Ch.155Chapter 155. Prophecy of Doom

In a time long ago, when humanity formed the foundation of civilization on this land.

A being who descended to this earth from space told the first human it met about its mission and purpose.

That it had a mission to destroy the world, and was wondering how to set the criteria for that destruction.

Whether to stop at the extinction of the human species, to destroy the foundations they had built… or to turn the entire world to ashes.

The cosmic being, seeking to establish the criteria for such a mission, sought human help and eventually formed a bond and conceived a child.

And soon after, she ascended back to the heavens.

Leaving behind a prophecy to her companion and child, and their descendants, that even if she did not fulfill her mission with her own hands, this world would face destruction in the distant future.

“And the last heir of that lineage is me, Irie Haven.”

After telling the entire story, Irie finally pointed to herself and began to reveal her identity that she had kept silent about.

“I, who stand before you, am the one who inherited the blood of the ‘Foreign God’ who came to bring destruction to this world.”

One who inherited the blood of a being called a god.

It taught me that her status was incomparable to that of humans like myself.

In some sense, she might be considered even higher than Merilyn, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, and Tashian.

“Is Irie a god?”

“Not quite. You could call me a demigod, but except for prophecies, I’m no different from an ordinary human.”

No, even just prophecy alone is an incredible power.

Her prophecies come true perfectly unless there’s intervention from a Transcendent, or unless something happens that’s difficult to detect—what might be called a “whim.”

“That, that’s…”

Such an extraordinary person is bonded with me, and the fruit of that bond is about to be born.

As I felt tension from this realization, Irie closed her eyes and continued her story.

“It’s natural to feel burdened. Being bonded with me means sharing the mission of my lineage.”

This isn’t something to take lightly.

After all, she’s the descendant of a being called a god. As a mere human, I can’t even begin to fathom how overwhelming the mission she carries must be.

“…I have a mission to save the world.”

As if confirming my worries, Irie continued in a resolute voice.

As if what needed to be said here was already determined, as if she was fulfilling that destiny with her own body.

“Although my ancestor who passed down power to me had a mission to destroy the world, they chose not to destroy the world with their own hands, but instead to spread descendants who inherited their power throughout the world.”

Yet the hand caressing her belly was infinitely gentle.

The compassion in her eyes as she looked down at it proved that despite prioritizing her mission, she still possessed human love.

“I don’t know the exact reason, but that being gave a chance to all who live in this world.”

Yes, the determination I feel in this moment is reinforced by that love as well.

“A chance for their lineage who inherited their power to raise a ‘savior’ who could resist the impending destruction of this world.”

“…A savior?”

“Yes, that is the mission of me, the last heir of the Haven lineage…”

At the end of her explanation, Irie took out a note from her possession and presented it before me.

I could tell just by feeling the solemnity of her gesture. What was written inside was surely a prophecy about what was to come.

“I have a mission to make the one bonded with me worthy of becoming such a being.”

I had seen it several times before.

Prophecies that didn’t always work out perfectly but mostly came true.

Since Irie became pregnant, she had refrained from making prophecies out of concern for her body, but despite that, she had attempted prophecy for my sake, accepting the potential harm.

“I’ve written down prophecies needed for the expedition over the next half year. Please only read them when absolutely necessary.”

That note, filled with her determination, feels incredibly heavy.

I can understand that she is a descendant of a Foreign God, but I couldn’t immediately accept that I, who became bonded with her, have the mission of a savior.

“A savior, that’s…”

“It must be burdensome.”

As if she had already anticipated my feelings, Irie spoke to me in a complicated voice.

“How much can a mere human individual accomplish? Given that you’ve recently felt your limitations many times, it’s natural to feel confused when suddenly hearing such things.”

As she said, no matter how strong I’ve become, I’m still just one human.

How could someone like me, who struggles just to protect myself and those around me, fully accomplish a mission like saving the world?

“But Hyoseong, know this one thing. The mission you must shoulder is not to prevent destruction, but first to discern what world needs to be saved.”

Irie, as if to soothe my confusion, took something else out from her possession.

“My distant ancestor, the direct child of the Destruction God, told me this: Destruction will inevitably come, so in the face of impending destruction, limit the world you must save.”

An old letter written in what I would call an ancient language that I couldn’t read.

As if she had already interpreted the contents of that object, Irie’s gaze remained steadfastly fixed on me.

“What one facing destruction should do is not suppress that destruction, but ‘prepare’ as that time gradually approaches. Bear only as much as you can bear, and save only as much as you can save…”

“As much as I can bear…?”

“Even a hero or savior is ultimately just an individual… it would be foolish to ask such a person to be responsible for everything in the world.”

Putting down the note, Irie quietly reached out her hand toward me.

Taking my outstretched hand, she pulled it toward herself as if to guide my gaze to her.

“Hyoseong. I, who have the mission to assist the savior, assure you with certainty, who was born with the destiny of a savior.”

Without a trace of doubt.

With an incredibly resolute gaze directed at me.

