Ch.167167. Re…..turn?!

I truly cannot deny that it was a comforting time.

If this moment, where I’ve lost my physical body and exist only as a soul, could be considered a dream.

My time with Stella was so sweet that I almost wished never to wake from it.

It wasn’t simply because conversing with her was enjoyable. We understood each other, shared everything without secrets, and had no worries.

For the first time since arriving on this continent.

I thought, acted, and spoke purely as Shinwoo Kim.

“This is fun.”

I couldn’t help but agree with Stella’s bright smile. Time with her was truly enjoyable.

“Your world is really fascinating.”

Back when we shared time at the Ellia Convent, we talked about each other’s lives.

It was a time of listening while unfolding stories like tales.

But now it was a bit different.

From serious concerns to trivial chatter.

We shared thoughts, exchanged stories, and expressed various impressions.

The conversation became more lively with Vellica occasionally jumping in to add flavor.

“There’s something I realized after meeting you.”

Stella slowly turned her head to look down at the village below. Despite our long conversation, the village was still enjoying the festival.

As if that part was on repeat.

Perhaps that’s why my sense of time felt unclear.

“What is it?”

Stella slowly leaned against my shoulder, as if answering my question.

“In the end, I too was human.”

“…”

“Looking at my life as a Saintess, people wept saying I was noble, and demons marveled that I had transcended humanity.”

That’s right.

Even Magan had made comments acknowledging Stella.

Aria, who became a hero beyond human, and the Dark Spiritmaster shared the same context.

“But you know what?”

With a soft laugh, Stella carefully buried her face in my shoulder as if whispering a secret.

“That wasn’t transcendence at all.”

“…”

“It was the opposite.”

“The opposite?”

“I didn’t transcend humanity; I merely confined myself to the framework of being a Saintess.”

That’s why she didn’t appear like other humans.

Because she confined herself to the framework of a Saintess, she couldn’t live an ordinary life like others.

That’s what Stella was telling me now.

The moment I heard it, I realized it was the truth. Stella’s realization that came only after death.

“Shinwoo Kim, don’t confine yourself.”

“…”

“Don’t restrict yourself with the name of Spiritmaster. Don’t throw everything away just for that.”

Saintess.

A woman who threw away everything, even herself, for those two words.

The same was true for Aria Rius who was a hero, and the Dark Spiritmaster.

But Stella was conveying to me what they hadn’t realized.

“In truth, you’re just an ordinary human too. You can’t be defined solely by the name Spiritmaster.”

“You’re right.”

Stella lifted her face from my shoulder and gently placed her hand on my cheek.

I surrendered to her touch as she caressed me as if I were precious.

“You are Shinwoo Kim, the second son of the Verdi family, a professor at Robern Academy, and Erika Bright’s fiancé.”

Numerous names poured out.

All of them ultimately referred to me.

“A precious guest from another dimension.”

The sad smile on Stella’s lips revealed her heart.

“And the person I truly love.”

“…”

“You shouldn’t discard all that and be confined to a single name.”

The unspoken “like me” echoed painfully.

Stella, who had lived solely as a Saintess, abandoning everything else.

When her divine power was reclaimed by God and her title as Saintess disappeared, she lived in tragedy.

Aria who was captivated by the name of hero, and the Dark Spiritmaster who was obsessed with being a spiritmaster.

I know how it all ended for them.

That’s why Stella was worried.

Hoping that my end wouldn’t be the same tragedy as theirs.

Spiritmaster.

One who comforts the dead.

I had to admit that I hadn’t been looking at myself.

“Yes, thank you.”

Was my answer satisfactory?

Stella carefully nestled into my arms, and I naturally embraced her.

As we shared that brief moment together.

Stella carefully spoke.

“Can you answer me now?”

I knew what she was asking for.

The first question I ultimately hadn’t answered.

“Why are you fighting for this continent?”

To that question.

I briefly turned my eyes to the night sky.

Naturally, my gaze lowered to look at the continent’s land and villages.

Perhaps it was because I was looking at this scenery.

An answer I could never have given normally.

Burst forth with a bright smile.

“Because I-.”

After my answer, which was long yet short, there was a moment of silence.

