Chapter 192: My home is back

A massive pillar of light poured down from the lofty sky toward the earth.

Fragments of light scattered in all directions, pushing back the darkness that enveloped the mansion and beginning to illuminate the surroundings.

Soon, within the light that connected the heavens and the earth, the silhouettes of four women emerged.

“…To think they’d cause such a disturbance on the surface world, so openly.”

In front of the mansion’s now-revealed main gate, several women lay collapsed, powerless.

Among them, a silver-haired woman, Artasha—more precisely, the goddess possessing her—rushed forward.

The other three women followed her, frantically searching for Tina.

They scanned the surrounding area, looking between the fallen women.

But no matter how hard they searched, there was no trace of Tina to be found.

“What is going on?! You said she’d be safe!”

Nia cried out anxiously.

But the goddess ignored her words and silently looked at a peacefully sleeping woman.

Around the woman’s neck, nestled among her flowing platinum hair, hung a faintly glowing necklace.

“…Mardian.”

Viviana murmured under her breath as she stared at the woman.

“I have a rough idea now.”

As the goddess raised her hand, the sacred relic shone brightly and was reabsorbed into her body.

No one here was unaware of what it meant for the relic, which should have been with Tina, to now be in Mardian’s possession.

Clearly, something had happened—and Tina must have relinquished the relic to protect Mardian.

Viviana grabbed the goddess’s shoulders.

Even knowing it was Artasha’s body, she couldn’t stop herself from tightening her grip.

“Tina is….”

“She is not here.”

“Then where is she?!”

“…It appears she has descended into hell.”

“Hell…?”

Viviana bit her lip hard.

“You’re saying… she was dragged to hell?”

A surge of murderous rage and resentment stirred within her.

Had this woman not been possessing Tina’s mother’s body, she might have drawn her sword without hesitation.

“Lies! Tina’s soul is one that can’t go to hell!”

At Nia’s desperate cry, the goddess quietly nodded.

“You’re right. Normally, her soul would be unable to fall into hell… But it seems a Great Demon has meddled.”

“And that’s all you have to say?”

Viviana’s voice trembled with fury.

If, by any chance, the goddess dared to utter that they had no choice but to give Tina up…

Even if she were a goddess, Viviana might cut her down.

Lilian, silently observing from behind, likely shared the same feeling.

“We will get her back.”

Radiant light gathered around the goddess.

The swirling brilliance gradually took form, eventually shaping into a door.

“Don’t worry. No matter what happens, I will bring her back from hell.”

“…Is that really okay, Goddess?”

Lilian asked cautiously, her emotions conflicted.

“They were the ones who broke the rules first and interfered with the surface. We no longer need to show restraint.”

A dazzling light burst from Artasha’s body.

That light gathered into one point, eventually forming the figure of a woman.

“From here on, I’ll go alone. Please wait here.”

The goddess spoke briefly and turned her gaze forward. Just as she was about to step toward the gate, Viviana grabbed her arm.

“I can’t just stand by and watch. Take me with you.”

“No. Beyond this door is the Abyss—the place you call hell.”

“I don’t care.”

Viviana’s resolute eyes made the goddess fall silent for a moment.

“Take me, too.”

This time it was Artasha who stepped forward. Her gaze, too, was unwavering and firm.

The goddess let out a short sigh and tried to persuade them.

“This Abyss is no place for the living. The demons crawling inside will use every means to shatter your minds.”

“I’ll chase all the way to the ends of Hell if I have to. I will get my daughter back.”

“……”

“M-Me too!”

Nia also stepped forward in agreement.

“If it’s Hell, then I know it better than anyone. I’m sure I can help!”

Lillian, who had been watching quietly, also stepped forward.

“Please let me help too, Goddess.”

With even the saint joining in, the goddess had no choice but to raise both hands in surrender.

“…Very well. I believe you all have the strength to protect yourselves.”

A pure white light radiated from the goddess’s hands.

The pillar of light enveloped the women—except for Nia—and slowly seeped into their bodies.

“I’ll share my power with you. With this, you’ll be able to enter Hell.”

“…This is divine power.”

Feeling this kind of strength for the first time in her life, Viviana let out a small gasp of awe.

