Chapter 91

“Let’s go together for a while, even bringing Regent Kenneth to Mitran’s Garden.”

“Fewer people than I thought.”

Even though it was night last time, now it’s broad daylight, and surprisingly, there aren’t many people around. Just the wind blowing, and at the entrance of Mitran’s Garden, only me, Regent Kenneth, and Aivis are present.

“At the start of the New Year, people come to write their wishes. Otherwise, there’s nothing much to see here.”

The scenery was bizarre. Outside the iron gate, the weather was clear, but inside the garden, it was so foggy that nothing could be seen.

“Strange scenery, really.”

“I told you there’s nothing to see. Let’s go back now…”

Now, what should I do? We’re definitely going in, but how can I surprise Kenneth and Aivis… Let’s try this.

I walked to the front gate and stood there. Taking a deep breath.

“Amonin—!”

“Mo, Mother. What are you doing?”

“The master has returned—! Clear the fog—!”

My voice echoed loudly. Aivis, startled by my sudden action, tried to stop me.

“Hey, hey. Secretary. Look over there.”

Kenneth stuttered as he tapped Aivis. Aivis also looked towards the garden, and his eyes widened.

“The fog… is clearing…?”

Kenneth and Aivis’s eyes darted between the garden and me, probably wondering what was happening. But it’s too early to be surprised.

“Let’s go.”

Boldly, I opened the wooden panels, the so-called wish boards, and grabbed the handles to open the gate. I waved at Aivis, who was still staring at me with wide eyes.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming?”

“Uh, just a moment…”

“Regent Kenneth, come quickly.”

Kenneth and Aivis still seemed rooted to the spot, unable to move. I had no choice but to grab Aivis’s hand and pull him along.

“It’s okay.”

I pushed the iron gate open with all my might and stepped into the garden. Aivis, pulled by my hand, followed me inside.

“Wait, stop, Mother!”

“Why again?”

“Th, this is the fifth step. Two more steps and…”

“You’ll die?”

So Aivis knew about it too. The story that seven steps will kill you. Seems like a famous tale, huh?

“It’s okay. Look at this.”

I took two big steps forward.

“See, it’s fine.”

“One more step and you might die.”

“Ah, come on!”

Well, it’s understandable. The place has been closed for so long, and the only story was that seven steps would kill you. It’s not hard to understand.

“Welcome, Goddess.”

“Amonin, we have guests. Don’t be rude.”

“Of course not.”

Amonin appeared out of nowhere, smiling kindly. I gave him a serious look and firmly instructed him.

“Don’t close the gate anymore. Keep it open. Let anyone come in and enjoy this garden.”

“Yes. Understood. It will be done.”

As if waiting for that command, Amonin lightly swung his staff. The iron gate, adorned with wish boards, slowly opened, revealing the garden’s entrance as if it had always been that way.

“Goddess, this is, returning…”

Kenneth’s voice was trembling. His legs seemed to give way as he slowly approached me, his steps shaky.

“Yes. I am Vesprede, the God of the Dark Realm. You’ve suffered much in my stead, Regent Kenneth.”

Whether I realized it or not, it doesn’t matter. As Aivis said, it’s been too long since I left, and the Dark Realm, now in ruins, needs a spiritual pillar.

The God has not abandoned the Dark Realm. After a long absence, the God has finally returned. This is the support we need.

It’s certified, right? Now, if you say, “Oh, there was a system error, sorry,” I’ll really get angry. Anyway, now, there’s no need to pretend to be the Goddess anymore.

“Goddess…”

I looked down at Kenneth, who knelt at my feet. I was momentarily taken aback, but I had to accept it gracefully.

“Stand up, Kenneth.”

You’re the Goddess, right? You can speak informally, can’t you?

“What, did you cry?”

Kenneth’s eyes were clearly marked with tears. Was my return that joyful? This is quite touching.

“Now, the workload will decrease… since the Goddess has returned…”

Ah. That’s what it was.

Rose Garden. Me, Aivis, and Kenneth sat around a table, drinking tea.

“For now, Kenneth will continue to take charge. Even though I’ve returned, I can’t do much immediately. Besides, I’m already the boss of the Mogmog Group; I can’t just abandon that.”

“Is that so…”

“Don’t be too visibly disappointed, Kenneth.”

“Of course not.”

“And by the way, Es…”

What was it?

“The God of the Light Realm, Es…”

“Do you mean Escario?”

“Ah, yes. Escario.”

At the mention of that name, Kenneth and Aivis’s faces stiffened simultaneously.

