we sat on the sofa, the man also took his seat.

Soon, tea was served, and the formal meeting began.

“I am Kenneth, the Bureau Chief and Regent of the Dark Realm. I am acting as regent in the absence of the God.”

“I am Mother-Body. The new boss of the Mogmog Group.”

“I heard about your first victory. I’m sorry for the late congratulations.”

“No, it’s fine… I can guess why it was late.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Noticing me glancing at the piles of documents around the desk, Regent Kenneth smiled awkwardly.

“Even though the God is absent, we must always be prepared for when He returns.”

A loyal servant.

A truly loyal servant.

Even though he could have taken charge in the absence of the master, he’s always prepared for the God’s return… And it doesn’t seem like empty words, judging by those documents.

“Ves… Whoever the God is, He’ll be very pleased when He returns.”

“I hope so. He will return someday.”

He already has, though.

“I heard you can’t use magic. We’re doing our best to find the cause or a solution, so please wait a little longer.”

“Ah, yes… I understand.”

Someone this busy with work has no reason to come congratulate me for winning a few games.

It was clear from the start that it wasn’t possible.

“Since you’re here, take a good rest.”

“Yes, I plan to visit Mitran’s Garden…”

“Mitran’s Garden, right. Hang a wish on the wooden board at the entrance. They say if you hang a wish on the wooden board and place it on the iron gate, it will come true.”

Ah, you mean those wooden boards hanging all over the iron gate?

Did this old man hang one there too?

“Did you hang a wish there too, Regent Kenneth?”

At my question, the regent thought for a moment and then chuckled.

“I hang one every year. Wishing for the God to return. To come back soon and rule the Dark Realm again.”

“Really?”

That seems to work pretty well.

He already returned, after all.