Chapter 247 - Back Then

How much pride does one have to refer to the one who humiliated them as an Evil God just to save their image?

Teren was discouraged to continue but he has to or there will be 'unresolved conflict' between him and the Drago House.

To act freely is to have a smooth relationship between the two of them. Therefore, ignoring what Eight was spouting, Teren signaled the others to leave. Of course, First stubbornly stayed.

Teren was bothered but he let her. He thought that her reaction would be more annoying if he forced her.

"Is it right to trust him?"

Eron asked Ivan as the two of them walked out and closed the door.

"Trust is no longer a question here, Eron."

Ivan said which Eron deeply frown and thought what his elder brother was talking about. But, in the end, he didn't figure out anything. However, he doesn't doubt what Ivan chooses to do. He does complain a lot though.

Meanwhile, inside the room, First stood there with observing eyes.

"Lie down and relax. I will check if there's anything I can do."

"Huh? You people can really just do check-ups. You call yourselves doctors? I guess doctors are titles for idiots!"

Eight smirked which he was then reprimanded by First.

"Eight, can you give even a little bit of respect? Also, shut up and do what... this man says."

Hearing her voice, Eight no longer said a word and just did what he was ordered to. Teren was a little glad that First was here or he might change his mind.

'Let's see if I can heal this guy.'

Teren placed his palm onto Eight's eyes.

Meanwhile, near the mansion of the Drago House, there was a person floating behind thick clouds. Other people can't see this person, but she has vision that can pass through objects with certain thickness.

She was just observing before another woman appeared besides her.

"He's reckless as ever."

Nature said, shocking the woman who was there in the first place.

"Who are you?"

This person immediately disappeared and appeared meters away. Her powers fluctuate, putting a guard around her.

"The question should be why are you here, Dehian?"

Nature asked the person who is obviously Dehian.

"I can't hear your thoughts."

For the first time in a while since she regained her consciousness, Dehian developed a sense of unease, anxiety, and fear.

"How could you? I was the one who gave you your powers."

"... Ancient?"

Dehian's eyes widened before she let her guard down.

"It is said that the Ancient can take any form including those that are not within this realm. Professor spoke a lot about you. However, is your form right now just a whim or are you fond of that?"

"A whim."

Nature said. Even Dehian, who is one not to judge people with their surface appearance, found bitter in realizing how beautiful this woman was in front of her. She felt a little danger and pressure for some reason.

"Why are you here?"

Dehian asked but Nature shook her head.

"I don't ask questions, I say what I have to say."

"..."

"So answer me, why are you here?"

"If you're the one who gave me my power, shouldn't you be able to read my mind?"

Dehian was still in doubt as she crossed her arms under her breasts.

"Yes, you're here because you're worried."

"Worried? Why would I be worried?"

Dehian chuckled as if she just heard the dumbest joke ever.

"See? That's why I'm asking. If I just said it like this, you wouldn't admit it. Why don't you question yourself; why are you here if not worried?"

"..." Dehian felt defeated as she relaxed her facial expression, "Fine, you got me. Iesa is worried. After all, Teren has been having suicidal thoughts so that's something to be worried about."

"That is worrying. Teren has been staying strong all this time, however, in the end, he's just human."

Nature answered which Dehian smiled at.

"Teren? Human? From what I heard, you're the one who said that he's an otherworlder. I don't think they are called humans. Also, Teren is a 'great' person, he is far from just being a human."

"True, his Spirit turned into a Great Spirit after all the experiences he gained. Not even monks are able to achieve that."

Nature replied but said nothing more, not answering Dehian's inquiries.

"You sound proud."

"Yes, but still, in the end, he's just ordinary."

"... you keep saying that without an explanation."

"I'm saying this because you are special. I deemed you be. You and Teren are not the same, he belongs to the world while you are a tool to banish the evil."

Finally, Nature explained yet something else that raises more questions.

"The monster within him... is that not him?"

Dehian looked at Nature with a solemn expression.

"Of course, it's not him. Teren is just ordinary. I gave you that type of power to specifically combat what's within him. If you love him, kill the monster within him. If you hate him, kill him along with the monster."

Nature explained while they're within the drifting cloud. She was looking down while Dehian was looking at her.

"This is so ironic. I am supposed to be a psychic but I just can't find the answers. If you want Teren dead, why didn't you just kill him then!? Everything could've been resolved! He wouldn't have to kill Professor, I shouldn't be hating him, and I shouldn't be loving him! Why go through all these steps!?"

Dehian's composure broke as she found things so unreasonable. But to her surprise, Nature answered.

"I'm everywhere, I would travel across my land, my body. By chance, I saw this lonely man. I've seen so many of them already. But why did I show myself to this man? Back then, I was skeptical and cynical. But one thing is true, by chance... I was lonely too."

"..."

Dehian frowned and listened, however, she has no idea where this is going.

"That choice of meeting him was the best and the worst decision I've ever had. As I cater his loneliness, he would mine as well. He would sing for me, tell stories, and keep me company. No... actually, I already know. Humans are my parasites. Because of you and your death, Spirits would form a path between me and Hell, the place where I came from. However, I can see the future and saw me smiling. Thus, I let the first humans live."

"So it's not by chance." Dehian interrupted but Nature shook her head.

"No, it is by chance. I don't have the complete power to pick the future, my action may change it but it always fluctuates. I don't know who he is at first but he made me smile, something that only humans do. That's why, I got curious and one day, I finally encountered him."

"..."

Dehian have widened her eyes as she was speechless.

Nature looked at her and spoke.

"He saved me from the Hellbeing humans' cumulative subconsciousness have invited, killing himself in the process. It was... painful. Therefore, instead of banishing the Hellbeing, I revived Teren along with it inside him. Because that's the only way.

"Why are you saying this to me right now?"

Dehian asked after the revelation. However, Nature just continued with her blank stare.

"He's supposed to be the hero of my story, yet, you're the heroine to his. No... he is my hero, not just the kind of hero who I will live happily ever after with. I'm not human, after all."

"..."

Dehian's shoulders dropped. Somehow, she could feel what Nature was feeling right now. However, she's against thinking about it.

"I'm telling you this right now because everything's getting out of control. If you are to fail in killing him, I will with my own two hands... then every human in the whole world. I let humans walk this land because of him. Without him, there's no reason to."

Dehian finally understood it but was still against thinking about it. She didn't want Nature to know her thoughts. The two of them were the same in that aspect.

"Fine, let's see what happens."

"Even without Trisha, you should be enough. After all, I created you to as the Devil Himself's Arch Nemesis, Dehian."

"..."

Afterward, Nature disappeared, leaving no trace at all.

Soon, Dehian's eyes squinted as she realized and muttered.

"So that's where the name Dehian came from..."

She felt a complicated mix of emotions swirling inside her. After a while, she felt something within the mansion that caught her attention.

"There, open your eyes."

Teren said as he removed his hand from Eight's eyes. He has no idea what just happened within the sky that he was sitting underneath.

Eight was frowning at first. He thought that the man 'checking' his eyes just did nothing and put his palm on his eyes and was then mocking him to open his eyes.

'Is this a joke?'

He thought before opening his eyes...

"Eh...?"

Eight flinched as a scene flashed before his mind. His blindness didn't take a month but he have almost forgotten how seeing feels like. It feels like this, huh...

"I-I can see...!"

He gasped as well as First. When reality sank in his mind, he felt great gratitude to the person who just healed him.

Eight turned to look at Teren.

"Thank you, Doc-... you... huh? Devil Himself!!??"

A shriek then resounded in the entire medical facility, making Ivan kick down the door in response.