[There is no going back now.]
"Imogen, let's work together."
Imogen squints her eyes in suspicion.
She takes the loaf of bread and bites into it without responding to Kyrie.
Ian looks at Kyrie with surprise. Ever since Kyrie was beaten to a pulp by Imogen, he was in a coma for a week.
At the same time, Imogen went to the forest of Labam and cleaned up the area.
The news that the kingdom of Ethern was blessed with the saintess got everyone in a festive mood. They were happy that both the paladin and the saintess are within the kingdom of Ethern to protect it.
However, at the dining tables in the temple, both figures let off an awkward atmosphere. Unlike everyone's expectations, they both have a terrible relationship.
Ian did not receive the answer as to why both of them were in such strife. However, both of them, for some unknown reason, seem to know each other.
"Did I hit your head too hard?" asks Imogen despite being indifferent about it.
After the limitations of her contract with Vita set in, Imogen has become less violent than her first impression.
If someone saw her and does not know her, that person would have thought that she is docile.
Her appearance would typically not seem like someone who would be excessively violent. Possessing not only handsome looks, but she has very balanced proportions. She is someone who could be described as serious with an air of indifference towards everything.
"I just had a change of heart. Plus, I am still your assistant appointed from Vita."
"A useless one."
"Think whatever you want, but I would need to go with you," says Kyrie.
"Kyrie... Are you leaving?" asks Ian downcasted.
"I was thinking of asking you to come with us," says Kyrie.
"Ergh. Are you even recruiting people already? You know very well that our trip is not going to be pretty," says Imogen.
"What are we going to ... do??" asks Ian with some caution.
"We are going to kill our ways to Mount Melan," says Imogen with a satisfied smile.
"What? Are we going to go into the Demon Queen Melan's tomb? That place is almost untouchable! What the hell are we going there for?"
"Yah! Pipsqueak! If you are going to coward out when we get there, don't bother yourself coming," says Imogen, annoyed.
"You don't talk to him like that!" says Kyrie.
Imogen kicks her chair off and says, "What are you going to do about it, cockroach?"
"I am okay, Kyrie. Just please don't fight inside the temple."
The first day after Kyrie woke up, they fought, the second day as well, the third the same... They seem never to be satisfied if they don't get a piece of flesh off the other person. The Vicar places down his fork and knife and stares at them like he is already used to it.
"Sir Rowan, would you like to explain what lady Winstanley said?" asks the Vicar.
[Lady Winstanley?]
*pfff*
"Sure, let me explain to you about what lady Winstanley said," says Kyrie mockingly.
"Do you want to die? I can grant it to you," threatened Imogen.
"You can't anyways, stop flattering yourself," says Kyrie with a side smile.
"I... I am curious about this myself!!!" interrupted Ian trying to keep the tension down.
Seeing how Ian is trying to stop them from fighting, Kyrie yields.
Kyrie starts, "We are going on a journey to collect relics to prevent the descent of a fallen god."
"A fallen god?"
"A god that went through devastation and lost his mind. Those kinds of gods have another name: demon gods. The demons worship them. Once one descent into a world, that world inevitably ends up in destruction. However, there is a way to prevent the destruction of the world. That is to gain the relics of this world so that there is no enough essence for the demons to help the fallen god get into the barrier of another world."
"Don't normally gods already have essence? Why would a fallen god need to gather essence?" asks the Vicar.
"When a god goes through devastation, they lose the ability to use essence. Instead, they use energy referred to as chaos. Chaos energy can only be used as a destructive force," explains Kyrie.
"Why would demons want the destruction of the world? Doesn't everyone want to live?" asks Ian.
"Ian, that is a misconception by the humans. Just like demons have blind faith, humans, too. They believe that it is a way to save them from themselves," replies Kyrie.
"Huh! Only cockroaches like you would sympathize with creatures like demons," says Imogen leaving the dining area.
[What is this hypocrisy I am looking at?]
"Hey! We are not done yet!!!" exclaims Kyrie. However, Imogen does not even look back and leaves.
[Am I being tested for patience? It must be, right?]
"Sir Rowan, how are you so familiar with lady Winstanley? You two seem to have known each other for a while. I thought she just came from another world," asks the Vicar with a puzzled look.
[Tecnically, correct if she is in her first loop. She came from the same world as me, but as to how she is a demi-god and why she is living among humans remains a mystery. Yue never mentioned it in the novel. Wait... What is Yue doing right now?]
"We know about each other indirectly through Vita. After all, Imogen is a saintess sent by her," Kyrie lies.
The truth is that after Imogen lost her mind, Vita took pity on her and would take care of her before Imogen's eternal loop activates again.
Vita would take Imogen across the parallel universes before the eternal loop's reactivation to the next parallel timeline.
This power is unique to Vita. That is why within Vita's Infinity Abyss, her records are complete from every creature. They include all the infinite possible scenarios from all living beings. When a living being dies, the history of their choices in life would be archived in the Infinity Abyss along with their infinite possible scenarios.
[Imogen must have been observing me from the moment I arrived in this world through transmigration.]
"I see..."
"It is better for you not to involve that much with the saintess, Vicar Lovell," said Kyrie.
"Please explain," said Lovell.
"She has a screw loose in her head."
"Pardon?"
"She is crazy."
"hehe... Then, I will take into consideration your advice. I have some things to take care of, so I will take my leave as well. Please enjoy your dinner," said the Vicar and left the dining room.
Ian turns to sit facing me, and his expression is showing signs of confusion.
"Kyrie, you seem to have changed after lady Winstanley came," says Ian.
"Is that so?" says Kyrie.
[Well... We are talking about the main protagonist!]
"You seem to talk less formal and more spontaneous with her. Despite appearances, I don't think she dislikes you as much as you make it seem like it," explains Ian.
Kyrie pats Ian's head, and says, "Yeah? Hmm... Well, let's not talk about that. About the trip that Imogen and I are going, would you like to come with me?"
"Is it vital that we have to go to such a dangerous place?" asks Ian
"Yes, Ian. We cannot let the demons help the fallen god to descend, so now, the humans and the demons would be in a race to obtain the relics. We have to stop them at all costs, or it will cost everyone who lives in this world," replies Kyrie.
Kyrie extends his arm to interlock his hand with Ian's.
"The world will turn into bloodshed, and I want Ian to be by my side. That way, I can make sure that nothing could happen to you," says Kyrie.
[Although I wish to hide you somewhere that no one can reach you... So that you don't need to stain your hands, suffer the pain, and just live a tranquil life with me for the rest of your life. Till your hair goes white... Till your last breath. However, I also know that this is not possible. I can't hide you anywhere that you don't need to see bloodshed or stain your hands. The only thing I can do is to make sure you can survive and, at the same time, have someone by your side.]
"Kyrie... Why are you always worried about me?" asks Ian while looking seriously into Kyrie's eyes. Ian's eyes are wavering.
Ian looks at Kyrie's eyes, flooding with emotions. He can even feel his heart racing, as well. Kyrie's eyes then soften alongside his expression. Kyrie puts his hand on Ian's cheek and slides his hand, running his fingers through Ian's hair to the nape. Kyrie pulls Ian to him and leans over to put his forehead on Ian's. Their eyes are closely locked together.
"It's simple, really. Ian, you are very important to me."