Chapter 96: A Not So Happy Ending

Chapter 96: A Not So Happy Ending

→ A Not So Happy Ending ←

For the Saintess to lose her Holy Power, it wasn’t simply a matter of the gods preparing for the successor and her handing over the position.

Could it be that there was some other conspiracy at play behind the scenes with this Saintess?

Perhaps the gods knew something and took away her power?

People celebrated my retirement but questioned the early exit.

However, all I could do was offer them a smile.

While I couldn’t help but have such doubts, I was grateful for the opportunity to reflect on whether I had done something wrong.

And then I left.

With the loss of my Holy Power, the protection that was akin to a covering of the gods over me was also gone.

After wishing the new Saintess Lucia the best, I left to find a place that was secluded.

When I was somewhere in the Griffin Kingdom, the Demons came to find me. It was an unnamed forest.

For days, the Demons treated me as a plaything.

The staggering pain was beyond my imagination, and my body was so damaged that it defied comparison.

However, the grudges of the Demons didn’t last forever.

The Demon who tore apart my left hand departed after it was satisfied.

The Demon who caused my legs to rot away lost interest in me and abandoned me.

The Demons who gouged out my eyes walked away as they gleefully chewed on them.

I thought it was all over.

However, there was still one Demon left by my side.

“Interesting.”

The one who remained until the very end seemed to be quite intrigued by me.

“Are you not in pain?”

There was no way I didn’t feel all that.

The pain was truly unbearable.

I screamed countless times, fainted several times, and—embarrassingly— even wet myself.

I still remember how I was writhing in a pool of blood, trying to forcibly twist my body.

It was the first time I regretted that I could no longer see, as I didn’t even know if the sun was up or if the moon was out.

My skin felt so hot that I couldn’t even feel the air surrounding me properly.

“Is it daytime now? Or is it nighttime?”

Thus, I asked the Demon.

Upon which, the Demon let out a strained laugh and clicked her tongue.

“It’s nighttime. However, the moon is so bright that everything around is clearly visible.”

I see.

“Too bad. I would have liked to see it as well.”

Even though I realized that I would never be able to see it again, I turned my head towards the sky. A smile crept onto my lips.

“What’s so funny?”

The Demon asked irritatedly, and I softly replied.

“Because I managed to buy enough time for Lucia to get used to her new role as the Saintess.”

“Sigh.”

Finding it absurd, the Demon clicked her tongue again and slowly drew closer, and I was certain that this would be the end.

What would she take?

My right hand that remained?

Or would she perhaps take my life altogether?

Willing to accept anything, I waited for the Demon.

However, she was more unusual than I had thought.

The pain in my body disappeared.

After healing my wounds, she placed her hand on my head.

“Saintess Stella. I’ve met many Saintesses, but this is the first time I’ve come across one like you.”

“Are you praising me?”

“Hmm. I’m not sure. Anyway, you’ve piqued my curiosity.”

“...Pardon?”

Suddenly, I felt like something was shoved into my head. It was more painful than any torture, and I couldn’t even scream, let alone think about breathing.

“My name is Velica. I’m one of the ten Demon Lords on the continent, responsible for deformities.”

Demon Lord?

Upon hearing those words, strength filled my body, but I was no longer able to resist.

“As someone who is the closest to deformities among all the other Saintesses, I will relish as I consume your entire existence.”

* * *

How long had it been?— Losing both eyes and coexisting with Velica in my body, who was taking away my memories.

The citizens who always revered and cheered for me when I was a Saintess wouldn’t even glance at me after I lost my hands, had my legs rot away, and had my eyes gouged out.

Although they did it unknowingly because they didn’t recognize me as a Saintess, it definitely left me feeling deeply wounded.

However, as long as these people could smile brightly along the path I had walked, it was okay.

The people who bowed their heads in gratitude and boldly declared that they would lead a new life would forever remain in my heart.

More of... since I was blind, I could live in the memories of the past.

Therefore, I could always smile while recalling their smiles.

That was how I lived such a life.

That was my first time hearing Velica’s voice sound so gentle.

“You have borne too much pain.”

“...”

“I am your only confidante. Stella, this should not be your end. You should not end up being a plaything for Demons like me once your life ends.”

“Vel... ica?”

“Even if I wish to protect you, the other Demon Lords will also target you. Since I’ve been with you for so long, it’s natural for their desires to surface.”

Velica apologized for unintentionally becoming an entity that attracted other great evils.

“I cannot give you rest.”

“...”

“However, you will no longer go through pain after death.”

She smiled.

Why?

Even though I couldn’t see it, I felt like Velica was smiling.

“I am Velica, the Demon Lord of Deformities.”

“...”

“Perhaps even my traits as a Demon may have been strangely distorted.”

I tried to call out to her, but no words came out of my mouth.

However, although her hands were rough, I felt like they were gently embracing me.

“You have won, Stella.”

* * *

However, the situation didn’t go as planned.

It seemed like Velica planned to summon Saintess Lucia to the convent.

But the one who came was a man I had never heard of before.

The Soul Whisperer, Deus Verdi.

After the nuns died, Velica no longer took away my memories, yet I continued to feign amnesia because I couldn’t explain the reason to Reverend Mother.

But strangely enough.

Because of my memory loss, I was able to have a lot of conversations with the Soul Whisperer, and he uncovered my secrets.

No, Velica and I guided him so he would figure it out.

Thanks to Velica’s help, my legs were healed once again. However, it wasn’t until then that I realized what Velica’s true intentions were.

I decided to act according to her intentions.

It was fortunate that Deus possessed the Holy Grail. It meant that we could meet our end naturally.

And now, in this truly magnificent setting, I found myself facing my demise.

Countless souls infused with Holy Power clung to me as if seeking to grant me salvation in the guise of death.

“Stella.”

As I gazed upon this breathtaking scene, Velica’s voice broke through the serene atmosphere.

“Yes?”

No matter what, she was still a Demon Lord. If she emerged from my body, I would immediately die from the shock, but she would still survive.

However, Velica didn’t leave me.

She simply kept me company.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to be more than just your companion. Perhaps only God knows who holds the title of the Saintess who first destroyed a Demon Lord.”

“...”

“I apologize for only being able to provide you with such an ending.”

I truly didn’t know anything.

“No.”

Many souls had been working hard for me, and I felt sorry that they had to sacrifice their peaceful rest for my sake.

Still, I, too, would be swept away by Holy Power.

So, at least, I could be with them.

“Finally, I will be able to be myself again at this end of life.”

These souls, Velica, and even Deus Verdi, had shown me that everything I had done was not in vain.

“I am truly grateful.”

To bring an end to the pain that would persist even after death, it was necessary for my soul to be annihilated.

Thank you, everyone.

Thank you, Velica.

And thank you, Kim Shinwoo.

For saving me.

My eyelids began to feel heavy due to exhaustion.

Slowly, a smile crept onto my lips.

Everyone...

Farewell.

Grab!

From the brink of annihilation.

I was involuntarily awakened by the rough sensation of someone grabbing my wrist.

“If you want to avoid the worst by choosing the lesser of what you fear and calling it a happy ending...”

After pulling me out from the brink of annihilation, the Soul Whisperer wore a faint smile.

“If simply avoiding the worst by choosing the lesser is considered a happy ending, I won’t send you away.”

/genesisforsaken