“With my power imbued in you, not even an archdemon will be able to lay a finger on your bodies.”

The goddess then added a solemn warning.

“But still, be careful. Just because your bodies are safe doesn’t mean your minds are invincible.”

“W-What about me?”

Nia, startled, pointed to herself and asked. But the goddess only looked at her with a cold gaze.

“There’s probably no better place than the Abyss for your power to shine.”

“W-Well, that may be true…”

Nia hesitated and took a small step back.

“Follow along at your own pace.”

Massive wings spread behind the goddess’s back.

A door of light opened, revealing what lay beyond.

A barren land stretched endlessly, devoid of even the faintest sign of life.

Without a hint of hesitation, the goddess stepped into it. Gritting her teeth, Nia followed and crossed the threshold.

“…Mother.”

Viviana looked cautiously toward Artasha.

Noticing the worry in her daughter’s violet eyes, Artasha quietly shook her head.

“No matter what happens, I’m going. I can take care of myself—don’t worry.”

“…Alright.”

Seeing the resolve in Artasha’s eyes, Viviana no longer had the heart to try and stop her.

“Let’s go.”

Without hesitation, Artasha walked toward the door. Realizing they couldn’t stop her, Lillian and Viviana finally rushed after her.

And at last, their feet touched the ground beyond the gate.

The world turned upside down. A completely unfamiliar landscape unfolded before their eyes.

“This is… Hell…”

The warm sunlight was gone without a trace, replaced by a red light that dyed everything like spilled blood.

A silent space where not even a whisper of wind could be heard.

It was a sight that truly befitted the name of the Abyss.

Suppressing the unpleasant sensation brushing against her skin, Artasha clenched her fists with a firm expression.

“…Just wait a little longer, my daughter.”

Mom is coming to save you.

***

A small room, filled with the musty smell of dust.

The faint sunlight seeping through the cracks in the window was the only light illuminating this space.

It was a place all too familiar.

Maybe that’s why this situation didn’t feel so strange.

The very room where I had spent most of my previous life in confinement. If there was one thing that had changed, it was the reflection of myself in the mirror.

I reached out my hand. From the other side of the mirror, a girl with snow-white hair and blue eyes quietly placed her hand against mine.

I don’t know why. But the face standing here now was still that of Tina Blanche.

“Nia… are you there?”

I called out my childhood friend’s name on a whim. But no response came.

It was expected.

Though this place looked identical to the one-room prison from my previous life, it could never truly be the same place.

It must be somewhere like hell.

I recalled what Nia once said:

Only souls stained black can enter hell.

Then, is my soul stained black now?

That wouldn’t be surprising.

Honestly, the idea that my soul had ever been pure white never made sense to begin with.

How could someone like me—a filthy, worthless person—have a pure soul, when there are saints like Lillian?

Is there anything more laughable?

Maybe… this is my soul returning to its original color.

Maybe… this is the price I must pay for my sins.

“I hope you’ve forgotten someone like me and are living happily now.”

I murmured softly, thinking of the ones I would never see again.

Then, I heard a sound from the door.

The click of a lock turning.

The clinking of chains coming undone.

And, in response, the pounding of my heart.

All of them were sounds I knew too well.

Soon, the heavy door slowly opened. A figure emerged beyond it.

“How does it feel to be back home after so long?”

“……”

“My daughter… you have no idea how happy it makes me.”

She looked at me and smiled.

It was the same smile. But why did it feel so utterly different from the one Artasha used to give me?

Maybe because I knew what kind of pain followed behind that smile.

“But… I’m sad.”

A gentle voice. But within it, a chilling coldness lingered.

“My beloved child locked me away… only to go frolicking around with other women…”

Her hand reached slowly toward the corner of the room.

And eventually, what she picked up was a 7-iron golf club, the tip stained in red.

How could I remember this so vividly?

Her fingers wrapped around the club’s handle, tightening slowly.

“You need to be punished, don’t you?”

“…Yes.”

I had no choice but to comply.

There was never an option to resist her.

“As much as I love you. You understand, right? Let Mommy hear your screams again today.”

I slowly closed my eyes.

I won’t be resentful.

I’d always known. I had been living a life far too good for someone like me.

Maybe now—

Maybe I’ve finally returned to the place I truly belonged.