Stella, who had been staring at me blankly, grabbed my shoulders and slowly met my eyes. Her expression showed she hadn’t expected my answer at all, which made me feel like I’d caught her off guard.

Smooch.

Stella leaned in and kissed my lips.

Not lingering like Erika’s kisses, nor intense like Findenai’s.

After a kiss so brief I almost doubted it happened.

Stella smiled radiantly and said,

“How could I not love you?”

* * *

A week had already passed since the visit to the Republic of Clark.

The psychological warfare between the Griffin Kingdom and the Republic of Clark continued, and diplomatic issues were growing increasingly serious.

Griffin’s position was that they were merely responding to the Republic of Clark’s preemptive surprise attack.

However, the Republic of Clark maintained that those who attacked Griffin were the Resistance, whom they also opposed, so it wasn’t their concern, and Griffin’s response was too extreme.

They also took the attitude that it was Griffin’s fault for being penetrated by a single person.

Doberman presented his protective gear as evidence against this, but the Republic brazenly maintained they had nothing to do with it.

Other nations of the continent were watching the two neighboring countries with considerable interest.

No one could yet tell whether this standoff would end in dramatic reconciliation or ignite into a major war in the previously peaceful continent.

Naturally, voices arose saying the Verdi family, who guarded the border, should take responsibility for their incompetence.

On the other hand, it was also the Verdi family who had completely devastated the Republic of Clark’s side, creating an ambiguous situation.

King Orpheus declared that all matters would be judged after the situation stabilized, postponing decisions while busily preparing for a possible war with the Republic of Clark.

However, here.

In Norsweden, the border region adjacent to Clark, a quiet stillness prevailed.

“…”

Looking at Deus Verdi lying on the bed with closed eyes, Deia felt a gloomy emotion piercing her heart.

She was relieved when Darius Verdi had risen from his sickbed two days ago, but Deus still showed no signs of waking.

Clunk.

At that moment, two women entered through the door.

Findenai and Erika Bright.

Both approached Deia’s side without a word. Findenai, wearing her usual maid uniform, replaced the scented candle beside Deus.

“He still hasn’t woken up.”

When Deia spoke flatly, Erika gently placed her hand on her shoulder and replied.

“It’s okay, he’ll wake up soon.”

“It’s been a week already.”

“Owen heard from the Dark Spiritmaster. Deus’s soul hasn’t found rest or departed.”

Owen and Illuania, who had been at Robern, had also joined them here.

According to Owen, who could uniquely communicate with the Dark Spiritmaster, the soul itself was still inside the body.

Incidentally, the Dark Spiritmaster had also been constantly watching over Deus.

“Unlike at first, he’s breathing and has a pulse now.”

Findenai was right.

When they first brought Deus back, he wasn’t breathing, so he was practically dead.

At some point, quiet breathing suddenly became audible, which could only be described as a divine miracle.

“…”

Although Findenai had just been smoking, looking at Deus made the urge creep up again, and she turned her gaze to the window.

Outside the mansion, Aria Rius was training with fierce determination, swinging her sword to regain her old skills.

Elenoa Luden Griffin, despite being a princess, had crossed the Republic of Clark’s border and directly engaged in battle, so she was currently at the royal palace.

‘I had so many things I wanted to do when we reunited.’

Findenai turned from the window to look at Deus again.

She had thought it was a farewell, but it wasn’t.

Just the fact that he had come looking for her gave Findenai a happiness she had never felt in her entire life.

But now, an even greater sadness than when she faced her own death was gripping her entire body.

Just seeing that man lying on the bed with closed eyes made her this anxious.

Just as that thought crossed her mind.

“Mmm.”

The eyes of all four people in the room simultaneously turned to Deus.

A low groan.

No one could speak, but they were all thinking exactly the same thing.

‘Please.’

And as if in response.

Deus’s eyes, which had been closed for the past week, slowly began to open.

“Where… am I?”

With those words in a hoarse voice.

Just that was enough for the four to realize something was wrong.

“Ugh, my head. What is this? I was definitely…”

Deus looked around, furrowing his brow. He muttered as if he had drunk bitter alcohol, his expression contorting.

“Blech. I feel like I’m going to throw up.”

In this confusing situation, the only one who arrived at the correct answer was Deia.

“Delinquent Deus?”