346:
Klara sat in the depths of the cave, her eyes closed, her breathing long and slow.
“How is the adaptation to the divine portfolio going?”
Her eyes shot open. In the dark cave, a golden light shone, then quickly dimmed. She looked at Shelley, who was propped up on his chin, studying her, and snorted indifferently.
“Hmph.”
“Another divine avatar, is it? What are your instructions?”
“Great~ Lord Shelley?”
In these three years, Shelley had often used Liz as a teleportation beacon to descend his divine avatar and give out tasks. Every time Shelley came to find Klara, it was because he had something to ask of her.
Klara thought that this time was the same…
“…Tsk.”
Dog man.
Then Klara’s eyes closed again, but at the last moment before they closed, she felt a slight touch on her cheek…
“Hmm?”
That was the warmth of a human body that she had not experienced for a long time.
“Don’t be angry.”
“I’m here now.”
Shelley’s apologetic voice sounded very close to her ear, as if even the hot air he exhaled could puff on her face.
Klara slowly opened her eyes and turned to look at the smiling face that was close at hand.
“Forgive me, okay?”
Sensing the gentleness in Shelley’s voice and the deep meaning in his eyes, as one of the few people who understood Shelley’s heart the most, Klara understood his meaning.
There were too many things between the two of them that needed to be settled.
Whether the relationship would end here, forever remaining a relationship above friends, with the identity of a senior and junior brother… or to push open the barrier that the two of them had been trying their best to avoid and take a step further.
For three years, Shelley had not forced Klara to make a choice, because he wanted her to have a time to understand her own heart.
But now, there was no time.
The future was very uncertain.
Success, the future had an almost infinite life to squander.
Failure, everything would be in vain.
In this catastrophe, Shelley wanted to protect everyone, but he did not dare to gamble. He did not want to leave any regrets on either side.
Klara looked at Shelley and thought of their time together in these three years.
She had thought that he would, as she had seen in her memories, constantly conquer, and then take advantage of the loopholes in her heart to take advantage… She had thought it would be like this.
But nothing had happened, as if it were unexpected, but within reason.
Shelley was like a gentleman, not too close, not too far, not estranged, and not too intimate. He was not keeping Klara on a string, but had always respected her thoughts.
Whether she said she wanted to obtain a divine portfolio, or did not want to ascend to godhood… Shelley had not stopped her, but had just silently supported Klara, helping her to familiarize herself with the divine power and the authority of the divine portfolio.
Klara maintained her posture and then slowly closed her eyes.
She was not a child. Three years of time and getting along were enough for Klara to understand her own heart.
Klara did not want to miss this man who would be entangled with her for the rest of her life. And she did not want to always remain an outsider, like that day, holding a wine glass and watching them play.
She did not want to.
Klara had made her choice.
And Shelley had also made his.
He looked at Klara, who was quietly waiting for his actions, and revealed a smile. He reached out and pushed away her long, hanging hair.
“Klara…”
“You will not regret your choice.”
“I will never let you regret it.”
Then he no longer hesitated and gently kissed her.
After a long kiss, Klara looked at Shelley, a little out of breath, and then said softly, “You will die of exhaustion because of women one day.”
If Shelley had not considered Klara, there would not have been so many things. If he had been a little more forceful before, Klara might not have refused, but there would have been a barrier in her heart.
But Shelley had chosen the most time-consuming and laborious method.
He chuckled softly, lowered his head, and approached again.
“If I must die… then let me die for you.”
“I am willing.”
Klara’s hands, which were wrapped around Shelley’s back, clenched his clothes tightly, and then she slowly relaxed…
Shelley’s fingers, which were gently wrapped around Klara’s waist, moved…
In the dark cave, a golden light hung from the top of their heads, shining on the two of them who were kissing.
The blood of a human and a devil, the blood of a human and a demon.
An avenger paladin, a paladin of the crown.
Salier’s daughter, Salier’s apprentice.
Both of them had lost their mothers in their childhood.
Two similar yet different people… at this moment, they had finally come together.
No being could separate them.
The gods… could not either.
…
Deephearth welcomed a circus troupe today. They set up camp in the square that was originally piled with corpses and began to perform enthusiastically.
Their existence greatly diluted the tense atmosphere between the people and the nobles, and made some of the worried nobles let out a big sigh of relief.
With them also came a team of disguised elves. Their expressions were serious, and a deep fear was hidden in their eyes.
They knew what their mission was, and they also had the determination to die.
To eliminate that evil thing. They would not hesitate to sacrifice themselves.
What no one had discovered was that not long after the circus had entered, a woman in a black robe, mixed in a caravan, had also entered this city.
Her face was covered with a colored veil, with only her alluring green eyes exposed, winking at the handsome young men along the way.
Sharess had ultimately not listened to Shelley and Lliira’s advice. Not long after she had separated from Lliira, she had secretly come here.
Forever young, forever not listening to people.
But… no one had discovered it, and it was just that no “person” had discovered it.
Not a god.
The moment she had entered this city, in a secret room under Deephearth, which was full of hanging men and women, a woman who was leaning on a stool had raised her head.
Her clothes were light, and she had evil tattoos on her body. There was also a metal whip at her waist.
[The Goddess of Pain, Loviatar.]
“Elves? Did they hear the news? Or did they guess?”
“A cat has snuck in…”
“…It’s Malar’s prey.”
She thought for a moment, did not get up, and continued to lean her body against the back of the chair.
The corners of her mouth held a cold smile. She watched her followers either punish others or be whipped by others.
“There’s still some time…”
And in another secret room, a terrifying animal, more than a person tall, raised its head.
Its body had smooth, black fur, and the hair on its head was a dripping red.
[The God of the Hunt, Malar.]
He kicked away the animal corpse at his feet, and a low, excited roar came from his throat.
Roar, roar, roar.
“The hunt…”
“Is about to begin.”
Behind him was a huge, complex formation formed by blood. It was just that for some reason, in a corner that no one had discovered, something seemed to be missing.
…
Shelley, with one hand, gently stroked the satin-like, smooth skin of the person beside him, and with the other, he played with a green gem.
His gaze passed through space, and he looked at Deephearth with a faint smile.
“The actors are in place.”
“The stage…”
“Has begun.”
