Free Web NovelUnder the night sky, the split temple stood like a seashell that would never close again — silent and desolate. Layers of stone bricks and wooden planks piled upon one another, the entire building in shambles.
“Were these figurines made by your own hands?” Vieya picked up the stone statue Menesis had earlier tossed aside, holding it in her palm without turning around.
“Mm...”
Flaviel gave a soft hum, followed by a quiet, reserved laugh. “I sculpted them whenever I was bored. I meant to give you a few as keepsakes, but I never found the chance.”
“That must have been a long time ago, huh?”
Vieya brushed the dirt from the figurine with her sleeve, intending to place it back where it belonged.
But she froze — the spot where the statue had stood was now buried beneath rubble and soil.
A pity.
Out of all those figurines, only the smallest one had survived.
“Hehe, who would’ve thought that the statue used as a projectile would be the one to stay intact?” Flaviel didn’t sound sad at all. Her voice was soft. “Why don’t you take this last one with you as a keepsake? That way, whenever you see it, you’ll think of me... so you won’t forget me.”
Vieya shook her head. “If I want to think of you, I can just talk to you directly in my heart. But if the Church were to see this thing, they’d never believe I’m innocent — not in my current monster-girl body. Besides, our daughter’s over on the human side... Next time, when there’s a chance, come out and talk to her yourself.”
“I may not be able to answer you, you know.” Flaviel lowered her lashes, her voice faint as a whisper. “How is our daughter lately?”
“She’s fine. I’m looking after her, so don’t worry.”
Vieya set the tiny Demon King figurine against the corner of a wall, patted the dust off her hands, and ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) suddenly asked, “How long can you stay this time?”
“Until you leave Mount Aisa.” Flaviel smiled faintly. “So during this time, you can relax a little — you don’t have to think about what’s already passed.”
“That’s good then...”
Vieya stood up, feeling faintly pleased.
Maybe it was because of all the clashes and conflict they’d gone through — that was why this brief, peaceful exchange felt so precious.
Crack!
The sound of tiles breaking echoed sharply.
“Miss Cleric, who were you just talking to?”
Menesis stepped across the shattered tiles. Even with her face covered in dust, the worry and vigilance in her eyes were plain. Her tone was low and tense.
“Many died on this land. The resentment here runs deep. Miss Cleric, don’t tell me you’ve been possessed?”
“I... I’m fine.”
Vieya turned around. Flaviel stood with arms crossed, watching like an amused spectator, while the suspicion in Menesis’s gaze only deepened.
“What were you just looking at?” Menesis asked sharply.
Vieya paused, then sighed. “I wasn’t possessed! I just happen to be gifted — I’ve been able to see things others can’t ever since I was young.”
“And what did you just see?” Menesis demanded.
Vieya looked toward Flaviel and smiled. “A beautiful female ghost.”
“What do you mean, a beautiful female ghost?”
Menesis blinked, then immediately glared hard at her — this woman had to be joking!
Clerics, who were constantly bathed in the divine light of the God of Radiance and prayed daily, each possessed holy bodies that repelled evil. Forget possession — even ordinary ghosts couldn’t get within reach of them!
“Don’t joke like that again.”
Menesis huffed. “Also, didn’t I tell you to check the painting? Where is it?”
Vieya pursed her lips, thought for a moment, then said apologetically, “Ah... sorry, I forgot.”
“You—!” Menesis took a deep breath, glaring at her word by word. “You! Pig! Head!!”
“......”
Flaviel covered her mouth, laughing softly. “It seems your companion’s been trapped here too long — she’s going a little mad. Want me to tell you how to break Mount Aisa’s time loop?”
Vieya said nothing, but gave a small nod toward her.
Yes, of course she wanted that.
“Aren’t you afraid I might deliberately harm you?” Flaviel asked, feigning seriousness.
“Would you?” Vieya spread her hands.
Flaviel only smiled without replying.
“???”
Menesis rubbed her eyes hard, confirming that the cleric not only didn’t respond to her insult but was actually nodding and talking to thin air. Her hair stood on end.
“Vieya, can you act normal for once? Stop talking to that invisible ghost woman!”
“Alright,” said Vieya, glancing at her. “But she just said she can help us break Mount Aisa Town’s time loop — and even make the Hero Armor outside stop attacking.”
Menesis: I said stop talking to that ghost, are you deaf?!
“You don’t believe her?” Vieya asked.
Menesis shook her head.
“You don’t need to believe her — just believe me.” Vieya’s tone was serious. “After all, believing her or believing me is the same thing.”
“You... can’t be serious?”
Menesis was dumbfounded. To her, this was even more insane than finding out after ten years of following a series that the male lead was actually a cross-dressing woman!
How had Captain Luna found this bizarre cleric who didn’t even know enhancement magic?!
Or maybe Captain Luna’s eye for people was so sharp that Menesis simply couldn’t see the brilliance hidden in her.
But seriously... aside from a pretty face, did she have any brilliance?
Vieya, as if not noticing Menesis’s exasperation, smiled lightly and changed the subject. “Do you still remember what was on that painting?”
Menesis was silent for a moment, then replied, “Of course. That painting was special — no one could forget it after seeing it.”
“Then let’s start from that painting,” Vieya said. “Let’s step into the love story between the Hero and the Demon King... Wait, what the hell did I just say?”
She stopped abruptly, glancing up — only to meet Flaviel’s innocent, tearful eyes. freēwebnovel.com
“What, you don’t want to admit that what we had back then produced a crystallization of love?” Flaviel said softly.
Vieya’s gaze dropped to the Demon King’s chest — about the size of an apple or a pear, a modest mid-cup.
“Bad apple, enough of that. Switch — let the little orange or the big coconut come out instead.” Vieya muttered under her breath.
Flaviel closed her eyes, raised her chin proudly, and huffed, “I refuse.”
Vieya: “......”
“Miss Cleric... are you alright?” Menesis asked with concern.
“...It’s nothing. Let’s keep going.” Vieya paused, then asked, “Right, where were we just now?”
“The painting — the love story between the Hero and the Demon King,” Menesis reminded her.
“...That painting’s armor represented the First Hero. I won’t mention his name — on the human side, people called him the Night Hero. He was the Hero summoned by the Human Empress to face calamity. And that calamity... was the Demon—” Vieya began softly.
