입양딸 역할을 지나치게 잘해버렸다 197화

Viola had been dreaming for a long time.

Strangely enough, she knew it was a dream.

In the dream, she was holding someone’s hand.

‘Their hand is warm.’

In the dream, she couldn’t see the face of the person whose hand she was holding. Clearly, she could see the face, but she didn’t know who it was.

Yet, she could sense it. ‘Tundra.’

No. ‘It feels like that of Han-jun oppa…’

From the days when she was Han Ah-rin.

The only memory of holding Kang Han-jun’s hand was from her very young childhood.

Even so, Viola could feel that this hand belonged to Kang Han-jun.

“Where are we going?”

There was no answer. In the dream, Viola kept walking and walking.

Towards somewhere.

“Oppa?”

Then, at some moment, she felt it. The owner of the hand was drifting away.

Though they were still holding hands, it strangely felt like they were getting further apart. “Where are you going?”

At one point. The hand vanished.

She couldn’t see the face, but Viola could feel it.

The face hidden in darkness was blooming with a smile.

It felt as if it was saying to be happy.

And then Viola was left alone. ‘I have to go somewhere.’

Where that somewhere was, she couldn’t tell. A dark space.

She was completely on her own.

Still, she had to keep walking somewhere. Not moving felt like a terrifying fear that she would be forgotten.

‘If I don’t move, I will disappear.’

She didn’t want to disappear. She had met new family members here and formed precious bonds with people.

Each of those connections was dear. The thought of being forgotten by them was utterly horrifying. “Where… should I go?”

People in the world idolized her as the Iron-Blooded Saint, but in truth, Viola wasn’t that kind of person. She was well aware of that fact.

“I’m scared.”

She felt fear and dread. Tears streamed down her face.

She wished that whoever it was, someone would come and hold her hand.

She wanted to walk with anyone.

“Please, help me.”

Each time like that, a voice sounded. ‘Just give up.’

‘Let’s just fall into sleep…

‘Then it’ll be easier.’

There were times when she wanted to surrender to that voice. But each time, it was the countless people who had come to find her at the ‘Sacred Ground of the Ancient Warriors’ who had lifted her up.

They worked miracles. Among them were not only great heroes but also ordinary people.

‘You mustn’t lose.’

She bit her lip. After walking and walking for some time, suddenly, she found that someone else was holding her hand.

“Tundra!”

No answer came. It was the same kind of hand as before, but this hand was not Kang Han-jun’s.

‘Huh?’

Kang… Han? What was that again?

Viola cocked her head in confusion.

“Kang…”

An unfamiliar term came to mind. “….…oppa?”

Oppa? Did I have an oppa?

‘Not Bichen.

It definitely wasn’t Bichen’s hand.

And it certainly wasn’t Prince Kundo’s either. ‘What am I thinking?’

Viola shook her head. What mattered to her was not the forgotten ‘Kang…’ but Tundra’s hand.

“You kept your promise.”

It didn’t feel so scary anymore. Though an exit wasn’t in sight, it felt as if with this hand, she could go anywhere.

She kept walking and walking.

She didn’t even know how far she’d gone.

Then, at some moment, off in the distance, she began to see light.

*

Benato had always been curious.

“Nanny, what’s my mother like?”

In the shadow of Bellatu, the child who would have become the Archmage Vengas grew up under Elcina’s care. He was indeed a child with the qualities of an “Archmage.” Starting to speak as skillfully as an adult within a year after birth, by the time he turned three, he had engaged in deep discussions with the 4th Princess Hela, and at the age of four, he formally became a mage.

“I will tell you when Benato turns ten.”

Benato was certainly sharp. But in Elcina’s eyes, he was still a child. She didn’t want to tell him about the Viscountess Seaal’s affair just yet.

Benato no longer insisted.

“Okay.”

Benato trusted his nanny Elcina. He thought there must be a good reason.

“Is it true that my guardian is Saint Viola?”

“Of course.”

Benato smiled faintly. If asked to name the greatest hero in the continent right now, everyone would undoubtedly name one person.

That was the Iron-Blooded Saint, Viola.

“To think that such a great person is my guardian.”

Benato cautiously asked. “When will she wake up?”

“I hope it’ll be soon.”

“Can I meet her just once?”

“Why?”

“I want to thank her after meeting her just once.”

Though she was unconscious, it was Benato’s desire to visit her at least once. Having received such great grace, he thought he should express at least the minimum of his gratitude.

“Well, I don’t know if Duke Heron will allow it.”

Currently, Viola was lying on a bed under the 21-layer magical barrier in the ‘Beast’s Hall.’ Originally a place with a 7-layer magical barrier, when Viola and Tundra were moved here, a 21-layer magical barrier had been erected. In any case, very few people could enter this ‘Beast’s Hall.’ Even the Emperor could not enter this place.

