Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

therefore!

That's right, that's exactly why!

I had no choice but to make up my mind!

I can only listen to my "impulse" and use it to convince myself that I did nothing wrong!

The only thing left for them to do was to make a decision against God's will to "assassinate the boy"!

Killing that boy in everyday life is no longer an option. He has grown far too powerful during my hesitation. Even if I were to ambush him when he was alone, I couldn't kill him in my current state. Besides, I have no allies. While my other family members are jealous of him, they have no intention of taking his life; I am left to fight alone.

On the day the goddess instructed me to deliver the "invitation" in order to invite the boy to participate in the "Goddess Festival".

No one can possibly understand the kind of emotions I was tormented by at that time.

No one could possibly understand that the trigger in my heart was snapped on the spot, leaving me to let my out-of-control emotions force me to act on my own.

The day I first met the boy in front of the house.

Despite my desperate attempts to suppress the raging murderous intent within me, the shared thoughts with the goddess have forced me to develop feelings of love for the person before me. Absolutely no one can comprehend how unstable my emotions are at this moment!

So I can only take advantage of this "Goddess Festival"!

She could only take advantage of the only opportunity to get close to the boy by exchanging identities with the goddess!

Although my body and mind were thoroughly violated by "affection for the boy," it ultimately could not shake my "loyalty." My faith was overturned and eliminated by meaningless thoughts, and I allowed the karmic fire of my mission to burn me.

I must free the goddess from her shackles no matter what.

I will give my life to complete this ritual of cleansing from filth.

That's right.

A goddess must maintain the demeanor expected of a goddess!

The goddess, she, the goddess is—!

but.

My "wish" can no longer be fulfilled.

Whether it's burning anger, icy sorrow, or peaceful joy, when the goddess experiences overwhelmingly strong emotions, it's enough to reverse time, even to engulf my humble consciousness with her divine ego. The reason for this defeat is that I can only grasp fragmented memories from the Great Hall—no, I don't intend to make excuses for my failure.

I lost to the boy.

My true identity has been exposed.

I cannot kill the boy.

That didn't stop the boy either.

I suffered a defeat in this battle.

During the "negotiations" at the time, the goddess presented me with a condition that I absolutely had to abide by.

—If your "lie" is exposed, you must admit defeat.

—When that time comes, you must not lay a hand on that child again.

Looking back now, I think the goddess probably saw through my true intentions all along.

The goddess had already seen through my "favoritism towards the boy" and the "murderous intent" hidden within the truth.

Meanwhile, the fierce one wanted to test the boy, while the white elf was solely focused on taking action for the goddess.

In the end, I was completely manipulated by the goddess and defeated head-on by the boy.

In the end, it only resulted in such a tragic and foolish ending.

As the goddess said, I, who am not even a clown, cannot become anyone.

However, it doesn't matter.

Although I am very unwilling and really sad.

However, there is still one way to help the goddess get rid of the "nightmare".

I took this forceful approach because I wanted to avoid upsetting my goddess.

I had intended to bear all the sins and atone for them with my own life.

I did this because I wanted to prevent the goddess from experiencing even the slightest "pain"—

Hehe, hehe ...

But the ending remained unchanged!

Where exactly is that boy gazing?

How steadfast and unwavering is that pure, flawless, almost transparent longing?

No matter how much one desires or how stubbornly one remains, the outcome cannot be changed in the end!

In this way, she will be freed from her constraints!

And he did it himself!

Because that white-haired boy was so innocent, he was bound to bring the goddess's "wish" to an end!

It's enough that only I know about this!

That's right.

What this tear that rolled down my cheek means is something only I can understand.

I ran quickly.

Keep running forward.

Although I couldn't be sure if my guess was correct, I still headed towards the place we had been to together, based on my memory and with a strange sense of confidence.

As if to confirm that my premonition was correct, the number of people along the way gradually decreased, the noise faded away, and in the end, only silence remained around me.

I traversed the labyrinthine forest, crossed steep cliffs, and leaped into the longitudinal valley formed by precipices.

The gray sky murmured, and thick clouds drifted slowly... I arrived at a familiar little garden.

This is Daedalus Road, a maze-like street.

She sat on a brick bench, her eyes closed, waiting with unwavering faith.

"Miss Seele..."

This is the place where she first "confessed" her feelings to me.

I had been through so much back then, and when I was feeling utterly defeated and dejected, it was in this garden that I received her encouragement.

"I... like you when you keep running."

In the cradle of memories that belong only to the two of us, that was the closest our hearts ever came together.

"!"

Standing at the entrance to the garden, I looked up in surprise.

The person standing on the stone building was none other than Master Hedin.

Unlike before, he faithfully performed his duty as a guard and did not give me any orders or requests.

He looked at me with a pair of unreadable coral-red eyes, then turned away as if to declare that his mission was over.

Watching that receding figure, I turned my gaze back to Miss Seele.

A breeze blew.

Having stopped in my tracks, I stepped into the garden as if urged on.

A cluster of small white flowers planted here swayed in the wind.

Miss Seele slowly opened her eyes, and when she saw that it was me, she raised the corners of her mouth and gave me a gentle smile.

"You've finally found me, Mr. Bell."

"...A woman who looks very much like Miss Seele told me you were here."

"Really. At a time like this, I should have answered that you had a feeling you'd find me here."

Miss Seele said this as if she were correcting a child.

Her voice was very gentle, without a trace of reproach.

She rose from her seat, and we were led as if to the center of the courtyard, where we faced each other.

She was still wearing the same dress she wore yesterday.

She wore the pale gray ornament I had given her in her light gray hair.

This also symbolizes the fate of the knight and the fairy.

"why?"

I was the first to speak.

Why did you do that?

I have many questions I want to ask, but I only asked this one.

"I already said that yesterday."

Miss Seele smiled.

"I want to convey my feelings and also confirm my feelings."

She raised her right hand and gently touched her hair ornament.

"Even if other people like you, as long as you can still find me, I think it's okay for me to be a little proud of that."

"..."

"Furthermore, I don't want to let time slip away in vain; I want to seize the moment and do my best."

"..."

"What's more, I hate boring things the most, but now I'm hoping that time can stand still, which makes me feel scared."

Miss Seele began to speak unilaterally.

It didn't sound like an explanation or defense, or even an attempt to seek approval.

"But I'm gradually getting confused myself."

In my eyes, she seemed to be searching for her true self in a vast ocean of words.

"The person who understands me the least right now is probably myself."

The familiar smile on her face now looked like she was crying, for some reason.

This is her—

Like a bewildered and ignorant child standing still.

This being, who spreads love and yearns for love, stood there bewildered and helpless.

"I finally understand that no matter what method I try... I'm afraid the only way to get rid of this pain is to be honest and tell the truth about myself."

I only realized it now.

Miss Seele's voice trembled slightly.

She was always so strong, but she was just pretending to be strong.

She should have been terrified to face what was in front of her, but she still wanted to muster up the courage.

But my legs kept shaking for some reason.

I feel like my hands are about to cramp up.

His lips and teeth trembled incessantly.

The original relationship could not be maintained, and the unavoidable point of disagreement finally arrived.

Then she spoke:

"I like you, Mr. Bell."

Miss Seele clasped her hands tightly in front of her chest and took a step forward.

"I like you and want to be with you forever. I hope you can accept me."