The rain kept falling, striking the umbrella with a continuous pattering sound.
Via held the umbrella as she walked along the stone-paved path together with her elder sister.
“Elder Sister, are you planning to leave the country?”
“Mm, yes.”
Sophie nodded.
“Right now Stella has already ascended the throne and become the emperor of the Saint Luo Empire. Mia has temporarily taken the position of acting Pope of the Holy Land. The higher-ups who once belonged to Altes’s faction have also been held accountable and purged. The human world has finally stabilized. At present there is nothing I specifically need to do. I can be considered free.”
“There are still quite a few people who hope the Saintess can remain in the human world and continue guiding them.”
“Saintess, huh… That no longer has anything to do with me. After all, I have already stepped down. If everyone still hopes for a Saintess, why not simply select a new one?” Sophie said with a smile. “I think Nana is rather good.”
“With Nana, quite a few incidents would occur.”
“However, her personality can influence others, can’t it? A Saintess should indeed have some positive energy. I was only acting before. Nana, on the other hand, is genuinely full of vitality.”
“It can be considered. I’ll give Mia this suggestion.”
Via actually began seriously thinking about it. In any case, she could confirm that Sophie did not want to be the Saintess. Whether Nana could become the Saintess was another matter.
This was also good. In the past, Sophie had always been bound by various identities. Now that she had her own thoughts, she could break free from the shackles of the past and act according to her own will.
“Stella also asked me about your situation.”
“Oh, Stella? Last time I met with her.”
“What did the two of you talk about?”
Via had thought Stella also wanted to retain Sophie to continue serving in the human world. However, the answer Sophie gave exceeded her expectations.
“It was all about you, Via.”
“Me?”
“Strictly speaking, Stella kept asking about things from when you were little.”
“You… didn’t actually tell her, did you?”
“How could I?” Sophie shrugged. “Those are the interesting stories between us sisters. How could I possibly share them with others? I brushed everything off.”
“Phew, that’s good.”
Via let out a breath of relief. She did not want Stella to know about her past.
“…Stella can still be considered a rather good girl.” Sophie suddenly said this.
“Elder Sister, what exactly do you mean by that sentence?”
“News of your private meetings has actually already spread.”
“What we discussed was… official business!” Via felt a bit embarrassed.
“Hopefully that’s the case.” The corners of Sophie’s mouth curved upward.
“Elder Sister, where do you plan to go?”
Via hurriedly changed the topic.
She felt that if they continued discussing this aspect, she would definitely be teased.
“After leaving the human world, I should first go take a look at the Desolate Fallen Continent. In any case, the demonkin and the human race have already established diplomatic relations, haven’t they? Applying for a passport will allow me to go over,” Sophie replied. “This world is very large. I want to go see it with my own eyes. In the past I always learned about foreign races through other channels. That may not necessarily be the truth.”
“In other words, becoming a traveler and journeying across the Theia Continent?”
“That’s right! Actually, I already had this idea in the previous life. It’s just a pity that I was never able to realize it. Now that I have the opportunity, I definitely need to make up for this regret.”
“Then do you need me to take you over to the Desolate Fallen Continent? As long as I say a word, I can save you a lot of trouble.”
“No need. If it’s a completely smooth journey, that would be far too boring. Via, just stay in the Demon King’s Castle and wait for the day I come over to give you a surprise!”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
In Via’s heart there was a bit of envy toward Sophie.
Actually, she also wanted to go outside and see more. It was just that she had already become the king of the demonkin and needed to lead the demonkin. She now carried many responsibilities and could no longer act so freely.
While talking, both her and Sophie’s footsteps stopped. They had arrived at the Land of Eternal Slumber in the Holy Land.
In front of Sylvia’s gravestone stood a man.
Sophie looked at the man’s back and widened her eyes, sensing a resonance from their bloodline.
The man seemed to sense something as well. He turned around. Upon seeing Sophie’s face, the expression on his face became moved.
He was Via and Sophie’s father, Constantine.
“Elder Sister, he is our father, Constantine.”
Via pulled Sophie’s hand.
She had already told Sophie about their father previously.
“Sophie.”
Constantine walked in front of Sophie. Looking at his daughter, his eyes were filled with affection and guilt. He raised a trembling hand and gently touched Sophie’s rose-colored long hair.
“I’m sorry. I came late.”
Sophie lowered her head. Tears swirled in her eyes.
“You and your mother truly look alike.”
“Father…”
Sophie finally could no longer control the emotions surging from within her heart. She embraced Constantine. It was as if she were releasing all the grievances she had suffered since childhood as she cried loudly.
“I owe you and Via far too much. I failed to fulfill my duties as a father.” Constantine’s eyes also turned red.
Via raised her head and discovered that the rain had stopped. She did not know if it was an illusion, but she seemed to see her mother’s faint figure.
In front of Sylvia’s grave, the family had finally reunited.
Although they had experienced many twists and turns and lost a great deal, fortunately the second half of life was still long. Via still had a great deal of time afterward to slowly spend with her family. She would also carefully protect this hard-won familial affection.
“I’m so exhausted.”
Via leaned against the sofa, almost collapsing from fatigue.
Several years had already passed since she became the king of the demonkin. Many things had occurred on the Theia Continent.
The human race and the demonkin had established diplomatic relations and formed an alliance. With the assistance of the human race, professional and mature magic stone mining industries had been established on the Desolate Fallen Continent. Holding large quantities of magic stone mines, the influence of the demonkin upon the Theia Continent had also become impossible to ignore.
Development and competition ran parallel. While cooperating, many foreign races had already begun regarding the demonkin as rivals.
“I wonder where Elder Sister is traveling right now.”
Via looked at the photo frame on the desk and revealed a smile.
This was a group photo of Sophie, herself, and their father from the last time Sophie had come to the Demon King’s Castle. Constantine had already retired and no longer managed affairs related to the demonkin. He had changed his name and started a flower shop.
According to his own words, he wanted to research plants in order to improve the barren land of the Desolate Fallen Continent.
Sophie was still traveling. Occasionally she would send handwritten letters and photographs back, telling Via about the sights along her journey. Sometimes during holidays she would also suddenly visit the Demon King’s Castle carrying souvenirs, giving her surprises.
As for the others, they continued shining upon the paths they had chosen.
The only thing that left Via a bit troubled was that the rumors between herself and Stella were truly growing more and more numerous. By now every member of the royal court already knew. Explaining was the same as covering up, and covering up was equivalent to the truth…
However, the facts seemed to be developing in that direction anyway.
“Your Majesty the Demon King!!”
The office door was pushed open. The energetic demonkin maid Kurei, holding intelligence reports, rushed in.
“This is bad! Foreign races have come to provoke the border. Those wolf tribes are testing us again. This is a new harassment, and there’s even the leader of the wolf tribes!”
“The leader of the wolf tribes? Hmph. A bit interesting. I’ve truly stayed in the office for too long.”
Via stood up. She draped the Demon King’s cloak over her shoulders and stepped outside the door.
The pink-haired girl actively walked into the grand sunshine.
“Kurei, follow me to the campaign. It is time to let those shortsighted fellows see just what the might of the Demon King is!”
Her future road was still very long. She would walk far and for a long time, until the people of later generations used her name to name this era.
The End.