“Nanny, you sometimes visit Saint Viola, right?”

Elcina was one of the few people allowed in there. “That’s true.”

“Could you pass on a word to the Duke so I can at least see her?”

“She doesn’t want to create even the slightest variable.”

Duke Heron’s personality had changed greatly over time. He who once feared no challenge had gradually become more conservative. He responded more sensitively than anyone else about matters concerning Viola.

“Still, I’ll mention it.”

* That day. Elcina sought out the Duke’s study and explained the situation.

“Though the child’s heart is commendable, the place where Viola lies maintains a security level like no other.”

“I understand.”

The number of people who could enter there didn’t even reach ten throughout the continent. Heron, Medea, Bichen, Hela, Elcina, Hixson, Kaiser, Zeno.

That was about it. For your reference, even Seilan, Viola’s teacher, known as the ghost coachman, was not permitted to enter ‘Beast’s Hall.’

“So I refuse.”

“But Duke, please don’t forget that Benato possesses the Miracle Mana.”

“Miracle Mana?”

Thanks to Benato, carrying the Miracle Mana, the project to cultivate clerics by Elder Ebato and Elcina could succeed. “The Queen of the Elves spoke of Miracle Mana too. Perhaps Benato might create another miracle?”

After a moment of contemplation, Heron replied. “I will allow it on the condition that you accompany me.”

* Viola, wandering aimlessly in the darkness, faced the ‘light.’

The closer she got to that light, the more peculiar voices could be heard. “…입니다.”

“·맙습니다.”

“Thank you.”

As she got closer to the light, the voices became clearer. Viola instinctively sensed that this voice was the ‘Voice of God.’

‘The Voice of God.’

Whether this voice belonged to the ‘Author’ or was a voice left by the ‘Will’ when the author created this world, she couldn’t determine the exact identity.

In any case, it was definitely the ‘Voice of God.’ The voice approached like an illusion. In the dream world, Viola couldn’t speak.

She could only listen to that mirage-like voice.

“I made Viola Bellatu unhappy.”

‘God’ liked Viola Bellatu. Setting the initial character and leading the story, Viola Bellatu ultimately succeeded.

Killing her father, her sister, her brother, and the man who loved her.

Eventually, she rose to the pinnacle.

“In the end, she was unhappy. I was so saddened by that.”

Viola kept walking. Towards the light.

“I wanted to correct my wrongs. But I didn’t have the power to do so. By the time I realized my mistakes, it was too late.”

It wasn’t possible to suddenly make Viola happy by the story’s final chapter. The people around her had all died. She had become a lonely absolute being.

“I hope Viola can be happy.”

The light grew brighter. “Viola is someone who has the right to be happy.”

Bang! Viola bumped into something and stopped walking.

Reaching out, she felt a ‘wall.’

Is there no way out……?’

The end of this world. A lonely place where light exists, but one cannot escape.

The only thing to rely on was the single hand that was still tightly holding her.

‘I want to get out.’

Many people must be waiting. She had to go meet them. ‘How can I get out?’

She couldn’t think of a way. In the shadow of Bellatu, such settings or stories did not exist.

“Don’t worry. The miracle seeds you’ve sown will take root here.”

At that moment. Benato respectfully bowed to Viola.

Then he asked Heron. “Duke, is it alright if I get closer to my guardian?”

“Why?”

“I’m not sure. But it feels like I can hear the voice of God.”

“The Voice of God?”

“Yes, I feel like I need to stand before Saint Viola.”

Heron read Benato’s true intentions with ‘Jinan.’ Benato had no ill intentions.

Benato stood before Viola.

Viola’s face was pale.

“May I, dare I, hold this hand?”

Benato asked cautiously in a reverent posture. Tears uncontrollably flowed from Benato’s eyes.

A genius sense and talent.

Riding on the blessing of mana, Benato stood here and realized something.

“The blessing of mana I possess was meant for this person.”

Standing before her, tears streamed down as he realized. It felt as if he was someone who had been prepared for this day.

“I think I clearly understand now. The Miracle Mana within me was a mutation that arose contrary to the will of God.”

Benato didn’t know much about his birth. But the mana taught him. “Originally, it was a power that couldn’t exist in this world. That’s why it’s called a miracle.”

The one who gave birth to this miracle was none other than the Iron-Blooded Saint, Viola. As soon as he saw Viola, he could feel that fact precisely.

He was convinced. “I can awaken Saint Viola.”

Now was the time. He had been too young until now, and if more time passed, the ‘Miracle Mana will fade away.

“Perhaps the desire to meet my guardian is also because now is the ‘time’.”

He told Heron. “I will awaken Saint Viola.”