“You are doing well. Better than my expectations, and probably better than my ancestor’s expectations…”

She honestly tells me that I have not disappointed her.

“And when this expedition ends, you will finally gain the power to resist the fate this world will face.”

She further assures me that the future ahead will unfold in a way that fulfills her expectations.

“So please believe in yourself. No matter what happens, if you don’t give up, you will be rewarded.”

After conveying this sincerity, Irie pulled my hand toward her belly.

As if wanting me to feel the life in that hand.

“And in the world you will reach, our child born from our bond will live.”

Yes, I can feel life.

Her belly rising with her breath, the heartbeat felt from it.

-Thump, thump.

Even more powerfully, the movement transmitted through my palm taught me that what exists inside is undeniably a living being.

Such a child will soon be born into this world.

A world where destruction may soon arrive.

“…Truly.”

Even in a world full of despair and harshness, there exists the right to live in peace cultivated by the savior’s hands.

Depending on how much effort I put in now.

Furthermore, depending on how much I accomplish now.

“It’s really going to be born. This child…”

“…Yes, it will certainly be born.”

I felt tears welling up at that certainty.

Because I had vaguely thought even that might not come to pass.

Moreover, because I physically felt that I was bonded with the person before me, and would soon face the fruit of that bond.

“You need to prepare for the expedition starting tomorrow, right?”

Did she also foresee in her prophecy that I would shed tears?

Irie, wiping my tears with a prepared handkerchief, spoke with a hardened voice and prepared to turn away.

The lack of her usual gentleness in that moment was likely to maintain her current resolve.

“You should rest now. For what’s ahead…”

“Ah, wait a moment.”

But even so, I couldn’t put off what I had planned.

Since I wouldn’t see her for half a year, the only proper time for my planned confession was now.

“Um, Irie. I have one last thing to say…”

“Wait.”

An urgent interruption as soon as I tried to speak.

When I paused, I saw Irie hesitating as she turned to look at me.

“Could you… say what you’re about to say after you return?”

“What?”

“I’m not… mentally prepared yet…”

A blush illuminated by the moonlight from the window.

There was no trace of her previous seriousness in that appearance.

With a very shy and unconfident attitude… she was expressing that she couldn’t accept what I was about to do.

“It’s a bit… difficult to hear right now… even tomorrow morning when I see you off would be better…”

“…Haha.”

Laughter escaped as soon as I saw her like that.

Along with it, I felt my previous anxiety disappear, and in that moment, I realized one thing.

Regardless of the savior’s mission and what the future holds.

The person before me is clearly my bonded partner, someone I should spend the rest of my life with.

“Irie!”

“Y-yes!”

Irie stiffened at my exclamation.

I took out the prepared item for her and delivered my planned confession.

“Please spend your life with me.”

A belated proposal.

A vow of eternity born from it.

“And when I return after completing this mission… let’s hold the ceremony together with our newborn child.”

Though our relationship has been a mess from beginning to process, I still hope she’ll accept this if permitted.

When I firmly conveyed my intention, she shrank back and glanced down at her belly.

Is the reason she couldn’t immediately accept the ring I offered because she wasn’t prepared? Or simply because she was embarrassed?

“…Yes.”

But in the end, it was just a matter of time.

Finally accepting the ring I offered, she put it on her finger with a faint smile forming on her lips.

“Come back safely, my love.”

As if hiding the anxiety rising from a corner of her heart.

While reflecting tears of joy more vivid than the moonlight shining behind her.

****

Yes, everything was as prophesied.

That he would fully hear her prophecy and submit to that fate, and that he would belatedly plan a proposal for her while going into town today…

As all prophecies came true, she began to realize that future events would also unfold according to her prophecies.

“Ugh!”

That realization filled her mind again after he left for the expedition, beginning to induce nausea.

“Haa, haa… ugh!”

This wasn’t morning sickness from pregnancy.

It was a sensation far removed from the burden derived from her mission.

“It’s okay. It’s okay, baby…”

Rather, she was happy.

She was so happy that she could hardly bear the future she had prophesied.

“Just wait a little longer.”

Yet she couldn’t just remain idle.

Irie, composing her distorting feelings, began to continue her prophecy in front of a crystal ball in the place he had left.

What unfolded inside was about what would happen in the near future… before the “moment of destruction” that awaited.

-Is this… the child with that person?

Vivian Platonis.

The byproduct of a being once called the greatest calamity in this world was presenting something before her as she crouched on the floor.

A semi-transparent, soft membrane-like entity.

The sight of something thrashing inside it as if trying to come out into the world was what would commonly be called an “amniotic sac.”

-Baby, my baby…

Yes, the place where a child grown in a mother’s womb is preserved.

The moment she saw the witch pointing her finger at the amniotic sac she had carried in her womb all along, her own hand also quickly reached out toward it.

But there was no way she could resist in a state where the inside of her belly had been completely carved out.

-Snap!

As her finger was flicked away and the thrashing amniotic sac disappeared from view.

“Uweeek!”

Even the composure she had maintained until the end finally collapsed miserably.