“That name… the Goddess would know best, but why…”

Ah. I can’t show that I don’t remember now.

“I was curious about what mischief he caused while I was gone.”

“Mischief…”

Kenneth smiled weakly. But why are the veins on his hand holding the cup bulging?

“He said that since he’s practically engaged to Vesprede, he would rule this Dark Realm too…”

Pfft. I almost spat out my tea. This is like a line straight out of a drama.

“Practically engaged” means only one thing. It means there’s no actual relationship yet. And yet he tried to take over the Dark Realm?

I ran the numbers in my head. The Dark Realm doesn’t seem to have much merit right now. I don’t know how it was before, but it probably wasn’t much different. Yet, he tried to take over the Dark Realm in my absence, and now he’s trying to claim me in the human realm, acting as a player or something…

There’s something more to it.

It’s not just about being obsessed with Vesprede; he must have other motives. Especially concerning the Dark Realm.

But right now, I don’t know what it is, and there’s no immediate way to find out. I need to hurry, but without knowing how to start, there’s nothing I can do.

The original Vesprede said time would heal, and gradually, memories and power would return…

“By the way… Vesprede.”

“Yes.”

“Could you explain in detail now? What happened, and why were you absent for so long…”

For Kenneth, that must be very important. As the head of the Bureau of Administration and Regent, he must be a very high-ranking person in the Dark Realm.

“Moreover, the master of dark magic not being able to use magic…”

That’s true. It’s suspicious.

This is the second time I’ve heard that Vesprede is the master of dark magic. It means she’s an outstanding magical girl… no, a magician, but now I can’t use magic, which is really strange.

“Where should I start the story?”

No need to go into childhood details, cut out the part about being a man, and just start from when I met Keru… no, Aivis.

From the point of making a contract with Keru, that should be appropriate.

*

“What on earth happened, Mother?”

“Your words are a bit short?”

“…Yes.”

“Mother?”

“…Mother.”

After returning to the hotel, I finally had some alone time with Aivis.

“Well. I don’t know either. They say I’m Vesprede.”

But I look different, and there’s nothing similar at all. It’s not reincarnation, nor possession.

“You are me, and I am you,” but I find it hard to believe. It doesn’t feel real, but all the circumstantial evidence points to me being Vesprede, so what can I say?

“Keru, you just caught a big fish.”

Frankly, that’s true. If I hadn’t met Keru, I would have lived as a man, not knowing anything about Vesprede, and died. But meeting Keru, becoming the boss of the Mogmog Group, and turning into a woman, I learned…

Wait.

There’s something here.

“Mother, why did you suddenly stop talking…”

“Be quiet for a moment.”

Becoming a woman led to this. Becoming the boss of the Mogmog Group led to this.

Becoming the boss of the Mogmog Group turned me into a woman, and becoming a woman led to this? It feels like the pieces are falling into place.

Vesprede said it’s because of wearing the wrong clothes, feeling maternal love, and now you’re feeling paternal love.

So, Vesprede’s words about becoming a mother mean accepting and embracing being a woman.

Accepting and embracing being a woman, and feeling maternal love…? Wow, that’s a tough mission for someone who grew up an orphan without parents.

“Anyway, that’s how it is. Let’s go back tomorrow. We’ve done everything here. We can come back later to find out what we need.”

“Understood… Mother.”

Now there are two stutterers, Sohee and you.

After Aivis left, I was alone in the room, spreading out a notebook and jotting down thoughts as they came.

I became a woman. I became the boss of the Mogmog Group. No, the order is reversed. Strictly speaking, it’s the opposite.

And then I became a woman, and dark magic started surging from my left hand. And my left hand gained tremendous attack power, which I used well.

Then, when fighting Aquamarine, I saw Kabe in danger and got angry, and a mouth appeared on my right hand, right? That’s when I clearly heard about awakening maternal love or something.

So, it’s definitely related to maternal love, as Vesprede said. But Vesprede said the emotion I have is paternal love, not maternal love.

What’s the difference? It’s too hard for me, who grew up without parents. Isn’t the love parents have for their children the same?

Fatherly love for a father, maternal love for a mother. Isn’t that it?

Accept and embrace being a woman? I really don’t know. It’s too hard.

Anyway, let’s sleep now. Tomorrow, we return to the human realm.

Nothing will happen, right? What should I buy as a gift…

That Eve didn’t buy me a gift after going to the Light Realm, so I’ll skip her gift too. I still remember her slapping my butt. I’ll pay her back for sure.